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Monday, February 22

Inslee signs $2.2 billion relief package to support schools, businesses, renters, and immigrants
A fresh round of federal aid will soon be flowing to Washington businesses and individuals hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. On Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law a $2.2 billion relief package funded with money approved by Congress in December. Continue reading at KUOW. (Austin Jenkins)

WA vaccine questions answered: When, where, who, how much?
We are past the halfway point in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the man who is leading the effort in Washington state. “We are seeing the beginning of the end of this pandemic,” Dr. Umair Shah said Thursday evening. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Jennifer King)

Legislation looks to change youth sentencing, offer retroactive relief
In King County, the state’s largest and one of the most diverse, a 2017 study revealed that Youth of Color were nearly 6% more likely to be held in detention compared to white youth, excluding those charged as adults. Eighteen percent were Black and 12% were Hispanic, despite making up less than 10% each of the county’s population. Continue reading at The South Seattle Emerald. (Bunthay Cheam)

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Associated Press
Washington Senate passes police arbitration bill (Nguyen)
Avalanche dangers close 3 mountain passes in Washington
Washington governor signs COVID-19 relief spending bill
Stocks open lower on Wall Street; Boeing weighs on the Dow
AP PHOTOS: US pandemic toll: In 1 year, half a million lives
US coronavirus death toll approaches milestone of 500,000
Supreme Court won’t halt turnover of Trump’s tax records

Aberdeen Daily World
Second dose vaccinations focus of mass vaccination site this week
New case numbers dropping in Grays Harbor County
Freshman 19th District senator’s first bill passes Senate, offers funding option for EMS training
GOP state budget proposal cuts programs, uses rainy-day fund

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
New I-5 onramp expected to ease traffic congestion at this longtime Bellingham bottleneck
How is Whatcom’s economy performing? It ranks high, but new study warns of these problems
As COVID took hold, Whatcom’s drug overdose deaths doubled during first half of 2020
Whatcom County sees 13 new COVID-19 cases Saturday as 10,286 fully vaccinated
Whatcom County sees 39 new COVID-19 cases Friday, long-term care numbers updated
Border closure reaches a year — U.S., Canada extend non-essential travel ban to March 21
Could ranked choice voting make elections more equitable? Washington may find out
Snowpack at Snoqualmie Pass is deepest it’s been in 10 years, Washington officials say
WA vaccine questions answered: When, where, who, how much?
COVID-19 impact can persist even after mild cases
What are the most common side effects from COVID vaccines? Here’s what the CDC says
The do’s and don’ts of wearing multiple masks

Capital Press
Cooperative supports farming for people of color
La Nina swells water supply in Washington

Columbian
In Our View: Legislature should back Washington Privacy Act (Carlyle)
Cheers & Jeers: Utility repair crews; mail thieves

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Sutherland is a roiling force with his conservative speak
State health leader: We have a plan, we don’t have the supply
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Do Washington drivers need to learn the zipper merge? (Kloba)
Waiting for unemployment check: ‘Your case is being processed’
Cornfield Report: Soda pop tax surfaces as school reopening battle rages on
Bloomberg Comment: States do need aid, not for revenue but for jobs
WaPo Comment: The GOP is increasing its base of powerful women
Comment: Drug pricing rule threatens cancer centers, patients
Comment: Policing bill gives state panel too much authority
Editorial: Cost increase can’t risk ST3’s ‘spine’ to Everett jobs

International Examiner
Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai, state’s first judge of Samoan heritage, reflects on achieving his dreams

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
What are you comfortable with? Attitudes range as Kitsap reopens indoor dining and other activities
Kitsap grapples with COVID-19 outbreaks even as cases fall
Islanders donate labyrinth, quiet preserve space to the public
Bremerton city council debates whether councilman can continue representing constituents in Japan
Despite a competing bid, Waste Management looks to secure transfer center contract for another decade
Vaccine appointments in short supply after winter weather delays shipments
Groups address racial gaps in Kitsap’s COVID-19 vaccination drive
As Nimitz nears home, its captain reflects on deployment amid a historic pandemic

News Tribune (subscription required)
Street racing is increasing in Puyallup. Here’s what the city is doing about it
Former Sumner counselor accused of kissing patient pleads guilty. He’d been in trouble before
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is opening a free preschool for low-income families in Tacoma
Here are the proposed new names for Jason Lee Middle School in Tacoma
Meet the woman for whom Tacoma’s Wilson High School has been renamed: Dolores Silas
Editorial: Prioritize COVID vaccine for Washingtonians age 80 and up. I’d want it for my parents

New York Times
Supreme Court Denies Trump’s Final Bid to Block Release of Financial Records
Here’s What’s Next in the Trump Taxes Investigation
The Lost Hours: How Confusion and Inaction at the Capitol Delayed a Troop Deployment
White House Adjusts Rules to Encourage More Loans for Tiny Businesses: Live Updates
How Texas’ Drive for Energy Independence Set It Up for Disaster
A Ripple Effect of Loss: U.S. Covid Deaths Approach 500,000
Companies Say They Care About the Climate. Their Actions Fall Short.

Olympian (subscription required)
Thurston County adds 40 COVID-19 cases, increasing weekly total beyond last week’s total
Here’s how to find out if you can get the COVID-19 vaccine at JBLM
Work inside or outside the GOP? ‘Never Trump’ Republicans split over next steps
‘Attack of the Murder Hornets’ showcases Whatcom and the race to find these bee killers
Report on I-5 shooting indicates K9 Arlo was hit by friendly fire from law enforcement
Could ranked choice voting make elections more equitable? Washington may find out
WA vaccine questions answered: When, where, who, how much?
Small businesses to get priority under Biden administration’s new rules for PPP loans
Editorial: Black History Month has us learning about racial equity, but can we make real change?

Peninsula Daily News
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Covid vaccine supply remains problematic
GOP warns of legal challenge to capital gains tax if it is approved
Inslee signs bipartisan COVID-19 spending bill
Snake River dams proposal draws accolades, criticism
Vaccinations a top draw
EYE ON CLALLAM: County considers joint letter about public health
County acts on homeless housing

Puget Sound Business Journal
Bezos fund to open 2nd Puget Sound-area preschool
Amazon offering bonuses to front-line employees who get Covid vaccine
Corporate US urges Biden to avoid hiking taxes to fund infrastructure
Biden announces PPP changes designed to help underserved borrowers
Microsoft giving employees extra paid days off to ease pandemic stress

Seattle Times (subscription required)
People aren’t fleeing Seattle. They just aren’t moving here anymore.
Older Boeing 777s grounded for inspections following engine explosion over Denver
Avalanche danger prompts precautionary road closures over Washington mountain passes Sunday night
Look to refugee schools for lessons on teaching kids after COVID, some experts say (Thai)
As debate over capital gains tax returns, Republicans insist no new taxes needed for Washington (Robinson, Rolfes, Senn)
New Washington transportation plan includes taxes on gas and bikes, fees on transit (Hobbs, Saldaña, Fey)

Seattle Weekly
State health leader: We have a plan, we don’t have the supply
How the pandemic and coronavirus variants can show us evolution in real time
Inslee signs $2.2 billion COVID relief package
UW study shows high COVID infection rates among pregnant women

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival to move forward under COVID-19 rules
School districts look for ways to fulfill COVID-19 requirements
Samish tribe begins fuel station construction, fuel tax negotiations
Skagit County wary of public health bill (Lekanoff)
Cascade Loop gets National Scenic Byway designation

South Seattle Emerald
Bill to replace ‘driving while poor’ law moves through state Senate (Saldaña, Nguyen)
Legislation looks to change youth sentencing, offer retroactive relief (Darneille)
Opinion: More will die from COVID without meaningful change to health care
Port of Seattle grants $1 million to south King County cities and organizations
Weekend Reads: Unionization and the rising tide of electric vehicles
Day of remembrance 2021: Another time, another place

Spokesman Review
Pregnant women face higher COVID-19 infection, mortality rates, study finds
Getting There: As carmakers increasingly pull away from gas, electric vehicle infrastructure revs up
How COVID-19 changed the lives of one 38-year-old farmworker and his family

Tri-City Herald
Kitchen scraps could become a clean, renewable fuel for your car, says PNNL researchers
Latino voters being silenced in Franklin commission races, voting rights group claims
Updated: Appointments open for COVID vaccine 2nd doses at Tri-Cities fairgrounds
Tri-Cities chosen to test new WA student internship portal
Tri-Cities PUD asked customers to turn down heat as power lost for 2,750 homes
COVID vaccine being shipped again to Tri-Cities. Here’s the outlook for next week
Update: Premature baby who died of COVID in Tri-Cities was 2 days old
8 more die from COVID in Tri-Cities area. New cases average nearly 50 a day
Editorial: Texas outage shows power issues must be answered if Snake dams went away

USA Today
Supreme Court refuses to step in to stop turnover of Trump financial records
Where does the $1.9T COVID-19 relief bill go from here? And, when can you expect help? Here’s what we know.

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Walla Walla man, Pasco woman injured in Highway 12 rollover Sunday night
Avalanche danger prompts closure of Snoqualmie, Stevens and White passes tonight
Baker Boyer Bank in Walla Walla to present COVID-19 discussion panel
Walla Walla, Umatilla counties report low COVID-19 case counts Friday
Health Officials: Umatilla County newborn dies from COVID-19
Walla Walla County asks 1,000 eligible residents to sign up for COVID-19 vaccine

Washington Post
Merrick Garland tells senators Capitol riot investigation will be his first priority as attorney general
Dominion files defamation lawsuit against MyPillow CEO over false claims voting machines were rigged against Trump
500,000 dead, a number almost too large to grasp

Yakima Herald Republic
Officials seek solutions to possible bias in examining voter signatures
Latino voters have higher-than-average ballot signature rejection rates in Washington
It Happened Here: Black settlers establish homesteads on, near Yakima Training Center site
As debate over capital gains tax begins again, Republicans insist no new taxes needed for Washington
Washington hospitals look at ways to make distribution more equitable
On the Colville reservation, the vaccination rate is nearly double the state’s, despite challenges

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Washington seniors increasingly frustrated by limited COVID-19 vaccine appointments
United engine failure: FAA ups inspections; Boeing ‘recommends’ grounding specific 777s
Washington state trooper shot at while trying to stop vehicle on I-405 in Tukwila
‘Ridiculous’: Down syndrome community feels left out of Washington’s COVID-19 vaccine plan
UW study finds mental health apps are effective, cost less than clinic-based help
Ocean acidification: The threat to Washington shellfish, and how the industry is adapting

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Trooper shot at while attempting to stop speeding car on I-405
FAA ordering immediate inspections of Boeing 777 planes after engine failure on United Airlines flight
Tacoma pharmacist: Redundant reporting of COVID-19 vaccines to the state and feds getting in the way of getting shots in arms
Tacoma Public Library announces two closures in 2021 to meet budget shortfall
Gov. Inslee signs COVID-19 relief spending bill
UW bans students from in-person classes after attending large party
Amazon’s hold up pop-up clinic for second doses after last week’s clinic postponed due to snow
Anti-Asian hate crimes continue in Seattle and across U.S.
Lingering COVID-19 symptoms can persist even with mild cases, UW study finds

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘Extreme’ avalanche danger shuts down all 3 main mountain passes
Nearly all of Tacoma Police officers to use body-worn cameras by end of month
State continues work to install earthquake early-warning system despite COVID-19

KNKX FM
Not out of the woods yet: ‘It’s looking increasingly like we will have to contend with a new wave’
Tacoma on track to finish deploying police body cameras early
Inslee signs $2.2B relief package to support schools, businesses, renters and immigrants

KUOW FM
TOWNHOMES ARE MAKING SEATTLE MORE AFFORDABLE, NEW STUDY FINDS
Updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in the Northwest
‘To Me He’s Not A Number’: Families Reflect As U.S. Nears 500,000 COVID-19 Deaths
Watch Live: Attorney General Nominee Merrick Garland Has Confirmation Hearing
Biden’s Agenda To Come Into Sharper Focus, Even As Trump Plots His Comeback
White House: China And WHO Need To ‘Step Up’ On Investigation Into Origin Of Pandemic
A Looming Disaster: New Data Reveal Where Flood Damage Is An Existential Threat
Getting your second Covid-19 vaccination late? That’s okay — here’s why
Extreme Winter Weather Creates Backlog Of 6 Million Vaccine Doses
If Schools Follow CDC Guidance, Biden’s Reopening Goals Could Be Hard To Reach
Biden To Authorize Broader Disaster Relief For Texas

NW Public Radio
How Native Tribes Are Working To Get Members COVID-19 Vaccine Faster

Q13 TV (Fox)
Some Fred Meyer, QFC pharmacy customer data impacted in vendor hack
Administrators says hundreds of UW students were reckless during maskless party
The Divide: Third party could be on the horizon
Callouts for King County Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiation Team have almost doubled
The Divide: Third party could be on the horizon

Web

Crosscut
How $1 billion in pot taxes gets spent in Washington state (Davis, Rolfes)
Washington’s vaccine rollout slower for communities of color
Opinion: WA legislature takes on systemic racism in insurance rates (Das)
WA lawmakers look to fix climate while solving the housing crisis (Duerr)

MyNorthwest
Seattle nonprofit launches competition offering kids chance to reflect on COVID, win prizes
Avalanche danger shuts down three cross-state mountain passes overnight
COVID-19 updates: UW students who attended snow party now banned from classes
Seattle soda tax could go statewide, Monday’s your chance to weigh in
King County health officer: It’d be ‘reckless’ to not mitigate against COVID variant
Washington lawmaker proposes swapping spring and summer breaks
What to do when Alzheimer’s, dementia make relatives fearful of vaccine
Mysterious coins confiscated at Blaine border crossing transferred to UW
Two pedestrians killed in Bothell hit-and-run
State Democrats score first victory of session in bid to overhaul police accountability
Crews battle fire on commercial fishing boat in Tacoma most of Thursday

West Seattle Blog
VACCINATION: Limited West Seattle clinic announced for Friday and Saturday
DELRIDGE PROJECT: 4 key work areas, and what else is planned this week

Friday, February 19

‘Building back better’ requires big new investments in women and caregiving
COVID-19 has hit the hardest smack at the intersection of racial, gender, and economic disparities, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable amongst us. Black and Brown communities have been much more likely than whites to suffer illness and financial hardship due to COVID-19. Continue reading at The South Seattle Emerald. (Susan Fried)

WA lawmakers look to fix climate while solving the housing crisis
As Washington lawmakers work to get ahead of a brewing post-pandemic housing catastrophe, efforts are underway to join that effort with responses to two slower-burning disasters — the climate crisis and runaway housing costs. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Dorothy Edwards)

Washington Senate passes police arbitration bill
The Washington state Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill to create a panel of arbitrators to review police discipline decisions and to better track law enforcement arbitration cases statewide. The measure is part of an ambitious package of police reform legislation that lawmakers are considering this session following Black Lives Matter protests that erupted in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

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Associated Press
The Bremerton-Seattle ferry crossing down to one boat
States remain split on guns in capitols after armed protests
Canada won’t require virus tests for Point Roberts residents
Spokane, Kennewick vaccine sites close after weather delays
Another calf born to endangered Northwest orcas
Washington Senate passes police arbitration bill (Nguyen)
Stocks open higher on Wall Street after 3 straight losses

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
Border closure update, plus B.C. vandalism attack believed triggered by car with WA plates
Up to 5,000 people a week could get COVID-19 vaccine at this Bellingham site starting in March
Whatcom residents leaving county for COVID shots at higher rate, and other vaccine updates
Winter storms delay 90% of Washington’s COVID vaccine shipments, health officials say
Coronavirus weekly need-to-know: Taxes, school reopenings, vaccines for all and more
The do’s and don’ts of wearing multiple masks

Capital Press
Washington farm groups skeptical about promised clean fuels bonanza (Fitzgibbon)
Farmers watch wheat crop after cold snap, wind
U.S. potato exports show signs of improvement

Columbian
HeLa High students compare pandemics past and present
In Our View: State tax system desperately needs overhaul (Frame)

The Daily News
Industry experts say updated building codes to add $20K to price of new Washington home

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Neighbors irked over Everett’s proposal for Silver Lake trail
Legal battle stalls Costco’s planned store in Lake Stevens
Cornfield Report: Scoop: Deal links carbon-fuel standard with transpo package (Carlyle, Hobbs)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Editorial: Update tax break for Cascade Industrial Center jobs (Wicks)

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Ostrich Bay Creek culvert replacement will bring traffic delays to Kitsap Way this summer
WSF: Ferry repairs will take at least a month, Bremerton left with one boat
Tracking wealth, capital gains and estate tax proposals in the Legislature
System that provides earthquake alerts will serve Washington residents starting in May

News Tribune (subscription required)
After years of drama, outgoing young adult shelter provider questions Tacoma’s support
Equity gaps in vaccine distribution not as wide as first interpreted after further review
More than 100 new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday in Pierce County
Police officer injured after crashing into a car in Graham
During Puyallup tour, Inslee says kids can return to school without teachers being vaccinated
Weather slows delivery of WA vaccine shipments, but pharmacy program will expand next week
Trident Seafoods declares ship ‘total loss’ after fire at Port of Tacoma
Smoke from burning ship at Tacoma port isn’t toxic, according to government officials
Op-Ed: Let’s set a deadline, Washington: Make all new vehicles electric in next 10 years

New York Times
Short of Vaccine, States Find Hidden Stashes in Their Own Backyards
World Leaders Meet on Security and Democracy: Live Updates
Uber Drivers Are Entitled to Worker Benefits, a British Court Rules
Amazon’s Great Labor Awakening
‘I Am Worth It’: Why Thousands of Doctors in America Can’t Get a Job
‘Now It’s Coming Back to Bite Them’: Democrats See an Opening in G.O.P. Oversight of Texas Grid
Biden Administration Formally Offers to Restart Nuclear Talks With Iran

Olympian (subscription required)
2 Lacey Fred Meyer employees urge City Council to adopt hazard pay ordinance
With no control over state energy code, Lacey City Council approves ordinance
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Thursday in Washington state
Thurston County reports 1 COVID-19 death and 16 more cases on Thursday
Providence, state announce second dose delays, postpone appointments

North American Post
Records at the National Archives at Seattle and Other West Coast Facilities Relating to the Japanese-American Incarceration Experience – Part 1

Peninsula Daily News
Calf born to endangered Southern Resident orcas
Property tax bill prompts uproar
Republican budget proposal cuts programs, uses rainy-day fund (Sullivan, Ormsby)
Woodbridge Farm a renewal for land and man
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Peninsula reports no new COVID-19 cases on Thursday

Port Townsend Leader
Two new COVID-19 infections discovered in Jefferson County
Mid-county, south county residents infected with COVID-19
UPDATE | Jefferson County sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’

Puget Sound Business Journal
Global chip shortage challenges Biden’s hope for manufacturing revival
Seattle falls out of top 10 in annual ranking of best-performing cities
In GameStop saga, Robinhood is cast as the villain
New US jobless claims rise to 861,000
Washington’s Covid-19 vaccine shipments delayed this week by bad weather
2.5M women left the workforce during the pandemic. Harris sees a ‘national emergency.’
Opinion: Capacity challenges on the horizon for Seattle-area airports
Opinion: Better community mental health requires a common effort
Opinion: Tech companies are key to our economy, so why squeeze them out?

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Racial disparities prompt calls to repeal King County’s bicycle helmet law
Washington state lawmakers say BLM group complaint is tactic to ‘intimidate or bully legislators’
Pop-up clinic in West Seattle aims to vaccinate vulnerable Latino elders
Gov. Inslee names head of Washington state’s new Office of Equity
Some 90% of COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Washington are delayed this week, state says
Opinion: Biden must quickly reinstate protections for ‘America’s salmon forest’
Editorial: Steps toward police reform, but a misstep on disciplinary actions (Salomon)
Opinion: After the pandemic, put women first
As other school districts open, Seattle remains split on returning to classrooms

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit PUD moving ahead on $35.5 milion infrastructure project
Anacortes Waterfront Festival canceled

South Seattle Emerald
Latino voters have higher than average ballot signature rejection rates in Washington State
Delay of vaccine delivery a concern, but Washington DOH guardedly optimistic about COVID-19 cases
National Alliance for Filipino Concerns hosts virtual town hall for local health care workers
Rep. Marilyn Strickland talks about historic first session in Congress
Opinion: Experts in our own care — our community dictates how millions are invested
Opinion: ‘Building back better’ requires big new investments in women and caregiving

Spokesman Review
On the Colville reservation, the vaccination rate is nearly double the state’s, despite challenges
Spokane Arena vaccine appointments rescheduled due to national weather delays
Amazon confirms fulfillment center in Spokane Valley; new facility will employ more than 1,000
Divided Washington Supreme Court blocks Freedom Foundation political contribution case against unions

Tri-City Herald
Doctor calls change in Tri-Cities COVID cases ‘dramatic’
Health district says ‘stay the course’ as Tri-Cities enter Phase 2

USA Today
Joe Biden’s coronavirus goals and timelines have shifted higher and lower
US rejoins Paris climate accord 107 days after leaving it: ‘We’ve lost too much time’
Winter storm blackouts plagued Texas in 2011, too. Recommendations made afterward went unenforced.

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Jury will pick one of four charges as Leslie Moreno murder trial winds down in Walla Walla County
Health Officials: Umatilla County newborn dies from COVID-19
Vaccine delays in Oregon postpone shot clinic in Umatilla County

Washington Post
Water and heat failures persist amid extreme cold in Texas; Oklahoma rattled by earthquake
Release of intelligence report on Khashoggi killing could push already strained U.S.-Saudi relations to new lows
FAQ: Single or double? The latest advice on masks and covid.

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima Valley Libraries to reopen all library locations beginning March 1
Federal judge to rule next week on farm-worker pay injunction
Yakima Health District cheers Phase 2, warns county could still move back to Phase 1
Vaccine supplies in Yakima County limited this week; weather delaying shipments

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Seattle’s Skagit River dams hurt salmon, orcas and Native American culture, agencies say
Washington could tie school district COVID-19 relief to campus return plan
Unhoused Seattle woman settles with city for $10,000 over sweep of Cal Anderson Park
Inslee names director of new Washington Office of Equity
These chain pharmacies will offer COVID-19 vaccines in Washington

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Statue provokes social movement, demand for changes in Puyallup
90% of Washington vaccination supply delayed because of weather
Insurance industry helped write changes that regulator says ‘gutted’ bill to take credit scoring out of insurance (Mullet)
Pregnant orca in J pod appears to have lost her baby, scientists say

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Bremerton-Seattle ferry crossing down to one boat indefinitely
Who was granted exemptions to use lower West Seattle Bridge without paying $75 fine?
Experts weigh in on if Washington’s power grid could collapse like Texas’
Gov. Inslee continues lobbying for students to return to class for in-person learning

KNKX
As remote learning drags on, parents search for answers about school in the fall
Pay-per-mile tax gets test drive in Washington Legislature to augment gas tax (Saldana, Hobbs)
About 90% of COVID vaccine shipments to WA delayed this week

KUOW FM
Updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in the Northwest
U.S. Officially Rejoins Paris Agreement On Climate Change
Huge Drop In Federal Aid For The Poorest Is Blamed On Closed Social Security Offices
Long-Term Studies Of COVID-19 Vaccines Hurt By Placebo Recipients Getting Immunized
Biden To Announce $4 Billion For Global COVID-19 Vaccine Effort
Winter storm causes vaccine shipment delays for Washington state
How Herd Immunity Works — And What Stands In Its Way
Debate Over Student Loan Forgiveness Hinges On 2 Numbers: $10,000 Vs. $50,000
Democrats Unveil Sweeping Immigration Bill

NW Public Radio
Gone Fishin’: Northwest States Catch Lots More Angling And Hunting License Sales During Pandemic

Q13 TV (Fox)
Winter weather delays 90% of COVID vaccine doses to Washington this week
Volunteers create website that makes it easier to find vaccine appointments

Web

Crosscut
WA lawmakers look to fix climate while solving the housing crisis (Duerr)
WA health care often lacks language services for immigrant patients
King County to reexamine decades-old bicyclist helmet law

MyNorthwest
Washington prioritizing larger counties for vaccine with doses still in short supply
Seattle agrees to pay $10,000 settlement in lawsuit over Cal Anderson homeless sweep
Seattle researcher: COVID variant could ‘push against’ recent improvements
Capital gains tax makes progress as lawmakers continue bid to tax state’s wealthiest residents
Another snowstorm heads for Cascades, mountain passes Thursday
Data breaches prompt new bill to limit Employment Security Department’s SSN disclosure

Seattle P.I.
Surprise! Endangered L pod welcomes new orca calf; spotted between Washington and Canada
New ‘ShakeAlert’ earthquake warning system to launch in Washington in May; drill next week

Slog
Snowstorms to Delay 90% of Washington’s Vaccines, DOH Expects

West Seattle Blog
The King County Assessor has sent this year’s property-tax bills. Here’s what’s notable

Thursday, February 18

COVID-19 nearly killed a Washington farmworker. Now, the farm won’t pay his worker’s compensation
When Laura Sandoval said goodbye to her husband, Eduardo, in August, she thought he’d return home to Mexico in three months. She trusted that the fruit farm that hired him — Washington Fruit and Produce — would protect Eduardo from COVID-19. Instead, he got a case of COVID that will cripple him for life. Continue reading at The Inlander. (Courtesy of Jennyfer Mesa)

State capital gains tax bill changes shape as it moves through lawmaking process
A Senate bill that would impose a tax on capital gains in Washington state looked much different from its original form when it passed out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee Tuesday evening. With the changes, the new proposal is predicted to bring in less revenue than the original and affect fewer taxpayers. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Look! It’s a bouncing baby orca in Puget Sound
At eight and a half feet long, it’s not your average baby. This newborn was spotted swimming with its 20-foot mother and members of all three pods of the endangered southern resident orcas, off San Juan Island on Wednesday. “It appears very healthy, thank goodness,” Ken Balcomb with the Center for Whale Research said in an email. Continue reading at KUOW. (Dave Ellifrit)

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Associated Press
Another calf born to endangered Northwest orcas
Senate committee approves capital gains tax
Thousands of service members saying no to COVID-19 vaccine
US jobless claims rise to 861,000 as layoffs stay high
Earthquake warning system to roll out to Oregon, Washington
Airbus posts $1.3 billion loss, aims for ‘cease-fire’ with Boeing

Aberdeen Daily World
Pacific County case rate drops, vaccinations scheduled this week
Letter: Some thoughts

Bainbridge Island Review
Suicide review team closer to reality (Ortiz-Self)

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
State capital gains tax bill changes shape as it moves through lawmaking process (Robinson, Mullet, Van De Wege)
These four regions in Whatcom County show large drops in their COVID-19 infection rates
There’s a new baby whale in the West Coast’s killer whale pod. Take a look
White House says COVID-19 vaccine shipments delayed by storm still arriving this week
Safety considerations for bars and restaurants during COVID-19
Mars rover set to land after 7-month journey. Here’s how to watch the historic event

Capital Press
Biden’s immigration proposal renews calls for farm labor reforms

Columbian
In Our View: Legislature must beef up aid for restaurants

The Daily News
Industry experts say updated building codes to add $20K to price of new Washington home

Everett Herald (subscription required)
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Everett pallet shelter plan moves forward, with key caveat

The Inlander
COVID-19 nearly killed a Washington farmworker. Now, the farm won’t pay his worker’s compensation
The real reason that people of color are hesitant with doctors — and the COVID-19 vaccine

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Kitsap Sun football preview: Shortened season still special

News Tribune (subscription required)
Firefighters battle huge ship fire at Port of Tacoma’s Pier 12
Here are the COVID-19 case numbers reported in Pierce County on Wednesday
Strickland and Long come together for Black History Month conversation
Editorial: Say what? Child sex victims must prove they’re not wed to abuser? Scrub this law now

New York Times
Live Updates: Biden’s Immigration Plan to Be Introduced in House
Should the Feds Guarantee You a Job?
Covid-19 Live Updates: U.S. Life Expectancy Plummeted in 2020
‘Nobody Has Openings’: Mental Health Providers Struggle to Meet Demand
New Zealand to Roll Out Free Period Products to All Students
Watch Live: House Lawmakers Hold Hearing on GameStop
Native Americans ‘Left Out in the Cold’ Under Trump Press Biden for Action

Olympian (subscription required)
State capital gains tax bill changes shape as it moves through lawmaking process (Robinson, Van De Weg, Mullet)
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
North Thurston announces grades 3-5 set to return in early March; 23 COVID-19 cases added
$10 million more in assistance coming to Thurston County renters and landlords
Olympia Meals on Wheels ransacked after door mistakenly left open on Monday

Peninsula Daily News
Lodging receipts down, but not out
Inslee urges in-person classes; virus school testing increased
State hosts webinar Thursday on COVID-19 vaccine phases
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Olympic Peninsula health officers discuss COVID testing in other schools in state

Port Townsend Leader
Two new COVID-19 infections discovered in Jefferson County

Puget Sound Business Journal
Most King County property tax bills are higher due to voter-approved measures

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Seattle has finally reached peak car, and only one other densely populated U.S. city has more cars per capita
Seattle will pay $10,000 to settle Cal Anderson encampment removal lawsuit
Property tax bills are arriving in King County, and several areas will see double-digit rate increases
Warming seas could wipe out Snake River chinook by 2060, scientists predict
New orca baby born to southern resident L pod
Seattle’s 2018 Firefighter of the Year charged in connection with threats sent to Sawant
Inslee: Canada won’t require coronavirus testing for residents of Point Roberts
Editorial: Protect Washingtonians’ digital privacy (Carlyle)
Seattle developer to sell upscale, just-finished Capitol Hill apartments for low-income housing

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit PUD moving ahead on $35.5 milion infrastructure project
Anacortes Waterfront Festival canceled

South Seattle Emerald
State proposal creating community oversight boards could have unintended consequences (Johnson)

Spokesman Review
New version of capital gains tax passes Washington Senate committee (Robinson)
Washington residents will get phone alerts when earthquakes hit
Inland Northwest protected, but not immune from power outages

Tri-City Herald
Inmate death in ‘Richland jail’ causes stir in Tri-Cities case of mistaken identity
Closed: Tri-Cities fairgrounds COVID vaccine site shuts down for the week
Pasco schools to join WA districts already rapid testing staff, students for COVID
Tri-Cities hospitals treating fewer COVID patients. Snowy weather slows testing
Editorial: Tri-Cities can’t risk COVID data errors. Counties need access to regional numbers

USA Today
White House unveils Biden’s immigration bill, including an eight-year path to citizenship
Tennessee bill would grant fathers veto power over abortion, with no exception for rape or incest
The U.S. lost a whole year of life expectancy – and for Black people, it’s nearly 3 times worse

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Mental health at center of defense in Day 10 of Leslie Moreno trial in Walla Walla
Walla Walla County reports 14 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, no new deaths
More vaccination clinics coming to Walla Walla County Fairgrounds Sunday and Monday

Washington Post
Deadly winter weather moves east; power restored to millions in Texas
Texas Democrats call for Sen. Ted Cruz to resign after unverified photos purportedly show him traveling to Cancun

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima Health District cheers Phase 2, warns county could still move back to Phase
Yakima microbusinesses can apply for second round of COVID relief funding
City to try out motorized scooters in downtown Yakima
Dozens gather Wednesday evening to raise awareness and honor missing and murdered Indigenous people
Snowstorm brings ‘most dangerous conditions’ seen by utility

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Boyfriend speaks after deadly confrontation over political sign in Skagit County
Third stimulus payment: $1,400 or $3,600 per child? Why some are confused
Washington capital gains tax proposal gains traction (Robinson)
Shooting in Tacoma highlights growing concern over acid use among teens
Seattle firefighter charged in emailed threats to Councilmember Kshama Sawant

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
SPD releases bodycam video after officers fatally shoot man armed with knife near waterfront
‘It is competitive and complicated’: Seniors wait for links to compete for access to vaccine
Firefighter accused of sending threats to Seattle council member charged with cyberstalking, identity theft
Gov. Inslee urges in-person classes, virus school testing upped
High school students in Bellingham to return to classroom in March

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Exclusive: New FBI Special Agent in Seattle discusses agencies priorities in 2021
Seattle Police release bodycam footage of deadly officer-involved shooting at waterfront
Surging snowpack can have positive impact on salmon, slow start to wildfire season

KUOW FM
WHY WASHINGTON STATE’S PHASE FINDER IS NOT ACHIEVING VACCINE EQUITY
Look! It’s a bouncing baby orca in Puget Sound
Updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in the Northwest
What A 30,000-Person Survey Reveals About Day-To-Day Life In The Pandemic
American Life Expectancy Dropped By A Full Year In The First Half Of 2020
LISTEN: Whale songs reveal map of Earth’s crust
February 17th | The uncertain future of Cascadia’s climate
Gone fishin’. Western states catch lots more angling and hunting license sales during pandemic
White House Announces Expanded COVID-19 Testing, Manufacturing And Virus Sequencing

NW Public Radio
Gone Fishin’: Northwest States Catch Lots More Angling And Hunting License Sales During Pandemic

Q13 TV (Fox)
First time buyers, many of them women, driving gun sales to surge in Washington state
Washington state hospitals expect more first dose vaccine appointments by next week
Brandi Kruse: Politicians are powerless to save the GOP

Web

Crosscut
Can King County keep using empty hotels to fight homelessness?

MyNorthwest
Data breaches prompt new bill to limit Employment Security Department’s SSN disclosure
Amber Alert canceled for missing teen last seen in Chelan
Charges filed against Seattle Fire Dept. employee over threatening emails to Kshama Sawant
New orca calf inspires hope that Puget Sound whales could be recovering
Is Boeing’s BFF looking for a new friend?
Paid parking rates adjusted in parts of Seattle to ‘improve customer access’

Slog
Hateful and Threatening Messages Filled Seattle City Council Inboxes Last Year, Especially Sawant’s
What Happens When Seattle Shakes?

West Seattle Blog
ORCAS: New calf born to Southern Resident Killer Whales

Wednesday, February 17

Tracking plans to tax the rich in the 2021 Washington Legislature
You could be forgiven if you can’t quite keep track of the competing tax proposals in Washington’s Legislature this year. Democrats in Olympia want to enact new taxes that target the wealthy — and they’re floating multiple proposals in 2021 to try to make that happen. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jovelle Tamayo)

Washington Legislature passes graduation waiver measure
The Washington Legislature has approved a bill that would waive some graduation requirements for individual students during a state of emergency, like the current coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Getty images)

How cracks in the child care system could fail Central Washington’s youngest learners
Reliable child care in Central Washington and beyond has always been hard to find. But with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, providers considered essential to restarting the economy have struggled to keep their doors open amid mounting costs and plummeting paychecks. Continue reading at The Yakima Herald. (Amanda Ray)

Print

Associated Press
Washington Legislature passes graduation waiver measure
Earthquake warning system to roll out to Oregon, Washington
Inslee urges in-person classes, virus school testing upped
Native Americans embrace vaccine, virus containment measures
The Latest: Deep freeze harming drinking water systems
Washington law would end license suspension for unpaid fines (Randall)
Officials: Funds needed to ensure vaccine reaches minorities

Aberdeen Daily World
Clatsop County Public Health Director accepts job with Grays Harbor County
District 19 Republicans split on bill banning native mascots (Lekanoff, Santos)
State wants input from community on fish and flood solutions in Chehalis Basin
Commentary: Democrats were wrong to silence Herrera Beutler
Commentary: How will the refusal of GOP senators to convict Trump look to future voters?
Letter: Trump should never hold office again

Bainbridge Island Review
House representatives pass numerous bills (Berg, Slatter, Bronoske, Stonier, Lekanoff)

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Whatcom sees 2 more COVID-related deaths, 29 new confirmed cases, state reports Tuesday
Whatcom receives no first doses of COVID-19 vaccines this week as state shifts focus
Washington has ‘urgent need’ for blood donations because of winter storm, officials say
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Tuesday in Washington
Gov. Inslee expands in-person learning for Washington schools
Inslee: COVID-19 testing in schools expands, vaccine supply likely to increase
‘All I feel is stress.’ Student survey reveals crushing pressure in pandemic learning

Capital Press
Two ousted by Washington Conservation Commission appeal to high court
Easterday Dairy moving forward despite company’s trouble

Columbian
In Our View: Eyman out to make a buck with bunco

Covington-Maple Valley Reporter
Treehouse awarded $1.3 million in CARES Act to help fund foster care tutoring

The Daily News
State expands school COVID-19 testing program; Cowlitz County reports two more deaths

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Cornfield Report: A leaner capital gains tax, a second GOP budget and a $5 fine (Jinkins)
Inslee offers school districts state-funded COVID testing
Snohomish County gets fewer first doses than usual this week
Arlington, Marysville push state to extend key tax break (Wicks)
Letter claims Oak Harbor students are being ‘indoctrinated’
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Editorial: Unpaid traffic tickets shouldn’t bring loss of jobs (Salomon, Liias)

International Examiner
Chinatown-ID has seen a dramatic uptick in graffiti recently

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Loved ones of Nimitz sailors making final preparations for their return home

News Tribune (subscription required)
Puyallup National Guard Armory to be sold. Here’s what it will become
Paddleboard safety bill sinks like a stone in Legislature after online outrage (Lovick)
COVID-19 daily numbers trending downward in Pierce County; three new deaths reported
Here’s what you need to know about noise from JBLM this week

New York Times
Oregon Is Vaccinating Teachers. It Might Not Be Enough to Reopen Schools.
Covid-19 Live Updates: Experts Say Biden Should Speed Up Vaccine Program
Live Updates: Biden and Harris Push $1.9 Trillion Relief Plan and Preview Other Top Priorities
Promotions for Female Generals Were Delayed Over Fears of Trump’s Reaction
Scientists Call on C.D.C. to Set Air Standards for Workplaces, Now
Would Americans Have More Babies if the Government Paid Them?

Olympian (subscription required)
Thurston reports 67 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, no first-dose clinics this week
Washington has ‘urgent need’ for blood donations because of winter storm, officials say
Here are the latest COVID-19 case numbers confirmed Tuesday in Washington
Inslee: COVID-19 testing in schools expands, vaccine supply likely to increase

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County resumes in-person meetings
Cyber security office proposed in wake of major data breach (Carlyle)
Law would end driver’s license suspensions over unpaid fines (Randall)
Legislature passes graduation waiver measure
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
COVID restrictions loosen, but caution shouldn’t, officials say
Jefferson Healthcare to resume first doses

Puget Sound Business Journal
The negotiators taking on the ransomware hackers
State expands school Covid testing with eye to more classroom openings
Report: Washington now has almost 20K cannabis jobs
PPP loans not for you? SBA is waiving fees, making payments on these other loans

Seattle Times (subscription required)
How some frustrated COVID-19 vaccine hunters are trying to fix a broken system
Washington BLM Alliance files ethics complaints against lawmakers
Seattle City Council votes to distribute COVID-19 vaccines equitably
Police shoot, kill man armed with knife at Seattle waterfront
Nearly 100,000 remain without power in Portland as outages stretch into 5th day
Washington state’s for-profit online schools are expanding enrollment during the pandemic
Opinion: Legislature should remove voting barrier for ex-felons (Simmons, Kuderer)

Skagit Valley Herald
Port of Skagit busy with airport, maritime, value-added agriculture projects
Mount Vernon rally held in support of in-person learning
Skagit Land Trust adds land, trees at Tope Ryan Conservation Area

South Seattle Emerald
State officials push school reopening plan, drawing on data from studies of predominantly white student groups in handful of U.S. studies
Statewide pandemic relief fund sets $30m goal for vaccine equity

Spokesman Review
Inclement weather could delay vaccine deliveries locally and nationwide
Inslee: Washington is expanding testing to schools in an effort to get kids back in person
SNAP to distribute $9 million in federal rental aid across Spokane County
Most long-term care facilities in state enrolled in federal pharmacy program have had first vaccination clinics

Suburban Times
House passes Bronoske bill to authorize apprenticeships in behavioral health workforce (Bronoske)

Tri-City Herald
‘We are excited.’ Tri-Cities restaurant owners relieved to have diners back inside
Tri-Cities COVID cases top 25,000 after 3-day weekend
Exclusive: Matter of time before COVID variant found in Tri-Cities, says WA health secretary

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Walla Walla’s Emergency Warming Center provides warm beds through cold nights
Umatilla County reports two new deaths connected with COVID-19
School Closures: Walla Walla Valley schools plan for Wednesday changes due to snow
Saturday house fire displaces Walla Walla family of eight

Washington Post
Millions of jobs probably aren’t coming back, even after the pandemic ends
Rate of new coronavirus cases declining around the world, WHO says
The Texas grid got crushed because its operators didn’t see the need to prepare for cold weather
McConnell shows that legacies don’t matter when facts no longer do
A 90-year-old Seattle woman trudged three miles through 10 inches of snow to get her vaccine shot

Whidbey News-Times
South Whidbey students returning to school next week

Yakima Herald Republic
How cracks in the child care system could fail Central Washington’s youngest learners
Inslee urges in-person classes, virus school testing upped
13% of child care providers in Washington state have closed because of pandemic
WDFW to capture Yakima River Canyon’s bighorn sheep and test for deadly bacteria
Lawmakers from both parties push for teachers to be vaccinated to open schools faster

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
New York sues Amazon over worker safety during pandemic
Mercer Island approves camping ban on public property
Washington teachers still skeptical after Inslee calls for return to classrooms
Argument over political sign turns deadly in Skagit County, sheriff’s office says
What you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines in Washington Wednesday

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Police: Officers fatally shoot man armed with knife near Seattle Waterfront
Gov. Inslee urges in-person classes, virus school testing upped
QFC closing 2 Seattle stores, says decision ‘accelerated’ by City Council hazard pay mandate
Mercer Island votes to ban public camping
First judge of Samoan heritage in state history appointed to the bench
Parents, students rally in Mount Vernon, urge district to bring back high schoolers

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Gov. Inslee urges in-person classes despite COVID-19
‘Shake Alert’ earthquake early warning system nearing release in Washington state
QFC to close 2 Seattle stores, blames City Council’s extra pay mandate
Mercer Island City Council votes to ban homeless camping within city limits

KNKX FM
How would Republicans budget if they controlled Olympia? A pair of spending blueprints offer clues (Rolfes, Ormsby)
Of Phase 2, schools and vaccines: What’s happening at the state Capitol this week

KUOW FM
Of Phase 2, schools and vaccines: What’s happening at the state Capitol this week
‘It hits you like a truck.’ One Seattle family’s experience with ‘UK’ variant of the coronavirus
Updates on the Covid-19 pandemic in the Northwest
Vaccinating Homeless Patients Against COVID-19: ‘All Bets Are Off’
Biden Says He Wants Most K-8 Schools Open 5 Days A Week By His First 100 Days
COVID-19 Vaccine: Don’t Miss Your 2nd Dose Because Of Scheduling Glitches

NW Public Radio
Should Civics Have A More Prominent Place In Washington Schools?
Idaho Congressman Hopes Politics Align In Proposal To Remove Snake River Dams In Washington

Q13 TV (Fox)
QFC to close two stores in Seattle after city mandates hazard pay for grocery workers
Inslee: Schools should reopen for in-person learning
Woman charged with murder after fight over political sign turns into deadly shooting in Mount Vernon

Web

Crosscut
Tracking plans to tax the rich in the 2021 Washington Legislature (Frame, Robinson, Senn, Hasegawa, Orwall)
Teens pushing WA Legislature to ban retail puppy sales (Walen, Thai, Kuderer, Dhingra)

Edmonds Beacon
Sound off: Virtual town hall is Wednesday (Liias, Ortiz-Self, Peterson)

MyNorthwest
Mercer Island MD explains why CDC now recommends multi-layered masks
QFC to close two Seattle locations, blames city’s grocery worker hazard pay ordinance
Washington bill to decriminalize drug possession advances out of committee
Appeals court revives wrongful death lawsuit over shooting of Charleena Lyles
COVID variants may not be more deadly, but virologist says ‘avoid contracting it at all costs’

Seattle P.I.
Inslee: Washington schools can reopen safely, even as most teachers not yet eligible for vaccines
Washington sees ‘fairly low’ levels of COVID-19 transmission in K-12 schools, report finds
Washington lawmakers pass amended drug decriminalization bill out of committee (Davis, Harris-Talley)

Slog
Take a Look at the Local History Trump Nearly Stole From Us
Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Final State of the City Address Was Short and Uninspiring

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
Badger Club debates merits of taxing carbon to spur economic recovery (Lovelett, Saldaña, Das, Dhingra, Frockt, Hunt, Kuderer, Nguyen, Pedersen, Salomon, Stanford, Wellman, Wilson)

Tuesday, February 16

Bill would let some young people who are incarcerated transition to live in the community
It can be difficult for anyone who’s been incarcerated to readjust to life after getting out. A bill working its way through the Legislature would allow some young people in juvenile rehabilitation to serve part of their sentences in the community with the aim of facilitating a better transition. Continue reading at KNKX. (TVW)

Teens pushing WA Legislature to ban retail puppy sales
In the last legislative session, House Bill 1640 sought to ban pet retailers like Fairwood Pet Center from selling dogs and cats. Since breeding regulations from 2009 already prohibit the practices that constitute puppy mills and kitten factories, HB 1640 would have ended the supply chain that funnels out-of-state animals raised in these conditions without interfering with the federal rules of interstate commerce. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Dorothy Edwards)

Three bills that help families would help us all
We pay mass sums of money to put children in hotel rooms and nearly nothing to provide housing and food security to the parents we are taking them away from. Yes, simply being homeless or food insecure is considered neglect. And taking a child away from their loving parent can create trauma in children that will likely never get addressed. Continue reading at The Everett Herald.