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Friday, March 12

Biden: All adults will be eligible to be vaccinated on May 1
One year after the nation was brought to a near-standstill by the coronavirus, President Joe Biden pledged in his first prime-time address to make all adults eligible for vaccines by May 1 and raised the possibility of beginning to “mark our independence from this virus” by the Fourth of July. He offered Americans fresh hope and appealed anew for their help. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Lawmakers in Olympia on verge of major policing overhaul
The bills include measures limiting the use of tactics like neck restraints and creating an independent office to investigate police use of deadly force. Officers would be required to intervene if they see a colleague using excessive force and to exercise reasonable care in deciding to use force — a standard designed to require de-escalation tactics and to take into account whether someone is having a mental-health crisis. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

WA state Supreme Court prohibits mandatory life without parole for young adults
The Washington State Supreme Court found mandatory sentences of life without parole unconstitutional for young adults and ordered two Pierce County men to be resentenced in a split ruling Thursday. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (GETTY IMAGES/CREATAS RF)

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Associated Press
Biden: All adults will be eligible to be vaccinated on May 1
Washington state parks to start reopening later this month
Court overturns automatic life sentences for young killers
Limited number of fans to soon return to Washington stadiums
Lawmakers in Olympia on verge of major policing overhaul (Pedersen, Johnson)
First case of Brazil COVID-19 variant found in Washington
The Latest: WH: Will direct states to allow shots for May 1
President Biden sets May 1 target to have all adults vaccine-eligible
Biden aims for quicker shots, ‘independence from this virus’

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Lummi Chairman: ‘This virus knows no borders, and we are blessed to be able to share vaccines‘
With federal stimulus money coming, what will this mean for Whatcom retailers?
Watch: Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee announces Phase 3 of COVID-19 reopening (March 11)
WA state Supreme Court prohibits mandatory life without parole for young adults
State parks to reopen group campgrounds. Reservations open March 18
State will enter Phase 3 March 22, professional sports to welcome fans
WA health officials wary of fourth COVID wave as state races to distribute vaccines
Answers for the fully vaccinated confused by new CDC COVID guidance
When’s the earliest you could get that $1,400 stimulus check — and who’s eligible?
Coronavirus weekly need-to-know: Leftover shots, COVID pill, restaurant dining & more
President Biden on economy: ‘We’re in a national emergency…we need to act like it’

Capital Press
Shipping congestion hurts agricultural exporters

Columbian
$145 million in stimulus funds heading to Southwest Washington
Camas High School COVID-19 case count grows
In-person classes canceled at Camas High after COVID spreads at party
Forbes ranks Vancouver as second-best place in U.S. to visit during pandemic
In Our View: State’s economy depends on trade relations

The Daily News
In the bag: Kelso music students get special PPE to play instruments in-person

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
State Senate Passes Bill That Would Eliminate Overtime Exemption For Farm Workers
One year after the pandemic, Yakima has a “stronger” public health system
Op-Ed: Rural populations in Washington need more health care

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Drug possession is illegal again, so far only in Marysville
Moving to Phase 3: Fans in stadiums and more indoor dining
New plan earmarks millions of dollars for pre-K programs
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Cornfield Report: A bundle of billions and an imbalance of power (Ortiz-Self, Frame)
Comment: During covid, TVW has been a window into government

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Inslee announces Phase 3 of Healthy Washington plan
Lawmakers in Olympia on the verge of a major policing overhaul (Pederson, Johnson)

News Tribune (subscription required)
More than 100 new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday in Pierce County
Shipbuilder to reopen Tacoma facility, bringing 75 jobs for maritime workers
Registration opens Friday for University Place COVID vaccination event
Ex-warship Kitty Hawk could produce ‘an odor’ as it is cleaned in WA state, Navy says
Peninsula district names list of candidates to succeed retiring superintendent Art Jarvis

New York Times
Live Updates: Biden Sets High Expectations for an American Recovery
L.G.B.T.Q. People Face Increased Risks From Covid, but Many Don’t Want the Vaccine
The Virus Spread Where Restaurants Reopened or Mask Mandates Were Absent
Seattle’s Virus Success Shows What Could Have Been
Need Health Insurance? A Guide to New Options Under the Stimulus.

Olympian (subscription required)
State will enter Phase 3 March 22, professional sports to welcome fans
Thurston County reports 1 COVID-19 death, 12 more cases on Thursday
WA health officials wary of fourth COVID wave as state races to distribute vaccines
New homeless census provides an incomplete snapshot of Thurston County’s unhoused
WA state Supreme Court prohibits mandatory life without parole for young adults
State parks to reopen group campgrounds. Reservations open March 18
Mariners given approval for 9,000 fans to return to T-Mobile Park

Peninsula Daily News
Online Farm & Food Finder aims to feed Peninsula

Port Townsend Leader
All counties moving to Phase 3 | 2021 Legislative Session

Puget Sound Business Journal
Washington state will soon move to Phase 3 of Inslee’s reopening plan
Seattle’s nuanced (and somewhat perilous) status as a tech hub
SDOT looking for contractor for West Seattle Bridge repairs
Here’s what the new Covid economic relief package means for Seattle-area businesses

Seattle Times (subscription required)
FAQ Friday: New federal guidelines for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccine side effects hit some recipients hard; that’s not all bad. Here’s what to do about them.
Opinion: Trudi Inslee: It’s time to safely reopen our schools
It’s daylight saving time again: How long do we have to keep switching the clock back and forth? (Riccelli)
Inslee loosens Washington COVID-19 restrictions; pro sports can host fans, restaurants can serve more customers
Washington state parks to start reopening in March

Seattle Medium
Inslee Announces Statewide Move To Phase 3 Of COVID Recovery Plan
State Board of Education Adopts Emergency Waiver Program For Class Of 2021

Skagit Valley Herald
PUD approves major water project
Governor to loosen restrictions when state moves into Phase 3 on March 22
Sedro-Woolley draft ADA Transition Plan released for review
MJB Properties moving forward on plans to develop Anacortes waterfront property

The Skanner
Washington Again Ranked #1 State in National Report

South Seattle Emerald
Larger capacities for indoor and outdoor spaces allowed as Washington moves to Phase 3
Local leaders respond to anti-Asian violence, rallies planned this weekend
Opinion: Bill may end decades of human rights violations at immigration detention center

Spokesman Review
Here’s how Democrats’ $15-an-hour minimum wage proposal could impact the Inland Northwest
Washington to receive billions of dollars from federal stimulus package for schools, child care, local governments
Spokane City Council on electric cars: if you buy them, charging stations will follow
Feds say nursing homes ‘should allow’ indoor visits, but residents in Washington, Idaho will have to wait
Some Eastern Washington school districts want relaxed social distancing standards
District moves ahead with potential North Central mascot change
Inslee: All counties in Washington to move to Phase 3 starting March 22

Tri-City Herald
‘Asking for hope.’ 4 children beg Tri-Cities judge for mercy for their mom’s killer
WA health officials wary of fourth COVID wave as state races to distribute vaccines
More Tri-Cities essential workers, pregnant women eligible for COVID vaccine Wednesday
Tri-Cities driver jailed for DUI after hitting bicyclist with truck in Kennewick
Scammers trying new tricks. 2 Tri-Citians fooled into sending $18,000 and $10,000

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Gov. Jay Inslee announces Phase 3 — major changes for Walla Walla, Columbia counties
Walla Walla driver’s license office remains closed, causing difficulty for many
No new COVID-19 cases again reported in Walla Walla County

Yakima Herald Republic
‘I just wish I could have been there holding her hand:’ Losing a mother to COVID-19
Gov. Inslee: all counties in Washington state will go to phase three, including Yakima
Washington State Patrol releases list of active cases of missing Indigenous people
First case of Brazil COVID-19 variant found in Washington
“It’s not a sin:” Yakima’s Catholic bishop gets COVID-19 vaccine, encourages everyone to do the same
Agriculture, grocery workers move up on vaccine timeline to March 17 in Washington state

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Private investment firm orders 24 Boeing 737 MAX planes
Bellevue parents rally to reopen more schools
All Washington counties moving to Phase 3 of reopening on March 22
Washington public transit workers eligible for COVID-19 vaccine on March 17
President Biden sets May 1 target to have all adults vaccine-eligible
How Washington’s COVID-19 vaccination numbers compare to other states
Student loan forgiveness now tax-free because of COVID-19 stimulus bill

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
State to enter phase 3 of reopening plan; people in tier 2 eligible for vaccines, Mariners to welcome fans
Wave customers could soon see a credit on their bill, as AG continues “honest fees initiative”
Seattle Police use genealogy website to make arrest in 23-year-old cold case
COVID-19 variant first discovered in Brazil detected in King County
Biden signs $1.9T COVID-19 relief bill, with $1,400 stimulus checks, into law
Bill to take credit scoring out of insurance rates dies in the Senate (Das)
Despite WA Supreme Court ruling, Marysville police will still arrest drug offenders

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
COVID-19: All Washington counties to move to Phase 3, 50% capacity allowed indoors
Governor Inslee hints at loosening visitation guidelines at Washington nursing homes
‘It’s exhausting.’ A year of distance learning wears thin
Biden aims for quicker shots, ‘independence from this virus’
Homeless advocates in Seattle feud over approach in their outreach efforts
COVID-19 pandemic one year later
Two local women help teen honor COVID victims with WA state memorial quilt

KNKX FM
Inslee announces plan to move all WA counties to Phase 3 starting March 22
Biden Sets Goal Of July 4th To ‘Mark Independence’ From Coronavirus

KUOW FM
All Washington state counties will move to phase 3 of reopening on March 22, Gov. Inslee says
One year since Seattle schools closed, here are some hurdles to reopening
Pandemic updates for the Northwest
We still spring forward this weekend despite votes to ditch daylight saving time (Riccelli)
Children Spend Days In Crude Facilities As U.S. Border Resources Overwhelmed Again
Indoor Visits With Nursing Home Residents OK, New CDC Guidance Says

KXLY (ABC)
More fans to be allowed at high school, youth sports in Phase 3
Biden will direct states to open vaccinations to all adults by May 1
Washington essential workers moved up in vaccine rollout

NW Public Radio
Sorry, Northwesterners. You Still Have To ‘Spring Forward’ This Weekend Despite State Votes To Stop (Riccelli)
Jay Inslee Announces Plan To Move All Washington Counties To Phase 3 Starting March 22
President Biden Sets Goal Of July 4th To ‘Mark Independence’ From Coronavirus

Q13 TV (Fox)
All counties in Washington advancing to Phase 3; Mariners can welcome fans on opening day
Tenants, property owners seek legislative edge before evictions resume (Macri)
Mariners now allowing 9,000 fans at T-Mobile Park for games starting April 1
Washington state parks to start reopening later this month
Seattle businesses celebrate moving into Phase 3 with some planning to hire back staff
Local families on financial brink say latest stimulus checks couldn’t come fast enough

Web

Civic Skunkworks
Let’s Debunk the Lies About a New Plan to Invest in Washington State

Crosscut
Court’s drug possession ruling upends WA’s criminal justice system (Mullet)
Washington climate activists disagree about how to cut carbon (Lekanoff, Shewmake, Carlyle, Lovelett)
Trial judges must reject campaign money from police in Washington
Diversity at U.S. medical schools has barely improved in 40 years
Mariners games soon? Gov. Inslee lifts some WA pandemic restrictions

MyNorthwest
Washington state to move to Phase 3, reopening of sports under new metrics
Most local ski resorts extend season into April
WA Rep. Larsen: COVID relief package isn’t perfect, but it’s still necessary
Washington health officials: ‘We’re moving into a new era of this pandemic’
Tacoma unveils plan to do away with ‘single-family’ zoning label, reimagine housing options

Slog
Washington Will Move to Phase 3 on March 22, Loosening Restrictions on Indoor and Outdoor Activities
Biden: All Adults Must Be Eligible for Vaccine by May 1
Alex Pedersen Doesn’t Like the Bill that Helps the Small Business You Started in Your Garage
The Senate Must Not Weaken Just Cause Eviction Protections Any More than the House Already Has (Kuderer, Paul, Chapman, Rule, Peterson, Macri)

Thursday, March 11

State House passes bill to expand tax exemption for working families
The Washington state House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill that would expand the state’s Working Families Tax Exemption. If it were to become law in its current form, the proposal also would ensure the exemption is available to eligible taxpayers for the first time. After passing on a broadly bipartisan, 94-2 vote, House Bill 1297 now heads to the Senate for further consideration. Continue reading at The Olympian. (TVW)

Bill would add climate-change factors to state planning law
Climate change is the second-most-common problem that state Rep. Davina Duerr hears about from her constituents. Their No. 1 concern? Transportation, which in Washington contributes nearly 45% of the greenhouse gases that drive climate change. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Andy Bronson)

Economic equity requires bold action from state legislators
Without major State investments, we will emerge from COVID-19 with even more racial, gender, and economic inequality than before the pandemic. New revenue from SB 5096 and additional progressive sources such as the wealth tax and an expanded estate tax would help break the downward spiral and propel us onto a path of thriving communities and dreams made real. Continue reading at The South Seattle Emerald. (James Seattle)

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Associated Press
Washington farm exports hampered by cargo-container shortage
Seattle mass COVID vaccination site aims to operate daily
Congress OKs $1.9T virus relief bill in win for Biden, Dems

Aberdeen Daily World
County’s mass vaccination clinic appointment process changes
Willapa Behavioral Health to provide syringe services in county
College Bound Scholarship for low-income students gets boost from Senate (Nobles)
What’s inside the $1.9T COVID-19 bill passed by Congress
Letter: A tight vaccination ship

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
State House passes bill to expand tax exemption for working families (Thai, Billig, Sullivan, Ormsby)
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
What’s next for $1,400 checks? House passes stimulus plan, clearing way to send funds
State gives Whatcom 2,370 first doses of COVID vaccine and 2,600 second doses this week
As Whatcom nears anniversary of first COVID, state reports 24 confirmed cases Tuesday
Rep. My-Linh Thai speaks on Working Families Tax Exemption (Thai)
On anniversary of Whatcom’s first reported COVID case, county sees 2 deaths and 23 cases
Are COVID vaccine side effects worse for some people? It can depend on your sex
Fauci marks COVID anniversary with hope and a warning: Don’t ‘underestimate’ virus
How to adjust for Daylight Saving Time? Health tips as we lose an hour of sleep

Blaine Northern Light
Capital gains tax narrowly passes Senate (Cleveland, Hobbs, Mullet)

Capital Press
H-2A employers critique farm labor bill

Columbian
In-person classes canceled at Camas High after COVID spreads at party
In Our View: Visiting Vancouver even better after pandemic
Letter: Poor shoulder too much of burden (Cleveland, Wylie, Stonier)

The Daily News
Future of wildlife management: WDFW uses drones to survey for new Toutle River fish release site

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Yakima County Receives COVID-19 Vaccine From Johnson & Johnson
Families in the agricultural industry can get job training help

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Bill would add climate-change factors to state planning law (Duerr)
New plan earmarks millions of dollars for pre-K programs
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg: Commentary: Covid has resisted both sides’ political scripts

The Inlander
Spokane’s police contract shows cops and police reform advocates can agree; it just might take a very, very long time
Washington judges are only now hearing unemployment appeals from October as the state addresses a crushing backlog
With buildings now open for in-person learning, Spokane schools try to provide options for reluctant parents

News Tribune (subscription required)
2 fatal Tacoma police shootings remain unresolved years after they occurred. Here’s why
Pierce County hovering around 70 in new daily COVID-19 case totals
Two people shot on Interstate 5 in Lakewood on Wednesday afternoon
Pierce County tenants can apply for $58.6 million in rental, utility assistance
Domestic violence suspect surrenders after standoff in Midland
Editorial: Curbing Inslee’s emergency power all but dead. We should learn from Texas, New York

New York Times
Covid-19 News: A Year After W.H.O. Declared Virus Pandemic, More U.S. States Expand Access to Vaccines
New Stimulus Package Brings Big Benefits to the Middle Class
Why Black Women Are Rejecting Hospitals in Search of Better Births
Electric Cars Are Coming. How Long Until They Rule the Road?
Why $4-a-Gallon Gas May Be Coming Your Way This Summer
More Childhood Lead Poisoning Is a Side Effect of Covid Lockdowns

Olympian (subscription required)
Rep. My-Linh Thai speaks on Working Families Tax Exemption (Thai)
Thurston County declares racism a crisis, promises follow-up action
State House passes bill to expand tax exemption for working families (Thai)
More service members, military dependents now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine at JBLM
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
New homeless census provides an incomplete snapshot of Thurston County’s unhoused
Thurston County adds eight COVID-19 cases Tuesday, plans more mass vaccine events

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Vaccine pause is possible

Puget Sound Business Journal
How the new Covid economic relief bill will benefit Seattle-area businesses
Some Seattle teachers and students returning to the classroom March 29
Mass vaccination site at Lumen Field Event Center to open Saturday
Thousands more PPP loans approved for Washington businesses
Opinion: New code makes a difference for Seattle’s buildings, but local action isn’t enough

Seattle Times (subscription required)
While cities use one-shot vaccines for homeless populations, Washington is still discussing, rollout weeks away
Judge says records ID’ing Seattle officers who attended rally before Capitol riot can be released — but not yet
No nursing home visits yet in Washington state, but a new plan is coming
West Seattle Bridge repair job ready for bidders
Northwest congressional reps to feds: Listen to judge’s ruling. Stop sale of National Archives at Seattle
Washington state to get billions of dollars for schools, transit and cities as COVID-19 relief bill clears Congress
Opinion: Yes, Asians and Asian Americans experience racism

Seattle Medium
City Of Seattle Opens Up Vaccination Appointments To All Residents 65 And Older

Skagit Valley Herald
Sedro-Woolley School District to bring back high schoolers
Hamilton appoints council member, passes police officer ordinance

South Seattle Emerald
Mass COVID vaccination site in Seattle could serve more than 20,000 people a day
Durkan administration asks state to expand scope of audit into City Council contract
Opinion: Economic equity requires bold action from state legislators
Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum reopens to public
Highline teachers approve March 11 return, Seattle begins limited in-class learning March 29
Family of man killed by SPD in 2018 sue city for wrongful death
Opinion: The legacy of Seattle Children’s: Khabir Rasaan

Spokesman Review
$1.9 trillion stimulus bill could be turning point in American law for families with new monthly payments to parents
Pacific Northwest Congressional delegation signs letter urging for stop of National Archives sale
Pullman City Council decides against Black Lives Matter message in anti-racist mural
Relief is on the way for venues in Spokane and around the country

Tri-City Herald
$75M energy research lab in Richland gets OK to start. Hopes are high for new jobs
State House passes bill to expand tax exemption for working families
Seattle Children’s closes Richland clinic after 10+ years to find a bigger home
Tri-Cities COVID cases level off. More vaccine help for seniors and veterans

Vancouver Business Journal
Port of Vancouver USA introduces Climate Action Plan webpage
Homebuying interest increased amid the pandemic

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Walla Walla man arrested for alleged drug trafficking denied release
Walla Walla man takes plea deal in ax-wielding case

Washington Post
Sorrow and stamina, defiance and despair. It’s been a year.
How GOP-backed voting measures could create hurdles for tens of millions of voters
How big is the Biden stimulus bill? And who gets the most help?

Yakima Herald Republic
Washington State Senate passes bill that would remove overtime exemption for ag workers
Prosecutor Brusic: Yakima County commissioners within legal authority in devising new health board rules
Seattle mass COVID vaccination site aims to operate daily
Nursing home residents can get hugs again, federal officials say

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Why Seattle suddenly had hundreds of open COVID-19 vaccine appointments
Seattle to open one of largest mass vaccination sites in US at Lumen Field Event Center
One year later: How life has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic
Suquamish Tribe opens vaccine clinic to North Kitsap School District teachers and staff
Washington coastal communities build upward after lessons of 2011 Japan tsunami

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
New civil rights lawsuit accuses Seattle officers of racism after deadly traffic stop
New short-term pain coming for West Seattle commuters with a long-term fix next year
Women business leaders pave the way for female entrepreneurs
Seattle to open mass vaccination site at Lumen Field Event Center
Extended Benefits unemployment program ending in Washington
Stimulus update: House passes COVID-19 relief bill paving way for $1,400 checks, unemployment benefits

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘I feel very happy:’ Lakewood man in ICE detention for 20 months reunited with family
Homicides rising, ongoing crime persists in South Seattle, new metrics show

KNKX FM
Mass COVID vaccination site in Seattle could serve more than 20,000 people a day
It’s pedal to the metal as Democrats in Olympia push ahead with pandemic-era agenda

KUOW FM
It’s pedal to the metal as Democrats in Olympia push ahead with pandemic-era agenda
‘Spring is here’ — but don’t swap your raincoat for your shades just yet
Pandemic updates for the Northwest
PHOTOS: How 9 Health Workers Stay Strong In A Pandemic Year
Indoor Visits With Nursing Home Residents OK, New CDC Guidance Says
A Year Of School Like No Other: How A Teacher, A Student And A Parent Have Coped
Washington state juniors and seniors could get an extra year of high school (Hunt)
March 10th | Fully vaccinated people can hangout without masks. What else can you do?
Disability advocates call for accessibility as WA plans for transportation package
House Gives Final Approval To $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package

KXLY (ABC)
Health experts grapple with vaccine misinformation, hesitancy to get shots
Mass vaccination clinic to be held at Grant County Fairgrounds Saturday

Q13 TV (Fox)
‘You are looking at a two-year waitlist’: Lawmakers trying to fix childcare crisis (Senn)
Innovative community leaders and businesses credited for sustaining Pierce County’s economy amid COVID-19
Seattle’s Lumen Field to open as largest civilian-led mass vaccination site in US
COVID-19 vaccine standby list: Website sends alert on unused doses

Web

Civic Skunkworks
How the fight over ‘hero pay’ for grocery workers reveals chain stores’ massive corporate greed

Crosscut
WA effort on training hounds to haze cougars worries conservationists

MyNorthwest
Tacoma unveils plan to do away with ‘single-family’ zoning label, reimagine housing options
Trooper grabs gun from shooting suspect on I-5 during commute
Protesters will take to WA State Parks this Saturday against SEAL training
Seattle’s Lumen Field vaccine site to host largest civilian-run clinic in the nation
SDOT reports filling nearly 15,000 potholes in 2020

Slog
How an Army of Volunteers Helped Vaccinate Nearly 1,000 People in Two Days

West Seattle Blog
Why isn’t low-bridge access increasing more quickly? It’s ‘complicated,’ West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force told
VACCINATION: How to get on the list for all city sites, as biggest one yet prepares to open
When will the West Seattle Bridge be fixed, and how much will it cost? New information emerges as city launches contractor search

Wednesday, March 10

The bills we’re tracking in the 2021 Washington state Legislature
As we hit the halfway point of the 2021 session, we wanted to help you track the policies that matter most to you. March 9 was the deadline for this legislative session’s policy bills to pass out of their house of origin. Bills related to the budget do not have a deadline, so even if a bill appears dead, it could come back to life later, if it’s related to the budget. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Dorothy Edwards)

Billy Frank Jr. statue one step closer to U.S. Capitol after House approves bill
A statue honoring the late Billy Frank Jr., Nisqually tribal member who championed treaty rights and protecting the environment, is one step closer to being on display at the U.S. Capitol. The state House of Representatives approved a bill Monday that would start a process to replace Washington’s Marcus Whitman statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection with a statue of Frank. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Toni L. Bailey)

Working families win; state is No. 1; dinosaur bill dies
Good morning. Lawmakers are shifting back into committee mode after a protracted stretch of voting concluded with Tuesday’s “house of origin” cutoff. A nearly unanimous House passed an expansion of the Working Families Tax Exemption, House Bill 1297. This program has been on the books since 2008 but never funded. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.

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Associated Press
State House approves bill for Billy Frank Jr. statue (Lekanoff)
Bill to create fund to battle wildfires passes state House (Springer)
New in-person start date pushed back for Seattle schools
Why the pandemic left long-term scars on global job market
Western states chart diverging paths as water shortages loom
The Latest: Fauci: US virus shots ramping up toward immunity

Aberdeen Daily World
Overstock, Port reach lease termination agreement
Expanded Child Tax Credit in stimulus could be ‘one of the most impactful efforts to reduce child poverty in decades’
Commentary: TVW is antidote for dwindling trust in media
Letter: Bill would help prevent suicides
Letter: It’ll take some smarts

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Tuesday in Washington state
Washington residents could see a stimulus check quickly once Biden signs the economic relief act
House advances bill providing ‘just cause’ protection for renters (Macri, Peterson)
As Whatcom nears anniversary of first COVID, state reports 24 confirmed cases Tuesday
While COVID infection rate drops below 100 in one Whatcom region, 3 others see increases
Whatcom’s mass COVID vaccination site to open Saturday at Bellingham Technical College
Whatcom’s vaccination efforts beginning to catch up, as 36 new COVID cases reported Monday
First lady Jill Biden tours JBLM: ‘We want to know what’s getting in your way’
Clinics wait to vaccinate farmworkers: ‘Our hands are tied’
Grocery worker pandemic pay approved by King County Council
Jill Biden tours Whidbey Island naval air station
Volunteers are key at vaccine sites. It pays off with a shot
Looking for a COVID vaccine? This site can help find spares — but you’ll need patience
Is it OK to exercise before or after COVID vaccination? Here’s what experts say
The US just had its coldest February in 30 years, data shows. Here’s how it happened

Capital Press
Washington Senate passes revised ag overtime bill (Van De Wege)
Washington cattlemen sound alarm over wolf suit
Cosmic Crisp apple price plunges; COVID-19 hinders in-store marketing
Washington Senate passes capital gains, exempts sales of farms (Robinson)
Northwest wildlife agencies warn of invasive zebra mussels
Timber group, counties challenge delay of spotted owl decision
Washington Farm Bureau still ‘no’ on carbon tax (Lovelett)
Second half of Columbia Basin Project completion depends on ‘political will’

Columbian
Clark County Public Health worker is at forefront of COVID-19 response
Vancouver lawmaker who voted no on capital gains tax wants focus on transportation (Cleveland)
Clark County reports 18 new COVID-19 cases, lowest daily count since September
In Our View: Symbolism of noose is clear, intolerable

Covington Reporter
WA Legislature grapples with funding roads, bridges (Ramos, Saldana)

Everett Herald (subscription required)
90% of incoming vaccines are reserved for second doses
Everett, port in talks to resume Jetty Island ferry service
First lady visits Whidbey to meet with military families
Cornfield Report: Working families win; state is No. 1; dinosaur bill dies (Jinkins)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Boeing finally sees positive net orders for airplanes
Homecoming: Gray whales return to Whidbey waters
WaPo Comment: GOP’s opposition to naturalization will only hurt it
WaPo Comment: We must treat pyschic traumas of health-care workers
Editorial: Public health may see better funding, reforms (Robinson)

High Country News
Montana trans, two spirit and non-binary activists fight anti-trans legislation
Butterflies in the West are disappearing

International Examiner
API Legislative Week rallies around Asian-American led Working Families Tax Credit (Nguyen, Thai)

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
COVID-19 vaccine appointments finally plentiful for those eligible, but not for long, providers warn

News Tribune (subscription required)
Pierce County tenants can apply for $58.6 million in rental, utility assistance
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Tuesday in Washington state
Pierce Transit considers eliminating hundreds of bus stops in hopes of faster service
All teachers now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. What does it mean for reopening schools?
Editorial: You’ll soon pay Pierce County mental health tax. But leaders must fix mistake first

New York Times
Biden Got the Vaccine Rollout Humming, With Trump’s Help
Live Updates: Biden’s Stimulus Plan Is Hours From Final Vote
‘I Was So Nervous’: Back to Class After a Year Online
How America’s Vaccine System Makes People With Health Problems Fight for a Place in Line
The Officers Danced at a Black Lives Matter Rally. Then They Stormed the Capitol.

Olympian (subscription required)
Thurston County adds eight COVID-19 cases Tuesday, plans more mass vaccine events
COVID-19 even affects apples: Washington farm exports crimped by cargo-container shortage
House advances bill providing ‘just cause’ protection for renters (Macri, Peterson)
Data breach exposes information of more than 200,000 MultiCare staff, patients
Billy Frank Jr. statue one step closer to U.S. Capitol after House approves bill (Lekanoff)
First lady Jill Biden tours JBLM: ‘We want to know what’s getting in your way’
Will lawsuit stop Navy from training in WA state parks? Environmental group hopes so
Here’s how Thurston officials are responding to a landmark ruling on drug possession
Washington is the best state in US for second consecutive time, report says. Here’s why
Permanent Daylight Saving Time? Senate considers idea amid debate over pros and cons
Ferry owner has paid to keep vessel at Port of Olympia through June

Peninsula Daily News
State corrects information about pot licenses
Nearly one-third have had first COVID-19 vaccine shot in Peninsula counties
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Port Townsend Leader
No new COVID cases in a week as Jefferson County preps for more vaccine shipments

Puget Sound Business Journal
Businesses can’t apply for both PPP and venue grants. The American Rescue Plan Act fixes that.
Seattle still among nation’s most congested cities, even as traffic falls to historic lows
$73M wood innovation center coming to tiny Darrington
Microsoft hack escalates as criminal groups rush to exploit flaws
Nasdaq soars in ‘relief rally’ as big tech stocks rebound sharply
Boeing logs more jet orders than cancellations for first time in 14 months
Despite many PPP changes, this type of small business fell through the cracks

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Washington state Legislature considers clean-fuels standard as part of climate change ‘grand bargain’ (Carlyle, Hobbs, Fitzgibbon)
Lumen Field Event Center opens Saturday as huge COVID-19 vaccination clinic; here’s how it will work
Volunteers are key at vaccine sites. It pays off with a shot
First lady Jill Biden visits Washington military bases in support of families
The verdict is in on who did the vaccines right, Washington or Oregon. Hint: It wasn’t us.
Opinion: Drug treatment, not incarceration, better serves the common good
Editorial: Guidelines for the vaccinated give us cautious optimism
King County approves hazard pay for grocery workers in unincorporated areas
Opinion: Drug treatment, not incarceration, better serves the common good
Editorial: Guidelines for the vaccinated give us cautious optimism

Skagit Valley Herald
COVID-19: One year into a pandemic
Skagit Regional Health receives more of the COVID-19 vaccine
Group files appeal over Navy training in state parks

The Skanner
Volunteers Are Key at Vaccine Sites. It Pays off With a Shot

Spokesman Review
Pandemic relief bill would restore daily Empire Builder train service — and advocates push for more
Shawn Vestal: Our matching death rates suggest we’ve already had plenty of Idaho influence
‘It’s OK to not be OK’: Kids at Hutton Settlement get a show, food – and encouragement to open up

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities COVID rates among highest in WA state. What Gov. Inslee had to say about it
More contagious COVID variant found in Tri-Cities. First time in Eastern WA
Gov. Inslee praises reopening of Pasco schools during Tri-Cities visit
Tri-Cities COVID cases level off. More vaccine help for seniors and veterans
Tri-Cities teen jailed in knife attack after confrontation over Snapchat posts

Vancouver Business Journal
Business Growth MAP Alliance online forum focuses on positive organization

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Milton-Freewater council appoints Damien Reino, who hopes to honor legacy of Verl Presnall
Vaccination clinic at County Fairgrounds rescheduled, 3 new coronavirus cases Tuesday
Rural Education Support initiative launches at Dayton schools
Volunteer celebrates 81st birthday at Walla Walla COVID-19 vaccination clinic

Washington Post
Biden to announce that U.S. will secure an additional 100 million doses of J&J vaccine
Biden wants to sell the stimulus. The White House is still figuring out how.
Immigration arrests have fallen sharply under Biden, ICE data show

Yakima Herald Republic
Vaccines for child care providers could be a turning point – but first, they’ll need to find an appointment
Grocery worker pandemic pay approved by King County Council
State House approves bill for Billy Frank Jr. statue (Lekanoff)
Volunteers are key at vaccine sites. It pays off with a shot
Chelan PUD studies targeted power cuts to control wildfire risks

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Washington once again ranked best state in the US in national report
Reports: Biden to announce plans to order 100 million more Johnson & Johnson vaccines
Appointments slow to fill at some Washington COVID-19 vaccination sites
Issaquah School District starts vaccinating teachers and staff for COVID-19
Third stimulus check update: House set to pass COVID bill with $1,400 payments today
Cancer patients await eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine in Washington
VERIFY: Most of the COVID relief bill is directed toward COVID-related things

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Video showing banned restraint results in changes at Swedish Hospital
Data breach exposes information of more than 200,000 MultiCare staff, patients
Police response times rise in Seattle
Scientists confirm gender of orca calf born last year
Council approves hazard pay for grocery workers in unincorporated areas of King County
Washington ranked best state in country for second time in a row
Seattle Public Schools delays return to in-person learning until late March
First lady Jill Biden visits Washington military bases

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Victim of attack in Chinatown-International District says assault was hate crime
Seattle police response times slower because of officer shortages, acting chief says
First Lady Jill Biden reaches out to military families during Wash. visit
Health officials encouraged by positive COVID-19 trends in Puget Sound
Price for Seattle homes continue climbing in one of hottest housing markets in U.S.
Everett mulls ordinance that would outlaw homeless encampments in part of the city

KNKX FM
Seattle, Highline make progress in bringing some students back to classrooms
Here’s What’s In The American Rescue Plan As It Heads Toward Final Passage

KUOW FM
YOUR PRIVACY AND YOUR SEATTLE COMMUTE: POTENTIAL DARK SIDE TO CITY DATA MONITORING
Pandemic updates for the Northwest
Nearly 1 in 3 Women Experience Violence: Landmark Report From WHO
Biden Moves To Make It Illegal (Again) To Accidentally Kill Migratory Birds
States Try To Push Out Billions Of Emergency Rental Aid To Families
Postal Service Delivered Vast Majority Of Mail Ballots On Time, Report Finds

KXLY (ABC)
North Central High School student helps create bill to remove Native American mascots
New research shows third shift workers may have heightened health concerns
Providence opens 1,000 vaccine appointments for upcoming clinic
Spokane Police aiming to reduce property crimes through crime prevention missions

NW Public Radio
The Secret Life Of Trees: Researchers Probe Methane In Washington’s Coastal Forests

Q13 TV (Fox)
Cyberattack impacts 200,000 people connected to MultiCare Health Systems
House again set to vote on COVID-19 relief bill
Pollution solution digs deep; $500M+ project aims to bring Seattle’s waterways into federal compliance
First Lady Jill Biden tours Whidbey Island naval base and Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Bill to create fund to battle wildfires passes state House (Springer)
Washington named best state in America for the second year in a row

Web

Crosscut
The bills we’re tracking in the 2021 Washington state Legislature
Shuttered and stressed, WA arts organizations are running out of cash
Amazon tells Gov. Inslee it supports a clean fuel standard in WA (Fitzgibbon, Carlyle, Hobbs)

MyNorthwest
As council eyes $5.4 million in further police cuts, SPD and mayor warn of dire impact
King County Council establishes grocery store hazard pay for unincorporated areas
Seattle teachers, district reach deal to delay start of in-person classes to late March
King County Council establishes grocery store hazard pay for unincorporated areas
Seattle teachers, district reach deal to delay start of in-person classes to late March
UW modeler: Yearly surges could make COVID a ‘persistent and seasonal’ affair
3 feet should be default distance for schools, say district leaders

Slog
The King County Council Wants to Avoid Creating Food Deserts with its Grocery Hazard Pay Ordinance

West Seattle Blog
Jack Block Park pier may need to be rebuilt
Progress in Seattle Public Schools standoff over next step in resuming in-person learning, but no student return before March 29

Tuesday, March 9

People of color across Cascadia speak up against climate change
Communities of color, low-income people and other marginalized groups are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change, according to community activists across Cascadia. From country towns like Talent to the diverse urban landscape of South Seattle, activists say the government is not yet fully hearing from the long-marginalized communities feeling the biggest effects of climate change. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Denise Baratta)

Washington is the best state for the second year in a row. Obviously!
Everyone knows the Pacific Northwest is the best and Washington is the best of the best, especially compared to other states. But that seems kind of mean and elitist, so we don’t talk about it too much among our friends from other states, right? Right? Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert)

Washington House approves measure to limit evictions
The Washington House has approved a measure that would require landlords to provide a valid reason for ending certain leases with tenants. The bill advanced out of the Democratic-led chamber Sunday on a mostly party line 54-44 vote, The Seattle Times reported. It now heads to the Senate for consideration. Continue reading at The Yakima Herald.

Print

Associated Press
Jill Biden arrives in Washington state, will tour NAS Whidbey
Washington House approves measure to limit evictions
Over 2M doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Washington
Jill Biden arrives in Washington state to tour bases
Washington House approves measure to limit evictions
Technology rebound leads stocks higher on Wall Street

Aberdeen Daily World
County’s mass vax signup process will change
How local legislators voted in Olympia (Fitzgibbon, Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman)
Commentary: Workers at one Amazon warehouse could change the union landscape

Auburn Reporter
WA Legislature grapples with funding roads, bridges (Ramos, Saldaña)

Bainbridge Island Review
More protections for renters, but not property owners (Macri, Kuderer)

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Environmental group sues Washington State Parks over proposed Navy training
Washington state reports more than 400 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday
PeaceHealth says it expects to receive fewer COVID vaccine doses this week for Whatcom
It’s a girl! Baby orca off Washington coast critical to population growth, experts say
Idaho man thought ‘the virus would disappear the day after the election.’ He was wrong
Billy Frank Jr. statue one step closer to U.S. Capitol after House approves bill (Lekanoff)
Washington is the best state in US for second consecutive time, report says. Here’s why
Washington state Republicans announce their own reopening plan
Whatcom’s vaccination efforts beginning to catch up, as 36 new COVID cases reported Monday
People fully vaccinated against COVID can gather safely indoors without masks, CDC says
Up to $3,600-per-child tax credit in stimulus plan could lift millions out of poverty
Can a pill help you fight COVID? Early study results suggest it’s possible

Columbian
In Our View: Bill ensures public lands available for future

El Sol De Yakima (available in English via Google Translate)
Virtual talk will be held in Spanish about COVID-19, vaccine

Everett Herald (subscription required)
What candidates say, wear in voter pamphlets may change (Bergquist)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Dozens may have been under-vaccinated in Port Townsend error

High Country News
Who should pay for conservation?
Invasive mussels in aquarium supplies alarm wildlife managers

New York Times
Pandemic Relief Bill Fulfills Biden’s Promise to Expand Obamacare, for Two Years
A Year Later, Who Is Back to Work and Who Is Not?
Move Over, Nerds. It’s the Politicians’ Economy Now.
How Biden Is Trying to Help Working-Class Voters in Red-State Alabama

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson PUD eyeing expanded high-speed internet access
State Supreme Court’s Blake decision could be costly
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Peninsula counties drop into low-risk category
Peninsula ready for school/childcare staff vaccinations

Runta News
City of Seattle Continues to Vaccinate Older Adults in West Seattle, Rainier Beach, and Affordable Housing Buildings

Seattle Times (subscription required)
COVID-19 even affects apples: Washington farm exports crimped by cargo-container shortage
Bill to limit evictions in Washington state advances (Macri)
How the fracture in Republican Party could affect Southwest Washington
Washington state Legislature considers clean-fuels standard as part of climate change ‘grand bargain’ (Carlyle, Hobbs)
Washington is the best state for the second year in a row. Obviously!
To serve kids in the pandemic, a tribe and a Washington school district create a unique learning space
USS Nimitz, first Navy aircraft carrier deployed amid pandemic, returns to Bremerton
Opinion: Rise of variants underscores importance of COVID-19 vaccination

South Seattle Emerald
City Council bill would relax constraints on home-based businesses
OPINION: they’re raising grandkids with little help, and during a pandemic. can’t we lend them a hand? (Wilson)
Democratic state senate sends capital gains tax to house (Robinson, Hobbs, Mullet, Cleveland, Liias, Carlyle, Frockt, Hasegawa, Nguyen, Pedersen, Saldaña, Frame)
Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic: A glimpse back may offer a path forward
Weekend Long Reads: What impact did COVID-19 have on crime?
Friendly Hmong Farms: Supporting Puget Sound Hmong farmers with a new CSA
County not out of woods yet, as case rates plateau and variant gains traction
With Washington’s drug possession law gone, lawmakers at odds over next steps (Goodman, Mullet, Dhingra, Davis)

Spokesman Review
CDC opens up local household gathering options for vaccinated people
State House passes new version of bill aimed at public health reforms (Riccelli)
Spokane Parks announces plan to reopen aquatic centers
With gang violence on the rise, Spokane-area law enforcement leaders call for community action

Washington Post
Millions more smokers and ex-smokers should receive free annual screenings for lung cancer, a federally appointed task force says
A viral tsunami: How the underestimated coronavirus took over the world
How U.S. aid for reproductive health could change under Biden
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine neutralizes Brazil variant in lab study as experts warn of rapid spread

Yakima Herald Republic
Improvements underway at Naches park, with more planned
Fully vaccinated people can gather without masks, CDC says
Over 2M doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Washington
Washington House approves measure to limit evictions
Chelan PUD studies targeted power cuts to control wildfire risks
More awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous people, but advocates say more action is needed

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Tribes and government agencies accuse Seattle City Light of using ‘flawed’ science on Skagit River dams
Over 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Washington
Puget Sound partnership helps underserved communities get COVID-19 vaccine
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in Washington state for visits to JBLM, Whidbey Island
Seattle teachers, district spar over safety, days before classrooms set to reopen

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Fully vaccinated? Seattle docs explain what you can and can’t do, plus the risks
Vaccination appointments open this week for people 65 and up living in West, South or Central Seattle
Battered restaurants look forward to federal relief
Over 2M doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Washington
Parents of Seattle special education students plan for in-person learning
Washington state sued for allowing military training in state parks
WA state highways are trashed. Don’t expect the litter to be cleaned up any time soon

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
First Lady Jill Biden visits Pacific Northwest, first trip since inauguration
Protesters rallying in Seattle as cop in George Floyd’s death faces trial for murder
Researchers looking at spread of Oregon COVID-19 variant
City opens up COVID-19 vaccination appointments to all Seattle residents 65 and older
Preschool, special education students return to Seattle classrooms amid uncertainty

KUOW FM
Pandemic updates for the Northwest
Drug Companies Plan Tax Breaks To Offset $26 Billion Opioid Settlement
New Justice Department Team Comes Into Focus Ahead Of Vote On Garland

NW Public Radio
Wenatchee-Area Hydrogen Production Plant Signals Renewed Interest In Alternative Fuel

Q13 TV (Fox)
Vaccinated seniors at Bothell facility can’t wait to hug their family after CDC loosens restrictions
First Lady Jill Biden visits Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma

Web

Crosscut
People of color across Cascadia speak up against climate change
Opinion: How the coronavirus changed Washington state’s economy
Federal money to SpaceX may hurt public broadband efforts in WA
Opinion: Jay Inslee’s racial equity agenda must include gun control
WA looking at ranked-choice voting among election reform ideas

Slog
My Dad Is the Tacoma Cop Who Drove Into the Crowd of Racers

Monday, March 8

Washington Senate approves new tax on capital gains
Profits on the sale of stocks and bonds in excess of $250,000 would be subject to a new tax on capital gains under a bill narrowly approved Saturday by the Washington Senate. Continue reading at KXLY. (4 News Now)

Civil right to counsel bill passes Senate in preparation for end of eviction moratorium
With more than 134,000 Washington households behind on rent and Gov. Jay Inslee’s statewide eviction moratorium set to expire March 31, state legislators are racing to pass laws aimed at preventing a looming eviction crisis. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Michael Dwyer)

House Passes Johnson’s Use Of Force Legislation
After months of work by the families of victims of police violence, elected officials, law enforcement organizations and other community groups to answer the call for action in the wake of lives lost to unnecessary police violence, the Washington State House of Representatives passed House Bill 1310 by a vote of 55–42. HB 1310 was brought forward by Rep. Jesse Johnson (D-Federal Way) to implement a stronger law enforcement use of force statute. Continue reading at The Seattle Medium.