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Thursday, March 28

Washington legislators voted this session to add the perspective of marginalized communities into state learning standards
Nearly 40 years ago, Cal Anderson was appointed to the Washington House of Representatives, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold the office in the state. His name, however, is absent from any Washington curriculum on state government, according to state Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle. That may soon change though with Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 18 signing of Senate Bill 5462 into state law, which would make sure that the K-12 curriculum is more inclusive of people from marginalized communities. The law takes effect on June 6. Continue reading at The Inlander.

You need to earn how much for a ‘starter home’ in Seattle?!
Rising costs of living and property price tags are hitting first-time homebuyers hard — and even harder in Seattle. A person would have to earn a $173,378 annual salary to earn what Redfin considers a “starter home” in Seattle, according to the real estate company’s February 2024 data. That salary estimate is up roughly $31,000 from just six months ago, and up 8.4% from February 2023. As of February, the median sale price of a Seattle starter home is $535,000, with a monthly mortgage of $4,334. Seattle’s numbers are a significant uptick from just six months ago when Redfin calculated that a person needed to earn $142,000 annually to afford the purchase. Continue reading at KUOW. (Jaye Haych)

In rural Washington, patients travel hours for basic healthcare
In Washington, patients outside of urban centers often travel long distances to get basic health care, and researchers and providers say the impact — on everything from dementia treatment to maternity care — can lead to worse patient outcomes and delays in treatment. Telehealth is also making a difference. But training physicians can take a decade or more, and not all kinds of care translate well to a virtual space. In the meantime, patients face major disparities in access to basic — and sometimes urgent — care between urban and rural Washington, and between east and west. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Harbor Regional Hospital)

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Associated Press
Stock market today: Wall Street holds near records as it coasts to another winning month and quarter

Axios
Financial exploitation of older adults up in King County

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham mobile home park’s affordability uncertain after residents’ land purchase attempt fails
‘I’m so grateful’: Leaders, planners, future tenants unite to celebrate new Bellingham senior housing

Capital Press
USDA gives organic product grants to nine Northwest firms
Shell shocked: Egg producers carry on despite avian flu, cage-free regulations

Columbian
Could fatal collapse of Interstate 5 Bridge happen?
Vancouver officials developing new green building policy
WA passes bill to protect libraries, as other states target them (Hunt)
What the Supreme Court abortion pill case could mean for WA (Randall)
New Washington law will allow traffic cameras on more city streets and county roads (Donaghy)
Fighting period poverty: Hockinson High School students fundraise for menstrual products at middle school

Everett Herald
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development
Editorial: Initiative fee increase protects process, taxpayers

The Inlander
A new Washington program will automatically start retirement accounts for workers who don’t already have access
Washington legislators voted this session to add the perspective of marginalized communities into state learning standards (Pedersen, Wilson)
As deaths on our roads continue to rise, a local stay-at-home dad is on an ambitious quest to make Spokane’s streets the safest in the U.S.

News Tribune
‘It’s about time’: Much anticipated new Pierce County high school finally breaks ground
Opinion: What’s ‘climate-smart’ wood? Hopefully, a big part of Pierce County’s future

Northwest Asian Weekly
CAPAA Golden Celebration
New UW athletic director Pat Chun

Olympian
North Thurston announces 3 finalists for superintendent. One of them is local
Washington leaders brace for U.S. Supreme Court ruling on access to abortion drug (Randall)
College enrollment rose in 2023, but Washington state ranks low nationally in new students

Peninsula Daily News
Funding needed for Port Townsend homeless shelter

Puget Sound Business Journal
Nintendo lays off 86 contract workers in Redmond
How a major credit-card settlement could save businesses billions

Seattle Times
Instacart settles over alleged labor violations for nearly $750K
Washington State University officer fires at student in residence hall
Despite All-Star summer, recovery is elusive for Seattle’s tourism industry
Comment: Trump Treasury chief tried to force a sale of TikTok. Now he’s a possible bidder
Opinion: WA schools don’t have ‘bad kids.’ They lack enough tools to help them

Spokesman Review
Inslee signs slew of bills boosting gun restrictions in Washington (Ormsby, Berry)

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Ellen Brigham oversees changes at Dayton Memorial Library
Columbia County Commissioners appoint Dale Walling to library board

Washington Post
AI hustlers stole women’s faces to put in ads. The law can’t help them.
U.S. clamps down on oil and gas firms releasing potent greenhouse gas
Americans who’ve given up religion often point to anti-LGBTQ+ teachings

WA State Standard
Housing and homelessness in Washington, by the numbers

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Carnation residents, officials frustrated after another false alarm from Tolt River Dam emergency system

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Deadly Renton accident raises question – should teens have ‘speed limiters’ in their vehicles?

KNKX Public Radio
Olympia police the latest in South Sound to buy car-tracking cameras

KUOW Public Radio
Electric vehicles keep charging ahead in Washington state
You need to earn how much for a ‘starter home’ in Seattle?!

KXLY (ABC)
Washington State Police shot at student in campus residence hall
The State of Hate: A look at the history of racial hate in the Inland Northwest
New housing law passed to promote co-living development in Washington State
Spokane County deputies who shot and killed man in Loon Lake will not face charges

NW Public Radio
Hometown med student raising awareness for colorectal cancer testing
Service changes begin March 31 for Pierce Transit, lack of funding means no new routes
Lewiston-Clarkston Valley’s senior population could strain healthcare providers in coming years

FOX13 TV
King County plans to close youth detention centers by 2028
‘No locks, no cells’ approach in youth detention expected by 2028

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Add wildfire, climate change to the list of Lake Whatcom worries
Whatcom Skills Center gets needed funding for phase one of project
Ferndale School Board debates local control, diversity at heated meeting

Crosscut
In rural Washington, patients travel hours for basic healthcare

MyNorthwest
Protests at Amazon HQ object to use of fossil fuels in Oregon
Luxury tiny homes creating a stir in Washington home market

West Seattle Blog
State, city days away from removing 1st/Cloverdale encampment
Questions about the East Marginal Way project? West Seattle Transportation Coalition’s online meeting Thursday features SDOT

Wednesday, March 27

State spending to rise tenfold on housing for people with developmental disabilities
Housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is about to see another boost in state funding. Lawmakers this year set aside $19 million for it in the Housing Trust Fund. That brings this two-year budget cycle’s total to almost $44 million, a tenfold increase from most other budgets. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Laurel Demkovich)

Gun owners have 24 hours to report theft or face up to $1K fine, new law says
Washington Governor Jay Inslee officially signed a bill into law Tuesday that will require gun owners to notify the police of a stolen firearm within 24 hours of when they discover the theft or loss. As part of HB 1903, gun owners who fail to report stolen firearms within a 24 hour period would face up to a $1,000 civil infraction fine. It would also require law enforcement agencies to register stolen firearm reports with the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, which is used by police to pursue suspects and locate stolen items. Continue reading at KOMO News. (Brittainy Newman)

Inslee signs numerous bills, including new gun laws
Two omnibus bills to improve the response to survivors of sexual assault and child trafficking in Washington state’s legal system were signed into law. SB 5937 streamlines eligibility for crime victim benefits, covers some of victims’ costs for forensic examinations, expands protections to more victims, improves state and local teams to respond to sexual assault, and ensures that children ages 13 and up can consent to forensic sexual examinations and examinations for sexually transmitted infections, among other changes. Continue reading at Tacoma Weekly.

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Axios
Washington sees human smuggling spike, feds say

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County to approach fentanyl crisis like a natural disaster response
Washington leaders brace for U.S. Supreme Court ruling on access to abortion drug (Randall)

Capital Press
Northwest honey production, prices drop in 2023
Utility: Washington’s cap-and-trade unfair to other states

Columbian
Vancouver officials rethink Section 30 plan, pushing for more multifamily housing
Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad ordered to comply with water pollution laws
Southwest Washington cities OK interlocal agreement to form opioid abatement council
What to know about PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’ in some Vancouver, Clark Public Utilities’ water sources

The Daily News
Fentanyl deaths double in Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County aims to end court backlog after new study reviewed efficiency
Cowlitz County OKs housing funds after state increases document recording fees

High Country News
Fixing culverts can save migratory fish

Kent Reporter
Bill providing support for victims of hate crimes signed into law (Valdez)

Olympian
Callers bombard Lacey Equity Commission with hate speech during Monday meeting

Peninsula Daily News
YMCA to build childcare facility

Seattle Medium
Seattle Judge Reassigned To Parking And Traffic Tickets – Blocked By Prosecutors
Making A Difference Foundation Received Grant To Support BIPOC Farmers’ HUB And Technical Assistance Program
Crisis And Change: Tukwila School District Attempts To Tackle Challenges Of Declining Enrollment, Racial Tensions, And Leadership Instability

Seattle Times
WA passes bill to protect libraries, as other states target them
What the Supreme Court abortion pill case could mean for WA
Inslee signs new gun laws, including ban at transit facilities, libraries
Opinion: State’s libraries, freedom to read are preserved

Skagit Valley Herald
Guemes Ferry transitioning to electronic tickets

South Whidbey Record
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, Island Transit highlight challenges of rural transportation

Vancouver Business Journal
Workforce to Host Workshop on Employee Recruitment and Retention

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Clinic’s walk-in facility closes

Washington Post
Mnuchin tried to force a sale of TikTok. Now he’s a possible bidder.
GOP lawmakers are fueling a conspiracy theory without mentioning ‘chemtrails’

WA State Standard
State spending to rise tenfold on housing for people with developmental disabilities (Chopp, Taylor)
New Washington law will allow traffic cameras on more city streets and county roads (Donaghy)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Return to Quincy: Waste-derived products in agriculture impact Yakima County too

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Gov. Inslee takes stance on return of grizzlies to North Cascades
Ballard business owners fed up after string of burglaries this year
Seattle City Council approves $50K for repairs after Wing Luke Museum hit by vandal

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
King County leaders to hear final updates on plan to end youth detention
Gun owners have 24 hours to report theft or face up to $1k fine, new law says
More than 210 bridges in Washington are in ‘poor condition’ WSDOT data shows
Seattle health experts address surge in eating disorders impacting young athletes

NW Public Radio
Washington bans sale of cosmetics newly tested on animals

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County passes resolution aimed at combating fentanyl
Skagit County searches for common ground in contentious agritourism debate
Whatcom Center for Early Learning nets $2M grant from MacKenzie Scott foundation

Crosscut
U.S. Appeals Court won’t block WA’s new legislative district map

Shoreline Area News
Stanford bill to crack down on predatory loans signed into law (Stanford)

Tacoma Weekly
Inslee signs numerous bills, including new gun laws (Dhingra, Orwall, Trudeau, Valdez, Hunt, Stanford, Saldana)

Tuesday, March 26

SCOTUS abortion pill hearing puts FDA discretion on trial
The Supreme Court’s blockbuster case over access to abortion drug mifepristone could upend the way the Food and Drug Administration broadly regulates medicines and other products. Courts for years have given the FDA latitude to make judgments about health and safety based on scientific studies, but a challenge the justices hear Tuesday could set a precedent for courts to substitute their own conclusions for agency decisions. Continue reading at Axios. (Shoshana Gordon)

Clark County Jail gains naloxone vending machine
Clark County Jail Services and its partners have installed a naloxone vending machine in the jail’s public lobby. This is the county’s fourth naloxone vending machine. Better known by its brand name Narcan, naloxone helps prevent opioid overdose by temporarily blocking the effects of opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, morphine and oxycodone. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Clark County)

House Bill 1939 to increase social worker availability in Washington State
House Bill 1939 sits on Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk, awaiting his signature which would allow social workers in other states to enter private practice under a compact agreement. Under a multistate license, social workers could migrate to Washington State or provide social services through online telehealth communication. Rep. Orwall is the primary sponsor of House Bill 1939, which expands career opportunities for out-of-state social workers through the Social Work Licensure Compact. Continue reading at Tacoma Ledger.

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Axios
SCOTUS abortion pill hearing puts FDA discretion on trial
Alcohol will soon be allowed at Washington state strip clubs (Macri)

Bellingham Herald
Neighbors said it was too noisy. Now the port is booting this waterfront business

Capital Press
Cherry season officially a disaster in Washington, Oregon

Columbian
Clark County Jail gains naloxone vending machine
Life expectancy in WA counties varies by as much as 11 years
WA’s AG, health officials raise questions about gravel yard by school
‘We’re still a long way off’: Vancouver closing gap between housing, residents’ needs; more work to be done
Millennial Money: Installment plans for rent divide up payments, but drive up costs
Boeing CEO to exit in broad management shakeup as manufacturing issues plague storied plane maker
Supreme Court hears arguments in case that could restrict access to abortion medication mifepristone

Everett Herald
Washington looks at new ways to clean up graffiti along state highways (Liias)
Judge fines Providence debt collectors for deceiving low-income patients
Editorial: Community Transit making most of Link’s arrival (Liias)

News Tribune
Massive real estate settlement promises to shake up housing market. But will it affect WA?

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing CEO to step down as jet maker prepares to overhaul leadership
Why it’s become more favorable to rent than buy in these U.S. metros

Seattle Times
Strippers’ bill of rights bill signed into law in Washington state (Saldaña)
Appeals court OKs legislative map that changes Central WA districts
Opinion: Redistricting decision hurts Latino voters

Spokesman Review
Spokane Mayor proposes using $1 million of opioid settlement funds on treatment
New lower passing rate for Washington’s bar exam opens possibilities, but also leads to questions

Tri-City Herald
Did WA Legislature drop the ball? Hundreds of Tri-Cities nuclear fuel jobs in the balance
300-ton Eastern WA melter reaches peak temperature to turn radioactive waste into glass

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
District 16 lawmakers schedule town halls in Walla Walla, Columbia Basin College

Washington Post
Supreme Court hears arguments on a key abortion pill
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will step down amid management shakeup
Federal officials say 20 have been charged for threatening election workers
Steel, cement and — cheese? U.S. spends big to cut these carbon footprints.

WA State Standard
Federal appeals court won’t block Washington’s redrawn legislative district map

Wenatchee World
Wolves in NCW: A decades-long conflict between settlers, conservationists, WDFW

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima school board approves plan to lay off more than 100 staff

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Burien spent more than $500k on human services programs in 2023. Here’s who got the money

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Group says UW student group targeted by anti-Islam letter during Ramadan

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gov. Inslee signs ‘Strippers’ Bill of Rights’ into law, paving way for alcohol sales (Saldaña)
Boeing employee unions want new leadership with engineering background, prioritize safety

KUOW Public Radio
What’s at stake in the Supreme Court mifepristone case
10 female cops speak out about sexism, harassment within the Seattle Police Department

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane receives state funds to clean up Division, Browne near I-90

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Blaine School District anticipates $2.5M in budget cuts
Bellingham vehicle thefts spiked in 2022, then dropped in 2023
Behavioral health specialists responded to 830 crisis calls in program’s first six months
Western receives $2M for engineering and cybersecurity programming, academic outreach
Opinion: More Washington students will soon get clean rides to school; it’s a good thing

Crosscut
Seattle Councilmember pushes housing, community development pilot

Tacoma Ledger
House Bill 1939 to increase social worker availability in Washington State (Orwall)

Monday, March 25

Inslee signs Strippers’ Bill of Rights today. When booze will hit WA clubs is uncertain
Madison Zack-Wu, 25, championed Washington’s Strippers’ Bill of Rights, groundbreaking legislation designed to improve safety and workplace conditions for adult dancers across the state. On the last Tuesday of February, with just over a week left in the 2024 session, she received the news she’d been waiting for. The state House — where similar legislation had stalled the year prior — would bring the Strippers’ Bill of Rights to a vote. It had been approved in the Senate a few weeks prior. Continue reading at Tri-City Herald. (Psychi Media)

Legislature passes bills that may help King County’s budget crisis
Last fall, King County Executive Dow Constantine issued dire warnings about the county’s budget situation: Without help from the Legislature, it would be forced to shutter all or almost all of its 10 public health clinics. [This session] legislators passed two obscure bills that could help King County raise taxes to fill its budget gap. House Bill 2044 allows King County to run a voter-approved levy to help fill its general fund. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert)

Extended foster care for young adults up to 21 set to expand in WA
Extended foster care is a voluntary program in Washington available to certain foster care youth ages 18-21 who are no longer eligible for the usual foster care program. The program is aimed at making sure young people in foster care have the skills to enter independent adulthood. But Washington lawmakers want to lower the barriers to accessing extended foster care by removing those federal requirements. Senate Bill 5908, which does that, passed both legislative chambers. It is now awaiting Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature to become law. Continue reading at The Columbian.

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Axios
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun to step down in wake of safety issues

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County Health to host monthly vaccine clinics beginning in April
WA’s unemployment rate at its highest point since COVID-19 spike. Here are the numbers

Capital Press
Western Innovator: Bigwig’s visit inspires a farm boy’s long career in ag policy

Columbian
10 years in, here’s what to know about WA charter schools
Extended foster care for young adults up to 21 set to expand in WA (Wilson)
Amazon reports ‘measurable progress’ on worker safety; critics object
Widow: ‘I lost my partner, my best friend and then my home all at the same time
Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here’s what you need to know
Evicted into the cold: Disabled Vancouver woman, son find selves on street, told no help available

Everett Herald
County plans $35M redevelopment of Arlington maintenance yard
Orange Line, a rapid bus service to Lynnwood light rail, opens Saturday
Comment: ‘Right to repair’ fine for phones, not medical devices
Comment: Timber sales in county would destroy mature forests
Comment: Work of police reforms needs a year-round conversation (Peterson)
Comment: Better planning by PUD could have avoided rate increase
Editorial: State of city address makes case for Everett’s future

News Tribune
Albertsons joins Kroger in adding a huge benefit to customers
It was planned as a psychiatric hospital in Tacoma. So why is the land headed for sale?

Olympian
New study ranks states with the most affordable healthcare. Washington places in top five
New Thurston County manager responds to past controversy in interview with The Olympian

Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles schools: State funding still short
Online learning keeps rising among state’s K-12 students

Puget Sound Business Journal
Sun Belt housing markets see high price-to-rent premiums
In a challenging year for startups, female-led ventures set a record
Amazon puts another $45 million toward Seattle-area affordable housing
737 Max safety crisis prompts Boeing CEO Calhoun, top Seattle exec to step down

Seattle Times
Legislature passes bills that may help King County’s budget crisis
How the drought hit WA’s farms, forests, fisheries and drinking water
As WA tackles PFAS pollution, some worry about ‘piecemeal’ approach (Lovelett)
Fentanyl crisis descends on jail in a small WA town short on treatment (Goodman)
Biden signs $1.2 trillion funding package after Senate’s early-morning passage ended shutdown threat
Editorial: As ferry system rebuilds, learn lessons of recent lapses
Opinion: Funding for WA schools is actually falling
Opinion: Seawalls offer a false sense of security as oceans rise
Opinion: Channeling old political spirits, Sen. Murray rains money on WA
Opinion: Rep. DelBene fights to prevent landslides and restore governance to House

Spokesman Review
Co-living residential housing is coming to Washington after Inslee signs bill into law (Gregerson)

Tri-City Herald
Inslee signs Strippers’ Bill of Rights today. When booze will hit WA clubs is uncertain (Saldaña, Trudeau)

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Lawmakers, candidates react to new WA district voting maps
Washington State Penitentiary inmate dies one week after assault

WA State Standard
Washington looks at new ways to clean up graffiti along state highways
‘Really troubling:’ Survey finds poor outcomes for students with disabilities after high school

Wenatchee World
Concerns voices at 1st hearing on Columbia Elementary closing

Yakima Herald-Republic
New voting map could mean new lawmakers in the Lower Yakima Valley
In basket: Yakima Valley Community Foundation board elects new officers
Yakima council reopens crime lab discussion, OKs funding for police equipment

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Teen crime rises sharply in Renton over one year period
Boeing CEO to step down after series of high-profile safety issues

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
FBI advises passengers onboard Alaska flight with doorplug blowout may be victims of criminal act
King County providing more business transparency to pet owners to make informed decisions about care

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Spring in western Washington could see above average temps, below normal rainfall
Boeing CEO to exit in management shakeup as manufacturing issues plague plane maker

KNKX Public Radio
Bird flu is decimating seal colonies. Scientists don’t know how to stop it

KUOW Public Radio
Week in Review: downtown Seattle, police, and landlines (Bateman)
Pickle-shaped sea creatures popping up along the NW coast, why it’s important
Put cops back in school and shut down the street, Garfield High parents say after another Seattle shooting

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane tourism buzzing from NCAA Tournament and other sports events
Mayor Brown proposes over $11 million investment in Spokane’s health and human services

Web

Crosscut
WA courts are meant to fine convicted sex buyers. Most don’t. (Orwall)

MyNorthwest
Pierce County Parks announces new scholarship program
Whatcom County agencies conduct major drug bust following dozens of overdoses

Friday, March 22

In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh
A decade ago, on March 22, 2014, a piece of a hillside broke loose and tore through a quiet community in the Stillaguamish River valley. About 19 million tons of earth surged forward at the speed of a moving car. Eyewitnesses compared the thunderous roar to a plane crash. In about 60 seconds, the Steelhead Haven neighborhood was buried. This year, with the unveiling of a long-awaited memorial, the anniversary looms particularly large. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

Another explosive year for gun bills in Washington Legislature
Democratic state lawmakers used this year’s legislative session to bolster Washington’s bonafides in reducing the threat of and harm from gun violence in communities. Three bills awaiting Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature will expand the list of places where open carrying of firearms is banned, penalize gun owners who fail to promptly report the theft of weapons and toughen security requirements for federally licensed firearms dealers. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Spencer Platt)

Homelessness, affordable-housing shortage in Seattle sparks ‘micro-apartments’ resurgence
Boarding houses that rented single rooms to low-income, blue-collar or temporary workers were prevalent across the U.S. in the early 1900s. Known as single room occupancy units, or SROs, they started to disappear in the postwar years amid urban renewal efforts and a focus on suburban single-family housing. Now the concept is reappearing — with the trendy name of “micro-apartment” and aimed at a much broader array of residents — as cities buffeted by surging homelessness struggle to make housing more affordable. Continue reading at KOMO News. (Manuel Valdes)