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Monday, August 2

Editorial: Restored voting rights for former prisoners is a game changer. Just ask this Tacoma mom
At age 37, La’Keisha Hamilton is checking a big item off her bucket list this summer: Born and raised in Tacoma and later sent to prison, she’s voting for the first time in her life. She was released from 24-hour confinement, earned a sociology degree at the Evergreen State College in Tacoma, found employment, pays taxes and gave birth to a son, Legacy, in early July. Yet she wasn’t eligible to vote until now. Continue reading at The News Tribune.

Confused about the eviction moratorium expiring? Here’s where Washington renters stand
A federal freeze on most evictions enacted last year was scheduled to expire Saturday, after the Biden administration extended the original date by a month. The moratorium, put in place by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. Many of them lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic and had fallen months behind on their rent. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Elise Amendola)

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations are rising in Washington
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise across Washington, according to a Washington State Department of Health. Case counts and hospitalizations flattened at the end of June only to increase starting in the first week of July, according to the department’s July 27 media release. Beginning July 8, hospitalizations increased among people ages 40-49 and ages 70-79. Continue reading at Bothell-Kenmore Reporter. (Washington State Department of Health)

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Associated Press
Biden sees shortages to stop climate-change fueled wildfires
What’s going on with eviction moratorium, rental market in Washington?
Confused about the eviction moratorium expiring? Here’s where Washington renters stand
Evictions expected to spike as federal moratorium ends
It’s In — And Big: Senators Unveil $1T Infrastructure Proposal
Infrastructure fight finally set: T’s crossed, i’s dotted
Endangered orcas get new protection from US government
US employers ratchet up the pressure on the unvaccinated
COVID-19 case reported at crowded Lynnwood council meeting

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen, Hoquiam schools prepare for masks-required fall opener
New weekly COVID case counts drop slightly

Auburn Reporter
King County Council OKs millions for courts overwhelmed by pandemic backlog
Legislators target local community building projects (Wilson, Johnson)

Bainbridge Island Review
Opinion: Distrust in government cause of many COVID deaths

Bellevue Reporter
Opinion: Massive reforestation effort needed in Washington and beyond

Bothell-Kenmore Reporter
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations are rising in Washington

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Give new policing laws a chance to perform
Opinion: In Our View: Sheriffs’ letter raises concerns about intent
Opinion: In Our View: Time to get a handle on state’s plastic bag ban
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Chiles’ aplomb; end of Elahan

Courier-Herald
Mt. Rainier seeks public input on air tour plan
State reports 94% of COVID-19 cases are unvaccinated people

Covington-Maple Valley Reporter
King County to restart inquests into deaths by police officers

The Daily News
Longview, Kelso and Rainier police host community parties Tuesday to build trust
Longview council reluctantly moves to comply with Blake decision

Everett Herald
32-bed substance abuse treatment center opens in Everett
About 4,000 Snohomish County tenants approved for rent help
Blood shortage strains local agencies, hospitals
Spitters: It’s time for everyone to mask up indoors, again
County lost 100 aerospace manufacturing jobs in June
Abuse claims settled; Catholic principal worked in Everett
$500,000 available for Edmonds nonprofits
Opinion: Viewpoints: Why we’re being asked to mask up again
Editorial: Our covid battle isn’t over; we must again mask up

The Inlander
As vaccination rates lag in rural northeast Washington, health officials fear COVID ‘onslaught’

Islands’ Weekly
EPA and Environment Canada issue report on health of Salish Sea
Opinion: New laws make law enforcement difficult

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Single-use plastic bag ban begins Oct. 1 in Washington state
Endangered orcas receive critical habitat protections
San Juan County complete burn ban effective July 30

Kitsap Sun
Central Kitsap School District proposes raising school impact fees for developers

News Tribune
Still need a COVID vaccine? Many places now offering walk-up service; rides available
Deaths from this opioid drug are on the rise in Pierce County and Washington state
Will anti-CRT resolution lead to dilution of efforts on race, equity? Some worry
Editorial: Restored voting rights for former prisoners is a game changer. Just ask this Tacoma mom (Simmons)

New York Times
Where a Vast Global Vaccination Program Went Wrong
Senators finish writing bipartisan infrastructure bill in rare weekend session.
The cryptocurrency industry won last-minute concessions in the infrastructure bill.
Climate in the Infrastructure Bill: A substantial investment in resilience.
After a scorching, parched summer across much of the U.S., what will August bring?
The U.S. is wasting vaccine doses, even as cases rise and other countries suffer shortages.

Olympian
What happens when police don’t show up to 911 calls (Goodman, Dhingra, Pedersen)
Opinion: Washington state’s police reform is taking effect without alternatives in place

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Jefferson Healthcare relaunches nurse consult line for COVID-19 symptoms
Brinnon Group grant to monitor water quality in Hood Canal
Community receives tour of tiny house village
Private or state plan? Deadline coming on state long-term care insurance (Macri)
Port Townsend City Council to hear legislative updates on policing
County to award bid for floodplain restoration project

Port Townsend Leader
Four new COVID-19 infections discovered in Port Townsend
Six additional COVID-19 cases reported in Jefferson County Thursday
Under 20 age group has largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in county

Puget Sound Business Journal
Congress urged to earmark up to $7 billion for struggling state colleges
Leisure travel this summer puts hotel market on path to recovery — but rebound far from even

Seattle Medium
What’s Different About The Delta Variant? Here’s What’s Known
Childhood Vaccinations Required For Back-To-School: Free August Vaccine Events In Federal Way, Kent, Renton, And Tukwila
Businesses Are Taking A Stand On Vaccines
Increased Mobility Options Arrive In Rainier Beach, Skyway, Tukwila, And Renton With Expanded Via To Transit
City Of Seattle Announces Partnerships To Open New Shelter Spaces
U.S. Department Of Education Announces It Will Expand The Second Chance Pell Experiment For The 2022-2023 Award Year

Seattle Times
Smoke from Oregon and California wildfires reaches Seattle; rain expected later this week
How unions are racking up new wins in Democratic-controlled Washington state (Mullet, Riccelli)
These Washington state teens think students deserve voting rights on the state’s highest educational board
Why building rail transit in U.S., Seattle costs so much and takes so long
King County has quickly bought 7 hotels for homeless people, but will it be enough?
Opinion: A middle path to climate-smart forestry

Skagit Valley Herald
New laws forcing local law enforcement to adjust (Ramel)
Number of new COVID-19 cases in Skagit County drops
With $25 million to spend, county makes plans for American Rescue Plan Act funding
From forest to beach: Skagit Land Trust shows off Samish Island property
Opinion: Ask the Undersheriff: New laws make us all less safe

South Whidbey Record
Clinton Beach dock receives federal funding for reconstruction
Controversial BLM post deleted but debate continues
New wave of COVID cases worries medical professionals

Tri-City Herald
‘This is entirely avoidable.’ Tri-Cities hospital getting pounded with COVID patients
Tri-Cities chokes under more smoke. Air quality rated as unhealthy for everyone
‘Spineless.’ Many Tri-Cities parents upset with local schools over new WA mask mandate

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
College Place School District closes deal on land for new school
Walla Walla Public Schools continue to provide most school supplies to students

Washington Post
Senate finishing crafting $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure proposal, setting delicate debate in motion
Federal monitors cost millions, with disputed results. Seattle’s police watchdog was a case in point.
‘I should have gotten the damn vaccine,’ woman says fiance texted before he died of covid-19
Coronavirus vaccinations are increasing. So are U.S. cases.
Wildfires need fuel to burn. A key way to get rid of that fuel is to set it ablaze, very carefully.

Whidbey News-Times
Commissioners outline ideas for relief funds

Yakima Herald Republic
They were driven from their land in 1877 by U.S. soldiers. Now the Nez Perce tribe is home again.
Yakima County businesses look at safety precautions as COVID case numbers increase again
Poor air quality expected to continue Monday in Yakima Valley, with relief by midweek
New hours for COVID-19 testing at State Fair Park in early August
‘Smart orchard’ technology gets a test monitoring Honeycrisp apples in Grandview

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Protestors seek answers after woman dies inside Lynnwood Jail
Delta variant fears are driving more patients to Pierce County vaccination clinics, providers say

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
More wildfire smoke could be coming to Western Washington
National eviction moratorium expires but help is still available for tenants in Washington
Climate change likely a factor in dead zone found in Pacific, OSU professor says

KNKX FM
Pining for whitebarks: Researchers work across Northwest to save ‘quintessential wilderness trees’
Orcas make their way to Salish Sea, but sick whale lags behind

KUOW FM
Seattle Restaurants Are Feeling the Pressure With Covid Cases on the Rise Again
Orcultural exchange: Orcas briefly visit Salish Sea after long absence
KUOW pandemic blog: Updates for Seattle and the NW
House Speaker Pelosi And Democratic Leaders Call On Biden To Extend Eviction Ban
Misinformation could be behind trailing youth vaccinations in WA
What we know about breakthrough Covid in Washington state – and what we don’t

NW Public Radio
‘Cultural Changes Ahead’ For Police In Washington State, As Controversial Reform Takes Effect (Johnson, Dhingra)
Pining For Whitebarks: Researchers Work Across The Northwest To Save ‘Quintessential Wilderness Trees’

Q13 TV (Fox)
These companies are requiring employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations

Web

Crosscut
Lummi Nation reimagines foster care for Indigenous families

MyNorthwest
Why Puget Sound region’s air quality has been unaffected by arrival of smoke
Steel shortage derailing plans to complete ‘Revive I-5′ project
An exit interview with departing Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett
Seattle police deploying extra units this weekend after uptick in shootings
COVID cases have quadrupled in King County thanks to delta variant
Lawmaker calls for shutdown of King County Courthouse after assault

West Seattle Blog
What’s new at West Seattle’s only tiny-house encampment, Camp Second Chance

Friday, July 30

US economy surpasses pre-pandemic size with 6.5% Q2 growth
Fueled by vaccinations and government aid, the U.S. economy grew at a solid 6.5% annual rate last quarter in another sign that the nation has achieved a sustained recovery from the pandemic recession. The total size of the economy has now surpassed its pre-pandemic level. Thursday’s report from the Commerce Department estimated that the nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and services — accelerated in the April-June quarter from an already robust 6.3% annual growth rate in the first quarter of the year. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

Police shootings continue daily, despite a pandemic, protests and pushes for reform
On Oct. 27, an Uber driver in Pompano Beach, Fla., reported that he had been carjacked. A passenger attacked him, slashing his hand with a knife and stealing his Mercedes-Benz, the driver said. The driver had left his cellphone in the car, and police tracked it into Palm Beach County. Sheriff’s deputies found the vehicle and 20-year-old Ryan Fallo. He ignored commands to drop the knife and approached them, the sheriff’s office said, and they shot and killed him. The shooting was later ruled justified. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Parents of mentally ill man killed by deputy file federal lawsuit against Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
The parents of a 25-year-old man killed by a Spokane County deputy have filed a federal lawsuit against the Sheriff’s Office. Justine Murray and Mark Jentsch allege that Deputy Joseph Wallace “needlessly chased” their son Ethan Murray into a secluded area of the woods on May 4, 2019 and opened fire without justification. Continue reading at KXLY.

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Associated Press
Report: 94% of COVID-19 deaths among not fully vaccinated
Amazon’s sales growth slows as pandemic shopping surge eases
US economy surpasses pre-pandemic size with 6.5% Q2 growth

Aberdeen Daily World
Planning work continues on Hoquiam flood protection levee

Bellingham Herald
Inslee, other Western governors to meet with Biden on wildfires Friday
From Washington to D.C., this message to Biden is to work with tribes and honor treaties
Delta variant of COVID-19 sees large increase in Whatcom County, latest report shows
Whatcom County Council vote changes the future of industry at Cherry Point

Capital Press
9th Circuit rejects challenge to beef promotions
Coalition seeks relisting of gray wolves in West
Australian jet airtanker arrives to fight US wildfires
Southwest Washington grains project grows, gets funding

The Daily News
Cowlitz County nonprofit receives homeless prevention grant
Summer school programs aiming to catch up, re-engage students
Cowlitz water shortage forces businesses to reevaluate

Everett Herald
Whispering Pines residents ‘terrified’ as demolition looms
3 Monroe teachers awarded $185 million for chemical exposure
Airbus, Boeing rivalry is back on as sales campaigns pick up
Bloomberg Comment: Republicans should back Biden’s infrastructure deal
WaPo Comment: With democracy under attack, journalism must adapt
Letter Ignoring racism in our community is condoning it

High Country News
How yellowcake shaped the West

News Tribune
Police lament loss of neck holds. ‘No one wants us to beat someone into submission’
WA motorcycle fatalities rose in 2020 and 2019. Here are the statistics for 2021 so far
Drug investigators sue county, saying they were unfairly sullied for political reasons

New York Times
Western Governors Seek Federal Aid in Wildfire Battle
How Disabled Americans Are Pushing to Overhaul a Key Benefits Program
Climate Crisis Catches Power Companies Unprepared
A Carbon Calculation: How Many Deaths Do Emissions Cause?
Trump Pressed Justice Dept. to Declare Election Results Corrupt, Notes Show
C.D.C. Internal Report Calls Delta Variant as Contagious as Chickenpox

Olympian
South Sound YMCA is offering up to $1,000 ‘commitment bonus’ to childcare workers
Providence St. Peter in Olympia is the No. 3 hospital in the state, report says
8.2 earthquake off Alaska was strong enough to be detected in South Florida and Maine
Hit-and-run victim follows perpetrator, helps police make arrest
Inslee, other Western governors to meet with Biden on wildfires Friday
From Washington to D.C., this message to Biden is to work with tribes and honor treaties
Can mixing COVID vaccines boost protection against delta variant? What early data shows

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon reports over $100B in revenue again, but online sales growth slows
King County acquires Blackstone, Nitze-Stagen properties to house chronically homeless
Tacoma approves tax exemption for multifamily project despite concerns
SBA gives reprieve for small business owners appealing PPP loan forgiveness decisions

Seattle Medium
Mayor Durkan Proposes Comprehensive Budget Plan To Address SPD Hiring, Reduce Gun Violence, And Invest In Alternatives
Childhood Vaccinations Required For Back-To-School: Free August Vaccine Events In Federal Way, Kent, Renton, And Tukwila

Seattle Times
The ‘fifth wave’ of COVID-19 is here. What you should know about the delta variant and masking
Wildfires, smoke bring early end to Winthrop’s tourism season
Bonneville, Northwest’s biggest clean-power supplier, to cut rates for first time in more than a decade
They were driven from their land in 1877 by U.S. soldiers. Now the Nez Perce tribe is home again.
History in the hills: 2 classic Pacific Northwest hikes for history buffs
Washington state governor to join bipartisan group meeting with President Biden on wildfires

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon to start spending ARPA funding

The Skanner
Report: Half of Seattle police calls don’t need cop response

Spokesman Review
President Joe Biden directs Pentagon to plan for mandatory COVID-19 vaccines
McMorris Rodgers unveils draft legislation to strip tech companies of ‘Section 230’ legal protections
Washington health officials recommending, not mandating, vaccinated people wear masks in high-transmission areas
Biden officially nominates Spokane native Vanessa Waldref as U.S. attorney for Eastern District of Washington
As first monthly child tax credit payments arrive Washington congresswoman pushes to make them permanent
Hundreds of new Washington laws go into effect on Sunday covering areas from police accountability to wildfires to education
Senate panel approves Biden’s nomination of UW Native American Law Center director as top Interior Department lawyer
As police-reform laws go into effect, sheriffs and activists disagree on their effectiveness (Johnson)
Opinion: Dr. Luis Manriquez and Kirby Weythman: The heat wave, health and healthy public policy
Opinion: Attorney General Bob Ferguson: Pharmaceutical industry must be held accountable for role in opioid crisis

Tri-City Herald
New CEO named to lead the Pacific Northwest’s only nuclear power reactor
Tri-Cities COVID cases doubling faster than weeks ago. We’re back to last year’s level

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Public Schools continue to provide most school supplies to students
Walla Walla police arrest second person connected to shooting

Washington Post
Europe has caught up to the U.S. on coronavirus vaccinations — and is deploying near-mandates to get further
Police shootings continue daily, despite a pandemic, protests and pushes for reform
Evictions are about to restart as tenants wait on billions in unspent rental aid
Opinion: Narrowing the U.S. wealth gap is important. Narrowing the racial wealth gap is urgent.
Dead zones, a ‘horseman’ of climate change, could suffocate crabs in the West, scientists say
More workers are returning to the office. The pandemic-era commute might be changed forever.
‘The war has changed’: Internal CDC document urges new messaging, warns delta infections likely more severe

Yakima Herald Republic
Renewable energy projects progressing in Central Washington
Opinion: Inslee’s COVID response is the reasonable answer

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Seattle grocers ask SPD to hire more officers to meet ‘basic levels of public safety’
CDC document warns delta variant appears to be as contagious as chickenpox
Durkan seeks to lift $7.5 million budget restriction to hire more Seattle police officers
King County courthouse attack followed years of safety concerns

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Dry streak continues, with heat advisory for some areas
Doctors warn women, especially Black women, about signs of uterine cancer
Alaska quake a reminder of tsunami risk in Washington
Police searching for suspect after man found dead in Puyallup parking lot
More Seattle businesses implementing ‘No Vaccine, No Service’ policies

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
State Patrol says troopers were unable to pursue wrong way driver because of new law
State health officials report more than 800 new coronavirus cases Thursday
US consumers boost spending 1% as inflation remains high
Former CDC director: Delta variant ‘coming for you,’ could cause 200K new COVID cases

KNKX FM
Seedcast: This farmworker used his voice to cultivate change

KUOW FM
Covid blog is back, and so is masking indoors
Common cancer screening methods are less accurate for Black women. This UW doctor has made it her mission to change that
Jenny Durkan on more police vs. community-based solutions: ‘It’s a false choice … we need both’

KXLY (ABC)
Masks required, quarantine guidelines change: What to expect this upcoming school year
Sports betting to start in Spokane by early fall
Parents of mentally ill man killed by deputy file federal lawsuit against Spokane County Sheriff’s Office

NW Public Radio
Black lawmakers are changing the conversation in Olympia (BMC)
Western ranchers prepare for a difficult winter
Extreme Fire Danger Forces Managers To Close Public Lands In WA, OR

Q13 TV (Fox)
King County offering vaccination clinics to students ahead of 2021-22 school year, including COVID vaccine
New restrictions on Washington state police may lead to spike in crime (Johnson)

Web

Crosscut
Toward energy independence
For international students, pandemic took online learning to extremes

MyNorthwest
Medical leaders in Washington support mandatory vaccinations for health care workers
Washington shatters records in midst of ‘early, alarming’ start to wildfire season
Woman assaulted in bathroom at King County Courthouse
Mayor Durkan: Council needs to pass bill addressing SPD staffing ‘as soon as possible’
CDC recommends people in these Washington counties wear masks indoors
King County councilmembers secure funding to hire more sheriff’s deputies

Slog
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Proposal Masks the Ultimate Function of the GOP: To Make Government Not Work
Rep. Adam Smith Rakes in Federal Bucks for Local Projects

Thursday, July 29

Governor asks everyone to mask up in crowded indoor spaces
It was fun while it lasted. About two months after the state eased mask requirements for vaccinated Washingtonians, Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday asked everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to consider masking up in crowded indoor settings like grocery stores, restaurants and retail shops. “This is frustrating because we are past the point in this pandemic where the general public should have to deal with more restrictions,” Inslee said during a Wednesday news conference. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ted S. Warren)

The key to living with wildfire smoke? Preparation
While western Washington skies have stayed clear so far, smoke plumes blanket much of the rest of the Northwest, as the worst of the West’s wildfire season remains ahead. Liz Walker and her neighbors in Winthrop have been living under that noxious cloud for days as a pair of fires burning a total area nearly twice the size of Seattle tear through forests and scrubland near the north central Washington mountain town in Okanogan County. Air quality there and elsewhere east of the Cascades has fallen to unhealthy levels, as smoke particles that travel deep into the lung fill the air. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Nathan Howard)

Canada border guards vote to strike as country plans to reopen to vaccinated Americans
More than 8,500 unionized Canada Border Services Agency workers could go on strike as soon as Aug. 6 — three days before the country is scheduled to reopen…The potential strike comes as the Canadian government plans to lift some of its COVID-19 related travel restrictions. The U.S.-Canada border closed to nonessential travel in March 2020 as COVID-19 began to spread. On July 19, however, the Canadian government announced fully vaccinated Americans could visit the country again starting Aug. 9. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Warren Sterling)

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Associated Press
US vows to improve protections for wild horse adoptions
Warming rivers in US West killing fish, imperiling industry
Statue of Black hero on Lewis & Clark trip toppled in Oregon
Boeing knocks out a profit for the first time since 2019
Biden to allow eviction moratorium to expire Saturday
US economy surpasses pre-pandemic size with 6.5% Q2 growth
US jobless claims down 24,000 to 400,000 as economy recovers

Aberdeen Daily World
50 new sirens added to statewide Tsunami Siren Network
Hoquiam Council unanimously backs RFA plan

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County Council vote changes the future of industry at Cherry Point
Whatcom County foothills could hit 90 degrees. Here’s when heat and smoke may arrive
Canada border guards vote to strike as country plans to reopen to vaccinated Americans

The Daily News
Woodland City Council votes to pay $1,200 L&I fine for COVID-19 mask violations
Cowlitz County Prosecutor’s Office tackles overhaul in state drug possession law and pandemic’s court backlog
Opinion: Masks in schools worth discussing

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
COVID-19 cases increase in Washington due to Delta variant
Washington Governor urges vaccinated to wear face masks in certain counties
Warning of excessive heat in central, southeast Washington

Everett Herald
Governor asks everyone to mask up in crowded indoor spaces
State AG says it can’t investigate Lynnwood Jail death
For some, Mukilteo’s new ferry terminal aggravates challenges

The Inlander
As vaccination rates lag in rural northeast Washington, health officials fear COVID ‘onslaught’
Researchers find LGBTQ+ students harassed at higher rate in counties that voted for Trump

News Tribune
All full service Pierce County libraries will be open by end of July. Here’s what to know
Unlawful tree cutting endangered homes, Tacoma residents say. They want code changes
80-degree weather is on the way to Tacoma. City to open cooling center Thursday
Opinion: Tacoma just pledged $10K for a Black Lives Matter mural downtown. It’s money well spent
Editorial: How much is COVID-19 breaking through vaccines in Pierce County? We need more data
Editorial: It’s too bad Pierce sheriff will stay elected post. But this wasn’t about Ed Troyer

New York Times
The U.S. economy grew 1.6 percent in the second quarter, returning to prepandemic size.
Where People Are Most Vulnerable to the Delta Variant
Democrats look ahead as infrastructure deal falls short of Biden’s climate promises.
Triple-digit temperatures will scorch the Pacific Northwest again.
Retailers Revisit Mask Debate After New C.D.C. Guidelines
Biden, blocked by the Supreme Court, calls on Congress to extend the eviction freeze.

Olympian
11,000 Hanford workers ordered to start wearing COVID masks indoors
Here are the latest COVID-19 cases confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
US reports highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the world
Students, staff required to wear masks as they return to school, Washington governor says
Why Thurston residents will get paper vehicle permits instead of metal license plates

Peninsula Daily News
‘Vigilantism’ a fear in wake of new laws (Chapman, Tharinger)
Inslee urges all to wear masks indoors
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
EXPLAINER: Employers have legal right to mandate COVID shots

Port Townsend Leader
Unvaccinated residents causing uptick in COVID

Puget Sound Business Journal
Lockdowns are unlikely, but experts say Delta variant surge could create headwinds for small businesses
Google is delaying its reopening and will require workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19
Inslee recommends wearing masks indoors again as measure against delta Covid-19 variant
SBA launches new Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness portal
Boeing swings to quarterly profit on Max deliveries

Seattle Medium
Highline College Will Become A Vaccine-Required Campus Fall 2021
Port Adopts New Authority To Expand Workers Covered By City Of SeaTac Minimum Wage
Council Approves More Than $389 Million For Courts Backlog And More In Latest Round Of Emergency COVID Funding

Seattle Times
King County jury awards $185M to 3 teachers who suffered brain damage from toxins at Monroe school
Nearly half of Seattle police calls don’t need officers responding, new report says
Puyallup River pollution whistleblower sues dam operator, alleging it didn’t fully pay workers or provide breaks
As sockeye runs struggle elsewhere in North America, a record run in Alaska’s Bristol Bay
More than 94% of recent COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations in Washington state among those not fully vaccinated, report says
Washington’s governor urges the vaccinated to wear masks indoors in certain counties, won’t impose new mandates
Opinion: Washington makes progress toward equitable recovery for kids
Editorial: Hold WSU coach accountable for refusal to vaccinate

Skagit Valley Herald
Anacortes approves update to Critical Areas Ordinance
Skagit 911 board recommends sales tax increase
Lawmakers request more help for farmers impacted by heat wave

Tri-City Herald
COVID surge fills largest Tri-Cities ICU. Patients being sent out of town
11,000 Hanford workers ordered to start wearing COVID masks indoors

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
School mask requirement not up to local districts

Washington Post
Biden wants to turn America’s auto fleet electric. It’s harder than it seems.
Amid summer of fire and floods, a moment of truth for climate action
Pfizer data shows vaccine protection remains robust six months after vaccination even as the company argues that boosters will be needed
U.S. economy grew annual 6.5 percent between April and June, marking full recovery from the pandemic
Biden urges Congress to extend eviction moratorium, saying his hands are tied by Supreme Court ruling

Yakima Herald Republic
COVID-19 testing will continue at State Fair Park in Yakima; vaccination center to close with focus on mobile clinics
Q&A: Yakima County has high COVID transmission; health district says everyone should wear masks in public indoors
Historic Beverly Bridge receives facelift, completion slated for early fall
Longtime nurse speaks out for face coverings, vaccination and other COVID-19 prevention

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Washington will require masks in schools this fall
Majority of people getting sick or dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated, DOH says

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
More Seattle businesses implementing ‘No Vaccine, No Service’ policies
$185 million awarded to North Sound teachers exposed to chemicals at school
Executive order begins new King County inquests
CDC recommends masks for all students and teachers
Understanding how urban development impacts wildlife
Inslee urges Washington residents to wear masks indoors, reiterates mask requirement for schools
Several Seattle bars close after positive COVID-19 cases; others requiring proof of vaccination
Paper license plates to be issued due to license plate shortage

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Almost all COVID cases, deaths, hospitalizations since February were in unvaccinated folks
Inquests into fatal shootings by police to resume in King County
Gov. Inslee: Even the vaccinated should wear masks while indoors
Concerns about crime, boating safety behind push to restore Seattle Harbor Patrol staffing
Washington businesses respond to Inslee’s recommendation to mask up indoors
More Seattle bars requiring proof of vaccination after some temporarily close due to COVID

KNKX FM
Vaccinated people should mask in public indoor spaces in most of Washington state

KUOW FM
Covid blog is back, and so is masking indoors
Common cancer screening methods are less accurate for Black women. A UW doctor has made it her mission to change that
Breakthrough Infections May Cause Long COVID Symptoms, Small Study Suggests

KXLY (ABC)
Uptick in infections leads to fifth wave of COVID in Spokane, North Idaho
Inslee urges Washingtonians to wear masks in indoor public spaces
Spokane Public Schools to add recent DOH guidance to reopening plan
Washington to require all K-12 students, school employees to wear masks this fall
What WA’s new police accountability laws do and don’t do (Goodman, Johnson)

Q13 TV (Fox)
Washington state recommends wearing masks indoors, requires masks for K-12 schools
Thurston County residents to get temporary paper permits due to statewide license plate shortage
Delta variant viral load 1,000 times higher than original coronavirus strain
City of Seattle testing and vaccination efforts transitioning to partners at the end of July

Web

Crosscut
The key to living with wildfire smoke? Preparation
Podcast | The history and future of gun violence in America
Where do I have to wear a mask in WA? We explain

MyNorthwest
Seattle proposal to end ‘single-family zoning’ label garners wide support in public hearing
Governor says more vaccine strategies could be on the way for Washington
Mayor Durkan: Seattle needs to ‘get back to basics’ with masks, vaccines
‘Compassion Seattle’ homelessness initiative qualifies for November ballot
Washington grapples with license plate shortage brought on by pandemic
Washington to follow CDC guidance, now recommends all people wear masks indoors

Slog
Washington Recommends Masking in Indoor Public Places Regardless of Vaccination Status, in Line With CDC Guidelines

Wednesday, July 28

What new WA police accountability laws do and don’t do
Several new police accountability bills went into effect in Washington state this week, changing some of the ways police officers can interact with the public. In anticipation of the new laws taking hold, many police chiefs and sheriffs have publicly voiced concerns that their officers will no longer be able to perform certain duties, such as responding to mental health calls or chasing fleeing suspects. While some of these statements contain elements of truth, others are misleading or leave out important context. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Matt M. McKnight)

In most Washington counties, fewer than a third of eligible kids are vaccinated against COVID-19
A majority of Washington’s eligible schoolchildren still aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19, state data shows, and experts warn that we’ve reached a critical moment: in most corners of the state, school starts in about five weeks. It takes about five weeks — from the first shot to the end of the waiting period after the second — for vaccine to be most effective. Pediatricians, researchers and Department of Health officials are now mounting a desperate call. Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

Increase in COVID infections ‘eerily similar’ to last summer’s surge in Wash. state
Local health leaders say the number of COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths in Washington state right now is eerily similar to those seen during last summer’s surge. Even though over half of the state’s total population is now fully vaccinated, new infections and hospitalizations are on the rise. And transmission of the virus is increasing, even among the vaccinated. Continue reading at KOMO News.

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In most Washington counties, fewer than a third of eligible kids are vaccinated against COVID-19
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Tuesday, July 27

Public health officials in Snohomish, other Western Washington counties urge mask use indoors as COVID cases rise
Rising cases of COVID-19 coupled with the emergence of the highly infectious delta variant have prompted health officers from eight Western Washington counties to recommend mask-wearing in indoor public spaces. Health officials from the counties, which include Snohomish, King and Pierce, recommend all people, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks when in indoor public places. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

Fresh produce, shellfish prices will rise as NW farmers hope for drought, heat wave help
The federal government isn’t providing enough financial assistance to Pacific Northwest farmers, who are reeling from the impacts of recent extreme weather events. At least that’s what members of Congress from the Pacific Northwest and beyond wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Monday, July 26, in which they requested expanded federal aid for the region’s agricultural community. The Pacific Northwest’s farmers have been hit with a brutal one-two punch this summer — in late June, a record-breaking heat wave torched the region, followed by a statewide drought emergency. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

Emergency rooms at capacity in Puget Sound region
The beds at Skagit Valley Hospital are almost completely full. Doctors started seeing the strain on the system start when the state began reopening near the end of June following more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions. Wait times in the emergency department at Skagit Valley Hospital are more than double what they usually are. At some clinics, the waits have reached four hours. The situation has health officials concerned over the level of care their patients are receiving. Continue reading at KING 5.