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Monday, Oct. 11

Inside the exhausting start to Washington’s school year: COVID outbreaks, school-bus cuts and more
The chicken nuggets come with a side of Pacific Northwest breeze at Hazel Valley Elementary School in Burien. In an unmistakably pandemic scene last week, the external doors to the school cafeteria were propped open during lunchtime. Inside, children sat 6 feet apart at tables. Just outside, kids favoring a meal outdoors sat on opposite sides of repurposed computer tables under a large white tent, several clutching a new style of fidget toy under their tables. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Bettina Hansen)

Prison reform curbs some solitary confinement, but how much?
When a prisoner at the Monroe Correctional Complex was sanctioned for trying to incite a hunger strike last fall, his punishment was supposed to be 20 days in solitary confinement. Instead, he spent 112 days alone inside a cell as a drawn-out disciplinary process unfolded, according to a report by the Office of Corrections Ombuds, a state agency that monitors conditions in Washington prisons. Since July 2020, at least five other people at the Monroe prison were held in solitary for over a month while under investigation for infractions, the report says. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

Vaccination rates rise at WA agencies ahead of deadline
COVID-19 vaccination rates at state agencies in Washington have climbed in recent weeks, ahead of a deadline for workers to be fully vaccinated or lose their jobs. Under Gov. Jay Inslee’s August order — considered one of the strictest in the nation — state and school workers and hundreds of thousands of health care employees are required to get their shots or lose their jobs on Oct. 18, unless they have received both a medical or religious exemption and a work accommodation. Continue reading at The Associated Press.

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Associated Press
Vaccination rates rise at WA agencies ahead of deadline
Merck asks US FDA to authorize promising anti-COVID pill
More Washington State Ferries runs halted amid crew shortage
Rep. McMorris Rodgers has tested positive for COVID-19

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen seriously considering downtown building for new museum location
Op-Ed: Protect our bears

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham gets new stoplights to help people cross these streets
Here are some safety tips if you’re driving and approach a blind person at a crosswalk
Whatcom sees four COVID-related deaths reported for second consecutive Friday
Ferndale Police officer placed on leave after allegedly contacting extremist group
Lynden Christian welcomes high school students back to class following COVID outbreak

Capital Press
Rep. McMorris Rodgers has tested positive for COVID-19
Washington wheat farmer charged with fraud

Columbian
Opinion: In Our View: Advisory votes waste taxpayer money
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Battle Ground council vote

The Daily News
Cowlitz County ex-convicts struggle to find housing after incarceration

Everett Herald
Trees, fighters of climate change, are also victims of it
League of Women Voters has a new mission: Defend urban trees
Mandate won’t keep unvaccinated teachers out of classrooms
Northgate light rail frees buses for Snohomish County routes
Prison reform curbs some solitary confinement, but how much? (Peterson)
Vaccine compliance high among health care workers here
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Comment: Goodbye, Columbus; hello, Indigenous Peoples Day
Comment: ‘Aknowledging’ Indigenous land often achieves opposite
Comment: Salmon art exhibit will send global climate message
Comment: Help small businesses continue their community role
Comment: Ancient virus returns to wreak havoc on society
Comment: Facebook has data, ability to rein in Instagram
Comment: A lifetime of vaccinations made difference
WaPo Comment: It doesn’t have to be a burning cross to be racism
WaPo Comment: Putting Facebook back in human control
Letter: Boarding school atrocities not ancient history

High Country News
Home after fire: A new housing model aims to give kids stability
7 questions about Freedmen answered

International Examiner
Opinion: Family members speak out on behalf of their elder against Asian hate crimes in Seattle

Kitsap Sun
‘I wouldn’t think twice:’ Pregnant OB/GYN advises patients to get vaccinated

News Tribune
Deaths of 2 Black men years apart linked by one cop. Did the system fail Said Joquin?
A lahar evacuation bridge in the works for decades is being built in Pierce County
PenMet meets with Fox Island leader about termination of park hosts. Here’s how it went
Next U.S. attorney in western Washington is Steilacoom grad Nick Brown
Caretakers who disappeared with 4 vulnerable clients retain WA state licenses for now

Olympian
COVID-19 spreads through Thurston County schools as cases spike
State Senate GOP lawmakers urge Inslee to mobilize National Guard for hospitals
Was limited bathroom access for disabled inmate cruel? Here’s what WA Supreme Court says
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Friday in Washington state
Should Olympia reallocate law enforcement funding to social services?

Peninsula Daily News
COVID-19 cases remain at plateau on Peninsula
School districts losing little staff to mandate
Comment on proposed waiver for Makah whaling deadline looms

Port Townsend Leader
A CHANCE TO GO WITH THE FLOW: Plans include removal, replacement of US 101 bridges and highway through critical habitat

Puget Sound Business Journal
Aerospace workers are quitting. Can this grant program stem the tide?
Sea-Tac Airport opens cellphone lot overpass aimed at easing traffic backups
Boeing joins Kraken, Climate Pledge Arena in environmental efforts
Tourists return to downtown Seattle, but office workers are staying home
Developers scramble to build in Tacoma, but will new units be enough for population growth?
Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke predicts business ‘renaissance’ as Seattle emerges from pandemic
Providence aims to address burnout with systemwide mental health survey

Seattle Times
Where does your Seattle neighborhood fall in this ‘diversity index’? Check the map
Coronavirus daily news updates, Oct. 11: What to know today about COVID-19
Washington state Department of Transportation website, cameras, alerts and mobile app down
Inside the exhausting start to Washington’s school year: COVID outbreaks, school-bus cuts and more
COVID outbreaks closing doors again at Washington long-term care facilities
Uncommon partners come together to tackle youth incarceration in Washington
How a mental health evaluation can change the course of an immigrant’s life
Teletherapy often leaves out older people. Here’s how a Washington researcher is trying to help them connect
Seattle police watchdog agency investigating whether officer posted offensive tweets

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County records 387 new COVID-19 cases for the week
Staff shortages lead to ‘unprecedented’ disruptions for Washington State Ferries
Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission pulled into conflict over dam relicensing
Skagit County commissioners commit more ARPA funding

Sol De Yakima
Se manifestarán en Yakima el lunes en busca de una reforma migratoria
Amplían opciones de pruebas de COVID distritos escolares por aumento de casos en niños

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities had one of its deadliest weeks of the COVID pandemic. Total deaths near 500
First freeze of fall is forecast for Tri-Cities area. Snow on I-90 and in the Blues
A Tri-Cities student’s heart gave a WA man 2nd chance at life. Then COVID cut it short
COVID-inspired demand for online schools catches Tri-Cities educators by surprise
50-year-old Tri-Cities waterfront hotel could be the latest micro apartment project

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
New businesses continue opening around Walla Walla Valley
‘Second chances’ offered to students through Open Doors program at Lincoln High School
Grace in the cosmetics aisle: College Place program aims to curb shoplifting at Walmart

Washington Post
As Columbus monuments come down, he is still honored in 6,000 U.S. spots. Here’s where.
In search for covid origins, Hubei caves and wildlife farms draw new scrutiny
Merck seeks emergency authorization for covid pill
More than 100 Haitians found in trailer in Guatemala amid desperate efforts to reach U.S.
In Iraqi elections triggered by protests, voters only trickle in

Yakima Herald Republic
Fire repair and rehabilitation underway at Schneider Springs
Officials say water forecast looks promising for Yakima Valley, with wet winter predicted
The Vine will be Habitat for Humanity’s biggest development in Yakima County
Immigration activists plan Monday rally in Yakima
Editorial: Carbon pricing offers a clear path forward

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Pierce Transit to remove 214 bus stops by late March to improve run times

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Drivers risk school bus service as vaccine mandate approaches
Ferry delays, cancelations continue through weekend
Grants to help fund private security? Fed up Seattle businesses ask for help
Judge overturns emergency order removing credit scoring from insurance rates
COVID hospitalizations decrease in King County
Seattle to resume enforcement of its 72-hour parking rule

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Washington State Ferries near full staffing by end of weekend, but delays still possible
Seattle cop’s possible connection to offensive tweets under investigation
As deadline nears to opt out of state’s long-term care insurance fund, some are doing so
New emergency heat rules for outdoor workers go into effect today

KNKX FM
Jayapal pushes Biden for $3 trillion spending bill

KUOW FM
Is your kid’s school safe in a quake? This retired WA lawmaker is sounding the alarm
Pandemic blog: Updates for Seattle and the NW
Our trees are stressed
Overwhelmed with the return to school, Seattle teens are withdrawing into their cocoons
La Niña winter in NW is ‘good news for sports enthusiasts’ and, you know, the environment
‘That’s their individual choice’: Seattle mayor on officers who defy vaccine mandate
A Native American scientist on ‘the question of our time’

NW Public Radio
Poll Finds Many Washington Voters Support Removing Snake River Dams

Q13 TV (Fox)
Merck seeks FDA authorization of antiviral COVID-19 pill
YMCA of Greater Seattle joins vaccine mandate
Seattle cracking down on vehicles parked for 72 hours or longer

Web

MyNorthwest
Seattle police officer being investigated over Twitter account with history of offensive posts
Drivers risk Seattle school bus service as vaccine mandate approaches
State ferries website goes down following tough weekend of delays, reduced sailings
Visiting Washington’s Sno-Parks will cost more this fall-winter
Health officer says King County’s COVID vaccination policy is ‘based on risk’
UW doctor says you might not need 10,000 steps
It just got easier to use the cell phone parking lot at Sea-Tac Airport
Best Washington schools and districts named for 2022
New protected bike lane through downtown Seattle opens on Fourth Avenue
With WA state’s ferries in a ‘critical situation,’ solutions are months, years to come
SR 520 ramps, Montlake Bridge will close for weekend of Oct. 8-11
Enforcement of Seattle’s 72-hour parking rule set to resume on Oct. 15
Washington AG renews legal fight against ‘drastic’ changes to US Postal Service

West Seattle Blog
FERRY ALERT: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to 3 boats Monday
Welcome, salmon: ‘This is always a hopeful time of year on Fauntleroy Creek’

Friday, October 8

We can’t mask the virus of gun violence plaguing our communities
My life was changed forever on Jan. 8, 2011, in a grocery store parking lot when I got the text from my mom, “Gabby was shot.” Gabby was my boss, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. I served as her legislative director in Washington, D.C. My head swirled. It felt like someone had punched me in the gut. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Bettina Hansen/The Seattle Times)

WA state Democrat, GOP lawmakers agree. Both sides protest appeal of Hanford worker law
Washington state legislators who passed a bill to make it easier for ill Hanford site workers to qualify for state workers’ compensation are protesting the Biden administration’s challenge to the new law. Some 66 state legislators, including Democrats and Republicans and representatives and senators, signed a letter objecting to a challenge of the law filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Continue reading at Tri-City Herald. (Department of Energy)

The West’s housing crisis pushes unhoused families to live in forests
Kunisha Fernandez, her husband, Steven Fitch, and their four children had spent five years in Las Vegas when, last spring, Fernandez saw a YouTube video of a family camping full-time: “A day in our life! Family living in a tent.” Fernandez found it captivating — four girls and their dad walking on the beach; dinner cooked on a campfire overlooking the ocean; life under starry skies.

Fernandez watched another video like it and then another, over and over again, like a playlist, and she thought about how her family had never gone camping together. That night, she shared it with Fitch. “Wouldn’t it be cool if we did this?” she asked. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Blake Gordon/High Country News)

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Associated Press
Staffing shortages force cancellations on Washington ferries
Pfizer’s request to OK shots for kids a relief for parents

Bellingham Herald
Drone helps U.S. Border Patrol arrest 4 people allegedly crossing illegally into Whatcom
Why is catalytic converter theft skyrocketing nationwide?
Whatcom County hits 15,000 total COVID-19 cases during pandemic and sees two more deaths

Capital Press
Prudential seeks millions more from Easterday bankruptcy pot
What Wilco’s new Yakima store illustrates about broader farm economy

Everett Herald
At Gold Basin, a river is moved to save endangered salmon
$90,000 fine doesn’t stop defiant Snohomish barber
Community Transit issues vaccine requirement for employees
State Democrats ask courts to toss election-fraud lawsuits
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Comment: Armed police shouldn’t be part of regular school day

News Tribune
TikTok challenge has hit Pierce County schools. Property damage costs in ‘tens of thousands’
COVID outbreak postpones Orting School District homecoming week
Kids removed from class for wearing ‘republican’ clothing? Untrue, WA school district says
MultiCare seeks volunteers for Moderna booster vaccine research
Op-Ed: COVID-19 has impacted Pierce County’s children. There’s one thing we can do to fix it
Op-Ed: Want a property tax break? So do we. Here’s how to make your voice heard in Olympia
Supply chain trouble could disrupt Gig Harbor recreation center plans. Here’s why

North American Post
Museum of Flight and Gifu-Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum Sign Partnership Agreement

Olympian
Washington Center for the Performing Arts offers free COVID-19 testing to public
Want to learn more about RV site at Martin Way and Carpenter Road? Public meeting set
Thurston commission conditionally approves leasing Atrium building on one condition
Evergreen upgrades heating system with $1.3 million energy efficiency grant from PSE

Peninsula Daily News
Health officer says increased mitigation measures are needed

Puget Sound Business Journal
After slow start, King County ramps up rent relief payments
Consolidation threatens to diminish middle market in aerospace supply chain
Seattle business leaders say dire situation downtown demands swift action
Remote work’s rise is disrupting hiring. Recruiters are adapting.
Stock, bond and real estate prices are all uncomfortably high
Covid-19 employment litigation is rising nationally. Here’s what’s happening in Washington.
Federal suit alleges Kaiser Foundation ignored racist treatment at Tacoma Medical Center
New leaders take over at several Washington higher ed institutions

Seattle Times
Washington’s new long-term-care tax begins in January. Here’s what to know about the program
Washington State Parks Director Peter Mayer resigns after special meeting
Soderbergh shot ‘Kimi’ in Seattle, so why aren’t more big Hollywood movies made in Washington state? (Wellman, Hasegawa, Carlyle)
GirlTrek, which encourages Black women to walk for health and happiness, has roots in Seattle
Opinion by Rep. Liz Berry: We can’t mask the virus of gun violence plaguing our communities

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon City Council presented with draft budget

South Seattle Emerald
Seattle renames ‘single-family’ zoning designation to emphasize neighborhood diversity
Is the ‘laziness lie’ responsible for our collective burnout?

Sol De Yakima
Feria Estatal del Centro de Washington reporta récord de ventas de alimentos, carnaval
Escuelas del condado de Yakima enfrentan escasez de suministros para comidas escolares

Spokesman Review
Washington State Parks director resigns, seven months after starting job
Spokane firefighters, state employees sue Inslee over vaccine mandate
MultiCare looks for Washington volunteers for COVID-19 booster trial
Spokane’s city transit line will have to wait another year, slated to open July 2023
Opinion: Dr. Noreen Womack: Get COVID vaccination for the good of our children

Tri-City Herald
WA state Democrat, GOP lawmakers agree. Both sides protest appeal of Hanford worker law
Will Tri-Cities see another COVID wave? Here’s what could cause it
Police asking for help to find 83-year-old Pasco man missing four days
Secret nuclear vault at Hanford cracked open. They weren’t sure what they’d find
Tri-Cities man used Skype to make child pornography of Filipino boys
Dozens of school buses to converge on Pasco in memory of slain driver

Vancouver Business Journal
AWB: What will it take to double Washington’s manufacturing sector?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Speed limit lowered to 35 mph on rural Beet Road
Four more Umatilla County COVID-19 deaths reported Thursday

Washington Post
Millions of kids’ coronavirus shots ‘ready’ to go; initial doses to be shared on a population basis
U.S. economy added 194,000 jobs in September, another weak month heading into final stretch of 2021
Why the Senate blinked and moved back from the brink of a federal default crisis
Flu practically vanished last year. Now doctors are bracing for potential ‘twindemic’ of flu and covid-19 spikes.
Biden to expand Bears Ears and other national monuments, reversing Trump cuts, White House says

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima airport’s 20-year plan projects significant growth

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Washington State Fire Marshal could lose job despite vaccine exemption
Downtown Seattle businesses urge city council to improve safety and curb ‘rampant’ crime
Some Edmonds students may lose bus service due to driver shortage from COVID-19 vaccine mandate
ER full, surgeries postponed at Everett hospital amid surge of COVID-19 patients
Americans agree misinformation is a problem, poll shows
No, electric cars are not worse for the environment than gas-powered cars
Unvaccinated employee exodus could ‘cripple’ Washington state ferry system

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Kent School District calls for end to ‘dangerous’ TikTok challenges
Pfizer, BioNTech ask FDA to authorize COVID-19 vaccine use in children aged 5-11

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Vaccination mandate means more SPD officers leaving, concerns about response times
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers announces positive COVID diagnosis
Dozens of ferry sailings cancelled Thursday because of staffing shortages
Washington State Fire Marshall says he’s unable to get vaccinated

KNKX FM
Senate report details Trump’s efforts to use DOJ to overturn election results
Jails in Washington and Oregon have higher suicide rate than national average

KUOW FM
Washington State Parks director resigns 7 months into the job
People who want organ transplants must get the COVID-19 vaccine, a hospital says
Hey Seattleites, the state has your $273 million. Here’s how to claim it. (Not a scam, we swear)

KXLY (ABC)
Packed In: ‘They always sit on a shelf’: City Council members say they’re not moving fast enough to fix housing crisis
Breaking down the new Washington Cares Fund
‘Vaccines are going to keep us in school’: Majority of Spokane-area school staff are vaccinated
Spokane native the first woman sworn in as U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington

Q13 TV (Fox)
Washington State Parks director resigns after less than year

Web

Crosscut
The West’s housing crisis pushes unhoused families to live in forests

MyNorthwest
King County Executive unveils roadmap for closing controversial youth jail, ending juvenile detention
‘Never have I seen anything like this’: Staffing shortages cancel over 140 ferry sailings on Friday
Vancouver woman warns public to be careful choosing long-term care insurance
Dozens of businesses, locals call for immediate action on public safety in downtown Seattle
Safeway to offer rapid COVID tests at Thursday’s Seahawks game
Whatcom County reports high COVID case rate among children ages 5-17
White Center leads shift in Seattle area suburbs decade in the making
King County councilmembers denounce colleague’s ‘racist’ campaign mailer
Kent School District calls for end to ‘dangerous’ TikTok challenges

Slog
Tim Eyman Is Coming for the Capital Gains Tax, and Progressives Are Taking Him Seriously This Time

Thursday, Oct. 7

COVID deaths leave thousands of U.S. kids grieving parents or primary caregivers
Of all the sad statistics the U.S. has dealt with this past year and a half, here is a particularly difficult one: A new study estimates that more than 140,000 children in the U.S. have lost a parent or a grandparent caregiver to COVID-19. The majority of these children come from racial and ethnic minority groups. Continue reading at KUOW. (AP)

Housing costs climb far from Seattle as remote work takes hold
White-collar workers, untethered from their desks after companies flipped to remote work because of the pandemic, are taking their housing searches — and their cash — farther from Seattle. Outlying areas have boomed, from Spanaway to Poulsbo to Orcas Island. Whatcom County, home to Bellingham, felt the change, too. Remote workers are nothing new to the Northwest corner of Washington, but local real estate agents say the pandemic felt like hitting the fast-forward button. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mike Siegel)

Pfizer, BioNTech ask FDA to authorize COVID-19 vaccine use in children aged 5-11
Pfizer and BioNTech on Thursday asked federal regulators for emergency use authorization to allow children between the ages of five and 11 to get their jointly-developed COVID-19 vaccine. Officials with Pfizer announced in a tweet that the companies had formally filed an application with the Food and Drug Administration. If the request is granted, shots could begin getting administered within weeks, The Associated Press reported. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

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Associated Press
More Seattle police showing proof of COVID vaccination
Senate confirms 1st Native American US judge in Washington
Microsoft: Russia behind 58% of detected state-backed hacks
Judge orders Texas to suspend new law banning most abortions

Aberdeen Daily World
Elma Fire Chief describes COVID fifth wave strain on EMS

Auburn Reporter
Carpenters back to work after tentative agreement reached with AGC

Bainbridge Island Review
Lack of workers could mean more ferry cancellations
Kitsap youths hit hard by Delta variant

Bellingham Herald
A new facility in downtown Bellingham will address two of the community’s biggest needs
U.S. Border Patrol reportedly stops two illegal border crossings into Whatcom County
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, school district investigate threat of school shooting
Whatcom County sees sixth COVID-related death reported by state since Friday

Courier-Herald
Details scarce about infamous EHS volleyball game, but raise concerns about racism across the district
Reopening delayed on SR 164 between Auburn and Enumclaw

The Daily News
Kelso passes proclamation to take stand on mask mandates
Cowlitz County, Petrichor look to extend broadband on west side of county

Everett Herald
Carpenters union strikes a deal, and members are set to vote
County seeking volunteers to apply to serve on ADA committee
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: If Facebook won’t rein itself in, government must
Bloomberg Comment: Debt ceiling serves no purpose; eliminate it

High Country News
How the U.S. legal system ignores tribal law

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Islanders face eldercare crisis, hospital district levy hopes to change that

News Tribune
Tacoma facing shortage of substitute teachers. They’re boosting pay to hire hundreds
Armed robbery at South Hill jewelry store ends with police chase, 3 arrested
Op-Ed: ‘We don’t have time for games.’ Port regulations should cut fossil fuels, add green jobs

Olympian
New commander named for I Corps and JBLM. He has extensive combat experience
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Wild beluga whale seen in Tacoma waters for first time since 1940
Former Washington state ferry finds new home near Whidbey Island
Washington Tribes share these environmental concerns with Biden representative
Sweden, Denmark halt Moderna’s COVID-19 shot for younger people

Peninsula Daily News
Community transmission widespread in West End
Senate confirms first Native American US judge in Washington
Units make water from air

Port Townsend Leader
Port OKs order for vax proof
Resolution against COVID misinformation falls flat with hospital board commissioners

Puget Sound Business Journal
Inslee expected to expand Biden’s vaccine mandate for employers, trade group says
Carpenters back on the job as union, AGC reach tentative pact
Tech giants overtook Boeing during pandemic as state’s largest employers
Sea-Tac Airport receives $16.8M FAA grant for pavement upgrades
Restaurants hoped for a bright 2021 — but face a bleak winter, instead.
College endowments soared in 2021 — but that doesn’t mean a wave of cash

Seattle Times
Washington State Ferries cancels many San Juan Islands sailings Thursday
A beluga whale in Puget Sound? Rare visitor startles boaters in first sighting here since 1940
Cold front to bring weekend rain to Seattle area and snow to the mountains
Housing costs climb far from Seattle as remote work takes hold
Washington State Patrol’s COVID vaccination rate jumps to 93% as state deadline nears
Opinion: Abolish all forms of solitary confinement in Washington state

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie Tribe suggest name for new state ferry

Sol De Yakima
Yakima revisará distritos electorales por primera tras demanda de la ACLU

Spokesman Review
Spokane firefighters, state employees sue Inslee over vaccine mandate
About 160 staff at Eastern State Hospital bumping up against vaccine mandate
WSU nursing and veterinary students team up for clinic aimed at people and pets
Spokane County sets record with $1.3 billion in new construction in 2021: ‘Demand was just enormous’
Northwest energy plan emphasizes solar, wind power through 2041 with coal losing steam

Tri-City Herald
Franklin County committee given 2 weeks to redraw commissioner districts
Prosser farmer charged with defrauding government in $500K wheat crop scam

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
As Vashon Sets Record for New Cases, Experts Urge Caution

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Gov. Inslee tours Walla Walla Community College’s career programs Wednesday
Inslee expresses confidence in vaccination requirement during visit to Walla Walla
Walla Walla tree management awaits final approval from city council
Walla Walla County reports 3 more COVID-19 deaths

Washington Post
Dozens of states have tried to end qualified immunity. Police officers and unions helped beat nearly every bill.
Federal judge blocks enforcement of Texas abortion ban; state will appeal
Senate leaders announce short-term deal to raise debt ceiling $480 billion into December
‘This is a crisis’: Tens of thousands of children affected by pandemic-related deaths of parents
Pfizer, BioNTech ask FDA to authorize coronavirus vaccine for children 5 to 11

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima County schools struggle with food supplies as pandemic effects endure
State reports smallest wheat crop in decades; barley crop also down
Opinion: Airport grant could give the valley a significant lift

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
More than two dozen ferry sailings canceled due to crew shortages Thursday
Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce offers toolkit on how to handle King County vaccine requirements
How daycare staffing shortages have lead to higher inflation
Seattle Police Department prepares for possible staffing shortages due to vaccine mandate
Washington lawmakers slam Biden over attempt to kill law that helps sick Hanford workers

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Pfizer, BioNTech ask FDA to authorize COVID-19 vaccine use in children aged 5-11
SPD preparing new 911 response plan in case of officer exodus over vaccine mandates
Researchers at UW School of Medicine work to create universal vaccine for coronaviruses
Wild beluga whale seen in Tacoma waters for first time since 1940

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
More Seattle police showing proof of COVID vaccination
King County restaurants, businesses prepare for proof of vaccination requirement
State Patrol braces for employee exodus as COVID vaccine mandate deadline nears

KNKX FM
Closing of ICE detention center in Tacoma in limbo after passage of private prison ban (Ortiz-Self)
UW Tacoma removes barriers for South Sound students seeking doctorate degrees
Pfizer officially asks the FDA to authorize its COVID vaccine for kids aged 5-11
COVID is changing medical fly-in missions — and it might be for the better
In parched U.S. West, people turn to machines that make water out of air

KUOW FM
Parents Fret About Desk Distances. Expert Says Ventilation Does More to Keep Kids Safe
Hospital leaders cautiously optimistic as Washington’s vaccine mandate deadline nears
Pandemic blog: Updates for Seattle and the NW
Pfizer officially asks the FDA to authorize its COVID vaccine for kids aged 5-11
COVID deaths leave thousands of U.S. kids grieving parents or primary caregivers
With light rail as fuel, Northgate is ready to grow
Strange harvest: Weird-shaped potatoes, melons that won’t keep and no moisture to plant wheat

Q13 TV (Fox)
Washington State Ferries forced to cancel several sailings due to staff shortage
Seattle Police Department braces for mass firing of officers as hundreds have yet to show proof of vaccination
UW Medicine requiring vaccine for transplant patients
More than 70% of Washingtonians 12 and up are fully vaccinated, DOH reports
Test to Stay program reduces quarantine period for students identified as close contacts
MultiCare launches trial to test COVID booster shots with other vaccines

Web

MyNorthwest
King County businesses begin preparations for new vaccine requirements
‘We don’t think of Seattle as HQ1’: New Amazon CEO describes ‘rougher’ relationship with city
Seattle Police Department mobilizes for officer shortage due to vaccine mandate
King County Council advances plan to ‘explore options’ for acquiring City Hall Park
Northwest carpenters reach tentative deal to end strike
SPD reports a third of all officers haven’t provided proof of vaccination ahead of deadline

Slog
King County Starts to Take Baby Steps on Natural Gas Ban as the World Burns

Wednesday, Oct. 6

Thousands of Washington home-care workers, represented by SEIU 775, remain exempt from Gov. Inslee’s vaccine mandate
The sweeping vaccination mandate issued by Gov. Jay Inslee demands that hundreds of thousands of health care and government workers get fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or face firing. That includes doctors and nurses, chiropractors and massage therapists, and people working in dental offices, pharmacies and midwifery centers. It also applies to tens of thousands of K-12 and state government employees, including many still working remotely from home. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)

Feds unveil guidance for federal vaccine mandate, exemptions
With just weeks remaining before federal workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19, the federal government on Monday outlined procedures for employees to request medical or religious exemptions from President Joe Biden’s mandate. The Office of Management and Budget released the new guidance Monday afternoon ahead of the Nov. 22 deadline for workers to be fully vaccinated, outlining specific medical conditions that would warrant an exemption. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Evan Vucci)

How good is the air you’re breathing? A new report examines local air pollution data
The biggest sources of air pollution in Washington state in 2020 were wildfires and vehicles, showed a new report released Tuesday, Oct. 5. The report from a handful of environmental and public health groups took a closer look at air pollution across the nation last year. In Bellingham, they documented about two weeks of bad air. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

Print

Associated Press
Feds unveil guidance for federal vaccine mandate, exemptions
King County woman dies from rare J&J vaccine complication
Senate confirms 1st Native American US judge in Washington
Fire Retardant Could Be ‘Game-Changer’ in Fighting Wildfires

Auburn Reporter
King County woman dies from ‘rare’ Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine blood clot
Washington state’s minimum wage increasing to $14.49 next year
Utility shut-off moratorium ends, putting hundreds of thousands at risk
State requests federal resources to help hospitals amid COVID-19 patient surges
Opinion: Questions surround vaccine exemptions for state workers

Bellingham Herald
COVID-19 infection rates grew by triple digits in two Whatcom County regions last week
Here’s a look at how Bellingham business spaces are doing during the latest COVID surge
How good is the air you’re breathing? A new report examines local air pollution data
Watch: Bellingham Kids and Covid: Whatcom County experts answer your questions
Whatcom County home prices hit new highs as inventory remains a big challenge
Whatcom County has another triple-digit COVID weekend and sees a death reported Monday

Bellevue Reporter
Postal workers protest the “The Great Mail Slowdown” in East King County

Capital Press
Washington plans Japanese beetle eradication

The Courier-Herald
Opinion: It takes a community to change opinions on race

Covington-Maple Valey Reporter
King County councilmember sounds alarm on fentanyl problem in the region
New King County program connects homeless people to jobs and housing
Booster shots build onto protection of initial vaccinations | UW Medicine

The Daily News
Jaime Herrera Beutler hosting telephone town hall Oct. 12

Everett Herald
Could another winter COVID-19 wave be on the way?
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Letter: Unvaccinated are affecting care for all at our hospitals

Islands’ Weekly
Coming soon: Working Washington grants for businesses impacted by U.S.-Canada border closure
Bring your own bag | Washington state bag ban begins
Tillikum repaired | Ferries resume regular fall service
Weekly COVID update | 9 new cases since last update
COVID vaccine booster shot FAQ

News Tribune
Tacoma will pay more than $300K to end public-records dispute over surveillance device
Here’s how many COVID cases affected attendees, workers at Washington State Fair
New Gig Harbor Chamber chief: Shoppers, give stores a break about COVID mandates
Washington woman 4th to die from J&J COVID vaccine of 15 million given shot nationwide

Olympian
U.S. Senate confirms first Native American federal judge in WA history
20 more Thurston residents die of COVID-19 in past week as case count remains high
WA wildlife officers wanted injunction against vaccine mandate. Here’s how judge ruled

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
COVID case slide tenuous

Port Townsend Leader
Chimacum Schools forced to address adult misbehavior

Puget Sound Business Journal
State AG’s office takes a pass on big Amazon sublease at Rainier Square

The Journal of the San Juan Islands
Opinion: Please, just wear your mask in public

Seattle Medium
U.S. Senate Confirms Historic Candidates For Washington State U.S. Attorney Positions

Seattle Times
Striking Carpenters union, contractors reach new contract agreement
Probe reveals kickback to King County deputy’s wife, exposes concerns over police ties to confidential informants
Sammamish, like many suburban Seattle cities, gripped by development fight as region’s population booms
Thousands of Washington home-care workers, represented by SEIU 775, remain exempt from Gov. Inslee’s vaccine mandate
Opinion: Sustainable aviation fuel: An important step in international trade

Skagit Valley Herald
North Cascades Institute, North Cascades National Park get new leadership

Sol De Yakima
Incendio Schneider Springs está contenido en 86%, cuadrillas se desmovilizan

South Seattle Emerald
KCSO sergeant’s anti-vaccination email references ‘hint’ of ongoing vaccination exemption process in department
Patients are traveling from Texas for abortion care. This may be the new normal.
Opinion: Coalition building to fight against hate and bias

South Whidbey Record
COVID rates rise among kids
Navy Record of Decision on environmental impacts now available for public view
Shore projects for salmon planned for Whidbey

Spokesman Review
White House says U.S.-Canada border closure ‘determined by our public health officials’ as Northwest Democrats, Republicans alike cry foul
About 160 staff at Eastern State Hospital bumping up against vaccine mandate
Spokane schools coping with bus driver shortage, vaccine exemption requests
King County woman dies of very rare blood-clotting side effect from Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Opinion: The Rev. Nathan Empsall: A global pandemic requires the kind of global solution that St. Aloysius Gonzaga embodied

Tri-City Herald
Fewer Tri-Cities COVID hospital patients, but fears remain numbers could rebound
Easterday selling off WA land worth millions before going to prison for ‘ghost cattle’ fraud
Slain Pasco driver honored on Tri-Cities school buses. Parade planned
Unvaccinated Connell prison guard sues Inslee, WA over possible ‘reassignment’

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Dayton School District latest to return to Zoom board meetings after maskless attendees cause disruption
Gov. Jay Inslee to visit Walla Walla on Wednesday

Washington Post
Hospital system says it will deny transplants to the unvaccinated in ‘almost all situations’
Senate Republicans plan to block another debt ceiling vote as default risks rise
Fall foliage flopping: How climate change is dulling and delaying your leaf peeping
U.N. weather agency says world ill-prepared for ‘looming water crisis’

Yakima Herald Republic
Gang-related shooting triggers ‘secure and teach’ at Robertson Elementary School in Yakima
Yakima County schools struggle with food supplies as pandemic effects endure

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Crew shortages force the cancellation of 16 San Juan Islands ferry sailings Wednesday
Federal Way landlord and tenant thankful for King County rental assistance
Family, advocates call for shutting down Washington facility after resident with Autism disappears
Seattleites cite homelessness, public safety as top concerns in new survey
Some Washington workers prepare to leave jobs over COVID-19 vaccine mandate

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Northwest carpenters reach tentative deal to end strike
Families worry crime to worsen as hundreds of SPD force still not providing proof of COVID vaccine
Multiple Shelton teachers, educators face termination after COVID-19 vaccine accommodations rejected
King County woman dies from ‘very rare complication’ from J&J vaccine
Seattle City Council passes resolution making natural psychedelics low priority

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Parents outraged after students at North Seattle school threatened by people with AR-15’s
King County presents strategy to run hotel for homeless in Redmond
Tacoma man sentenced for setting fire to police precinct during CHOP

KNKX FM
Tacoma City Council considering amendments to proposed ban on expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure
Tens of thousands of Washington homecare workers not covered by governor’s vaccine mandate
Facebook’s own data is not as conclusive as you think about teens and mental health

KUOW FM
This pregnant mom nearly died from Covid. It hasn’t convinced her to get the vaccine
Hospital Leaders Cautiously Optimistic as Washington’s Vaccine Mandate Deadline Nears
Pandemic blog: Updates for Seattle and the NW
Facebook’s own data is not as conclusive as you think about teens and mental health
What borrowers need to know about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness overhaul
Sen. Murray rallies for a diverse field of federal judges, Republican action on the debt ceiling
38 percent of Seattle police operations staff aren’t vaccinated

KXLY (ABC)
Runway maintenance at Spokane International Airport could have planes flying over your neighborhood
Spokane homeless advocates call on city leaders to help Community Housing and Human Services Dept.

Q13 TV (Fox)
Carpenters union, contractors reach tentative agreement
Seattle Police: Over 350 sworn personnel have not submitted proof of vaccination
Kaiser Permanente suspends 2,200 of its employees nationwide over vaccine mandate

Web

MyNorthwest
King County Council to decide on whether to ‘explore options’ for acquiring City Hall Park
Northwest carpenters reach tentative deal to end strike
SPD reports a third of all officers haven’t provided proof of vaccination ahead of deadline
Weeks and months of polluted air in Seattle is ‘unacceptable,’ says WashPIRG advocate
Tacoma man sentenced to two years in prison for 2020 fire at Seattle’s East Precinct
Gov. Inslee softens vaccine mandate deadline for some state workers
King County woman dies from ‘very rare complication’ brought on by Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Seattle council approves resolution recommending decriminalization of psychedelics
Washington hospitals ‘optimistic’ ahead of deadline for health care worker vaccine mandate
Seattle City Light fights off lawsuits involving crucial hydroelectric dams, endangered salmon
Seattle mayor supports using tax dollars to replace Memorial Stadium

Slog
Seattle Passes Resolution to Decriminalize Psychedelics

Tuesday, Oct. 5

Washington state will welcome 1,670 Afghan evacuees in coming months
Abdul Ahmadi’s phone has been buzzing nonstop these past few weeks. In the 5½ years he’s worked at Lutheran Community Services, first as a driver and now as lead case manager, he estimates more than 500 clients have his cellphone number, not to mention his friends in the Seattle Afghan community. Following the emergency evacuation in Afghanistan in August, he has been deluged with constant texts from those asking for social services contacts, housing suggestions for new arrivals and people seeking help for their family as the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

WA Indigenous communities remember boarding school era, call for federal investigation
Indigenous leaders and communities across the U.S. and Canada continue to come together in person or virtually to reflect on the Indian Residential School system during the week of The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Also known as Orange Shirt Day, Sept. 30 is a day of remembrance to honor those who were lost, killed and survived the schools. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Warren Sterling)

State vaccine mandate takes effect in 2 weeks
The vaccine mandate takes effect statewide on Oct. 18. People who are not vaccinated can meet the mandate if they get the Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine on Monday, Oct. 4. On the Washington State Hospital Association weekly call, hospital leaders say the mandate did increase the vaccination rate at local hospitals. At Swedish it went from about 86% before the mandate to about 92%. Continue reading at KIRO 7.