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Monday, July 12

More than 300 wildfires burn across British Columbia; more blazes in Washington, Oregon and California
With another stretch of extreme heat, one of the worst droughts in recent history, 300 fires burning in British Columbia, 24 in California, 14 in Idaho, 13 in Oregon, and four in Washington, it’s safe to say wildfire season is here. In Washington, the Batterman Road fire near Wenatchee has burned more than 14,000 acres and 12,000 acres have been consumed by the Burbank fire near Yakima, which is 20% contained. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (James MacDonald)

WA civil forfeiture law turns minor drug offenses into major losses
Asset forfeiture is increasingly employed as an adjunct or, in some cases, alternative to criminal prosecution, especially in drug cases. It enables police departments in all but a few states to seize, keep and sell property — from guns, cash, cars and homes to lawn mowers and fishing lures — connected to a crime. Washington’s forfeiture laws, among the most lax and opaque in the nation, grant police wide latitude in seizures with minimal oversight. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Dorothy Edwards)

Op-Ed: Black, Latino healthcare disparities were harmful pre-existing condition before COVID-19
This past year brought a racial reckoning in Washington and across the country. As COVID-19 spread through the Evergreen State, the pandemic exposed shortcomings in the country’s healthcare infrastructure, which failed communities of color. Eighty one percent of Americans agree the coronavirus crisis has exposed flaws in our current healthcare system, according to new research from Consumers for Quality care with ALG Research and Public Opinion Strategies. Continue reading at The News Tribune.

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Associated Press
Man files excessive force claim against 2 Tacoma officers
Lawyers for Seattle officers leave public records case
69.6% of people 16 and up have had at least 1 COVID-19 shot
Smoke, extreme heat pose harsh test for West Coast vineyards
Wildfires rage as US West grapples with heatwave, drought
Renovations will let salmon species return to Lunds Gulch in Edmonds

Aberdeen Daily World
Congressman Kilmer visits Aberdeen to talk rail separation funding
Housing Authority of Grays Harbor County to accept waitlist applications
Editorial: East Aberdeen rail project would benefit region

Auburn Reporter
Crime in Auburn increased slightly in 2020

Bainbridge Island Review
Island Center density key issue for BI planning commission
9 new cases of COVID in Kitsap
Ban on all outdoor burning in Kitsap
Transit rider restrictions lifted

Bellingham Herald
In Whatcom County, these industries pay wages well above the national average
These notices from landlords are beginning to show up at renters’ doors, stoking fears
This is what the heat wave did at Mount Baker and what that means for Whatcom County
Even if U.S.-Canada border reopens July 21, one group won’t be allowed for ‘quite a while’ (Rule)
These restaurant expansions, recovery from fire and no ice coming up in Bellingham
Inslee calls this new Whatcom business ‘a moral victory’ in climate change fight
Crime was up nearly 20% across Whatcom County in 2020, but what drove that increase?
One Whatcom region has a COVID infection rate of zero, while rates in 4 others decreased

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: No big bangs; short on shots

Courier-Herald
Enumclaw and White River will distribute food weekly throughout the summer
State joins Plastics Pact 2025, committing to fight plastic pollution

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
New evacuation orders are issued as firefighters continue to fight Burbank fire
Coroner: 7 deaths in Yakima County are linked to heat wave
Washington issues emergency measures for workers working in extreme heat
Small farmer conference returns in Yakima

Everett Herald
State makes low interest loans available to small businesses
Geography defines who gets grocery hazard pay — and who doesn’t
Arlington and Marysville trade open space for local jobs
Lake Stevens faces fine for alleged worker safety violations
At Meadowdale Beach, the salmon will return to a new estuary
Inslee meets with ‘Science Guy’ Bill Nye at Mount St. Helens
No quick solutions to Highway 9 commute through Snohomish
Bloomberg Comment: Congress’ compromise on broadband fails students
Bloomberg Comment: Consumers should reclaim their right to repair

High Country News
Interior looks into the legacy of Native boarding schools
Why the poaching of one gray wolf in Washington matters

The Inlander
Spokane Public Schools grapples with criticism that new school boundaries will damage equity goals
Historic, deadly heat wave hits Inland Northwest, forcing blackouts that raise questions about our electric future
Inside the politicized fight over “critical race theory”

International Examiner
SCIDpda breaks ground on Yesler Family Housing building

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Islands receive more than $2 million in recreation grants
Council to hold vacation rental moratorium public hearing

Kent Reporter
Kent City Council appoints two to Land Use and Planning Board
Kent apartment rents jump 8.7% in June compared to same month in 2020
Sound Transit to get $158M federal grant for light rail extension

Kitsap Sun
Sewer replacement one of multiple projects that will affect travel in Bremerton this summer

Mercer Island Reporter
Mercer Island mayor issues proclamation rejecting anti-Semitism
City seeks advisory board members
Mercer Island Fire assists with backfilling during Eastern Washington brush fires
‘It’s a critical intersection for the city’

News Tribune
Puyallup looks again to lessen traffic backups on busy Shaw Road by adding lanes
How badly did the recent record heat wave damage Washington’s shellfish beds?
Tacoma officer who ran over man in ’14 didn’t face review board, discipline. Here’s why
Authorities release name of state trooper who fatally shot suspected truck thief in Fife
Op-Ed: Black, Latino healthcare disparities were harmful pre-existing condition before COVID-19
Op-Ed: Inslee loudly, proudly reopened Washington. Why is he quietly extending emergency order?

New York Times
E.P.A. Approved Toxic Chemicals for Fracking a Decade Ago, New Files Show
Citing the Delta Variant, Pfizer Will Pursue Booster Shots and a New Vaccine
Like in ‘Postapocalyptic Movies’: Heat Wave Killed Marine Wildlife en Masse
E.U. Delays Digital Levy as Tax Talks Proceed

Olympian
More than $1.7B needed to remake state psychiatric hospital in Lakewood, new plan says
Remembering Barnett Moss, a Capitol fixture who charmed many with his silence
Lacey to address septic system that threatens 2 Thurston County creeks

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
COVID claims 19th victim on Peninsula
Emergency approval intensive process, health officers say

Port Townsend Leader
JeffCo businesses welcome Washington’s reopening from pandemic shutdown
Five new COVID-19 infections found in Port Townsend

Puget Sound Business Journal
King, Pierce counties buy up hotels to shelter the homeless
Puyallup must pay contractor’s legal fees, state Supreme Court rules
SBA preparing new PPP loan forgiveness portal for small businesses
The SAF Bet: How airlines, jet makers are pursuing a greener future
Biden signs order to urge more scrutiny of big business
Forget payday. On-demand pay gains traction amid labor shortage
Real estate groups are converting hotels into new housing. But such deals are getting harder to come by.

Renton Reporter
King County Councilmember proposes waste-to-energy alternative to Cedar Hills Landfill

Runta News
Muslim Housing’s Move to Mega $95 Million

Seattle Times
More than 300 wildfires burn across British Columbia; more blazes in Washington, Oregon and California
The pandemic upended our lives. Here are some changes you think we should keep, to advance equity
Proposal to pave over SeaTac parkland with a parking lot draws community ire
‘He probably figured he’d tough it out’: Homeless man died in heat wave, minutes from cooling center
Opinion: The magnitude of our housing shortage requires more action

Skagit Valley Herald
Baker Lake sockeye season postponed for now

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Restaurant owners discuss labor difficulties with U.S Rep. Suzan DelBene
Snoqualmie introduces new program to reduce recidivism

South Seattle Emerald
Tax credit provides boost to families with children starting next week
Investigation implicates 2 officers in Jan. 6 riots, tests limits of subpoena power
Opinion: Grace — the lens to our hidden treasures
Opinion: Don’t be fooled by ‘Compassion’ Seattle

South Whidbey Record
Council divided on port-a-potty experiment

Tri-City Herald
Hanford workers hospitalized after feeling sick digging at nuclear waste-tainted site
This is one of Richland’s most dangerous intersections. What’s being done about it
Kennewick drivers will need patience as city starts summer road paving. Here’s where
5 WA prosecutors to review if Richland officer should be charged in shooting
5 more die of COVID in Tri-Cities area, as new daily cases continue rising
Gov. Inslee picks top-ranked family law judge for Tri-Cities Superior Court post

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
School Board Passes 2021-22 Budget, Delays Decision on Start Times

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
More West Nile found in Walla Walla County
800-acre Milton-Freewater fire contained

Washington Post
What happens to the economy when $5.2 trillion in stimulus wears off?
Cubans hold biggest anti-government protests in decades; Biden says U.S. stands with people
An American Kingdom
Texas Republicans advance voting restrictions in special session
Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan steps down, marking a symbolic end to 20 years of war
Derision, misogyny, sexual assault: VMI women face attacks on campus and online

Whidbey News-Times
Letter: Council once again reveals it doesn’t listen to citizens
Letter: Racism exists, but doesn’t represent entire community

Yakima Herald Republic
New evacuation orders as crews try to hold 7,000-acre Burbank Fire
School officials say critical race theory isn’t taught in the Yakima Valley. Here’s what to know about the debate.

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Nonprofit to hold 24-hour call to action to help end homelessness in King County
New COVID-19 relief grants aim to help small businesses in areas of King County
Inslee flies to Point Roberts to hear from the community that remains isolated by border closure

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Local researchers: COVID booster isn’t necessary yet
Wildfires in southern Oregon double in size, bring smoke
Amazon outage: Service restored after thousands report issues with online retailer’s website
Dry Gulch Fire 20% contained; 46,000 acres impacted
CDC drops mask guidance for vaccinated in schools; Washington state still evaluating

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Restaurants recovering from pandemic, face shortages, need more financial help
Seattle’s waterfront bouncing back to life following state’s reopening
30% of Mt Rainier’s snowpack melted off during historic heatwave

KNKX FM
‘The very essence of our being’: Northwest tribes, politicians gather to discuss future of salmon
Downtown Seattle business owners say recovery hinges on city addressing public safety

KUOW FM
How Well Do You Know Washington’s Mask Rules?
We know who made the call to leave Seattle Police’s East Precinct last summer, finally

KXLY (ABC)
Schools face hurdles following CDC’s new mask guidance for vaccinated students, teachers
North Cascades Highway to close Monday for fire response activity

Q13 TV (Fox)
Commentary: Brandi Kruse: Release the images that implicate officers

Web

Crosscut
WA civil forfeiture law turns minor drug offenses into major losses

MyNorthwest
Hottest June on record in the US, second hottest for Washington state
State to impose rules to protect farm workers from heat-related illnesses
Local researchers: COVID vaccine booster isn’t necessary yet
CDC says vaccinated teachers, students don’t need masks at school this fall

Friday, July 9

Investigation calls for firing 2 Seattle police officers over insurrection
Two Seattle police officers should be fired for their role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., an internal police oversight agency has concluded in a report released Thursday. Four other officers who were in D.C. on the same day should not face any discipline, the agency said — three because they were not found to have engaged in any wrongdoing and a fourth because the circumstances surrounding his involvement were inconclusive. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

CDC says students vaccinated against the coronavirus can go maskless in fall
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for schools Friday that give students who have been vaccinated the option of going maskless this fall while their classmates who have not had shots continue to wear face coverings. The much-awaited easing of pandemic rules for kindergarten through 12th grade follows the opening of vaccine eligibility this spring to anyone 12 and older. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Death toll from recent heat wave climbs to 78 in Washington
Washington state’s death toll from last month’s record-breaking Pacific Northwest heat wave has risen to 78. A year earlier, Washington had just seven heat-related deaths from mid-June to the end of August, the state Department of Health said Thursday. From 2015 to 2020, there were a total of 39 deaths. Continue reading at Tacoma News Tribune. (Darryl Dyck/AP)

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Associated Press
Report: 2 Seattle police officers broke law during DC riots
Death toll from recent heat wave climbs to 78 in Washington
Pfizer to seek OK for 3rd vaccine dose; shots still protect
Naval Base Kitsap contractor must pay $239,000 in wages
Oregon adopts most protective heat rules for workers in US

Bellingham Herald
Here’s what’s going on with the new arrival at the Port of Bellingham’s shipping terminal
Here’s what you need to know about the COVID delta variant that’s now found in Whatcom County
With Bellingham fully reopening, there’s good and bad news about property vacancies

Everett Herald
The renovated county courthouse: Under budget and now open
8 deaths in county now suspected due to recent heat wave
Coming soon: EvCC crossing Broadway for new student building
Gov. Jay Inslee says dam breaching must ‘remain on the table’
Second wolf pack makes Chelan County its home
Bloomberg Comment: Lack of consistent advice adds to covid confusion

Kitsap Sun
Shipyard contractor ordered to pay $239K in back wages, benefits to workers
Fix for corrosion problem on new Colman Dock piles could cost as much as $10 million

News Tribune
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
Puyallup suffers another loss in contentious road-work case, on hook for attorney’s fees
SWAT in Lakebay: Man who held children caught by K9 after leaping out window

New York Times
Biden to Urge More Scrutiny of Big Business
The C.D.C. Issues New School Guidance, With Emphasis on Full Reopening
Citizens, Not the State, Will Enforce New Abortion Law in Texas
The Real Toll From Prison Covid Cases May Be Higher Than Reported

Olympian
Price at the pump got you worried? Here’s why that WA road trip is costing so much
Heat-related deaths continue to rise in state after historic heatwave

Peninsula Daily News
Snowpack depleted in Olympics
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Hood Canal Bridge repairs set next week

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle sublease market does ‘a total 180’ as office tenants prepare to return
Demand for apartments roars back to life in Seattle area
Recovery grants available to small businesses in unincorporated King County
Microsoft is giving employees around $200M in pandemic bonuses
No shot, no return: Some employers requiring vaccine to come back to the office
Dozens of states sue Google over app store fees
Many employees want to work remotely forever. Some business owners will fire those who try.

Seattle Times
Two Seattle officers trespassed on U.S. Capitol grounds during riot and should be fired, investigation finds
Amazon tells bosses to conceal when employees are on a performance management plan
Wine giant Ste. Michelle sold for $1.2 billion
Washington state to release emergency heat rules for farmworkers as advocates demand added protections
Historic summit of tribes across Pacific Northwest presses dam removal on Inslee, Biden, Congress
What to know about hugs and handshakes when it comes to COVID safety
Fifty years after the Boeing bust, Seattle faces another recovery challenge

South Seattle Emerald
Investigation of work release centers spurs changes; advocates proceed with caution
My child of color is ‘highly capable.’ now what? — part 1

Spokesman Review
Spokane County announces first publicly bargained union contract
Wildfires burning all over North Idaho, Eastern Washington; red flag warning predicts dangerous conditions for new, existing fires

Tri-City Herald
4 Tri-Cities area deaths blamed on record heat wave. None had air conditioning
Ex-Marine’s family threatens Franklin County with $5M claim after he was killed by deputy
95 new Tri-Cities COVID cases reported in 1 day. Total now tops 30,000

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
800-acre Milton-Freewater fire contained

Washington Post
CDC says students vaccinated against the coronavirus can go maskless in fall
ICE to avoid detaining pregnant, nursing and postpartum women
Pfizer suggests booster shots will be needed this year, but government officials say science will dictate the timing
Zaila Avant-garde wins 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, becoming bee’s first African American champion
TV news crews are increasingly threatened with violence on the job
Biden calls for efforts to lower drug prices as part of executive order to foster competition

Yakima Herald Republic
7 Yakima County deaths tied to historic heat wave, coroner says

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
2 Seattle officers who attended Trump rally should be fired, oversight committee says
‘It’s bad’: Washington long-term care facilities face staffing shortage crisis
Inslee calls unvaccinated people ‘targets’ for delta variant
Tacoma park officially renamed to honor first Black woman to serve as Washington senator
78 people died in Washington because of recent heat wave, health department says

KIRO7 TV (CBS)

Two Seattle police officers violated policy during Capitol riot, according to investigation
Death toll from recent heat wave hits 78 in Washington
Batterman Fire burning in Douglas County 50% contained, 14,425 acres
Oregon adopts most protective heat rules for workers in US
Tacoma renames park to honor Washington’s first African-American female state senator

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Washington state moves closer to legal sports betting at tribal casinos
Community leaders ask Chief Diaz to fire Seattle officers for involvement in Jan. 6 riot
‘It’s like a war:’ Health experts stress getting both shots to combat Delta variant
Domestic violence murders, assaults on the rise in King County

KUOW FM
Two Seattle Police Officers Trespassed at the U.s. Capitol on Jan. 6, Oversight Office Finds
KUOW asks Seattle: How can the city recover from the pandemic?
Fauci Says Current Vaccines Will Stand Up To The Delta Variant

KXLY (ABC)
‘I don’t want to keep beating my head against a brick wall’: Local landlords sell properties, rent rising drastically
Lack of workers force businesses to change hours, close another day

Q13 TV (Fox)
Fully vaccinated people don’t need COVID-19 booster at this time, FDA, CDC say
Investigation: 2 off-duty Seattle police officers broke law during Capitol siege
State: 2021 shaping up as bad wildfire season in Washington
Less than 3% of WA fraud cases solved from 2020
The Divide: An Unending Emergency

Web

Crosscut
Investigation calls for firing 2 Seattle police officers over insurrection
Nosotros somos esenciales (“We are essential”)
WA foster system to stop housing kids in hotels, offices. But then what?
Opinion: To beat the heat, put a lid on I-5

MyNorthwest
Report: Washington’s vaccine lottery led to 24% increase in vaccination rates
After more early-season wildfires than ever, state prepares for long summer
Decision on whether to fire 2 officers at Capitol during Jan. 6 riot will now fall to SPD chief
City engineers don’t see Miami repeat likely with Seattle’s high rises
Total of 78 likely heat-related deaths in Washington from recent heat wave
OPA recommends firing 2 SPD cops for illegal activity during Capitol riot, 3 others cleared
Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett leaving department for new job in Ohio
King County buys third hotel to house chronically homeless individuals

Slog
Two SPD Cops Trespassed on Capitol Grounds During Insurrection, One Maybe Trespassed, and Three Were Just Doing Totally Above-Board Free Speech Stuff at an Authoritarian’s Anti-Democracy Rally, OPA Finds

Thursday, July 8

New suicide prevention hotline aims to divert callers from police
Abraham Dairi wished he had somewhere to turn besides the police last year when his wife, Holly, was suffering a mental health crisis. Fearing she would hurt herself, and seeing she had the means to do so, Dairi called 911. When a pair of officers responded, they forcibly tied Holly to a stretcher, removed her from her home and took her to an emergency room — a repeat of a traumatizing experience she’d had years before. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Matt M. McKnight)

Western heat wave was a 1 in 1,000-year event made more likely by climate change, study shows
Last week’s heat wave, which led to record temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and subsequent wildfires, was a 1 in 1,000-year event, according to a new analysis from an international group of researchers. The heat wave, the researchers concluded, “was virtually impossible without human-caused climate change.” Spokane, Omak, Wenatchee and Lewiston all broke records for the highest temperature recorded on June 30. Early estimates show that 69 Washington residents have died in the heat wave, with medical examiners expecting a higher death toll in the coming weeks. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Ted S. Warren)

57% of Hanford nuclear site workers surveyed by WA state report toxic exposures
More than half of Hanford site workers responding to a Washington state survey said they had been involved in an incident at the Hanford nuclear reservation that resulted in exposure to radioactive or toxic chemicals. Some 57% of about 1,600 past and present workers who took the survey reported being in an exposure incident, which could include the release of radioactive material into the air. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

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Associated Press
Study: Northwest heat wave impossible without climate change
Spokane County official reports heat wave caused 17 deaths
King County ordered to pay $900K to worker over retaliation
Jury awards $1.5 million to man run over by Tacoma police officer
Death toll from record-breaking heat wave hits 116 in Oregon
US job openings rise to record high, layoffs hit record low
Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate
Amtrak plan to replace dozens of aging trains: cost $7.3B
Summer swelter trend: West gets hotter days, East hot nights
What does the delta coronavirus variant mean for unvaccinated people? What to know
US jobless claims tick up to 373,000 from a pandemic low

Aberdeen Daily World
Op-ed: Schools must teach students about racism
Letter: Walsh’s actions are offensive, digusting
Letter: Rep. Walsh should resign
Letter: Rep. Walsh doesn’t represent the people

Bellevue Reporter
Bellevue College to offer vaccination scholarships

Bellingham Herald
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
57% of Hanford nuclear site workers surveyed by WA state report toxic exposures

Capital Press
WSU dryland research station assesses damage after Lind Fire
Agricultural burn permits still good in Washington
Inslee declares wildfire state of emergency, burn ban
Editorial: A BLM nominee with ties to ecoterrorists

Columbian
Study: Nearly 97 percent of Clark County COVID-19 cases were unvaccinated

Courier-Herald
New finance director confirmed by Enumclaw council
Opinion: Looking at why BLM is considered evil in conservative circles

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Despite heat wave, drought, water supply is abundant for farmers
Washington bans most open-air, agricultural burning until September

Everett Herald
Applications open for aviation jobs protection program
County employees in military may get extra pay, if deployed
WaPo Comment: Bye, boomers; and millennials and Gen X and Z
WaPo Comment: Violent global crackdown on journalists intensifies

High Country News
Could backyard cottages and casitas help prevent displacement in the West’s cities?

Kent Reporter
Kent City Council appoints two to Land Use and Planning Board

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap Transit to add back Sunday bus service over the next two years

News Tribune
Areas without high-speed internet get $15 million boost from Pierce County Council
Fife finally gets full-sized grocery. You might want to go there for specialty goods
Jury returns verdict in lawsuit of man run over by Tacoma officer while lying in street
Man fatally shot by police in Fife after stealing work truck has been identified

New York Times
Biden is set to speak on the end of the war in Afghanistan as the Taliban gains ground.
Biden Insists He Can Do More With Less on the Economy
Climate Change Drove Western Heat Wave’s Extreme Records, Analysis Finds
15 States Reach a Deal With Purdue Pharma, Moving Toward a $4.5 Billion Opioids Settlement
The Real Toll From Prison Covid Cases May Be Higher Than Reported
A Planned Biden Order Aims to Tilt the Job Market Toward Workers

Olympian
These Thurston County zip codes have lower vaccination rates. How does your area compare?
Program at local college helps first-generation students get a 4-year business degree

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Health officer: Large church COVID outbreak over

Port Townsend Leader
COVID-19 case numbers drop off in Jefferson County

Puget Sound Business Journal
More than 350 apartments planned for Tacoma, adding to development surge
States and cities scramble to spend $350 billion windfall

Seattle Times
Records officers who blew whistle about Seattle mayor’s missing texts file $5 million claims against city
‘White Center is home’: After fire destroys livelihoods, businesses plan to rebuild
Without climate change, record Pacific Northwest heat wave would have been near impossible, researchers say
New railcars in the works for Washington state Amtrak trains
Opinion: Climate chaos in the here and now
Editorial: Rediscover and rebound: Introduce visitors to a broad array of Seattle’s gems
Opinion: Northwest Seaport Alliance committed to working through pandemic’s supply-chain congestion

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit residents rally for voting rights

The Skanner
Washington State Extends COVID-19 Energy Customer Protections
US Judge Upholds Seattle Renter Protections

Spokesman Review
‘Don’t give up on this’: At summit, tribal leaders urge action on dams to give salmon ‘the right to exist’
Western heat wave was a 1 in 1,000-year event made more likely by climate change, study shows
Spokane’s mayor wants council to hold off on emergency shelter law inspired by heat wave
Opinion: Francisco R. Velázquez, M.D.: Beyond June 30, what do we see?

Tri-City Herald
57% of Hanford nuclear site workers surveyed by WA state report toxic exposures

Vancouver Business Journal
Homeownership is at risk with record-high lumber prices

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Washington state utility moratorium receives final extension

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Columbia County considers fireworks rule to allow emergency firework ban

Washington Post
New study on delta variant reveals importance of receiving both vaccine shots, highlights challenges posed by mutations
Trump charged Secret Service nearly $10,200 in May for agents’ rooms
First day of Surfside collapse recovery underway after officials say no more victims thought to be alive
WHO sounds alarm as global deaths top 4 million, delta spreads to 100 countries
Fatal opioid overdoses are up by the hundreds, devastating families and worrying officials

Yakima Herald Republic
Judge affirms order barring Selah from removing anti-racism group’s signs
Washington Wildfire Map: The latest from the firelines for every major wildfire in the Pacific Northwest
Despite heatwave and dry conditions, water supply still plentiful for farmers
Opinion: Yes, elected officials should have to show up for work

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Seattle landlord says more tenants than ever are skipping rent
Murder was up 47%, fraud 113% in Washington during 2020, crime report shows
Advocate shares tips on how to help potential domestic abuse victims

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Seattle police union pushes back on insurrection investigation
Study: Northwest heat wave impossible without climate change
King County to buy another hotel for homeless
Inslee: ‘Shot of Lifetime’ lottery boosted state COVID-19 vaccine rate by 24%
US Transportation Secretary promises continued support for West Seattle Bridge

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Washington state forests nearing all-time record for dryness

KNKX FM
Official death toll from heat wave at 69 in Washington – and it’s expected to rise
Pierce County Council recognizes Tacoma Pride for the first time despite polarizing response
In Seattle visit, Cantwell touts tax credits as key to more affordable housing
Study: How smoke affects birds in Washington … and our ability to see them

KUOW FM
Wildfire State of Emergency Prompts Burn Ban Across Washington
Oil Prices Are In Turmoil Right Now. Here Are 5 Things You Need To Know

KXLY (ABC)
Shelter ordinance changes aim to extend opportunities

Q13 TV (Fox)
New report shows murder is up 47% in Washington state
Secretary of Health asks parents to stop and think before booking vacations

Web

Crosscut
New suicide prevention hotline aims to divert callers from police (Orwall, Dhingra)
Seattle police union pushes back on Jan. 6 investigation
Heat wave evokes fears of another massive salmon die-off in PNW
Podcast | Why now is the time to embrace climate migration
Opinion: If small landlords in King County are selling their rentals, should we care?
Opinion: WA is not abolishing foster care, but it may be moving that way

MyNorthwest
Whistleblowers file claim over fallout from Seattle mayor’s missing texts
Judge upholds Seattle law barring landlords from denying housing due to criminal

Wednesday, July 7

Washington bans most outdoor and agricultural burning through September
Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in response to the “growing risk” of wildfires in the region and has banned most outdoor and agricultural burning in Washington until the end of September. The order comes as the state continues to face high temperatures, dry conditions, drought and fire dangers — environmental concerns exacerbated by an extreme heat wave at the end of June, according to the emergency proclamation. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Betty Udesen)

Delta Is Now The Dominant Coronavirus Variant In The U.S.
The highly contagious delta variant now accounts for more than 51% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to new estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variant, also known as B.1.617.2, was first detected in India and is spreading quickly across the globe. And in parts of the U.S., the delta strain accounts for more than 80% of new infections, including some Midwestern states like Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. Continue reading at KUOW. (DPA/Picture Alliance)

As Covid-19 wanes, homes have only gotten less affordable
Rising home prices and low inventory have been pricing many would-be buyers out of the housing market since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. But homes have gotten even less affordable over the last several months, according to a new report by property database ATTOM. Continue reading at The Puget Sound Business Journal.

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Associated Press
Former WA auditor reports to jail for tax fraud conviction
Inslee declares wildfire state of emergency, burn ban
US judge upholds Seattle renter protections
Report: Over 57% of Hanford workers exposed to hazards
Wildfires burning in North Central and Eastern Washington

Aberdeen Daily World
Washington kids are behind on routine vaccines, at risk of missing the start of school
Job scene is a workers’ market as reopening beckons

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham Cold Storage strike in second week. Here’s what the company is doing
‘I think we dodged a bullet,’ Whatcom fire chief says of Fourth of July celebrations
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers reported Tuesday in Washington state

Capital Press
WDFW sets 3-day goal for wolf-removal decisions

Columbian
VA’s Vancouver campus sees slowing demand for COVID-19 vaccine

Everett Herald
Expect a mix of in-person and online college classes in fall
WaPo Comment: For some in cities, there’s no escape from the heat
WaPo Comment: Runner bounced from Olympics victim of absurd policy
Editorial: Don’t let compromise water down vital investments

Federal Way Mirror
Shopping cart protesters won’t face fines or citations, mayor and police chief say

High Country News
California budgets $61.5 million for wildlife crossings

International Examiner
“We don’t want to be displaced anymore”: Khmer Community of King County to open cultural center

Island’s Weekly
Rental assistance available for San Juan County tenants and landlords

Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan County recognizes Plastic Free July
Opinion: Plastic Free July | Be part of the solution

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap County’s COVID-19 cases fall 21.8%; Washington cases plummet 35.1%

News Tribune
Dashboard cameras headed to Tacoma police vehicles. Here’s what they’ll do, cost
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers reported Tuesday in Washington state
Editorial: Pride Week adopted in Pierce at last. LGBTQ+ advocates can cheer. But when will flag fly?

Olympian
Thurston County adds 107 new COVID-19 cases in last week, no new deaths
Developer doubles down on Lacey, buys 5 more office buildings in city’s Midtown
New deal will keep former Washington state ferry at Port of Olympia through May 2022

Peninsula Daily News
Open for business
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Clallam County reports 14th death due to COVID-19
EYE ON JEFFERSON: Sustainable forestry program topic at county meeting

Puget Sound Business Journal
As Covid-19 wanes, homes have only gotten less affordable
Grants for affordable housing development up for grabs in Snohomish County
Employees expect companies to enforce hygiene protocols with return to office
Report: Seattle’s life sciences industry continues to boom
Pentagon cancels $10B JEDI contract in a win for Amazon
Job seekers are hungry for hiring bonuses. Many employers are embracing them.
Opinion: Congress, industry must act to make aviation greener

Seattle Times
Washington bans most outdoor and agricultural burning through September
King County ordered to pay $900K after retaliating against employee who claimed discrimination
Why Seattle Public Schools may have to find shelter for these homeless adults
Record heat, drought threaten even the toughest survivors: L25, the oldest orca, and the winter Chinook she depends on
Why your ferry might be late — or canceled — this summer

Skagit Valley Herald
Open doors, welcoming arms — big step taken at senior centers
All-electric ferry project getting close to full funding

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Warmer temperatures mean more snowpack melting

South Seattle Emerald
District 2 bears the brunt of Seattle’s traffic deaths

Spokesman Review
Dry lightning, winds expected to add to fire risk in Spokane area with wildfires already burning
Spokane’s COVID cases continue to decline
Spokane River advocates push court to compel cleanup plan for PCBs: ‘It’s time for action’

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities firm awarded $19 million contracts for work at Hanford nuclear reservation
Richland firefighters free trapped driver after crash
Lightning threat puts Tri-Cities fire crews on high alert in ‘extreme drought’

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
New dental option set to open in Dayton

Washington Post
Yes, the office is back. It just might never be the same.
Pressure grows on Biden to curb ransomware attacks
Race between vaccines and variants tightens amid worries of Pfizer shot’s effectiveness
Haitian President Jovenel Moïse assassinated overnight in his home by gunmen, says acting prime minister
From Wuhan to Paris to Milan, the search for ‘patient zero’
You had the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. Should you try to get a booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna?

Yakima Herald Republic
Jason White joins 1st Council meeting in a year; council seeks attendance requirement

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Toll rate increases planned for Seattle tunnel, Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Inslee declares wildfire state of emergency for Washington
Correctional officer’s COVID-19 related death considered ‘line of duty’ death

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Seattle to consider raising prices for parking near venues by more than double
‘A forest fire in Puget Sound’: Heat wave bakes Washington shellfish industry
Inslee declares wildfire state of emergency
Washington state regulators extend utility cutoff protections
Pressure mounts for more low-income housing tax credits
Vandal attacks Spokane Valley Planned Parenthood clinic

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘I need those guns put down’: SPD chief pleads with city after surge in shootings
1 week left to comment on toll hikes for Tacoma Narrows Bridge, SR-99 tunnel
Washington’s wildfire season could be as damaging as worst in state history, analyst says
State’s review of job seekers looking for work stirs concern some may opt for unemployment

KNKX FM
Washington court rules in favor of conservation groups in fight over cattle lots and groundwater
Former Washington Auditor Troy Kelley reports to prison after last minute delay effort
Listen: A look at the state’s response to wildfires, reopening and more
Pentagon Scraps $10 Billion Contract With Microsoft, Bitterly Contested By Amazon

KUOW FM
Pentagon cancels Microsoft’s massive JEDI contract
Delta Is Now The Dominant Coronavirus Variant In The U.S.

KXLY (ABC)
Inslee cancels visit with Spokane-area fire chiefs
Nearly $1M in federal funds approved to help fight Andrus Fire
Programs that can help people struggling to pay rent

Web

MyNorthwest
Judge upholds Seattle law barring landlords from denying housing due to criminal history
Young US adults among those with lowest COVID vaccination coverage
Seattle to consider raising prices for parking near venues by more than double
Gov. Inslee declares state of emergency for wildfires, limited burn ban
Seattle officials unveil legislation to protect public disclosure employees
Tacoma set to take next step toward doing away with single-family zoning

Tuesday, July 6

In high-poverty WA school districts, high schoolers bore extra burden
For some high school students, summer couldn’t come fast enough. “I feel like it’s been the first day of school for so long,” said Christian Fuentes, 18, who graduated from Eisenhower High School in Yakima on June 8. Because of the pandemic, high school seniors across Washington experienced a tumultuous end to their secondary education. But while all kinds of students struggled to adjust to virtual learning, student life has been particularly difficult for students in high-poverty districts. Continue reading at Crosscut. (David Diaz)

As many in Washington move on from pandemic despair, some still grieving feel left behind
It’s been more than a year since COVID-19 began decimating Ali A. Abdulla’s family. His mother and grandmother died 11 days apart in March 2020. Within months, the disease also took his father, other grandmother and a brother. A lot has changed since then. Vaccines have quelled much of the fear that gripped the country, and as spring and then summer dawned, ushered in a joyous period of reopenings that for many has made life seem almost normal again. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ann Hopping Nelson)

Sweltering temperatures and minimal preparation left state prisoners struggling to cope
On the morning of Wednesday, June 30, Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) staff covered part of a window at the entrance of the Twin Rivers Unit (TRU) at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Snohomish County in an attempt to lower the heat inside on a day when outside temperatures peaked at 82 degrees. But people incarcerated in the TRU say they spent the worst of the past week’s heat wave — including a high of 111 degrees in Monroe on Monday, June 28 — in sweltering cells with no air-conditioning and few chances to cool down, while prison staff had access to air-conditioned offices when temperatures rose into the triple digits. Continue reading at South Seattle Emerald. (Philip Cohen)