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Monday, May 24

HEAL Act, requiring environmental justice in state agencies, signed at Duwamish Longhouse
On Monday May 17, across the road from the mouth of Seattle’s only river, the Duwamish, and at the cultural center of the people who have called themselves by the same name for generations, Governor Jay Inslee signed a far-reaching piece of environmental justice legislation into law. Continue reading at The South Seattle Emerald. (Susan Fried)

Municipal broadband in Washington will soon offer options beyond Comcast
A pair of bills passed in Washington during the last legislative session is giving the state’s rural communities the ability to offer municipal broadband to residents. Prior to the passage of those bills, Washington was one of just a handful of states that expressly forbade local governments from providing so-called “direct to customer broadband.” Continue reading at MyNorthwest.

A year after George Floyd’s death, Washington state lawmakers pass police accountability, equity bills
A year after George Floyd’s murder, Washington has a dozen new laws intended to reshape policing and to hold officers more accountable for misconduct. Those laws include a ban on no-knock warrants, chokeholds and neck restraints, and a requirement that officers intervene when witnessing excessive force by fellow officers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)

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Associated Press
As US schools resume testing, large numbers are opting out
Thurston County businesses chart their course for the economy reopening on June 30
Washington governor criticized over climate bill veto
Over a dozen JBLM families sue over housing conditions
Health director says he was attacked in Tacoma, Washington

Aberdeen Daily World
New COVID cases remain high, death total reaches 70

Auburn Reporter
Council approves B&O tax to generate more revenue for Auburn

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Whatcom is 1 of 4 counties with high COVID-19 case counts, but hospitalization rate improves
State acts to finally settle disputed Nooksack River Basin water rights
Whatcom County Health vaccination update for May

Capital Press
Washington apple growers optimistic about 2021 crop

Centralia Chronicle
Washington Tribal Leaders, Legislators Slam Inslee Over Vetoes in Climate Bills (Chapman, Van De Wege)

Columbian
Vaccination effort gets shot in the arm in Clark County
Anti-mask protesters cause disturbance outside Vancouver elementary school
Business leaders quiz Clark County legislators on capital gains tax, I-5 Bridge, COVID relief (Cleveland, Wylie, Stonier)
State accepting COVID recovery grant applications from veterans organizations
In Our View: Police reform must go beyond new laws
In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Mask options, fake vaccine card

Everett Herald (subscription required)
By necessity, local farmers grow resilient to climate change
Agencies, nonprofits help farms adapt to changing landscape
PUD seeks volunteers to change energy habits — and save money
As virus wanes, Monroe prisoners still isolated by new rules
When businesses break COVID rules, many warnings, few fines
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Burke: Burke: We’re so smart, why do some deny what they’ve seen?
WaPo Comment: Let’s allow a little grace as we emerge from covid
WaPo Comment: Can we trust each other to follow advice on masks?
Editorial: Act now to save salmon, regardless of dams’ fate

Federal Way Mirror
Divisive needle exchange will continue in Federal Way

The Inlander
We try in vain to find a better WA county vaccination rate predictor than the 2020 election

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Why some vaccinated people are keeping masks despite easing of COVID-19 requirements

News Tribune (subscription required)
Pierce County fire district to ask property owners for more funding in August election
Here are the COVID-19 numbers confirmed Friday in Washington state
Puyallup hotel program for the homeless going ‘quite well.’ City exploring more options
A Tacoma fire displaced 42 people. Some are still reeling, even with help on the way
Nearly 1K people need new sentences after drug ruling. Here’s Pierce County’s plan
Op-Ed: My husband was killed on his bike. Need for safe Pierce County drivers painfully clear
Editorial: These Pierce County folks tamed their vaccine doubts, fears. UW Tacoma students helped

New York Times
Live Updates: Memorial Day Deadline for Infrastructure Negotiations Closes In

Olympian (subscription required)
Large caseloads and backlogs are stressing staff and delaying justice, prosecuting attorney says
WA veteran organizations can get extra financial help recovering from COVID-19 crisis
No Music in the Park free concert series for second year in a row, ODA announces

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA’s remaining PPP loan funding continues to dwindle
U.S. colleges face budget uncertainty as international students remain in limbo
UW academic building gets 50-year lease on life after renovation
Opinion: New class of investors not likely to go away any time State Department of Commerce distributes another $234M in small business grants, with more to come soon
He was denied an SBA grant. But the gated community nearby would qualify.

Renton Reporter
Redmond PD looking for feedback of possible implementation of police-worn cameras

Seattle Times (subscription required)
A year after George Floyd’s death, Washington state lawmakers pass police accountability, equity bills (Saldaña, Das, Pedersen)
Families of people killed by police are left without answers while King County’s inquests are stalled
As U.S. pullout nears, groups with Seattle ties that work with Afghan youth face uncertain future
Bellevue man at center of Washington’s long marriage equality battle dies at 65
The COVID pandemic split the King County homeless system in two. A year later, the differences remain stark
Opinion: Prioritize sexual-assault victims in court backlog
Opinion: Investing in ‘infrastructure’ means more than bridges and roads

Skagit Valley Herald
From La Conner to Hamilton, local governments oppose mining in Skagit River headwaters
After one-year pandemic hiatus, cruise ships return to Anacortes
Skagit Valley College to offer summer Running Start program

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Tribal leaders condemn Inslee’s veto of consultation, protection provisions in climate bill (Chapman)
Valley cities work on plan for spending housing money

South Seattle Emerald
Opinion: Stopping disaster gentrification post-pandemic will require robust action
Link to Lake secures $1 million in improvements to Rainier Beach’s Be’er Sheva Park (Saldaña, Harris-Talley, Santos)
Former SPD officer featured in CBS report has a ‘troubled’ history
Durkan and school board directors at odds over Bitter Lake encampment (TW: Threats of violence, profanity)
HEAL Act, requiring environmental justice in state agencies, signed at Duwamish Longhouse (Saldaña, Lekanoff, Harris-Talley)

Spokesman Review
Countering dam removal proposal, Cantwell hints at her ideas for Snake River salmon during Senate hearing
Former Attorney General Rob McKenna joins lawsuit seeking to invalidate capital gains tax
Major police reforms become law in Washington after Inslee signs bills he calls ‘just the beginning’ (Johnson, Dhingra, Goodman)
Federal judge orders Washington transgender inmates’ records to remain sealed, for now

Tri-City Herald
Benton County officials sued for rejecting Latino voter ballots 3+ times more often

Washington Post
Key impeachment witness Gordon Sondland sues Mike Pompeo and U.S. for $1.8 million in legal fees
Opinion: It is painful to remember. We have to remember.
How UFO sightings went from joke to national security worry in Washington

Yakima Herald Republic
After being driven to near extinction, wolves are back in Washington. Can we coexist with them?
Some Yakima Valley school districts look at a shorter summer break to limit learning loss
Opinion: Fourth of July event returns to State Fair Park, and we have a lot to celebrate
Opinion: The end for Roe v. Wade — or a chance to uphold it?

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Rent prices for single-family homes skyrocket in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties
Major roadwork on I-5 in Seattle begins Monday
Washington restaurants rush to apply for federal grant funding

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Expect ‘close to normal’ summer but more COVID cases this fall, experts say
Seattle Waterfront and its businesses are on the road to recovery
Amtrak restores service on Seattle routes after COVID cutbacks
King County mulling over tax relief incentives, gift cards to encourage vaccinations
CDC investigating potential rare side effect from Pfizer, Moderna vaccines
Capitol Hill bar asking for proof of vaccination from guests

KNKX FM
Surge in boating amplifies Boating Safety Week messages, especially for small craft

KUOW FM
Pandemic blog: Updates for Washington state
Skepticism Of Science In A Pandemic Isn’t New. It Helped Fuel The AIDS Crisis
Tribal leaders call Inslee ‘a snake’ after he vetoes climate law’s tribal consent measure
Schools Are Dropping Mask Requirements, But A New CDC Study Suggests They Shouldn’t
If a bargain gets vetoed, was it ever really ‘grand’? This week in politics (Billig, Jinkins)

KXLY (ABC)
Totem pole carved in Washington heading to the White House
Groups stand in solidarity with Palestine during protest at Clark Park in Spokane

Q13 TV (Fox)
Poll: Over 1 billion people worldwide unwilling to get COVID-19 vaccine, global herd immunity at risk
The Divide: Inslee strikes blow to compromise

Web

Crosscut
Ambitious B.C. project aims to fight climate change one seed at a time
Podcast | Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best on a year of unrest

My Edmonds News
Letter to the editor: Thanks to 21st District legislators for climate action initiatives (Ortiz-Self, Liias, Peterson)

MyNorthwest
Municipal broadband in Washington will soon offer options beyond Comcast
Recycling, yard waste workers threatening strike that would impact thousands of customers

Slog
There Is No Compassion in Compassion Seattle’s Proposed Charter Amendment
Tammy Morales Proposes a COVID-19 Eviction Defense

Friday, May 21

Washington State Enacts Police Reform a Year After George Floyd’s Death
Washington became the latest state to enact sweeping police reforms in response to the police killing of George Floyd with the adoption this week of 12 new laws that ban chokeholds, require officers to announce their presence before raiding a home and call for the use of exhaustive de-escalation techniques before resorting to force. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Tony Overman/ AP)

Washington state bans polystyrene foam, clamps down on other plastics
The new law, signed Monday by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, restricts restaurants’ use of disposable plastic items, requires recycled content in some plastic bottles and bags, and bans most uses of polystyrene foam, including cups, clamshell containers, packing peanuts, and coolers. Supporters call it the nation’s toughest law on plastics. Washington is the sixth state to ban polystyrene foam items and the first to ban the foam coolers. Continue reading at KUOW. (Jacques Nyemb via Flickr)

More than 43,000 Washington kids 12-15 have had COVID vaccine shot
Since becoming eligible last week, more than 43,000 Washington kids between the ages of 12 and 15 have had at least one COVID-19 shot. That represents 11.5 percent of that age group, according to the Washington Department of Health. The Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for that age group right now. Continue reading at KXLY.

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Associated Press
Washington state’s largest county says keep the masks on
Legislation raises hopes for Alaskan cruises this summer
Second lawsuit filed seeking to invalidate capital gains tax
Washington state’s largest county says keep the masks on
Labor and Industries creates new farmworker safety team
Human rights agency says library worker faced discrimination
Justice Sonia Sotomayor says Americans should think about policing

Auburn Reporter
King County health officer issues directive urging continued use of face masks

Bainbridge Island Review
COVID rates continue to fall in Kitsap, 14 new cases

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
Here’s how much of a hit Whatcom’s tourism industry took from the COVID-19 pandemic
Washington state plans new involuntary treatment facility in Thurston County
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
Coronavirus weekly need-to-know: Booster shots, HIPAA violations, mask guidance

Capital Press
Carbon storage offers hope for climate, cash for farmers
Strong cherry demand predicted; Western crop size ‘good’

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
L&I to Launch New Farm Worker Safety Unit

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Arlington Proud Boy ‘Milkshake’ arrested in Capitol siege
Ex-Amazon manager alleges discrimination at Everett facility
Demolition is a sign of Marysville’s civic transformation
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: State GOP lawmakers now going after courts’ powers
WaPo Comment: No need to wait on Biden’s Supreme Court reform panel
Editorial: Covid, other pressures shouldn’t stop the presses

The Facts Newspaper
COVID-19 trends moving in the right direction with the help of vaccination
State’s vaccine outreach shifts from mass vaccination sites to mobile vaccination clinics
Inslee signs police accountability legislative package (Entenman, Johnson, Peterson, Ramos, Dhingra, Frockt, Nobles, Pedersen)

Kent Reporter
Sound Transit completes new light rail base in Bellevue

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Bremerton City Council votes down proposed noise ordinance changes

News Tribune (subscription required)
Was it hate? Broken windows in Lincoln District leave community picking up the pieces
Editorial: Decision day looms on fate of cops tied to Manuel Ellis homicide. Is Tacoma ready?
Long-stalled, multi-block housing/office project in downtown Tacoma could see new life
Man found dead inside van in Spanaway shot himself, not at a sheriff’s deputy
Editorial: Inslee’s slice-and-dice vetoes need close scrutiny from Washington Supreme Court

New York Times
Washington State Enacts Police Reform a Year After George Floyd’s Death
Covid Live Updates: Deaths Could Be 2 to 3 Times Higher Than Recorded, W.H.O. Says

Olympian (subscription required)
Washington state plans new involuntary treatment facility in Thurston County
More than a dozen JBLM families file lawsuit over poor housing conditions on base
1,100 county residents now live in Lacey after council approves 400-acre annexation

Puget Sound Business Journal
Comcast’s decade-old program for low-income students plays an important role amid pandemic
Support from Symetra offers gateway to opportunity for immigrants, low-income households
Opinion: Pediatricians need to prepare for new issues in wake of pandemic
‘We are at a crossroads’: Report shows King County homelessness has surged
Opinion: Cash reserves are more important than ever
Opinion: Family offices are no longer just for the super wealthy
Contractor selected to ready West Seattle Bridge for mid-2022 reopening (Photos)
Small businesses weighed in on a $15 minimum wage. Here’s what they said.
Turning office buildings into housing will be the next frontier of real estate

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Who can and can’t go maskless? Amid mixed messages, here’s where things stand in Seattle area
How auto dealers’ lobbyist wrote an exemption into Washington’s new capital gains tax law (Robinson, Walen, Frame)
Washington state to close 2 mass-vaccination sites for more focused approach
Washington hit by second wave of unemployment fraud — but state says criminals aren’t getting paid much
At Seattle school vaccine clinics, students say they hope to return to ‘like it was before’
Opinion: Treat gun violence like COVID-19 — as a public-health crisis

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County leaders unlikely to push beyond CDC mask guidance
Mount Vernon residents to see another recycling cost increase

Washington Post
Fragile cease-fire leaves Gaza in shambles, Netanyahu’s future in question and Jerusalem on verge of erupting again
Together at last: Americans reunite after more than a year of separation and isolation
Arizona secretary of state says Maricopa County should replace voting equipment because GOP-backed recount compromised its security
The federal government puts out a ‘help wanted’ notice as Biden seeks to undo Trump cuts

Yakima Herald Republic
Chinook Pass scheduled to open for Memorial Day weekend
Yakima Health District reports 35 new COVID cases Thursday, no new deaths
Student vaccine opportunities grow in Yakima County; high schools join contest to boost numbers

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Highline Public Schools hiring extra counselors to help students manage stress
No bed, no blanket: Social workers blow whistle on Washington forcing foster youth to sleep in cars, offices as punishment
Red Cross reports an uptick of military families seeking aid in Washington
Redmond police see widespread community support for body cameras
Women who left careers during the COVID-19 pandemic face challenges going back

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
King County issues directive urging continued use of face masks indoors
Another Seattle landmark to be replaced by ‘progress’
Holland America Line cruises from Seattle to Alaska will resume this summer
Washington’s public universities drop SAT, ACT requirement for admission

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Seattle’s efforts to handle homeless camps showing divisions from within
Washington state report says COVID-19 case counts dropping as immunizations rise
‘This can’t keep happening’: Parent reacts to student who made racist remark to her child
Will masks stick around even after the pandemic ends?
During labor shortage, many businesses now offer hiring incentives, bonuses and pay raises
Congresswoman Jayapal helps to close immigration detention center in Georgia
Dept. of Health to close two state-led mass vaccination sites, focus on mobile clinics

KNKX FM
Keep wearing those masks, King County health official urges
Second lawsuit filed to overturn capital gains tax in Washington

KUOW FM
Washington State Bans Polystyrene Foam, Clamps Down On Other Plastics
Pandemic blog: Updates for Washington state
Fully vaccinated? You should still mask up says King County official
Ongoing closure of Canadian border to nonessential crossings makes Washington enclave ‘stir crazy’
Second lawsuit filed to overturn capital gains tax in Washington

KXLY (ABC)
More than 43,000 Washington kids 12-15 have had COVID vaccine shot

Q13 TV (Fox)
Seattle’s inspector general wants minor traffic stops to end
Washington state’s largest county says keep the masks on
Second lawsuit filed seeking to invalidate capital gains tax

Web

Crosscut
Seattle police funding debate turns to flawed officer behavior system
Tree-Free Paper is rescuing forests and farmers in Washington
Opinion: Reforms aren’t enough to end ‘us vs. them’ policing in America

Slog
Inslee Vetoes Strong COVID-19 Data Privacy Bill So the State Can Offer People Free Beer to Get a Vaccine or What Have You (Slatter)

West Seattle Blog
VACCINATION: City closing West Seattle hub in three weeks

Thursday, May 20

With police reforms signed into law, the focus shifts to enforcement in Washington
Governor Jay Inslee made national headlines Tuesday when he signed sweeping police reforms into law. Among the changes are requiring officers to step in if they see a fellow officer using excessive force and forming an office of Independent Investigations. Community organizers say this is an important step in holding law enforcement responsible for their actions. Continue reading at KING5 TV.

June 30 reopening still in play as WA vaccination rates move toward target
Washington is on the path to reopen June 30 or earlier as it continues to approach the 70 percent threshold of vaccinated people necessary to lift statewide COVID-19 restrictions. Just under 60 percent of all Washington residents ages 16 or older have received one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah said Wednesday during a state Department of Health media briefing. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Joshua Bessex)

Preventing wrongful convictions from false confessions at heart of new law
If you’re arrested in this country, you have the right to remain silent. Beginning next year in Washington state, you’ll also have the right to have a video and audio recording of what you say to police. The law requiring that there be an electronic record of interrogations conducted while someone is detained or in custody was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday as part of a broad package of police reform laws. Continue reading at KNKX. (Kari Plog)

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Associated Press
Lawmakers quiz Boeing, FAA about recent issues with planes
Labor and Industries creates new farmworker safety team
Handful of Oregon counties vote to consider move into Idaho
Records that identify transgender inmates must remain sealed
US jobless claims fall again as some states end federal aid
Report blames tree blown into power lines for Malden fire

Aberdeen Daily World
Quinault Indian Nation opens its new Generations House services building
AHS seniors to finish year from home to ensure graduation health
Shores council facing decisions on homeless

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
One Whatcom region sees highest COVID infection rate in 3 months, 4 others also increase
June 30 reopening still in play as WA vaccination rates move toward target
Ready for a COVID booster shot? Pfizer CEO says one may be needed in 8-12 months

Capital Press
Wildfire weapons: From satellites to state-of-the-art planes, firefighters get a hand from technology
Water shortages across the West impact what farmers plant

Columbian
In Our View: Inslee’s line-item veto tests power of office (Billig, Jinkins)

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Yakima School District to Begin Dual Language Program
The Disappeared
Investigation justifies that Yakima officer fired at the truck that hit him
Letter: We must be on the lookout for the Yakima County Commission

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Mountlake Terrace I-5 off ramp to close for light rail work
‘A big win for residents’: Part of Mountain Loop opens early
Whidbey Island farmers alarmed over absence of native bees
Island County Jail inmate’s death deemed an apparent suicide
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: ‘Fight for $15’ is already won; with or without law
Bloomberg Comment: Here’s your chance to limit your ‘workaholic’ habits

High Country News
The West’s Asian Americans arm up for self-defense

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Red Road to DC: Lummi totem pole visits the San Juans

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Two bills aim to expand public broadband, but there’s a hitch (Hansen, Wellman)

News Tribune (subscription required)
More than 100 new COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday in Pierce County
June 30 reopening still in play as WA vaccination rates move toward target
Eatonville school board decides on superintendent. Teachers union worried about his past

North American Post
On Nikkei and Cross-Racial Solidarity: Three Seattle-Area Artist/Activist Perspectives

Olympian (subscription required)
DES seeks operator for new childcare center on state Capitol Campus
Pitts is named CEO of Experience Olympia & Beyond
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state

Peninsula Daily News
All Washington counties move to Phase 3 reopening
High-speed internet coming to Diamond Point
Port Angeles City Council OKs housing funding
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
COVID cases dropping on Peninsula

Port Townsend Leader
Jefferson County goes five days without new COVID-19 cases
Jefferson Healthcare ends mass vaccinations

Puget Sound Business Journal
Aviation groups urge Congress to finance sustainable jet fuel
Nordstrom joins other retailers in allowing vaccinated shoppers to go maskless
Boeing lifts outdoor mask requirements for some fully vaccinated staff
The CDC’s new mask guidance caught businesses by surprise. It’s likely to cause headaches, too.
This DNA initiative protects vulnerable youth from ‘sugaring’

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Washington’s public universities will no longer require the SAT or ACT. Will admissions become more equitable?
‘Pints for pokes?’ Washington breweries, wineries and other businesses offer incentives to get people vaccinated
New film about a group of LGBTQ+ climbers summiting Mount Hood hopes to challenge gender stereotypes
Warm summer expected as Washington state endures 4th-driest spring on record
Vaccinated or not, keep your mask on, King County’s top health official urges

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Transit to return to full service June 14
Skagit Valley College to begin design work on new building

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Pfizer vaccines now available for 12 and up at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital
If the Tolt River Dam breaks, these places are at risk of flooding

South Seattle Emerald
Manuel Ellis’ death looms large at Tacoma bill signings even without his family there
DOH officials encourage caution, even as state COVID cases appear to flatten
Opinion: LGBTQ pride must extend to the trades
Police Chief Diaz explains why he hasn’t fired officers for excessive use of force
Vaccine pop-ups open to all Seattle public middle schools and high schools
Opinion: The teachings of Malcolm X can guide our path to greater equity
Local leaders call for American Rescue Plan act to invest more in Black community

Spokesman Review
Closer to home: Rural community advocates work to bring vaccines to their neighborhoods
After controversy of ‘pop up’ homeless shelter at Women’s Club, city leaders consider guidelines for temporary shelters
Pac-Man gets a tax break: City of Spokane considers repeal of decades-old arcade and games fee
Washington State University faculty skeptical of athletics budget recovery plan

Tri-City Herald
New Tri-Cities COVID cases continue downward trend, with a 1-day drop in hospital cases
Man’s death in Columbia River appears to be accidental, say investigators
Unconscious Palouse Falls hiker ‘hoisted out by pure muscle’ from deep WA park canyon
City shuts down proposed Tri-Cities hilltop hotel — but doesn’t close the door

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Court upholds reversal of George W. Craigen’s murder conviction in 2011 Milton-Freewater killing
Umatilla County man dies from COVID-19
Weekly Update: Walla Walla, Umatilla county health officers ponder new COVID-19 changes
Man cited in road rage crash on Walla Walla’s Plaza Way

Washington Post
Sen. Bernie Sanders to introduce resolution of disapproval on $735 million U.S. arms sale to Israel

Yakima Herald Republic
COVID-19 trends in Yakima County headed in the right direction
Fourth of July, other events are back this year at State Fair Park in Yakima
L&I to launch new unit for farmworker safety
Yakima to reopen facilities, increase hotel tax, fly Pride flag
Yakima Health District reports 17 new COVID cases Wednesday, no new deaths
Opinion: PNWU makes Yakima a healthier place
Opinion: How compromise with the GOP can serve the country

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Amazon to drop mask requirement for fully vaccinated employees
Thurston County Health officials head to encampments to vaccinate the homeless population
Washington will leave mask mandates up to local jurisdictions
With police reforms signed into law, the focus shifts to enforcement in Washington
King County accepting applications for rental assistance before eviction moratorium expires

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Kroger drops mask mandate for the fully vaccinated; rules varying by business
Police arrest man they say stole purses from women of Asian descent
Bellevue couple loses $1,000,000 in deportation scam
Amazon to extend pause on police use of facial recognition

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
With new police reform measures now law, state training academy embraces approach
King Co. health leaders expected to issue more guidance on wearing masks indoors
Is asking for proof of a coronavirus vaccination a HIPAA violation?
State to follow CDC, says fully vaccinated people don’t need masks in most situations
Washington’s gateway towns anxious for Canadian border to reopen
Local community activists praise new bill that aims to halt bias crimes toward Asians (Ryu)

KNKX FM
Preventing wrongful convictions from false confessions at heart of new law
Federal Aid Arrived For A Burned Town. It May Not Be Enough For Next Fire Season

KUOW FM
Pandemic blog: Updates for Washington state
Seattle suburbs crack down on homeless camping with fines and jail time
A New, Infectious Coronavirus Is Detected In Malaysia – And It’s Coming From Dogs

KXLY (ABC)
Colville Tribe seeks to address obstacles in delivering COVID vaccines

Q13 TV (Fox)
Mixed messages from King County, state health officials cause confusion over mask-wearing
Get the vaccine, get a free beer at participating Washington breweries

Web

MyNorthwest
Pair of Washington Republicans vote to approve investigation into Capitol riot
1 dead after shooting leads to crash in Maple Valley
While part of state likely to avoid drought, still concerns over Washington farm country
Why emotional, mental health impacts of COVID may linger
West Seattle High-Rise Bridge clears major hurdle on road to repair
Judge says records that could identify Washington transgender inmates must remain sealed
Seattle police arrest man suspected of stealing purses from Asian women
Strike imminent for delivery truck drivers with Seattle Public Schools
Suspect in unemployment scam denied bail pending arrival in Washington
State leaves door open for counties to make their own mask rules
How Washington’s political divisions are driving a troubling rise in recalls
Carjacking suspect in custody after chase on I-5 from Tacoma to Marysville
Report: Chronic homelessness reaches crisis levels in King County

Slog
Washington Quietly Passed One of the Strongest Universal Health Care Laws in the Country (Randall)

West Seattle Blog
Same contractor that stabilized the West Seattle Bridge wins competition to fix it: Kraemer North America

Wednesday, May 19

Governor signs sweeping police-reform laws
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed one of the nation’s most ambitious packages of police accountability legislation, prompted by last year’s outcry for racial justice following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people at the hands of police. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Tony Overman)

Governor signs $59 billion, two-year budget for Washington
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed a $59 billion, two-year state operating budget that he said would help provide relief and recovery from the widespread effects of the pandemic. The Democrat also signed an $11.8 billion transportation budget and a $6.3 billion state construction budget. Continue reading at KXLY. (Ted S. Warren)

Washington launching 988 hotline for mental health emergencies
The State of Washington hopes a new three-digit number for people to call when they are experiencing mental health crises will do what 911 did for first responders. Governor Jay Inslee signed into law a bill designating 988 as the state’s suicide prevention hotline, part of a nationwide system. It launches July 2022 and will tie together in-state call centers with 911 operators, police, and behavioral health providers, to connect people in distress with immediate help. Continue reading at KING5 TV.

Print

Associated Press
Governor signs sweeping police-reform laws (Pedersen)
Inslee signs $59 billion, two-year state operating budget
Lawmakers quiz Boeing, FAA about recent issues with planes
Bill Gates’ leadership roles stay intact despite allegations
All Washington counties move to Phase 3 reopening
King County’s top health official: Keep your mask on indoors
Amazon to extend pause on police use of facial recognition
Land buy adds 2,200 acres to Nisqually Community Forest

Aberdeen Daily World
Rising above: Shoalwater Bay Tribe tsunami evacuation tower construction underway
Nonprofit teams with cities to explore purchase of thousands of acres of watershed properties
Some parents will get a $300 monthly tax payment this summer
Inslee explains veto of 2030 target for electric vehicles (Hobbs)
COVID vaccine hesitancy remains a ‘major barrier’ in rural areas, new CDC study finds

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Inslee signs what he calls the most ‘effective police accountability laws’ in nation (Johnson)
Report: U.S., Canada to extend border closure until conditions ‘change very substantively’
Two Whatcom regions have vaccination rates lower than 30%, while Bellingham doubles that
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Tuesday in Washington state
Gov. Inslee signs police accountability legislation in Tacoma
King County’s top health official: Keep your mask on indoors
Are people comfortable ditching masks after new CDC guidance? Here’s what poll found

Columbian
Southwest Washington lawmakers decry Inslee’s partial veto of bills (Wylie)
Clark County reports 294 new COVID-19 cases, one death
In Our View: Science should guide parents in vaccine choice

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
State-funded Miller Park improvements to begin this summer

Everett Herald (subscription required)
9 massive buildings planned at Cascade Industrial Center
As cases decline, newly eligible people urged to get vaccine
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Do ‘terrorist’ and ‘tourist’ sound similar to some?
WaPo Comment: Biden should explain what plan would do for all kids
Editorial: Inslee’s partial vetoes threat to lawmakers’ work (Jinkins, Hobbs, Mullet)
Letter: What did Saunders mean by ‘American’ names?

High Country News
Klamath Tribes want beavers back in the Beaver State

News Tribune
Inslee signs what he calls the most ‘effective police accountability laws’ in nation (Johnson)
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers confirmed Tuesday in Washington state
Pierce County marks second day in a row with COVID case count below 100
Report: U.S., Canada to extend border closure until conditions ‘change very substantively’

Olympian
Nisqually Community Forest doubles in size after $9.6 million land purchase
Lacey examiner takes rare step, recommends approval of mental health hospital at hearing’s end
Free beer! If you get a vaccine at participating WA businesses

Peninsula Daily News
Traveling totem
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Goal: 70 percent or better vaccination rate

Puget Sound Business Journal
Opinion: Companies must be intentional — and transparent — about DEI measures
Biotech developer trains sights on Seattle’s homelessness crisis
King County launches $145M rent assistance program
Northwest lawmakers seek Boeing records to probe quality-control lapses
Amazon donating $1.4M to Bellevue amid Eastside expansion
Seattle extends ‘life saving’ free street-dining permits to 2022
Time is running out for PPP loans. Here’s how much is left through CFIs.

Seattle Times (subscription required)
‘You are here to save lives’: Meet the helpers at a Seattle COVID vaccination site
Washington governor signs sweeping police reform measures
Hospitalizations high during gastrointestinal outbreak among homeless population
Editorial: New corrections secretary must fix system’s lapses
Opinion: My polio generation knows the relief, duty of being a strong link in a vaccination chain

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Valley College to begin design work on new building

Spokesman Review
Major police reforms become law in Washington after Inslee signs bills he calls ‘just the beginning’ (Johnson, Dhingra, Goodman)
Inslee vetoes bill that could have blocked ‘critical need’ for vaccine incentives
Inslee signs major climate bills, but not without partial vetoes; Legislative leadership threaten lawsuit (Billig, Jinkins, Fitzgibbon)
State finds weakened tree needed ‘closer inspection’ to prevent fire that destroyed 80% of Malden
Opinion: Ann Murphy: Remote access enhances Eastern Washington residents’ participation in democracy

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities Republican cleared of Black Lives Matter complaint for ‘offensive’ comments
Parents sue family-owned dairy north of Tri-Cities after kids sickened by E. coli
COVID closures motivate several Tri-Cities candidates to challenge incumbents
New COVID cases continue to drop in Tri-Cities, but more younger people hospitalized
Is the vaccine worth a shot in Tri-Cities? WA state liquor board OKs ‘free’ drinks
Drunk driver tested 3+ times legal limit after killing Tri-Cities highway worker
Tri-Cities hydro races back on this summer? What WA state rules will allow
Franklin County new COVID rate dips below WA state reopening level
Young Tri-Cities teens jump in to get their COVID vaccine. And it sparked another trend
New shop coming to growing area of Tri-Cities. And Dickey’s BBQ reopens
COVID lockdown was a time to heal old wounds. And seal new Tri-Cities friendship in bronze

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Dive team, firefighters save man struck by rock at Palouse Falls
State puts former Walla Walla spine surgeon Dr. Jason Dreyer on restricted license to practice
Weekly Update: Walla Walla, Umatilla county health officers ponder new COVID-19 changes

Washington Post
Biden tells Netanyahu he expects ‘significant de-escalation today’ as Israel, Hamas continue attacks
As Biden faces a political crisis, migrants face a fight to survive
E.U. to reopen borders to those with accepted vaccines
Opinion: As wealthy CEOs rake in money, an ugly trope about Americans needing help reemerges
One of the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre — 107 years old — wants justice

Yakima Herald Republic
A new child care law means big changes for families and kids in Washington. But it doesn’t come without objections.
PNWU plans to expand Yakima campus with $8 million pledge from MultiCare

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Federal bill aimed at fighting anti-Asian hate could help track hate crimes in Washington
King County businesses brace for possibility of another mask mandate
Kent ShoWare Center suffers $1.1 million loss due to pandemic restrictions
Facing Race: Washington sees a surge in Asian activism
Seattle Public Schools hosts dozens of COVID-19 vaccine clinics for students
Washington launching 988 hotline for mental health emergencies

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
King County expected to require masks indoors for all
Big-name CEOs propose new homelessness solutions in report on crisis
Group files recall petition in court against Governor. Inslee, awaits judge’s approval

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
King County leaders urge people to continue masking up indoors
Schools rush to vaccinate kids against COVID before summer break
Parents, neighbors concerned about growing homeless encampment on Seattle school property
Wash. restaurant industry short 100,000 workers as economy reopens
Gov. Inslee signs police reform measures, including ban on use of chokeholds
You may be eligible for $50 off your monthly internet bill; here’s how to apply

KNKX FM
Controversy brews in Olympia as Inslee vetoes parts of some legislation
Flanked by families, Inslee signs a dozen police reform bills into law (Johnson)
Manuel Ellis’ death looms large at Tacoma bill signings even without his family there
Vaccine clinics get underway at Seattle schools

KUOW FM
Pandemic blog: Updates for Washington state
Visual Explainer: Why Some Coronavirus Variants Are More Contagious Than Others
U.S. Ends Its Policy Of Denying Citizenship To Children Born Via IVF Or Surrogacy
Gov. Inslee signs flurry of anti-pollution laws, but draws ire with vetoes (Harris-Talley, Jinkins)
When to mask up? Clarity on conflicting guidelines

KXLY (ABC)
Governor signs $59 billion, two-year budget for Washington
Vaccine clinics critical for Washington’s push to vaccinate 70 percent of adults

Q13 TV (Fox)
South Sound police department program assisting the homeless set to expand in Olympia
All Washington counties now in Phase 3 of reopening
New tiny home village will support veterans experiencing homelessness in Pierce County
As Washington re-opens, border closure at Canada extended once again
60% of US adults have received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine, CDC says

Web

Crosscut
Seattle police funding debate turns to flawed officer behavior system

MyNorthwest
How Washington’s political divisions are driving a troubling rise in recalls
Carjacking suspect in custody after chase on I-5 from Tacoma to Marysville
Report: Chronic homelessness reaches crisis levels in King County
Gov. Inslee signs police accountability package, some cops have lingering concern
Despite vetoes, monumental climate legislation signed into law
Seattle bike lanes get a dedicated street sweeper, and you get to name it
Edmonds man suspected of child rape captured off coast of Florida
Private prison company suing state over bill to shut down Tacoma ICE detention center
King County to consider implementing stricter mask rules at local level
Lawmakers disappointed by Gov. Inslee’s veto pen

Slog
The Right Thinks Stimmy Checks and Lazy Fast Food Workers Are Causing Inflation
Soderbergh’s Team Claims They Didn’t Sweep Any Seattle Homeless Encampments

West Seattle Blog
First landlords, now tenants: King County opens relief-program applications for renters
2 more local school clinics in partnership with city
Duwamish Tribe hosts Gov. Inslee’s bill signing for HEAL Act (Saldaña, Harris-Talley, Fitzgibbon)

Tuesday, May 18

New laws aim to keep people from losing their homes in Washington
When Carol Porter filed for bankruptcy in 2015, she didn’t expect she would lose her Issaquah home in the process. That’s because, for more than a century, Washington law has contained language to protect people’s homes from being sold to pay off their debts. But the law hasn’t kept up with the state’s rising home prices. As a result, only $125,000 of the equity of Porter’s home was off-limits from her creditors — an amount far shy of what the property was worth. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Dorothy Edwards)

Inslee signs ambitious environmental protection laws
Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee signed a series of bills Monday designed to strengthen the environment in Washington state. Inslee signed the Climate Commitment Act, environmental justice legislation, a clean fuels standard and bills related to reducing Washington’s single-use plastic waste and hydrofluorocarbon pollution. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Ted S. Warren)

New law expected to have widespread effect
Recycling and environmentally focused groups are hailing a new state law as groundbreaking when it comes to reducing the amount of plastics entering the solid waste system and, too often, the oceans. Gov. Jay Inslee signed the law, Senate Bill 5022, on Monday. Over the next several years, the law will ban certain polystyrene products — such as common foam takeout containers — and sets statewide minimums for the amount of recycled material to be used in the manufacture of plastic items, from beverage bottles to trash bags. Continue reading at The Skagit Valley Herald.