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Friday, Feb. 4

WA unemployment agency to cut nearly 800 staff
Washington’s unemployment agency is sending out layoff notices to a quarter of its own staff, due to the loss of temporary federal money. That’s renewing questions about the state’s capacity to promptly process claims and pay benefits. Officials at the Employment Security Department say losing the 769 temporary workers, brought on to help with heavier claims volumes earlier in the pandemic, won’t bring back problems from that period, when claimants sometimes waited months for benefits and spent hours on hold with agency’s call centers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

WA Health Department recommends 4 vaccine shots for those with weakened immune systems
A fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine can help some people with weakened immune systems fend off severe illness with COVID-19, the Washington Department of Health said in a news release Thursday. Certain individuals who are immunocompromised should receive four doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which includes two primary doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, an additional primary dose, and a booster dose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people ages 5 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary shot (third dose) of a vaccine 28 days after receiving their second dose. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Inslee-backed bill would target homeless encampments in public right-of-way
Gov. Jay Inslee is pushing the legislature to pass Senate Bill 5662, which would create a new state office dedicated to transitioning people living in homeless encampments on the “public right of way” into permanent housing. The public right of way includes encampments along sidewalks, below overpasses and bridges, alongside I-5 and state highways, and any other right-of-way under the control of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The state estimates there are more than 1,750 unsanctioned homeless camps on public rights-of-way managed by state agencies. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
Insurer groups sue over state limit on use of credit scoring
Tribes: Johnson & Johnson settlement in opioids case will bolster healing
Senate approves bill increasing redistricting plan transparency (Pedersen)
250K steelhead fish missing from Washington state hatchery

Aberdeen Daily World
Ocosta students crafted trailers to help South Beach area during pandemic

Auburn Reporter
WIAA launches bias reporting form in response to discriminatory incidents

Bellingham Herald
United Nations experts call on U.S. to halt Nooksack evictions
Bellingham’s St. Joe’s receives a $50 million donation. Here’s how it will be used
Four new COVID-related deaths reported in Whatcom, as county sees 532 more cases Wednesday

Columbian
Clark County reports 30 new COVID-19 deaths, a record number
Opinion: In Our View: Community colleges offer paths to success

Covington-Maple Valley Reporter
State bill would help high school students pay for college courses (Mullet)

The Daily News
Planning commission starts review of downtown Longview zoning

Everett Herald
Cornfield Report: Redistricting nearly done; a big reveal on transpo spending (Fey, Liias, Sells, Kirby, Frockt, Carlyle)
Corrections officers, inmates frustrated and fatigued by COVID
Lake Stevens redacts entire 60-page report on public works director
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Refusing teach about racism prolonged it during ’60s
WaPo Comment: Zucker’s legacy defined by his promotion of Trump
Letter: ‘Mockingbird’ should be left on students’ reading list

High Country News
The beauty and complexity of farm work in Washington

News Tribune
Sens. Trudeau and Nobles: Ranked choice got a bad rap in Pierce County. Here’s why WA voters deserve chance to try it
Being a Black business owner is difficult in Pierce County. Here’s the biggest reason
Black businesses feel shorted in COVID relief
Snoqualmie Tribe acquires 12,000 acres of this ancestral forestland
Pierce County health officials say more money needed for COVID response. Who will pay?
Tacoma looks at lowering speed limits as part of plan to eliminate traffic fatalities

New York Times
Strong Jobs Report Shows Resilience of Economic Recovery
Lawmakers Press Amazon on Sales of Chemical Used in Suicides
House Passes Bill Adding Billions to Research to Compete With China

Olympian
WA Health Department recommends 4 vaccine shots for those with weakened immune systems
‘My heart goes out to everyone involved,’ says Lacey mayor about area school district

Peninsula Daily News
Bill could set up Blue Economy hub at Sequim Bay
Fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine authorized for some
Mandate still in effect after lawsuit settled

Puget Sound Business Journal
Covid-19 employer lawsuits accelerated in 2021. New pain points are on the horizon.
State hospitality group hopeful that Covid restrictions will ease in coming months

Seattle Times
As book ban efforts spread across country, controversy erupts at King County middle school
WA unemployment agency to cut nearly 800 staff
WA lawmakers advance bill to create office to address homeless encampments near highways (Kuderer)

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit 911 planning to ask voters for tax increase

Sol De Yakima
Decepcionados ante falta de soluciones migratorias

South Seattle Emerald
State Outlook Improves for Covid-19, Urges Vaccination, Boosters, and Masking
Abortion Bill Would Recognize More Providers, Shiled Pprgnant People From Prosecution
Black History Today: Eddie Francis, Humbly Chasing His Dreams to New Heights

Spokesman Review
Legislature hears proposal to legalize psychedelic mushrooms (Salomon, Billig)
Inslee, joined by Wilkerson, proposes special office to get people living in encampments into permanent housing
YMCA in Spokane buys 15-acre parcel for new South Hill location
Certain immunocompromised patients now eligible to get fourth dose of COVID vaccine
State Parks permanently closes access to parts of Palouse Falls

Tri-City Herald
Franklin County rejected highest percent of 2020 election ballots in WA state
‘Monumental step.’ Industrial-scale processing of Hanford radioactive tank waste begins
2 Franklin commissioners dismissed warnings about $4,000 overpaid to officials
Franklin’s COVID rate now 2nd highest in nation. Benton County not far behind

Washington Post
U.S. added 467,000 jobs in January despite omicron variant surge
Travis McMichael withdraws plea admitting guilt to federal hate crime charges in murder of Ahmaud Arbery

Yakima Herald-Republic
Omicron wave levels off in parts of Washington; hospitalizations still high in Yakima County
Insurer groups sue over Washington state credit scoring ban
Spokesman-Review: What would ranked-choice look like in Washington? The Legislature’s hoping to find out (Trudeau)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Inslee-backed bill would target homeless encampments in public right-of-way
Washington’s rural communities eager for improved broadband
4 flights leaving Sea-Tac hit with laser strikes
Yes, the free N95 masks from the federal government are made in the US
‘Same day delivery’: Parents warn of fentanyl dealers targeting kids on Snapchat

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
$815M bill would tackle explosion of homeless camps along state highways
Local developer donates $50M to Bellingham hospital
Lawmakers take steps to roll back reform measures that some say interfered with policing (Goodman)
New COVID-19 cases declining in King County
Amazon raising price of Prime membership to $139 per year
Security changes coming to Snoqualmie detention center where teens escaped

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gov. Jay Inslee discusses state’s homeless crisis with Washington leaders
Washington state legislators take up police reform measures — again (Hackney, Goodman)
Mayor Bruce Harrell to lay out public safety plans amid downtown Seattle crime surge
Experts urge early intervention amid increase in threats of violence at Seattle schools
Statewide car theft frustrations turning some victims into vigilantes
Echo Glen starts making security changes after five child inmates escaped
Violent crime doubles near Queen Anne homeless shelter
Tacoma mayor unveils initiatives to aid frustrated businesses targeted by criminals

KNKX Public Radio
Tribes: Settlement in opioids case will foster healing

KPQ
Police Reform Bill in State Senate Gets Backing from Law Enforcement, Resistance from Public Interest Groups (Van De Wege)

KUOW Public Radio
Whatcom County, in Recovery, Braces for More Floods
At-home Covid test, check. Adequate telehealth response, not yet
Covid updates today: Cases fall and we wonder, are we nearing the end?
Over-the-counter Covid tests will soon be free for Medicare recipients
Too soon to update Washington’s voting laws?: Today So Far

KXLY (ABC)
Gov. Inslee plans for $494M to go towards solving the homeless crisis

Q13 TV (FOX)
Tacoma looks to invest $650K toward biz impacted by crime and COVID

Web

CNBC
Payrolls show surprisingly powerful gain of 467,000 in January despite omicron surge

Crosscut
WA wind power farms may conflict with habitat preservation projects

MyNorthwest
Legal battle over capital gains tax kicks off in Douglas County court
Homeless response, housing density take center stage in state Legislature
Senate Dems bring back bill that creates early release path for aggravated murderers, others (Dhingra)
Whatcom County mayors send letter asking for drought, flood help
Washington ranks highest in the nation for pothole related web searches
Washington Rep. Larsen ‘frustrated’ with lack of coordination for 5G rollout
Fight over homeless hotel shelters arrives in Kirkland

The Stranger
State Democrats Want Fewer Elections for Better Voter Turnout (Gregerson, Pedersen)
Governor’s “Missing Middle” Housing Bill Carves Out Exemptions for Rich People

West Seattle Blog
Comment time for next phase of 1.25-million-gallon overflow-storage tank plan near Duwamish River

Thursday, Feb. 3

COVID cases, hospitalizations dropping in Western WA
Coronavirus cases are sharply declining in Western Washington and hospitalizations are showing signs of slowing as the surge of omicron cases that has stressed hospitals could be subsiding, health officials say. According to the state Department of Health’s most recent complete data, Washington recorded a seven-day average of about 1,543 infections per 100,000 people in mid-January. A week prior, the state’s average was about 1,720 per 100,000. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

WA cannabis revenue could go to communities hurt by war on drugs
Washington’s governor wants to give hundreds of millions in cannabis tax revenues to people hindered by the war on drugs. Gov. Jay Inslee’s supplemental budget, released in December, includes a plan to redistribute $125 million annually to communities facing social and economic disparities resulting from inequities in, for example, the enforcement of criminal laws and penalties for drug sales. The community reinvestment plan focuses on things like violence prevention and reentry services for formerly incarcerated people. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jason Redmond)

Hearing aids could soon be covered by insurance under proposed WA legislation
Jill Bujnevicie’s son Hugo was 3 years old when he was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Although he was a typical child and had passed the newborn hearing screening, Bujnevicie and her husband noticed that Hugo’s speech was “a little different” than his older brother, Enzo. A hearing test confirmed what the initial screening at birth had missed: genetic and permanent hearing loss that he had been born with. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Shauna Sowersby)

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Associated Press
Hanford begins 1st large-scale treatment of nuke tank wastes
Senate OKs bill increasing redistricting plan transparency

Bellingham Herald
Weather pattern looks to bring more rain and possible flooding to Whatcom. Here’s when
Experts wary of SSC single-stream recycling pilot, but it could have climate benefits
Need an N95 mask? Two Bellingham locations will hand them out for free starting Thursday
Watch: A new I-5 underpass connects two Bellingham neighborhoods

Capital Press
Washington House panel endorses moderate election reform for conservation districts
AFTER THE FLOOD: NW Washington farmers seek help in taming Nooksack River
Reclamation transfers federal water facilities to Washington irrigation districts
Whatcom County mayors echo farmers’ water concerns
New grant available to Washington state small meat processors

Columbian
COVID-19 cases in Clark County schools down slightly

Everett Herald
Opioid settlement a ‘ding in the crisis’ for Tulalip, other tribes
Fate of EvCC’s Early Learning Center remains hazy
In Edmonds, a new council majority and a new budget fight
Everett settles firefighter’s lawsuit over racism for $375K
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Why it feels like failure when friend refuses logic
WaPo Comment: Maligning a Black woman before we even know her name
Comment: Red-light fines can be unfair; so are traffic wrecks
Editorial: Governor’s emergency powers need legislative review (Randall)

The Facts Newspaper
$23.4 million in affordable housing funding for construction and preservation throughout King County
Washington st broadband infrastructure funding will connect residents currently lackin internet

The Inlander
Spokane firefighters put in unprecedented hours last year, with the pay to match; also, Lesley Haskell’s racist posts make national news, and Washington backtracks on long-term care

New York Times
How Spiking Energy Prices Complicate the Fight Against Global Warming

Olympian
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Western Washington starting to see Omicron wave let up as Eastern Washington revs up
Hearing aids could soon be covered by insurance under proposed WA legislation (Wicks)
Student walkout calls attention to racism at North Thurston Public Schools

Peninsula Daily News
Mandate still in effect after lawsuit dismissed
Port Angeles hiring housing coordinator
COVID-19 case rate beginning to slide on Olympic Peninsula
State insurance commissioner adopts credit scoring ban

Puget Sound Business Journal
Remember the flurry of tuition-refund lawsuits? Here’s what you need to know.
American Airlines boosts order for Boeing 737 Maxes, but delays Dreamliner deliveries
Seattle pilot program to house the chronically homeless behind schedule

Seattle Times
WA counties rejected ballots from people of color, men, younger voters at higher rates
COVID cases, hospitalizations dropping in Western WA
When to get free N95 masks from QFC and Fred Meyer in WA
Ocean heat waves trigger ‘squid bloom’ along Pacific coast, scientists say
Column: Before you rage against critical race theory, it might be helpful to know what it is
Editorial: Don’t let dual-credit fees keep higher education out of reach (Mullet)

Sol De Yakima
Ayuntamiento de Yakima anula plan de estacionamiento seguro
Procurador general de Washington demanda centro de pruebas COVID en Yakima

South Seattle Emerald
Construction Stalls Across King County as Concrete Workers Strike for Fair Wages and Health Care
Remembering Black Wall Street, Remember & Resist, & More

Spokesman Review
Legislature considering several voting measures for Washington
What would ranked-choice look like in Washington? The Legislature’s hoping to find out (Trudeau)
Lawmakers say more needs to be done to quickly return Native American graves and remains to tribes (Cantwell)
‘All the supplies they need’: Jewels Helping Hands opens day center for homeless people
State Senate passes changes to redistricting process as House approves final maps with changes (Pedersen, Sullivan)

Tri-City Herald
‘Monumental step.’ Industrial-scale processing of Hanford radioactive tank waste begins
2 Franklin commissioners dismissed warnings about $4,000 overpaid to officials
Franklin’s COVID rate now 2nd highest in nation. Benton County not far behind
Franklin County hawk gets new lease on life
Cyber criminal stole $740,000 from Benton County. Officials say they know who he is

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Omicron surge still up in Walla Walla County but losing steam, for now, in Umatilla County
Walla Walla Valley Transit bus routes hindered by staffing shortages
City seeks public’s help to identify Walla Walla historic sites for preservation plan

Washington Post
Memo circulated among Trump allies advocated using NSA data in attempt to prove stolen election
‘This horrible terrorist leader is no more,’ Biden says after ISIS leader killed in U.S. raid
Biden’s Fed nominees to be questioned on economic outlook, climate issues at confirmation hearing

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
From pickleball to police reform, new Senator John Lovick is no stranger to politics (Lovick)
Amid Seattle police staffing shortages, downtown businesses turn to security firms
Everett Starbucks files petition to unionize
Everett Community College slow to decide fate of childcare center, leaving parents, staff in limbo
Woman who refused to wear mask inside Bellevue store faces felony for pulling out a gun
Rent hike could cause Bothell nonprofit to shut down

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Kirkland neighbors concerned about proposal to turn hotel into homeless housing
Woman refuses to wear mask, pulls gun on Bellevue gas station clerk
City leaders propose paying for smashed windows, increasing security at Tacoma businesses
‘Outdoor dining is part of the fabric of our city:’ Seattle council moves on free street use
Washington state has worst potholes in country, report says

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Bill to curb Washington governor’s emergency powers clears major hurdle in legislature (Kuderer)
Seattle sidewalks overrun by homeless tents as some look to new mayor for action
Confrontation over mask policy: Customer pulls gun on Bellevue gas station employee

KNKX Public Radio
Buoy will monitor underwater noise in hopes of quieting Puget Sound for endangered orcas
A closer look at fatal police shootings in southwest Washington and the call for a federal probe
Supply chains, medical equipment and more: Murray hopes bill will better prepare us for next public health emergency
Tax reform discussion, bill deadline on the horizon in Olympia

KUOW Public Radio
There’s a Seed Shortage in WA. What Does That Mean for Our Beloved Forests?
Why the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe seeks regulation of popular falls airspace
Covid blog: Don’t get in a tizzy about stealth omicron variant, health experts say
Calls to volunteer fire departments are at a high but they have few first responders
As red states impose new restrictions on voting, blue Washington presses ahead with expansions (Saldaña)

KXLY (ABC)
Proposed bill would bring clarification around law enforcement’s ‘use of force’
Spokane City Councilwoman to speak at Inslee press conference Thursday
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward supports bill limiting mandated statewide emergencies
Washington lawmakers considering a bill to legalize psilocybin for medical treatment

Q13 TV (FOX)
Gov. proposes division to handle homeless encampments along state highways (Kuderer)

Web

Crosscut
WA is working on an Amber Alert for missing Indigenous people (Lekanoff)
WA cannabis revenue could go to communities hurt by war on drugs (Saldana, Morgan)
Paths to build more duplexes gain traction in WA Legislature (Bateman. Das)
The new emergency responders: Librarians

MyNorthwest
Investigation sheds new light on accidental slaying of Vancouver officer at the hands of police
Push to restrict KC jail bookings likely ‘not going to come forward,’ says councilmember
Reformation of Gov. Inslee’s emergency powers inches toward Senate vote (Hunt)
Washington insurance commissioner adopts credit scoring ban
Local health officer: Transition from pandemic to endemic won’t be like a ‘light switch’
‘What have we come to?’: Inslee bill to criminalize election fraud lies advances (Kuderer)

The Stranger
Washington Bill to Legalize Psilocybin Mushroom Treatment Centers Won’t Pass (Salomon)
Seattle’s Pension Board Refuses to Divest From Fossil Fuels

West Seattle Blog
West Seattle-based entrepreneurs fighting food insecurity – and supporting Scouts

Wednesday, Feb. 2

Seattle police ‘failed to de-escalate’ before shooting man to death on waterfront, SPD watchdog says
Two officers who shot and killed a man who was carrying a knife as he walked along Seattle’s waterfront last year failed to first try to defuse the situation or use other defensive strategies before resorting to using deadly force, Seattle’s police watchdog announced Tuesday. In turn, the Office of Police Accountability recommended suspensions for each officer — identified by the Police Department as Cassidy Butler and Willard Jared — for violating the department’s “de-escalation” policy during the fatal encounter in February 2021 with 44-year-old Derek Hayden along Alaskan Way. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alan Burns)

Pfizer and BioNTech seek emergency use authorization of the first coronavirus vaccine for children under 5
Pfizer and BioNTech said Tuesday that they were seeking emergency-use authorization for the first coronavirus vaccine for children younger than 5 and have begun submitting data on the safety and efficacy of the first two doses of a planned three-dose regimen. The Food and Drug Administration asked the companies to apply for authorization of their vaccine, and in an email, FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Caccomo said the omicron surge had generated new data “impacting the potential benefit-risk profile of a vaccine for the youngest children.” Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Matt Roth)

Washington insurance commissioner adopts credit scoring ban
Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has adopted a rule prohibiting insurers from using credit scoring to set rates for auto, homeowner and renter insurance for three years after the end of pandemic-related federal and state emergency financial protections, whichever is longer. The rule was announced Tuesday and takes effect March 4. Kreidler’s office said it started the process of implementing a permanent rule after an emergency rule the commissioner issued last year was struck down by a court. The court found there was no justification to bypass normal rulemaking procedures. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

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Associated Press
Washington insurance commissioner adopts credit scoring ban
Deal seeks to revive last aluminum smelter in PNW, cut waste (Frockt)

Aberdeen Daily World
Shortage of nurses at Harbor Regional Health

Auburn Reporter
Attorney General files lawsuit against COVID testing company

Bellevue Reporter
Federal investigation finds that multiple Menchie’s location failed to pay workers, stole tips

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham’s St. Joe’s hospital moving forward with these plans on major expansion
Feel the shaking? This small earthquake just struck near Whatcom County
How big is omicron’s impact? Whatcom’s COVID pandemic case total jumped by 66% in January
Parts of Whatcom County see snow. Here’s when more is in the forecast
Whatcom Sheriff relocating inmates, halting visiting as jail elevators fail

Capital Press
Cool, wet spring in store for much of Pacific Northwest

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Congress key to getting cash out of cannabis

Everett Herald
It’s time: Rep. Mike Sells says he won’t seek re-election (Sells, Wicks, Robinson)
Snohomish County turns a corner on omicron, but it’s not over
Can fusion-powered Helion Energy change the world — from Everett?
Workers at an Everett Starbucks seek a unionization vote
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg: Supreme Court picks long used to promote diversity
WaPo Comment: Black women jurists’ history justifies Supreme Court

High Country News
Wildfires’ unequal impacts on pregnant people

Mercer Island Reporter
Rep. Senn: Protecting our communities from hatred

News Tribune
City leaders propose paying for smashed windows, increasing security at Tacoma businesses
Pierce County Superior Court’s first Latino judge has died
Editorial: WA state House adds a 2nd way to speak on Gov. Inslee’s COVID mandates
Op-Ed: The far right is substituting ideology for data, and replacing analysis with name-calling

North American Post
New Film “Paper Chase” Tells the Story of Japanese American Media

Olympian
Active shooter drills cause depression, anxiety in students. Lawmakers want to change that (Walen)
20 more Thurston residents die of COVID-19 as virus activity remains high
Coroner identifies man shot, killed by Lacey police after he fired on officers

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam OKs federal funds for food programs
COVID-19 vaccine in works for children under 5
Lawsuit accuses COVID-19 testing company of faking results

Seattle Times
3 WA cities will pay $3 million to settle lawsuit after man is killed in SWAT-like assault
Didn’t WA just vote in November? Why is there another election already? (Gregerson)
One month in, it’s already past time for the new Seattle City Hall to jump on crime
King County homeless shelters left to deal with omicron mostly on their own
Seattle police ‘failed to de-escalate’ before shooting man to death on waterfront, SPD watchdog says
Officials ask for fewer bookings as COVID, staffing shortages worsen King County jail conditions
WA lawmakers advance proposals to allow duplexes, fourplexes in some single-family neighborhoods (Bateman, Pollet, Das)
Opinion: Invest in complete and accessible sidewalks in every community

Skagit Valley Herald
Navy releases technical report from jet noise study

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie police look to hire behavioral health specialist (Callan)

South Seattle Emerald
Black History Today: In Community, the Power of ‘I am’ Becomes ‘we are’
Opinion: Lunar New Year in the Seattle Asian American Diaspora

Tri-City Herald
DOE estimates $100s of billions needed to finish Hanford nuclear waste cleanup
Here’s why ‘ghost-cattle’ fraudster Easterday isn’t starting his federal prison term yet
Post urging school levy ‘no’ vote pulled from Kennewick councilman’s site
Amazon will put 2,800 trucks, cars a day on Tri-Cities roads. But where?
Two dozen Richland students walk out of classes over WA COVID mask rules

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Man fleeing on bicycle from Walla Walla officers struck by police car, later jailed
Walla Walla Valley Transit bus routes hindered by staffing shortages

Washington Post
Biden dispatching additional U.S. troops to Eastern Europe
WHO urges caution as countries begin to loosen restrictions
Fear, anxiety follow third wave of bomb threats targeting HBCUs
Black History Month founder showed how schools should teach about race
Pfizer and BioNTech seek emergency use authorization of the first coronavirus vaccine for children under 5

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Man shot near the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle
Thieves are stealing copper wire along Washington’s highways
Washington state lawmakers consider limitations on active shooter drills in schools (Walen)
Important context left out of COVID-19 natural immunity claims after CDC study release

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
King County to consider booking fewer suspects during latest COVID-19 spike
Déjà vu: Commissioner bans credit-based insurance scores, again
‘We can’t keep up’: Copper wire thieves plague roadways, shut down I-5 express ramp
Fire stations burglarized in Skagit, Whatcom counties

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Council hears proposal aimed at keeping non-violent offenders out of King County jails
Coalition wants officers to stop jailing those arrested for non-violent crimes
Downtown Seattle Association hires private security guards amid police staffing issues
Bellingham Public Schools receives fewer COVID tests because of supply chain issues

KNKX Public Radio
Tax reform discussion, bill deadline on the horizon in Olympia

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Is a guaranteed income program right for Washington? Lawmakers are considering it (Berry)
‘Forbidden housing’ or ‘speakeasy housing?’: Today So Far
Think 85,000 invasive crabs is a lot? Wait ’til you see Vancouver Island

KXLY (ABC)
Washington Department of Transportation ranks Latah Creek Bridge ‘poor’
Washington Board of Health survey for requiring COVID vaccine for students closes Wednesday

Q13 TV (FOX)
2 bills call for higher penalties for hazing after death of WSU fraternity pledge
State licensing, renewal website down causing delays for business owners
King County jails consider releasing non-violent suspects due to staffing shortages, ‘inhumane conditions’
Scientists deploy buoy in Puget Sound to measure noise, risks to orcas

Web

Civic Skunk Works
Opinion: Two Bold Bills Under Discussion Would Combat Washington State’s Growing Inequality

MyNorthwest
Fourth Echo Glen inmate arrested as county files felony charges stemming from escape
‘Outdoor dining is part of the fabric of our city:’ Seattle council moves on free street use
Washington’s Unemployment Trust Fund starting to bounce back in 2022 (Keiser)
Bill to rework Washington’s single-family zoning advances ahead of deadline
Washington Attorney General files lawsuit against COVID testing company
‘Significant amount of wire theft’ shuts down Seattle I-5 express lane ramp
City of Bellevue sues owners of home that slid off foundations in landslide
FAA gives green light for jets flying out of Paine Field after 5G rollout
Downtown Seattle group spends $564,000 on private security, more to come for 3rd Avenue
‘Extraordinary rise in gun violence in King County’ in 2021, says county prosecutor
Gov. Inslee ‘not excited’ about emergency powers reform, thousands voice support
‘High’ frequency in armed robberies at pot shops in Puget Sound region
State reopens COVID test portal with more free at-home tests available
The best car theft prevention methods, according to local insurance agents

The Stranger
The Council Will Let SPD Spearhead Changes to Its Ruse Policy

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: Fewer suspects are booked into jail because of pandemic restrictions. Now there’s a call to further reduce the number.
CITY CHANGES: Mayor Harrell’s new Department of Neighborhoods director, and 2 other new department leaders

Tuesday, Feb. 1

COVID testing company faked test results, lied to patients, WA lawsuit says
An Illinois-based coronavirus testing company with at least 13 sites in Washington, faked or delayed test results (or provided none at all), lied to patients and failed to properly store test samples, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, describes how the company, Center for COVID Control, expanded to about 300 U.S. locations and allegedly took advantage of residents at a time when frequent testing was in high demand as a “critical tool in the fight against COVID-19.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Washington state Attorney General’s Office)

Washington state lawmakers mull ‘sales tax holiday’
A proposal in Olympia would eliminate sales tax for three days in September to help people pay for back-to-school items and other necessities. House Bill 2018, authored by Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor), would create what is being called a “sales tax holiday” for Sept. 3-5 this year. It would include purchases of $1,000 or less on items such as clothing, computers, Energy Star appliances, health care equipment, over-the-counter drugs and school supplies. Continue reading at KING 5.

4.3 million Americans left their jobs in December as omicron variant disrupted everything
Some 4.3 million people quit or changed jobs in December — down from last month’s all-time high but still near record levels, as the labor market remained unsettled and the omicron variant swept through the United States. Employers reported some 10.9 million job openings in a survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well above pre-pandemic averages. December proved to be an incredibly disruptive month for the labor market. Continue reading at The Washington Post.

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Associated Press
Deputy seeking suspect mistakenly shoots off-duty officer
Lawsuit accuses COVID-19 testing company of faking results
AP source: Pfizer to ask FDA to authorize COVID vaccine for kids under 5

Auburn Reporter
State Democrats push new round of open-carry gun restrictions (Berg, Kuderer)
After a record-breaking 2020, gun violence continues to increase in King County

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom Sheriff relocating inmates, halting visiting as jail elevators fail
‘It makes me mad, just like before,’ Whatcom fire chief says after second station burglary
Whatcom isn’t planning to intentionally send floodwater into B.C., Sidhu says
Bellingham school district received a third of COVID tests it needed from state last week

Capital Press
House panel endorses voluntary conservation in Washington (Springer)

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Doxxing legislation needs more time, discussion (Lovick)

The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Emergency power limits and election lies get major Senate hearing Jan. 28
City of Kalama accepting applications for pandemic relief funds from residents, businesses
City of Longview holding open houses on bicycle and pedestrian plan

Everett Herald
$20B order launches Boeing 777X freighter, a boost for Everett
Attorney General sues company behind ‘sham testing centers’
Cornfield Report: Cutoff countdown to punish lying politicians, curb governor (Robinson, Randall, Van De Wege, Mullet, Hunt, Ortiz-Self)
2022 real estate market: A reprieve for buyers is unlikely
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
UW’s ‘problematic’ word list: ‘crazy,’ ‘ninja’ — and ‘grandfather’?
WaPo Comment: A history of blaming teachers for schools’ problems
WaPo Comment: After 2 years of pandemic why aren’t we better at it?
Editorial: The importance of pickleball and a dinosaur bone (Lovick, Morgan)

High Country News
A just transition for farmworkers

News Tribune
These new homes are first in Pierce County to be ‘permanently affordable’ under new model
Puyallup police say bomb squad safely detonates explosive downtown
Op-Ed: Pot industry lobbyist wrong about WA Liquor and Cannabis Board. Here’s the truth
Tacoma’s Lincoln District Lunar New Year block party is back and ready for the Tiger

New York Times
Despite Labor Shortages, Workers See Few Gains in Economic Security
Biden Administration to Reinstate Mercury Pollution Rules Weakened Under Trump
Judges Increasingly Demand Climate Analysis in Drilling Decisions

North American Post
80th Anniversary of E.O. 9066: Editorial

Olympian
Student walkout calls attention to racism at North Thurston Public Schools
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
State reopens COVID-19 test ordering portal after successful launch two weeks ago
‘The time is now for the flood-control structure’: Congresswoman tours Centralia flood damage

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County man dies of COVID-19
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
State bill would lengthen sentences for pot shop robberies
Boeing launches 777X freighter with giant order from Qatar Airways
T-Mobile issues vaccination ultimatum to office workers in an internal memo
State funding for higher education tops $100B for the first time

Seattle Medium
Seattle Office Of Labor Standards Secures Over $2 Million For Pizza Workers
AG Ferguson Files Lawsuit Against Center For COVID Control Over Invalid And False Test Results
State Re-Opens COVID-19 Test Portal After Successful January Launch
House Passes Bills To Clarify Police Reform Laws (Johnson, Bronoske)

Seattle Times
WA lawmakers debate limits to governor’s emergency powers after 2 years of COVID (Randall, Jinkins)
COVID testing company faked test results, lied to patients, WA lawsuit says
Off-duty Vancouver officer was shot by deputy pursuing robbery suspect, investigation finds
Opinion: Combating antisemitism and Holocaust denial is everyone’s fight

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Transit moves to improve service in Skagit County
Federal flood, weather recovery assistance expanded
Skagit County’s COVID-19 rate drops for second consecutive week

Sol De Yakima
WA reabre sitio de internet para solicitar pruebas gratis de COVID, una semana después que se agotaron
Yakima Herald-Republic: Área infantil de la tienda de segunda mano San Vicente intenta ayudar a madres, niños

South Seattle Emerald
Opinion: HB 1747 Offers a Pathway To Keeping Families Together
The Fifth Annual Black Lives Matter At School Set To Start Monday

Spokesman Review
At long last, Spokane will decide if it will study costs of adding fluoride to city water
Spokane County commissioners could pick a naturopathic doctor for Board of Health
Bingle censured for violating mask mandate

Washington Post
4.3 million Americans left their jobs in December as omicron variant disrupted everything
Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children under 5 could be available by the end of February, people with knowledge say
When a sudden, small expense threatens an entire college career
Critics slam Cruz for saying Biden’s vow to nominate first Black woman to Supreme Court is ‘offensive’
How the falsehood of athletes dying from coronavirus vaccines spread

Yakima Herald-Republic
Bill seeking to remove drive-by shootings from aggravated murder dies; Yakima officials happy (Simmons)
City staff recommend against secure parking lot for people living in cars in Yakima
Washington attorney general sues company that ran COVID-19 test site in Yakima, other locations
Former Yakima area State Trooper who resigned over COVID vaccine has died
Letter: Don’t conform to state’s long term care plan
Letter: It’s about public safety, not self-expression

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state lawmakers mull ‘sales tax holiday’ (Paul, Rule)
Washington attorney general sues Center for COVID Control over ‘sham testing centers’
120,000 more free at-home COVID test kits available in Washington
Anti-Semitic graffiti found near Jewish Family Service of Seattle
‘Unprecedented’ expedition to study oceanic habitat of salmon leaves Port Angeles

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
City of Bellevue suing landslide victims for not demolishing home
State reopens online portal to order at-home COVID-19 tests
FAA gives green light for jets flying out of Paine Field after 5G rollout
Graffiti near Jewish service agency followed rabbi’s op-ed
Students hold protest, walk out of Olympia high school

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State lawmakers mull changes to police reform laws that some say has hindered response (Goodman)
Wash. State AG sues COVID-19 testing company over fake results, handling of tests
FAA lifts ban on use of Embraer E175 at Paine Field during bad weather despite 5G concerns

KNKX Public Radio
International expedition will explore mysterious life of salmon at sea
A torrent of support for curbing Inslee’s emergency powers as lawmakers take public testimony (Randall, Dhingra)

KUOW Public Radio
‘Forbidden Houses of Bothell’ Show How Multifamily Housing Fits Into Single-family Zones
Covid testing company sued by Washington AG over ‘inaccurate and deceptive’ test
Pandemic updates: More Covid tests arrive in Washington
Japanese Americans remember the legacy of ‘camp’ 80 years after their incarceration
Washington lawmakers are considering criminalizing fertility fraud — but what exactly is that?
Inslee has entered the 2022 session
Earthquake safety for Washington schools heading to the ballot (Frockt)

KXLY (ABC)
Another batch of free COVID tests now available for Washingtonians
State of Washington sues company accused of producing false COVID test results

Q13 TV (FOX)
WA Legislature considers curbing governor’s emergency powers
Washington state sues Center for COVID Control over ‘fake test’ allegations

Web

Crosscut
How many students did WA public schools lose during the pandemic?

My Edmonds News
Senate bill aims to protect communities from unplanned development (Salomon)

The Stranger
Washington Lawmakers Find Momentum in Push to End Apartment Bans (Bateman, Pollet, Das)

Monday, Jan. 31

‘Few core staff left’: Droves of nurses take high-paying travel jobs
Travel nursing is a field that has boomed in the past two years, with demand up for short-term positions, and those who fill them enjoying significantly higher wages. More nurses are making the same choice. [Cecillia] Hoglund estimated her Providence unit was about 80% travel nurses when she left this month. “There’s very few core staff left,” she said. “Since COVID we’ve been getting droves and droves and droves of travelers.” Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)

Rents are up more than 30 percent in some cities, forcing millions to find another place to live
Rental prices across the country have been rising for months, but lately the increases have been sharper and more widespread, forcing millions of Americans to reassess their living situations. Average rents rose 14 percent last year, to $1,877 a month, with cities like Austin, New York and Miami notching increases of as much as 40 percent, according to real estate firm Redfin. And Americans expect rents will continue to rise — by about 10 percent this year — according to a report released this month by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Bridget Bennett)

Free N95 face masks now available at some pharmacies in Washington
You can now pick up free N95 face masks at some pharmacies and health centers around western Washington. Earlier this month, the Biden administration announced it would send 400 million non-surgical N95 masks to locations across the country for Americans to pick up for free to help protect them against the COVID-19 omicron variant. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said there will be a limit of three free N95 masks per person through the program, which is set to be up and fully running by early February. Continue reading at KING 5.