Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Tuesday, May 26

The complications of counting COVID deaths in Washington
How Washington state counts its COVID-19 deaths is a simple question. Getting a final and correct answer for the state is not. When someone dies, determining the cause can take anywhere from a day to six months, or even longer. It can be a slow and complicated process of investigating. Continue reading at The Federal Way Mirror. (Ray Miller-Still)

Live updates: WHO warns of ‘second peak’; some U.S. states see uptick in hospitalizations
The World Health Organization warned that countries could face a second peak of coronavirus case, even before a presumed second wave of infections months from now, echoing concerns expressed by opponents of rapid reopening in countries around the world. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (iGotView)

Washington schools to decide in coming weeks what classrooms will look like in the fall
The experts are trying their best to visualize what K-12 education will look like this fall. If only their binoculars weren’t so clouded – by COVID-19, fiscal concerns and just plain fear. Small wonder, then, that the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction announced this week that barring the sudden emergence of a vaccine or other medical breakthrough, it is considering no less than seven options for next year: Continue reading at The Columbian.

Print

Associated Press
Northwest cherry crops facing disease and decreased harvest
Washington colleges, universities brace for big budget hit
Bell rings again at New York Stock Exchange as floor reopens
What you need to know today about the virus outbreak
Transgender bathroom ban gets federal appellate hearing
Some recreational fishing set to reopen in Washington
24 workers at Vancouver fruit plant have coronavirus
UW Medicine to furlough about 4,000 workers
States give few details on billions spent on virus supplies
Workers file complaint against Yakima fruit packing plant
Judge dismisses bid to stop coal sales from US lands
City seeks federal funding for West Seattle Bridge project
Rental bikes removed from Seattle during Lime-Jump merger
COVID-19: State approves 7 more counties for Phase 2
Judge told vacate or explain order nixing virus restrictions
24 Spokane pasta factory workers test positive for COVID-19
Man charged in federal court with coronavirus relief fraud
Yakima School District leads WA in youth meal distributions
Mitsubishi Aircraft closing overseas locations, cutting jobs
Olympia hotel burns, displacing dozens of homeless guests
Judge rejects bid by states, tribes to stop coal sales from US land after Trump administration brought them back
2 new cases of Kawasaki-like disease in children in WA

Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor County’s Phase 2 variance request approved

Auburn Reporter
Republicans file lawsuit over Inslee’s emergency: ‘Facts, and the science, are clear’
The complications of counting COVID deaths in Washington

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
COVID-19 testing isn’t increasing even as state says it needs more to reopen economy
Here’s how much Whatcom gets in coronavirus relief money, and how it will be spent
As Whatcom emerges from COVID-19 lockdown, these disease detectives will play key role
Memorial Day holiday postpones new Whatcom County coronavirus statistics Monday
Coronavirus updates: State reports 9 new deaths; UW Medicine to furlough 4,000 workers
Bellingham drops a spot among state’s biggest cities in latest U.S. Census estimates
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 19,828 cases; man charged with relief fraud
The state wants to increase COVID-19 testing to reopen. What that could mean in Whatcom
Coronavirus updates: 7 more counties approved for Phase 2; Pierce confirms 14 new cases
Washington state reports 243 new COVID-19 cases

Bothell Reporter
Republicans file lawsuit over Inslee’s emergency: ‘Facts, and the science, are clear’

Capital Press
WDFW passes on culling Wedge wolf pack
Washington farm groups, state dispense hand sanitizer, masks
Lind combine demolition derby takes the year off

Columbian
In Our View: Special session must be handled with care (Stonier)
Washington schools to decide in coming weeks what classrooms will look like in the fall

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Memorial Day tradition continues in Lynnwood amid pandemic
‘Appalled’ judge sentences pastor for theft from Oso victims
Traffic’s creeping back and some transit to collect fares again
Small business relief effort inundated with 850 applications
COVID-19 and domestic violence
Counting COVID deaths isn’t as simple as you might think
Officials: Snohomish, other counties not ready for Phase 2
UW Medicine to furlough about 4,000 workers
Editorial: State officials’ pay raises poorly timed

Federal Way Mirror
The complications of counting COVID deaths in Washington
Food boxes to be given away to Federal Way School District families in need

The Inlander
Despite protests, Washington and Idaho give their governors’ coronavirus response the same strong approval rating

Islands’ Weekly
San Juan County approved for Phase Two
Comprehensive Plan update drafts available for review
Beware of unemployment frauds
The do’s and don’ts of wearing a cloth face covering
Blame and mistrust hurt people, help spread hope and connection
Lessons from a past pandemic

Issaquah Reporter
The complications of counting COVID deaths in Washington
Republicans file lawsuit over Inslee’s emergency: ‘Facts, and the science, are clear’
Update: Issaquah takes steps to mitigate revenue shortfall
Issaquah man charged with fraudulently seeking over $1 million in COVID-19 relief
How to report unemployment fraud

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Library hosts online events
Friday Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant solar project
San Juan County enters Phase Two
Green boating in the San Juan Islands
Beware of unemployment frauds

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Port Orchard’s That One Place restaurant opens sit-down dining in protest
A hefty rent increase during COVID is called unfair by tenants. It also may be illegal
Masks delivered with newspapers help customers stay prepared without leaving home
New details released about death of Kitsap County Jail inmate
S’Klallam Tribe launches regular COVID-19 testing for employees at drive-through site
Kitsap Economic Development Alliance director to retire

News Tribune (subscription required)
Washington state reports 243 new COVID-19 cases
Pierce County sees 7 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths Monday
Editorial: Washington State Fair must be ready to cancel. COVID-19 is historic party pooper
Tacoma’s independent bookstores buck trend during pandemic. Curbside pickup available
Editorial: Wrong move, GOP: Check of Inslee’s power should come via statehouse, not courthouse

New York Times
Coronavirus Live Updates: A Dozen States Show Uptick in Cases, as National Picture Improves
African-Americans Are Highly Visible in the Military, but Almost Invisible at the Top
As Meatpacking Plants Reopen, Data About Worker Illness Remains Elusive
Uber and Lyft Drivers Sue for New York Unemployment Benefits

Olympian (subscription required)
Quinault Beach Resort and Casino to open to public Thursday
How a fraud ring bilked Washington’s unemployment system amid coronavirus chaos
Thurston County ends week with 4 new confirmed cases of COVID-19
Coronavirus updates: State passes 20,000 cases; universities brace for budget hit
COVID-19 testing isn’t increasing even as state says it needs more to reopen economy
What will college be like this fall? Evergreen, SPSCC and Saint Martin’s make plans
Pandemic prompts cancellation of official Memorial Day events
Play on? Weighing the pros and cons of the NBA and NHL attempting to return to action

Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula counties planning for Phase 2
Port Angeles seeks state grant for fish passage
UN virus therapy trial pauses hydroxychloroquine testing
Memorial Day across the Peninsula
7 Cedars Casino to reopen June 1
Active crew heading home to Port Angeles after testing negative for virus
Sen. Murray calls for more testing, small business help
Learning from a distance: Teachers find ways to communicate with students
Groups form fund to help local farmers

Puget Sound Business Journal
Employers grapple with question as they reopen: To test or not to test?
Wealthiest hospitals got billions in bailout for struggling health providers
OSHA adds Covid-19 requirement as employers reopen their facilities
Opinion: How to fix the student debt problem
Travel infrastructure likely to see long-lasting effects from pandemic
Amazon’s Seattle campus now hosts the largest family shelter in Washington
Opinion: Covid-19 could spell the end for standardized testing

Renton Reporter
Regional homelessness authority takes first step amid COVID-19

Seattle Times (subscription required)
UW Medicine furloughs 4,000 more workers, citing coronavirus budget hit
FYI Guy: Household size could be contributing to King County’s racial disparity in coronavirus cases
Kids still need vaccines on time, but many Washington families have skipped them during the coronavirus pandemic
Washington state aims to regulate water temperature at federal dams, wading into controversy
Seattle-area home price growth was second to only one other U.S. city early in pandemic
New report: Arrests at Seattle hospitals highlight gaps in mental-health systems
Times Watchdog: How a Nigerian fraud ring dubbed ‘Scattered Canary’ targeted Washington state’s unemployment system
Wealthiest hospitals — including Providence Health System — got billions in bailout for struggling health providers
Washington’s constitution protects K-12 funding. The coronavirus will test that promise. (Tomiko-Santos, Rolfes, Wellman)
‘Where are the patients?’ People are avoiding doctors, hospitals because of coronavirus worries
At hotels for homeless Seattleites, fear and frustration outside but comparative calm within
Mayor Jenny Durkan in crisis mode as Seattle confronts coronavirus, homelessness, failing West Seattle Bridge
Weather could hit 80 degrees in some parts of Western Washington this week
Seattle police search for suspect after 3 bias incidents targeting Asians reported in Ballard
LA Times: Even if you want to buy a home, it’s harder now to get a loan. Or tap home equity.
WHO warns that 1st wave of pandemic not over, dampens hopes
Op-Ed: Seattle City Council should help rent get paid
Editorial: The sacred responsibility of remembering war dead

Skagit Valley Herald
I-5 reopened after pedestrian killed
Memorial Day tributes smaller but heartfelt
Skagit Valley College offering programs online
Skagit County restaurants make long-term changes during pandemic
Rules set for Cascade River fishery
Widespread job losses felt across Skagit County

Snoqualmie Valley Record
The complications of counting COVID deaths in Washington

Spokesman Review
Number of working Black business owners falls 40%, far more than other groups amid coronavirus
Inslee extends order suspending some methods of debt collection through May 27
Jobless claims up in Washington; so are fraudulent claims
Recovered COVID-19 patients may help treat it with plasma donations, but few have donated in Inland Northwest
Rural hospitals reopen, with extra safety precautions in place
Washington schools to decide in coming weeks what classrooms will look like in the fall
UW Medicine to furlough about 4,000 workers
Guest Opinion: Pandemic boosts risk of opioid misuse — here’s what you can do to prevent it

Tri-City Herald
Fentanyl pushing out meth and heroin as deadliest Tri-Cities drug
$740,000 to help Benton County homeless, jobless and veterans hurt by coronavirus
Tri-Cities health-related deaths jump 14% over last year
Over 300 Tri-Cities school employees are victims of unemployment scam
Why can’t the Tri-Cities reopen yet? Here’s what needs to happen
‘It was too much.’ Former employee of Christian boys ranch raised discipline concerns
Coronavirus death toll in Tri-Cities area rises to 78. New cases still grow
Tri-Cities restaurant serves to-go cocktails during coronavirus
Editorial: Protect yourself. Make an unemployment account even if you are working
Op-Ed: Life isn’t cheap
Op-Ed: How to respond in a crisis

USA Today
Back to school? 1 in 5 teachers are unlikely to return to reopened classrooms this fall, poll says
Coronavirus live updates: Most parents won’t send kids back to school; WHO warns of ‘immediate second peak’

Vancouver Business Journal
Going back to work

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: Support effort to trace COVID-19 contacts

Washington Post
People are wearing hazmat suits on planes, but should they?
Months into pandemic, experts grapple with unknowns
WHO warns of ‘second peak’ ahead of a second wave; U.S. states see uptick in hospitalizations
Local officials stunned by raucous Memorial Day festivities
Editorial: Nearly 100,000 Americans have died of covid-19. Here’s how we can honor them.
Op-Ed: An indelible image of this pandemic: Trump, without a mask, on a golf course
Memorial Day offers an array of contrasts as Trump and Biden salute war dead — with and without masks
Cities closed streets to make way for recreation and restaurants. Could the closures last beyond the pandemic?
Gov. Hogan empowered local leaders to continue their shutdowns. They wish he hadn’t.
After a ‘lost spring,’ U.S. public gardens prepare for an uncertain summer

Whidbey News-Times
Restaurants, retail and other businesses in Island County can reopen under variance
Relief in works for Oak Harbor businesses

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima County child care providers are struggling amid coronavirus pandemic. Will they rebound?
COVID-19 update: Yakima County sees 101 new cases; More free testing sites planned
Editorial: For the sake of all, restaurant patrons should volunteer contact information

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Real-time updates: Free COVID-19 testing available at the Tacoma Dome this week
Tulalip Resort Casino to reopen on Tuesday with new guidelines
Over 40% of employees tested at Firestone Pacific Foods have coronavirus
Some coastal recreational fishing reopens Tuesday in Washington
Seattle’s UW Medicine to furlough 5,500 workers amid rising coronavirus costs

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Tulalip, other casinos reopening with new precautions in place
Why shoplifters are often not pursued by retail staff
UW Medicine announces furloughs for 4,000 workers
Port Orchard restaurant owner reopens his business in ‘protest’
Active, ongoing investigation of bias crimes targeting Asian Americans
Seven more counties approved to move into phase 2 of reopening
Snohomish Co. Sheriff says recall effort against him is ‘ridiculous’
City of Tacoma offering free drive-thru coronavirus testing at the Tacoma Dome
Faith communities react to President Trump’s directive to reopen
Memorial Day tributes move online
Snohomish County leaders doubt June 1 reopenings will happen
Unemployed workers who uploaded verification documents wait longer for payments
Tacoma Public Schools facing $7 million budget deficit next school year
deficit next school year
Some recreational fishing set to reopen in Washington
Company sees surge in demand for office furniture that allows people to social distance
Safe school guidelines coming next month

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Port Orchard diner opens for sit-down dining for Memorial Day against stay-home order
Medical workers offered PTSD counseling to cope with battling COVID-19
No new ‘murder hornets’ found in Washington so far this year
Daycare centers start reopening around the state
Retired military leaders helping COVID-19 fight as Pierce County aims to move to Phase 2

KNKX FM
‘He was the engine’: One Latino family’s story grappling with COVID-19
‘We will win’: A doctor takes on high rates of COVID-19 among his Latino patients
More Washington counties get the green light to slowly reopen
Boating safety tips include how to avoid COVID-19
Thurston County first in Puget Sound region to move toward new phase of reopening

KUOW FM
OF 240 DEAD PEOPLE TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS IN KING COUNTY, A QUARTER WERE POSITIVE
Updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Washington state
Face masks are a communication barrier for deaf people: “I almost just want to stay home”
Seattle Now: What IS contact tracing?
VIDEO: Virus Hunters Seek To Solve The Mystery Of Coronavirus Origins
Do you really have ‘Covid toes,’ or should you be wearing slippers?
WHO Halts Hydroxychloroquine Trial Over Safety Concerns
Americans Welcome Summer With A Somber And Surreal Memorial Day
Don’t call Employment Security — it may be trying to call you
6 Pieces Of Advice From A Veteran Contact Tracer And A Newbie
Federal Judge Rules Florida Law Restricting Voting Rights For Felons Unconstitutional
Snail Mail And Debit Cards: How Washington State Was Bilked Out Of Millions
This simple step prevents fraudsters from posing as you for unemployment money
77 Nobel Laureates Denounce Trump Officials For Pulling Coronavirus Research Grant
Coronavirus FAQs: Can I Catch It Through The Eyes? Will Goggles Help?
Harvard Researchers Find ‘Inequality On Top Of Inequality’ In COVID-19 Deaths
Issaquah software engineer faces federal charges for $1.5M coronavirus business loan fraud
May 21st | The fraying pandemic response has its roots in history
Anthony Fauci: ‘Now Is The Time … To Care Selflessly About One Another’
From Camping To Dining Out: Here’s How Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities
White House Restricts Travel From Brazil, Where Coronavirus Cases Near 350,000

Q13 TV (Fox)
Some recreational fishing set to reopen in Washington
Kitsap County to consider a request for Phase 2 reopening
Sea-Tac Airport hopeful for higher May passenger counts after 53-year low

Web

Crosscut
Pride is more than a parade
What we learned from interviewing pandemic protesters
Amid pandemic meat shortage, a stampede for local beef

Slog
Washington State Lost “Hundreds of Millions” to Nigerian Scammers? Are My Ears Deceiving Me?
Kshama Sawant’s Lonely Tax Amazon Meeting
Opinion: Sea-Tac’s New Travel Rules Are Going to Make Air Travel Even Weirder

Friday, May 22

Health officials: State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
Washington state’s death toll from the coronavirus could be two to three times the current total because some people who died of virus-like symptoms early in the outbreak were never tested, health officials said Thursday. As of Thursday, at least 1,037 people in Washington state have died from the disease, but health officials have identified 3,000 deaths dating back to Jan. 1, 2020 that involved symptoms like pneumonia or acute respiratory syndrome, which are commonly associated with COVID-19, said Katie Hutchinson, health statistics manager. Continue reading at the Kitsap Sun. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Drug touted by Trump is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients
A study of 96,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients on six continents found that those who received an antimalarial drug promoted by President Donald Trump as a “game changer” in the fight against the virus had a significantly higher risk of death compared with those who did not. People treated with hydroxychloroquine, or the closely related drug chloroquine, were also more likely to develop a type of irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, that can lead to sudden cardiac death, it concluded. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (John Locher/AP)

False jobless claims swarm city of Tacoma, CHI Franciscan in scheme costing state millions
The state’s Employment Security Department on Thursday said “hundreds of millions of dollars” in fraudulent claims may have been paid out with state and federal funds in a sophisticated imposter fraud scheme that targeted the state. Imposter fraud filings are defined as those where individual criminals use stolen personal information to fraudulently apply for benefits. Continue reading at the Tacoma News Tribune.

Print

Associated Press
‘Hundreds of millions’ in bogus jobless benefits paid out by state
Health officials: State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
EPA says federal dams raise water temperature in Snake River
GOP lawmakers are getting tired of Inslee’s pandemic powers
City seeks federal funding for West Seattle Bridge project
Snohomish County settles $1.95M lawsuit over park rape

Aberdeen Daily World
Quinault Beach Resort and Casino to begin phased re-opening Tuesday
Splash Festival, County Fair canceled

Auburn Reporter
Regional homelessness authority takes first step amid COVID-19
Tenants demand more relief from Eastside low-income housing provider

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Coronavirus updates: Washington cases pass 19K; false jobless claims costing state
Bellingham names new fire chief, public works and communications directors
Parks department to increase staff, parking barriers at popular Bellingham parks
False jobless claims swarm city of Tacoma, CHI Franciscan in scheme costing state millions
For the second time in five days, Whatcom reports no new coronavirus cases or deaths
GOP state lawmakers call for a special legislative session
Health officials: State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 18,971 cases; contact tracing capacity expands
Molestation, abuse and ‘riot’ being investigated at Christian boarding school near Tri-Cities
New Cordata Park trail opens. Pump track, playground, parkour coming this summer
Experts warn of second coronavirus wave. Trump says he won’t shut down US if it comes
Washington state reports 146 new COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths Thursday
Editorial: American presidents have too much power. Let’s install a king instead

Capital Press
Who USDA’s farm aid package leaves behind
Potato exports dragged by COVID-19
Labor complaint filed against Washington fruit packer

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Peter Zieve wants to keep low-income people out of Mukilteo
$25 million allotted for Snohomish County’s hard-hit economy
Everett-based USS Kidd scheduled to return home in August
Marysville leaders ask Inslee to open local stores, churches

Federal Way Mirror
Free COVID-19 testing offered at Sea Mar Federal Way Medical Clinic
Regional homelessness authority takes first step amid COVID-19
Nonprofit launches new online COVID-19 local resource hub for King County
Des Moines Police rescue ducklings from storm drain

Islands’ Weekly
Face covering signage for businesses and other organizations

Issaquah Reporter
Regional homelessness authority takes first step amid COVID-19
Nonprofit launches new online COVID-19 local resource hub for King County

Journal of the San Juan Islands
The 2020 Memorial Day Weekend in the San Juan Islands

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Ex-Bremerton detective charged with felony for theft caught on video
Kitsap Health Board to hold meeting on early reopening variance on Wednesday
False jobless claims swarm city of Tacoma, CHI Franciscan in scheme costing state millions
Washington state reports 146 new COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths Thursday

News Tribune (subscription required)
Coronavirus updates: Washington cases pass 19K; false jobless claims costing state
Slow down … please. Tacoma asks drivers to reduce speed during COVID-19 crisis
False jobless claims swarm city of Tacoma, CHI Franciscan in scheme costing state millions

Olympian (subscription required)
Fire burns Olympia hotel overnight, displacing homeless guests
Fasting for faith on the front lines. Tri-Cities doctors balance work and Ramadan

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County Board of Health approves variance plan
Lawsuit against Sequim looks to halt MAT clinic
Port Townsend streetscape changes to encourage social distancing
Rental relief demand prompts Port Angeles council action
Sequim School Board approves staff cuts
Clallam County bans overnight camping at rest areas

Puget Sound Business Journal
What to know about America’s newly unemployed
Goldman Sachs forecloses on over 10,000 homes for ‘consumer relief’
Remote learning taught Washington educators a hard lesson
How to learn if you’re a victim in state ESD’s massive unemployment insurance fraud scheme
Unemployment claims rose 28% last week, but tens of thousands were fraudulent
King County property owners would get tax relief under new proposal
ESD fraud scheme costs state and federal governments ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Seattle researchers building ‘biobank’ of patients’ blood to unlock the mysteries of the new coronavirus
Drug touted by Trump is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients
When can you get a haircut, go to the gym or eat at restaurants, etc., in Washington?
Major encampment removal in Little Saigon draws protesters during coronavirus pandemic
Virus ‘does not spread easily’ from contaminated surfaces, revised CDC website says
Food assistance and restaurant sales | Coronavirus Economy daily chart
Washington state’s actual coronavirus death toll may be higher than current tallies, health officials say
Coronavirus upended everything. What will life in Seattle look like when we re-emerge?
Seattle police searching for man who attacked, blamed Asian couple for coronavirus pandemic
Washington GOP state lawmakers call for a special legislative session to address budget, coronavirus crisis (Billig)

Skagit Valley Herald
COVID-19 disrupts 30th year of Mountain School
Local agencies plan to trap hornets
Unemployment fraud surges during pandemic

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities COVID-19 cases increase. Health officials worry about Memorial Day
Fasting for faith on the front lines. Tri-Cities doctors balance work and Ramadan
Hanford workers to return to the nuclear site after 9 weeks at home

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Spokane County health officer makes masks mandatory in public – but rule won’t be enforced
Walla Walla County requested early entry into Phase 2
Editorial: State Salary Commission tone deaf in raising officials’ pay

Washington Post
Antimalarial drug touted by President Trump is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients, study says
Trump’s signature effort to direct farm surplus to needy families abruptly withdraws large contract amid criticism of program’s rollout
As states begin to reopen, blood banks brace for surge in demand
More evidence emerges on why covid-19 is so much worse than the flu

Yakima Herald Republic
Worker complaint filed with NLRB alleges Allan Bros. retaliated against strikers during COVID-19 pandemic
Yakima School District leads state in youth meal distributions
Coronavirus update: 47 new cases in Yakima County; Kittitas County discourages tourists over holiday weekend
First-time unemployment filings increase again in Yakima County
COVID-19 pet study coming to Yakima
Editorial: Next stimulus package needs to help community health centers

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma families struggling to access online learning tools
Washington vows to recover millions in stolen cash from fake unemployment claims
Arlington gym owner sued by state, files lawsuit against stay-at-home order
Bonney Lake and Sumner mayors ask Gov. Inslee to allow businesses in their cities to reopen

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Man assaults Uwajimaya worker over face covering requirement, returns with hatchet
Snohomish barbershop owner calls for Gov. Inslee’s arrest
State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
State says it has ‘zeroed in’ on stopping fraudulent unemployment claims
Drones detecting body temperature being used in COVID-19 response
Will kids go back to school in the fall?
Young adults contracting COVID-linked inflammatory syndrome, doctors say
City clears homeless camp near Chinatown-International District
TSA announces new security screening procedures
Eyman backs new lawsuit to overturn Inslee orders

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
COVID-19: State approves 3 more counties to advance to phase 2 in effort to reopen
State epidemiologists: COVID-19-related deaths likely being undercounted in WA
Janitors, security officers hold vigil for coworkers with COVID-19
Study says mobility in Seattle increasing as Memorial Day weekend approaches
Employment Security Commissioner said delaying claims is helping catch impostor fraud
Rent payments due in 10 days while thousands struggle to pay rent in Seattle

KNKX FM
Why the eruption of Mount St. Helens dramatically altered temperatures, but not for long
Northwest Folklife Festival continues tradition of arts discovery, community online
Lots of changes and no fans: Major League Baseball players consider plan to start in July
‘Are Their Apples Worth More Than Our Lives?’ Yakima Valley Fruit Workers Strike For Protections
A special session of the Washington Legislature in June? Don’t bet on it, but don’t rule it out

KUOW FM
Washington state loses hundreds of millions of dollars in unemployment scam
Washington Republicans want to block pay raises and cut spending in June special session (Billig, Jinkins)
Denial is ‘the most dangerous thing of all’ when facing a virus

How tweetstorms of misinformation skew our handle on the facts during a pandemic

Mayor Durkan on clearing homeless encampments during the pandemic

Q13 TV (Fox)
‘Hundreds of millions’ in fraudulent jobless benefits paid
Cyber security expert says be proactive to prevent unemployment fraud
Health officials: State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
SPD investigating bias crime against Asian couple
Everett cuts jobs, programs as deficit drops $14 million
Covid-19 vaccine trial participants weigh in on early results

Web

Slog
Washington’s COVID-19 Death Count Isn’t Exactly Accurate
What Your Gym, Dog Groomer, and Golf Course Have to Do Before They Can Re-Open
The Majority of Americans Do Not Want to Endanger Their Lives for the Economy
Washington’s Unemployment Payouts Are About to Get Even Slower

Thursday, May 21

All 50 States Are Now Reopening. But at What Cost?
The United States has crossed an uneasy threshold with all 50 states beginning to reopen in some way, two months after the coronavirus thrust the country into lockdown. But there are vast variations in how states are deciding to open up, with some forging far ahead of others. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Jessica Hill)

How an army of Washington contact tracers is fighting coronavirus
In a cubicle farm on the fourth floor of a state office building lie the seeds of Washington’s next effort to slow and eventually halt the spread of the novel coronavirus. This is Task Force Kokanee, named for the landlocked salmon, part of the state’s effort to expand tracking and tracing of the virus, and hopefully hem it in, like the salmon. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mark Nowlin)

Washington sees record unemployment rate of 15.4% in April
Washington’s unemployment rate shot up to a record 15.4% in April and the state’s economy lost 527,000 jobs last month as a result of the economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic. That’s the highest jobless rate the state has seen since it started keeping comparable records in the 1970s. Continue reading at The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. (Elaine Thompson)

Print

Associated Press
Washington contract tracers making calls to help fight virus
US: Weasel-like mammal endangered in southern Sierra Nevada
Colleges plan fall opening, but campuses won’t look the same
‘Invisible demon’: Virus hits even top-rated nursing homes
Unemployment rate in Washington reaches record high in April
Annual Seafair festival in Seattle canceled
EPA says federal dams raise water temperature in Snake River
Wolves attack 2 more calves, state considering response
Washington sees record unemployment rate of 15.4% in April
EPA says federal dams raise water temperature in Snake River
State Patrol urges caution for motorcycle riders
Amazon starts hiring 2,000 workers in Spokane suburb
Oregon faces 11% drop in revenue; GOP leader blames Brown

Aberdeen Daily World
Splash Festival, County Fair canceled
Razor clam digs officially over for the season
Local small businesses get emergency grants to survive COVID-19 closures
Commentary: Free market ideology won’t help us during the COVID-19 crisis. Here’s what would

Auburn Reporter
Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn to reopen May 26

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Whatcom County reports three new coronavirus cases Wednesday, but no deaths
SeaFeast and Farmers Day parade join coronavirus cancellations. Seattle’s Seafair, too
Gov. Jay Inslee schedules 11:30 a.m. Thursday press conference to discuss restarting faith-based services
Washington state reports 160 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths Wednesday
Fifth gray whale washes ashore in Washington this year. What’s going on?
Coronavirus updates: Inslee issues guidance for real estate, fitness in Phase 2
‘It’s all your fault.’ Man shoves and spits on Asian couple in video, Washington cops say

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Everett sheds more than 160 employees as part of budget cuts
Snohomish County settles lawsuit over 2016 park rape for $1.95 million
COVID-19 and contact tracing
WaPo: Commentary: CDC is a national treasure; it must be reformed
Letter: Don’t trade my safety for a hair cut
Letter: Don’t discount the economic impacts of stay-home orders
Letter: Let boomers make own decision on when it’s safe to go out

Federal Way Mirror
Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn to reopen May 26

The Inlander
How Gov. Inslee’s stay-home order has inflamed tensions between competing and feuding businesses

Islands’ Weekly
An infodemic

Issaquah Reporter
Motorcycle fatality increase a cause for concern | Washington State Patrol

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Contractor encourages businesses to donate to local nonprofits
Comprehensive Plan update drafts available for review

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Gray whale carcass to be towed off Bainbridge beach for study
Active shooter ‘neutralized,’ one injured near Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi officials say

News Tribune (subscription required)
Retired general to get $20K monthly to advise Pierce County exec on COVID-19 recovery
Pierce County sees 10 new COVID-19 cases, one new death; cases at care facilities rise
T-shirts for a cause: #TacomaStrong campaign raises $30,000 for local businesses

New York Times
Coronavirus Cases Near 5 Million Across the Globe: Live Coverage
Many Jobs May Vanish Forever as Layoffs Mount
Trump Will Withdraw From ‘Open Skies’ Arms Control Treaty
All 50 States Are Now Reopening. But at What Cost?

Olympian (subscription required)
Washington state reports 160 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths Wednesday
Intercity Transit expects reduced level of service due to shortage of bus drivers
No ‘Music in the Park’ free concert series this year, Olympia Downtown Alliance says
Thurston County woman shot to death, husband booked on suspicion of murder
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 18,971 cases; contact tracing capacity expands
Gambling looks different as casinos reopen from coronavirus lockdowns. What changed?

Peninsula Daily News
City of Port Townsend approves utility relief fund
Phased reopening of Olympic Peninsula in the works
Clallam now on short list for Phase 2
Jefferson County elected officials in favor of applying for variance

Puget Sound Business Journal
Coronavirus shut down the ‘experience economy.’ Can it come back?
US jobless claims keep climbing to hit 38.6m since lockdowns
After coronavirus, office workers might face unexpected health threats
Seafair cancels 2020 events, including 4th of July fireworks, Torchlight parade, Blue Angels
Seattle hotel issues permanent layoff notices as state jobless rate tops 15%
Health care systems embark on a new frontier, and it’s all about economics
SBA’s PPP loan forgiveness application leaves unanswered questions
Commentary: Seattle public schools have taken a left turn

Renton Reporter
Op-ed: Motorcycle fatality increase a cause for concern | Washington State Patrol

Seattle Times (subscription required)
School ‘as usual’ is unlikely as Washington officials weigh options for next fall amid coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus brings ‘a whole other layer of trauma’ for workers who serve homeless people
How an army of Washington contact tracers is fighting coronavirus
Washington state adds more than 145,000 weekly jobless claims as coronavirus crisis lingers
Microsoft president urges Congress to fund rural broadband internet connectivity in wake of coronavirus

Skagit Valley Herald
Hospitals begin reopening non-emergency services
Virus cases dropping, but county not yet qualified for next phase
New report could guide regional steelhead recovery

Spokesman Review
Spokane County health officer makes masks mandatory in public – but rule won’t be enforced
Spokane County restaurants, retailers and salons gear up to reopen next week
Washington lost a half-million jobs in April; unemployment reaches 15%
Study shows most parents in Washington are worried their kids are falling behind in school

Tri-City Herald
This Tri-Cities store sold books for 46 years. It’s closing because of the coronavirus
2 more Tri-Cities coronavirus deaths. Known cases top 1,400
Molestation, abuse and ‘riot’ being investigated at Christian boarding school near Tri-Cities
Editorial: Division won’t help us reopen the economy. We need unity over COVID-19

USA Today
House plans to vote on changes to small business loan program to offer more flexibility

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: Oregon ruling on gubernatorial power could be first of many

Washington Post
Coronavirus hot spots erupt across the country; experts warn of second wave in South
NOAA predicts Atlantic hurricane season will be unusually active

Yakima Herald Republic
Yakima County infection rates still high; officials say COVID much worse than flu
Memorial Day traditions adjusted due to coronavirus pandemic

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Real-time updates: Washington State Fair still scheduled for September
Washington retailers worry about restrictions as they prepare to reopen
2019 Seattle radiation leak a ‘near miss’ to disaster, federal report finds
High COVID-19 infection rate in nursing homes could delay larger Washington counties from reopening
Kent cuts staff after facing $15 million budget shortfall

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Cantwell pushing for federal airline distancing guidelines
State rapidly training personnel to help with contact tracing
Seafair cancels all summer 2020 events
Police release body camera video of officer-involved shooting in Lower Queen Anne
Mayor responds to bias attacks
2.4 million more Americans file for unemployment
Can you ID this man who attacked an Asian couple and said ‘It’s all your fault’?
Washington sees record unemployment rate of 15.4% in April
Man released from prison suspected in assault on North Sound trail
COVID-19 contact tracers may lose critical help

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Snohomish barber shop defying stay-home order given ‘final warning’ to close
‘We’ve taken all the precautions’: Dental offices reopen around state amid COVID-19 danger
Governor, health officials warn against large gatherings this Memorial Day weekend
Secret Service looks into Nigerian crime ring as fake unemployment benefit claims spike

KNKX FM
EPA releases plan to keep water in Columbia, Snake rivers cool enough for salmon

KUOW FM
‘SNITCH LIST:’ TROLLS HARASS THOSE WHO REPORTED COVID-19 BUSINESS VIOLATIONS IN WASHINGTON STATE
38.6 Million Have Filed For Unemployment Since March
Summer school in Seattle goes ahead, on a short schedule
What these nurses see on the Covid ICU in Seattle
Updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Washington state
‘Between Life And Death’: McDonald’s Worker Says Pandemic Puts Safety In Focus
A special session of the Washington Legislature in June? Don’t bet on it, but don’t rule it out
As States Locked Down In March, Motor Vehicle Fatality Rate Spiked By 14%
Why The Race For A Coronavirus Vaccine Will Depend On Global Cooperation
Poll: Two-Thirds Expect Return To ‘Normal’ Will Take 6 Months Or More
A Double-Barreled Approach To Antibody Testing Could Improve Accuracy
A new $1.6B proposal to house thousands experiencing homelessness in King County
Amid High Stakes, China Is Fast-Tracking COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts
About Half Of U.S. Homes Lost Wages During Pandemic, Census Bureau Finds
Trump Repeats Unfounded Claims About Mail-In Voting, Threatens Funding To 2 States

Q13 TV (Fox)
Another rally planned in Olympia to protest stay-home order
Beekeeper says Asian Giant Hornets wiped out one of his hives, ‘decapitating every honeybee’
Even on private property, some Seattle City Council members trying to limit removals of unauthorized homeless encampments
School districts across Washington work to finalize summer school plans amid COVID-19
Boeing supplier pivots portion of work to construct face shields

Web

Crosscut
Seattle’s anti-vaccine history stretches back to the Spanish flu
Public health workers threatened, harassed while fighting COVID-19
What to know about the surge of unemployment fraud in WA

Slog
Seattle’s Fight for “Internet for All” Is Reignited, Sorta

Wednesday, May 20

Inslee: More counties can expedite reopening process
Ten additional counties in Washington can apply to move to the second stage of the state’s economic reopening plan, based on new guidelines announced Tuesday by Gov. Jay Inslee that allows larger counties with fewer new coronavirus cases to open some of their businesses sooner. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Elaine Thompson)

Washington sees ‘dramatic rise’ in unemployment fraud claims during COVID-19 pandemic
The Washington State Employment Security Department said in a news release Monday, May 18, that it has seen a “dramatic rise” in unemployment imposter fraud through the first half of May as it continues to deal with the strains of the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading at The Olympian. (ESD)

Could the coronavirus reset society? Questions we should be asking about post-pandemic life
Hotel rooms for the homeless. Food-chain and sanitation workers hailed as national heroes. A Republican-led federal government flooding the country with easy money. Governors putting the brakes on evictions. A new national obsession with hand-washing and the finer points of epidemiology. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Jennifer Luxton)

Print

Associated Press
Inslee: More counties can expedite reopening process
Washington state sues gyms for remaining open despite order
Trump allies lining up doctors to prescribe rapid reopening
Oregon high court keeps state virus restrictions in place
Gray whale washes ashore west of Seattle
State: Aspergillus mold found again at Seattle hospital
Lawmakers: FAA certification of new planes needs an overhaul
Gray whale washes ashore west of Seattle
Fisher denied endangered species protection in Oregon
Police shoot, kill man in Seattle
Judge in southwestern Washington charged with DUI
Google says it won’t build AI tools for oil and gas drillers

Aberdeen Daily World
Between science and curiosity, dead whale draws a crowd
Grays Harbor County’s Phase 2 variance application heading out for state consideration
Pacific County beaches open, clamming may be soon
Millions of U.S. workers at risk of exposure to COVID-19 every week, UW study concludes
Op-ed: Facing deficit, state should cancel state workers’ 3 percent July raise
Commentary: Coronavirus debt isn’t as scary as government bungling

Auburn Reporter
Don’t avoid the emergency department in a crisis

Bainbridge Island Review
State rules enable dental and medical practices to resume

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Whatcom health department reports 1 new coronavirus case and no deaths Tuesday
Not everyone who gets a stimulus check can spend it. IRS sends payments to the dead.
Thurston County among 10 that can apply now to move to Phase 2 of reopening economy
Washington state reports 200 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths
Coronavirus updates: County variance criteria expanded; lawsuits filed against gyms
Whatcom Unified Command plans to relocate Drop-In Center after it leaves high school
Whatcom will consider another temporary limit on fuel shipments from Cherry Point
Despite border restrictions, Allegiant bringing back Bellingham flights in early June
‘I miss them so much,’ but Bellingham elementary teachers coping with online teaching
Washington sees ‘dramatic rise’ in unemployment fraud claims during COVID-19 pandemic
State files for injunction against Puyallup gym hosting protest against stay-home orders
Watch: Gov. Jay Inslee speaking on reopening more Washington state counties faster
Gray whale washes ashore west of Seattle
Pompeo’s treatment of closest aide from Kansas was a subject of fired IG’s inquiry
What you need to know today about the virus outbreak

Bothell Reporter
Sound Transit to get $166.3 million federal grant for COVID-19 response

Capital Press
Washington wolf pack attacks 2 more calves
Canadian government sues Washington farms over cherry patent infringement
Lighter cherry crops forecast in West
Oregon, Washington can sue Trump over ESA
Farm aid applications to open after Memorial Day
Farmworker housing rules spark mixed reactions
Farm in a box: USDA’s $3 billion hunger relief program begins
WDFW moves regional director to wolf duty for summer

Columbian
In Our View: Mount St. Helens provides lessons for pandemic

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Fraudsters using local identities for phony jobless claims
FAA says it will let Boeing employees vouch for plane safety
Somers announces $14 million in relief for small businesses
State sues Arlington gym for violating stay-home order
Bloomberg Commentary: Flocking back to the office may not be right move
Bloomberg Comment: Now’s the time to build skills for this or next job
Harrop: Pandemic has complicated end-of-life care

The Inlander
Inslee says 10 larger counties including Spokane can move to Phase 2 under new guidelines

Islands’ Weekly
San Juan County COVID update

Journal of the San Juan Islands
COVID crisis brings islanders together

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Reopen Kitsap? Community tensions arise over phase-in approach to COVID recovery
Kitsap can now apply to reopen early. But a new COVID-19 case could delay the green-light
Retsil veterans home employee diagnosed with coronavirus
New digs, same brick facade at remodeled Puget Sound Naval Shipyard fire station, building

News Tribune (subscription required)
Puyallup schools to start later next year to ease transportation crunch
Washington state reports 200 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths
Is it safe to go back to the dentist? Tacoma practitioners say yes, even as fears remain
Pierce County adds 20 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, two more deaths
Tacoma school year extended due to COVID-19 impacts
A 79-year-old found with maggots in her wound at a care facility later died, lawsuit alleges
Gig Harbor mayor wants Gov. Inslee to return his calls. Is that asking too much?

New York Times
Coronavirus Live Updates: C.D.C. Releases More Guidelines for Reopening Schools and Businesses
10 Years Old, Tearful and Confused After a Sudden Deportation
Trump Steps Up Attacks on Mail Vote, Making False Claims About Fraud
As Reopening Starts, Americans Expect Recovery to Take Years
Poor Americans Face Hurdles in Getting Promised Internet

Olympian (subscription required)
Thurston County among 10 that can apply now to move to Phase 2 of reopening economy
Coronavirus updates: County variance criteria expanded; lawsuits filed against gyms
State files for injunction against Puyallup gym hosting protest against stay-home orders
Washington sees ‘dramatic rise’ in unemployment fraud claims during COVID-19 pandemic

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam now on short list for Phase 2 (Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman)
Jefferson County elected officials in favor of applying for variance
Study: Carbon pollution falls during pandemic
Calling to reopen
Free potatoes, onions to be distributed in Port Angeles, Forks
Inslee eases guidelines to allow Clallam, other counties to expedite reopening process

Puget Sound Business Journal
‘Way too late’: Inside Amazon’s biggest outbreak
College calendars in the pandemic: No fall break and home by Thanksgiving
Report: It will take years for Seattle hotel market to recover from pandemic
Coronavirus poses new math for Seattle restaurants that bet big before pandemic
Seattle U fall session could be a virtual experiment — and a sign of things to come
Dentists are opening this week, but don’t expect to read a magazine in the waiting room

Renton Reporter
Local behavioral health facility gets $2 million grant to serve youth

Seattle Times (subscription required)
How to help your teenagers, if they’re having a tough time during the pandemic
Westneat: No, we’re not all in this together — look at what’s happening with coronavirus in Yakima
Here’s how UW and WSU are preparing for the possibility of college football returning in the fall
Inslee announces guidelines that could allow 10 more counties to reopen under coronavirus recovery plan
Seattle schools to offer summer school to all students starting in July, continuing coronavirus online classes
Gray whale washes ashore on Bainbridge Island, fifth on Washington coast this year
Man shot, killed by police in Seattle
King County workers voluntarily leave their main jobs to find recipients for coronavirus donations
Could the coronavirus reset society? Questions we should be asking about post-pandemic life
Weekly home sales rebounding to last year’s level
2 gyms that had defied coronavirus stay-home order close their doors after state attorney general sues
Bloomberg: China’s new outbreak shows signs the virus could be changing
Judge in southwestern Washington charged with DUI
Bloomberg: Reopening U.S. economy will mean creating all kinds of new jobs
Editorial: Protect health workers from civil liability

Skagit Valley Herald
Surplus potatoes handed out at Cascade Mall
Skagit County cold case subject of TV show Burlington mayor questions Inslee’s motives on COVID-19

Spokesman Review
Spokane County aims to ease limits by Memorial Day under new rules announced Tuesday
Inslee decries Spokane businesses violating order
STA gets $23.4 million to keep buses running as it braces for likely shortfalls, cuts
Gregoire: Business leaders shifted focus to fight COVID-19 as the outbreak began to take hold

Tri-City Herald
Here’s the Tri-Cities town with the highest coronavirus case rate this week
Death toll from COVID-19 reaches 75 in Tri-Cities area. Plus more cases in health workers
Commissioner threatens hiring freeze for Tri-Cities health district amid coronavirus pandemic
Tri-Cities sees rise in unemployment fraud claims during pandemic. What you can do to stop it

USA Today
Trump threatens to permanently cut WHO funding and withdraw US membership
Coronavirus lockdowns have caused a whopping 17% drop in global carbon emissions

Vancouver Business Journal
City seeks organizations to implement new small business assistance programs

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Worker strikes continue at 6 Yakima Valley packing houses; Apple shipments not affected overall
Editorial: Federal guidelines on air travel are needed

Washington Post
Taxpayers face delays as IRS struggles with backlog
Trump threatens to hold funding for Michigan, Nevada over plans for absentee, mail-in voting
Op-Ed: Trump just said the corrupt part out loud
Op-Ed: ‘Jane Roe,’ from Roe v. Wade, made a stunning deathbed confession. Now what?
The pandemic may forever change the world’s cities
U.S. roadways more lethal during pandemic, safety group says
Misinformation about covid-19 finds new avenues on unexpected sites

Whidbey News-Times
Celebrating 2020 grads
Local Memorial Day celebrations adapt to COVID-19
Langley retailers get green light to move outdoors

Yakima Herald Republic
Two Allan Bros. workers begin hunger strike as walkouts continue at Yakima Valley fruit companies
Teaching remotely: Long days for teachers as they work to connect with students
Yakima City Council to discuss lifting limits on cruising
Editorial: Enjoy our wonderful trails, but please leave no trace

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Report: National Guard coronavirus deployments set to end just before benefits kick in
Arlington, Puyallup gyms close after facing lawsuit for defying Washington’s stay-home orders
50-day strict lockdown, 30-day relaxing could solve pandemic, study suggests
More mold detected at Seattle Children’s Hospital
State says pandemic’s impact could make bad fire season worse
10 more counties in Washington can apply for Phase 2 of COVID-19 reopening

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Impostors wreak havoc on Washington state unemployment system
State using call centers for contact tracing and considering apps
10 more counties eligible to apply to move to phase 2 of reopening plan
State sues 2 gyms for remaining open during stay-home order
Signs Washington’s economy is restarting
Seattle City Council considers freezing encampment sweeps during pandemic

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Larger counties face uphill battle in reaching Phase 2 of re-opening plan
‘Gig Economy’ workers struggle in COVID-19 world amid scant access to benefits
COVID-19: Inslee unveils plan to allow counties to reopen faster
10 new counties qualify for Phase 2, but new COVID-19 cases could stall reopening
Statewide COVID-19 death toll rises as more counties slowly re-open
Can Washington hotel industry recover after COVID-19?
Local trials under way for anti-malaria drug at center of Trump COVID-19 debate
Air samples find Aspergillus mold once again at Seattle Children’s Hospital
Sound Transit will receive $166M in federal funds

KNKX FM
LISTEN: What’s driving the high rate of COVID-19 infections in Yakima County
Washington said to be on track to meet COVID-19 testing and tracing goals
Coronavirus relief bill stalls in Senate, but Kilmer hopes provisions survive
Pandemic takes toll on British Columbia’s tourism, as border closure extends to June 21

KUOW FM
10 MORE WASHINGTON COUNTIES IDENTIFIED FOR EARLY REOPENING ELIGIBILITY
After briefly catching up, Washington’s renters fall behind again
Updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Washington state
Businesses Try To Navigate The World’s Coronavirus Cargo Pileup
Monroe corrections officer dies of Covid-19, number of infections continues to climb
One woman’s experience recovering from Covid-19
Amid uncertainty, UW plans to bring students back next fall
WH Coronavirus Coordinator Encouraged By Decline In New Cases In Most Of U.S.
May 19th | Amazon warehouse workers have famously faced on-the-job hazards. One new one? COVID-19.
I had Covid-19. My body shook, “discharging the collective terror” of us all
Not all closed Seattle streets will stay closed after the pandemic
U.S., Canada Agree To Keep Border Partly Closed For Another 30 Days
Senators Clash Over How Soon To Reopen The Economy
Democrats Bet Health Care Will Deliver 2020 Victories
For Cancer Patients, Anguish Grows Over Deferred Surgery As Risk Rises

Q13 TV (Fox)
10 more counties – including Thurston, Kitsap and Clallam – can apply for Phase 2 reopening
Inmate released early due to COVID-19 arrested for attacking woman on hiking trail
Washington, Oregon expected to have worst fire season in the country
Update: Gyms close after AG’s office sues them for defying stay-home order
How to protect yourself if you’ve been a victim of unemployment fraud
Ocean Shores hotels reopen in time for Memorial Day weekend
Aspergillus mold found again at Seattle Children’s Hospital, state says

Web

Crosscut
Untangling coronavirus’ uneven impact in the West
For Puget Sound Muslims, Ramadan during crisis is an opportunity to help
Opinion: The flicker of climate hope in our pandemic dread

Queen Anne & Magnolia News
Property taxes due for most taxpayers June 1

Slog
China’s Manipulation of Post-Pandemic Economic Data Is Coming to the US
How Would You Like to Hang Out on Top of a Freeway?
Phase 2 Is Coming to a County Near You, Inslee Announces
Fremont Finally Finds a Home for 29 Million Gallons of Locally Sourced Poop

West Seattle Blog
Coronavirus: Tuesday 5/19 Roundup

Tuesday, May 19

Elective surgeries, dental services can resume, Inslee announces
Elective surgeries and dental services can resume as long as providers comply with health and safety protocols to guard against COVID-19, Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Monday. The governor called the move an important step in helping Washington residents maintain their health as the state gradually reopens. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (AP file photo)

Secretary of Health John Wiesman, a leader in Washington’s coronavirus response, to take job in North Carolina
Washington Secretary of Health John Wiesman, one of the state’s leaders during the coronavirus pandemic, has taken a position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Wiesman made the decision in early March, according to Tara Lee, spokeswoman for Gov. Jay Inslee. He will remain secretary of health, which oversees the Department of Health (DOH), through Inslee’s current term, which ends in January 2021. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)

Study: World carbon pollution falls 17% during pandemic peak
The world cut its daily carbon dioxide emissions by 17% at the peak of the pandemic shutdown last month, a new study found. But with life and heat-trapping gas levels inching back toward normal, the brief pollution break will likely be “a drop in the ocean” when it comes to climate change, scientists said. Continue reading at The Skagit Valley Herald. (Mark J. Terrill)