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Monday, April 4

Washington birth doulas advocated for-a pathway to certification and won
With Gov. Jay Inslee’s signoff, birth doulas in Washington State have established their work as a profession based on voluntary competency-based state certification, paving the way for reimbursement under Medicaid. ESHB 1881 passed both chambers in Olympia earlier this month, where it drew broad support, passing with a wide margin of 85–8, backing from both parties in the House, and unanimous support in the Senate, according to a media release from Surge Reproductive Justice, an organization backing the legislation. Continue reading at The South Seattle Emerald. (Courtesy of Governor Jay & First Lady Trudi Inslee)

State approves 1st alert system for missing Indigenous people
Beginning soon, when Indigenous people go missing in Washington, social media, radio airwaves and highways will be blanketed with their information to hopefully lead to them being found — the first state in the U.S. where that will be guaranteed. That’s because Gov. Jay Inslee on March 31 signed House Bill 1725, creating the nation’s first statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people during a ceremony on the Tulalip Reservation in front of tribal leaders and community members, state officials and lawmakers. Continue reading at Indian Country Today.

After Unionizing, WA State Tulip Workers Reach Labor Settlement
Tulip workers came to an agreement with Washington Bulb management last week after five days of a temporary suspension in their strike as well as negotiations in Mount Vernon, WA. The workers’ committee discussed 16 demands that included better pay, sanitary conditions, and protective equipment for working in the fields. Ramon Torres, president of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, says the discussions were not easy but finally, the workers’ committee was recognized as a member of the union. Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting.

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Associated Press
Judge: Navy can’t use Washington parks for training
Health care provider sues over Idaho’s strict abortion ban
Mixed results for Oregon’s pioneering drug decriminalization
WHO says 99% of world’s population breathes poor-quality air
Russia faces growing outrage amid new evidence of atrocities
With students in turmoil, US teachers train in mental health

Auburn Reporter
School zone cameras will protect Auburn students, superintendent says
Auburn police arrests, use of force, bookings decrease in 2021

Bellingham Herald
‘Long-sought-after’ trail will link Bellingham neighborhoods
How is distracted driving data compiled when it seems like everybody is on their phone?
Bellingham could soon see unarmed 911 response for mental health concerns
Watch “at least 72” orca whales pass through the Salish Sea
Bellingham to fix beach erosion at Boulevard Park

Capital Press
Drought looms in Washington; no relief funds set aside

Columbian
Clark County COVID-19 activity rate hits plateau
Opinion: In Our View: We must remain vigilant about coronavirus
Opinion: In Our View: Goal to curtail gas cars puts state on right path (Macri)
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Police accountability; fluff jam

Everett Herald
Lawmakers’ latest legal fight with Inslee nears a quiet end (Jinkins, Billig)
In many languages, Snohomish County schools welcome Afghan students
Why Brier and other small cities turned down federal relief
70 killer whales seen in one day in Salish Sea
Verizon workers in Everett, Lynnwood voting on union effort
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: How your elders tried to fight inflation in the ’70s
WaPo Comment: Students learn history because they like to argue
Comment: More work needed to correct recent policing reforms
Comment: Long-term care program delayed but harm long-lasting
Editorial: Steps to protect public, police will honor officer

Indian Country Today
At the Crossroads: State of the Economy in Indian Country
State approves 1st alert system for missing Indigenous people (Lekanoff)

News Tribune
This Pierce County city has a rash of graffiti, and a solution. Here’s what it plans to do
How’s Tacoma doing? Community satisfaction continues downward trend in latest survey
Op-Ed: Gender-affirming care saves lives. I’m proud to be part of a team in Tacoma providing it
Sen. Randall: Patients seeking abortions are coming. WA must do its part to oppose Idaho’s new ban
Police chase from Parkland to Tacoma ends with rollover crash, arrest of DUI suspect

New York Times
$4.8 Million Settlement Reached in Trooper’s Fatal Shooting of a Black Driver
Some U.S. states see new cases increase.
House Votes to Decriminalize Cannabis

North American Post
Looking South: Anglophone Canadian Reactions to Japanese American Incarceration – Part 1

Olympian
Public can comment on Thurston code amendments to protect gophers, ease permitting
How to report a robocall scam under the WA Attorney General’s new initiative
‘Astounding’ number of Bigg’s killer whales spotted in Salish Sea Thursday

Peninsula Daily News
Three more Peninsula deaths as case numbers begin to creep up
Slight climb seen in COVID-19 case numbers

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon paid more than $4M to labor consultants in 2021 as unionization efforts spread
As employees return to the office, companies grapple with vaccine tensions
What we know — and don’t know — about Seattle’s payroll tax after one year
Alaska Airlines cancels dozens of flights as pilots picket
Seattle health care organizations complete restructure plan, forming Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Opinion: Everyone should have access to cancer treatment

Seattle Times
Thunderstorms, high winds and other wild weather expected Monday
Group sues Kirkland, King County over plan to convert hotel to permanent supportive housing site
Inslee rankles fellow Democrats by vetoing part of tax-incentive bill geared toward rural WA (Randall, Billig)
Washington stopped planning for a nuclear war in 1984. Should we start now?
Column: Seattle’s middle class is vanishing. Could this idea save it?
Column: Seattle shrinking? Maybe that’s a good thing
Editorial: Congress must help build a climate resilience workforce
Opinion: The saga of the West Seattle Bridge: This is how we roll … or not

South Seattle Emerald
Despite national search, interim police chief Adrian Diaz is well-positioned to stay
Cases down statewide, but uptick in King County for covid-19
Washington birth doulas advocated for a pathway to certification — and won
Opinion: Suquamish Tribe opposes Congress’ recognition of Duwamish Tribal

Tri-City Herald
WA state’s worst prison COVID outbreak is in Franklin County. Inmates and staff sickened
250 war-weary Ukrainian refugees could soon resettle with Tri-Cities relatives
Benton jail struggling to take in more inmates even though COVID rules ease
Richland School Board member says she deleted text messages with other board members
50-mph gusts possible in Tri-Cities. Heavy mountain snow forecast on I-90
Dramatic drop in Tri-Cities COVID deaths. Subvariant now dominant in WA

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Regional Airport prepares for new jets with extensive remodel
Grant to provide free bicycle helmets to Walla Walla kids
Group urges Milton-Freewater to invest in its pool: ‘Pools do not make money, but they do make communities’
Walla Walla Police Department shuts down its app, plans a return to social media
Walla Walla County authorizes funds to widen another portion of Mill Creek Road

Washington Post
Biden calls for a Putin ‘war crimes trial’
Outrage widens over Russian attacks Zelensky now calls a ‘genocide’
The war in Ukraine and a ‘turning point in history’
The world is running out of options to hit climate goals, U.N. report shows
Lawmakers agree on $10 billion in covid funds, but drop global aid from deal
How long covid is accelerating a revolution in medical research
Opinion: Amid backsliding on climate, the renewables effort now must be tripled

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic honored by statewide health organization
Letter: Ukraine tragedy exposes climate-related crises
Letter: Let’s shun states where fascist thinking thrives
Letter: Time for serious solutions for breaching dams

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Uptick in western Washington highway shootings continues in I-5 multi-car incident
Ukrainian refugees get aid from Seattle law students for asylum applications
Everett prepares for memorial honoring fallen Officer Dan Rocha

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Everett police Officer Dan Rocha to be remembered at memorial
Officials: gray whale found stranded on Camano Island
Passengers stranded as more Alaska Airlines flights canceled again
Biden: Putin should face war crimes trial for Bucha killings

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Dan Rocha: Everett community to pay final respects to fallen officer
Police investigate latest encampment fire on Ballard’s Mary Avenue
Ukrainians are arriving in Washington faster than expected with pleas for help

KNKX Public Radio
After 5 months stuck in hospital, autistic Washington teen sent to facility 2,700 miles from home

KUOW Public Radio
Judge rules against Navy SEAL training at Washington State Parks

NW Public Radio
After Unionizing, WA State Tulip Workers Reach Labor Settlement

Web

Crosscut
Tribal leaders say WA state is ignoring treaty rights
WA prepares against invasive rose- and hop-eating beetle

MyNorthwest
Fourth straight day of canceled flights at Sea-Tac amid ongoing Alaska Airlines pilot shortage
A year after veto, Gov. Inslee signs pledge to end sale of new gas-powered cars by 2030
‘We’re pretty disappointed by this,’ says cycling nonprofit of decision to restrict bikes at Green Lake
Traffic congestion relief comes to Tacoma with Puyallup River Bridge’s completion
Alaska Airlines cancels at least 71 Sea-Tac flights as pilots picket over ‘work rules frozen in time’
Group of parents files lawsuit over planned homeless shelter in vacant Kirkland hotel
Europe’s omicron surge ‘totally different’ than what’s expected in Washington
Three all-electric buses begin south Seattle service amid larger vehicle-electrification push

The Stranger
Councilmember Nelson Wants Signing Bonuses for Cops, Even Though We Don’t Know If They Work
This Week in Worker Conquests: Amazon Workers Unionize Warehouse (!!!), Activists Spoil Scab Search, and Crossroads Sweeps Vote

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: West Seattle and countywide updates – what’s up, what’s down

Friday, April 1

1st in U.S.: Missing Indigenous people alert system enacted
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed into law a bill that creates a first-in-the-nation statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people, to help address a silent crisis that has plagued Indian Country in this state and nationwide. The law sets up a system similar to Amber Alerts and so-called silver alerts, which are used, respectively, for missing children and vulnerable adults in many states. It was spearheaded by Democratic Rep. Debra Lekanoff, the only Native American lawmaker currently serving in the Washington Legislature, and championed by Indigenous leaders statewide. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni/Everett Herald)

Inslee signs bills to help students, protect catalytic converters, let job seekers see salaries
A flurry of bills were officially signed into Washington state law Wednesday afternoon as the governor continued to take action on legislation passed by lawmakers during this year’s session. Several of the bills were geared towards helping students, while others protect employees and consumers. Continue reading at OutletName. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Washington governor signs $64.1 billion supplemental budget
A $64.1 billion supplemental state budget that spends on statewide programs ranging from homelessness and behavioral health to the ongoing COVID-19 response was signed Thursday by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. The supplemental plan builds off of the $59 billion, two-year spending plan adopted by the Legislature last year, and benefited from the significant influx of revenues the state has seen over the past year. Additionally, lawmakers used more than $1 billion in remaining pandemic-related federal relief funds in the budget. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder/The Seattle Times)

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Associated Press
Inslee signs law intended to reduce hazing incidents after WSU freshman’s death
1st in U.S.: Missing Indigenous people alert system enacted (Lekanoff)
State budgets, signed Thursday, include money for local projects

Bellingham Herald
Inslee signs bills to help students, protect catalytic converters, let job seekers see salaries (Leavitt, Sullivan, Hansen, Paul, Wilson C., Wellman, Mullet, Liias, Nobles, Rolfes, Randall, Ryu)
Alert system for missing, murdered Indigenous women and people signed into WA law (Lekanoff)

Capital Press
Inslee veto upsets GOP lawmakers from farming districts
USDA planting report: Northwest farmers add 60,000 acres of wheat

Everett Herald
Everett mayor’s annual speech focuses on gun violence, homelessness
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo comment: CDC’s new mask guidance could be too slow to respond

News Tribune
Relief at last? New Interstate 5 Puyallup River bridge has opened in Tacoma
Doughnut crime, mountain cake, useless firefighting gear — WA agencies play April Fools
These 18 geographic features in WA include a derogatory word and now face a name change
A pioneering Black doctor retires after 40 years in Tacoma. He was one of the city’s first
Alaska Airlines cancels dozens of flights as pilots picket

New York Times
March Jobs Report Shows Strong Gains: Live Updates
Covid Live Updates: Senators Near Deal to Cut Stalled Aid Package to $10 Billion
E.P.A. Decides Against Limiting Perchlorate in Drinking Water
Rising Wages Are Good News for Workers but Put Pressure on the Fed

Olympian
Alert system for missing, murdered Indigenous women and people signed into WA law (Lekanoff)
Inslee signs bills to help students, protect catalytic converters, let job seekers see salaries (Leavitt, Sullivan, Hansen, Paul, Wilson, Wellman, Mullet, Liias, Nobles, Rolfes, Randall, Ryu)
Olympia officers discharged from hospital after being stabbed during Thursday night incident
2 Olympia police officers stabbed, suspect shot in west side incident Thursday evening
Jennifer Belcher, Washington’s first female public lands commissioner, dies at 78
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state

Peninsula Daily News
Code change targets housing crisis

Puget Sound Business Journal
Sea-Tac Airport sets date for full opening of International Arrivals Facility
Irish cargo operator places order for up to 20 Boeing converted 737 freighters
Providence, Swedish rebrand under unified name in Puget Sound area
Washington State Convention Center changes its name

Seattle Times
WA sets 2030 goal to phase out gas cars (Macri)
Seattle health care systems restructure to form new Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
$100K-plus households are now the majority in most Seattle neighborhoods
Coronavirus infections again rising in King County. No cause for alarm yet, health officials say
AP: Inslee signs $64.1 billion supplemental budget; here’s where the money will go
Seattle mayor announces nationwide police chief search, backs interim chief

South Seattle Emerald
Celebrating International Women’s Month with the women of the ‘Emerald’
Closure of King County’s only work release for women raises gender equity questions
Rahma Rashid wants to change the narrative around abuse in Muslim communities
Opinion: The 2 Seattle Freedom Scholars you need to kno

Washington Post
Red Cross heads toward Mariupol for evacuations; peace talks resume online
A historic all-Black town wants reparations to rebuild as a ‘safe haven’
Amazon workers vote to join a union in New York in historic move
U.S. economy adds 431,000 jobs in March, as labor market strengthens
Colleges scramble to recruit students as nationwide enrollment plunges
California snowpack vastly depleted after record dry start to year

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Numerous flights canceled as Alaska Airlines pilots picket for better negotiations
Lower enrollment may cause changes within Seattle Public Schools
Public input sought in renaming 18 Washington sites to remove derogatory word (Lekanoff)
Inslee signs first-of-its-kind alert system for missing Indigenous people into law (Lekanoff)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Fewer free COVID testing options for the uninsured as BA.2 variant spreads in Washington

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
I-5 Puyallup River Bridge opens to South Sound drivers
Parents group sues Kirkland, King County over planned homeless shelter near schools

KNKX Public Radio
Makah Tribe reopens and reflects after two years of strict protocols
The White House announces moves to gender neutral passports
COVID disparities persist for Black Americans. But there are lessons for the future

KUOW Public Radio
Stop Saying ‘marijuana’? Lawmakers Say It’s Racist
Rare fin whale that visited Seattle washes up dead in Canada
Pandemic updates: Covid rates remain low in Seattle-area schools after masks come off
Exclusive: How the student loan safety net has failed low-income borrowers
Omicron subvariant spreading further in Washington state

NW Public Radio
WA State Will Soon Have An Alert System For Murdered And Missing Indigenous People (Lekanoff)
Pierce County Seeks To Create Cultural Hubs To Improve Coordinated Entry System

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘I’ve been waiting for this:’ Families react to missing Indigenous persons alert system law

Web

Crosscut
WA prepares against invasive rose- and hop-eating beetle

The Stranger
Slog AM: Inslee Signs the Indigenous Amber Alert Bill, Republicans Hate People with Diabetes, and Washington’s 18 Derogatory Sites (Lekanoff)

Thursday, March 31

WA panel now will consider past offenses when deciding whether to take an officer’s badge
The newly expanded Criminal Justice Training Commission, its membership now including relatives of people who died at the hands of police, on Wednesday voted to increase the commission’s ability to take the badges and guns of troubled law enforcement officers even if the wrongdoing occurred years ago and went unpunished at the time. The commission voted 14-4 in favor of applying the provisions of Senate Bill 5051, passed by the state Legislature last year, to all future police decertification actions, regardless of when the misconduct occurred. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Bettina Hansen)

New student loan program in works with Inslee signature
Washington must develop a state student loan program for residents under a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday. The new law requires the Washington Student Achievement Council, along with the Office of the State Treasurer and the State Investment Board, to develop a program that will issue student loans with interest rates of 1% or lower to resident students with financial need who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. Loans will start being awarded in the 2024-2025 academic year. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Dan Pelle)

Inslee signs new bills on catalytic converters, hazing and more
Gov. Jay Inslee is expected Thursday to sign supplements to the state’s operating and capital budgets that will pour billions of additional dollars into education, health care, transportation and housing. Lawmakers approved a two-year, $59.1 billion operating budget last April. The supplemental plan in front of Inslee adds roughly $6.2 billion in new spending in the budget cycle that runs through June 30, 2023. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

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Associated Press
Spokane County to pay $1M to family of man deputy shot and killed

Aberdeen Daily World
Ag Processing to broaden footprint at Port of Grays Harbor

Auburn Reporter
Breaking down Washington police reform from this year and last (Johnson)

Bainbridge Island Review
Healing key to 80th anniversary of internment

Bellevue Reporter
Cannabis stakeholders want cash out of the equation amid rash of robberies

Bellingham Herald
With Canada testing ending, what will it mean for Whatcom cross-border traffic?
Report: Switch to zero-emission vehicles could save lives and billions of dollars in WA
Whatcom sees 290th COVID-related death, but infection, hospitalization rates remain steady
These 18 geographic features in WA include a derogatory word and now face a name change
‘Solar tsunami’ could mean the Northern Lights will be visible in Whatcom County this week
Though BA.2 likely in the region, Whatcom health department awaiting variant test results

Capital Press
Farmers report drastically lower hemp surplus, rising prices
Washington FSA director back at the helm

Everett Herald
Inslee signs new bills on catalytic converters, hazing and more
New Everett, Marysville court program to offer treatment over jail
What’s on Mukilteo’s old negatives? Historical society to find out
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Democrats must break stalemate over covid funding
WaPo Comment: Wenatchee maid got us minimum wage; now in jeopardy?
Editorial: Bullet train study should include other options

Federal Way Mirror
The benefits of King County’s juvenile diversion program

High Country News
Interior is pushing states to replace derogatory place names with colonial ones

Indian Country Today
Report on federal Indian boarding schools due

Kitsap Sun
‘A blessing to this community:’ Newly completed Pendleton Place readies for tenants

News Tribune
Live updates: White House adds $500 million in Ukraine aid

New York Times
Ukraine Live Updates: Biden to Tap U.S. Oil Reserves as War Enters 6th Week
State Dept. Will Allow Americans to Mark Their Gender as ‘X’ on Passports
This Is What Happens When Globalization Breaks Down
Justice Dept. Widens Jan. 6 Inquiry to Range of Pro-Trump Figures
States Close Mass Test and Vaccine Sites, but Virus May Swell Anew

North American Post
Will Your Money Last as Long as You Do?

Olympian
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Downtown Olympia is about to get 10 more pieces of public art. Here’s what they look like

Peninsula Daily News
FDA OKs fourth booster for over 50
Discovery Bay, Admiralty Inlet open for shellfish harvest

Puget Sound Business Journal
Campus of the future: Colleges are rethinking, shrinking real estate as students, workers demand more flexibility
Boeing’s latest certification obstacle could impact hundreds of 737 Max 10 orders
Reporter’s Notebook: University-affiliated innovation districts gain momentum
Pentagon delays award of $9B cloud contract

Seattle Times
How happy are Seattle, and WA as a whole, compared to other cities and states?
One Seattle-area woman got her parents out of Ukraine; another fears for her mother, still there
WA task force recommends faster action on sexual misconduct involving health care professionals
WA panel now will consider past offenses when deciding whether to take an officer’s badge
King County lost population last year for the first time in almost 50 years
Opinion: Ever wonder how much plastic you may be ingesting?

Skagit Valley Herald
Road construction projects slated for Sedro-Woolley

Sol De Yakima
Aviones de la Marina aterrizan de emergencia en Terminal Aérea de Yakima
Valley Mall asume operación de mercado de agricultores en Union Gap

South Seattle Emerald
Seattle foundation names new leader, ‘Seattle within reach,’ & more!
Departing Executive Director reflects on her time at Southeast Seattle Senior Center
Opinion: Caging the caged — solitary confinement in Washington State

South Whidbey Record
Transportation package includes ferry improvements (Paul)

Spokesman Review
New federal task force in Spokane takes aim at businesses, people committing COVID-19 fraud
Betsy Wilkerson reflects on her time as the only Black woman on Spokane’s city council: ‘We’re poised for greatness and greatness for people of color’
New student loan program in works with Inslee signature (Sullivan)
Inslee signs anti-hazing bill inspired by Sam Martinez into law: ‘Sam’s story will save lives’ (Leavitt)
Police reports show mixed approach to campus safety across Spokane Public Schools

Vancouver Business Journal
Opinion: State lawmakers hit the gas on multi-year spending spree

Washington Post
Temporary Mariupol cease-fire agreed to ahead of Red Cross evacuation
A policing strategy abandoned after Breonna Taylor’s death spreads to other cities
Biden unveils plan to release 1 million barrels of oil per day
Pregnant people at much higher risk of breakthrough covid, study shows
Biden presses Congress for new covid funding, gets second booster shot
Opinion: How can we put covid behind us without guaranteed paid sick leave?

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima health officials say COVID-19 cases declining, but they still urge second booster
Community, staff raise concerns about Toppenish School District firearms procedures after incidents involving Cernas
Selah School District down to final three candidates in superintendent search

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Tragic’: Tacoma pot shop where employee was killed won’t reopen until they can operate safely
‘Pandemic is not over’: Washington officials say omicron’s BA.2 subvariant now dominant strain
A1 Revisited: Seattle Times accountability project addresses harm of past coverage
Community gathers to remember Japanese residents exiled from Bainbridge Island 80 years ago
Tenino mayor weighs methods to better process, use human waste

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
State’s missing Indigenous people alert system will be first in the US (Lekanoff)
‘Very unusual and disconcerting’: violent crime up in Ballard neighborhood
Ukraine asylum seekers begin reaching Washington state
Rising food prices won’t slow down, per USDA
DOH discusses COVID-19 outlook
Over $43 million in IRS refunds due to Washingtonians
As Seattle continues to lose police, new report finds mixed results for hiring bonus program

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Pot retail stores consider armed security, other costly safety measures
COVID-19 cases increasing in King County as omicron subvariant spreads
Seattle community holds panel discussion to find solutions for city’s homeless crisis
Overnight fire at Ballard camp stirs concern as Seattle reports rising number of blazes
EPA to discuss Lower Duwamish Waterway superfund clean up effort Thursday

KNKX Public Radio
Advocates, neighbors and staff call on Inslee to save medium security Naselle Youth Camp
CDC drops its COVID-19 risk advisory for cruise ship travel

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Covid rates remain low in Seattle-area schools after masks come off
Ivermectin does not prevent Covid-19 hospitalization, a new study says

KXLY (ABC)
Inslee to sign six tribal-related bills in Tulalip Thursday

NW Public Radio
Malden, Pine City Families Sue Avista Utilities Over 2020 Wildfire
Accusations Of Ethics Violations By Some Richland Public School Board Members
Freshwater Mussels Declining Throughout The Northwest
The Fight For Legacy Forests: The Supreme Court Case

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington State DNR carrying out ‘prescribed burn’ for the first time in years
President Biden’s proposed 2023 budget would provide $516.6 million for Sound Transit
Biden orders federal assistance for Washington state counties impacted by landslides, flooding
Meet Western Washington’s U.S. Attorney, Nick Brown
Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island remember being forced into internment camps 80 years ago

Web

Crosscut
New WA police accountability law can now include past misconduct (Goodman, Dhingra)
Oakland fire in tiny home village turns spotlight on WA company
How Comcast and other telecoms scuttle rural WA broadband efforts (Wellman)
Redlining’s enduring impact shows up in WA pollution disparity (Hackney)

Wednesday, March 30

The more contagious BA.2 version of omicron is now the most common in the U.S.
A subvariant of omicron that’s even more contagious than the original is now the most common COVID-19 strain in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that the BA.2 strain now accounts for more than half – 54.9% – of all coronavirus infections nationwide, according to new data. It’s even more prevalent in certain parts of the country. For example, over 70% of COVID-19 cases in the Northeast are BA.2, the CDC estimates. Continue reading at KUOW. (Getty Images)

WA launches new way to report illegal robocalls
Robocalls aren’t just annoying — some are actually illegal. As of Tuesday, there’s a new way for Washingtonians to report them. In a continuation of the office’s work to stop illegal robocalls, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson launched a new form for people to report illegal, harassing calls. Certain types of robocalls — phone calls that come from an automated system and play a recorded message — are legal. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Elaine Thompson)

Cascadia bullet train on track for big bucks to get rolling, but big uncertainty remains
For more than five years, Washington state, Oregon and British Columbia have collaborated on studies of a possible Cascadia bullet train to run between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. This winter, the Washington Legislature approved money for yet more studies. But state lawmakers also set aside a much bigger sum to attract federal support that could advance the bullet train dream toward being shovel-ready. Project supporters envision a train with a top speed of at least 250 mph operating on a dedicated track. Continue reading at Northwest News Network. (Tom Banse)

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Associated Press
Warily, tribes prepare for cannabis ventures

Bainbridge Island Review
Pickleball becomes state’s official sport (Lovick)

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham considers tax method for funding programs to fight climate change
Have a unwanted tree seedling in your yard? Whatcom nonprofit asks you don’t pull it out
Bellingham’s latest efforts to protect blue heron rookery ‘a long time coming’
Whatcom’s COVID-related hospitalization rate drops to lowest mark in more than 8 months

Bothell-Kenmore Reporter
Kenmore city council acknowledges Sexual Assault Awareness Month, talks of tenant protections

Columbian
Clark County vaccine supply good as second COVID booster OK’d

Covington-Maple Valley Reporter
Local leaders celebrate funding milestone for State Route 18 (Mullet, Ramos, Schrier)

The Daily News
Pickleball picked as Washington’s state sport
Rise in registered voters, new state laws increase Cowlitz County Elections’ workload

Everett Herald
Concrete-driver strike affecting Lynnwood light rail work
Memorial for fallen officer Dan Rocha set at Everett arena
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: ‘Partisan divide’ divides partisans, not all Americans

Indian Country Today
Joe Biden calls for substantial Indian health funding

News Tribune
Should Tacoma crack down on spectators as street racing continues to cause problems?
Convicted Tri-Cities felon accused of killing Everett officer, then running him over

Olympian
Tumwater hotel identified for possible housing is in foreclosure, port official says
7 more Thurston County residents die of COVID-19 amid slight uptick in cases
Workers at Olympia’s Cooper Point Starbucks went on strike last week. Here’s why
WDFW approves 6 days of clam digs beginning April 1

Peninsula Daily News
FDA urges fourth booster for over 50

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA boosts lending program for underserved businesses
How housing shortage, affordability concerns could factor into office-space decisions
Microsoft’s security leader sounds warning about metaverse threats

Seattle Medium
After Years Of Talking, Bill To Address Youth Homelessness Signed Into Law (Senn)

Seattle Times
King County lost population last year for the first time in almost 50 years
WA launches new way to report illegal robocalls
Seattle finalizes Indigenous Peoples Day, Juneteenth as city holidays
Kenmore City Council caps move-in fees, mandates more notice for rent increases

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County planning fixes for deficient bridges
Skagit County Commissioners to consider planning policy changes

South Seattle Emerald
Cityartist grant applications open to performance artists until april 27
South Seattle students eye third consecutive National Solar Car Championship

Tri-City Herald
1st rattlesnake of the season spotted on popular Tri-Cities trail. How to stay safe
Federal investigators look into drug use at Hanford plant. Here’s what they found

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla County reduces vaccination schedule as case rate and demand for vaccines decline
Walla Walla Toyota, Salvation Army announce third annual Day of Service for families in need

Washington Post
Kyiv, Chernihiv accuse Russia of attacks despite promise to reduce strikes
Ukraine says Russia forcibly relocates thousands from Mariupol. Here’s one dramatic account.
Sen. Susan Collins says she will vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court
Biden to announce ‘one-stop-shop’ website for covid resources, including vaccines and treatments
Biden administration announces new funding to make homes energy-efficient
Climate change is making pollen season even worse across the country

Yakima Herald-Republic
Seattle Times: WA launches new way to report illegal robocalls
Spokesman-Review: Inslee signs transportation package into law with funding for new electric ferries

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Victims say Seattle-based charity bail group should stop freeing people charged with violent crimes
Edmonds School District welcomes Afghan refugees
Puyallup School District set to make financial literacy course required for graduation
Ukrainian refugees arriving in western Washington
2 Mount Vernon men arrested in connection to Capitol riot

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
West Seattle Bridge repair on track to finish in ‘mid-2022’ with concrete drivers’ limited return
Federal, local lawmakers working to make marijuana business safer
When an online deal looks too good to be true, it probably is
Freight train derailment at Port of Tacoma hits power lines, blocks traffic

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
New strategies on tap to steer Seattle’s homeless into shelter
Pot store retailers worry about safety; roundtable highlights crisis, changes needed
As number of freeway shootings rise, Washington State Patrol urges victims to come forward
FBI uses online records to catch Mount Vernon men who smoked weed during Capitol riots
Ballard business leaders call for action after latest shooting
Washingtonians react to FDA authorizing another booster shot for people over 50

KNKX Public Radio
Cascadia bullet train on track for big bucks to get rolling, but big uncertainty remains (Liias)
The FDA authorized 4th vaccine dose for Americans over 50. What do we know about whether it works?

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Covid cases tick up in King County
The more contagious BA.2 version of omicron is now the most common in the U.S.
There’s never been such a severe shortage of homes in the U.S. Here’s why

KXLY (ABC)
Washington, Idaho Attorney General seek to combat robocalls

NW Public Radio
FOLLOW UP: After 5 Months Stuck In The Hospital, Washington Teen With Autism Sent To South Carolina Facility (Rolfes)
Rising Freight, Fuel Prices Impacting Washington Cannabis Industry — But Will Consumers See Their Dispensary Costs Rise?

Web

MyNorthwest
Chance aurora borealis makes appearance in Western Washington skies Thursday
Water main break causes flooding, power outages in Tukwila
As Seattle continues to lose police, new report finds mixed results for hiring bonus program
Ukrainian Association of WA looking toward second aid flight to Ukraine
In first state-led operation in years, Okanogan County imminently slated for prescribed burn
With suspension of jury trials, Whatcom among ‘top places in state for property crime,’ says prosecutor
New Seattle ballot initiative would look to tackle homelessness with ‘social housing’ model
West Seattle Bridge repair on track to finish in ‘mid-2022’ with concrete drivers’ limited return
‘Medical airlift’ for Ukraine with $3.5 million of medical supplies set to fly out of Sea-Tac

The Stranger
Here’s What Amazon Did to Get Rejected from This Year’s Pride March

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Concrete update; six more ‘progress reports’ obtained; celebration planning

Tuesday, March 29

New maps show strong correlation between redlined places in Seattle and worse air quality
Standing on the banks of the Duwamish Waterway, Adrienne Hampton could see before her the manifestations of a legacy of pollution. Low-flying planes descended into King County International Airport as waves of cars traversed the First Avenue South Bridge. Behind her, roaring trucks navigated potholes along residential streets flooded easily by light rain. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

Pickleball officially named Washington’s state sport
Washington Governor Jay Inslee sat at a table set up on the world’s first ever pickleball court, with John Lovick and Kate Van Gent standing beside him. As he scribbled his signature on the paper in front of him Inslee shouted, “Everybody plays!” And just like that, the Snohomish County-led effort to make pickleball Washington’s state sport was complete. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Chuck Wright)

‘Medical airlift’ for Ukraine with $3.5 million of medical supplies set to fly out of Sea-Tac
A relief flight stocked with $3.5 million worth of emergency medical supplies is scheduled to fly out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Monday evening, providing aid to Ukraine during Russia’s ongoing invasion of the Eastern European nation. The flight is being spearheaded by Nova Ukraine, in tandem with Stanford University’s Ukrainian Student Association and the Ukrainian Association of Washington State (UAWS). Cargo will include surgical supplies, “medical machines,” gauze and bandages, arterial lines, and sterile syringes. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (AP file)