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Friday, December 3

Washington Supreme Court declines to redraw political maps, accepts redistricting commission’s work
The Washington Supreme Court will not exercise its authority to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative district maps, leaving in place the work of the bipartisan redistricting commission. In a unanimous ruling Friday, the court found the commission had substantially met its legal obligations by voting on a map framework just before the midnight Nov. 15 deadline — despite the panel not revealing its maps publicly prior to the vote and acknowledging that final work on completing them continued after the deadline. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Gathering set for Islamic Center of Olympia after center targeted by explosive, group says
A gathering of support for the Islamic Center of Olympia is set for Friday morning after the center was allegedly targeted by an explosive last week, a statewide group announced. According to a news release from the Washington chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, security camera footage shows someone in a car dropping an explosive device in front of the center the evening of Nov. 23. Continue reading at The Olympian. (CAIR Washington)

Potential delay of new long-term care payroll tax considered
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday he is talking to lawmakers about a potential delay in the collection of a mandatory payroll tax to fund Washington state’s new long-term care program. On Wednesday, Senate Democratic leadership sent Inslee a letter asking him to delay implementation of the premium assessment — set to start in January — until Jan. 1, 2023, saying that it would allow the Legislature to address concerns about the program. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Washington DSHS)

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Associated Press
Potential delay of new long-term care payroll tax considered
Yakama Nation approves Mattawa school’s use of Warrior image

Auburn Reporter
Washington health officials discuss response to new COVID variant

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom sees 2 deaths, bump in COVID vaccine boosters
As skies clear and river recedes, Whatcom efforts turn to flood recovery

Capital Press
Ranchers join legal battle over race-based USDA loan forgiveness program
WDFW mulling how to control sheriff’s cougar program
NW grain industry leaders share wish lists

Columbian
Clark County reports seven new COVID-19 deaths as disease activity continues to slowly decline
In Our View: Unsoeld left indelible impression on Washington

Everett Herald
‘Distraught,’ another Monroe student leaves school over racism
State Supreme Court declines to draw new redistricting plan
Police: Teen arrested for threats against 3 Mukilteo schools
Snohomish County proposes 0.1% sales tax for affordable housing
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
With omicron likely to appear here, officials urge boosters
Bloomberg comment: Court majority seems poised to overturn Roe v. Wade
WaPo comment: For most of us, price of gas is not a crisis
Letter: Arlington’s land acknowledgement of Stillaguamish welcomed
Letter: Remove of four Snake River dams best for salmon, orcas, us
Letter: Removing dams too drastic a measure to save salmon, orcas

The Facts Newspaper
Washington State and King County announce FEMA mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit coming to Western Wa

High Country News
Wind turbines proposed near a Japanese American incarceration camp prompt outrage

News Tribune
Affordable housing is a top concern for Pierce County. Why has so little been built?
Op-Ed: Cancer disproportionately impacts the AAPI community. Lawmakers must take notice and act

New York Times
Billions for Climate Protection Fuel New Debate: Who Deserves It Most
Prior Infection Is Little Defense Against Virus Variant, Scientists Say
Covid Live Updates: Omicron Variant Found in Several U.S. States
Interior Dept. Report on Drilling Is Mostly Silent on Climate Change

Olympian
About 100 Thurston County residents will soon call Lacey home
Capital Mall robbery suspects use bear mace, flee on I-5, Olympia police say
Olympia has finalized its 2022 budget. Here’s what it contains
Gathering set for Islamic Center of Olympia after center targeted by explosive, group says
Biden wants to remove lead pipes for cleaner drinking water. But does new law spend enough?
Entire wolf pack found poisoned to death in Oregon. Police have ‘exhausted’ all leads

Port Townsend Leader
Local lawmakers give their State of the State (Tharinger, Chapman)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Google delays office return again as Covid-19 Omicron variant surges
Out of SBA options? Check out these small-business loans and grants
Seattle mayor signs 2022 budget despite ‘serious reservations’ about public safety funding

Seattle Times
How trellises are transforming Washington’s apple orchards
Inslee, Washington state Democrats discuss delaying WA Cares long-term care payroll tax (Billig, Saldaña, Dhingra, Sullivan, Jinkins)
Report on Seattle mayor’s missing texts still hasn’t shown up as she prepares to exit City Hall
Audit of SPD discipline offers recommendations to improve accountability, transparency
Shi Shi the sea turtle makes steady improvement after rescue from Washington beach
Washington Supreme Court declines to redraw political maps, accepts redistricting commission’s work
Seattle’s final budget shows tough road ahead for new Regional Homelessness Authority

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Experts urge caution as variant emerges during holiday season

Washington Post
GOP tactics herald a grim new era of governing for Biden and Democrats
U.S. economy adds just 210,000 jobs in November
Omicron coronavirus variant three times more likely to cause reinfection than delta, S. Africa study says
As world focuses on omicron, delta variant overwhelms parts of U.S.

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Explosion rattles Islamic Center of Olympia in apparent act of intimidation
Is Pioneer Square safe? Locals mixed on need for more policing
Avery Moore of Dallas police is top pick for Tacoma’s new chief
Authorities investigate threats at several western Washington schools
Washington task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People convenes
Seattle mayor signs $7 billion 2022 budget focused on homelessness, public safety

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Explosive set off outside Islamic Center of Olympia
School districts rolling out new COVID-19 testing strategies
Washington to receive more vaccine doses, request more due to omicron concerns
Gov. Inslee announces FEMA mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit
Durkan signs 2022 budget, calls for future of compromise in final days in office
Starbucks fights expanding unionization effort at its stores

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Worshippers believe blast outside Thurston County mosque meant to cause fear
Business owners worry about losing insurance coverage after repeat break-ins
City optimistic about clearing homeless camp at Ballard Commons Park by end of year
Extra law enforcement brought in to three Everett-area schools after reported threats
FEMA to send mobile vaccination units to Western Washington
Biden launching winter COVID-19 booster, testing campaign

Q13 TV (FOX)
Potential delay of new long-term care payroll tax considered (Billig, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Keiser, Liias, Randall, Saldaña, Sullivan)
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department introducing body cams and dash cams
Attorney General’s Office launches Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force

Web

Crosscut
Fixing septic systems is key to protecting Puget Sound shellfish
Student athletes at UW can now earn money. But it’s complicated

Thursday, Dec. 2

Editorial: State House covid rules won’t exclude GOP lawmakers
Not withstanding the refusal of a handful of state Republican lawmakers to get vaccinations — and their lawsuit objecting to the requirements to attend House sessions in person — the show will go on when the Legislature convenes on Jan. 10 for its regular 60-day session. Six Republican members of the state House — including Rep. Robert Sutherland, R-Granite Falls — filed suit last week against Democrats in the House and the body’s chief clerk because of rules set by the Executive Rules Committee that require proof of vaccination for representatives and others to be on the House floor. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Everett Herald)

As COVID crisis continues, new proposals aim to reduce poverty in Washington state
Washington state continues to recover from the economic turbulence of COVID-19, but the recovery hasn’t benefited every segment of society. Now, Washington officials are eyeing fresh steps and approaches to reduce poverty, including finding new ways to measure the economic recovery and disparities, and to boost the voice of communities often excluded from such policymaking. The state Department of Social and Health Services is requesting $630,000 in new funding for four new staffers for an “emerging public-private collaboration to define, measure, and build accountability toward a just and equitable future.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Coronavirus: First case of omicron variant discovered in US
Officials in California have confirmed the first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 in the United States, the nation’s top infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said Wednesday. “The California and San Francisco departments of public health and the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) have confirmed that a recent case of COVID-19 among an individual in California was caused by the omicron variant,” Fauci said during a White House news briefing. The infected person returned to the U.S. from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 29, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

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Associated Press
Omicron and delta spell return of unpopular restrictions
US case of COVID-19 omicron variant identified in California
Justices signal they may toss Roe, allow new abortion limits
China clears Boeing 737 MAX to fly again
White House details Biden’s winter plan for combating COVID-19

Auburn Reporter
Task force recommends reforms to improve state’s response to sexual assault (Orwall, Dhingra)

Bellingham Herald
Ferndale student sought after being seen with gun on campus, prompting Wednesday lockdown
One Whatcom region sees COVID rate drop to lowest mark any region has seen since September
Whatcom County Jail dealing with COVID-19 outbreak among inmates, staff
Before rebuilding can begin, a church in Sumas steps up to provide relief during flooding

Everett Herald
With omicron likely to appear here, officials urge boosters
In about-face, EvCC pauses plan to close Early Learning Center
Snohomish County proposes 0.1% sales tax for affordable housing
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Trump lacks authority to keep records from Congress
WaPo Comment: It’s already too late for travel bans to stop omicron
Column: Harrop: If Roe v. Wade is overturned, GOP may regret it
Editorial: State House covid rules won’t exclude GOP lawmakers

High Country News
In the wake of floods, what’s next for salmon?

The Inlander
Spokane school board adds “equity” to district motto in plan funded by Gates Foundation grant

Issaquah Reporter
Snoqualmie Tribe concerned with unregulated air traffic at Snoqualmie Falls

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Biden to Announce New Virus Plan as Omicron Reaches U.S.
Omicron Could Knock a Fragile Economic Recovery Off Track
Lawmakers Strike Spending Deal but Government Shutdown Still Looms

Olympian
Snoqualmie Tribe asks agencies to protect this sacred site and its visitors
Port of Olympia in need of marine terminal director after Faucher accepts new job
Get ready to pay more for Washington state workers’ compensation insurance in 2022
California confirms first US case of omicron COVID-19 variant, health officials say
State health officials urge not to wait for ‘perfect booster’ as Omicron threat looms

Peninsula Daily News
Funding approved for Black Ball Transportation Inc.
Omicron variant prompts call for increased vaccination
Clallam Bay landslide spread threatens water pipe

Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson County reports 19th death to COVID-19

Puget Sound Business Journal
Elevated inflation could bolster CRE investment. But experts are watching interest-rate hikes, Omicron variant impact
Hotel values sink as landlords, lenders and downtowns brace for latest Covid strain
Report: How U.S. college, university boards stack up for diversity
Labor group calls on OSHA to investigate Amazon employee Covid-19 cases
OSHA extends mandate comment period. Small businesses should take notice.
Lawmakers press FAA to bring Boeing to account for 737 Max issues
Awareness surrounding minority-owned businesses is up. But will it last?

Seattle Times
Federal Way man is leading QAnon gathering in Dallas, waiting for the late JFK Jr. to show up
As COVID crisis continues, new proposals aim to reduce poverty in Washington state
At rally, Seattle students demand changes to the way sexual assault cases are treated
Snohomish County to consider sales tax boost to fund affordable housing

South Seattle Emerald
New COVID-19 variant – Omicron – shows up in California, Washington tracking virus
The need for mandated racial equity training in schools
Family of Charleena Lyles reaches settlement with City of Seattle for 2017 shooting

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
City of Seattle on track to reopen West Seattle Bridge in 2022

Washington Post
House, Senate leaders announce government funding deal as they race to avert shutdown
This doctor commutes 800 miles to provide abortion services in underserved communities
Amazon’s employee surveillance fuels unionization efforts: ‘It’s not prison, it’s work’
Omicron variant identified in U.S.: First case of covid-19 linked to new variant found in California
U.S. is top contributor to plastic waste, report shows
ICE holds growing numbers of immigrants at private facilities despite Biden campaign promise to end practice
Inflation causing financial strain for nearly half of U.S. households, poll finds

Yakima Herald-Republic
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse explains objections to infrastructure bill
Yakima sets third straight record high temp with 72 on Wednesday
COVID testing sites, vaccine clinics to stay open in Yakima County well into 2022
Japanese, American troops hone skills, build bonds at Yakima Training Center exercises
Former Yakima resident Lisa Homer charged with entering U.S. Capitol during Jan. 6 insurrection
Yakama Nation authorizes use of Warrior image for Wahluke School District

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
City of Olympia to sweep homeless encampment near capitol grounds
Bothell High School cancels in-person classes Thursday after anonymous threat
Enumclaw police investigating possible hate crime during school board meeting
Arson increased by 82% in Tacoma during 2021, police say

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Students protest outside Seattle Public Schools building
Active landslide keeps Clallam County highway closed
Washington labs search for omicron variant
Coronavirus: Minnesota confirms first case of omicron variant
Bothell High School closed Thursday due to safety concern
Coronavirus: First case of omicron variant discovered in US
Tacoma city council votes to adopt 2030 Climate Action Plan

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Bothell High School closes campus Thursday after threats on social media
As Supreme Court considers Roe v. Wade, could abortion rights be left to the states?
Yakama Nation approves school district use of Warrior image
Repeat break-ins frustrate Seattle business owners; some take steps for extra protection
Students push back against sexual assault policies at Seattle schools

KNKX Public Radio
Highway traffic has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, but transit still way down

KUOW Public Radio
‘Not a time to panic.’ Washington health officials urge vaccines, boosters with omicron on the horizon
Debt collectors can now text, email and DM you on social media
California has reported the first U.S. case of the omicron variant

Q13 TV (FOX)
Bothell High School closed on Thursday following school shooting threat

Wednesday, Dec. 1

Seattle to pay $3.5M to settle police wrongful-death suit
The city of Seattle will pay $3.5 million to settle a wrongful-death civil lawsuit filed on behalf of the children of a pregnant Black woman who was fatally shot by two white Seattle police officers in 2017. Karen Koehler, a Seattle attorney who represented Charleena Lyles’ estate, said at a news conference Tuesday that the case was scheduled for trial in King County Superior Court in February before the settlement was reached Monday, The Seattle Times reported. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Ted S. Warren)

WA kids 5 to 11 are getting vaccinated faster than the national average
Nearly all children attending Washington’s K-12 schools are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, to the relief of many parents. Four weeks ago, the Food and Drug Administration cleared Pfizer’s pediatric dose of its vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 for emergency use. Since the start of November, at least 116,000 children in the 5-to-11 age group in Washington state have started the vaccination process, according to the Washington Department of Health. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Ted S. Warren)

I-5 flood catastrophe could be national security issue, cutting JBLM from many troops
Rising sea levels and rainier winters are likely to result in floods that could affect Interstate 5 where it crosses the Nisqually River, possibly as soon as 2040. If the river overflows, it could cut Joint Base Lewis-McChord off from more than a third of its workforce, officials say. The military base is concerned about the impacts a flooding event would have on its operations, former garrison chief of staff Tom Knight told The News Tribune before retiring from the civilian post earlier this year. Continue reading at The News Tribune.

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Associated Press
Northwest WA residents asked to remain vigilant amid latest rain event
COVID vaccine verification digital record offered in Washington
Seattle to pay $3.5M to settle police wrongful-death suit
US expected to toughen testing requirements for travelers as omicron spreads
World on edge as more omicron variant information is discovered
Lummi Nation declares disaster after invasive crab arrives

Auburn Reporter
As new COVID-19 variant looms, vaccination disparities linger in King County

Bellingham Herald
Everson mayor declares ‘This flood event is over,’ as Nooksack crests below flood stage
3 sentenced after running drug ring distributing thousands of fentanyl pills in Whatcom
Whatcom County’s Slater Road remains under floodwater

Capital Press
Washington Ecology: Cows need water right to sip from a creek
USDA promised to invest in regional markets. Now, it’s happening

Columbian
Clark County school districts dip into federal funds to offset pandemic costs
Opinion: Other Voices: Food insecurity is embarrassing to wealthy nation
Opinion: In Our View: Condit Dam a lesson in nature’s reinvention

The Daily News
Cowlitz County commissioners skip 1% property tax increase; approve Woodland subdivision plan

Everett Herald
Funding secured: Mudslide memorial will be a place to remember
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Local aero firms get $4.5 million from feds to protect jobs
Bloomberg Comment: Towns, rural areas have lost banks; now drug stores
Bloomberg Comment: What it will take to get world’s freighters in sync
Bloomberg Comment: With omicron lurking, retailers should seek mandate
WaPo Comment: A lesson for Congress’ Jan. 6 committee from 1856
Letter: CRT issue is hiding racism of some

The Facts Newspaper
DOH launches WA Verify: State’s new Digital COVID-19 Verification Record system

Issaquah Reporter
Kokanee salmon make a comeback in Zackuse Creek

News Tribune
I-5 flood catastrophe could be national security issue, cutting JBLM from many troops
Special council meeting Wednesday to tackle proposed Home in Tacoma amendments
Editorial: To correct a 50-year-old mistake, WA must act now to address I-5 flood risk at Nisqually

New York Times
Live Updates: Supreme Court Appears Open to Upholding Mississippi Abortion Restriction
Covid Live Updates: U.S. Considers Tougher Rules for Travelers
W.H.O. members agree to begin talks on a global pandemic treaty.
Democrats’ Bill Would Go Far Toward ‘Patching the Holes’ in Health Coverage

Olympian
They cut costs in the ’60s. Now part of I-5 faces flood danger or up to $4.2B to fix
Development agreement between Tumwater and Port hits bump after port rejects new proposal
City of Olympia to remove Deschutes Parkway homeless encampment on Dec. 8
Jolene Unsoeld, who represented Olympia area in legislature and Congress, is dead at 89
As I-5 chokes the Nisqually, tribe warns circle of life for salmon, orcas collapsing

Peninsula Daily News
Omicron variant not found in Washington state as of Tuesday
Most Idaho abortions banned if Roe v. Wade is overturned

Puget Sound Business Journal
Microsoft shareholders vote to release report on sexual harassment cases
Banks reap big profits as economy rebounds from Covid-19
Washington manufacturers eye expansion in response to pandemic challenges

Seattle Medium
Central Area Senior Center To Host Booster Shot Vaccination Clinic
New Partnership Makes College More Attainable For Graduates Of Seattle Public Schools

Seattle Times
Central Seattle absorbed more than half of the city’s housing growth in the last decade
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sells half his shares in the company
City of Roy drops challenge of multimillion-dollar verdict in police shooting, adds $793,000 in attorneys’ fees to payout
Seattle’s wettest fall on record has already hit unsheltered people hard, and it could get worse
To reduce tourist rush hour, Leavenworth makes changes to annual Christmas lights festival
City of Seattle agrees to pay $3.5M to settle Charleena Lyles wrongful-death civil suit
Editorial: Worried about omicron? Keep calm, get vaccinated

South Seattle Emerald
Mount Baker community to meet with officials over latest fatal shooting (Saldaña)
Opinion: Behavioral health workers took on a giant corporation — and won big

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities rescue crews search Columbia River for man seen jumping from blue bridge

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Case counts continue to drop in Walla Walla, Columbia, Umatilla counties
Record highs in the Walla Walla Valley forecast for Wednesday

Washington Post
Fate of Roe v. Wade in hands of nine justices after spirited arguments
Government nears weekend shutdown as Republicans take aim at vaccine and testing mandates
FDA advisers narrowly recommend authorization of first antiviral pill to treat covid-19
How Mississippi ended up with one abortion clinic and why it matters

Yakima Herald-Republic
The Vanished: Mapping decades of missing and murdered on Yakama Reservation
Fewer people seeking shelter in Yakima area while homeless rate remains the same, survey shows
Selah will have open house Thursday on proposed police station, municipal court building
New task force on missing and murdered Indigenous people to meet for first time Thursday in Toppenish
Letter: COVID-19 pandemic shows that we are America’s worst generation
Letter: Yakima City Council needs to represent all people

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Federal Way mayor asks fellow mayors in south King County to collectively address violent crime
Abigail Echo-Hawk wants recognition for missing, murdered Indigenous women
More than $2 million in lottery prizes still unclaimed in Washington state

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Omicron brings more interest in booster shots, but finding an appointment can be tough
Seattle area sets new record for wettest fall season
Local hospitals bracing for omicron variant

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Massive flooding in Whatcom County has residents asking about federal disaster relief aid
King Co. homeless camp removal proposal shut down
Seattle Police Department audit shows room for improvement in disciplinary system
Staffing crisis impacting response to 911 calls in Seattle
Washington State Ferries on alternative schedules to help offer more reliable service
Outreach team helps people living at Bitter Lake encampment move to new tiny house village

KNKX Public Radio
Seattle will pay Charleena Lyles’ family $3.5 million to settle wrongful death lawsuit
Listen: How Washington health officials are preparing for the omicron COVID variant

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Settles for 3.5 M in Lawsuit Over the 2017 Police Killing of Charleena Lyles
Omicron’s arrival in Washington state is imminent. Experts say they’re prepared
Covid blog: Updates for Seattle and the Northwest
How wet is it? Historically wet. A glimpse into the future of PNW weather trends
Pfizer wants the FDA to let 16- and 17- year-olds get a COVID-19 booster shot
Coronavirus variants seem to ‘evade immunity.’ Here’s what that really means

Q13 TV (FOX)
Lummi Nation declares ‘disaster’ after removing over 70K invasive crab species

Web

Crosscut
WA kids 5 to 11 are getting vaccinated faster than the national average
Opinion: What it’s going to take for Tacoma to become an ‘anti-racist city’

MyNorthwest
Audit from police watchdog warns of ‘gaps in the discipline system’ for Seattle officers
Should Seattle take a traffic lane for an outer loop at Green Lake?
Washington state to preserve, reseed two million acres of forest by 2040
King County Council rejects attempt to remove public homeless encampments
Seattle agrees to settlement in Charleena Lyles wrongful death lawsuit
Secretary of State warns Washingtonians about giving to fake charities
South King County mayors demand action from state to end rash of violence
Seattle area sets record for wettest fall season with more rain on the way

The Stranger
Seattle Agrees to Pay $3.5 Million Settlement in Police Killing of Charleena Lyles
How Long Will Seattle’s COVID Bubble Last?

Tuesday, Nov. 30

‘Pretty serious place of worry.’ WA hospital officials brace for new COVID-19 variant
As COVID-19 hospitalization rates continue to decline in Washington state, officials fear all the hard work in surviving the Delta wave could soon be lost to the next variant, Omicron. Statewide, the daily average of confirmed COVID hospitalizations as of Monday was at 694, down from 806 a week ago, and down from 1,013 daily average a month ago, according to Cassie Sauer, CEO of the Washington State Hospital Association. Sauer spoke during a Monday briefing with reporters. Continue reading at The Olympian.

CDC says ages 18 and up should get COVID booster shot
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday broadened its recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots for all adults as the new omicron variant is identified in more countries. The agency had previously approved boosters for all adults, but only recommended them for those 50 years and older or if they live in a long-term care setting. CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the new guidance reflects the emergence of the omicron variant, which has not yet been identified in the U.S. but that officials say will inevitably reach the country. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

As officials tally losses from flood damage, tribes say impacts on fish runs won’t be known for years
The Nooksack River registered some of its highest flood levels ever in the recent flooding that authorities now say caused as much as $50 million in damages. But that doesn’t fully account for the impact on salmon runs and habitat restoration work managed by the Nooksack Indian Tribe. And the Lummi Nation listed major concerns about flooding impacts on its two salmon hatcheries, as well as likely devastation on juvenile fish and redds in the Nooksack Basin. Continue reading at KNKX Public Radio. (Lindsie Fratus-Thomas/Courtesy Nooksack Indian Tribe)

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Associated Press
Powell says Fed may accelerate pullback in economic support
West Seattle Bridge repairs slated to finish by mid-2022
Reports: Pfizer to seek COVID vaccine booster authorization for ages 16-17
CDC says ages 18 and up should get COVID booster shot
New lead testing method could reveal higher levels in water

Auburn Reporter
King County and Port of Seattle to collaborate on waste-to-fuel study

Bainbridge Island Review
115 new COVID cases confirmed in Kitsap over long Holiday weekend

Bellevue Reporter
Multi-family housing development breaks ground in BelRed Corridor

Bellingham Herald
New flood watch issued for Nooksack River as Sumas waters recede a second time
Whatcom sees 215 COVID cases and a death over holiday weekend, passes 300K vaccine doses
Another ‘atmospheric river’ on the way as Nooksack River floods Whatcom cities again
Here are the Whatcom County roads still closed due to floodwaters as of Tuesday morning

Capital Press
Coho salmon run shatters record as steelhead numbers flop
WDFW floats plan for lethal control of wolves

Everett Herald
Job-seekers today are choosy, forcing employers to adapt
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Omicron met quickly with transparency and caution
WaPo Comment: Keep history’s racist accounts, but not as only source

High Country News
Income inequality proliferates across the West

Islands’ Weekly
Affordable Housing in a Crisis on Lopez Island

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Prepare your property for the next big rain event

Mercer Island Reporter
Residents are invited to online Community Climate Kickoff Event

News Tribune
Here are the latest COVID-19 case totals for Pierce County

North American Post
Africatown Community Home at Keiro – Nov Meeting

Olympian
Thurston reports 5 more COVID-19 deaths, but weekly case count is significantly lower
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
‘Pretty serious place of worry.’ WA hospital officials brace for new COVID-19 variant
Thurston commission to hold public hearing on interim emergency housing ordinance

Peninsula Daily News
Three deaths from COVID in Clallam County
Northwest residents urged to stay alert as storms roll in

Puget Sound Business Journal
As Omicron emerges, here’s how experts say employers can address variants
Microsoft CEO sells half his stake in the company ahead of new state capital gains tax
US border closures may loom amid spread of Omicron variant

Redmond Reporter
Newly renovated Westside Park now open to public

Seattle Times
Seattle-area home price growth starts to level off, still No. 7 in the nation
South King County cities calling for collective approach to combat rise in violent crime
Final phase of repair work begins for West Seattle Bridge
Washington state virologists hunt specimens for omicron variant, confident they can spot it
Seattle-area youth created this guide to connect teens to multicultural mental health care

Sol De Yakima
Negocios de Yakima prevén mejor acceso al concluir obras de North First Street
Foros comunitarios en Yakima buscan acercar a la comunidad con la policía
Rod’s House anuncia plan para crear refugio juvenil de emergencia permanente en Yakima

South Seattle Emerald
King County will forego annual count of homeless population
Weekend Long Reads: The problem with police violence stats
Patti Cole-Tindall announced as Interim King County Sheriff
Social media’s existential crisis

South Whidbey Record
Rep. Paul: Sound Off: Our ferry system is vital — and it needs reform

Spokesman Review
Spokane joins regional funding effort for social services center
Toys arrive at the Christmas Bureau as volunteers get ready for weekend opening
With Omicron on the way, ‘boosters are what’s up’
Spokane sticks with LiveStories to distribute rental assistance – for now

Tri-City Herald
Humane Society staff harassed after agreeing to take over Tri-Cities animal control
Demand nearly doubles in 2 years at Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission
6% in Franklin County receives COVID boosters — less than half WA state pace

Vancouver Business Journal
Washington Policy Center: State is painting lipstick on its one-of-a-kind, long-term care law

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla County participating in free program promoting home tests for COVID-19
Dayton School District to discuss progress on 90-day and 1-year plans
Dayton City Council moves closer to passing 2022 budget with public hearing slated
Noting redevelopment fears, College Place restores mobile home park zoning
New mental health program offers an alternative to jail in Walla Walla County
With new term, College Place’s mayor renews COVID-19 emergency declaration

Washington Post
White House aides search for available contingency funding as they monitor omicron risks
What Happens to Democracy When Local Journalism Dries Up?
A changing climate is buckling concrete and flooding roads. States are moving slowly to guard the nation’s infrastructure.

Yakima Herald-Republic
New task force on missing and murdered Indigenous people to meet for first time Thursday in Toppenish
Heritage University to construct new, expanded Early Learning Center
Letter: Critical race theory isn’t being taught outside of universities
Column: Breaking even against American vigilantism
Letter: Valuing profits above all else has divided America
Opinion: Other Voices: It’s long past time for the Senate ethics panel to address senators’ Jan. 6 actions

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
West Seattle Bridge enters final repair phase Monday, projected to reopen mid-July 2022
UW researchers will determine if the new COVID-19 variant will create a ‘real problem’
Washington state testing for COVID-19 omicron variant
Where to get a COVID-19 booster shot in western Washington

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Federal Way mayor building coalition to fight crime
Flood watches in effect for north coast, North Sound
Final phase of West Seattle Bridge repairs underway, expected to reopen in 2022
Better Business Bureau names its 12 scams to beware of for Christmas
Study: Seattle one of America’s worst cities for package theft
Kent mayor issues statement after several shootings in same area

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Wettest November in history to end with one last day of steady rain
Multiple cities outside Seattle group up in effort to combat rise in violence
Man at odds with Ballard neighbors leaves neighborhood with help from non-profit
Whatcom County homes hit by flooding for a second time this month
Washington geologists are tracking landslides to help inform where they may happen again

KNKX Public Radio
As officials tally losses from flood damage, tribes say impacts on fish runs won’t be known for years
Why some researchers think the omicron variant could be the most infectious one yet
Billions of federal dollars could replace lead pipes. Flint has history to share

KUOW Public Radio
Covid blog: Updates for Seattle and the Northwest
Northern Washington tribes fear ‘devastation’ of salmon by extreme floodwaters

Web

MyNorthwest
Local leaders: Emerging omicron variant ‘does not change our approach to fighting pandemic’
Pierce County school mascot ‘warriors’ slated for replacement over new state law
Still ‘a lot we don’t know’ about omicron variant, says Washington hospital official
From taxes to police reform: Seattle council begins work on 2022 wishlist for state lawmakers
Sound Transit investigating incident where passengers on disabled train walked into tunnels
‘It’s not sustainable’: Destructive flooding highlights need for solutions in Whatcom County
Kent mayor issues statement after several shootings in same area

West Seattle Blog
Here’s what we saw atop the West Seattle Bridge after today’s briefing
Near-record coho count as Fauntleroy Creek salmon-watching season wraps

Monday, Nov. 29

President Biden urges ‘concern, not panic’ over omicron variant
President Joe Biden called the new COVID-19 variant omicron a cause for concern but “not a cause for panic” Monday and said he was not considering any widespread U.S. lockdown. He urged Americans anew to get fully vaccinated, including booster shots, and return to face masks indoors in public settings to slow any spread. Speaking Monday at the White House, Biden said it was inevitable that the new variant would reach the U.S., but he also said the country has the tools necessary to protect Americans — particularly the approved vaccines and booster shots. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

Discipline delayed: Washington state struggles to stop sexual misconduct in health care, leaving patients vulnerable
In 282 cases since 2009, state health regulators have taken more than a year to discipline a provider accused of sexual misconduct, an investigation by The Seattle Times has found. From the moment officials receive a complaint, they have deadlines laid out in state regulations: 21 days to evaluate the allegations, 170 days to investigate, 140 days to decide whether to bring charges, with more time limits to hold hearings. But these deadlines are largely aspirational and routinely missed. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Time runs out on harmful Native American names and mascots in WA schools
By the beginning of next year, Native American names and mascots are no longer allowed in public schools across Washington state. In the Marysville School District, Marysville Pilchuck High School is dropping the name Tomahawks, and Totem Middle School will no longer call themselves Thunderbirds. Dr. Stephanie Fryberg has studied the harms that come from Native American mascots and imagery. She’s a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. She’s also a Tulalip tribal member. Continue reading at KUOW. (Marysville School District)