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Wednesday, March 23

Manuel Ellis’ family to receive $4M from Pierce County in wrongful death settlement
Pierce County agreed Tuesday to pay $4 million to settle part of a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Manual Ellis, who died in Tacoma police custody two years ago. The Pierce County Council unanimously approved the settlement. “No monetary value will ever compensate for the loss or heartache Mr. Ellis’ family and loved ones experienced over the last two years. Nor will it stop the Ellis family or community from grieving his death,” a council statement following the vote said. Continue reading at The News Tribune.

For immunocompromised people in WA, return to ‘normal’ threatens mental and physical health
As public safety measures against the coronavirus fade into the rearview mirror — Washington’s mask mandate has ended in most locations and, in general, proof of vaccination is no longer required to eat in restaurants or attend crowded events — many people like [Maia] Williams are receding even further into lives of solitude. Around age 3 or 4, Williams was diagnosed with a condition called common variable immune deficiency, a grab-bag term for a number of immune problems. Williams, who has worked from home for the past two years, says she’s living proof of the price of returning to pre-pandemic life. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alan Berner)

Seattle Starbucks unionizes in coffee giant’s home city
Baristas and other employees at a Seattle Starbucks have voted to unionize, the first such vote in the city where Starbucks originated and the latest in a nationwide push to organize the coffee shop chain. The unanimous vote announced Tuesday by the National Labor Relations Board is also an especially symbolic win as Howard Schultz returns as interim chief executive officer, The Seattle Times reported. The store in the Capitol Hill neighborhood will become the seventh in the country where employees have voted in favor of unionizing with Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Ted S. Warren)

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Associated Press
Seattle Starbucks unionizes in coffee giant’s home city

Auburn Reporter
New law targets active shooter lockdown drills in Washington schools (Walen)

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom ready to close this COVID isolation and quarantine facility

Capital Press
Senate panel passes shipping bill to aid farm exports
Federal judge redraws map for managing wolves
West Coast winegrowers move toward ‘no-touch’ mechanized vineyards

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: States’ promotion of vigilantism is divisive

The Daily News
Third fentanyl pill bust in two months in Longview leads to arrest
Herrera Beutler visits Kelso business after helping obtain a Small Business Administration loan
County commissioners approve additional state funds for developmental disability services

Everett Herald
In Oso, lost neighbors always ‘in our hearts — never forgotten”
Finally, Snohomish County’s COVID case rate in double digits
A new Marysville superintendent, and a lot of hope for the future
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: Obamacare is boosting economic health of states
WaPo Comment: Why it’s a good idea to stock up on masks, tests

News Tribune
WA pot shops robberies have turned deadly. It will keep happening until Congress acts
Manuel Ellis’ family to receive $4M from Pierce County in wrongful death settlement

Olympian
Space-constrained Thurston Public Defense department eager to move to new site
Six more Thurston County residents killed by COVID-19 as cases continue to fall

Peninsula Daily News
State Highway 112 reopens to two-way traffic
One case of BA.2 found on Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
Capitol Hill Starbucks becomes first in Seattle to OK union vote
Seattle Pride says it turned down $100K sponsorship from Amazon

Seattle Medium
Black Future Co-op Fund Grants $1.05M To 21 Black-woman-led Organizations (Nobles)
Small Business Owners Targeted By Scams Requesting Payment For Certificates, Posters
High School Students In Olympia Fighting Against Racism, Sexual Harassment
Uber, Lyft Drivers To Receive Minimum Pay
EV Charging Station At Morgan Junction
Parents And Students Continue To Grapple With School Masking Policies

Seattle Times
For immunocompromised people in WA, return to ‘normal’ threatens mental and physical health
New data shows remote work surges, transit use collapses among workers in downtown Seattle
Seattle temperatures top 60 degrees for first time in 127 days. More warm weather is ahead
Initiative aimed at Southcenter could raise minimum wage in Tukwila to match SeaTac, Seattle
‘A deep inner meaning’: Seattle returns ancient artifacts to Upper Skagit tribe
Washington state may extend a pandemic graduation waiver program until 2024
Workers at a Seattle Starbucks vote to unionize, hoping to send a signal of change to the food-service industry
Editorial: Deadly pot-shop robberies are a byproduct of federal inaction

South Seattle Emerald
Local communities consider history in attempt to understand gun violence
Opinion: Seattle raging grannies sing, ‘war is not the answer’

Tri-City Herald
Tearing out lower Snake River dams gaining support in D.C. and WA state

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla attorney appointed to President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Omicron’s subvariant found in 25% of cases tested at UW virology lab

Washington Post
Supreme Court nominee Jackson faces more questions on sentencing, precedent
NATO will deploy more battle groups to eastern flank; Biden en route to Europe
Moderna says its coronavirus vaccine for young children is safe, but efficacy is a more complicated picture

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
SDOT posting ‘driver report card’ signs at crosswalks
Troopers report “dangerous trend” of rising drive-by shootings on highways
VOTE: WSDOT narrows down names for its 4th tow plow to 16 choices
Three-day weekends for officers? New changes in the works for Seattle Police
Seattle Starbucks store votes to unionize, becomes first on West Coast
With construction delayed over Teamsters’ strike, King County wants to supply its own concrete
Seattle Pride drops Amazon as sponsor for 2022 parade
Tacoma business burglarized 4 times in 8 weeks
Part of Seattle tenant protection law struck down by court
Black law students rally in DC for Judge Jackson’s historic hearing

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle is reemerging, slowly: Today So Far
Pandemic updates: ‘Stealth’ Omicron is 1/4 of Covid tests at UW Medicine
50 years ago sex equality seemed destined for the Constitution. What happened?

NW Public Radio
Revised Book About History Of Chinese Immigrants In Washington State To Be Published This Week

Web

MyNorthwest
Seattle Starbucks location votes to become first on West Coast to unionize
City of Seattle held ‘scheduled RV Remediation clean’ in Ballard, RVs remain
With construction delayed over Teamsters’ strike, King County wants to supply its own concrete
Data from Seattle HOPE Team finds that referrals lead to shelter placement in only half of all cases
New initiative backed by conservative donors takes aim at Washington capital gains tax

The Stranger
SPD’s Strategic Plan Is Basically a Bulleted List With 25 Photos of Smiling Cops

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: New idea for averting future concrete crises – have public entities make their own

Tuesday, March 22

Local law-enforcement agencies to receive funding to expand storage of sexual-assault kits
More than a dozen Seattle-area police departments will receive funding for cold-storage units to preserve evidence of sexual assaults, according to Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “More storage means more evidence can be tested, and more crimes can be solved,” Ferguson said in a news release announcing the funding. “These resources will bring justice to survivors.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)

A foster system paradox: Parents billed for care of their children
In the vast majority of cases where children are removed from their homes and taken into foster care, family poverty is a big factor. It could be a refrigerator without food or an apartment without electricity. Yet for nearly four decades, parents struggling with this level of need have been billed for their children’s care and obligated to pay the state — even when they have no income. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Grant Hindsley)

Tuesday marks 8 years since 43 killed in Oso landslide
Tuesday marks eight years since the Oso landslide was triggered in Snohomish County. At 10:37 a.m. on March 22, 2014, the once forested hillside above Oso collapsed without warning in a massive landslide, destroying the Steelhead neighborhood and killing 43 people. Dozens of homes were wiped out when mud, rocks, trees and debris roared down a hillside above the north fork of the Stillaguamish River. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

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Associated Press
High court rejects case of Seattle Christian Group, bisexual lawyer

Auburn Reporter
‘ForWArd’ plan details how state will ‘coexist’ with COVID

Bellevue Reporter
Bellevue city leaders celebrate transportation infrastructure funding from state legislature (Kuderer, Wellman, Slatter, Walen, Thai, Senn)
King County Council approves program intended to help fight displacement, promote equity among historically disadvantaged groups

Bellingham Herald
See how Whatcom County gas prices rocketed on this interactive chart
Tribal members, community offer prayer and cedar for the return of orca
As Whatcom remembers 2-year anniversary of first COVID-related death, state reports 5 more

Columbian
Interstate Bridge Replacement Program aims to bridge equity gap
Opinion: In Our View: Equity vital in Interstate 5 Bridge replacement
Opinion: Cheers & Jeers: School support; charity scams (Stonier)

The Daily News
Local driver’s petition for better DoorDash pay reaches 36,000 signatures
Cowlitz County law enforcement receive $4K in state funds to store rape kits

Everett Herald
Everett School District opens new ‘Family Resource Center’
Editorial: Needed fixes made for long-term care program

News Tribune
Pierce County Council to consider $4M settlement in Manuel Ellis wrongful death lawsuit
City of Tacoma to remove homeless encampments along stretch of J Street on Tuesday
This new $4 million park in Pierce County has a barn play area with a tractor, swings

New York Times
Ukraine Live Updates: Russia Advances Crackdown on Dissent as Progress Stalls in Ukraine
Supreme Court Live Updates: Senators Question Ketanji Brown Jackson
Bucking Republican Trend, Indiana Governor Vetoes Transgender Sports Bill
Jackson emphatically rejects allegations that she has been lenient on child sex abuse defendants.
The S.E.C. moves closer to enacting a sweeping climate disclosure rule.

Olympian
Washington state is home to 5 threatening volcanoes. Here’s what to know about them
JBLM job fair set for Wednesday open to transitioning military, vets, spouses and kids
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County considers dwelling changes
Jefferson County mulling housing dollars

Port Townsend Leader
Judge dismisses lawsuit over mask and proof-of-vax mandates

Puget Sound Business Journal
State appeals court strikes down a Seattle pandemic rule on evictions
Amazon hit with fine over ‘willful’ safety violations at Kent warehouse
Life sciences, biotech research draw big bucks to Washington
Retiring Visit Seattle CEO expects tourism and city will bounce back
SEC unveils new climate disclosure rule for businesses
An ex-Google employee has sued the tech giant, accusing it of systematically discriminating against its Black workers
Judge tosses D.C.’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

Seattle Times
As armed robbers hit WA marijuana shops, owners say there’s a simple solution
Watch that intersection! Driver ‘report card’ signs going up around Seattle
Court strikes down part of Seattle law meant to help tenants avoid eviction
Is homelessness a housing problem? Two Seattle experts make their case in new book
Why Ukrainian refugees prefer resettling in Washington state
Local law-enforcement agencies to receive funding to expand storage of sexual-assault kits
Pierce County to pay $4M to family of man killed by Tacoma PD while deputies watched
U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission’s anti-LGBTQ+ hiring policies case
Editorial: Unify sexual-misconduct response at WA universities

South Seattle Emerald
Union Security Officers Rally for Respect
Violence is a public health issue, but the biggest epidemic in this country isn’t Covid-19…
Opinion: 911! We Must Act Quickly to Save our Beloved Community

Tri-City Herald
Longtime Hanford chief is leaving. That means changes for 2 contractors with 4,100 workers
Here’s how a $6.5M renovation will transform the aging MLK Jr. Center in Pasco
Ethics officer dismisses complaints by ex-city leaders against Kennewick council members

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Spring job fair to be held April 6 in downtown Walla Walla

Washington Post
Russian forces are now shelling Mariupol from the sea

Yakima Herald-Republic
Agriculture education continues to grow in Yakima Valley with new programs for students
Two Yakima Valley efforts collect financial support and supplies for Ukraine
Irrigation season begins April 1 for Yakima customers

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Former skating coaches say they faced retaliation after reporting coach for sexual abuse
Tuesday marks 8 years since 43 killed in Oso landslide
$4M settlement reached with family of Manuel Ellis
How one man racked up dozens of parking tickets for a license plate he didn’t even have yet
Workers at Seattle Starbucks store set to vote on unionization
World Vision CEO speaks with KIRO 7 after dangerous trip to Ukraine border

KNKX Public Radio
Pierce County agrees to $4M settlement with Manuel Ellis’ family, pending council vote
Pickleball develops pros, prizes, new facilities as it’s designated Washington’s state sport (Lovick)
Special group of gray whales shows up earlier than ever in Puget Sound

KUOW Public Radio
A third of trans youth are at risk of losing gender-affirming care, study says
The U.S. warns companies to stay on guard for possible Russian cyberattacks
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings: What happened Monday

NW Public Radio
New Lawsuit Challenges WA District 15 Redistricting – With A Twist
Pickleball To Be Designated Washington State’s Official Sport (Lovick)
Eastern Washington Prisons Dealing With COVID Outbreak
No Washington Spring Black Bear Hunt In 2022
County Election Auditor Battles Ongoing Accusations Of Voting Fraud

Web

Crosscut
A foster system paradox: Parents billed for care of their children
Words matter when recounting WWII treatment of Japanese Americans
Seattle voters could pay an added tax to speed up light rail buildout

MyNorthwest
Pierce County agrees to $4 million settlement with family of Manuel Ellis
Remembering the Oso landslide, eight years later
Washington State Court of Appeals rules against portions of Seattle’s eviction moratorium
Auburn Food Bank offers help to local families amid recent rise in gas prices
Chinese airliner crashes with 132 aboard in country’s south

The Stranger
KOMO Journalist Blasts Out Proud Boys Propaganda — UPDATE: He’s Out
Seattle Students Demand Masks in Class

West Seattle Blog
Another electric-vehicle charging station proposed for West Seattle
NEW SIGNS: SDOT starts citywide stop-for-pedestrians campaign with signage in West Seattle
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: First the catalytic converter, then the entire truck

Monday, March 21

As omicron’s BA.2 subvariant pushes up cases globally, here’s what it looks like in WA
While omicron’s subvariant known as BA.2 races through Western Europe and prompts new spikes in cases, COVID-19 trends remain on the decline in Washington state, which has recorded a fairly slow spread of the variant so far. But some local researchers are questioning what its long-term impact could be in the United States and are predicting it could overtake the initial omicron variant in the coming months. BA.2 first emerged in the U.K. last December and over the past few months has spread throughout Europe. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Electric vehicle sales have surged in Washington state. But gas cars still dominate
Sales of electric vehicles are accelerating, even as the climate-friendly cars remain a rarity on Washington roads. One in nine cars sold in King County in 2021 runs on electricity, more than twice the market share electric vehicles have achieved nationwide, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. EVs made up 11.7% of new car sales in King County, 7.8% in Washington, and 4.4% nationwide in 2021. Still, electric vehicles, including “plug-in hybrids” that can run on either battery power or gasoline, were just 1.3% of all passenger vehicles on Washington roads and 0.8% of vehicles nationwide in 2021. Continue reading at KUOW. (Michael Marais)

Nearly 2 years after the border closure, Canada announces it’s dropping testing requirement
One day before the two-year anniversary of Canada and the U.S. agreeing to close their land border due the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic, Canada announced that it soon will make crossing the border from Whatcom County easier than it’s been in the past two years, at least if you’re fully vaccinated. Starting April 1, fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada will not be required to complete a pre-entry COVID-19 test, Canadian Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced in a virtual briefing Thursday, March 17. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

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Associated Press
Seattle to return nearly 300 artifacts to Upper Skagit Tribe

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham adds $1 million for child care, as these efforts to expand access continue
Study shows Bellingham owns one of the worst ratios of minority-owned businesses in nation
Whatcom maintains ‘low’ COVID ranking from CDC, as one region’s infection rate drops to 6
Port of Bellingham has more details on waterfront redevelopment. Here’s an update
Nearly 2 years after the border closure, Canada announces it’s dropping testing requirement

Capital Press
USDA to subsidize farm exports at Seattle port
Poultry farmers urged to take precautions against avian influenza

The Daily News
Kelso woman transforms after prison, Lower Columbia College graduation with help of Students in Need fundraiser
Port of Longview rail expansion receives $2.5 million in federal funding
New bills targeting methane emissions will affect Headquarters Landfill after rulemaking

Everett Herald
State funds to bridge the gap for Marysville rail crossings
Lawsuit: Everett hospital hid ‘charity care’ in the fine print
Mukilteo-Clinton ferry a high priority for restored service (Paul)
Once a rarity, remote government meetings appear here to stay (Wicks)
In Mukilteo, mayor-council friction over diversity appointees
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Comment: U.S. affordable housing crisis only getting worse
Comment: State, others take tree-to-sea path to saving salmon
Comment: Infrastructure work key to state’s rural communities
Bloomberg Comment: What Senate’s time change vote says about Congress
Bloomberg Comment: Biden’s new covid chief just what the doctor ordered
WaPo Comment: Science, health won’t settle the switch in time
Editorial: Hobbs looks to build on past election chief’s work
Letter: Don’t build local highway projects only for what we need now
Letter: Edmonds schools dual-language program has it right
Letter: Gov. Inslee’s covid mandates worked to save lives
Letter: Those who vaccinated, wore masks have done well. Thanks.

High Country News
Sea Potential works to empower people of color in marine sciences

International Examiner
Trafficking and violence survivors from marginalized communities face challenges with remote services, due to pandemic

News Tribune
New mapping shows I-5 through Lakewood could be inundated by flooding of Clover Creek
From broken windows to homicide: How to understand what ails Tacoma, and then fix it
Doctors finding hurdles to using pills to treat COVID-19

New York Times
Supreme Court Live Updates: Confirmation Hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson Begin
Some U.S. states are reducing daily reporting of coronavirus data, raising fears of blind spots.
With Inflation Surging, Biden Targets Ocean Shipping

North American Post
The Seattle Uwajimaya Parking Lot
Three-Part Origin of the Japanese People

Olympian
2 Olympia police chief finalists have been named in workplace, discrimination lawsuits
Is planned resort near Mount Rainier back from the dead? A judge raises new questions
Lacey contractor failed to pay workers for overtime, federal investigators say
Thurston County Chamber board supports North Thurston’s balanced calendar proposal
Here’s what local leaders have to say about turning Capitol Lake back into an estuary

Peninsula Daily News
‘We need to be able to tailor our support’: Chronic homelessness in King County
Berry: Case rates down now
County to consider ARPA funding for Habitat for Humanity
Food Coop to participate in SNAP Produce Match Program
More work slated on Lincoln Street in Port Angeles
Port Angeles seeks volunteers for Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Sequim seeks volunteers for newly formed Salary Commission

Puget Sound Business Journal
Two years later: College presidents reflect on how the pandemic changed higher education
Affordable housing experts highlight need for collaborative efforts
Facilities to care for Seattle’s most vulnerable face funding shortage
As the Great Resignation rolls on, companies are investing more in training
Kent company’s role in Ukraine aid efforts highlights aerospace labor challenges

Seattle Medium
Why Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing Is Significant
Judge Jackson’s Supreme Court Hearings Set As Support Grows For Confirmation
VP Kamala Harris Announces Grants To Help HBCUs With Bomb Threats
Governor Signs Bill Addressing Diaper Need (Nobles)
City Announces Open Enrollment And Expansion Of Seattle Preschool Program
Op-Ed: Pay Inequity – The Past Is Prologue

Seattle Times
As omicron’s BA.2 subvariant pushes up cases globally, here’s what it looks like in WA
Warmest days of the year so far on the way for Seattle area
Column: Electric vehicles shouldn’t be just for rich folks (Fitzgibbon)
Afghan refugee children, arriving in the Seattle area after the fall of Kabul, start school
The higher cost of driving lands heavily for those scraping by in the Seattle area
Downtown Seattle’s crime and inequity issues can get better, but a key ingredient is missing, officials say
Seattle city attorney’s plan for repeat offenders is ‘tired’ and destabilizing, public defender says
Family of Black man killed by police during 2019 Vancouver traffic stop files wrongful-death lawsuit
Opinion: The future of work is hybrid, seamless and inclusive

Snoqualmie Valley Record
State provides funds for SR 18, Snoqualmie Parkway, police mental health officer

South Seattle Emerald
‘Beloved’ Campaign Combats Gun Violence With Activism, Art — And Love For Community
Opinion: Dear Beloved – A Love Letter To Seattle’s Black Community
Opinion: How Do You Support Someone Who’s Having An Abortion?

Spokesman Review
Hearing opens for Jackson, first Black female nominee for U.S. Supreme Court
Racism deemed a public health issue in Washington, state public health association declares
Idaho could make getting an abortion harder, and Washington is preparing for more patients
State budget includes ‘significant investment’ in housing, homelessness
Spokane Valley’s massive Barker Road project gets a $3 million assist from Patty Murray

Tri-City Herald
More Tri-Cities COVID deaths reported, but they may finally be on the decline
70-year history of baby deliveries at downtown Kennewick hospital ends this month
Contractor at massive Hanford nuclear waste project rated ‘good,’ paid almost $6M
Fake Amazon job listings for the Tri-Cities area. They’re not what you think
Tri-Cities first Latina Superior Court judge ready to ‘step up’
Franklin County voting rights trial gets delayed past 1-year deadline
Advances in renewable energy are being made in the Tri-Cities by PNNL scientists
PNNL’s HydroPASSAGE: Advancing hydropower for fish and industry
Disrupted sleep studied during coronavirus pandemic

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Some employees, customers in Walla Walla opt to keep wearing masks after mandate lifts
Walla Walla County redistricting draws unexpected attention, calls for public input
Police Capt. Chris Buttice named next Walla Walla police chief
Walla Walla-area railroad crossings slotted for improvement
More details in Eagles shooting emerge as officials explain Walla Walla officer’s clearing
Walla Walla County considers speed limit changes on Taumarson Road, Prospect Avenue and Reser Road
Walla Walla to consider moratorium on redevelopment of manufactured home parks
Commission recommendations could reduce VA health services in Walla Walla

Washington Post
Democrats hail Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination; Republicans promise to probe philosophy
Ukraine rejects call to surrender Mariupol; 8 killed in Kyiv mall strike
The SEC proposed a landmark climate disclosure rule. Here’s what to know.
Justice Clarence Thomas hospitalized with infection; Supreme Court says he’ll miss some oral arguments this week

Yakima Herald-Republic
Toppenish homeless encampment uprooted, flea market displaced in wake of landowner’s death
New list of missing Indigenous people in Washington includes Montana woman last seen in Kennewick
New lawsuit over Yakima Valley voting boundaries alleges racial gerrymandering
Selah School District names six candidates in superintendent search
Yakima Council considers adding third Latino-majority voting district

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Celebration of life planned for fallen Pierce County Deputy Dom Calata
Poulsbo to pay $2M to settle police killing lawsuit
China Eastern plane crash: Boeing 737 airliner with 132 aboard plunged from 29,000 feet
Seattle marchers calling for no-fly zone in Ukraine
State treasurer urging Congress to pass ‘Safe Banking Act’
Oso landslide memorial construction to start

KNKX Public Radio
Watch Live: Senate holds confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson

KUOW Public Radio
Electric Vehicle Sales Have Surged in Washington State. But Gas Cars Still Dominate
Pandemic updates: Students, teachers protest end of mask mandate
Ukrainian officials say Russia has bombed a school with 400 people sheltering inside
The U.S. may force companies to disclose climate risks, marking a historic change
Week in Review: Atomic weapons, masks, and Daylight Saving Time

NW Public Radio
Salmon Release In Hangman Creek ‘a great thing’ For Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Hangman Creek ‘a great thing’ For Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Renewed Violence Against Women Act Helps More Groups
Coronavirus Subvariant Detected In Washington State

Web

Crosscut
WA courts Hollywood with new movie studio and film tax incentive
Rural Jefferson County is building its own broadband network

MyNorthwest
Union push among Starbucks workers an ‘evolving backdrop’ of ‘uncertainty,’ says retiring CEO
Washington prepares for ‘influx of patients from Idaho’ after strengthening abortion protections
Seattle students plan Monday walkout over lifting of mask mandate in schools
‘We’re so far behind on this’: Seattle council looks to catch up on affordable housing data
New King County project gives more options for recycling soft plastics
Handful of police reform rollback bills take effect in Washington, others fall short
As permanent Daylight Saving Time bill advances, should Washington push for Standard Time instead?
Seattle-area gas prices begin to tick down after peaking early in week
Boeing builds launch vehicle for mission to land first woman on the moon
Sound Transit mulls aggressive fare enforcement with revenue forecasts in ‘wrong direction’
Washington enacts limits on how schools can conduct active shooter drills
Tips to save on gas as prices get worse before they get better
Canadian border will no longer require tests for vaccinated travelers
Some Seattle-area concrete drivers return to work, others await go-ahead from employer
Pierce County Sheriff’s deputy dead after being shot Tuesday in Spanaway
With mask mandate in rear-view, state plots course for future of COVID response

The Stranger
Downtown Seattle Association Hosts Group Therapy Session for the City’s Rich and Powerful
First Their Home Burned Down. Then Came the Contracts

Friday, March 18

‘ForWArd’ plan details how state will ‘coexist’ with COVID
State officials have a new, long-term game plan as Washington transitions to a phase of the pandemic that feels more normal. A roadmap released Thursday, formally titled ForWArd, plots out how the state wants to prevent, monitor and react to any future waves of infection. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)

WA must stand ready as abortion rights fall under siege in states near and far
It’s like a scene out of a movie. Activists and volunteers ferry a group across the border, organizing transportation and offering them shelter, while the travelers — some coming from 1,000 miles away and risking legal peril back home — await to get medical attention. This is not some far off dystopian future. This could be America if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade this summer, making safe, legal abortion no longer a constitutional right across the nation. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman, File)

Lummi matriarchs say healing the Salish Sea begins with bringing home their orca relation
Sacred Sea, led by enrolled Lummi Tribal members Raynell Morris and Ellie Kinley, continues to advocate for the repatriation of the orca Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut from her concrete tank in the Miami sun back to her cool, dark home waters of the Salish Sea. “Now that she’s not performing three times a day, not having to do tricks for food, she can get the best care and be her best self,” said Morris, vice president of the Sacred Lands Conservancy known as Sacred Sea. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Miami Herald)

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Associated Press
Washington state prohibits Texas-style abortion lawsuits (Thai)
Washington Gov. Inslee signs rollback of police reform bill (Johnson)
Ex-WA far-right Rep. in Poland with Ukrainian kids

Aberdeen Daily World
New razor clam digs include morning hours

Bellingham Herald
The Washington State Investment Board cuts ties with Russia, impacting local state workers
COVID testing isn’t required for vaccinated travelers after April 1. But you will need this
Lummi matriarchs say healing the Salish Sea begins with bringing home their orca relation

Capital Press
Easterday bankruptcy battle heats up
Aquaculture innovator appointed to NWAA board

The Daily News
Police updates dominate Kelso City Council meeting
Seven Cowlitz County projects receive funding in this year’s supplemental budget
Capitol Dispatch: Republicans frustrated by what lived and died in the 2022 Legislature

Everett Herald
‘ForWArd’ plan details how state will ‘coexist’ with COVID
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Canada announces it’s dropping testing requirement at border
Bloomberg comment: Research into long covid could advance other work

The Facts Newspaper
Applications are open for the new Small Business Capital Access Program!

News Tribune
The Washington State Investment Board cuts ties with Russia, impacting local state workers
Op-Ed: Too many urban lawmakers have no respect for WA farmers. They proved it this session

New York Times
Ukraine Live Updates: 130 Rescued From Theater Rubble; Russia Strikes Near Lviv
As Offices Open and Mask Mandates Drop, Some Anxieties Set In
How the War in Ukraine Could Slow the Sales of Electric Cars
Gig Workers Say High Gas Prices May Be a Breaking Point
Drought in U.S. Is Expected to Persist, and Spread, Through the Spring
Largest Federal Utility Chooses Gas, Undermining Biden’s Climate Goals

North American Post
My Life within the Nikkei Community

Olympian
Former Thurston County rent assistance provider agrees to transfer client data

Peninsula Daily News
Canada drops pre-travel tests for vaccinated
Clallam County mulls tax increase for housing projects

Puget Sound Business Journal
Pierce County establishes regional office to address homeless crisis
Legislature earmarks $150M for high-speed rail to Vancouver, Washington
UW Tacoma seeks private partner for continued expansion

Seattle Medium
Governor Signs Bill Addressing Diaper Need (Nobles)
City Announces Open Enrollment And Expansion Of Seattle Preschool Program
Washington No Longer Requires Mask In Most Indoor Spaces
Seattle’s New Attorney Offender Program Is Evidence-Based
Concerns For Washington State’s New Voting Maps
Billions In Transportation Package Pushed By Dems

Seattle Times
‘Pop-up’ at Seattle port aims to fill empty shipping containers bound for Asia
Seattle’s downtown crime, inequity issues can be solved if stakeholders collaborate, officials say
Seattle teachers rally to be included in district decisions
Editorial: WA must stand ready as abortion rights fall under siege in states near and far

Skagit Valley Herald
Investigation into police shooting likely to take months
PeaceHealth lifts visitor restrictions in Skagit County health care facilities

South Seattle Emerald
New Light Rail Threatens Chinatown Historic District, Community Pushes Back
Ballard Students of Color say $10k Ad in The Seattle Times Makes Them Feel Less Safe

Spokesman Review
CDC study shows Airway Heights residents near contamination have high levels of chemicals in blood, urine
Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s video address to county commission candidate draws complaint
Murray, McMorris Rodgers demand VA stop computer system launch in Walla Walla after reports reveal problems persist at Spokane hospital

Washington Post
130 survivors emerge but 1,300 remain inside Mariupol theater, officials say
Biden’s chance to tackle climate change is fading amid global energy upheaval
More than two dozen Senate Republicans demand Biden do more for Ukraine after voting against $13.6 billion for Ukraine
Moderna seeks FDA authorization for a second booster dose of its coronavirus vaccine for all adults
Dreading the knock at the door: Parents of trans kids in Texas are terrified for their families
How permanent daylight saving time would change sunrise and sunset times

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Council considers adding third Latino-majority voting district
Pilot program to deliver free drinking water to some households in Lower Valley

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
UW students propose ‘Alternative Emergency Services’ teams for U-District
Washington Gov. Inslee signs rollback of police reform bill (Johnson)
Washington treasurer pushes for cannabis banking bill as pot shop robberies soar
Inslee signs bill prohibiting abortion lawsuits in Washington state

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sound Transit mulls aggressive fare enforcement with revenue forecasts in ‘wrong direction’
Community mourns death of deputy killed during SWAT operation
Coronavirus: Moderna seeks FDA authorization for 4th COVID-19 vaccine dose for all adults

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Two marinas in Tacoma plead for city to clear nearby homeless camps

KUOW Public Radio
Pandemic updates: Washington moving toward long-term approach to Covid
Inslee signs law returning some powers to Washington police; opponents call it a rollback (Goodman, Johnson)
Seattle will return 270 artifacts to Upper Skagit Tribe
‘We need to be able to tailor our support’: Chronic homelessness in King County

KXLY (ABC)
SPS responds to Spokane Police chief’s claim it isn’t following mandatory reporting procedures

NW Public Radio
Coronavirus Subvariant Detected In Washington State
Inland NW Health Care Providers Reassess After 2-Year Anniversary of COVID
Former Washington Rep. Shea’s Presence In Poland Raises Questions

Q13 TV (FOX)
New bill seeks to recognize 911 dispatchers as first responders

Web

Crosscut
Deep in the marsh, an ecologist untangles aquatic food webs
WA redistricting panel withheld text messages, possibly breaking the law (Pollet)

The Stranger
What’s Next for Washington’s Public Transportation Projects? (Liias, Pedersen, Berry, Hackney)
The League of Women Voters Has Higher Standards Than Approval Voting
How “Free Fairs” Failed (Billig, Rolfes)

Thursday, March 17

WA state health officials preview their plan for moving forward with life with COVID
Washington state health officials so far are not worried about the current surge of Omicron subvariant cases overseas, but say they are closely monitoring through various means to detect when and if such a strain takes off here. In a Wednesday news briefing, officials with the state Department of Health told reporters that the state’s WA Forward plan will be released Thursday as a blueprint for next steps in living with COVID-19 as the last surge dwindles. Continue reading at The Olympian.

WA, Canada agree to address flooding near NW border
U.S. and Canadian government leaders have agreed to work together to address flooding near the northwest Washington border with Canada on the Nooksack River. The Bellingham Herald reports in a joint statement issued Tuesday, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee and British Columbia Premier John Horgan pledged “to build a sustained and ongoing transboundary initiative to address Nooksack River flooding prevention and response.” Details will be disclosed this spring. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

War in Ukraine reveals familial rifts for some Washingtonians
As the world reevaluates its relationship with Russia, Eastern Europeans in Washington state are doing the same with friends and family swayed by Russia’s propaganda on the violent invasion of Ukraine. “It’s really hard for me to understand that they do believe their own state media and don’t believe the family,” said Liliya Askarova, 37, of Newcastle, calling it “the most heartbreaking experience.” Continue reading at Crosscut. (David Ryder)