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Wednesday, November 25

Record number of new COVID-19 cases confirmed Tuesday in Washington state
The Washington state Department of Health reported a record high 3,482 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 35 deaths Tuesday. Pierce County reported 343 cases Tuesday and one new death. Pierce County has a total of 225 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Tuesday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Continue reading at The Olympian. (BOB BRAWDY/TRI-CITY HERALD)

Officials warn that COVID-19 hospitalizations in Washington state are spiking
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday warned that hospitalizations in the state are nearing rates seen early in the pandemic due to a continued surge in new coronavirus cases around the state, and he said that restrictions on businesses may need to be expanded if the growth of cases doesn’t slow. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star)

Virus Outbreak, Once in the Nation’s Middle, Gains Steam All Around
What started as a Midwestern surge has grown into coast-to-coast disaster. Over the last two months, rural counties and midsize cities in the Great Plains and Upper Midwest have been the main drivers of the dizzying growth in coronavirus cases in the United States. But the virus appears to have entered a new phase in recent days: The reason the country is continuing to break case records has less to do with North Dakota and Wisconsin than it does with swift resurgences of the virus in cities like Baltimore, Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix and with first-time spikes in smaller cities away from the nation’s middle, like Cumberland, Md. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Bryan Denton/The New York Times)

Print

Associated Press
Officials warn that COVID-19 hospitalizations in Washington state are spiking
Consumer spending up a slight 0.5% as virus maintains grip
Fox News viewership slips post-election, prodded by Trump

Aberdeen Daily World
Hoquiam uses portion of CARES Act funds to rent outdoor seating tents for local restaurants
GGHI’s upcoming business forum features Boeing manager on navigating the pandemic

Capital Press
WSU posts map of winter wheat trials
WSDA to toughen grapevine quarantine

Everett Herald (subscription required)
COVID outbreak at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett
Hospitals put to the test again as virus patients surge
With a final tally, county closes the book on 2020 election
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
COVID is making its way back into long-term care homes
COVID-19 outbreak being investigated at Regency on Whidbey
Comment: Washington saw Thanksgiving’s role in uniting nation
Bloomberg Comment: Food supply chain passed the test posed by COVID
Editorial: Education can build on Native Americans’ heritage

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
‘It’s still a beautiful world:’ Readers share stories of gratitude during the pandemic
Election results show Kitsap voter turnout falls short of record levels
Tree farms are expected to be a big draw during the pandemic holiday season

News Tribune (subscription required)
This local food bank flipped the script, finding a way to expand reach during COVID-19
Tacoma bar previously accused of violating COVID-19 rules again under investigation
300+ Pierce County COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday likely an undercount, officials say
Owl’s Port of Tacoma train ride is thwarted but soon he’ll be a wildlife ambassador
Trump reportedly plans to pardon Michael Flynn. How do presidential pardons work?
Pandemic-weary college students head home for the holidays. Is Washington ready?

New York Times
Virus Outbreak, Once in the Nation’s Middle, Gains Steam All Around
Covid-19 Live Updates: As Cases Overwhelm the U.S., Some Health Officials Give Up on Contact Tracing
Rising Jobless Claims Show Pandemic’s Toll on the Economy: Live Updates
Here’s One Issue That Could Actually Break the Partisan Gridlock

Olympian (subscription required)
Thurston County records 83% turnout in 2020 general election as ballots certified
Insurance Commissioner drops $1 million fine on Aliera for selling illegal policies
Customers confront 8 liquor agents trying to shut down Tri-Cities bar
UW Huskies to play Utah in replacement game for Apple Cup
Threshold for reopening WA schools could be lowered significantly, draft plan shows
Record number of new COVID-19 cases confirmed Tuesday in Washington state
Thurston County adds 55 new COVID-19 cases amid concerning trends Tuesday
Health workers join Gov. Inslee to warn that hospitals are approaching capacity
Lacey, Homes First shift gears on house for homeless teens after building cost too high
Hospitality Association calls relief package a ‘start’ as legislators discuss more options (Keiser, Springer)

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson commissioners weigh tax for affordable housing projects
Brinnon students to shift back to hybrid model
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Peninsula jobless rate drops in October
Meal distribution helps 900 families in Sequim
Sequim Warming Center open, modified for pandemic
Peninsula hospitals restricting visitors
Long-term care facility reaches 22 total cases

Puget Sound Business Journal
State lawmakers urge more funding for hospitality industry amid new Covid-19 restrictions (Keiser, Springer)
Who will miss the coins when they’re gone?
Roiled by election, Facebook struggles to balance civility and growth
Yellen would assume vast policy portfolio as Treasury secretary
Despite challenges, opportunity zones provide much-needed capital
Purdue Pharma pleads guilty to role in opioid crisis as part of deal with Justice Department
Workers at this Amazon facility plan to hold union vote
Small businesses hit with another PPP tax change. Here’s what it means.

Seattle Weekly
Washington releases new forest plan

Skagit Valley Herald
COVID-19 map project provides added insight
Skagit Regional Health activates COVID-19 surge plan

South Seattle Emerald
Articles of Faith: On the margins
If state does not curb COVID trend, healthcare workers will have to start making “painful choices,” experts warn
After council vote, solidarity budget celebrates victories but battle against SPD’s “hugely bloated budget” continues

Tri-City Herald
Richland is shutting down 4th and 5th grade classrooms. Here’s the problem
Customers confront 8 liquor agents trying to shut down Tri-Cities bar
Pasco middle and high school students will not return to classrooms Dec. 3
Tri-Cities COVID cases linked to superspreader wedding in Ritzville
‘Running out of air.’ Tri-Cities commissioners beg Inslee to ease business restrictions
Daily COVID cases continue steep climb in Tri-Cities. 242 new cases reported Tuesday
‘No freedom, no peace,’ chants crowd at Tri-Cities protest of COVID business restrictions
Editorial: Thanksgiving could lead to more COVID deaths. Tri-Citians must protect each other
Op-Ed: Frontline COVID-19 workers have Kadlec’s thanks
Op-Ed: Ecology cares – deeply – about Hanford clean-up, and the Tri-City community

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Traditional Thanksgiving plans change, but new celebrations emerge
Walla Walla Community College sets sight on winter quarter
Walla Walla, Columbia, Umatilla counties report 105 new COVID-19 cases
Walla Walla area leaders share economic outlook for 2021

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima County reports 150 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday; state sets new record
Yakima County certifies election results with final turnout at 75.95%
Spokane tribal leader chosen as Eastern Washington tribal liaison for WSP

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
‘We need everyone to really hunker down’: Healthcare workers fear for safety as COVID-19 cases surge
Sea-Tac Airport traffic is down significantly this Thanksgiving holiday
King County to release new COVID-19 outbreak location data Wednesday
Snohomish County COVID hospitalizations up 400%, nearing patient capacity
Most Washington law enforcement agencies don’t use body or dash cameras, KING 5 investigation finds
King County breaks voter turnout record in 2020
Snohomish County preparing to distribute 160,000 COVID-19 vaccines per week

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Still gathering for Thanksgiving? Last minute safety tips from doctors
Nurse: Health care workers should use West Seattle Low Bridge during pandemic
Still planning to fly for Thanksgiving? What you need to know to stay safe

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘Catastrophic loss of medical care’ possible if Washington’s COVID-19 numbers skyrocket
State health officials mull loosening COVID restrictions for schools
COVID-19: Inslee warns of more restrictions if state can’t contain surging virus
Poll: Many people insist they will not get a COVID-19 vaccine
Pandemic pushing more small local businesses to brink of closure
Cost of Survival: Seattle small biz tackle pandemic and property damage from civil unrest
Mayor Durkan, critical of City Council, says she’ll sign 2021 budget
‘The need is staggering:’ Washington food banks struggling to keep up with high demand

Q13 TV (Fox)
Washington state officials mull loosening COVID restrictions for schools
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Washington nearing record highs
Voter turnout in Washington hit 84.1%, just shy of record
With downtown Seattle ‘a hollow shell,’ businesses in need of holiday goodwill

Web

Crosscut
How ventilation plays a role in reducing indoor spread of COVID-19
Opinion: In Washington state, housing is the question and the answer

MyNorthwest
Voter turnout in Washington reaches 84.1%, just below all-time record
Gov. Inslee ‘delighted’ by John Kerry’s new climate role
Washington Poison Center warns of Benadryl overdoses amidst TikTok trend
Hospitals in Washington state at record capacity, doc says
Agencies planning as COVID-19 vaccine expected in Washington in December

Slog
Activists Plan to Keep Pushing for an SPD Hiring Freeze
Why Some Say Janet Yellen Is Not the Worst Pick for Treasury Secretary
Anderson Trails Mullet by 57 Votes as Eastside State Senate Race Heads for a Recount (Mullet)
Environmental Groups Scramble to Stop Fishing Giant from Farming in Puget Sound

Tuesday, November 24

New shutdown expected to cost Washington restaurants $800M
A four-week shutdown on indoor service at restaurants and bars prompted by an alarming statewide spike in COVID-19 cases is expected to cost the industry some $800 million, a representative said Monday. Anthony Anton, chief executive of the Washington Hospitality Association, urged lawmakers from both parties to begin figuring out ways to support restaurants as well as hotels and other hospitality businesses so they have a plan ready to go when the Legislature next meets. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

U.S. agency ascertains Biden as winner, lets transition begin
The General Services Administration has ascertained that President-elect Joe Biden is the “apparent winner” of the Nov. 3 election. President Donald Trump, who had refused to concede the election, said Monday that he is directing his team to cooperate on the transition but is vowing to keep up the fight. The move clears the way for the start of the transition from Trump’s administration and allows Biden to coordinate with federal agencies on plans for taking over on Jan. 20. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Susan Walsh)

Seattle City Council Just Cut SPD’s Budget by 20%
On Monday evening the Seattle City Council voted 8-1 to approve a $6.5 billion 2021 budget package that filled in COVID-19 holes, increased funding to address homelessness, revived Seattle’s Green New Deal, and, among other things, cut the Seattle Police Department budget by around 20%. Continue reading at The Stranger. (Seattle Channel)

Print

Associated Press
US judge voids permits for Columbia River methanol plant
New shutdown expected to cost Washington restaurants $800M (Keiser, Springer)
Washington state in ‘very dangerous time of this pandemic’
Dow crests 30,000 points on vaccine hopes, Biden transition
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma pleads guilty in criminal case
AP source: Biden taps ex-Fed chair Yellen to lead treasury

Aberdeen Daily World
Why fewer people are dying of COVID-19, even as cases surge
17th COVID-related death reported in Grays Harbor County Monday

Capital Press
AEWR freeze, H-2A changes may not last long
Ousted Washington conservation commissioners cite ‘shenanigans’ in appeal
Former Wallowa-Whitman NF chief possible candidate for top BLM spot
Robotic milkers gain popularity in Pacific Northwest
Potato shipments, prices mixed as COVID-19 impacts continue
Thousands march in Taiwan against U.S. pork imports

Columbian
Technical glitch results in undercount of weekend Clark County COVID-19 case numbers
In Our View: Special session of state Legislature crucial

Everett Herald (subscription required)
$1 million grant boosts Compass Health project on Broadway
Critics wary as Everett OKs body camera program for police
COVID is making its way back into long-term care homes
Eyman must wait until December to get his day in court
Where does Marysville need to improve accessibility?
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
WaPo Comment: Media’s fight against disinformation is just beginning
WaPo Comment: Biden can resume human rights focus that JFK started

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employees embrace tablets
Kitsap Public Health reports 26th COVID-19 death
Former USS Kitty Hawk to go to dry dock in 2021 to avoid scraping its hull in Puget Sound
Biden signals push to extend New START nuclear arms treaty
Connecting orcas to Oklahoma: Project introduces inlanders to Salish Sea’s endangered species
Kitsap school districts eye reopening schools in January
‘It’s not forever’: Kitsap residents alter Thanksgiving plans, heeding COVID-19 guidance
Kitsap’s retailers relying on the holidays to boost sales battered by the pandemic

News Tribune (subscription required)
What Puyallup’s ‘hold-the-line’ budget means for departments, city services
PLU offers tuition break for incoming students whose parents are in certain professions
Here are the finalists for Tacoma police chief and how you can meet them
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 147,537 cases

New York Times
Live Updates: Biden’s Set to Announce Cabinet Picks as His Presidential Transition Formally Begins
Evidence Builds That an Early Mutation Made the Pandemic Harder to Stop
What We Know About AstraZeneca’s Head-Scratching Vaccine Results
G.M. Drops Its Support for Trump Climate Rollbacks and Aligns With Biden

Olympian (subscription required)
State expands who’s eligible for $1.1 million still left in Thurston’s rent assistance fund
Indigo clinic staff launch two-day strike over COVID safety issues
L&I sees a spike in complaints about businesses violating COVID-19 rules and restrictions
Here are the COVID-19 cases and deaths confirmed Monday in Washington state
Lacey City Council’s Greenstein is recovering from COVID-19
Thurston County adds 80 new COVID-19 cases on Monday
Sale of former Washington state ferry set to close Tuesday, Olympia port says
Tri-Cities liquor agent’s home targeted by Patriot Prayer activist for protest rally

Peninsula Daily News
Sequim moves to all-virtual classes
WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus outbreak at a glance

Puget Sound Business Journal
Small gatherings spread the virus, but are they causing the surge?
As customers move online, so does the holiday shopping season
Here’s what American, Southwest say about the 737 Max’s return
Aerospace supplier exec says federal aid didn’t go far enough
Alaska Airlines cements pivot away from Airbus in lease deal for Boeing 737 Max jets
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine results raise hopes for Covid fight
Opinion: Initiative puts new spin on cleaning up the Puget Sound waters
With the election over, the winners face long list of thorny issues
GM drops its support for Trump climate rollbacks and aligns with Biden
Opinion: American cultural intelligence is needed now more than ever

Seattle Times (subscription required)
A Black Seattle family couldn’t bury their young son where they wished because of racism. 60 years later, does an apology help?
Renton City Council moves to shut down hotel housing homeless people, restrict future shelters
Thanksgiving could make or break US coronavirus response
Seattle City Council adopts 2021 budget after months of political turbulence; mayor will sign
Seattle’s Ken Jennings named 1st interim guest host of ‘Jeopardy!’
Health providers strike at 20 MultiCare urgent-care clinics in Puget Sound area

Skagit Valley Herald
Steelhead farm proposal appealed to state Supreme Court
County will likely need to dip into reserves for 2021 budget
Fish passage studies sought in Skagit River dam relicensing

South Seattle Emerald
As holidays approach, so do food insecurity concerns
City’s recession-era budget includes modest cuts to police, promises of future investments in community safety
When we elect black women leaders

Spokesman Review
U.S. agency ascertains Biden as winner, lets transition begin
513 new COVID-19 cases reported in Spokane; virus blamed for child’s death
In 1991, more than one-third of Washington was represented in the Legislature by two parties. In 2021? Hardly any (Sullivan)
Thinking of a last-minute COVID-19 test for Turkey Day? Think again
Washington lawmakers voice support for struggling hospitality industry (Springer, Keiser)

Tri-City Herald
Eat turkey, go shopping, get a COVID test. Tri-Cities testing open Thanksgiving
‘Critical juncture.’ Nearly 600 more Tri-Cities COVID cases reported as Thanksgiving nears
Health district implores Tri-Citians to not risk holiday COVID exposure
Watch right-wing activist lead demonstration outside Tri-Cities liquor agent’s home
Op-Ed: Thankful for Snake River dams
Op-Ed: Lower Snake River dams should be removed

USA Today
When might a COVID-19 vaccine be authorized? FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn answers common questions
Scotland set to become world’s first country to make pads and tampons free

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
With rising infections, city and school officials lend their voices to seek compliance with mandates
Deputies nab Weston man in Waitsburg ‘toilet paper caper’ burglary
Dayton schools go to distance learning for Tuesday

Washington Post
Trump relents on transition as Republicans join mounting calls for him to acknowledge Biden’s win
Who is Janet Yellen, Biden’s pioneering pick to lead the Treasury amid a deep crisis?
Foreign observers shocked by chaos over U.S. election
Officials tell public to stay home to stop COVID’s spread. But is anyone listening?

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima Municipal Court looking to add Zoom to supplement in-person court hearings
With legal options limited, Yakima County commissioners ask for more local control on COVID response
Yakima County reports 167 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, 166 Monday

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
COVID-19 vaccine could be in Washington state by Christmas
How Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission plans to feed hundreds for Thanksgiving
Washington cell phone and traffic data show slowdown in Thanksgiving travel amid COVID warnings
Washington state seafood industry struggles to stay afloat during coronavirus pandemic
Seattle’s 2021 budget includes millions for community programs and 18% cuts to police
European regulator moves to clear Boeing 737 MAX for flight

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Microsoft: Foreign cyber hackers are targeting COVID-19 vaccine companies
Still planning to fly for Thanksgiving? What you need to know to stay safe
King County, state work to hire more contact tracers as they struggle to keep up with surge
Seattle City Council passes smaller police budget for 2021

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
State lawmakers differ on whether special session is needed or wait until January (Billig, Jinkins, Dhingra)
Seattle City Council OKs budget that avoids cutting police spending by half
A ‘free ride’? King Co. taxpayers to pay back some crime victims in new program
International flyers may soon need to get virus vaccinations
Are dining tents a safe way to eat out during the pandemic?
Keep the mask: A vaccine won’t end the US crisis right away

Q13 TV (Fox)
State ‘surge plan’ activated ahead of Thanksgiving holiday
Washington state plastic bag ban starts Jan. 1
Week two of new state restrictions, restaurants will lose $800 million, hospitality experts say (Keiser, Springer)

Web

American Kahani
Meet Vandana Slatter, the Washington State Legislator and Daughter of the East and West (Slatter)
Civic Skunkworks
Democrats Abandoned Farmers, Not the Other Way Around

Crosscut
Seattle’s ‘street czar’ to step back after fight with COVID-19
Opinion: A magical hike on Whidbey Island whitewashes Native history
Why learning real Native history is important to the PNW and beyond

MyNorthwest
Traveling for the holidays? New rules to follow
Woman stabbed to death; second unrelated stabbing reported in Seattle
Seattle City Council passes 2021 budget, including cuts to SPD funds

OPB
Washington changed police shooting investigations, but trust remains in low supply (Goodman)

Slog
If You Love Jogging, Then You Should Wear a Musk
Seattle City Council Just Cut SPD’s Budget by 20%

Monday, November 23

Inslee announces $135 million in economic relief for businesses affected by COVID-19 closures
Amid backlash for new COVID-19 restrictions, Gov. Jay Inslee announced additional economic support for businesses affected by closures. Inslee announced $135 million would be available to Washington businesses and residents facing economic hardships due to recent restrictions and closures. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Colin Mulvany/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)

Apple Cup canceled due to Washington State’s COVID-19 issues
The Apple Cup has been canceled. Washington had its second game of the season wiped out on Sunday, three days after Washington State announced it could not meet the 53-man scholarship mark to play Saturday’s game against Stanford. The rivalry game was called off after the Cougars were again unable to meet that threshold. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Joshua Bessex)

Biden Will Nominate First Woman to Lead Intelligence, First Latino to Run Homeland Security
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. plans to name several top national security picks on Tuesday, his transition office said, including the first Latino to lead the Department of Homeland Security, the first woman to head the intelligence community and a former secretary of state, John Kerry, to be his climate czar. Continue reading at New York Times. (Stefani Reynolds/Alamy)

Print

Associated Press
Seattle City Council rejects effort to block police hiring
Apple Cup canceled due to coronavirus concerns at Wazzu
$135 million in grants, loans announced for businesses amid COVID-19 restrictions
Biden picks John Kerry for climate change role
3rd major COVID-19 vaccine shown to be effective and cheaper
Nearly 700 mostly Chicago-area nursing home workers striking
Man driving recklessly killed by Spokane County deputies

Aberdeen Daily World
Pacific County experiencing major Covid spike
Pacific County reports 93 more cases since Wednesday
Oped: Trump’s election fight makes zero sense — but that makes sense

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Apple Cup canceled due to Washington State’s COVID-19 issues
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 141,260 cases
Job losses could be steep in cold-weather cities like Bellingham. Here’s why

Bloomberg
Don’t Discount States for U.S. Climate Progress

Capital Press
Washington task force ponders reducing need for H-2A workers

Columbian
Clark County legislators split on Inslee’s COVID-19 approach (Cleveland, Stonier)
Vancouver company fined for failure to enforce mask use
In Our View: In-class learning will be a test of its own
In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Chat with Santa; stop hoarding (pandemic hoarding)
In Our View: Preparing for wildfires must be a priority

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Police union leader accused of anti-protest Twitter trolling
Physicians to strike, citing inadequate PPE and no breaks
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Anti-mask rally again descends on Mill Creek
Inslee announces $135 million pandemic relief plan
Drive-through food pantry packs Everett Mall parking lot
Editorial: Our best hope is to cope with covid limits (Hobbs)
Commentary: ‘White privilege’ might not mean what you think
WaPo Commentary: Repaying the debt for centuries of theft

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Grocery stores return to reusable bags as statewide ban on plastic bags looms
Bubbles, tents and igloos: restaurants explore the outdoors in latest COVID-19 shutdown
NCIS still searching for fugitive who escaped Naval Base Kitsap brig, 15 years later
Retreat center is housing those in Kitsap with COVID-19 who need to quarantine
Bainbridge Island will place two school levies on Feb. 9 ballot
E-bike trial proposed for Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park
Father of student assaulted on bus: ‘This time something needs to happen’
Op-Ed: Don’t say silent on crimes driven by hatred

News Tribune (subscription required)
Puyallup Food Bank in ‘desperate need’ of donations, volunteers and a building
Dwindling CARES dollars rattle businesses, officials during highest COVID-19 surge yet
Deaths, unrest, growing encampments make it clear: Tacoma is failing the homeless
‘Third Wave’ surge continues; GH total now 420 COVID-19 cases; Key Peninsula has 111
Editorial: State tax audits are ‘morale killer’ during pandemic. Just ask this Tacoma business
As Black Friday looms, retailers brace for holiday season looking more break than make
Pierce County Superior Court puts pause on new jurors, will discuss further changes
Pierce County reports more than 300 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, but no new deaths

New York Times
Business Leaders, Citing Damage to Country, Urge Trump to Begin Transition
Congress Seeks Answers on Alaskan Mine Project
Biden Will Nominate First Woman to Lead Intelligence, First Latino to Run Homeland Security
AstraZeneca Releases Promising Data on Its Coronavirus Vaccine

Olympian (subscription required)
Thurston County ends week with 334 COVID-19 cases, the second highest weekly total
Pregnant with coronavirus: Risks are greater, and one Idaho mom has lingering symptoms
2 South Sound businesses among those fined for COVID-19 mask violations, L&I says
Apple Cup canceled due to Washington State’s COVID-19 issues
Could relaxing fire regulations make it easier to build Accessory Dwelling Units?
More industry groups join those lobbying Gov. Inslee to reconsider new restrictions

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County schools back to remote classes
Port Angeles School District may return to virtual learning
Peninsula COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise
Jefferson Healthcare awaits surge
Retailers, groceries adjust
Take-out, tents and reduced staff hours: Port Townsend restaurants adapting
EYE ON JEFFERSON: County considers tax to fund affordable housing
Clallam COVID-19 cases rise by 30 in two days; Jefferson reports 3 more
EYE ON CLALLAM: PASD to consider response to COVID-19 case rise

Port Townsend Leader
Chimacum schools will shift to remote-only teaching Wednesday

Puget Sound Business Journal
Inslee allocates $100M in grants, loans for Washington businesses

Seattle Times (subscription required)
As new COVID-19 restrictions bear down, surviving businesses draw on hard-earned lessons from the spring
Released records confirm what CBP still won’t say about border stops of Iranian Americans
New legal push in Washington state aims to speed magic mushrooms to dying patients
Bill Gates, the Virus and the Quest to Vaccinate the World
Apple Cup canceled as Washington State’s COVID-19 issues persist
Seattle’s tuition-free community college program comes to the rescue during the pandemic
A reminder from new report: Washington’s schools are far from equitable
OPINION: Could California’s summer rolling blackouts happen in the Northwest?
What Biden’s agenda on the environment could mean for the Pacific Northwest

Skagit Valley Herald
Fish passage studies sought in Skagit River dam relicensing
Boeing 737 Max return to benefit Skagit companies
New shutdown renews calls for more economic aid
Navy training proposal met with concern

South Seattle Emerald
BLACK-OWNED RESTAURANTS CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO EVER-CHANGING DINING RESTRICTIONS
CID COALITION SAYS APPROVAL OF DEVELOPMENT LACKED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY
WEEKEND READS: WASHINGTON’S COVID-19 VACCINATION PLAN
SEATTLE’S EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE DISTRIBUTES OVER $7 MILLION TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
COVID-19 CASES SURGING IN KING COUNTY, WITH SOUTH END CONTINUING TO BE HARDEST HIT

Spokesman Review
Inslee announces $135 million in economic relief for businesses affected by COVID-19 closures (Ormsby)
Woodward outlines city response to new COVID-19 restrictions, emphasizes small business support
Inland Northwest tribes call for Congress to extend deadline for coronavirus emergency spending
Spokane businesses make up one-third of those fined for recent COVID-19 violations across Washington
Opinion: Getting There: Feds end Washington truckers’ more generous rest rules, arguing they’re actually unsafe
Opinion: Stephen Malkoski, MD/PHD: Please do your part to protect your loved one – and us – during the holidays

Tri-City Herald
Franklin County only place in WA state to use controversial voting software system
Food and book giveaway helps hundreds of Tri-Cities families
‘We’re exhausted.’ Tri-Cities nurse warns of COVID fatigue as cases surge
Tri-Cities ICU nurse concerned for holiday weekend COVID spike
Need to use a computer? Mid-Columbia Libraries opening for limited walk-in services
Some Tri-Cities gyms rebrand to ‘wellness centers’ to avoid shutdown. Can they do that?
‘Explosion of COVID.’ New Tri-Cities cases averaging 165 each day this week
Editorial: Look at Idaho and see why Tri-City leaders must rein in anti-COVID rhetoric

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Shalom Project helps Walla Walla Valley veterans focus on wholeness
No school in Dayton today as officials consider next move
Washington state corrections reports third COVID-19-related death
Local counties continue COVID-19 trends
Walla Walla City Council approves lodging tax budget
Election process nears end with certification slated for Tuesday in Walla Walla County

Washington Post
Republican national security experts call on Trump to concede, begin transition
AstraZeneca vaccine up to 90% effective and easily transportable, company says
Now comes the hardest part: Getting a coronavirus vaccine from loading dock to upper arm
A major Trump donor’s company got a 3 percent government-backed pandemic loan. It sells title loans at a 350 percent annual rate.

Yakima Herald Republic
Virginia Mason Memorial in Yakima ‘unwinds’ from Seattle-based Virginia Mason
Apple Cup canceled as Washington State’s COVID-19 issues persist
Yakima County reports 84 new cases of coronavirus, no new deaths
Editorial: Call special session now to give businesses badly needed financial aid

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
200 MultiCare workers to strike over coronavirus safety concerns
Airports see significant dip in holiday travel due to COVID-19
How the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the real estate market across Puget Sound
Seattle doctor opens $100 tabs around town to help struggling businesses and customers

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
UW ‘overwhelmed,’ cancels most preholiday COVID-19 tests
Coronavirus forces Black Friday changes
Puyallup Food Bank in ‘desperate need’ of donations, volunteers and building
Washington State Penitentiary inmate dies due to COVID-19 complications
Inslee announces new COVID relief for businesses, but many say more help is needed
Police release bodycam video of officer-involved shooting in Kent
Bothell megachurch defying governor’s virus restriction
King County needs help from feds to distribute COVID-19 vaccine

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
3rd major COVID-19 vaccine shown to be effective and cheaper
Biggest traffic jams not on roads, but at your local drive-through
Bremerton-Seattle ferry run reduced to one-vessel service for repairs
Picketing at Tacoma General Hospital as MultiCare clinic doctors strike
Inmate at Walla Walla state prison dies of COVID-19
Dozens gather in Vancouver for no-mask shopping event

KNKX FM
When struggling emotionally during COVID-19, resilience is key
Analysis: ‘Uphill battle’ for Boeing to regain public trust in 737-MAX
Police remove unsheltered people from occupation of vacant Tacoma school building
With high demand for COVID testing, health officials say you can’t rely on it to keep you safe

KUOW FM
U.S. Passes 12 Million Confirmed Coronavirus Cases
Americans Could See A Vaccine By Mid-December, Says Operation Warp SpeedAdviser
FDA Grants Emergency Authorization For A 2nd COVID-19 Antibody Treatment
Lessons from the last time Seattle let its pandemic guard down, in 1918
The ‘Seattle Process’ in 2020. Are we becoming ungovernable?

Q13 TV (Fox)
People traveling, families gathering despite Thanksgiving recommendations
Parents rally in Bellevue calling school districts to offer option for in-person learning
The Divide: Legislators ready to legislate (Sullivan)
Brandi Kruse: Seattle’s flip-flopping would be funny if the consequences weren’t so severe

Web

Crosscut
Opinion: To help save orcas, pause whale watching

MyNorthwest
Mountain Loop Highway seasonal closure starts Monday
COVID-19 updates: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ‘highly effective’ in late-stage trials
Gov. Inslee announces $135M in economic relief for businesses, families
Group of Democrats side with hospitality association on indoor dining ban
Washington AG Ferguson threatens to sue if Trump uses electoral college to overturn results
Gov. Inslee: Washington can’t meet ‘urgent and dire’ COVID needs without federal aid
Seattle City Council votes down freeze on police hiring for 2021
What are other western states doing to limit the spread of COVID-19?
State’s testing leader says not to use COVID test as ‘safety check’ for the holidays

Slog
Inslee Directs $135 Million to Businesses Hit Hard by COVID-19
Dr. Duchin: “The Risk of Acquiring COVID-19 Is Higher Now Than It Has Ever Been Locally”
Tacoma Police Boot Homeless and Housing Activists from Vacant School

Friday, November 20

Canada extends U.S. border closure until Dec. 21
Americans hoping to travel to visit their northern neighbors might not be able to this year. Canada’s border closure to nonessential travel has been extended until Dec. 21, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in a tweet on Friday. Border conditions were set to expire on Saturday if they were not renewed. Continue reading at Washington Post. (AP)

Mnuchin Defends Decision to End Emergency Fed Funds
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin defended his decision not to extend critical emergency lending facilities beyond year-end, insisting on Friday that he was following the intent of Congress in calling for the Federal Reserve to return unused money to the Treasury. Continue reading at The New York Times. (J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)

Inslee announces cap on third party delivery restaurant fees
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced a new cap on fees charged to restaurants by third-party delivery platforms like DoorDash and GrubHub. The proclamation, which takes effect next Wednesday, caps delivery fees at 15% and total fees at 18% of the purchase price of an order. The announcement comes following Inslee imposing new restrictions in response to COVID-19, including banning indoor dining. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Print

Associated Press
Inslee announces cap on third party delivery restaurant fees

Aberdeen Daily World
Hoquiam School District looking to expand onsite learning to select students with special needs, lack of internet access

Auburn Reporter
WIAA pushes back return to play for prep sports

Bainbridge Island Review
Unemployment fell in October, but new restrictions loom over state economy

Capital Press
WDFW looks at making ranchers do more to ward off wolves
Trump plans would ease protections for sage grouse in West

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Don’t cry, don’t pout, mask up: Santa is still coming to town
Back to remote learning for Monroe district’s first-graders
As COVID spreads, Snohomish County jury trials stopped again
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: How Biden can beat covid-19 — and the next pandemic
Bloomberg: FAA faces its own reckoning as it gives Boeing path to fly jet
WaPo Comment: Rudy Giuliani put too much stock in his own myth
Editorial: Monroe schools take safe path on students’ return
Letter: Local GOP leaders’ statements point to failure of reason

Federal Way Mirror
Steep increase of visitors to Federal Way COVID-19 testing center

Island’s Weekly
State weighs options for commercial whale-watching licensing program

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Peninsula Community Health adds mobile pediatrician to its roster
Bremerton City Council approves police body camera program

News Tribune (subscription required)
How does this COVID-19 surge compare to earlier ones in Pierce County and Washington?
Officers who fatally shot man sought in DV case in Puyallup are identified
Without a plan, state shutdown throws restaurants into despair, and maybe to death row
Fire erupts at homeless encampment on Yakima Avenue in Tacoma
Editorial: Donald Trump, Loren Culp want to make election defiance new normal. Don’t let them
Pierce County reports more than 200 new COVID-19 cases, seven deaths Thursday

New York Times
Transition Live Updates: Georgia Certifies Its Results, An Early Milestone Toward Finalizing Biden’s National Victory
Trump’s Attempts to Overturn the Election Are Unparalleled in U.S. History
Biden Calls Trump’s Attack on Electoral Process ‘Totally Irresponsible’
Mnuchin Defends Decision to End Emergency Fed Funds: Live Updates

Olympian (subscription required)
Providence testing site to divert some patients to clinics reduce long wait times
Tukwila man faces theft, fraud charges after filing $65,000 in insurance claims
Here are the COVID-19 cases and deaths confirmed Thursday in Washington state
Event center closes, record shop encourages reservations and downtown alliance moves
Thurston health officer issues reminder about gatherings as COVID-19 cases grow by 41
These Washington counties at COVID-19 ‘tipping point’ ahead of Thanksgiving, data show
Lacey council approves 2 rezone requests for more development. Where? Northeast Lacey
Job candidate arrested on child rape charge during State Patrol interview, WA cops say

Peninsula Daily News
Public health officers under stress from COVID-19 pandemic
Peninsula adds 30 new COVID-19 cases

Puget Sound Business Journal
Many employers avoid Covid-19 tests over cost, not availability
US Treasury refuses to extend some of Fed’s crisis-fighting tools
Inslee caps food delivery service fees, implores Congress to take further action
20 big Seattle-area employers propose recovery plan to state leaders
Mayor chooses repair option over rebuild of the West Seattle Bridge

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Positive coronavirus tests spiking in the Seattle area, nearing 20% in parts of South King County
Push to stop police hiring in 2021 rejected by Seattle City Council
How mRNA technology works in Pfizer, Moderna coronavirus vaccines
OP-ED: Make the necessary sacrifices to avoid an unimaginable catastrophe
With people encouraged to stay home, what will Thanksgiving week travel look like this pandemic year?

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon awards more COVID relief

South Seattle Emerald
NEWLY ELECTED LEGISLATOR DAVID HACKNEY HOPES TO BRING CHANGE TO THE 11TH DISTRICT (Hackney)
NEW TEST SITE TO OPEN IN HIGHLINE, AS CASES IN SOUTH KING COUNTY SKYROCKET

Spokesman Review
Caught in the gap: How Washington residents are navigating health coverage in the midst of a pandemic
New coalition calls for change in wake of Lutz’s firing
Trump team not challenging Washington votes; some Culp supporters echo complaints
Spokane leaders call on Congress to act as COVID-19 relief talks stagnate and deadline looms

Tri-City Herald
‘Explosion of COVID.’ New Tri-Cities cases averaging 165 each day this week
300 food boxes and children’s books being given away Friday in Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities middle and high schools should stay closed, top health official tells districts

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
A ‘churkey’ by any other name: How the pandemic supply chain made a Thanksgiving meal out of Weston chickens
With more restrictions in place, restaurants find ways to feed the masses for Thanksgiving
Walla Walla County continues COVID-19 trend Thursday
COVID-19 contact tracers: Talk to us
Walla Walla City Council adopts legislative priorities with addition of body and dash cams
Walla Walla City Council approves one-year extension of labor agreement

Washington Post
Pfizer and BioNTech will seek regulatory clearance of their coronavirus vaccine
How much is 250,000 deaths? Enough to empty wide swaths of the country.
Trump uses power of presidency to try to overturn the election and stay in office
Top congressional aides gather for talks to avert December shutdown
Canada extends U.S. border closure until Dec. 21

Yakima Herald Republic
Public health officials explain logic behind restricting indoor dining
Thanksgiving dinners available through local food banks
New COVID-19 outbreak reported at Yakima long-term care center
Jails, courts continue coronavirus control measures as cases increase in Yakima County
Opinion: Little Naches project set to reverse decades of harm

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
US-Canada border to stay closed through December 21
Mental health expert on coping with seasonal depression and holiday changes amid a pandemic
Restaurant advocates ask Gov. Inslee to rethink ban on indoor dining
Community relieved by decision that could repair West Seattle Bridge by mid-2022
Health experts clash over use of certain drugs for COVID-19

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Businesses and King County push for COVID-19 relief, vaccine readiness
MultiCare Auburn site sees more COVID-19 cases among staff, patients and 1 new death
Lyft driver captures racist rant in Issaquah
US-Canada border closure extended until at least Dec. 21
Pfizer to seek emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccine today
UW robots may change what we know about the climate crisis
Research: Thanksgiving gatherings could cause hundreds of COVID deaths

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
‘They see us as targets:’ Homeless women face more violence, danger in encampments
Seattle boxing gym changes course, will no longer defy COVID-19 shutdown order
‘A real impact on public health’: Millions could lose unemployment benefits Dec. 26
Seattle ranks as most competitive housing market in U.S., study finds
Report finds Portland police officers stop Black people at higher rate
Commission suspends license of former head doctor at Monroe prison
Inslee announces cap on third party delivery restaurant fees
Southwest Washington schools navigate in-person learning for kindergartners
Business owners, commuters react to mayor’s decision about future of West Seattle Bridge

Q13 TV (Fox)
Second patient dies, 5 more infected after COVID-19 outbreak in Auburn hospital unit
Washington state reports nearly 2,000 COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths
Local vaccine trial participants call for renewed patience ahead of the holidays
Repair chosen over replace for West Seattle Bridge
CDC updates coronavirus Thanksgiving guidance, urges against travel

Web

Crosscut
Meet the Black women who made historic gains in WA politics in 2020
Seattle set to cut, not ‘defund,’ police budget in 2021
Opinion: I lost my mom to COVID-19. Don’t let the holidays steal yours

Edmonds Beacon
Edmonds overwhelmingly votes for Democratic incumbents (Ortiz-Self, Peterson, Ryu, Davis)

MyNorthwest
Gov. Inslee: Washington can’t meet ‘urgent and dire’ COVID needs without federal aid
Seattle City Council votes down freeze on police hiring for 2021
What are other western states doing to limit the spread of COVID-19?
State’s testing leader says not to use COVID test as ‘safety check’ for the holidays
Pierce County porch pirate steals toy truck from a 7-year-old boy
Mayor Durkan chooses to repair rather than replace West Seattle Bridge
Seattle council OKs reworked injection sites, higher car tab fee on first day of budget votes
WA Retail Association ‘greatly concerned’ over business restrictions

Real Change
State budget cuts loom, starting with dental benefits

Slog
Is Durkan Serious About a Multimodal Light Rail Bridge to West Seattle?
We Cannot Negotiate with the Virus on Indoor Dining (Mullett, Saldana, Nguyen, Hobbs, Takko, Ramos, Callan, Keiser, Rolfes)

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: Thursday 11/19 roundup (Nguyen)
REPAIR DECISION: West Seattle Bridge NOW vows to ‘watch this process carefully’

Thursday, November 19

Uncertainty remains, but Washington sees revenues increase
Washington’s revenues continued to improve over the past few months, but officials warned there is significant uncertainty moving forward as the state continues to struggle with a surge in coronavirus cases that has led to a new round of business closures. Updated numbers by the the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released Wednesday show that projected revenue collections through mid-2023 are more than $900 million above what had been originally forecast. But the state’s revenue projection for that same timeframe remains nearly $2.4 billion below what it was before the pandemic hit. Continue reading at The Belllingham Herald. (Getty Images)

Washington’s COVID-19 hospitalizations could more than double, state health officials say
Daily COVID-19 hospitalizations in Washington could double if the current rate of virus transmission continues, state health officials said Wednesday. There is an average of about 60 new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients per day in the state. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (SSR)

Washington’s rising hate crime numbers in latest report tell only part of the story, experts say
It seems counter-intuitive, but some law enforcement experts in Washington can see progress in the escalating numbers of reported hate crimes statewide, in the wake of the FBI’s latest annual report released this week showing that the criminal offenses motivated by bias have reached record levels nationwide. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mark Nowlin/Seattle Times)