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Thursday, Feb. 10

Inslee: Mask mandate is going away, but not quite yet
As mask mandates disappear around the country, Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday it will happen in Washington, too, very soon. The governor said he’ll reveal exactly when next week. “Today is not the day to totally eliminate masks. The day is close,” he said at a virtual news conference. “It is no longer a matter of if. It is a matter of when.” COVID cases are falling “like a rock” after a rocket-like surge fueled by the omicron variant, he said. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ted S. Warren)

WA House members unanimously pass legislation to provide relief for farmers, ranchers
House legislators voted unanimously Wednesday on a measure to help provide short-term financial disaster relief to farmers and ranchers in Washington state. Under the bill, the Washington State Conservation Commission would be tasked with developing and implementing the program to provide funds for farmers and ranchers who can furnish documentation of “lost agricultural income or activity.” The bill doesn’t identify funding for the aid after a $600,000 appropriation from the State General Fund was removed from the original bill. Continue reading at The Olympian.

House passes bill allowing Medicaid to pay for doula services
Members of the state’s House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday, 85-8, to allow doula services to be covered by Medicaid. Doulas, non-medical advocates who assist birthing families before, during, and after births, would receive state certification under House Bill 1881. The optional certification would allow doula services to be covered by Medicaid, the primary health insurance provider for low-income residents. Bill sponsor Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley said Medicaid provides health coverage for 52 percent of births in the state. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
Washington lifting outdoor mask mandate, elective surgery ban; indoor mask rules stay for now
WA Senate approves temporary $35 cap on 30-day insulin supply

Bainbridge Island Review
Subs help keep BI schools open during surge

Bellevue Reporter
U.S. House passes postal service reform bill after concerns of facility closures and declining service standards

Bellingham Herald
County asking about interest in buyouts, elevating sites damaged in November flood
Bellingham will use ranked-choice voting for City Council vacancies. How does it work?
Omicron on the way out? Bellingham hospital reports fewest COVID patients since Jan. 1

Capital Press
House passes bill to help Whatcom County farmers recuperate from floods; funding unsure (Rule, Ormsby, Springer)
Q&A: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee talks about agriculture, dams and COVID
Groups lay out conditions for Blue Mountain forest plan
Spokane Ag Show a ‘welcome back’ after two years

Columbian
COVID-19 cases declining in Clark County school districts
Opinion: In Our View: Jan. 6 probe vital to defending our democracy

Everett Herald
Inslee: Mask mandate is going away, but not quite yet
School funding measures now passing in Snohomish, Northshore
New political mapping concludes with revisions by lawmakers
Cornfield report: 5 things Democrats didn’t say about their $17B transpo plan (Saldana)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: WWII tale shows white ’comfort’ ingrained in schools
Editorial: Celebrating our partners in ‘defense of democracy’

The Inlander
For months, the downtown police precinct’s building featured “mosquito devices” banned by the Spokane City Council

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Black History Month is a time to honor and remember

News Tribune
Group that taught people to evade vaccine mandate is raising cash for Troyer’s legal fees
Exclusive: Steilacoom teacher warned to stop touching students. He didn’t, records show
Column: There’s no rush to end WA’s indoor mask mandate. Stop putting politics over public health
Op-Ed: There’s a severe nursing shortage in WA hospitals. This bill would make the crisis worse

New York Times
Prices climbed 7.5 percent in January, the fastest inflation since 1982.
Canada Live Updates: Multiple Blockades at U.S.-Canada Border Disrupt Auto Industry
Covid Live Updates: U.S. Emerges Unevenly From Omicron Surge
How Billions in Infrastructure Funding Could Worsen Global Warming
Masks Come Off in More States, but Not Everyone Is Grinning

Olympian
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Outdoor mask mandates to be lifted, indoor mandate under consideration, says Gov. Inslee
WA House members unanimously pass legislation to provide relief for farmers, ranchers

Peninsula Daily News
No lasting state fix coming for Highway 112 (Chapman, Tharinger)
School district bond threshold remains 60 percent (Tharinger, Van De Wege)
Region’s health officer warns of lifting mask mandates too soon

Puget Sound Business Journal
King County seeks deals to keep concrete flowing for up to 6 years
Businesses’ two biggest challenges are colliding. Price hikes are coming.
Reporter’s notebook: Supply chain concerns weigh on aerospace industry
Inslee to begin lifting mask mandates as state ‘transitions’ out of pandemic
Amazon’s headcount in Washington state swells past 85,000

Seattle Medium
Seattle Mayor Raises Issue Of Violence

Seattle Times
WA Senate OKs ban on sales of gun ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds (Liias, Jinkins)
Unfunded Seattle Police hiring bonuses continued last month contrary to City Council vote
WA to end outdoor mask mandate next week; more mask changes likely ahead
Are cottages like this a fix for WA housing problems? How zoning change played out in South Park (Bateman, Pollet)
Sharon Jodock-King, advocate for people with disabilities in Washington and beyond, dies at 81
Sen. Liias and Rep. Fey: We can modernize WA transportation priorities without raising the gas tax

Skagit Valley Herald
Downtown Mount Vernon medical center taking shape

Sol De Yakima
Escuelas de Zillah, Wapato investigan insulto racial en juego de básquetbol
Superintendente estatal de Washington pide quitar mandato de mascarilla en escuelas
Resultados mixtos salen en elecciones especiales de distritos escolares

South Seattle Emerald
Inslee: Indoor Mask Mandate Will Stay in Place for ‘Weeks Rather Than Months’
With Backing Of Build Back Black Alliance, Yimby Housing Bill Moves Forward
Concrete Workers Strike, Rainier Beach High Revisions, City Crime Crackdown

Spokesman Review
Washington House approves bill to prevent disclosure of voter envelopes and signatures
Spokane County stands to lose thousands in MacArthur funding over stalled criminal justice reform program
Inslee plans to announce next week when Washington’s indoor mask mandate will end
First train pulled by Amtrak’s new, more efficient locomotive headed to Spokane

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
College Place pursues state funding for more trees in local parks
Urgent care facility coming to College Place
Walla Walla to consider tattoo policy for city employees as residents threaten litigation

Washington Post
Prices climbed 7.5% in January, compared with last year, continuing inflation’s fastest pace in 40 years
‘From the White House down,’ pleas for help disrupted Afghan evacuation, top U.S. commander says
More cities seek to redress widespread 20th-century destruction of Black neighborhoods
They rushed to get IUDs before Trump took office. Five years later, would they do it again?

Yakima Herald-Republic
Attorney objects to use of Chief Owhi name for Selah park, saying permission is needed
Yakima students support longer summer break as district looks at calendar changes
Opinion: Toppenish School District didn’t rush to judgment

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
House passes bill allowing Medicaid to pay for doula services (Harris-Talley)
Washington Senate passes ban on sale of high capacity magazines
Washington’s outdoor mask mandate will lift by Feb. 18, no date for indoor mandate
King County Drug Diversion Court offering hope for its graduates
Here’s why millions of Americans are quitting their jobs to change careers

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Concrete workers’ strike could delay reopening of West Seattle Bridge
Seattle business vandalized, worries about downtown crime
Boeing Seafair to return “100%” this summer
Gov. Inslee announces statewide outdoor mask mandate to be lifted Feb. 18

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Inslee: State to lift outdoor mask mandate Feb.18, info on indoor mask mandate to come
Schools Superintendent Reykdal: Time to drop statewide face mask mandate for students
Chinatown-ID Seattle business owners call out city leaders, demand action to stop crime
Local business owners, councilmembers discuss efforts to combat crime in Seattle
City’s inaction on parked RVs in Ballard neighborhood has many residents revved up
Concrete strike could cost King County taxpayers, delay projects
Tensions flare at dueling rallies in Kirkland over homeless shelter proposal

KNKX Public Radio
Washington governor says announcement on state indoor mask mandate coming next week

KUOW Public Radio
Wash. Gov. Inslee says state outdoor mask rule will end this February
Pandemic updates for Seattle: Thursday, February 10, 2022
A healthcare researcher weighs in on the nurse-to-patient ratio debate
How to protect yourself from a data breach
Washington state legislators propose tax on Oregon drivers’ fuel (Fey, Liias, Wylie)

KXLY (ABC)
‘No longer a matter of if, but when’: Inslee says health leaders discussing when to lift indoor mask mandate

NW Public Radio
Are Homeless Being Bused Into The Tri Cities?
Richland Fred Meyer Shooter: A Tale Of Fraying Mental Health And Early Warnings
Washington Lawmakers Unveil 16-Year Transportation Package (Fey, Liias)
Teen Dating Violence Is Serious In WA

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington outdoor mask mandate to end Feb. 18, but what about indoors?
Pierce County Executive wants police restriction removed

Web

Crosscut
Washington ski resorts tested by climate and pandemic
WA officials want to end fees charged to parents for kids’ jail time

MyNorthwest
Washington superintendent calls for end to state’s school mask mandate
Seattle private downtown security a ‘stopgap’ until ‘hotspot’ policing materializes
Pressure mounts in concrete strike as King County offers $35 million bargaining chip
Washington’s outdoor mask mandate to be lifted Feb. 18; indoor to follow
Tsunami safety bond in North Beach School District failing in early results
State fines trio of companies for knowingly putting warehouse workers at risk for COVID
Seattle adds new layer to 911 calls with ‘Nurse Navigator’ program

The Stranger
Harrell Wants Local Control Over Gun Policy. He’ll Need Way More Than Luck. (Nguyen, Hackney, Macri, Kuderer)
WA Lawmakers Aren’t Just “Tweaking” Police Accountability Bills, They’re Poised to Roll Back Protections (Goodman)

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: What the governor announced today, and how local numbers are going
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: City says concrete strike may push back reopening schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 9

WA Democrats propose $16B for transportation, hoping to boost highways, transit and ferries
Democrats in the Washington Legislature want to spend $16.8 billion over the next 16 years on the state’s transportation system, releasing a proposal Tuesday that would shore up the state’s largest highway projects and promote transit ridership through grants for improved service and free ridership for anyone 18 and under. The proposal also envisions adding four new hybrid-electric boats to the state’s aging ferry fleet, matching available federal dollars to move forward on a high-speed rail project between British Columbia and Oregon and spending nearly $2.5 billion removing barriers to fish passage. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

As omicron subsides in WA, health officials are hopeful and vigilant
As COVID-19 case counts come down from the recent omicron peak, many in Washington, including health officials and experts, are starting to wonder if the latest surge could signal the end of the pandemic. But while local public health experts confirm we have new reasons to be hopeful, the way out remains murky. “We are absolutely in a better place today than we were a year ago…. We are making meaningful progress,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer at Public Health — Seattle & King County, in a recent media briefing. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Matt M. McKnight)

Gap continues to widen for housing affordability, inventory
New data this week illustrates how difficult it is for households earning less than $100,000 to become homeowners in the current market. The National Association of Realtors in a report this week found there are more than 400,000 fewer affordable homes available for sale for households that earn $75,000 to $100,000, compared to the start of the pandemic. Nationally, there’s one affordable home listing at that income level available for every 65 households. That’s compared to one listing for every 24 households in 2019. Continue reading at The Puget Sound Business Journal.

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Associated Press
WA House, Senate Democrats release $16 billion transportation package
COVID-19 hospitalizations falling throughout Washington
Starbucks, citing safety, fires 7 seeking union in Memphis

Aberdeen Daily World
Special Election 2022: Proposed merger of Aberdeen, Hoquiam fire departments trails key threshold in initial returns

Bellingham Herald
It’s your last chance to comment on clean-up plans for this future Bellingham park
County health officials expect Whatcom hasn’t reached peak for COVID-related deaths yet

Capital Press
WSDA to stop certifying organic dairies

Columbian
$1 billion for Interstate Bridge Replacement Project included in transportation package (Fey, Wylie)

Everett Herald
Democrats unveil 16-year, $16.8 billion transportation plan (Liias, Fey, Ortiz-Self)
Edmonds mayor: Reopened budget process causing staff ‘distress’
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
School funding measures failing in 7 county districts
Bloomberg Comment: U.S. abandoned its best solution to child poverty
Bloomberg Comment: States should save their surpluses, not spend them

The Facts Newspaper
Mayor Bruce Harrell Announces New Leadership

High Country News
What’s getting more expensive? Everything but grazing fees.

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Application period now open for new county climate and sustainability advisory committee

News Tribune
A family of Afghan refugees has found a home on Puyallup’s South Hill. They’re not alone
Pierce County sees COVID cases drop by more than 1,500, deaths by nearly half from previous week

New York Times
House Passes Bill to Shore Up Postal Service, Working to Avert Insolvency
House Passes Short-Term Spending Bill, Punting Again on a Deal

Olympian
WA state Democrats unveil $16.8 billion transportation package. Here’s what it includes (Liias, Fey)
Homeless camp that caused rift between city and LGBTQ nonprofit being dismantled after fire
After protests, North Thurston school board hears from students, parents and teachers
WA state food distribution center hit with hefty COVID fines after workers infected
13 more Thurston residents die of COVID-19 amid declining but still high virus cases
Man at center of Lacey police shooting shot himself, Thurston Coroner says

Peninsula Daily News
Two more COVID-19 deaths reported on Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
Gap continues to widen for housing affordability, inventory
Omicron hospitalizations are waning in Washington, but cases ‘still quite high’
15K laborers will soon be idled if concrete strike continues, contractors estimate
Boeing buys 2M gallons of green fuel for commercial operations
‘It should be illegal:’ How to navigate after-hours messages in the remote era

Seattle Times
WA Democrats propose $16B for transportation, hoping to boost highways, transit and ferries (Liias, Fey)
Eleanor Owen, mental health champion in Washington and co-founder of NAMI, dies at 101
Mini Mart City Park, a converted gas station in Georgetown, opens as cultural center after 15 years
SAM security guards push to unionize
Opinion: Public school foundations are an essential part of the funding puzzle

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon High School students perform on Latino Legislative Day
Mount Vernon affordable housing project awarded $300,000 grant
Progress reported on managing local elk herd

South Seattle Emerald
Seattle Green Book Tour App Aims to Keep Local Black History Alive
Celebration of Africatown Plaza Groundbreaking Rings in New Affordable Housing
Black History Today: Dr. Kristine Bellamy, Actualizing Her Dreams in Service of Others

Spokesman Review
State Democrats announce transportation package that includes funding for new bus ‘rapid transit line’ on Division (Riccelli)

Tri-City Herald
3 Tri-City school district levies failing, including one of the largest

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla County voters approve new and renewed school district levies, transportation tax
Walla Walla Valley health officials see hope in declining numbers
Walla Walla’s St. Mary Medical Center receiving extra nursing hands for COVID-19 work

Washington Post
‘Legitimate political discourse’: Three words about Jan. 6 spark rift among Republicans
Almost half of Republicans say Trump bears no blame for Jan. 6 — and that he likely won in 2020
‘Freedom Convoy’ protests disrupt another U.S.-Canada border crossing as more arrests are made
School mask mandates are falling in states across the country

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Democratic lawmakers introduce $16 billion transportation spending proposal (Fey, Liias)
‘Tacoma shuffle’: People return to I-705 homeless encampment days after sweep
Dozens of disenrolled Nooksack tribal members face eviction

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Pressure grows for Inslee to roll back mask mandate
Giant computer wall helps EVCC students to prevent worldwide cyber attacks
4 states plan to lift school mask mandates; Washington will revisit in ‘near future’
Demonstration shows how state’s transportation system can go electric
State reopens online portal to order at-home COVID-19 tests

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Neighbors in Capitol Hill worried about troublesome homeless camp at Seven Hills
Nearly a dozen planes hit with lasers in one hour at Sea-Tac as concerning trend
Leading local infectious diseases expert sees hope in recent COVID case trends
Lawmaker suggests stiffening penalties for those convicted of fire station thefts
Business leaders will get chance to talk crime issues with Seattle City

KNKX Public Radio
Limit on toilet flushes adds to inmates’ concerns about health, safety
Effort to address critical shortage of forensic pathologists stalls
Listen: What’s next as 2022 legislative session hits halfway mark?

KUOW Public Radio
Washington ‘missing middle housing’ bill survives in altered form (Das, Bateman)
Pandemic updates for Seattle: Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Utilities in Washington are tackling the clean energy to-do list
Politically-risky solutions to our housing woes: Today So Far

KXLY (ABC)
Gov. Jay Inslee to hold press conference Wednesday

Q13 TV (FOX)
Marijuana industry is a cash cow for Washington, yet many local stores struggle to stay afloat
When will Washington state’s mask mandate end?
Gov. Inslee is ‘optimistic’ Washington will revisit mask mandate in the near future
‘This is a slap in the face to crime victims’; WA House considers bill to end life without parole (Dhingra, Nguyen)

Web

Clark County Today
Largest transportation package in state history proposed by Washington Democrats (Liias, Fey)

Crosscut
How big a makeover does WA redistricting need?
As omicron subsides in WA, health officials are hopeful and vigilant

MyNorthwest
Seattle ‘not likely’ to see repeat of 2021’s record-shattering February snow
Seattle mulls first-of-its-kind minimum wage for app-based delivery drivers
National Starbucks unionization echoes in Seattle City Hall as ‘misinformation’ accusations fly
Police monitor finds Seattle police conducted fewest on-record stops in 2021
Washington reopens COVID at-home test ordering portal for third time
Washington Democrats unveil expansive $16 billion transportation package (Fey, Liias)
Tsunami ‘towers’ proposed in North Beach School District bond
As Oregon sets end date for mask mandate, Washington hopes to revisit it ‘in near future’
From Olympia to Spokane: Battle over changes to state’s new police accountability laws heats up

The Stranger
New Housing Bill Passes with Big Changes — Here’s What’s Different (Pollet)
Arts Mailbox: Black Fret Seattle Announces 11 Grant Recipients, Frye Art Museum Director to Step Down, and More (Riccelli, Frockt)

West Seattle Blog
CAMP SECOND CHANCE: Still seeking utilities
FOLLOWUP: Plan scrapped for small shelter at Admiral Church

Tuesday, Feb. 8

Personal info from WA state licensing agency database may already be on ‘dark web’
Personal information of some of the hundreds of thousands of licensed professionals potentially exposed in a breach of a Washington state database may already have shown up on “dark web” clearinghouses used by identity thieves. State investigators haven’t said whether Social Security numbers and other personal data were actually stolen from a database of more than 250,000 professional and business licensees used by the state Department of Licensing, agency officials said. The database is maintained by Salesforce, a San Francisco software company. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Inflation is hurting all Americans — but experts say Latinos are ‘feeling it the most’
The price of meat and gasoline is rising, and for Antonio Hernandez, owner of Tacos El Tony, the cost to run his business is taking a bite out of his personal savings. “We’ve had to buy less for ourselves,” said the 40-year-old Modesto resident, speaking in Spanish. Hernandez said he’s no longer buying personal items for his family like he used to. They’ve had to buy less for themselves and save their money. They aren’t sure how much longer they’ll need to dip into their personal savings to fund their business. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Andy Alfaro)

Washington’s mask requirements may be revisited in the ‘near future’
With Oregon and California set to lift mask mandates in indoor public places, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s office is being asked when the Evergreen State could see relaxed masking rules. In a brief statement Monday, Inslee said state officials are tracking cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. “We are optimistic that these numbers will continue to decline in a way that will let us revisit the mask requirements in the near future,” the statement reads. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
Breach of state licensing database might expose personal information
WA House quadruples number of lawmakers allowed on floor

Bellingham Herald
Tougher language is possible for Bellingham laws regarding dogs in parks and trails
Amtrak has started practice runs through Bellingham. When will service return?
4 of Whatcom’s 7 most recent COVID deaths among vaccinated, as cases stay ‘extremely high’

Capital Press
Court hears farmers’ suit against Washington tax
Food industry must adapt to long-term labor shortages, experts say

Columbian
Nurses unions in Washington back safe-staffing legislation

Everett Herald
Deputy faults state law after woman stabs social worker near Bothell
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
FAA proposes shielding Boeing employees overseeing safety
Cornfield Report: Traffic jam: Lawmakers face the legislative cut-off deadline (Ortiz-Self, Randall)
Bloomberg Comment: Low-key approach works best for Biden on diversity
WaPo Comment: We told students their voice matters; they listened
Editorial: Kids need a week in the woods for outdoor learning (Rule)

High Country News
The Supreme Court is set to weigh in on the Clean Water Act’s reach

News Tribune
Addressing flood risk on I-5 in Nisqually basin now a priority for Pierce County Council
Inflation is hurting all Americans — but experts say Latinos are ‘feeling it the most’
Op-Ed: Tacoma to Portland in an hour? Ultra-high-speed rail can make it happen. Here’s how

New York Times
J.&J. Pauses Production of Its Covid Vaccine Despite Persistent Need
Covid Live Updates: Governors in 4 States Plan to Lift Mask Mandates
The U.S. trade deficit soared to a record last year.
Why This Could Be a Critical Year for Electric Cars

Olympian
Deschutes restoration project in Tumwater reveals history of poor forestry practices
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Monday in Washington state
Lt. Gov. Denny Heck tests positive for COVID, will work remotely until cleared

Peninsula Daily News
Health officer: Modeling shows case rates likely to drop by mid-March

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle councilmember: Downtown getting better but still has a long way to go
Starbucks and other retailers brace as unionization efforts gather steam
Lawmakers assess 5G rollout in wake of flight cancellations, including at Everett’s Paine Field
State grants $18.6M to defray costs for affordable housing projects
As the talent battle rages, Amazon makes a big move to $350K
At long last, Sea-Tac Airport’s $968M international facility to debut
Inslee takes heat for bills that would force cities to add housing density (Bateman, Das)
10-hour days for a four-day workweek? Here’s how many would make that trade.

Seattle Times
Personal info from WA licensing agency database may already be on ‘dark web’
Oregon to lift indoor mask requirement by end of March
Prices are going up all over, but inflation is even worse in Seattle
Demand for 737 MAX and new freighter jet boosts Boeing orders in January
Editorial: Strong transit needs fare enforcement

Skagit Valley Herald
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opens in Concrete
Skagit County’s COVID-19 rate drops takes another drop
Economic recovery proposals for Skagit County funding unveiled

South Seattle Emerald
Solar Project Devised by Highline High School Students Wins District Approval
A New Public Safety Narrative Fuels Stephan Thomas’s Run for King County Prosecutor
Harrell Outlines Public Safety Strategies: Expanding Policing, ‘Hot Spots’ Focus, Police Response Alternatives.

Tri-City Herald
‘Never been sick like this.’ Popular Tri-Cities TV weatherman recovering from COVID
Running Tri-City school levies costs thousands of dollars, so pass them on the first try
Former Richland police chief paid as much as $81,000 to resign

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Grant funds to help monitor water quality, rehabilitate habitat in Walla Walla River system

Washington Post
Canadians warn against ‘foreign interference’ as U.S. Republicans back ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests
Europe ramps up Ukraine diplomacy amid ‘extreme tension’
Fla. Republicans ditch Texas-style abortion law for ‘generous’ 15-week ban
Vermont could become first state to guarantee right to abortion in its constitution

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington’s mask requirements may be revisited in the ‘near future’

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Additional charges filed against parents of missing Grays Harbor County girl
Coastal school district could take big step toward tsunami safety
Businesses struggle in Seattle’s Little Saigon, a priority crime clean-up area
Seattle City Attorney’s Office to change filing deadline for incoming cases
Lawmakers weigh bill to give federal government more power to crack down on price gouging

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Statewide mask mandate could be revisited as case counts drop
Jefferson, Clallam counties could be nearing end to vaccine card mandate for restaurants
Seattle City Attorney vows to speed up charging process to help reduce case backlog
Personnel data show Seattle police facing crime spike amid staffing crisis
Boeing jet deliveries and orders rise from a year earlier

KUOW Public Radio
Covid updates today for Seattle area: 50% fewer cases
Pandemic updates for Seattle: Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Wahkiakum School District sues WA over its education funding model
Why remdesivir, a highly effective treatment, is a last resort for providers
Fallout from a Covid surge: Today So Far

NW Public Radio
Cultural Access Program In Tacoma Completes First Funding Year
Covid Rates Are Exploding In Eastern WA

Q13 TV (FOX)
Seattle may extend eviction moratorium as tenants and small landlords deal with impacts
Lt. Gov. Denny Heck tests positive for COVID-19, working from home

Web

Crosscut
How WA farmworkers push for climate justice amid heat and wildfire
Keep track of Washington’s important legislation in 2022

MyNorthwest
Layoffs ‘into the thousands, more to come’ as concrete worker strike nears third month
Snoqualmie Tribe closes on purchase of 12,000 acres of ancestral forest in King County
State looks at changes to how ballot initiatives are presented to voters (Gregerson)
Seattle City Attorney tightens filing deadline for incoming cases to address growing backlog

The Stranger
CID Community Watch Not Impressed by Mayor Harrell’s Hot-Spot Policing Strategy in Little Saigon

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Your next chance to get briefed

Monday, Feb. 7

Tsunami could kill thousands on WA coast. Can an escape be built?
The 350 children at Ocean Shores Elementary School have practiced their earthquake survival plans, dropping under desks to ride out the convulsions, then racing upstairs to the second floor to await the coming tsunami. Unless something changes, their preparations will most likely be futile. The Cascadia fault off the Pacific Northwest coast is poised for a massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake at some point, scientists say, a rupture that would propel a wall of water across much of the Northwest coast within minutes. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Grant Hindsley)

Washington’s child care workers are quitting for better pay
Washington’s child care providers, considered essential workers, earn wages in the bottom 3% of the state’s occupational groups. According to the Child Care Collaborative Task Force’s most recent report, they’re leaving the industry for jobs with health care, benefits and better pay — like entry-level retail positions. Washington is one of the top-paying states for child care workers, but on average they only earn $16 per hour. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Kevin Clark)

For the first time in generations, Snoqualmie Tribe has land
The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe has purchased thousands of acres of ancestral forestlands in east King County, land that holds special meaning to the people who have been without a reservation for generations. “This means a whole new level of connection,” Jaime Martin, a tribal member and executive director of governmental affairs, told KUOW. They have named the land the Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Forest. “The land is is not just a place, it’s connected to us as people,” Martin said. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

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Associated Press
Credit rating for insurance? Washington insurer groups sue over state credit scoring ban
Breach of state database may expose personal information
Monroe School District offers $34M in toxic exposure case
Senate doubles number of senators allowed on floor (Billig)
For the first time in generations, Snoqualmie Tribe has land

Bellingham Herald
Investigation into Bellingham Municipal Court working conditions ends, findings released
Samish Way’s urban village transformation is underway with these projects
This is the state’s response to Whatcom mayors who want flooding addressed before water rights
Whatcom homeless resource providers recount a year burdened by extreme weather
Here’s what’s happening at Bellingham’s newest tiny home village
FAA reports record number of laser strikes in 2021 — how many occurred in Bellingham?
Nooksack Indian Tribe calls for United Nations to retract its call to halt evictions

Capital Press
Inslee’s buffer bill faced uncertain future, Senate ag chairman says (Van De Wege)

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Kreidler shouldn’t act alone on credit ratings
Opinion: In Our View: In pandemic or not, power must be balanced
Opinion: Cheers & Jeers: Good, bad of mask protests
Donnelly: Town hall draws hundreds to address crime (Cleveland, Stonier, Wylie, Goodman)

The Daily News
Capitol Dispatch: Bill cutoff date brings focus to second half of legislative session

Everett Herald
Washington’s child care workers are quitting for better pay
With a labor shortage, schools scrounge for substitutes (Bergquist)
Judges: Even in quarantine, county inmates get court hearings
Whidbey Telecom receives $9.5 million to expand broadband
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bill would speed handling of invalidated drug convictions
For the first time in generations, Snoqualmie Tribe has land
Comment: Promise of our founding documents yet to be won
Comment: Legislation can improve elections, build confidence
Bloomberg Comment: Voting must be easy because democracy requires it
Editorial: Taxpayers deserve down-payment on tax reforms (Paul, Das, Robinson)

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap law enforcement officials push for change in law after police-car rammings

News Tribune
Opinion: Pierce County’s plan to end homelessness won’t be cheap — but it will be worth it

New York Times
The Tsunami Could Kill Thousands. Can They Build An Escape?
U.S. Covid Death Toll Surpasses 900,000 as Omicron’s Spread Slows
Overhaul of Electoral Count Act ‘Absolutely’ Will Pass, Manchin Says

Olympian
Campus protests won’t be allowed, North Thurston officials say in message to parents
Breach of state database may expose personal information
Evergreen enrollment falls again, Board of Trustees learn
Experts say ‘magic mushrooms’ can be a pathway to treatment. Will WA legislators agree? (Salomon)
Superior Court Judge hears arguments in capital gains tax case
Opinion: Washington can be a leader on protecting sexual harassment, assault survivors (Keiser, Berry)
Editorial: We all must set the tone to stop racism from being OK in Olympia

Peninsula Daily News
Lawmakers reaching midpoint (Tharinger, Chapman, Van De Wege)
Federal Emergency Management Agency expands assistance eligibility
Case rates dropping on Peninsula
State Senate doubles number of senators allowed on floor (Billig)
Case rates dropping on Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report: US college completion rates rise to 62.2% in 2021
He wrote key reports on Seattle-area homelessness. Now he’s building low-income housing.
As violent crime increases, Seattle mayor says police will focus on hot spots
Opinion: Making the Seattle area more affordable is good business

Seattle Times
Seattle registers largest increase in inflation in three decades
Seattle’s new city attorney to expedite prosecution decisions, focus on misdemeanors, backlog
Tsunami could kill thousands on WA coast. Can an escape be built?
WA tenants could get 6 months’ notice of big rent hikes (Peterson)
Monroe School District offers $34 million to families sickened by toxic exposures at Sky Valley Education Center
Opinion: The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will help women and employers

Skagit Valley Herald
Relief funding has helped local school districts adjust to pandemic

Sol De Yakima
En Tri-Cities será la reunión anual de productores de la industria vitivinícola
Yakima Neighborhood Health lanza programa de enfermería para comunidades desatendidas
Sunnyside pide opinión del público en su búsqueda de superintendente

Spokesman Review
Getting There: Anxious about ‘more of the same,’ East Central appeals to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on North Spokane Corridor exits
Sen. Patty Murray’s new bill aims to learn COVID-19 lessons, prepare for future pandemics (Murray)
At Spokane homeless encampment, the choice is between freezing or using dangerous fuels

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities sees jump in people getting COVID vaccines. But 8 more deaths
‘People could die.’ The growing problem with lasers pointed at Tri-Cities airplanes
Tri-City’s 1st minority judge retires after 18 years. 7 apply to replace him
250,000 steelhead smolts escape Snake River hatchery. WA fishing season impacted

Washington Post
Climate change is altering the smell of snow
The 1918 flu didn’t end in 1918. Here’s what its third year can teach us.
National Archives had to retrieve Trump White House records from Mar-a-Lago
Scholz says response to Russia will be ‘united and decisive’ if Ukraine is invaded
White House offers blueprint for union growth as labor movement struggles to gain ground
A new attitude toward the pandemic seems to be taking shape. But we’ve been here before
N95, KN95 masks provide best protection against covid, CDC study shows

Yakima Herald-Republic
Current and former Toppenish School District employees express displeasure over handling of investigation
Yakima Valley, state organizations ready to welcome visitors back after COVID disruptions

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘It was a lot’: More than 40 shots reportedly fired during Capitol Hill ‘gun battle’
Amazon workers try new tactics to unionize in Alabama
High demand, low inventory for homes in Seattle region as buyers brace for higher interest rates

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle City Attorney’s Office to change filing deadline for incoming cases
School district in Thurston County ending student protests on campus
Everett Police Department’s catalytic converter theft prevention project rolling along
Monroe School District offers $34M in toxic exposure case
Hard-hit Tacoma businesses could soon get financial relief
‘They are destroying the fabric of our neighborhood’: Seattle crime spikes, mayor pledges fix
Tacoma begins clearing encampment under I-705

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle business owners, tourists react to latest record crime numbers and hot spots
Business owners want results from mayor as Seattle gun violence continues
LISTEN: Legislature moves to curtail Gov. Inslee’s powers
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe purchases thousands of acres of ancestral forestlands
Seattle Police investigating Capitol Hill ‘gun battle,’ no injuries reported
Everett Police hold event to engrave catalytic converters in an attempt to deter thefts

KUOW Public Radio
Is it constitutional to make election lies a crime?
Newly deployed U.S. troops arrive in Europe as Russia bolsters its own forces
Consumer groups want the FDIC to ban rent-a-bank loans with rates that can top 100%
Why it’s hard to change single family zones in Washington State
Police reform, COVID-19, and zoning, this week.

Q13 TV (FOX)
Legislature looks at affordable housing as red hot housing market continues to rise

Web

Crosscut
How programs for homeless youth pivoted in the pandemic
New WA police accountability laws likely to see change (Goodman, Johnson)
Bill aims to boost incentives for filming in Washington (Frockt)

MyNorthwest
Mayor Harrell announces ‘hot spot’ patrol crime initiative, push to rewrite local gun laws
Detectives investigating reports of more than 40 shots fired in Capitol Hill
East Link light rail trains hit the tracks, make practice runs
Washington state, most of US sees increase in fatal car crashes in 2021
King County health officer: An endemic state does not mean ‘the outbreak is over’
City of Bellevue, home owners reach agreement to demolish damaged structure
Congressman Adam Smith: US won’t go to war with Russia over Ukraine
Buoy in Puget Sound to measure impact of underwater noise on orcas
Violent crimes in Seattle reach ‘14-year high’ in 2021, according to report from SPD
State lawmakers to address concerns from chaotic, controversial redistricting process
Legal battle over capital gains tax kicks off in Douglas County court

West Seattle Blog
TERMINAL 5: ‘Huge win’ in first month

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.