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Tuesday, April 22

Washington legislators continue work on tax proposals with less than a week before session ends
Lawmakers continue to take big steps toward passing a tax package to close a multi-billion-dollar deficit, but one tax increase appears to be off the table. On Saturday, the Senate passed a handful of revenue proposals, including an increase to capital gains and estate taxes, removing certain tax preferences, and extending the sales tax to computer-related services and other areas previously exempt. Continue reading at KXLY. (KXLY)

Climate anxiety runs high in King County
King County has one of the highest rates of climate anxiety in the U.S., with three-fourths of county residents worried about global warming, according to recent estimates. Why it matters: High concern about climate change in Washington’s most populous county helps shape statewide policy — like when Washington voters overwhelmingly upheld the state’s cap-and-trade law last fall. Continue reading at Axios. (Alex Fitzpatrick)

Protests call for ICE to leave Washington
Protests were held Saturday in areas of Skagit County, including Mount Vernon and Anacortes, as part of the ongoing Hands Off movement that has spoken out against changes and proposed changes by the Trump administration. The theme of the protests was ICEOutofWA, a call for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to steer clear of a state that has indicated it is pro-immigrant. Continue reading at Skagit Valley Herald. (Cameron Martinez)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Amazon’s ‘Project Eagle’ lands in Elma
DNR adds voice to Damon Point chorus

Axios
Climate anxiety runs high in King County
Catholic leaders in Seattle mourn Pope Francis

Bellingham Herald
WA gray wolf population down for the first time in 16 years. Is that bad?
WA state senator dies unexpectedly during trail run. ‘Difficult to process’ (Pedersen, Jinkins)
With under a week left in session, WA lawmakers butt heads on tax ideas (Pedersen)
How proposals addressing WA high school transgender athlete participation fared

Courier-Herald
Sen. Bill Ramos of WA District 5 dead at 69

Everett Herald
Options abound for observance of Earth Day
Edmonds red-light camera program underway
Snohomish County residents rushing to become REAL ID compliant
Editorial: Earth Day calls for trust in act of planting trees
NYT column: How did we get here? By not bothering to read.
Letter: Allow all to opt back in to long-term care benefit program (Robinson, Fosse, Cortes)
Bloomberg comment: Tariffs, immigration crackdown likely to hit economy

Kitsap Sun
Amendments aimed at altering transgender athlete policy fail in Washington

News Tribune
Schools push career ed classes ‘for all,’ even kids heading to college
Transfer rules loosened for WA high school student-athletes. Details here
Rules of the Road: What are Washington’s exceptions for phone use while driving?

Peninsula Daily News
Legislature hearing wide range of bills

Puget Sound Business Journal
World Cup spawning its own economy in Seattle
Why child-labor laws are being reexamined in many states
WA’s trade deficit widens as manufacturers face new tariff hurdles
Bill to slay ‘biggest tool NIMBYs have’ heads to Gov. Ferguson’s desk (Kauffman, Conway)

Seattle Times
WA early preschool program faces budget elimination (Wilson, C.)
UW, other WA universities decry Trump’s ‘political interference’
WA students with disabilities prepare for life beyond high school
WA can now restrict outside National Guard from entering state (Mena)
Editorial: WA House’s prudent approach to transportation is the right one (Liias, Fey)

Skagit Valley Herald
Protests call for ICE to leave Washington
Highway 20 over North Cascades to open Tuesday

South Whidbey Record
Town hall and forum planned for veterans

Spokesman Review
Upgraded recycling center unveiled in Spokane Tuesday
Education Department to resume seizing wages for student loan debt
Pride flags, bathroom rules: Idaho laws are ‘frightening,’ trans advocates say
Spokane City Council declines to reinstate Prop 1 after state Supreme Court strikes it down

Tri-City Herald
Opinion: Washington must close this facility to protect our rights

Washington Post
IMF says Trump’s tariffs will be a drag on global economic growth
Harvard sues the Trump administration in escalating confrontation
Draft executive order outlines plan to integrate AI into K-12 schools
Challenge to ACA preventive-care panel draws skepticism from Supreme Court

WA State Standard
Plan to raise cap on property tax growth collapses in WA Legislature (Bergquist)
Walk-on ferry between Anacortes and San Juans launches on trial basis (Liias)
‘A devastating loss’: WA state Sen. Bill Ramos mourned after dying unexpectedly (Pedersen, Jinkins)

Wenatchee World
Legislative Watch: April 22
More than 300 ‘Rally for Justice’ at Wenatchee’s Memorial Park
Chelan County Community Development director talks turnover, customers and Hawkins

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Process begins to fill position left vacant by late Sen. Bill Ramos
Washington newborns testing positive for drugs at alarming rates
‘I know that people will die:’ Concerns over possible Medicaid cuts have some fearing the worst

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Lacking ‘three-corners agreement,’ state Democrats ditch property tax plan
EXCLUSIVE: Inside look into the world of cockfighting rings and the fight to stop them
A salute to a state senator

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Harrell to sign Earth Day executive order to develop new climate action plan
Lynden’s fluoride debate returns as city council revisits last year’s vetoed ban
Gov. Ferguson signs bill restricting out-of-state military forces in Washington
Portal Space Systems aims for 2026 launch of versatile ‘Supernova’ spacecraft
Proposals to ban transgender student-athlete from girls’ sports in Washington fail

KNKX Public Radio
WA school districts monitoring thousands of students 24/7

KUOW Public Radio
At Seattle Children’s, the future of gender-affirming care is uncertain

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane City Council passes ‘Ban the Address’ ordinance
Washington legislators continue work on tax proposals with less than a week before session ends (Frame)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Statewide proposals in WA to restrict trans student-athletes from girls sports fail
Residential well owners not required to meter water usage under adjudication plan
Climate anxiety plagues many young people. A WWU student wants to talk about it

Cascade PBS
Washington lawmakers remember State Senator Bill Ramos
How will tariffs impact WA’s trade-dependent agriculture industry?

Daily Fly
Health Coverage for Low-Income Illegal Immigrants in Washington State Likely to Continue (Thai)

MyNorthwest
State Democrats ditch property tax plan (Bergquist)
Cuts possible at UW College of Arts and Sciences
Transgender student-athlete ruling falls one vote short

Pluribus
Speed limiter laws gain momentum in states (Leavitt)

The Stranger
Advocates Urge Seattle Children’s To Offer Gender-Affirming Surgery To Trans People Under 19

The Urbanist
Seattle Sets the Stage for Automatic Traffic Camera Expansion

Washington Observer
A taxing Saturday in the Senate (Frame, Cortes, A., Krishnadasan, Wilson, C.)
A lifeline for drug treatment on the ropes (Davis)
Eastside Senator dies suddenly over the weekend

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Tuesday info
FOLLOWUP: Vehicle-noise enforcement camera bill dies in Legislature (Fitzgibbon)

Monday, April 21

US seeks to turn deportations into an efficient business ‘like Amazon’
Amid rural Louisiana’s crawfish farms, towering pine trees and cafes serving po’boys, nearly 7,000 people are waiting at immigration detention centers to learn whether they will be expelled from the United States. If President Donald Trump’s administration has its way, the capacity to hold tens of thousands more migrants will soon be added around the country as the U.S. seeks an explosive expansion of what is already the world’s largest immigration detention system. Continue reading at The Daily News. (Stephen Smith)

WA Sen. Bill Ramos dies suddenly at 69
State Sen. Bill Ramos, D-Issaquah, died unexpectedly Saturday evening, according to a Facebook post by his wife, King County Councilmember Sarah Perry. Ramos was 69 years old. He died during a trail run, his wife wrote. “Billy is my East, my West, my North and South,” Perry wrote in the post. Ramos and Perry have two children together: Maya and Max. “I don’t know how I’ll do this without him. Prayers for him, for us, please.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ramos Campaign)

Washington State Just Made Stocking Up on Hormones Much Easier
On Wednesday, the Washington State Senate passed HB 1971, a first-of-its-kind bill from House Rep. Nicole Macri that compels insurance companies in the state to cover up to a year’s supply of hormone replacement therapy, starting in January 2026. Now it’s on its way to the governor’s desk. For trans people, whose health care is under federal attack, it’s coming at a clutch time. Continue reading at The Stranger. (Ryan J. Lane)

Print

Associated Press
Renters call on Washington lawmakers to approve rent-control bill (Alvarado, Shewmake, Liias)

Axios
Downtown Seattle is perking up, new report shows
Federal job cuts could land hard in Washington state

Capital Press
Trade rep scales back entry fees on Chinese ships
Grant County PUD waits to condemn farmland for transmission line

The Daily News
US seeks to turn deportations into an efficient business ‘like Amazon’
Woodland port rejects tax plan used to build Vancouver port waterfront

Everett Herald
Edmonds launches technology to destroy PFAS
DelBene talks possible Medicaid cuts at Monroe roundtable
Protesters line Broadway in Everett for Main Street USA rally
PDC issues warning, dismisses complaint against Edmonds officials
$2M grant will fund job training and employment programs for laid-off Boeing workers in Snohomish and King counties.
Editorial: Trump order, SAVE Act do not serve voters
Comment: Lawmakers must protect abortion access in state
Comment: States make the call as to who votes; not Congress

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Draft budgets don’t meet governor’s expectations (Gregerson)

Kent Reporter
33rd Legislative District sets Telephone Town Hall for April 29 (Orwall, Gregerson, Obras)

Kitsap Sun
Grand Forest property grows on Bainbridge after sale of school property
New Bremerton freestanding clinic helping bring down wait times at hospital ER

News Tribune
Updates on Washington’s rent cap debate in the state legislature (Trudeau)
$6 million project in downtown Puyallup will transform this busy street
‘It screws with all of us.’ Tacoma small businesses react to tariff uncertainty

Olympian
Lynden School Board formalizes actions opposing transgender athlete policy
Housing advocates say Senate version of rent-cap bill ‘guts’ tenant protections (Alvarado, Jinkins)
Sign wavers continue string of protests to send messages to President Trump, GOP

Seattle Medium
State Lawmakers Decry Failure Of Juvenile Justice Reform Bill: “We Chose The Wrong Path” (Duerr, Hill, Berquist, Doglio, Simmons, Bernbaum, Mena, Taylor, Obras, Thomas, Reed, Cortes, Lekanoff, Thai, Scott, Berg, Donaghy, Farivar, Entenman, Stearns, Salahuddin, Wylie, Kloba, Peterson)
Rep. Jamila Taylor Advances New Laws to Protect Vulnerable Communities And End-of-Life Rights (Taylor)

Seattle Times
WA Sen. Bill Ramos dies suddenly at 69 (Ramos, Pedersen, Leavitt)
Inflated Seattle public pensions for retirees cost tens of millions (Conway)
Anti-Trump protests build momentum in WA: ‘We’re just getting louder’
Editorial: Is confusion around Head Start a sign of things to come?

Skagit Valley Herald
Return of Guemes Island Ferry delayed

Spokesman Review
Are you ready? What to know with the Real ID deadline only weeks away
Talking more about politics? Lots of Washingtonians are these days, poll shows
Getting There: Few days remain to apply for state’s first instant rebate for e-bike purchases
Spokane County Sheriff seeks $30,000 raise as wages for command staff subordinates outpace his own
Even after devastating blazes, Whitman County doesn’t have a fire protection plan. Now, residents have a chance to shape it

Washington Post
Pope Francis dies at 88
Supreme Court to weigh future of free preventive care
Police officers who joined Jan. 6 rally ask Supreme Court for anonymity

WA State Standard
Tax fight crescendos in Washington Legislature (Pedersen, Frame)
WA Commerce chief warns tariff fallout could hit state hard
Up a creek: $5B culvert removal plan appears dead in WA Legislature (Tharinger, Trudeau)
WA food banks bracing for potential impacts from federal cuts and tariffs
WA health care expansion for low-income immigrants on track to be maintained (Thai)

Wenatchee World
Officials break ground on Confluence Parkway project
Cantwell, Schrier visit Wenatchee to hear concerns about potential Medicaid cuts

Yakima Herald-Republic
More than 100 rally in Yakima against Trump policies on immigration, climate change

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
State Senator Bill Ramos passes away during trail run
Protesters shaken by gunfire near Whidbey Island rally
Less than a quarter of Boeing employees would recommend it as a place to work, survey shows
Extended interview: Gov. Ferguson ahead of state budget deadline, global tariff impacts, deportations and more

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
WA State Senator Bill Ramos dies unexpectedly

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington mourns the loss of Sen. Bill Ramos after unexpected passing
Real ID deadline prompts long waits at Washington licensing departments
Whatcom County businesses hit as Canadian visits drop amid tariffs, Trump boycotts

KUOW Public Radio
34 international students in Washington state deleted from federal database

KXLY (ABC)
Preschool access in question: Washington lawmakers could limit TK programs (Santos)
Governor Ferguson to decide fate of over 30 house bills Monday as legislative session comes to a close

NW Public Radio
Why affordable housing providers say they’re facing an ‘existential’ crisis
Repentina suspensión de Head Start afecta a cientos de niños en el centro de Washington

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Glacier gets wildfire plan created by WWU students
Northwest farmworker activist gets court hearing date; still detained in ICE facility
New soil mix that strips salmon-killing chemical out of runoff water being tested in Bellingham

Cascade PBS
The Washington Legislature’s final week brings long to-do list (Jinkins)
WA lawmakers pass major parking reform bill to boost housing (Bateman)
WA Supreme Court strikes down Spokane camping ban initiative
The Newsfeed: ACLU of Washington offers ‘Know Your Rights’ info

MyNorthwest
Washington State Senator Bill Ramos dies unexpectedly
Limited appointments, hour-long lines: Real ID deadline looms in WA
Washington Democrats push through $12 billion tax hikes, as new poll shows little support (Frame)

The Stranger
Washington State Just Made Stocking Up on Hormones Much Easier (Macri)

The Urbanist
State Budget Cuts Could Slash Puget Sound’s Passenger Ferry Service (Liias, Nance, Alvarado)
Op-Ed: Ferguson Must Get Tough on Trump, Illegal Tacoma ICE Jail (Ortiz-Self, Jinkins)

Washington Observer
Democrats tighten gun control (Berry, Krishnadasan)
A new rulebook for nonprofit jails (Ortiz-Self)
Lot-splitting has its day in the Senate (Hansen)
A tax on short-term rentals gets axed (Lovelett)
Saving kids and critters from deadly cars (Leavitt)
Senate passes transit-oriented development (Reed, Trudeau)
More Ferguson shade on Democrats’ tax proposals
Washington moves toward a new Medicaid money shuffle (Macri, Riccelli)

Friday, April 18

Ferguson calls Democrats’ $12B tax plan ‘too risky’; offers no fix
Gov. Bob Ferguson on Thursday criticized a four-year, $12 billion tax proposal from legislative Democrats as “too risky,” arguing it would set the state on an unsustainable fiscal path ahead of looming federal cuts from the Trump administration. But Ferguson offered no details or alternative plans in a public statement issued more than a day after Democratic lawmakers unveiled the latest tax package, which dropped a wealth tax he previously criticized. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Lindsey Wasson)

Bainbridge Island couple revives WWII Norwegian movement to protest Trump
Among Kitsap residents gathered at Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park in Poulsbo every Sunday, Ollie and Janice Pedersen can be spotted with signs that stand out: “WEAR A PAPERCLIP.” The Bainbridge Island couple also hands out paperclips at rallies protesting the Trump administration, and another sign they hold — created after learning about a movement that repurposed the office supply staple as its symbol over 80 years ago — adds more clarity to the message: “NORWEGIAN WWII RESISTANCE,” complete with the Norwegian flag. Continue reading at the Kitsap Sun. (Meegan M. Reid)

Housing advocates rallying to restore lower cap on rent increases
Renters and housing advocates will rally on the state Capitol steps in Olympia Friday. They’re pushing lawmakers to restore key protections in a bill limiting rent increases. The rally is expected to be a big one. Protesters are calling on lawmakers to fix a rent cap bill they say is now in limbo after some big changes in the Senate. Continue reading at KOMO. (KOMO)

Print

Bellingham Herald
WA Democrats bring back wealth tax idea with ‘limited dollar amount’ (Jinkins, Frame, Pedersen)

Capital Press
Washington Senate passes farm fuel bill
Trump administration proposes pulling back reach of ESA
WSU scientists help develop ‘Power Bars’ to help honey bees survive, thrive

Everett Herald
Edmonds City Council may reconsider selling city parks, buildings
Larsen talks federal funding for Snohomish County transit projects
Washington takes ‘historic’ step toward full funding for special education (Pollet, Berg, Pedersen)
Everett council approves budget amendment for staffing, stadium funding
Washington AG defends state’s ‘sanctuary’ policy amid congressional scrutiny
Washington Senate passes bill to require speed limiting devices for habitual speeders (Lovick, Leavitt)
Letter: Trump logging policy isn’t solution to wildfires
Letter: Ask yourself who’s next for El Salvador prison
Letter: Don’t cut vital spending on health from state budget

The Inlander
Why the Department of Natural Resources is trading a Spokane forest for a Bellingham grocery store

International Examiner
How loss of federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will harm marginalized communities in the Northwest

Kitsap Sun
Bainbridge Island couple revives WWII Norwegian movement to protest Trump
Mount Rainier National Park bridge closure cuts off access to part of park: What to know

News Tribune
Trump wants more logging in national forests. Here’s what that could mean for WA
Opinion: Public deserves to be heard on Washington transit projects

Olympian
Iconic Tacoma candymaker hit hard by tariffs, losing China business, CEO says
Gov. Bob Ferguson calls Dems’ new tax plan ‘too risky’ amid federal uncertainty (Jinkins)

Peninsula Daily News
Forum to speak about local news
Revenue proposals undecided for state (Chapman, Bernbaum, Tharinger)

Seattle Times
WA’s recycling system may finally get an overhaul (Lovelett)
WA Supreme Court strikes down Spokane homeless initiative
Ferguson calls Democrats’ $12B tax plan ‘too risky’; offers no fix
Trump administration pulls funds for WA communities at risk for floods
WA programs helping legal immigrants become citizens lose federal funds
Supreme Court to review WA challenge to Trump birthright citizenship order

Skagit Valley Herald
U.S. Rep. Larsen discusses health care concerns
Maintenance work continues on Guemes Island Ferry

Spokesman Review
Homeless camping ban struck down by state Supreme Court
‘They’re not worried about accuracy’: Lawyers, people across Washington state receive a letter telling them they have 7 days to leave
Opinion: Congress is trying to limit which citizens can vote

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Commentary: A call to action on our local news crisis

Washington Post
Google holds an illegal monopoly in ad sales, court rules
DOGE begins to freeze health-care payments for extra review
Travel to the U.S. from almost everywhere is falling sharply since Trump’s return to office

WA State Standard
Ferguson criticizes Democrats’ $12B tax plan as ‘too risky’ (Fitzgibbon, Jinkins)
Democratic AGs warn U.S. is on ‘precipice’ of constitutional crisis

Yakima Herald-Republic
City approves ‘exciting first step’ for Yakima airport improvements

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington’s newest police training academy opens in Arlington
State prison libraries could lose staffing, resources under federal cuts
Uncovering a Pierce County lawyer’s ties to ‘corrupt’ treatment clinics
Federal judge orders U.S. government to reinstate visa for UW graduate student

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Housing advocates rallying to restore lower cap on rent increases
Early signs of shoppers stockpiling good as tariff threats loom on foreign-made products

KNKX Public Radio
Tension over new taxes mounts in Olympia, as Ferguson slams latest pitch from Democrats (Jinkins, Frame)

KUOW Public Radio
Could Washington state be on the brink of fully funding special education?
Police hiring bill advances in Washington, requiring mix of state and local funds (Dhingra, Entenman, Lovick)
Tension over taxes mounts in Olympia, as Ferguson slams latest pitch from Democrats (Jinkins, Frame)

KXLY (ABC)
Preschool access in question: Washington lawmakers could limit TK programs (Santos)
Debate over police hiring grant continues as Washington legislative session nears close (Dhingra)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Petrogas West settlement goes toward energy projects in Bellingham
Lynden School District to take legal action against state over gender policies
Halfway through, it’s slow progress for Whatcom County Charter Review Commission

Cascade PBS
Bill to fully fund special ed progresses through WA legislature (Pollet, Pedersen)
Seattle can continue housing plan after legal challenges dismissed (Fitzgibbon)

InvestigateWest
As in D.C., a fight breaks out in Washington state over who gets access to lawmakers

MyNorthwest
Number of UW students’ visas revoked increases to 23
Beer gardens optional? New booze law sets stage for World Cup street sipping
Booze biz hit with 50% fee hike as WA Senate passes controversial bill by one vote

The Stranger
Seattle Children’s Has Again Stopped Providing Gender-Affirming Surgery For Trans People Under 19

The Urbanist
Auditor Criticizes Seattle’s Approach to Gun Violence, Deputy Mayor Fires Back

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Friday notes
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Milestone for state bill enabling more relocation compensation (Fitzgibbon)

Thursday, April 17

Washington takes ‘historic’ step toward full funding for special education
Washington lawmakers are on the cusp of eliminating a special education funding cap, which critics said was straining school finances, hurting students, and putting the state at risk of a major lawsuit. On a 97-0 vote, the House amended, then passed Senate Bill 5263 on Wednesday to put Washington, for the first time, on a course to fully fund special education in its public schools. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Maskot)

After years of growth, wolf numbers fall in Washington state
Washington’s gray wolves saw their first population drop since the species returned nearly two decades ago. Why it matters: Gray wolves have been on the state’s endangered species list since 1980, and their previous track of recovery marked a milestone in restoring a native species to the wilds of Washington. Continue reading at Axios. (WDFW)

Battling a deadline, Washington Dems propose a new $12B tax plan
Legislative Democrats have released a new tax proposal to fill an estimated $15 billion budget gap after Gov. Bob Ferguson said earlier this month he would not support their first plan. The plan does not include a “wealth tax” on the state’s highest earners, which Ferguson said he would veto. Instead, the updated package includes expanded taxes on businesses, properties, stocks and bonds. It would raise about $12 billion over the next four years. Continue reading at Cascade PBS. (M. Scott Brauer)

Print

Auburn Reporter
Permit requirement for gun purchases clears state Senate
Democrats in Washington Legislature reveal sweeping new tax plan (Fitzgibbon, Scott)

Axios
After years of growth, wolf numbers fall in Washington state (Liias)

Bainbridge Island Review
State Senate approves $7.3 billion capital budget (Trudeau)

Bellingham Herald
‘This shelf is empty’: Federal funding cuts hit Bellingham Food Bank supply
Point Roberts business closing after 24 years as trade war decimates customer base

Capital Press
Trump says USA will ‘protect our farmers’
National Farmers Union supports Congress oversight on tariffs

Columbian
Washington wants 35% of new vehicles to be electric by 2026; the state and Clark County have a way to go

The Daily News
Rising inflation, loss of COVID relief leaves Longview schools with projected funding gap

Everett Herald
Edmonds school board discusses staff cuts, state legislation
Snohomish County Council member offers new proposal for habitat ordinance

High Country News
The subversive power of Spanish-language radio

Kitsap Sun
Project to expand Illahee dock, renovate former store gets underway
Suspects in Bremerton identity theft scheme now face federal charges

News Tribune
Replacing this major Pierce County bridge could cost more than $250 million
What’s to become of closed Tacoma paper mill? First, a long, complex cleanup
Pierce County announces $6 million eviction prevention program. Is it enough?
Federal cuts force Head Start program with +400 kids, 70 jobs to close in Eastern WA
Opinion: Washington hospitals in trouble, and new taxes won’t help

New York Times
Google Is a Monopolist in Online Advertising Tech, Judge Says
White House Eyes Overhaul of Federal Housing Aid to the Poor
A Legal Battle Over Trump’s Threats to Public School Funding Has Begun

Olympian
Hundreds plead with lawmakers for ‘no more taxes’ during rally at state Capitol
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office gets OK to buy more grappler nets to use in pursuits

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam awards funds to address homelessness

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tariffs can mean scramble or pause for CRE industry
Seattle metro property tax bills among nation’s highest
Cantwell, Washington business leaders sound alarm on tariff impacts
‘Shades of 2020’: Tariff upheaval reminiscent of Covid economic impact

Seattle Medium
Seattle City Light Report Uncovers Widespread Misconduct Among Employees
Netflix Sets to Establish First Office In Seattle, Signaling Expansion Into Tech Hub
Mary Mahoney Organization To Honor Eleven Nursing Students With Scholarships
City Of Seattle Tightens Regulations On After-Hours Lounges In Wake Of Gun Violence
Comcast Launches $3 Million Grant Initiative To Support Small Businesses In King County
The Breakfast Group Held Its 43th Annual Tie-One-On Luncheon, Honoring Seattle’s Young Black Men

Seattle Times
Seattle crosswalk signals hacked to imitate Jeff Bezos’ voice
WA officials urge people to get REAL ID, with deadline 3 weeks away
Nearly 900,000 fewer people came to the U.S. from Canada last month
McNeil Island bill signed by governor expands AG’s investigative power (Leavitt)
Boise is still flying Pride flag. Citing new law, Idaho AG sends warning letter
International students in WA sue Trump administration for revoking legal status
Federal judge will hear arguments as groups try to block Trump’s executive order on elections
Opinion: DOGE quashes a Klamath River Basin comeback
Editorial: Balance state budget responsibly, not ideologically

Spokesman Review
Democratic congresswoman, state party chair to hold Spokane townhall
AG Nick Brown responds to Judiciary Committee investigation into Keep Washington Working Act
Spokane leaders announce ban on right turns on red lights at some downtown intersections and other safety initiatives
The government is terminating Washington State University students’ records that allow them to reside in U.S. legally, school says
Opinion: Proposed state taxes and cuts to health care would put Spokane hospitals in intensive care

Tri-City Herald
What’s that ‘funky’ stench drifting over the Tri-Cities? Here’s what we found out

Washington Post
Trump brushes aside courts’ attempts to limit his power
Trump blasts Fed chair Powell and looks forward to his ‘termination’
Internal budget document reveals extent of Trump’s proposed health cuts
Administration’s freeze on $2.2B to Harvard provided no proof of wrongdoing

WA State Standard
Washington takes ‘historic’ step toward full funding for special education (Pollet, Berg)
Washington AG defends state’s ‘sanctuary’ policy amid congressional scrutiny
Washington Senate passes bill to require speed limiting devices for habitual speeders (Lovick, Leavitt)

Wenatchee World
Confluence Health seeks an end to COVID-19 vaccination suit
‘Press’ing Questions | Private schools and Indigenous heritage
Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority boosts Pangborn’s runway project by $1.6M
‘Play with a purpose’ at child development, adult instructions TEAMS Learning Center
Chelan County PUD expects to finish Wenatchee Riverfront Park splash pad for summer

Yakima Herald-Republic
WA food banks bracing for potential impacts from federal cuts and tariffs
Yakima school board approves plan to cut 48 positions in second year of belt-tightening

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington Gov. Ferguson reviewing last tax proposals (Frame)
Washington’s first work zone speed camera to be moved around daily
‘Please don’t tax the rich’: Seattle crosswalk buttons hacked to sound like Jeff Bezos
More than 20 bills were signed into Washington law Wednesday. Here’s what they are

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
More speed cameras could be coming to Seattle
Washington business leaders discuss tariff impacts
Puyallup man paralyzed after ‘low-risk surgery’ at UW Harborview files claim
‘This crosswalk is sponsored by Amazon Prime:’ Seattle scrambles to fix tampered crosswalk buttons

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Judge to rule on evidence in crash that killed WSP Trooper Christopher Gadd
Seattle businesses protect tariffs, cite severe impact on operations and export sales (Frame)
Head Start funding lags by nearly $1 billion this year, causing some preschool closures
Edmonds face backlash over proposal to sell park, community center amid budget crisis

KUOW Public Radio
WA Legislature races toward deadline to hammer out a budget
‘Please don’t tax the rich.’ Seattle crosswalks hacked with audio deepfake of Jeff Bezos

KXLY (ABC)
Mayor Lisa Brown and Spokane City Council announce new initiatives to improve traffic safety

NW Public Radio
Study in the works on effects of Tacoma’s Landlord Fairness Code
Kennewick finds ‘forever chemicals’ in its drinking water for the second spring in a row

Web

Cascadia Daily News
PeaceHealth nurses announce picket
Plantation Rifle Range lead cleanup now priced at $13.8M

Cascade PBS
WA lawmakers propose closing schools for people with disabilities
Battling a deadline, Washington Dems propose a new $12B tax plan (Frame)

InvestigateWest
Washington Legislature passes bill to make clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse (Frame)

MyNorthwest
Hackers alter audio messages at Seattle crosswalks
Budget squeeze has Washington eyeing new route for sales tax dollars (Liias)
Rules? What rules? WA Senate Democrats drop 24-hour hold in last minute push to pass tax bills (Pedersen)

The Stranger
Hacked Crosswalk Buttons (And AI Jeff Bezos) Have Something to Say About the Wealth Tax But Microsoft, T-Mobile, and Costco Are Putting Their Money Where His Mouth Is

The Urbanist
State Senate Greenlights Sweeping Transit-Oriented Housing Bill (Reed, Bateman, Trudeau)

Washington Observer
House waters down Senate’s big spending proposal for basic education (Pedersen, Nobles, Gregerson, Berg, Pollet)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Thursday info

Wednesday, April 16

WA bill, if signed, would bring end to riot charges in juvenile detention
Under a bill passed last week by Washington lawmakers, prison riot charges would no longer be brought against young people held in juvenile rehabilitation centers. House Bill 1815, which has not yet been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, would also allow anyone who pleaded or was found guilty of a prison riot in a juvenile detention center in the past five years to have the conviction vacated. If they are still serving time, they can also be resentenced. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ivy Ceballo)

WA Senate honors missing & murdered indigenous women: ‘No more stolen sisters’
The Washington state Senate adopted a resolution Monday honoring the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Senate Resolution 8648 states that Indigenous women and girls in Washington and nationwide face disproportionate rates of violence, disappearance and homicide. Washington ranks second highest for missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S., per the Pierce County government’s website. Tacoma comes in seventh. Continue reading at The Olympian. (TVW)

Democrats in Washington Legislature reveal sweeping new tax plan
Democratic lawmakers in Washington are beginning to lay out the buffet of tax increases they want to use to fill most of a $16 billion state budget shortfall. There are hikes in business and capital gains taxes, new sales taxes on services and greater property tax collections by the state and local governments. Other selections include an increase in a surcharge on technology companies, an expanded tax on nicotine products, and a mandate for some large businesses to make a one-time pre-payment of sales tax owed to the state. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)