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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.

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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)

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Associated Press
Uncertainty remains, but Washington sees revenues increase
US Rep. Newhouse says he has tested positive for coronavirus
‘Tired to the bone’: Hospitals overwhelmed with virus cases
Heading into holidays, US COVID-19 testing strained again
Not just COVID: Nursing home neglect deaths surge in shadows
Asian stocks follow Wall Street lower on virus anxiety
Empty desks: Coronavirus robs US classrooms of teachers
Pfizer: COVID-19 shot 95% effective, seeking clearance soon
Boeing Max cleared for takeoff, 2 years after deadly crashes
US withdrawal rattles Afghan allies and adversaries alike
Judge orders US to stop expelling children who cross border
EXPLAINER: What’s with the confusion over masks?
Eyman trial over campaign funds paused because of illness
US jobless claims rise to 742,000; millions to lose aid
Microsoft-led housing effort cuts rents in Seattle suburbs

Aberdeen Daily World
One new COVID case reported Wednesday
Hoquiam School District looking to expand onsite learning to select students with special needs, lack of internet access
Oped: Why you should care about seabed mining
Oped: As voters, maybe we know what we want

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
U.S Rep. Dan Newhouse tests positive for COVID-19
Washington lawmakers reportedly at Hawaii conference as residents are urged not to travel
Whatcom’s COVID case count decreased by 2 Wednesday, as WWU suspends in-person classes
Coronavirus spread now as bad as it was in March, state says. Hospitals could be overwhelmed
The U.S.-Canada border closure for COVID expires Saturday — will it actually reopen?
Here are the COVID-19 cases and deaths confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
COVID outbreak after Eastern WA wedding doubles and spreads to schools, nursing home
Cigarette smoke worsens COVID-19 infection in lungs — these images prove it
Over half of Americans still plan Thanksgiving travel amid COVID concerns, report says
Biden promised teachers a raise, but education reforms will be a big lift in pandemic
What has to happen before the COVID-19 vaccine gets to you
Lesbian, gay, bisexual adults more likely to develop dementia, study says. Here’s why
Demand for dry ice and freezers is surging as COVID-19 vaccine nears. Here’s why

Capital Press
Washington economy shows life and virus spikes
Quest for robotic apple pickers nearing fruition

Columbian
New COVID-19 testing data reveals start of fall surge in Clark County
In Our View: Help available for mental health concerns

The Daily News
Longview schools move to full remote learning as virus rates increase

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Democratic lawmakers ask Inslee to lift ban on indoor dining (Mulet, Hobbs, Rolfes, Saldana. Nguyen, Takko, Keiser, Ramos, Callan)
Eyman trial halted; family member of AG staffer falls ill
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg Comment: News isn’t that good; we still need more covid relief
Harrop: Biden backers, you won; act like it and ignore Trump

The Inlander
Inland Northwest hospitals plan for surge in COVID patients as cases dramatically increase

International Examiner
Federal grant provides Washington state with funding to identify and commemorate Filipino American community contributions

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Outdoor classrooms invigorate kids in Bremerton during COVID
‘People have not been shy’: Poulsbo’s new downtown speed bumps draw plenty of feedback
Return of high school sports delayed until 2021, and seasons shortened
Coaches of color are rare at Kitsap schools, but they feel a sense of community

News Tribune (subscription required)
Here are the COVID-19 cases and deaths confirmed Wednesday in Washington state
Pierce County sees more than 100 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday
After years of planning, new 304-room downtown Tacoma hotel is open for business
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 135,424 cases
The U.S.-Canada border closure for COVID expires Saturday — will it actually reopen?
Editorial: Inslee should expand his bubble, call special session of Washington Legislature

New York Times
Covid-19 Live Updates: C.D.C. Urges Americans to Avoid Thanksgiving Travel
Hospitals and Health Care Workers Issue a Call to Arms for Wearing Masks

Olympian (subscription required)
U.S Rep. Dan Newhouse tests positive for COVID-19
Coronavirus spread now as bad as it was in March, state says. Hospitals could be overwhelmed
Thurston County COVID-19 cases rise by 50 on Wednesday to 2,643
Washington lawmakers reportedly at Hawaii conference as residents are urged not to travel
How the state can better support homeless students and those in foster care during COVID-19

Peninsula Daily News
Case rise straining Peninsula-area health care

Port Townsend Leader
Two new COVID-19 cases found in Jefferson County
Total number of COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County climbs to 125

Puget Sound Business Journal
How the out-of-control pandemic is speeding the hunt for vaccines
Virus cases rise, but hazard pay for retail workers doesn’t
Expert View: How Covid-19 is shaking up college admissions for the 2021 school year
Snohomish County Superior Court suspends jury trials until January

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Mayor Durkan wants to repair, not replace, the cracked West Seattle Bridge
CenturyLink Field, home of the Seahawks and Sounders, to be renamed Lumen Field
Washington’s rising hate crime numbers in latest report tell only part of the story, experts say
Coronavirus testing sites in Seattle stretched beyond capacity as people seek pre-Thanksgiving results
Microsoft pitches in an additional $65 million for affordable housing
State budget picture improves, but uncertainty looms as more COVID-19 restrictions return to Washington (Sullivan)
Washington Congressman Dan Newhouse tests positive for coronavirus
Judge asked to hold Seattle Police Department in contempt over use of force against protesters

Seattle Weekly
Democratic lawmakers ask Inslee to lift ban on indoor dining

Skagit Valley Herald
Jury trials put on hold in Skagit County
Fish & Wildlife seeks input on Island Unit restoration project
County opens new COVID testing site
County works with state on contact tracing
Burlington-Edison School District shifts back to online learning

South Seattle Emerald
SHAWN KEMP’S 5% STAKE IN SHAWN KEMP CANNABIS HIGHLIGHTS HOW FAR SEATTLE IS FROM AN “EQUITABLE INDUSTRY”
“WE ADMITTED 10 PATIENTS IN FIVE HOURS”: STATE, HOSPITALS RAPIDLY APPROACHING CRITICAL CASE COUNTS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS
BLACK BRILLIANCE PROJECT OUTLINES AMBITIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA THAT INCLUDES $1B LAND ACQUISITION FUND

Spokesman Review
Central Washington Congressman Dan Newhouse tests positive for COVID-19
Washington’s COVID-19 hospitalizations could more than double, state health officials say
Washington GOP lawmakers decry Inslee’s statewide restrictions as COVID-19 cases climb
Washington unemployment rate fell to 6% as employment showed slight recovery in October
Washington’s economic forecast improves slightly (Ormsby, Rolfes)

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities middle and high schools should stay closed, top health official tells districts
Kennewick bar holds ‘resistance’ protest, staying open against WA state COVID rules
More Tri-Cities area COVID deaths as new daily cases double over two weeks
U.S Rep. Dan Newhouse tests positive for COVID-19
‘It’s unjust.’ Elected Tri-Cities officials rally against Inslee, latest COVID restrictions
Editorial: If you want the GOP’s help slowing COVID, Gov. Inslee, you need to let them in

Vancouver Business Journal
Clark County Market Report: New sales were the best on record for October

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Public health officials in rural Washington depart as COVID-19 cases, pressure increase
Oregon officials plead for thawing of 2-week freeze
Walla Walla restaurants adjust again; industry leaders go after Jay Inslee’s orders

Washington Post
Wayne County Republican who asked to ‘rescind’ her vote certifying election results says Trump called her
America’s 250,000 covid deaths: People die, but little changes

Yakima Herald Republic
Rising COVID-19 hospitalizations alarm medical professionals in Yakima County
Public health officials in Eastern Washington depart as COVID-19 cases, pressure increase
Washington, Yakima County health officials urge people to safely celebrate Thanksgiving

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Don’t bring COVID-19 to dinner: Washington health officials warn against holiday gatherings
Long lines at Seattle COVID-19 testing sites before Thanksgiving as cases surge
Oxford, AstraZeneca scientists expect COVID-19 vaccine data by Christmas
Winter high school sports delayed one month in Washington
Everett City Council approves grant to help supply police body cameras

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Local tent rental companies scrambling to keep up with intense demand for new outdoor Thanksgiving ‘tradition’
Research: Thanksgiving gatherings could cause hundreds of COVID deaths
How safety could be in jeopardy with Seattle’s plan to defund probation counselors
Restaurants set up outdoor tents, offer takeout as second shutdown begins
Washington gears up for distribution of coronavirus vaccine
Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse tests positive for coronavirus

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Durkan to announce city’s decision to repair or replace West Seattle Bridge
Skamania County Sheriff: No interest in enforcing Inslee’s new COVID-19 restrictions
Monroe schools reverse course on bringing first graders back to classroom
Homeless women targeted on Seattle streets as advocates seek to provide help
Family that survived COVID-19 troubled by new hospitalization trends
Local bar refuses to shutdown, holds dine-in peaceful protest

KNKX FM
U.S.-Canada border closure likely to be ‘with us for a while’

KUOW FM
Thanksgiving plans squashed. Don’t be a turkey, health experts say
Today So Far: FAA says 737 MAX planes can to return to service
Pandemic blog: Coronavirus updates from across the Northwest
12 Million To Lose Jobless Benefits The Day After Christmas Unless Congress Acts
Judge Says Coronavirus Can’t Be Used As Reason To Quickly Deport Unaccompanied Minors

Q13 TV (Fox)
State COVID-19 transmission fastest since March, hospital surge ‘exponential’
Washington state again reports record number of COVID-19 cases
Monroe School District pauses in-person learning for first grade students
Restaurant industry bracing for steep downturn amid new restrictions
With new Covid restrictions in place, state unemployment office sees another surge in claims – and questions

Web

Crosscut
AG Bob Ferguson talks presidential transition and life after Trump
Opinion: Why 21st century trustbusters are picking on Amazon

MyNorthwest
Seattle council OKs reworked injection sites, higher car tab fee on first day of budget votes
WA Retail Association ‘greatly concerned’ over business restrictions
Cases of COVID-19 at Swedish First Hill have tripled since Halloween
Harborview hospitals to glow green to shine light on youth suicide
Lawsuit seeking to ban Tim Eyman from managing money for initiatives kicks off

Seattle P.I.
U.S. Reaches 250,000 COVID-19 Deaths: A Long Winter Is Coming As Pandemic Fatigue Sets In
Environmental Groups And Dairy Farmers Unhappy With State’s Regulation In Central Washington

Slog
Transgender Day of Remembrance 2020 Events in the Northwest
King County Council Will Discuss Reshaping the Sheriff’s Office as Early as Next Month
King County Equity Now Still Doesn’t Fuck with Durkan’s Task Force

West Seattle Blog
HAPPENING NOW: West Seattle Bridge will be repaired, mayor decides
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit launches ‘online open house’ with new maps and more
Providence Mount St. Vincent reports new COVID-19 outbreak, with another death

Wednesday, November 18

Gov. Jay Inslee Names Texas Doctor Umair Shah As Washington’s Next Health Secretary
The director of public health in the third largest county in the United States will be Washington’s next secretary of health. Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday announced the appointment of Dr. Umair A. Shah to lead the state Department of Health beginning on December 21. Since 2013, Shah has been executive director of Harris County Public Health in Houston, Texas. Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting.

Tony Lee, ‘conscience of the Legislature’ and advocate for Washington’s poor and immigrants, dies at 72
If Tony Lee was coming, people heard him before they saw him. For decades, the activist’s booming laugh echoed through doorways in Seattle City Hall and all the way across the Washington Capitol campus in Olympia. Lee’s laugh was so frequent and so boisterous, it was often hard for Mike Buchman and his coworkers to concentrate when he and Lee both worked at faith-based organizations that shared an office in the 1990s. So they built a wall to separate him from the rest of the employees. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Sharon Lee)

Boeing 737 Max Is Cleared by F.A.A. to Fly Again
The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday cleared the way for Boeing’s 737 Max to resume flying, 20 months after it was grounded following two fatal crashes blamed on faulty software and a host of company and government failures. The decision ends a devastating saga for Boeing, which had predicted billions of dollars in losses stemming from the Max crisis even before the coronavirus pandemic dealt a ruinous blow to global aviation. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Lindsey Wasson)

Print

Associated Press
Some Washington state residents asked to return benefits
US judge blocks Trump Administration rule inhibiting unions
Dr. Umair A. Shah named new Washington secretary of health
FAA clears Boeing 737 Max to fly again
As virus cases spiral, Los Angeles readies plan for curfew
Washington again reports record number of virus cases

Aberdeen Daily World
Harbors’ voters showed great enthusiam while trending GOP
Op-ed: An election that America can be proud of

Auburn Reporter
Eyman fights allegation he repeatedly broke campaign laws

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Houston health executive to lead Washington’s Department of Health
Whatcom’s case numbers are way up — are schools also seeing increased COVID spread?
Whatcom sees 28 new COVID cases Tuesday; infection rates in 4 regions hit triple digits
Documents show alleged CBP cover up of Iranians’ detainment at Blaine border crossing
Hundreds without power as Tuesday winds hammer Whatcom County
Daily COVID-19 cases for WA reach all-time high Tuesday. Hospitalizations increase
Watch Live: Gov. Jay Inslee announce new Washington state DOH secretary Tuesday (Nov. 17)
Washington again reports record number of virus cases
US Senate proposal rejects $748M budget cuts for Hanford
Pentagon reducing troop levels to 2,500 in Afghanistan and Iraq on Trump’s orders
Thanksgiving meals may be pricier this year, report says. Here’s why COVID is to blame

Capital Press
Supreme Court to review lawsuit over on-farm ‘invasions’ by unions
Truck supply, price crunch challenge food producers
Washington Ecology defends dairy rules from environmentalist attacks

Columbian
Clark County adds 277 new COVID-19 cases in one day, changes tracing practices
In Our View: Transparency essential in virus restrictions

The Daily News
U.S.-Canada Border Closure Likely To Be ‘With Us For Awhile’ As Pandemic Persists
Gov. Jay Inslee Names Texas Doctor Umair Shah As Washington’s Next Health Secretary
Trump Administration Rushes To Sell Oil Rights In Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Health Officials Ask 300 Ritzville-Area Attendees To Isolate After COVID Cases Linked To Wedding

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Time to update the airport’s master plan, and you can help
Virus case count ‘explosive’: Hospitalizations, deaths rising
Eyman fights allegation he repeatedly broke campaign laws
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Bloomberg: Once beloved Boeing is among titans headed for zombie status
Editorial: Food banks need our help especially now

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Kitsap County surpasses 2,000 mark on COVID-19 cases
Nimitz exits Persian Gulf, heads for more training with allies

News Tribune (subscription required)
Nearly 70K Tacomans don’t have ready access to a park. This project hopes to change that
Tacoma targets third-party delivery to save restaurants as they turn to takeout, again
Tacoma health system selling 2 buildings as staffers now permanently work from home
A crane-carrying barge with a habit of sinking has sunk again at Tacoma marina
Your Restaurant Rally orders will now send 100% of sales back to the business
Need to reduce your carbon? You can ‘buy’ these Pierce Co. trees without digging them up
Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney working from home after positive COVID test result
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 134,121 cases
WIAA delays high school sports schedule due to COVID-19 pandemic
Editorial: Young men are target of new $475,000 COVID campaign. Spend it wisely, Pierce County
Pierce County sees streak of ugly COVID-19 case numbers continue Tuesday

New York Times
New Pfizer Results: Coronavirus Vaccine Is Safe and 95% Effective
Boeing 737 Max Is Cleared by F.A.A. to Fly Again
Trump Fires Christopher Krebs, Official Who Disputed Election Fraud Claims
Trump Plan to Sell Arctic Oil Leases Will Face Challenges
For Small-Business Owners, a Shifting Landscape of Resources
Children in U.S. May Miss 9 Million Vaccine Doses in 2020, Report Warns
What About Tackling the Causes of Student Debt?

Olympian (subscription required)
Vancouver, Washington man bids $290,000 for former state ferry at Port of Olympia
Daily COVID-19 cases for WA reach all-time high Tuesday. Hospitalizations increase
Thurston County adds 61 new COVID-19 cases and one new death Tuesday
Panic shopping is in our DNA. But there’s no need for it to happen now, WA stores say
Houston health executive to lead Washington’s Department of Health

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County OKs contract extensions for Social Distancing Center
More than 20,000 lose power across Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
FAA lifts Boeing 737 Max grounding order, but don’t expect airline flights right away
In pandemic’s ‘darkest hour’ King County OKs $12.6B biennial budget
Don’t fear the robots, and other lessons from a study of the digital economy
Juneteenth will be paid holiday for some Port of Seattle workers beginning in 2021
U.S. businesses accused of pandemic profiteering
Senators take sharper aim at Twitter and Facebook
As occupancy dwindles, college dorms go beyond students
Seattleites don’t realize it yet, but it’s pronounced Tech-oma

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Boeing 737 MAX can return to the skies, FAA says
Tony Lee, ‘conscience of the Legislature’ and advocate for Washington’s poor and immigrants, dies at 72 (Chopp)
Outdoor meals, virtual dinners: Washington families adapt Thanksgiving plans to new COVID-19 restrictions
Customs agents held more Iranian Americans and others at US-Canada border than it admitted, records show
‘We won’t get through this without art and artists’: Museums and galleries respond to new COVID-19 restrictions
Opinion: Focus on health needs of those most in need, including Latinx communities

Skagit Valley Herald
Anacortes reviews 2021 budget; plans to leave 12 positions vacant
Helping Hands food bank struggling to keep up
County reschedules flu vaccines for the uninsured
Businesses forced to adjust in light of new COVID-19 restrictions

Spokesman Review
Spokane leaders call on Congress to act as COVID-19 relief talks stagnate and deadline looms
More than 400 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Inland NW Tuesday as daily rates remain high
More Spokane County elementary students going back to school but Health District backs remote learning for upper grades
Ritzville wedding with 300 guests becomes COVID-19 super-spreader event
Washington state stockpiles N95 masks as hospitals see demand rise in new coronavirus wave
Inslee selects Houston doctor to lead Washington Health Department
Opinion: Karli Ingersoll: We can’t give up on live music
Opinion: Dr. Scott Dunn: Lawmakers must take further action to support telehealth

Tri-City Herald
Hacker demands $200K ransom from Tri-Cities port to unlock computer data
New Tri-Cities COVID cases quadruple in less than a month. 2 more deaths reported
Tri-Cities gyms to stay open during shutdown — as temporary wellness centers
Christ the King switches all students online after employee contracts COVID
300 attended superspreader wedding in Eastern WA. Officials trying to notify guests
Op-Ed: Washington state Ecology officials should consider grouting low-level Hanford waste

USA Today
Dr. Anthony Fauci urges Americans to ‘think twice’ about holiday travel plans

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Walla Walla retailers try to position for the unknown with new restrictions
Walla Walla Public Schools to remain in distance learning through the end of 2020
School meals to continue during winter break
Pandemic death toll escalates in Walla Walla County
Walla Walla’s Passport to the Holidays campaign is a ticket to supporting local business, organizers say
City of Walla Walla plans next two years of infrastructure projects

Washington Post
Opinion: Trump and his supporters are discovering how hard it is to sabotage election results
In reversal, GOP officials in key Michigan county certify ballot count after striking a compromise with Democrats
The president is golfing and exercising White male privilege

Whidbey News-Times
As COVID cases rise, businesses respond to new state restrictions

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima Valley retailers say new restrictions are manageable, but expect challenges as holiday season ramps up
Yakima restaurant patrons show support on final night of indoor dining
Yakima County reports 82 more COVID-19 cases, three more deaths Tuesday
2 Yakima Valley farms contest state fines for violations of COVID-19 worker safety protocols

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Here’s where COVID-19 outbreaks are coming from in Washington state
Boeing 737 MAX cleared to fly, ending 20-month grounding
Pfizer: COVID-19 shot 95% effective, seeking vaccine approval soon
Skagit County asks those without COVID-19 symptoms to not get tested
Mercer Island teen behind international COVID-19 data website tests positive for virus

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Gyms stay open despite governor’s order to shut down
FAA clears Boeing 737 MAX for flight
Long lines, hours of waiting at COVID-19 test sites
Over 300 people who attended Eastern Washington wedding urged to get tested for COVID-19
Gov. Inslee names Dr. Umair Shah as new state Department of Health secretary

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Frozen ‘murder hornets’ shipped across the country for further study
Takeout delivery apps may not help some restaurants as much as you think during pandemic
Toilet paper limits, empty shelves are back as virus surges
‘Governor Inslee is acting like a Grinch:’ Some push back against COVID-19 restrictions
King County Council OKs plan to let community groups decide some punishment — not judges
King County Council OKs PTO for its workers for Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day

KNKX FM
Inslee names Texas doctor as next Secretary of Health
Washington’s rural hospitals are hit hard by latest COVID-19 surge

KUOW FM
Today So Far: Seattle Council prepares to cut police budget
Pandemic blog: Updates from across the Northwest
U.S.-Canada border closure likely to be ‘with us for a while’
The outlook for in-person learning in Washington State
Trump Fires CISA Director Chris Krebs, Who Corrected Voter Fraud Disinformation
Biden’s COVID-19 Advisers Plead for ‘Ascertainment’ So They Can Plan For January
November 17th | As a second shutdown sets in, tempers fray
A Rush On Coronavirus Testing Strains Laboratories, Drives Supply Shortages
Inslee names Texas doctor as next Secretary of Health

Q13 TV (Fox)
FAA clears Boeing 737 Max to fly again
Monroe teachers hold virtual rally, contract negotiations ongoing
L&I investigating complaints, classroom instruction expands in Monroe
FDA allows 1st rapid virus test that gives results at home
Pierce County Council extends CARES Act relief to support Restaurant Rally restaurants, local food banks

Web

Crosscut
COVID-19 delays justice for King County inmates who need translators

MyNorthwest
Bellevue modeler does the math on the danger of gathering for Thanksgiving
Puget Sound kelp need your help; kelp beds disappearing throughout area
After 20-month grounding, FAA recertifies Boeing 737 MAX to fly passengers
Seattle woman who participated in early Moderna vaccine trial is ‘optimistic’
One worker injured after wall collapses in Lynnwood construction accident
New emails reveal CBP directive that led to detaining of Iranian-Americans at WA border

Seattle P.I.
Washington has 8th highest flu vaccination rate: study
10 Seattle-area restaurants reimagine outdoor dining, takeout for Thanksgiving dinner
Seattle grocery stores adapt to new restrictions, capacity limits ahead of increased holiday demand

Slog
King County Council Cuts the Budget by 6.7%, Adds Holidays, and Maintains Skyway Investments
Mandated Shutdowns Leave Seattle’s Museums Scrambling—Again

Wall Street Journal Pro
Washington State Could Be the 2021 Battleground for Internet Privacy (Carlyle, Kloba, Hudgins)

West Seattle Blog
VIDEO: Recaps, reiterations, no revelations in latest West Seattle Bridge Town Hall

Tuesday, November 17

Tacoma’s Rep. Jinkins reelected state House Speaker, caucuses start to choose leaders
With less than two months to go before the 2021 legislative session begins, Washington state legislators are choosing the core leaders who will guide them through law-making and budget-writing while in the throes of a pandemic. Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives have elected peers to serve in many key leadership positions, and Senate Democrats chose who will fill two big roles. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Ted S. Warren)

What WA’s Muslim communities endured under Trump
It will take time to recover from the effects of the past four years. While the ban remains intact and must be dismantled, there is even more bleeding to be stopped. The Trump administration has used its political, fiscal and cultural power to promote divisions in America and to disenfranchise immigrants, causing lasting harm. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Andres Kudacki)

Recession With a Difference: Women Face Special Burden
For millions of working women, the coronavirus pandemic has delivered a rare and ruinous one-two-three punch. First, the parts of the economy that were smacked hardest and earliest by job losses were ones where women dominate — restaurants, retail businesses and health care. Then a second wave began taking out local and state government jobs, another area where women outnumber men. The third blow has, for many, been the knockout… Continue reading at The New York Times. (Adriana Zehbrauskas)

Print

Associated Press
Man sues Washington jail over lack of gluten-free food
Officials: 300 attend wedding leading to virus outbreak
State seeks to bar Eyman from controlling political money
Governors ratchet up restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving
Attorney general deciding charges in police restraint death
Dow returns to record, S&P 500 adds to its on vaccine hopes
Internal email reveals 65 virus cases among WHO Geneva staff
States plead for more federal help as virus outbreak worsens
Public health programs see surge in students amid pandemic
Wall Street taps the brakes following its record-setting run
2nd virus vaccine shows striking success in US tests
What does COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness mean?
Hate crimes, murders reach highest number in over a decade, FBI data shows
Attorney general deciding charges in death of Manuel Ellis in Tacoma

Aberdeen Daily World
Inslee issues new COVID-19 restrictions for restaurants, bars, social gatherings
Restaurant owners nervous about latest shutdown
Storm surge causes minor flooding in Westport marina district
Aberdeen warns of possible flooding Tuesday
Op-ed: Biden’s choice: Reform or recovery?
Op-ed: Democrats need to tell a story that relates to everyone

Bainbridge Island Review
Kitsap surpasses 2,000 total COVID-19 cases since March

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Got questions about voter-approved comprehensive sex ed in Washington? Ask them here.
New coronavirus restrictions lead to mixed reactions among shoppers
After last week’s record surge, Whatcom sees 24 new COVID cases Monday, state reports
Whatcom businesses, residents prepare to adapt to latest pandemic restrictions
Open? Closed? What are Whatcom businesses doing during latest COVID-19 restrictions?
Hate crimes are rising across the nation. Is Whatcom County seeing the same trend?
Here are the COVID-19 cases and deaths confirmed Monday in Washington state
Potentially devastating winds could cause widespread power outages in parts of Whatcom
Workweek off to a shaky start? You may have felt this small quake near Bellingham
Wanted: 550 volunteers willing and able to fight wildfires in 2021
Gov. Inslee announces new restrictions on dining, shopping and gyms. Here are the details
‘More people may die’ without smooth transfer of power and vaccination plan, Biden says
Spike in COVID-19 cases after Canadian Thanksgiving should serve as warning, experts say
Millions of Americans can’t afford to buy holiday gifts because of COVID-19, they say

Capital Press
How RCEP, the huge new Asia-Pacific trade deal, could impact U.S. ag
Ag groups gear up for climate action with historic alliance
Odessa farmers seek funding for new pipeline
Development league eyes federal funding under Biden administration

Columbian
Melnick: Clark County in midst of COVID-19 ‘explosion’

The Daily News
Schools not affected by new rules, but are preparing for potential change
Cowlitz County COVID activity spikes as the governor announces new rules
LCC’s college navigator pilot program showing ‘some really exciting outcomes’

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Businesses brace for another round of COVID restrictions
Monroe teachers who resist in-person classes could be fired
Eyman fights allegation he repeatedly broke campaign laws
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Commentary: Local health districts key to covid vaccinations
State Republicans say they’ve been iced out of decision making
Bloomberg Commentary: Three myths about a president’s executive orders

Federal Way Mirror
Op-ed: The need to concede | Guest column

Island’s Weekly
Taking COVID-19 seriously

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Fishermen rescue woman who jumped from state ferry Chimacum, Coast Guard reports
New COVID closures ‘devastating’ for Kitsap theaters, bowling alleys
How Washington restaurant restrictions impact Kitsap eateries
Port of Silverdale working to secure funding for new waterfront center, docks
New North Kitsap behavioral health unit to respond to mental health, substance abuse calls
Kitsap County surpasses 2,000 mark on COVID-19 cases
Washington grocery stores feel impact of COVID restrictions

News Tribune (subscription required)
COVID hospitalizations up 89 percent for one local health system since start of month
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 131,532 cases
Pierce County starts week with more than 200 new COVID-19 cases as surge continues
Panic shopping is in our DNA. But there’s no need for it to happen now, WA stores say
Here are the COVID-19 cases and deaths confirmed Monday in Washington state

New York Times
Recession With a Difference: Women Face Special Burden
Biden Wants to Rejoin Iran Nuclear Deal, but It Won’t Be Easy
Inside the Chaotic, Cutthroat Gray Market for N95 Masks
New Type of Test May Better Discern Immunity to the Coronavirus
‘More People May Die’ Because of Trump’s Transition Delay, Biden Says
Trump Sought Options for Attacking Iran to Stop Its Growing Nuclear Program
Trump Administration, in Late Push, Moves to Sell Oil Rights in Arctic Refuge
Biden Plans to Move Fast With a ‘Climate Administration.’ Here’s How.

Olympian (subscription required)
Tacoma’s Rep. Jinkins reelected state House Speaker, caucuses start to choose leaders (Jinkins, Chopp, Ortiz-Self, Pettigrew, Sullivan, Stonier, Riccelli, Orwall, Lovick, Billig, Hasegawa)
Trump is said to be preparing to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia
Wanted: 550 volunteers willing and able to fight wildfires in 2021
Thurston County announces 45 new COVID-19 cases and one new death on Monday
Tired of the rain? More is on the way as area tallies above-average precipitation

Peninsula Daily News
Economic leader says support needed for businesses
New restrictions in effect today
County cases reach record-high numbers

Puget Sound Business Journal
Warren Buffett pulls back on banks and bets on drugmakers
Covid pushes real estate into the future
Seattle Housing Authority’s longtime executive director to retire

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Washington state wedding with 300 guests turns into a COVID-19 super-spreader event
After four years of Betsy DeVos, what a Biden presidency will mean for education in Washington
‘I needed to be rescued’: Former Seattle teen soccer star says youth coaching safeguards failed to protect her from sexual abuse
New $2.5M pedestrian, bike trail connection would further link Seattle and Eastside cities
Join Traffic Lab for a live Q&A about repairing or replacing the West Seattle Bridge

Skagit Valley Herald
Businesses forced to adjust in light of new COVID-19 restrictions
Clinics see increased demand for virus testing
Sedro-Woolley looking to fill council seat
North Cascades Highway closes for season

South Seattle Emerald
Opa, Oig Heads Seem to Acknowledge Spd, City Out of Compliance With Consent Decree in Letter to Fed Oversight Officials

Spokesman Review
Spokane ICU nurse: ‘We can control this virus, but it will take everybody’s efforts’
Spokane elected, health leaders react to tightened COVID-19 restrictions
The COVID-19 testing disconnect: Why testing is still not at the levels it could be

Tri-City Herald
300 attended superspreader wedding in Eastern WA. Officials trying to notify guests
No decision this week on when Richland middle and high schools will reopen
Health officials sound alarm over skyrocketing COVID-19 cases
New coronavirus restrictions lead to mixed reactions among shoppers
‘A lot of anxiety.’ New COVID restrictions lead to Tri-Cities pandemic buying — again

USA Today
Foster families worry for health, finances and kids getting lost in the system amid COVID-19
COVID-19 infections are soaring. Lockdowns could be coming. A list of restrictions in your state.

Vancouver Business Journal
Gov. Inslee announces statewide restrictions for four weeks

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
COVID-19 outbreak hits Park Manor
Four more area residents die from COVID-19
Teen cyclist injured in Walla Walla hit-and-run
Burbank library’s free program for youth focuses on life skills
City of Walla Walla plans next two years of infrastructure projects
Local support of sex ed measure flips in latest Walla Walla County election results

Washington Post
Biden names senior staff, will get national security briefing from outside experts
Echoes of a pandemic: Experts fear lessons from the 2009 H1N1 vaccine drive are being ignored
The election was a chance for Facebook and Twitter to show they could control misinformation. Now lawmakers are grilling them on it.

Yakima Herald Republic
COVID-19 closure order hits gyms, Harman Center and more, but 2 Yakima Valley libraries reopen as planned
Yakima, Kittitas County commissioners voice opposition to new state COVID rules
Yakima Valley schools to pause plans for in-person high school
Governor, health officials say new COVID-19 restrictions are based on latest science
Yakima chamber urges people to support small businesses following new COVID restrictions
State Fair Park in Yakima to host drive-thru Holiday Light Fest

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Monroe teachers could be fired for not resuming in-person first grade classes
New COVID-19 restrictions in effect for Washington stores, social gatherings
How bad is it? What data says about Washington’s coronavirus outlook
Over 300 people who attended eastern Washington wedding may have been exposed to COVID-19
Seattle grocery stores may limit some items as new COVID-19 restrictions take effect
Repair or replace the West Seattle bridge? City says it still has time to decide
Restaurant layoffs return in Washington right after second COVID-19 crackdown

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Teachers warned they could be fired for not showing up as concern grows over in-person learning
Two COVID-19 positive airline passengers urge state , CDC to ‘inform everyone’ who flew with them
Vaccine volunteer reacts as early data shows Moderna vaccine is 94.5% effective
COVID-19 survivor defies the odds; shares life changing message
Grocers scrambling to keep up with demand
Restaurants and retailers brace for new COVID-19 restrictions
WA Republican lawmakers want say in COVID-19 recovery

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
New state COVID restrictions based partly on new scientific data
Controversy brewing over return to class mandate for teachers in Monroe
COVID-19 surge in Washington leads to long wait at testing sites
Businesses try to stay creative as restrictions mount on local economy
Some Seattle-area businesses say they won’t comply with state’s new COVID-19 restrictions
Kittitas Co. Commissioners threatening to take legal action against Gov. Inslee
FTC warns Wash. state-based company to cease false COVID prevention claims

KNKX FM
As effort to reform death investigation system begins, KNKX looks outside WA for solutions
Panic buying, businesses to shutter as new Covid restrictions loom. WA GOP urges special session
Washington restaurants say the governor’s indoor dining ban will take a financial toll

KUOW FM
WASHINGTON RESTAURANTS BRACE FOR THOUSANDS OF LAYOFFS WITH BAN ON INDOOR SERVICE
KUOW Daily Digest: Unemployment jumps in Washington state
Pandemic blog: Updates from across the NW
‘Good News For The World’ — Chief Science Adviser Responds To Vaccine News
Sen. Rubio Joins Small Group Of Republican Senators Calling Biden ‘President-Elect’
Restrictions return as COVID-19 spikes
Over 1 Million Children Tested Positive For Coronavirus In The United States
White House Orders Thousands Of U.S. Troops Withdrawn from Afghanistan and Iraq
November 16th | When the parking enforcement ban is its own eviction moratorium
FBI Report: Bias-Motivated Killings At Record High Amid Nationwide Rise In Hate Crime
‘More People May Die’: Biden Chides Trump For Blocking Presidential Transition
Whitmer: ‘Not Going To Be Bullied’ Over Michigan Coronavirus Restrictions
Trump’s Border Wall Builders Carry On Even Though Projects May Never Be Completed
Stocks Surge After Moderna’s Vaccine News Reinforce Hopes About COVID-19 Fight
Just For Kids: How To Stay Safe From The Coronavirus

Q13 TV (Fox)
Pandemic panic buying: Shelves again wiped clean of toilet paper
What you need to know: Covid-19 testing

Web

Civic Skunkworks
Washington State’s Untapped Wealth Is the Key to Building a Better Future

Crosscut
Third wave of COVID-19 spikes in King County — and we aren’t ready
New lockdown ordered as coronavirus cases surge in Washington state
Native history is WA history, and tribes are helping schools teach it
Late Republican ballots thwart Democratic gains in WA Legislature
Seattle has faced calamity before and come out stronger
Seattle could become the next 15-minute city
Western Washington wildfire is different — and it’s coming
Pandemic streets showed the promise of car-free Seattle
Opinion: What WA’s Muslim communities endured under Trump
Opinion: Holiday gatherings devastated Seattle during 1918 flu

MyNorthwest
Western Washington sees high winds, power outages Tuesday
‘There will be lawsuits’: Culp campaign ramps up claims of voter fraud, refusal to concede
Health officer explains reasoning behind newest Washington COVID restrictions
Amber Alert canceled after missing Montana girl found
Seattle council proposes raising car tab fees to address underfunded bridge maintenance
Washingtonians urged to avoid hoarding after weekend brings rash of panic shopping
Seattle nurse: ‘We need to make sacrifices’ amid new lockdown restrictions
COVID-19 updates: 300 Ritzville wedding attendees asked to quarantine

Slog
Whew, at Least the Seattle City Council Passed That COVID-19 Relief Package This Summer

Friday, November 13

Inslee urges Washington residents to forego holiday gatherings
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and his wife, Trudi, on Thursday urged the state’s residents to forego gatherings and holiday travel plans as COVID-19 cases spike across the state, and the governor said further measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus will be announced in the coming days. The state set a record for new coronavirus cases on Saturday, with 1,777 new cases announced. As of this week, more than 123,000 confirmed cases have been confirmed statewide and there have been 2,507 deaths. Continue reading at The Yakima Herald. (Ted S. Warren)

20 Washington state farms fined for not protecting workers from COVID
Three Mid-Columbia farms are among those receiving the largest fines in the state from the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries for serious violations of agriculture regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. More than 20 farms have been cited by L&I for inadequate COVID precautions. Continue reading at TheTri-City Herald. (Elaine Thompson)

Washington state leads nation in new jobless claims — a seasonal fluke or ‘a red flag’?
Washington led the nation in new unemployment claims last week, and while that may be just a seasonal fluke, economists say the state could be headed for another wave of pandemic-related job losses. “I suspect we are seeing the beginnings of a second major wave of layoffs to rival what we saw in March and April, and driven by a spike in COVID cases that looks much worse than what we saw then,” said Jacob Vigdor, an economist at the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Elaine Thompson)