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Thursday, August 29

WA state superintendent calls on schools to limit cell phone use. Here’s why
The Washington state Superintendent of Public Instruction is encouraging local school leaders to limit cell phone use during instructional time by changing policies over the next year. The guidance calls for school leaders to work with their local communities to update their policies by the start of the 2025-26 school year. This messaging comes as many schools across the state and nation have started to restrict or plan to restrict cell phone use to improve education and health outcomes. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Eric Rosane)

More money coming to WA for housing for people with disabilities
Washington is getting a boost in funding to help subsidize rent for adults living with disabilities. The state will get $8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which announced last week it would be awarding nearly $140 million in grants nationwide to 18 state housing agencies as part of its Section 811 Project Rental Assistance for Persons with Disabilities program. Washington’s slice of the money will help fund 158 new subsidized rental units. That’s in addition to 132 units the state already supports with this program. It’s the third grant of this type that the department has received. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

Washington state launches race-based home loan program
A Washington state home loan program promises to counter racial discrimination by limiting the ethnicities of those eligible for its services. The Covenant Homeownership Program is a product of the state’s 2023 Covenant Homeownership Act, which received bipartisan support in the state legislature. That law directed the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to conduct a study on ways to reverse “racial disparities in home ownership.” Continue reading at KOMO. (Brandon Bell)

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Associated Press
Killings of invasive owls to ramp up on U.S. West Coast in a bid to save spotted owls

Axios
How one company transformed the apartment rental market

Capital Press
Scout CEO: Inslee ‘must’ override EFSEC if needed
USDA approves transgenic drought-tolerant trait for wheat

Columbian
250 soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord join Idaho wildfire-fighting effort
Washington congressman introduces bill that would return land to Quinault Indian Nation

Everett Herald
An early look at the new Lynnwood Link extension
State places Marysville schools under enhanced financial monitoring
Sea-Tac computer outage is ongoing. Here’s what travelers should know.

The Inlander
Spokane County commissioners begin early steps to regulate wind farms now that companies want to build here
As the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub gets its first influx of cash, Douglas County PUD is nearly ready to make green hydrogen fuel

Kitsap Sun
Bremerton schools responsible for Kennedy settlement after appeals court ruling

News Tribune
Proctor neighborhood controversy about Amici House church conversion project continues

Olympian
Yelm teachers vote to strike on first day of school if no agreement is reached
WA state superintendent calls on schools to limit cell phone use. Here’s why
Caregivers at Olympia hospital among those awarded $4.4M in class action lawsuit

Puget Sound Business Journal
$170M Ocean Pavilion opens on Seattle’s waterfront
Here’s what to expect at Sea-Tac Airport this weekend
It’s not just salary. Employers are cutting back on other benefits.

Seattle Medium
Pierce County Election Hand Recount In Historic Primary Underway

Seattle Times
OSPI issues guidance on cellphone use in WA classrooms
Light rail for beginners: How to ride the new Lynnwood extension
Hundreds of endangered frogs released into Central WA wildlife refuge
35,000 Providence patients in WA could soon lose in-network coverage

Skagit Valley Herald
A second day of school canceled in Mount Vernon due to employee strike
Skagit County commissioners weigh in on proposed energy storage facility
State fines Burlington business for knowingly exposing workers to silica dust

Spokesman Review
Portrait of Spokane’s first Black mayor unveiled in art gallery that bears his name
Spokane Public Schools launches engageIRL campaign to bolster activities, distract from phones
Spokane Public Schools approves $590 million spending plan with reduced staff, no layoffs or cut programs

Washington Post
60% of baby and toddler food doesn’t meet nutrition standards, study finds
Opinion: The United States needs 3 million apprentices. We’re not even close.

WA State Standard
More money coming to WA for housing for people with disabilities
Inslee sends prison staff to juvenile detention facility to help deal with overcrowding

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee nonprofit secures climate commitment act funds
NCW Tech Alliance partners with Community Skills Initiative for competition

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Mount Vernon School District cancels school again as union bargaining continues
Auburn’s license plate reading cameras already a ‘huge help’ to detectives, police say
Washington schools superintendent publishes guidance for schools to limit cellphone use
’23andMe’ for bears: How a new project will help efforts to reintroduce grizzlies to the North Cascades

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
License plate readers installed to tackle crime in Auburn
35,000 Providence patients in WA could lose in-network coverage
Scandal in the small town of Morton where $937,000 was allegedly stolen
Yelm teachers vote to strike on first day of school if no agreement is reached
What you need to know ahead of the Lynnwood Light Rail extension opening
Mount Vernon School District cancels classes again due to paraeducator strike

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington state launches race-based home loan program
Washington superintendent urges schools to update cell phone policies
Olympia police banned from personalizing equipment in settlement over 2022
Everetty fire launches new pilot program to help relieve opiate withdrawal symptoms

KNKX Public Radio
100th anniversary of Makah Days showcases revived native culture in Neah Bay

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Public Schools pushes off closure list — again — to October
Youth jail should be improved, not closed, King County Council votes

NW Public Radio
Longview youth shelter set to open this fall
Longview moves fluoride discussions to early 2025
Washington to study pumped storage benefits, concerns

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Mount Vernon School District paraeducators on strike for higher wages
City progress report: Downtown is trending up, officials have invested $1M

Crosscut
Seattle moves ahead with $27M for six community-picked projects
Even before Dobbs, Washingtonians sought abortion care in Oregon

MyNorthwest
Cowlitz Convention responsible for splitting Washington from Oregon
Mount Vernon schools will be closed again Thursday as strike continues
‘A lot of my income is already being taken:’ Seattleites pay US’ highest sales tax, report says

The Urbanist
Sneak Peek Tour of Lynnwood City Center Station
How Cities in Lynnwood Link’s Path Prepared for Light Rail’s Arrival

Wednesday, August 28

King County Council votes against shuttering youth jail
The Metropolitan King County Council voted 8-0 Tuesday, on a motion declaring its intent to keep open the county’s juvenile detention center, while heaping on language to make clear the body favored alternatives where available and would work toward making the secure facility as humane and restorative as possible. After being deferred for months, the amended motion finally won enough support from members of the council, who were satisfied it conveyed a balance between seeking better paths for young people and acknowledging the realities of dealing with serious crimes. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kylie Cooper)

New WA program aims to curb air pollution in parts of state most affected by it
Communities in Washington hit hardest by climate change may soon get state funding to improve air quality. Washington’s Department of Ecology is launching a new grant program this week to fund local projects in communities it has determined are historically “overburdened” by air pollution. The $10 million for the grants comes from auction proceeds from the state’s Climate Commitment Act. The goal is to help fund community-based projects to reduce air pollution. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Lindsey Wasson)

Early learning centers get $7 million from state to improve facilities
On Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Commerce announced a $7 million grant for early learning centers across the state. Funded by the Early Learning Facilities Program, the grant provides financial assistance to cover health and safety improvements in centers which can include equipment and facilities upgrades. Out of 179 applicants, 64 licensed early learning centers were approved to receive the money. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (WA Dept. of Commerce)

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Associated Press
Salmon will soon swim freely in the Klamath River for first time in a century once dams are removed

Axios
Land Trust sells Seattle-area homes for less $300k and under
The controversial California AI bill that has divided the tech world

Bainbridge Island Review
Kingston Fast Ferry sailings canceled until further notice

Columbian
OSPI likely to take action concerning College Place Title IX resolution on sports teams
Evergreen’s Cascadia Tech Academy expanding electrical program to Port of Ridgefield
Two Vancouver police officers say chiefs retaliated after they testified in sex discrimination lawsuit; women plan to sue city

The Daily News
Emergency rules implemented to combat Chronic Wasting Disease in WA
Thumbs up to Kelso airport upgrades, thumbs down to grocery execs’ deleted texts
Cowlitz County, PUD suspend landfill power plan because of Ecology requirements

Everett Herald
As money runs out, free shuttle for rural SnoCo residents may end
Sound Transit plants trees, funds green projects ahead of Lynnwood opening

The Inlander
Spokane County Commissioner Al French faces recall attempt over PFAS controversy

News Tribune
City of Tacoma sued over controversial housing initiative aimed at protecting tenants
County council spent months on homeless stability site. That plan is dead. Now what?

Olympian
Caregivers at Olympia hospital among those awarded $4.4M in class action lawsuit
Washington congressman introduces bill that would return land to Quinault Indian Nation

Port Townsend Leader
Water rupture shines light on aging infrastructure
Ferry contract negotiations over pay collapse into arbitration

Puget Sound Business Journal
Small businesses that took Covid-19 relief loans are struggling
Homebuyers are facing another mortgage-related challenge in 2024

Seattle Medium
King County Council Votes To Keep Juvenile Detention Center Open Amid Rising Youth Crime
Commerce Awards Over $29 Million To Address Wealth Disparities And Promote Homeownership
Ferguson Files Antitrust Lawsuit Alleging RealPage Conspired To Inflate Rental Prices in Washington

Seattle Times
King County Council votes against shuttering youth jail

Spokesman Review
Endangered frogs have yet to ‘croak’ as conservationists release hundreds into wildlife refuge
Genetically modified wheat approved for U.S. testing, but may not be boon for Northwest farmers
West Plains resident, progressive group file recall petition against Commissioner Al French, alleging PFAS coverup

Washington Post
Cuts to race-based scholarships block path to college, students say
Police can’t decorate gear after they wore Blue Lives flags and killed Black man

WA State Standard
New WA program aims to curb air pollution in parts of state most affected by it
Sea-Tac airport computer outage is ongoing. Here’s what travelers should know

Wenatchee World
Fish and Wildlife proposal would lift yellow perch catch limits at Fish Lake
WA AG’s office awarded $655,000 in Wenatchee veterans nonprofit sexual harassment case

Yakima Herald-Republic
Sunnyside city officials raise concern about budget; Monsoon property sale hasn’t gone through

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Mount Vernon School District cancels first day of school
King County Council votes to keep youth detention center open
Kingston-Seattle fast ferry sailings canceled until further notice
Marysville School District faces budget challenges ahead of school year
Crew shortages lead to ferry disruptions ahead of busy Labor Day weekend
Washington coastal tribe awarded $3 million grant to move to higher ground

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Pilot program aims to protect rideshare drivers in Seattle
Lynnwood light rail opens Friday: everything you need to know
Body-worn cameras coming to Washington Fish and Wildlife Police
Early learning centers get $7 million from state to improve facilities
With Husky football season around the corner, King County Transit is ready
Marysville School District sends warning of larger classrooms to start school year
Baggage system improving at SEA, still uncertain when things will return to normal

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle, Tacoma top list of US cities with highest combined sales tax
Officer-involved shooting at Kent apartment complex under investigation
Mount Vernon School District cancels 1st day of school as paraeducators go on strike

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane child care centers awarded over $500k in grant funding
Clean water group launches recall campaign against Al French over contamination issue
Parents and teachers express concern over staff reductions in Moses Lake School district

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Cougars in Washington state: Few attacks, stable numbers
Rate of homelessness in Whatcom County remains steady, new report says

MyNorthwest
King County’s youth jail to remain open after impassioned public comments on both sides

The Urbanist
Opinion: Local Leaders Pioneering a New, Undemocratic Seattle Process

Tuesday, August 27

Fishing for salmon in Pierce County this season? Keep these new state rules in mind
Calling Pierce County anglers: Parts of Minter Creek are closed to fishing for the 2024-25 season, according to new rules from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. A news release Aug. 26 announced that “all waters within channels created by exposed tidelands are closed to fishing at Minter Creek” for the season. The rules are subject to change. Anglers can check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website or the Fish Washington mobile app for the latest updates. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Ali Rizvi & Sohail Al-Jamea)

City of Olympia agrees to pay $600,000, require police training to settle suit in shooting death
The City of Olympia has settled a tort claim with the family of Timothy Green for $600,000 two years after he was shot and killed by an Olympia Police Department officer. According to an Aug. 26 news release from Leslie Cushman, who has been working with Green’s family, the city also agreed to take four actions. The city must require all patrol officers to take a 40-hour Criminal Justice Training Commission training on crisis intervention within the next two years. The city also must adopt a policy prohibiting employees from personalizing equipment. Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)

Western Washington tribe could get back 72 acres of old-growth forest under congressional bill
The Quinault Indian Nation could soon help manage one of the last old growth forests in Washington state, which was once part of its reservation — before the land was sold to non-Native townspeople, then later held by the federal government. Tribal representatives say they hope to use the land to educate others on historical preservation, hunting, canoe carving, and other traditional ecological knowledge. They also say they wouldn’t harvest the old-growth cedar forest for commercial use, but would harvest around the edges of the potential preserve. Continue reading at KUOW. (Quinault Indian Nation)

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Associated Press
Apparent cyberattack leaves Seattle airport facing major internet outages
Kroger and Albertsons defend merger plan in federal court against US regulators’ objections
Conflicting federal policies may cost residents more on flood insurance, and leave them at risk

Capital Press
Judge halts H-2A union rule in Idaho, 16 other states
Farm employers out to toss Biden and Trump H-2A rules
Port of Portland plans to double container shipping volume
Feds: Tidegate protecting farmland jeopardizes salmon, killer whales
Wildfires increase mercury in Pacific Northwest headwater streams, study shows

Columbian
Nurse-Family Partnership program supports low-income Clark County moms
Energy demand from data centers growing faster than West can supply, experts say
“Horses are the masters of mindfulness”: Lifeline Connections adds animal-assisted therapy to offerings

The Daily News
New filing in Longview council lawsuit outlines months of alleged OPMA violations
Albertsons executives deleted texts about Kroger merger to destroy evidence, FTC says
Longview meets the national standard for fluoride. 2 councilmembers want to lower that.

Everett Herald
Second Marysville school board member resigns
‘Big Shaker’ quake simulator coming to Marysville
Ecology: Edmonds school needs to find source of PFAS
Whidbey volunteers monitor bull kelp, a key ‘ecosystem engineer’
Under climate change, North Cascades could see much hotter temperatures
Comment: Homes will be affordable again; just not anytime soon

High Country News
Northwest coastal tribes are drowning in paperwork trying to escape sea-level rise

Indian Country Today
Report lays bare stark disparities in health care outcomes for Native people

International Examiner
Seattle city officials say Downtown Activation Plan nearly complete one year later

Kitsap Sun
Release of draft plans for new PSNS dry dock postponed to early 2025

News Tribune
Fishing for salmon in Pierce County this season? Keep these new state rules in mind
Possible Sea-Tac cyberattack still impacting Seattle airport travel. Here’s what to know

New York Times
Judge Blocks E.P.A. From Using Civil Rights Law in Pollution Case
With Dams Removed, Salmon Will Have the Run of a Western River

Olympian
City of Olympia agrees to pay $600,000, require police training to settle suit in shooting death

Oregonian
‘Thin blue line’ patches no longer allowed in this NW police department under settlement

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam commissioners consider $2 million for housing project

Puget Sound Business Journal
The National Observer: Noncompete ban blocked
Unions rally ahead of Kroger-Albertsons FTC hearing
Ultra-high-paying jobs are seeing a hybrid-work comeback
Business owners get squeezed as banks tighten lending standards

Seattle Medium
Seattle Awardrd $5.5 Million Grant To Combat Extreme Heat, Wildfires
Washington State Launches Zero-Interest Loan Program To Combat Racist Housing Covenants

Seattle Times
Little known about cyberattack that has disrupted Sea-Tac Airport
Ballot recounting by hand begins in tightest WA primary in history
Former city official accused of stealing $937K from tiny Morton, WA

Skagit Valley Herald
Burlington sets tax for road projects

Spokesman Review
City of Spokane to spend $9 million to create or rehab 67 affordable housing units
Avista’s Vermillion stepping down; Rosentrater to become first woman to lead company as CEO
Spokane County Sheriff’s sergeant to be charged with assault, falsifying police report over violent 2023 arrest
FDA approves Neffy, a nasal spray alternative to an EpiPen that does not need a needle to stop an allergic reaction
Opinion: Congress should act now to help vulnerable seniors live longer

Tri-City Herald
Opinion: Does WA state energy council have the courage to stand up to Gov. Inslee?

Washington Post
Cellphone bans spread in schools amid growing mental health worries
Judge halts Biden program offering legal status to undocumented spouses
Chinese government hackers have penetrated U.S. internet providers to spy on users

WA State Standard
Former small-town official accused of stealing $937K from Washington city
250 soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord join Idaho wildfire-fighting effort
Settlement with family of man killed by Olympia police will mandate de-escalation training

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
No timeline for when SEA Airport system will be back online after cyberattack
City of Olympia reaches $600,000 settlement with family of man killed by police
Audit links former Morton city employee to more than $930,000 in ‘misappropriated’ funds
New petition calls for harsher penalties for teen offenders after 13-year-old killed in Alderwood Mall shooting

KNKX Public Radio
The U.S. national park system gets a $100 million grant, the largest in its history

KUOW Public Radio
Middle school-aged kids increasingly face felony charges in King County
Western Washington tribe could get back 72 acres of old-growth forest under congressional bill

NW Public Radio
Federal trial over grocery chain merger begins in Oregon

Web

Cascadia Daily News
City of Bellingham reaches tentative agreement with Local 1937

Crosscut
Link light-rail extension to Lynnwood opens August 30
Seattle opened 1,750 subsidized, affordable apartments in 2023

MyNorthwest
Washington joins lawsuit claiming there’s a price-fixing scheme hurting local renters

The Urbanist
Seattle Inches Down Path to Design Review Overhaul with New Report
Proposal for Future Transit Corridor Upzones Draws Sharp Opposition in Kirkland

Monday, August 26

Shooting settlement will ban Olympia police from decorating equipment
In a settlement reached with the family of a 37-year-old Black man shot and killed by Olympia police in 2022, the city will pay $600,000 and has agreed to ban officers from the “personalization” of their equipment, effectively bringing to an end the display of polarizing symbols like the “thin blue line” flag. Details of the unusual settlement of a wrongful death tort claim filed by the family of Timothy Green were announced by lawyers on Monday. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Leslie Cushman)

Getting There: State program will boost electric car chargers in northeastern Washington
The small but growing number of electric car owners in northeastern Washington will soon get a boost from a state program. The Washington State Department of Commerce has approved funds for several new charging stations in northeastern rural counties, and around the state, as registered electric vehicles continue to increase. The projects are funded through the Climate Commitment Act to different counties around the state. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Monica Carrillo-Casas)

Black, Native people face higher rates of charges in Washington courts
The number of Black people with charges filed against them in Washington’s courts last year was about 2.5 times greater than their share of the state’s population – largely due to misdemeanor charges, which are considered less serious crimes. That’s according to a new online data dashboard released this month by the Washington State Center for Court Research. The dashboard also shows that the number of Native Americans with charges filed against them in Washington’s courts last year was about two times greater than their share of the state’s population. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (HT Ganzo)

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Axios
Seattle’s back-to-school cooling demand is way up

Columbian
State enacts emergency rules to combat wasting disease
Washington farmers want their promised carbon-pricing exemptions
Can Housing First work in the face of Clark county’s fentanyl crisis? Residents say apartments are rife with drug use and crime

Everett Herald
‘Butch the Cougar’ immortalized at WSU Everett campus
Everett behavioral health urgent care looks to help more patients
Banks tighten lending standards, increasing pressure on small-business owners
Comment: Overdose awareness efforts key to saving lives around us
Comment: Patients of color shouldn’t face unexpected in childbirth
Comment: Washington a model for striving for climate resilience

Kent Reporter
Kent youth residential behavioral health facility gets $6M state grant

Kitsap Sun
Lawsuit filed in Bremerton over records related to superintendent’s leave

News Tribune
Rules of the Road: At what point does speeding officially become ‘reckless?’
Here’s what the average Puyallup family will pay for the city’s new police station
Pierce County election workers start hand recount in historically tight statewide race
Molten rock into insulation? See how a WA plant will make the forbidden cotton candy
Demand for gravel leads to conflict in Pierce County city where mine expansion proposed

Puget Sound Business Journal
Employers are gaining more leverage on pay — and they’re using it
Comment: Don’t overlook importance of Washington’s aerospace industry

Seattle Times
Family of man who died in Seattle jail sues county for $25 million
Shooting settlement will ban Olympia police from decorating equipment

Spokesman Review
Getting There: State program will boost electric car chargers in northeastern Washington
Strike averted as Cheney School District, union reach tentative agreement on new teacher contract

Washington Post
When does a glacier die?
New coronavirus vaccines are now approved. Here’s what to know.
‘Barely surviving’: Some flight attendants are facing homelessness and hunger

WA State Standard
Black, Native people face higher rates of charges in Washington courts
Students with disabilities struggle after high school. One WA district is trying to change that.

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
SEA Airport travelers dealing with long lines due to cyber attack
Hand recount in primary race for commissioner of public lands to begin Monday

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Goodwill closes 2 Seattle locations over rising costs and safety concerns
Green Lake smash and grab, 14 cars damaged, police searching for suspects
SEA Airport still reeling, a day after suspected cyberattack on Port of Seattle
Alaska Airlines flight forced to return to Sea-Tac after Boeing 737′s engine shuts down
Kroger and Albertsons hope to merge but must face a skeptical US government in court first

KNKX Public Radio
Research shows that what you call climate change doesn’t matter much
Seattle, School District to invest $14M in school safety following gun violence incidents

KUOW Public Radio
As King County moves to reopen Kent hotel for the unhoused, asylum-seekers hope they won’t be forgotten

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane transitional shelter seeing great success in helping fight opioid crisis
Spokane mayor says current model for regional 911 services doesn’t work for the city, city could go it alone

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Lummi Chairman: Our focus is on health care, sovereignty, water rights and next generation

MyNorthwest
How Washington residents can get $200 toward their electric bills

The Urbanist
Seattle Officials Tout Safety, Mental Health Interventions for New School Year
First Look at Montlake’s Highway Lid and Pedestrian Bridge, Opening This Fall

Friday, August 23

WA joins antitrust suit against rent-setting software firm RealPage
Washington is joining the Department of Justice and a handful of other states in suing a software company that scores of landlords use to help set rents in Seattle and across the country. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in North Carolina, accuses the firm of violating federal antitrust law. The company, RealPage, offers landlords a platform to enter information about the apartments they have for rent, and the software uses an algorithm based on details from other local rentals to suggest a monthly rent price. Tenants have also sued the company in recent years, claiming the software allows landlords to trade otherwise private information to effectively fix rents. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Rebates on the way for farmers who paid fuel surcharges under WA climate law
Farmers who believe they paid unfair fuel surcharges under the state’s cap-and-trade program can soon apply for a rebate from the state. The Legislature set aside $30 million this year for farm fuel users and haulers of agricultural goods to receive rebates. The funding comes from revenue the state received in its quarterly pollution allowance auctions under the Climate Commitment Act. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

WSDOT Head Millar Wants $150 Million Annually to Fix Washington’s ‘Stroads’
Washington transportation secretary Roger Millar is pushing the state legislature to find a way to fund urgently needed improvements to the hundreds of miles of state highways that run through the state’s population centers. The request comes as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is preparing for the upcoming legislative session, and lawmakers get to work on the state’s budget. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (WSDOT)