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Friday, February 2

What bills are dead, alive after WA Legislature’s first cutoff
Legislators have a little more than a month left to go, and by Jan. 31, most bills had to get the nod from a policy committee to continue their journey through the statehouse. Though future deadlines will make the public policy horizon even clearer, the first cutoff is a milestone in the legislative session, a sprint that started Jan. 8 and runs through early March. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Lindsey Wasson)

WA lawmakers weigh tax breaks for developers turning offices to homes
Washington lawmakers are mulling new financial breaks for developers who convert commercial buildings into apartments or condos, an attempt to respond to the state’s glut of empty office buildings and dire need for new homes. Supporters say offering developers incentives will help spur conversions of underused buildings, creating much-needed housing and reinvigorating downtowns. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Ted S. Warren)

High gas prices drive ‘big oil transparency’ legislation in Olympia
Legislation to require more transparency from big oil companies has survived this week’s legislative cutoff and is moving forward in Olympia. The bill (SB 6052) would create a new Petroleum Market Oversight division within the state Utilities and Transportation Commission. “Our goal is to shed light on the mechanisms influencing fuel prices in Washington State,” said the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center. Nguyen called it a commitment to consumer protection through transparency and fairness. Continue reading at KNKX. (Ted S. Warren)

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Auburn Reporter
Data shows more collisions in SR 18 construction zone

Axios
Seattle restaurants are still on life support, while others rebound

Bellingham Herald
Many WA hospital patients will share $158 million in refunds and debt forgiveness
Port of Bellingham launches new project, promising environmental cleanup and new jobs
Point-In-Time Count helps Whatcom service providers connect with unhoused community

Capital Press
Organic Valley pays farmers for cutting carbon emissions

Columbian
Rep. Waters’ fish barrier bill moves forward (Chapman, Timmons, Reeves)
WA lawmakers weigh tax breaks for developers turning offices to homes (Chopp)
Cash payments for WA residents? Lawmakers propose trying out basic income program (Kauffman)
‘I just don’t believe this is the right policy’: Sen. Cleveland votes against rent stabilization bill (Cleveland)
High rents have tenants on edge: 25% of Vancouver renters spend more than half their income on rent
OHSU study co-authored by Vancouver addiction specialist finds addiction treatment scarce for teenagers in Washington, around U.S.

The Daily News
US employers added a surprisingly robust 353,000 jobs in January in further sign of economic strength

Everett Herald
Free community college bill advances through House committee (Bergquist, Reed, Pollet)
Pilot program in Mukilteo schools gets local teachers in local schools
After Washington lawsuit, Providence erases or refunds $158M in bills

The Inlander
Health insurance premiums in Washington have more than doubled in the last decade — why? (Riccelli)

Mercer Island Reporter
Islanders meet with legislators at Day on the Hill (Wellman, Senn, Thai)

News Tribune
Many WA hospital patients will share $158 million in refunds and debt forgiveness
Get ready to spring forward and lose sleep, WA. Here’s when daylight saving time starts
New study ranks Washington among top 10 states with highest-earning college graduates
Editorial: Some demand change. Cops want support. Can Tacoma do better after Manny Ellis’ death?
Opinion: WA judges must uphold legal principles for all — including granting pretrial release

Peninsula Daily News
Habitat gets $2M for state CHIP grant

Puget Sound Business Journal
Regional Homelessness Authority set to replace interim CEO
Amazon suggests it’s not done cutting jobs amid hiring slowdown
Providence reaches agreement with WA AG over charity care lawsuit
The FTC is poised to ban noncompetes. Here’s what experts say could happen next.

Seattle Times
What bills are dead, alive after WA Legislature’s first cutoff (Jinkins, Salomon, Mena, Nguyen, Alvarado, Trudeau, Keiser, Doglio, Lovick, Kloba, Stonier, Thai, Farivar)
WA announces $85M to help build thousands of EV chargers
WA Senate bill dies, signaling tough path ahead for limiting rent hikes (Cleveland, Shewmake, Jinkins)
Editorial: Pass ban on use of ‘hog-tying’ by law enforcement (Trudeau)
Opinion: Proposals hurt landlords, don’t help increase WA affordable housing

Spokesman Review
Opinion: State should fund all public schools equally – including charter schools

Tri-City Herald
WA state council supports cutting half of proposed giant wind turbines near Tri-Cities
Does a world run by AI scare you? WA lawmakers are trying to get on top of the tech explosion (Orwall, Mullet, Nguyen, Stanford)

Washington Post
Tesla recalls nearly all U.S. vehicles over font sizes on warning lights
Labor market grew 353,000 in January, a surprisingly strong pickup

WA State Standard
WA advocates press for state funding to help migrants camped at Tukwila church
Washington Senate approves requirement for all public schools to have naloxone (Kuderer)

Wenatchee World
Land preservation: ‘A mission that you can visibly see, feel and touch’
Appeals court rules in favor of DCYF in negligence lawsuit over Wenatchee Valley child’s death

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New committee could determine who’s honored on Washington law enforcement memorial
Providence will refund medical bills for thousands of patients after agreement with Attorney General
Liquor and Cannabis Board pauses lewd conduct enforcement after pushback over Seattle inspections

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
House committee advances GOP bill addressing high college costs
Time runs out on latest push to end Washington’s yearly clock changes (Hunt)
State rolls out changes after outrage over SPD, liquor board visits to LGBTQ+ venues

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington state to add nearly 5,000 electric vehicle charging stations
OxyContin marketer, opioid maker announce settlements totaling $500 million
After Washington state lawsuit, Providence erases or refunds $158M in medical bills

KNKX Public Radio
High gas prices drive ‘big oil transparency’ legislation in Olympia (Nguyen)

KUOW Public Radio
Surge of new EV charging stations coming to Washington state
Republicans, Democrats, carbon, and you: Debating Washington’s cap and trade (Nguyen)
The 6 voter initiatives likely heading to Washington ballots this fall, explained (Fitzgibbon)
Video shows heavily armed guards detaining hunger strikers at Tacoma ICE center after using tear gas

KXLY (ABC)
The impact of social media on kids’ mental health
‘I don’t think anybody knows for sure’: Department of Ecology and EPA to offer free PFAS testing

NW Public Radio
A day in the life at a Clarkston homeless camp

FOX13 TV
WA Senate bill to establish network for student mental, behavioral health (Nobles)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham Macy’s workers win improved safety conditions in new contract
Bellingham police have cited 19 people under city, state public drug-use laws

Crosscut
Washington public defenders say the strained system needs funding

MyNorthwest
Outbreak of deadly fungus C. auris hits King County

Thursday, February 1

Free community college bill advances through House committee
All students in Washington high schools could soon be eligible for a free 13th year of school. House Bill 2309 would establish the “Washington 13 Free Guarantee,” providing students with up to 45 credits of community or technical college tuition-free. The guarantee would apply to students regardless of income. On Tuesday, lawmakers passed the bill out of the House committee on post-secondary education with bipartisan support. Continue reading at The Herald. (Ryan Berry)

Washington teens advocate for Narcan in every school
A group of Lake Washington High School seniors say it’s time to put opioid overdose medications like Narcan in every school to protect students amid the growing opioid epidemic. Senate Bill 5804 would put the life-saving opioid reversal medication naloxone in all Washington K-12 public schools, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools. The medication is currently available only in high schools in districts with 2,000 or more students. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Sophia Lymberis, Matt Rourke)

Rep. Julio Cortes: After young people leave treatment, let’s give them a safe place to go
Across our state and nation, we have a behavioral health crisis intersecting with a homelessness crisis. The epicenter of this crisis is on our local streets and in our schools. Whether in our urban or rural communities, our 5-year-olds know what the blue tarps are for and our teenagers understand the peril and availability of fentanyl. Substitute House Bill 1929, sponsored by state Rep. Julio Cortes, D-Everett, among others, and created by NorthStar Advocates, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending youth homelessness, proposes providing interim housing for young people immediately upon discharge. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Getty Images)

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Auburn Reporter
What are the priorities for South King County legislators? (Taylor, Reeves, Wilson, Entenman, Stearns, Kauffman)

Bainbridge Island Review
Rep. Nance works to fix state ferry system (Nance)

Bellingham Herald
Study: Bellingham’s median rent increased by 16.8% last year. How does that compare to the nation?

Capital Press
Washington Senate panel passes bill forcing citizens to vote (Hunt)
Washington OT law helped kill farm, legislative committee told (Keiser)
Washington Fish and Wildlife director ‘hate’ Inslee’s wolf order

Columbian
Washington pays $9.9 million to woman who got terminal cancer in prison
Renter sues BNSF Railway over July Tunnel Five Fire, says home, belongings destroyed in blaze

The Daily News
Comment: Thumbs up to public EV chargers, thumbs down to collision in Kelso

Everett Herald
Lynnwood pays $550K fine over air quality violations
Free community college bill advances through House committee (Bergquist, Reed, Pollet)
Free suicide education event ‘You Are Not Alone’ to be held in Mukilteo
Comment: Federal forest plan update must also protect people
Comment: What harms kids more: butts and boogers or book bans?
Comment: ‘Fetal personhood’ laws claiming more rights of women

The Inlander
With Idaho and Washington quickly moving through their legislative sessions, here are some of the bills to watch

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Friday Harbor youth support recycling reform in Olympia (Lekanoff, Ramel, Lovelett)

New York Times
Will Lawmakers Really Act to Protect Children Online? Some Say Yes.

Northwest Asian Weekly
WA Lunar New Year legislation moves forward (Thai)

Olympian
Does a world run by AI scare you? WA lawmakers are trying to get on top of the tech explosion (Orwall, Nguyen, Stanford)
Opinion: Some say locking people up before trial holds them accountable. Here’s the truth

Puget Sound Business Journal
Quality-control challenges overshadow Boeing’s strong Q4
Boeing suspends earnings guidance following 737 Max blowout

Seattle Times
BNSF Railway responsible for Tunnel 5 fire, damage, lawsuit says
WA Democrats unsure of next moves on six GOP-backed initiatives (Jinkins, Fitzgibbon)
Kenmore’s canceled affordable housing project draws sharp criticism
WA lawmakers weigh tax breaks for developers turning offices to homes (Trudeau, Chopp)
Rep. Julio Cortes: After young people leave treatment, let’s give them a safe place to go
Opinion: WA leaders ‘absolutely’ committed to saving local journalism
Editorial: Behemoths’ merger is bad for WA grocery shoppers

Spokesman Review
Inslee presents ‘incredibly visionary’ Spokane with award for relaxing land-use restrictions (Reed)
EPA and Washington Department of Ecology to provide free well testing to West Plains residents amid investigation into PFAS contamination

Vancouver Business Journal
Opinion: Proposed bill would pay unemployment benefits to striking workers

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
DOC inmate refuses to attend arraignment for assault charge

Washington Post
Young people, free speech advocates and LGTBQ groups react angrily to online safety legislation

WA State Standard
As plan to cap rent hikes derails in WA Senate, House Democrats may keep pushing (Jinkins, Cleveland, Trudeau)
Take this historic house, please! Lawmakers unsure about acquiring political trailblazer’s home (Tharinger)

Wenatchee World
Appeals court rules in favor of DCYF in negligence lawsuit over Wenatchee Valley child’s death

Whidbey News-Times
Event counts unhoused at one Point in Time

Yakima Herald-Republic
La Casa Hogar plans low-cost citizenship clinic at Perry Tech

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Student attendance on the rise at Washington schools
Sounder stations in Pierce County see funding for improvements
State Representative hopes coming forward about addiction will inspire others to seek help (Lekanoff)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
More counties in Western Washington see deadly fungus outbreak
3 bills pass Washington House that could protect animals, alter makeup sales
Seattle Councilmember joins U.S. leaders in efforts to stop Kia, Hyundai theft crisis

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Highway speed camera pilot program being considered in Olympia (Fey)
Seattle funds refuge hotel stays amidst housing and work permit struggles
1st outbreak of serious, treatment-resistant C. auris fungus confirmed in Seattle

KNKX Public Radio
Cash payments for WA residents? Lawmakers propose trying out basic income program (Kauffman)

KUOW Public Radio
Group homes would replace jail for youth in King County under plan to close detention center

KXLY (ABC)
Inland Northwest snowpack is limping into February
Man dead in South Hill shooting involving nine officers
Spokane honored by Governor Inslee for innovative approach to affordable housing

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Millions slated for wildlife overpass in Skagit County

Crosscut
Washington teens advocate for Narcan in every school (Kuderer)

The Stranger
Bad Apples – SPD Cops Hassle the Homeless, Hit a Parked Car, Dilly-Dally in Response to a Car Prowler

Wednesday, January 31

Dozens of Clark County residents travel to Olympia to urge legislators to back rent stabilization
Ninety Clark County residents rode to the Capitol for Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day today to implore their state legislators to vote for bills that would slow rent increases and pay for affordable housing and homelessness services. The main reason advocates arrived in droves was to support rent stabilization. It’s a key topic this legislative session, as it was last session. Companion bills House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961 propose limiting rent increases to 5 percent a year, unless a new tenant moves in. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Amanda Cowan)

Cash payments for WA residents? Lawmakers propose trying out basic income program
Washington Democrats want to give 7,500 low-income state residents recurring cash payments for two years, no strings attached. The Evergreen Basic Income Pilot Program would pay qualifying participants a monthly amount equal to the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment where the participant lives. Fair market rent is a statistic used by government agencies and nonprofits that represents the cost of a moderately-priced rental home in a local housing market. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

I-5 boulders spark debate over “hostile architecture”
Washington state officials are debating when, if ever, it’s appropriate to install permanent fixtures in public spaces to try to stop people who are experiencing homelessness from sleeping there. A bill in Washington’s Legislature would ban cities and counties from using hostile architecture, defined as “any building or structure that is designed or intended to prevent people experiencing homelessness from sitting or lying on the building or structure at street level.” Continue reading at Axios. (WSDOT)

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Axios
Seattle bans batteries in the trash, citing fire risk
I-5 boulders spark debate over “hostile architecture” (Lovelett)

Capital Press
Lawmakers grill officials on secret Snake River dam deal

Columbian
Vancouver awarded $3.5M in grants for affordable housing
Washington lawmakers make another run at legalizing home-grown marijuana (Kloba, Reeves)
Dozens of Clark County residents travel to Olympia to urge legislators to back rent stabilization (Cleveland, Wilson, Wylie, Stonier)

Everett Herald
In new program, nurses help 911 callers who don’t need an ambulance
Comment: Local government has work ahead to reflect community

Mercer Island Reporter
King County Regional Homeless Authority’s Point-In-Time Count underway

New York Times
Meta Rejected Efforts to Improve Children’s Safety, Documents Show
U.S. Will Pay to Add Solar Panels to Hospitals, Schools After Disasters

Olympian
Opinion: I’m in prison because I committed a crime. In WA, people like me deserve to vote (Simmons)

Peninsula Daily News
Water reserves low in Olympics

Puget Sound Business Journal
Microsoft shows its AI investments are paying off in latest earnings
King County buys former Renton hotel that it used as homeless shelter

Seattle Medium
New Ban – Batteries Not Allowed In The Garbage In Seattle
Students Walkout After Shooting Of 15-Year-Old Mobarak Adam
Nobles Bill To Increase Student Access To Free School Meals Heard In Committee (Nobles)
Washington State Revives Child Abuse Reporting Bill Despite Past Catholic Opposition (Frame)
Washington State Introduces Mandatory Sex Trafficking Prevention Curriculum For Students
Seattle Officer Faces Possible Discipline For Offensive Comments Regarding Indian Woman’s Death

Seattle Times
Rent stabilization bill stalls in WA Senate (Cleveland, Stonier, Shewmake, Trudeau)
WA pays $9.9 million to woman who got terminal cancer in prison
Seattle police, King County prosecutors accused of fabricating evidence
Inslee signs executive order for WA to study, issue guidelines for AI use
Opinion: ‘A cost on simply existing’: How political tension is rising in WA

Spokesman Review
As elections loom in the age of AI, Washington officials look for answers (Stanford)
McMorris Rodgers brings Snake River dam debate to the Capitol, while Yakama Nation warns of ‘misinformation’
Schools in Washington are required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily. A new bill would make sure students actually understand what it means

Tri-City Herald
‘Arbitrary, drastic’ restrictions could kill huge wind farm near Tri-Cities, says developer

WA State Standard
Washington lawmakers hope to tweak new wildfire protection rules for homes (Van De Wege)
Allegations of ‘secret’ deal to remove Snake River dams aired by U.S. House GOP
Cash payments for WA residents? Lawmakers propose trying out basic income program (Kauffman)

Wenatchee World
Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill to house $43 million renewable natural gas project

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Pot shop robbery penalties would increase under proposed Senate bill (Keiser)
Hundreds of tenants to rally at the state Capitol to oppose rent gouging
Advocates pushing to make Lunar New Year as an official holiday in Seattle
New Everett ‘Pallet Shelter’ community welcomes families facing homelessness

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bill proposes testing automated speed cameras along state highways
Governor Inslee signs new executive order on generative AI like ChatGPT
Sit-in at Seattle City Hall buys 60 refugees another week before they face eviction

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Renton Village Starbucks workers become latest store to unionize
Washington state to develop guidelines for agencies using generative AI
WA Liquor and Cannabis board rejects claims of targeting LGBTQ+ bars, clubs
Residents rally for rent control in Olympia while pushing for 5% cap on yearly increases (Alvarado)
‘It’s a revolving door’: RVs, tents return to SODO neighborhood months after city cleanup

KUOW Public Radio
Why Washington cars could get a little Smokey in 2024 (Nobles, Trudeau, Lovick, Conway)
King County Homelessness Authority gets new leader, for now
A federal court declines to revisit a ruling that could weaken the Voting Rights Act
Seattle police commanders condemn ‘destructive unprofessionalism’ of officer caught laughing about pedestrian death

KXLY (ABC)
New FAFSA form encourages students to not leave money on the table
Washington lawmakers to consider lowering pet fees to support pet owners
New bill introduced would help get federal assistance to wildfire victims faster
Increased vaping among Washington kids prompts local schools to seek solutions

NW Public Radio
Nez Perce Tribe honors the wolf
Spokane’s Black newspaper relaunches
Agricultural overtime law still causing controversy

Q13 TV (FOX)
Senate considers bill to end child marriage in WA
Hundreds rally for bills against rent gouging in Washington
Seattle LGBTQ nightclubs allegedly raided: Routine inspections or intimidation?

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Water users in Nooksack Basin targeted in new survey
Suspected fentanyl overdoses leave two dead in Lummi Nation

Crosscut
Speaking Lushootseed: WA’s Indigenous curriculum may be renamed (Lekanoff)

MyNorthwest
Cell phones would be banned in Wash. schools under new bill

Tuesday, January 30

Proposed bill would provide benefits for survivors of ride-share drivers killed on the job
Mohamadou Kabba had been their family’s sole income earner as a ride-share driver when he was shot and killed in Renton in January 2023. Kabba considered ride-share driving his full-time job, but his family wasn’t eligible for death benefits because he wasn’t completing a ride for a customer when he was fatally shot. Kabba was one of five drivers killed since 2020 in the Seattle area whose loved ones didn’t receive these benefits, according to union reps. A proposed bill, HB 2382, would expand benefits to any driver who died from an injury when the driver was logged into the company’s digital network, even if they weren’t driving a customer at the time. The benefits would be provided under the workers’ compensation system. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

A WA bill would allow non-citizens to obtain professional licenses
As of 2021, around 22% of U.S. jobs require a professional license or certificate, compared to just 5% in the 1950s, according to the Cato Institute. House Bill 1889 would strike the requirement that applicants for professional licenses be U.S. citizens, allowing for the use of an individual tax identification number instead of a social security number. The bill would also encourage qualified undocumented students to pursue their dream jobs by addressing the lack of clarity surrounding which licenses require an SSN. The bill lists optometrists, private investigators, private security guards, bail bond agents, money transmitters, and currency exchangers as professions that currently require licensees to be U.S. citizens. If passed into law, the bill would eliminate the requirement for these professions. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jovelle Tamayo)

Democrats want independent prosecutor to handle cases where police use deadly force
Legislators are trying, again, to pass a bill to create an Office of Independent Prosecutions as a division of the Office of the Attorney General. This independent state prosecutor would review use of deadly force investigations, file criminal charges if warranted and, potentially, prosecute. House Bill 1579 does not usurp authority of local prosecutors, backers said. Rather, the independent and local prosecutors would work separately but simultaneously and if each conclude charges are warranted, a judge could be asked to decide who gets the case. Continue reading at The Columbian.

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Aberdeen Daily World
Point in Time Count in Aberdeen collects homeless data

Axios
Union membership fell slightly in Washington in 2023
Washington state lawmakers want to curb pot shop robberies

Bellingham Herald
Flooding fears linger ahead of another massive storm system heading toward Whatcom County

Capital Press
Washington farmworkers rally against overtime law
N.E. Washington excels at world recovery, now seeks relief

Columbian
WA’s opioid epidemic and the state’s effort to fight it, by the numbers
Democrats want independent prosecutor to handle cases where police use deadly force (Stonier)
Senate rent stabilization bill’s fate hangs in balance with Sen. Cleveland weighing her vote (Cleveland)

Everett Herald
I-405 express lanes soon to become more expensive for commuters
Comment: Congress close to deal to expand child tax credit
Comment: As job market changes, we’ll need more apprenticeships
Editorial: Recycling bills could use a little reuse, refocus

Kent Reporter
220-unit affordable housing complex coming to Kent on West Hill

News Tribune
22nd Legislative District lawmakers to hold virtual town hall Tuesday night (Hunt, Bateman, Doglio)
WA gun owners would have to carry gun liability insurance under proposed bill (Kuderer)
Tacoma wants to reduce fatal wrecks to zero. 2023’s total shows how hard that will be
$80M in improvements headed to Tacoma, Lakewood Sounder stations, nearby neighborhoods
Editorial: Want to cut crime and make cities safer? Give ‘convicts’ a second chance. No, really

Olympian
Evergreen board approves spending up to $1 million to address costs tied to student death

Peninsula Daily News
Grants to help pay for housing

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why analysts say Big Tech’s layoffs will likely continue
Downtown Seattle retail recovery lags in otherwise ‘healthy’ market
Regional Homelessness Authority preps for another leadership change

Seattle Times
Seattle-area express tolls soon to go as high as $15
House GOP members look to block Lower Snake River dam breaches
Proposed bill would provide benefits for survivors of ride-share drivers killed on the job (Berry)

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County Board of Commissioners appoints district court judge

Sol De Yakima
Hijos de trabajadores agrícolas de WA podrían recibir más apoyo académico (Ortiz-Self)

Spokesman Review
More renters and their furry friends could stay together if bill to reduce pet deposits passes (Hansen)
Tougher punishment for harassing election workers passes the House twice, now confronts the Senate (Leavitt)
Washington Legislature considers paying for vape detectors in schools, but do they deter vaping? (Riccelli)

Tri-City Herald
Sticker shock hits taxpayers in this Tri-Cities district, but schools still face cuts
WA gun owners would have to carry gun liability insurance under proposed bill (Kuderer)
Controversial A.I. tool raises concerns. Benton sheriff could be 1st in WA to use it

Washington Post
Millions of Americans face risk of a toxic ‘bomb train’
Biden set new stove rules. No, he’s not coming for your gas burners.

WA State Standard
Washington lawmakers make another run at legalizing homegrown marijuana (Kloba, Reeves)

Wenatchee World
State considering short-term rental tax
Inslee grants petitioners’ appeal on wolf killings in Washington

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington doctors, patients hope at-home care will continue
Hundreds of tenants to rally at the state Capitol to oppose rent gouging
Batteries are not allowed in the garbage after new ban takes effect in Seattle
Student walkout held in response to fatal shooting of 15-year-old Mobarak Adam
Bill that would strengthen animal cruelty penalties in Washington heads to the Senate

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Heads up drivers! After months of debate, state OKs $15 tolls on I-405, SR 167
Evergreen College to spend up to $1M for costs related to student’s carbon monoxide death

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
More than 37 pounds of fentanyl powder, $34K seized in Burien bust
‘It doesn’t make sense’: Family of slain Seattle teen leads march against gun violence
SPD leaders believe ‘serious discipline’ warranted for officer’s ‘limited value’ comments

Web

Crosscut
A WA bill would allow non-citizens to obtain professional licenses

MyNorthwest
Bill toughening animal abuse punishments passes Washington House

The Stranger
Police, Fire, and the Liquor Board Raided Two Seattle Gay Bars (Pedersen, Macri)

Monday, January 29

Pair of proposed bills would offer free community college to eligible Washington students
Per capita, Washington ranks among the lowest states in the country in terms of the number of residents who apply for federal student aid to fund a postsecondary education. And community colleges are struggling to meet students’ needs nationwide. In the United States today, 16% of students who enroll in community college complete a degree in three years and only 28% complete one within eight years, according to state Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle.Pollet and a group of his fellow lawmakers hope to turn those bleak numbers around with a pair of bills aiming to increase the number of Washingtonians who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WAFSA). Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Ellen Dennis)

How recent WA legislative changes could save you money on health care
Rising health care costs have not gone unnoticed by state lawmakers, who last year passed a spate of bills aimed at lowering several types of out-of-pocket charges, while also trying to address some systems-level issues that have kept costs high, like updating Medicaid reimbursement rates for providers. While proponents of these bills have said the changes could save Washingtonians hundreds of dollars every year and increase access to care, critics worry they’ll increase premiums for everyone. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Alan Youngblood)

As death toll rises, Washington lawmakers look to lower legal limit for driving drunk
Efforts to lower the legal limit for driving drunk in Washington are revving up as deadly crashes involving alcohol-impaired motorists rose again in the state in 2023. Legislation to reduce the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration for drivers from 0.08% to 0.05% is under consideration in the House and Senate. If enacted, Washington would join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Klaus Vedfelt)