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Monday, July 19

‘This isn’t over.’ Even as life gets back to normal for many, COVID-19 keeps killing Washingtonians
Millions of Washington residents are vaccinated, the state has dropped most restrictions, and life for many is tilting toward pre-pandemic conditions. But people are still dying from the virus. Losses at this stage can seem particularly cruel, like having a loved one die in battle just days before the armistice is signed. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Dangerous conditions complicate wildfire fight in western US
Erratic winds and dry lightning added to the dangers for crews battling the nation’s largest wildfire on Monday in parched Oregon forests, just one of dozens burning across several Western states. The destructive Bootleg Fire, one of the largest in modern Oregon history, has already burned more than 476 square miles, an area about the size of Los Angeles. The blaze just north of the California state line was 25% contained. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Noah Berger)

What small business owners need to know about PPP loan forgiveness
The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program was as massive as it was popular, dispensing a total of 11.8 million forgivable loans for nearly $800 billion across 2020 and in early 2021. But, as those loans start to come due, small businesses need to stay abreast of the most recent developments and rules to make sure they maximize every dollar, particularly when it comes to PPP loan forgiveness or the interplay with potentially lucrative employee retention credits. Continue reading at The Puget Sound Business Journal.

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Associated Press
Dangerous conditions complicate wildfire fight in western US
COVID-19 outbreak reported at Vancouver medical center

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen commits $7 million to Gateway Center
Letter: Closing Aberdeen homeless camp hard-hearted

Auburn Reporter
New state police reforms change policing in Auburn
Council discusses body-worn cameras for Auburn police

Bainbridge Island Review
Opinion: ‘Underdog’ dad taught me system sometimes works
Parks able to answer more questions about BAC purchase

Bellingham Herald
These sales numbers show how big a hit Whatcom restaurants, businesses took from COVID-19
With border reopening a possibility next month, Whatcom prepares to welcome Canadians
What’s with all the ship traffic in Bellingham Bay? There could be more on the way

Capital Press
Washington sets rule for farm work in wildfire smoke
Lawsuit seeks more spill over Columbia Basin dams for salmon
Red Apple Fire slows in Central Washington

Columbian
COVID-19 outbreak sickens patients, staff at PeaceHealth
Editorial: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Vaccine milestone, virus variants

Covington-Maple Valley Reporter
WSDOT awards contract for I-405/NE 132nd Street Interchange project in Kirkland

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Washington issues emergency rules to protect workers from fire smoke
Fire evacuation order lifted near state route 821
Dairy workers will receive overtime pay starting July 25
Small farmers face labor shortages
Extreme heat kills a significant portion of the Northwest cherry crop

Everett Herald
Snohomish County winds down emergency response to COVID-19
Edmonds Rescue Plan could put $12 million back into the city
Housing Authority considers 1,500 units for Baker Heights
Down to 2 police officers, Brier reaches out to the county
Shoppers, it’s once again time to break the plastic bag habit
Editorial: Burke: Trump is history, but recent enough to justify study
Comment: Viewpoints: Why Trump won’t get far in social media lawsuits
Comment: Inslee dropped ball in touting pandemic response
Comment: Why schools should teach about racism
WaPo Comment: National Mall to fly flags, one for every covid death
WaPo Comment: Court-packing is dead but other reforms are possible
WaPo Comment: Biden’s BLM pick faces scrutiny for Earth First ties
WaPo Comment: Here’s what can replace monuments to Confederates
Bloomberg Comment: Trump’s Twitter lawsuit raises one serious concern

High Country News
Supreme Court ruling fails to protect Indigenous voters
The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe calls on Seattle to remove the Gorge Dam

Issaquah Reporter
What is ranked-choice voting and why does it matter?

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Ferry fares set to increase in October
Moratorium on new vacation rental permits continues
Opinion: County finance update: Coming out of the pandemic

Kent Reporter
WSDOT launches new Good To Go!

Kitsap Sun
Nurses’ class action suit against CHI Franciscan settles for $5.5 million

News Tribune
Opposition growing to proposed Milton megachurch, including from Native American tribes

New York Times
Why the New Monthly Child Tax Credit Is More Likely to Be Spent on Children
Democrats to Propose a Border Tax Based on Countries’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Stocks tumble amid concerns over the Delta variant’s impact on growth.
U.S. Formally Accuses China of Hacking Microsoft
Senate Democrats took their voting rights push on the road with a hearing in Atlanta.
Opinion: Joe Biden’s Monumental Environmental Gambit

Olympian
Thurston County tenants facing rent increases as governor’s rent protections expire
Fred Meyer warehouse workers vote to authorize strike; work stoppage could begin Monday
Here’s why Thurston County residents who need an ambulance might be waiting longer
10 questions answered about the draft environmental report for Capitol Lake

Port Townsend Leader
COVID-19 cases on the rise in Jefferson County

Puget Sound Business Journal
Workforce shortage and other costs will likely cause restaurant prices to rise
Pike Place Market took a catastrophic economic hit. Now, it’s mounting a comeback.
PPP loan forgiveness: SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman says new application portal will roll out ‘very soon’
What small business owners need to know about PPP loan forgiveness
Private college president thinks higher ed’s business model is broken — and he has a proposal to fix it
Blue Origin’s auction winner declines space trip due to ‘scheduling conflict’
‘It’s been a long time coming’: Housing developer welcomes Tacoma’s growth
Op-Ed: Seattle will thrive again

Redmond Reporter
Opinion: Why wouldn’t you vaccinate to save loved ones? | Roegner

Seattle Times
‘This isn’t over.’ Even as life gets back to normal for many, COVID-19 continues to kill
Other regions have specific plans for heat waves. Experts say Seattle, Puget Sound cities need them too
The Seattle Times v. Seattle: Why we’re suing City Hall | From the editor
Though millions are at risk for diabetes, Medicare struggles to expand prevention program
Is it really OK to not be OK? Richard Sherman and Naomi Osaka cases show there’s a ways to go to support mental health
Opinion: Congress, follow Washington’s lead on voting rights and pass the For the People Act
Opinion: Right past wrongs of racist ‘urban renewal’ and pay reparations to Seattle’s Black community

Skagit Valley Herald
Hot summer has taken toll on water temperatures, snowpack

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Meet the new superintendent for Snoqualmie Valley School District
Town hall set for Meadowbrook Utility Local Improvement District project

South Whidbey Record
So long, s’mores: No campfires allowed in a stricter burn ban
Editorial: Island County’s pandemic bonuses are a smart idea, if legal
Island County employees to get COVID bonuses

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities teacher threatened after she signs onto controversial pledge
New WA tax law could upend retirement plans. The blame is on Dems and Gov. Inslee
‘Day by day.’ Milk prices may climb as WA dairy cows hit hard by NW heat wave
COVID hospitalizations mount in Tri-Cities area with rise in new cases
Wildfire scorches 100 acres west of Tri-Cities

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Lawsuit alleges Walla Walla School District failed to protect student from sexual harassment

Washington Post
U.S., allies accuse China of hacking Microsoft and condoning other cyberattacks
Haiti’s acting prime minister Claude Joseph says he will step down amid leadership dispute
Biden administration repatriates Guantánamo Bay inmate to Morocco
In this summer of covid freedom, disease experts warn: ‘The world needs a reality check’
Opinion: The spirit of John Lewis lives on in the voting rights fight

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima Police Department renews focus on data-driven policing, will invest in license plate cameras
Officials ask residents what they like — and want — in Yakima city parks and recreation facilities
State issues emergency rules to protect workers from wildfire smoke
Opinion: Congratulations to Washington’s newest millionaire

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Why isn’t the Seattle area in a drought like the rest of the state?
Victoria Clipper, Black Ball Ferry optimistic on US-Canada border reopening
VERIFY: Yes, rent control is illegal in Washington

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Fred Meyer warehouse workers authorize strike
Long-delayed Seattle cruise industry setting sail
How a carbon market is fueling change in the Nisqually Community Forest
Welcome back party in Chinatown-ID draws crowd to Hing Hay Park
Revive I-5 returns to Seattle with a full freeway closure
Researchers tackle Dungeness crab population concerns
Out of service ferry causing big delays at Kingston-Edmonds crossing
Two dozen cases of debris thrown at drivers in Seattle in two weeks, spurring calls for action
Mount Rainier announces parkwide fire ban

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
COVID cases are trending up across Puget Sound bringing on a call for masks
COVID-19 outbreak reported at Vancouver medical center
Bootleg Fire nears 300,000 acres as containment stalls at 22%

KXLY (ABC)
Local organization to launch billboard campaign addressing violence against Indigenous women
New police reform laws raise concerns for local police departments
“Shot of a Lifetime” grand prize winner announced

Q13 TV (Fox)
Seattle’s ‘normal’ summer returns for July with weeks-long streak of pleasant temperatures
The Divide: Seattle sues the news
Inslee says Washington will not follow LA County, which has reverted back to mask mandates
New research from WSU shows many leaving the hospitality industry
Opinion: Brandi Kruse: Inslee’s shame game serves no purpose

Web

Crosscut
Want ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer’s low tax rate? Buy a sports team
A tale of two waters
Historia de dos aguas
Opinion: In the PNW, Confederate flag controversies are not new

MyNorthwest
United Airlines will pull its last route out of Paine Field in October
Fred Meyer warehouse workers authorize strike
Building under demolition partially collapses in downtown Seattle
Two firearms found at Sea-Tac Airport screening 5 minutes apart
Re-imposing state’s mask mandate ‘not under consideration,’ says Gov. Inslee
Officials hope to have homeless camp next to Bitter Lake school cleared by September

Friday, July 16

Washington Supreme Court reinstates King County inquest system that expands inquiry into police-caused deaths
The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday reinstated sweeping changes made to the King County inquest procedures in 2018, providing an expanded avenue for the families of people killed by police to seek answers and establish culpability. In a unanimous, 49-page opinion the justices struck down most challenges by several county law enforcement agencies, including the King County Sheriff’s Office, which had argued successfully in superior court last year that King County Executive Dow Constantine had overstepped his authority in making the changes. The justices overturned the lower court ruling, authored by Judge Julie Spector, on almost every point. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Rachel La Corte/AP)

COVID outbreaks more than doubled in WA state schools in April and May, report shows
A total of 301 COVID‐19 outbreaks occurred in K‐12 schools between August 2020 and May, according to the latest report updated by the Washington State Department of Health on June 30. A total of 1,139 cases was associated with the outbreaks. Outbreaks have more than doubled since the March 31 update by the health department, which showed 134 COVID-19 outbreaks in K-12 schools between August and February. Continue reading at The Olympian. (North Thurston Public Schools)

Canada could open to vaccinated U.S. tourists as soon as August, Trudeau says
Canada could reopen its borders to vaccinated travelers from all countries by early September, and possibly welcome immunized Americans as soon as mid-August, the office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said late Thursday. Canada closed its land border with the United States in March 2020 as the pandemic first accelerated, and it has since restricted entry for other foreign visitors to help stem the spread of the virus. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Cole Burston/Bloomberg News)

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Associated Press
Female grizzly collared in Washington for 1st time in 40 years
Drought emergency declared in Washington state
Wildland fire near Wenatchee threatens more than 1,500 homes
Explainer: Washington tenants get modified eviction reprieve
Child tax credit starts hitting US families’ bank accounts
Supreme Court reinstates King County police inquest system
US requires more tests for safety switches on Boeing 737s

Auburn Reporter
Auburn Community Court has prevention in mind

Bainbridge Island Review
17 new cases of COVID confirmed in Kitsap
Bellevue has way more jobs than housing

Bellingham Herald
Comcast internet outage impacting more than 2,500 customers in Bellingham
These striking Bellingham workers return to work as negotiations continue

Capital Press
Washington drought turning exceptionally bad
Fires threaten Indigenous lands in dry Northwest
Cattle group: Anti-CAFO legislation misguided

Everett Herald
Legacy of pollution makes Everett port project ‘challenging’ (Sells. Wicks)
Federal Child Tax Credit payments are hitting bank accounts
Reopening brings emotional triumphs and challenges
Bloomberg Comment: Success of child tax credit may depend on one’s goals
WaPo Comment: America must confront long history of Nazism, racism

The Facts Newspaper
Expanded Child Tax Credit Puts Money in Pockets of Northwest Washington’s Working Families
Council approves requirement for electric vehicle charging in new development
New Efforts to Support Small Businesses Across the Downtown Core
City of Tacoma Awarded $2 Million Federal MBDA Business Center Program Grant
Americans Feel Less Prepared for Retirement than Before the Pandemic
Small businesses in unincorporated King County hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for grants

Kent Reporter
Department of Ecology declares drought emergency in WA

Mercer Island Reporter
Crime on Mercer Island increased by 11.3% in 2020

News Tribune
Trash and graffiti piled up in Tacoma during COVID-19. What’s the city doing about it?
<href=”https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article252820098.html”>Man sexually assaulted by another patient at Tacoma behavioral health hospital, lawsuit says
South Sound 911’s new, bigger communications building almost open. Here’s a look inside
Strike threat looms over PNW Safeway, Fred Meyer as contracts set to expire
Richard Sherman freed from King County jail after 35 1/2 hours in. Here’s what’s next

New York Times
Devastation from floods spreads in Germany and elsewhere, with hundreds missing.
Plans for free pre-K and community college could provide a ‘ladder into the middle class.’
Possible Winners and Losers in a Student Loan Proposal
Building Solar Farms May Not Build the Middle Class

Olympian
Lacey to spend $177,000 on outreach team that will serve homeless, others in crisis
COVID outbreaks more than doubled in WA state schools in April and May, report shows
Arson suspected for 12 fires started along I-5, US-101 in Thurston and Mason counties
It’s wildfire season in WA. When can we expect smoke to arrive west of the Cascades?
Here’s when Canada’s Trudeau sees border opening, with ‘positive path of vaccination rate’

Peninsula Daily News
Berry now health officer for both Jefferson, Clallam
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
Educators grapple with accessibility issues after year of remote learning
Amazon rolls out service to store and analyze health care data
Report: Almost a quarter of Seattle-area homes purchased with cash in 2021

Seattle Times
Chuweah Creek fire grows to 34,280 acres, burns 14 structures
Red Apple fire grows to 11,000 acres, evacuation orders in place
In Seattle’s hot housing market, nearly a quarter of sales are all cash
FAA orders inspections of Boeing 737 cabin air sensors
UW rowing carries tradition of success into Olympics with 16 Huskies competing in Tokyo
Mayor Durkan urges Seattleites to ‘re-create and rebirth’ downtown, its neighborhoods during ‘Welcome Back Weeks’
YouthCare CEO to step down after protest, racial turmoil inside homelessness organization
Washington Supreme Court reinstates King County inquest system that expands inquiry into police-caused deaths
Opinion: Why would we allow cruise-ship waste of any kind in Salish Sea?

Skagit Valley Herald
Outdoor workers get added protections during extreme heat
Delta variant confirmed in Skagit County
Skagit 911 considers asking voters for sales tax increase

The Skanner
Drought Emergency Declared in Washington State

South Seattle Emerald
New signage final step in preserving legacy of Licton Springs as indigenous landmark

Spokesman Review
Avista says during customer town hall that it’s ‘committed to learn’ after controversial planned power outages
Wildfires grow in Washington, Idaho as forecast shows some signs of relief for Spokane
With virus cases rising, mask mandate back on in Los Angeles

Washington Post
The child tax credit is confusing for divorced, single, and non-traditional parents. Here’s who gets to keep the money.
The health and climate consequences of the American food system cost three times as much as the food itself
Canada could open to vaccinated U.S. tourists as soon as August, Trudeau says
Death toll from European floods passes 115 as receding waters reveal scope of devastation
The Amazon rainforest is the world’s carbon sink. Parts of it now release more carbon than can be absorbed.
Arrested and beaten during civil rights protests, she’s 93 and finally telling her story
Opinion: The right’s reckless anti-vaccine campaign is not mere pandering. It’s fatal.

Yakima Herald Republic
A Yakima Valley WWII veteran and POW shares his story with congressional history project

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Inslee to announce winner of $1 million COVID-19 vaccine lottery prize today
‘We’re just lucky’ Red Apple Fire hasn’t caused more damage, farmer says
DCYF oversight board grills state child welfare leader about alleged punishment of foster youth
Microsoft says it blocked spying on rights activists, others
SB I-5 lanes closed this weekend for Revive I-5 work in Seattle

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
District unveils plan to clear homeless camp near Seattle school
Firefighters making ‘significant progress’ on Red Apple Fire in Chelan County
Fully vaccinated Americans can enter Canada as of mid-August

KNKX FM
EPA warns private prison company about pesticide misuse at Tacoma ICE facility
State Supreme Court reinstates King County police inquest system

KUOW FM
Why King County’s Home Values Shot Up Even Further Amid a Pandemic
Tacoma detention center gets federal warning after chemicals impact detainee health
Hot NW summer: More high temps and low precipitation ahead
Flood Deaths Are Rising In Germany And Officials Blame Climate Change
Illinois Is The 1st State To Tell Police They Can’t Lie To Minors In Interrogations
Despite police objections, state Supreme Court gives thumbs up to revamped King County inquests

KXLY (ABC)
Female grizzly captured, collared in northeast Washington
Gov. Inslee to announce ‘Shot of a Lifetime’ grand-prize winner Friday

Q13 TV (Fox)
Renton pet store criticized over payment systems and puppy mills
Neighbors praise ‘skilled’ firefighters as they tackle the Red Apple Fire in Wenatchee
Ballots mailed for Washington’s primary: What you need to know
Pacific Northwest heat wave likely killed ‘billions’ of marine animals, experts say
$4.8 million investment in policing and mental health response in WA
EXPLAINER: WA tenants get modified eviction reprieve
Data shows many leaving the hospitality industry

Web

Crosscut
New WA laws start to close public broadband gap — but it’s a small step (Hansen)
Firing of Spokane public health official boils over into high-level fight
Deeply Rooted: A tale of two waters

Slog
New Study Shows That Lidding I-5 Is More Than Possible — It’s a Good Idea

Thursday, July 15

Gov. Inslee declares drought emergency as wildfire conditions worsen in Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee Wednesday announced an emergency drought declaration to cover nearly all of Washington. The announcement comes after an extended drought — made worse by the recent heat waves — has lasted into wildfire season, with blazes tearing across Eastern and Central Washington. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Pete Caster/AP)

IRS begins sending monthly checks to millions of American parents in crucial test for Biden
The Biden administration on Thursday launched the biggest anti-poverty program undertaken by the federal government in more than a half-century, delivering monthly payments to the overwhelming majority of American parents for the first time. The Department of Treasury said it has sent checks to households representing approximately 60 million children under a provision in the stimulus package passed by Democrats in March. The payments can be withdrawn Thursday but appeared in many bank accounts as early as Wednesday. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Demetrius Freeman/Washington Post)

Democrats Roll Out $3.5 Trillion Budget to Fulfill Biden’s Broad Agenda
President Biden and congressional Democrats vowed on Wednesday to push through a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint to vastly expand social and environmental programs by extending the reach of education and health care, taxing the rich and tackling the warming of the planet. The legislation is far from passage, but top Democrats have agreed on working to include several far-reaching details. They include universal prekindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds, two years of free community college, clean energy requirements for utilities and lower prescription drug prices. Medicare benefits would be expanded, and green cards would be extended to some undocumented immigrants. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times)

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Associated Press
Drought emergency declared in Washington state
Western fires threaten parched American Indian tribal lands
US unemployment claims fall to 360,000, a new pandemic low

Aberdeen Daily World
New policing laws weigh on local officers
Grays Harbor Transit goes fare-free through December 2022
Op-Ed: Our founders believed civic education and historical knowledge would prevent tyranny – and foster democracy
Op-Ed: Biden can promote both workers and competition

Bellevue Reporter
State Transportation Commission meets July 20 to select its toll rate increase proposals for tolled highways

Bellingham Herald
This Bellingham site used to be a crime hotspot. Now, it’s affordable housing
The Lummi Nation is offering this gift to the Biden administration
‘Red Road to D.C.’ calls for tribal consultation on projects that impact Native resources
Here’s how you can help conserve water during Washington’s drought emergency

Bothell Reporter
King County Board of Health meets July 15 to talk about drug-user health

Capital Press
Easterday sale gets green light in bankruptcy court
WSDA hurries to hold down Japanese beetles in Yakima County
Extreme heat takes out portion of Northwest cherry crop

Everett Herald
Snohomish County is an oasis of sorts in Washington’s drought
Bloomberg Comment: More Americans ought to be quitting jobs, moving on
WaPo Comment: Texas Democrats justified in flight from legislature
WaPo Comment: Statues aren’t history; fences aren’t democracy

Federal Way Mirror
Opinion: The impact of new state laws on Federal Way police

High Country News
Can Puget Sound’s orca and salmon survive Seattle’s dams?

Islands’ Weekly
Islands receive more than $2 million in recreation grants

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Opinion: Pay attention to wildfire State of Emergency

News Tribune
New chancellor named for UW Tacoma. She’s known for commitment to diversity, equity
Prosecutors issue charging decision for Gig Harbor man who fatally shot intruder
Here’s why Tacoma isn’t facing a drought emergency like the rest of the state

New York Times
Covid Live Updates: Delta Variant Fuels Rising U.S. Caseload as Vaccinations Slow
Democrats Roll Out $3.5 Trillion Budget to Fulfill Biden’s Broad Agenda
The Fed chair acknowledges inflation anxiety as he testifies before Congress.
The U.S. surgeon general calls Covid misinformation an ‘urgent threat to public health.’
‘It’s Huge, It’s Historic, It’s Unheard-of’: Drug Overdose Deaths Spike

Olympian
Here’s how you can help conserve water during Washington’s drought emergency
Shell shock: Long-term ammo shortages bite industry, from sport shooting to hunting
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Why jailed Richard Sherman has a domestic violence component on his suspicion of burglary
Thurston County hopes to develop this southwest trail with grant funding
Gov. Inslee declares statewide drought emergency Wednesday

Peninsula Daily News
Port of Port Angeles mulls ferry pier rehab
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Port Townsend Leader
Drought emergency declared in Washington state
Two new COVID-19 infections found in Jefferson County
All new cases of COVID-19 found in unvaccinated residents

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW, Windermere team up to provide real estate internships to minority students
New King County law requires EV chargers in new and refurbished apartment buildings
Amazon pledges to hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2024
Tacoma agency lands $2M grant to continue support for minority-owned businesses

Seattle Times
Seattle electricity rates to go up annually until 2026
Gov. Inslee says Washington’s lottery boosted COVID vaccination rates 24%. Here’s how the state got that number.
Money in the bank: Child tax credit dollars head to parents
With big changes ahead for King County Sheriff’s Office, residents hear from finalists to lead civilian oversight
Gov. Inslee declares drought emergency as wildfire conditions worsen in Washington
Opinion: We can carry pandemic-inspired empathy into the future

Skagit Valley Herald
Dry weather forces full burn county ban, drought declaration
Concrete School Board has seat to fill

The Skanner
Prosecutors: Fatal Police Shooting of Jenoah Donald Justified

South Seattle Emerald
My child of color is ‘highly capable.’ now what? — Part 2
More affordable housing coming to South Park

Spokesman Review
Inslee declares drought emergency for vast majority of Washington, says this is ‘summer of climate change’
High temperatures and increasing winds bring more fire danger and smoke to Spokane area
Criminal justice reform advocates say changes to Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council don’t ‘represent this community’

Tri-City Herald
CBC offers $10,000 in college scholarships for COVID vaccinations
Franklin County has 2nd highest COVID rate in 3 states. Benton County is 5th
Benton County commissioners blast sheriff’s $4M claim in rare rebuke
Bicyclist seriously hurt in possible distracted driving crash in Pasco

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Lawsuit alleges Walla Walla School District failed to protect student from sexual harassment

Washington Post
IRS begins sending monthly checks to millions of American parents in crucial test for Biden
Biden administration proposes sweeping protections for Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
As IRS audits waned, big businesses racked up unapproved tax breaks

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima County not as parched as rest of the state, water supply experts say
High temperature doesn’t stop those walking Wednesday for missing and murdered Indigenous people

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Growth in western Washington wildfires a worrying trend amid stressed forests
Money in the bank: Child tax credit dollars head to parents
Highway crimes increasing in Washington as traffic returns to near pre-pandemic levels
Pierce County changes tactics for COVID-19 vaccinations
‘Putting our way of life at risk’: Gov. Inslee declares Washington drought emergency
‘It’s very scary’: I-90 commuters worried about increasing amount of debris thrown off overpasses

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
‘This is the summer of climate change’: Gov. Inslee declares statewide drought emergency
Local hate crimes continue rising in 2021; FBI urges reporting
Facebook grows in Bellevue’s Spring District
Crews battle multiple brush fires in Thurston County
WSDOT responds to calls for overpass fencing following 161 incidents of debris thrown on highways
Washington reaches 70% vaccination rate, a milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic
Brush fire burning in Chelan County threatens homes, prompts evacuations

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Gov. Inslee issues statewide drought emergency declaration
State records highlight years of suspected abuse in home where Clark County teen died
Weather conditions impact how fire crews battle Pacific Northwest fires

KNKX FM
Canada’s Taking It Slow On Reopening Its Border To Travelers From The U.S. Here’s Why
Tacoma residents clash over proposal to expand housing options in single-family neighborhoods

KUOW FM
The Expanded Child Tax Credit Is Here. Here’s What You Need To Know
A reality check on breakthrough Covid cases in Washington
Overdose Deaths In State Prisons Have Jumped Dramatically Since 2001
Seismic research ship goes boom-boom to seek answers at origin of the next Big One

KXLY (ABC)
Washington hits 70% vaccination milestone, Spokane still lags behind
Drought emergency declared in Washington

Q13 TV (Fox)
Washington state reaches goal of 70% vaccination rate
Conservation organization helps communities tucked into forests gauge wildfire risk

Web

Crosscut
Firing of Spokane public health official boils over into high-level fight

MyNorthwest
Latest milestone has West Seattle Bridge repairs ‘right on schedule’
King County buys fourth hotel to house homeless individuals
Gov. Inslee declares drought emergency for nearly all of Washington
Campaign accuses Sawant of ‘co-opting process’ by gathering signatures for her own recall
Washington’s plastic bag ban to take effect after over a year of delays

Wednesday, July 14

‘A grand experiment’: With first monthly payments to parents set to arrive Thursday, Democrats push to make them permanent
Starting Thursday, families across the United States will receive the first in a series of monthly payments of up to $300 per child that could dramatically cut child poverty and offer a preview of what might become a major part of the American social safety net for years to come – if Democrats get their way. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Molly Quinn)

WA state hits 70 percent goal for administering COVID vaccines to those 16 and older
State health officials on Wednesday announced that the state of Washington had reached a milestone of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to residents. Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah announced that health officials have administered at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines to 70 percent of the population ages 16 and older. Continue reading at The Olympian. (PhotoCredit)

Washington social workers claim lack of support from state in after-hours foster care
Seairra’s emotional dilemma that night, captured on a police body camera, is one frequently shared by other current and former DCYF employees who have experience supervising “hard-to-place” foster youth during the night hours. It’s the time of day when the resources are scarce and calling law enforcement for support is widely viewed within the department as the go-to option and sometimes the only one. Continue reading at KING 5. (Kent Police Department)

Print

Associated Press
Man arrested in 2020 Seattle protest zone killing
Prosecutors: Fatal police shooting of Black man justified
Lightning sparks wildfires in northcentral Washington state
Extreme heat takes out portion of Northwest cherry crop
Wash. corrections officials to close prison units to save money
Western wildfires threatening American Indian tribal lands

Aberdeen Daily World
Final Aberdeen/Hoquiam RFA plan unveiled
Grant will fund local law enforcement mental health navigator
Utility shutoff moratorium gets extended to Sept. 30
Letter: Rep. Walsh’s actions ‘outrageously offensive’

Auburn Reporter
With fewer inmates, state prepares to close prison units

Bellingham Herald
Plenty of construction work is happening around Bellingham. Here’s an update
This Bellingham Bay cleanup is taking longer than expected. Here’s why

Capital Press
Wildfire spreads north of Wenatchee in Central Washington
How Biden’s antitrust executive order impacts agriculture
Dispute brews over Easterday bankruptcy sale

Courier-Herald
Off to a state park? Forget about fires

The Daily News
LCC offers ‘shot of a lifetime’ scholarships drawing for vaccinated students

Everett Herald
In Index, Erinswood Trail will be a place for everyone
With fewer inmates, state prepares to close prison units
County drops Pilchuck Creek bridge to one lane near Stanwood
Bloomberg Comment: Accounting for social media could change libel law
Bloomberg Comment: U.S. lost the war in Afghanistan even as it started

Federal Way Mirror
Wilson: Thoughts on Totem Middle School, diversity and inclusion

High Country News
Trans-Alaska pipeline under threat from thawing permafrost

Journal of the San Juan Islands
State Parks to begin mooring buoy repair project throughout Puget Sound

Kent Reporter
Most Kent crime numbers up in 2020 compared to 2019

Kitsap Sun
Here’s where Washington wildfires are burning in the state
Washington wildfires prompt mandatory evacuation of Nespelem on Colville Indian Reservation

News Tribune
Tacoma has been singing about itself from the start. Here’s why Grit City music matters
First Pierce County victims of June heat wave identified
Many local health workers aren’t required to get the COVID vaccine. Should they be?
Pierce County sees its death toll from June’s extreme heat nearly double with new count

New York Times
Europe Rolls Out Plan to Shift From Fossil Fuels, an Effort That Could Impact Trade
Energy Department Targets Vastly Cheaper Batteries to Clean Up the Grid
Biden heads to Capitol Hill to huddle with Democrats on a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint.
Obamacare enrollments have risen by 2 million, reaching a record high, since Biden reopened them in February.
Why You Should Care About Your Right to Repair Gadgets

Olympian
Developer picked for 180-unit Boulevard Road housing development
Gig Harbor case raises question: Is it legal to shoot someone who breaks into your home?
COVID vaccine boosters to be tested by UW Medicine; paid participants sought
WA state hits 70 percent goal for administering COVID vaccines to those 16 and older
Thurston County adds 1 death, 134 COVID-19 cases over past week

Peninsula Daily News
Mental health court proposed
Clallam County reports its 16th COVID-19 death
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
The SBA thinks he’s dead. Some businesses hitting EIDL roadblocks.
Seattle Central College president named UW Tacoma’s next chancellor
Report: Seattle ranks among nation’s top hubs for tech talent

Seattle Medium
Sheila Edwards Lange Selected As New Chancellor Of UW Tacoma
Durkan Applauds Passage Of Legislation To Authorize Acquisition Of Land For Affordable Housing

Seattle Times
Employment Security Department pays $100,000 settlement in lawsuit over public records delays
To predict who’s most likely to become homeless, look to South King County, researchers say
Red Apple fire near Wenatchee prompts evacuations
Column: We had our chance to stomp the coronavirus in Washington state. We the people blew it.
Opinion: When families do well, America succeeds: Make expanded Child Tax Credit a permanent benefit

Skagit Valley Herald
Anacortes expedites development of child care centers

The Skanner
King County Launches First of Its Kind Pilot Program to House Homeless Veterans

South Seattle Emerald
Preparing for wildfire smoke in South Seattle this summer

South Whidbey Record
Langley Council members clash over need for fourth officer, advisory committee
Letter: School district is complying with policies
Letter: Evidence proves it’s harder for Blacks to get ahead in U.S.
Letter: Impossible to live on Whidbey on minimum wage
Letter: Students need to know facts about racism

Spokesman Review
Smoke rolls into Spokane; near-record heat on tap but slight reprieve forecast
‘A grand experiment’: With first monthly payments to parents set to arrive Thursday, Democrats push to make them permanent
Man bit by Spokane police dog reaches $50,000 settlement with city
Spokane County COVID case and hospitalization rate declining
Opinion: David O’Brien: The path out of the pandemic

Tri-City Herald
Smoke fouls Tri-Cities air to levels unhealthy for many. Red flag fire warning issued
Tri-Cities hospitals are busier with COVID patients as new daily case counts keep rising
Delta COVID variant, unvaccinated young adults have Tri-Cities health officials worried
Tri-Cities man was unarmed, with hands in the air when shot by police, says attorney

Vancouver Business Journal
Labor shortage emerges as major issue for employers

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Athena-Weston and Milton-Freewater school districts to no longer require masks

Washington Post
Drug overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year
Iranian intelligence agents plotted brazen abduction of Brooklyn dissident journalist, U.S. prosecutors say
Biden heads to Capitol Hill to pitch his spending plans
Yet another major heat wave is set to roast the western U.S. and Canada by the weekend
European Commission proposes ambitious climate change policies, urging U.S. and other nations to follow

Yakima Herald Republic
Air quality declining in Yakima area as wildfire season intensifies
Extreme heat takes out significant portion of Northwest cherry crop
Opinion: Time puts courage, loss of Thirtymile Fire in perspective

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
30 days pass without measurable rain in Seattle
Washington social workers claim lack of support from state in after-hours foster care
UW Medicine COVID-19 patient, hospitalized for 6 months, heads home

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Brush fire burning in Chelan County threatens homes, prompts evacuations
Grassroots group pushing to make Aurora Avenue safer
Mother of teen killed in CHOP speaks after suspect’s arrest
Tens of thousands of families to receive up to $300 monthly from federal program
Homes burned, livestock killed in Okanogan County wildfires

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘Looking pretty grim:’ Wildfires torch over 94,000 acres in Wash. state so far
Health officials push COVID vaccinations amid signs of rising case counts
Months in the making, grants starting to arrive for local music clubs
Wildfires spur concern about worsening air quality in Western Washington
Coleman Glacier on Mount Baker rapidly shrinking during summer

KNKX FM
It’s Summer, And That Means The Mysterious Return Of Glacier Ice Worms
Listen: State juggling wildfire response, COVID recovery, corrections concerns and more
Investigation into Tacoma police vehicle incident nearing end, spokesman says

KUOW FM
Vice President Harris Hints That She Has Discussed Filibuster Changes With Senators
Nearly 800 people believed to have died in Northwest heat wave

KXLY (ABC)
Washington receives $11M to support rural COVID response efforts
‘It’s going to get really bad’: Parents will have a tough time finding child care as industry struggles to find workers

NW Public Radio
Echoes Of 2015 As Fires Burn Across Okanogan County, Force Evacuations In Nespelem

Q13 TV (Fox)
Wildfires prompted mandatory evacuations near Colville Indian Reservation, residents now returning home
Bellevue startup’s dream of changing educational access garners $1.7 million investment
Conservation organization helps communities tucked into forests gauge wildfire risk

Web

Crosscut
In WA, a ‘black box’ of practices hides civil forfeiture from oversight
Opinion: Fighting wildfires in western WA requires different approaches

MyNorthwest
70% of state population 16 and up has received at least one vaccine dose
Brush fire burning in Chelan County threatens homes, prompts evacuations
Updated rules for SPD’s use of crowd control weapons clear council committee
Port of Seattle permanently bans use of facial recognition at Sea-Tac Airport
Why Puget Sound likely won’t be seeing wildfire smoke this week
Delaying ranked choice voting in King County was ‘right decision,’ says advocacy group
Pair of small earthquakes shake near White Center on Tuesday
New court date set for state’s lawsuit against Tacoma ICE detention facility
Seattle council approves acquisition of land in South Park for affordable housing
US Marshals arrest suspect linked to murder near CHOP in Seattle last summer

Tuesday, July 13

Two Tacoma officers involved in Manuel Ellis’ death named in excessive force claim

A man who said he was unlawfully arrested by Tacoma officers in 2019 is seeking $500,000 in damages from the city of Tacoma, according to a new tort claim filed in June. Two of the officers named in the claim, Timothy Rankine, 32, and Masyih Ford, 29, were involved in the death of Manuel Ellis months later in March 2020. Dustin Dean, 28, said the officers used excessive force when he was unlawfully arrested around 12:08 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2019. Cellphone video of the incident shows the two officers arrest and handcuff Dean on the ground. Continue reading at The News Tribune.

Mental health professionals – not police officers – could soon respond to some 911 calls in Spokane
Mental health professionals in Spokane could soon respond to certain 911 calls without a police officer at their side. Police and behavioral health experts are working through the logistics of having clinicians answer emergency calls for people in crisis without the accompaniment of an armed police officer. Spokane Police Department leaders have embraced the change as a way to free up officers’ time to respond to other emergencies, while advocates for police reform believe it will lead to better outcomes for people in need of help. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Colin Mulvany)

Wildfires torch homes, land across 10 states in US West
Wildfires that torched homes and forced thousands to evacuate burned across 10 parched Western states on Tuesday, and the largest, in Oregon, threatened a portion of California’s power supply. Nearly 60 wildfires tore through bone-dry timber and brush from Alaska to Wyoming, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Arizona, Idaho and Montana accounted for more than half of the large active fires. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Nathan Howard)