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Monday, May 18

Mountain of change: 40 years after the eruption of Mount St. Helens, the volcano’s story is still being told
The black-and-white images of the 16-mile high stanchion of ash give a false impression. The photos of Mount St. Helens’ eruption taken on May 18, 1980, suggest a cataclysm that remains in the past, safely ensconced in history and available for warm recollection of when the world exploded and we survived. But that’s wrong. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Craig Goodwin)

For the first time, Washington will regulate Columbia-Snake River dams if they violate federal pollution rules
Environmental groups lauded Washington state for issuing conditions under the Clean Water Act for the first time last week that will ensure pollution is reduced from eight dams along the lower Snake and Columbia rivers. In addition to sometimes increasing the temperature of the rivers to levels that can be dangerous for fish, these dams have had numerous oil spills over the years from the lubricants used in turbines and other moving parts. Continue reading at The Inlander. (Columbia Basin Federal Caucus)

‘Us Vs. Them’ In A Pandemic: Researchers Warn Divisions Could Get Dangerous
As the pandemic moves from public health crisis to partisan flashpoint, the debate over the coronavirus response in the U.S. is becoming increasingly nasty – and, in some cases, violent. It’s not just the clusters of gun-toting protesters at state capitols. In sporadic incidents across the country, disputes over emergency measures have turned into shootings, fistfights and beatings. Stories abound of intimidation over masking. And armed right-wing groups have threatened contract tracers and people who “snitch” on neighbors and businesses violating health orders. Continue reading at KUOW. (AP)

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Associated Press
Paine Field airport to halt passenger service for 10 weeks
Coronavirus deaths reach 1,000 in Washington
World stock markets rebound on economic recovery hopes
‘COVID toes,’ other rashes latest possible rare virus signs
Virus interrupts St. Helens eruption anniversary plans
Agriculture workers strike in Yakima County over coronavirus

Aberdeen Daily World
No more positive COVID tests at Pacific Care Center
Basich Boulevard repairs on track for late summer completion
Letter: Aberdeen school cuts too heavy handed

Auburn Reporter
Inslee changes course, says diners won’t have to sign in

Bainbridge Island Review
State to deploy brigade of contact tracers to box in virus (Hobbs)
Bainbridge parks officials to get virus update
Kilmer discusses CARES Act 2.0 during telephone town hall

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Here’s what to do if people in Whatcom County aren’t following COVID-19 safety rules
Whatcom County reports no new positive tests or deaths related to coronavirus Sunday
Federal grant helps expand COVID-19 testing for low-income Whatcom County residents
Since pandemic began, 56 Whatcom healthcare workers have tested positive for coronavirus
Whatcom employers worry about health as COVID-19 lockdown eases. Help is on the way
Not ready to eat at a restaurant? WSU coronavirus survey says you’re not alone
The coronavirus is most infectious before people even know they have it, UW virologist says
Washington’s Slow Down Move Over law, as simple as it sounds, saves responders’ lives
40th anniversary of Mount St. Helens eruption to take place virtually amid COVID-19
Coronavirus updates: Statewide report shows transmission persisting in western Washington
Do you wear a mask to fight the pandemic? Here’s what your Whatcom neighbors are doing
Whatcom’s negative coronavirus test results continue to grow with 56 more Saturday
Washington state reports 1,000th COVID-19 death
Coronavirus updates: Washington reports 1,000th death; Pierce County has distributed $21 million
Washington state reports 145 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Washington state braces for wildfire season as firefighter tests positive for COVID-19
Some nursing homes taking coronavirus stimulus checks from patients. Can they do that?
Want to see a newly discovered comet? You may be able to see SWAN streak across sky

Capital Press
Inslee to add to general-safety rules for farms
Virus infects 18% of workers at beef plant in Washington
Cattle groups divided over proposed packer mandate
Rules upcoming for transporting farmworkers in Washington

Columbian
In Our View: Persuasion more effective than intimidation
Lawmakers, Clark County businesses discuss impact of coronavirus (Cleveland, Wylie, Stonier)

Everett Herald (subscription required)
No government aid for Everett’s undocumented amid pandemic
Articulated buses with few riders? Better social distancing
Marysville-Lake Stevens roundabout work to cause congestion
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Test results released for 13 long-term care facilities
Bloomberg: Commentary: True freedom-lovers wear face masks
Yakima-area fruit workers in talks with employers
Editorial: More than buyer must beware in opening too soon
Paine Field terminal to close for 71 days of ramp repairs
Was coronavirus here in December? Health officer has doubts
University of Washington staff rally for better protections
What we know: Washington coronavirus outbreak at a glance
Mount St. Helens ‘changed my life,’ says Camano filmmaker
200 Snohomish County protestors rally against COVID order
Somers announces $14 million in relief for small businesses

Federal Way Mirror
I-5 closures set in Kent for Federal Way Link construction
City-led coronavirus response task forces work to establish support network

The Inlander
For the first time, Washington will regulate Columbia-Snake River dams if they violate federal pollution rules

Islands Weekly
Inslee announces contact tracing initiative
CDC video: ‘How COVID-19 can spread in a community’
Back to the wild – it’s a whole new outdoor recreation world

Issaquah Reporter
Tenants demand more relief from Eastside low-income housing provider
Bellevue teacher arrested on child rape charges

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Face coverings to be required in public in San Juan County

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Drive-ins and FM radio: How Kitsap churches are worshipping together again
Construction delays could push back fast ferry service from Southworth
Belfair man, a Navy vet and nuclear engineer, succumbs to coronavirus
Highly touted antibody testing arrives in Kitsap. But the tests have limits
When a coronavirus vaccine is developed, who will be first in line to get it? A CDC panel usually decides
A spike in ferry riders for Mother’s Day weekend as highway traffic begins to trend upward

News Tribune
Tacoma Dome to host free COVID-19 testing starting Tuesday
Coronavirus updates: Statewide report shows transmission persisting in western Washington
King County just made masks mandatory. In COVID crisis, Pierce County should do same
Washington state has big budget mess. Don’t surrender open government as we dig out

New York Times
Coronavirus Live Updates: Vaccine Tests Show Early Promise, Drugmaker Says, Rallying Wall Street
Employers can let workers change health plans and dependent-care accounts without waiting
Fed chairman says recovery may ‘stretch’ through end of 2021

Olympian (subscription required)
Olympia allocates $1.1 million in federal funds to aid local COVID-19 response
Washington state reports 145 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Thurston County ends week with 4 COVID-19 cases, fewest since early March
The coronavirus is most infectious before people even know they have it, UW virologist says
Olympia car dealerships embrace a COVID-19 future, as showroom sales resume
Little Creek, Red Wind casinos plan to reopen Monday
Washington state braces for wildfire season as firefighter tests positive for COVID-19

Peninsula Daily News
COVID-19 Relief Fund nears $250,000
Drug overdoses on the rise on Peninsula
In-house, by-patient testing systems in place on Peninsula
Governor’s rules for golf courses modified
Inslee retracts restaurant contact requirement
Jefferson Board of Health supports, but does not approve, pursuing variance
Jefferson works on application

Puget Sound Business Journal
What’s next for J.C. Penney and Neiman Marcus?
‘V-shaped’ economic rebound unlikely, bankers say
Disrupted dreams — The pandemic view from a bank that serves half the country’s startups
Seattle’s mega convention center project in ‘crisis,’ seeks federal help
King County face mask directive goes into effect Monday
Specialty’s closure is the latest sign of trouble for Seattle-area retail
Developers pin their hopes on multifamily projects in Seattle

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Times Watchdog: Washington state relied heavily on Chinese firm for coronavirus supplies; they’re weeks behind schedule
‘Clear, uniform, national’ coronavirus guidelines needed for U.S. air travel, Sen. Cantwell says
Ishisaka: Caught between coronavirus and racial profiling, some Seattle residents use masks warily
West Seattle Bridge report explains how a partial collapse would lead to demolition
Mount St. Helens’ mysteries still astound scientists, 40 years after eruption
Man says officer shrugged off racist incident at Home Depot, Seattle police say they’re investigating
Massive distribution of food boxes to begin with challenging timelines for delivery
Losing jobs, finding resilience: How Seattle workers are battling through coronavirus unemployment
Two months into the coronavirus dining room shutdown, how well is delivery working for Seattle-area restaurants?
King County’s directive on face coverings goes into effect today. Here’s how to properly wear a face mask.
Vashon Island: remote and ready to fight coronavirus’ next wave
Rant and Rave: Biking scavenger hunts keep reader happy and healthy
Snohomish County deputies reinstated by new sheriff to stay on prosecutor’s list of officers with credibility problems
What to do if your name is used in attempted unemployment fraud
Op-Ed: Mount St. Helens’ ominous lessons for the age of coronavirus
Editorial: Mask directive necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19
Editorial: Washington needs COVID-19 testing plan
Op-Ed: Get kids up and moving — walking, biking, dancing! — for better learning at home
Op-Ed: The pandemic of loneliness

Skagit Valley Herald
During pandemic, weddings get changed — or don’t happen
Mount Vernon Farmers Market kicks off with limited vendors

Spokesman Review
Mountain of change: 40 years after the eruption of Mount St. Helens, the volcano’s story is still being told
Hospital officials urge residents to seek urgent care if needed, new guidelines coming Monday
Spokane health board member who spread misinformation at May Day stay-home rally draws criticism from colleagues
Washington governor retracts restaurant contact requirement
$3 trillion stimulus bill passes House; McMorris Rodgers pans it as Democratic ‘wish list’
Spokane schools to continue feeding hungry kids after USDA extends federal waiver
Opinion: Teddy Benson: State needs to spend more to help struggling businesses

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities YMCA switches gears during coronavirus to provide emergency child care
Roadside memorial honors 3 Tri-Cities Tyson plant workers who died of COVID-19
Tri-Cities child care may be harder to find after coronavirus. New grants may help
Half of workers positive for COVID-19 at Tyson plant near Tri-Cities had no symptoms
Another COVID-19 death in Tri-Cities area. Known cases top 1,300
Editorial: Cut restaurants some slack when they reopen. They’ve got new rules to follow

USA Today
When a coronavirus vaccine is developed, who will be first in line to get it? A CDC panel usually decides
Aftershock: If coronavirus swells in a second wave later this year, will the nation be ready?

Vancouver Business Journal
Clark County state lawmakers review 2020 session and economic recovery steps at Chamber webinar (Wylie)
Clark County prepares for financial impacts of pandemic

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Neighborcare won’t renew clinic lease

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Seattle Times: Fed shipment of Q-tip-style coronavirus swabs puzzles Washington State officials — latest wrinkle in supply woes
Seattle Times: Foursomes of non-related golfers are now allowed to play together at Washington courses
Walla Walla County to apply for early reopening
Editorial: Legislation aimed at helping farmers, good banks makes sense
Editorial: Giving personal information to dine is tough to accept, but it makes sense

Washington Post
$500 billion Treasury relief fund has lent barely any money so far, oversight commission finds
Moderna vaccine shows promising early results
China’s Xi backs WHO-led probe of pandemic origins
Trump responds to whistleblower who criticized government’s pandemic response
Bars and barre return, but date night and workouts aren’t the same: A glimpse into the new normal
Op-Ed: The key tool to a safe opening is not social distancing
Barr doesn’t expect Obama or Biden will be investigated in review of 2016 Russia probe
A highly contagious and fatal virus is spreading in several states. Its victims are rabbits.
Uber lays off 3,000 more staffers, shutters dozens of offices
Big Tech was first to send workers home. Now it’s in no rush to bring them back.
Op-Ed: There’s no hope for America unless we can pity ourselves

West Seattle Blog
Coronavirus: 5/17 Sunday Round-up

West Seattle Herald
Protecting rights of people with disabilities as face-covering directive goes in effect

Whidbey News-Times
Hospital resuming elective surgeries

Yakima Herald Republic
Sunday update: 94 new COVID-19 cases reported, marking fifth day in May with 90-plus
40 years after Mount St. Helens: Readers share stories of cleanup, choir concert and camping
Gordon Kelly took the back roads when the mountain blew
It Happened Here: Yakima church group experienced Mount St. Helens eruption from 30 miles away
Yakima Council to discuss COVID-19 response and options for struggling residents
40 years on: Yakima Valley reels from ash fall
Cascades Volcano Observatory is keeping an eye on Northwest volcanoes
Community health centers face budget shortfalls because of COVID-19 pandemic
Former Yakima City Manager: Mount St. Helens response city’s ‘finest hour’
40 years later: Yakima Herald-Republic readers share their memories of Mount St. Helens
Fire battalion chief remembers Mount St. Helens eruption as “black cloud” over Yakima
Saturday update: Strike continues at Selah fruit plant; 41 new coronavirus cases; Sunnyside pool
Yakima County jail reports inmate tests positive for coronavirus

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Real-time updates: Casinos in western Washington reopening today with limits
Sea-Tac Airport wants TSA to check passengers’ temperatures
Emerald Queen Casino in Fife preparing to reopen Monday with certain safety measures
Sea-Tac Airport to require face coverings starting Monday

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
King County’s directive to wear face coverings starts Monday
Community supports mask exchange and food donation in Greenwood
US cases near 1.5M, deaths top 89K
Need for food growing during COVID-19 pandemic
Petition to recall Snohomish County sheriff gets OK
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will require all to wear masks
WA state the primary target for unemployment fraudsters
Washington state braces for wildfire season as firefighter tests positive for COVID-19
Fred Meyer, QFC employees protest to keep hazard pay and for safer conditions

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
New face mask rules, guidelines take effect Monday in W. Wash.
Monroe fridge magnet maker now producing PPE

KNKX FM
At age 6, he and his classmates fled Mount St. Helens. 40 years later this reporter recalls that day

KUOW FM
WE’VE REACHED 1,000 LIVES LOST TO CORONAVIRUS IN WASHINGTON STATE. HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR STORIES
Live updates: Coronavirus pandemic in Washington state
Changes In Opioid Supply Create New Risks As Stay-At-Home Rules Ease
This is why you might not be getting a haircut as soon as you want
‘Unprecedented’ World Health Assembly Convenes Online As Pandemic Rages
40 Years After Mount St. Helens, Sounds Of Past Government Response Echo Today
Bike Sales Gear Up As The Homebound Try Socially Distant Exercise
As Nursing Homes Report More COVID-19 Deaths, More Governors Order Universal Testing
King County reported no Covid-19 deaths on Thursday, the first time since the pandemic started
Here’s how the pandemic — and your grocery store habits — are affecting Washington farmers
Parents: You may qualify for three months of paid leave during the pandemic
With Historic Vote, House Will Allow Proxy Voting, Remote Hearings During Pandemic
‘Us Vs. Them’ In A Pandemic: Researchers Warn Divisions Could Get Dangerous
San Juan becomes first county in Pacific Northwest to mandate face masks in public
Bunk beds and farm workers: Washington’s new housing rules
Trump, Unveiling Space Force Flag, Touts What He Calls New ‘Super Duper Missile’
Coronavirus FAQs: How Risky Is It To Fly? Is There Any Way To Reduce The Risks?
Trump Touts ‘Operation Warp Speed’ Coronavirus Vaccine Effort
Are you a loud talker? You might be a superspreader
Congress Has Approved $3 Trillion For Coronavirus Relief So Far. Here’s A Breakdown
New Evidence Suggests COVID-19 Patients On Ventilators Usually Survive

Q13 TV (Fox)
Governor Inslee retracts restaurant contact requirement in Washington
Brandi Kruse: It’s OK to question the governor’s logic, but do you really question his motives?
‘Fact or Fake?’: Can the government force you into quarantine?
Poll shows 1/3 of Seattle residents plan on working remotely for at least a year
Tents cause tension in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood

Web

Crosscut
The New Normal: When checkout lines become the front lines
You could be the citizen scientist the world needs right now
Washington’s $1.8B convention center expansion is in danger
Opinion: GoFundWho? More equitable ways to crowdfund in a crisis
Opinion: $100B a month would be a small price to pay to save the economy
The pandemic politics of Washington’s stay-at-home protesters

Slog
Can Kshama Sawant’s New Tax Amazon Meeting Even Happen?
Seattle’s Twenty Miles of Stay Healthy Streets Is Just the Beginning
Opinion: The Post-Pandemic Workweek Should Be Reduced by 10 Hours
Local Sleuths Track Down Source of Mysterious Radio Songs

Friday, May 15

Washington halts unemployment payments for 2 days after finding $1.6 million in fraudulent claims amid coronavirus pandemic
Washington state officials said Thursday they’re stopping unemployment payments for two days while they attempt to block a gush of fraudulent claims aimed at stealing some of the billions of dollars that Congress directed to workers left jobless amid the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)

House Democrats’ plan would give billions to Washington state. How would money be spent?
Washington’s state and local governments’ ailing budgets would get billions of dollars in aid under a massive coronavirus relief package due for a U.S. House vote Friday. The plan fashioned by House Democrats would provide an estimated $10.8 billion to the state government, roughly half within 30 days of enactment and the rest within the next 12 months. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Thursday sees 7th strike by Yakima Valley farmworkers protesting conditions during COVID-19 pandemic
Workers at Columbia Reach Pack and Hansen Fruit and Cold Storage Co. in Yakima walked out Thursday morning to protest their working conditions. They held signs asking employers for better COVID-19 safety measures, 6 feet of social distancing in the workplace, and protection from retaliation for protesting. They also want Columbia Reach to provide a hazard pay increase of $2 an hour. Continue reading at The Yakima Herald. (Evan Abell)

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Associated Press
Washington’s unemployment system sees a spike in impostors
Rep. Matt Shea fined for damaging Capitol steps with oil
Trump administration ease rules limiting truck driver hours
National Guard helps hand out free potatoes in Tacoma
US stock indexes are mostly lower on weak retail sales data
Dems push $3T coronavirus relief bill toward House vote
NIH director: Large-scale vaccine testing expected by July
Tensions rise as Texas governor readies to lift more rules
Aircraft to spray invasive moths in northwest Washington
Official: Busy wildfire season will be impacted by pandemic
Portland, Oregon, homeless tax tests voter mood in pandemic
Agriculture workers strike in Yakima County over coronavirus
Jail employee accused in plot to smuggle drugs to inmates
Carnival to lay off hundreds in Florida, other states
Holland America announces layoffs, furloughs for all staff
Some ag workers walk off job in Yakima County over COVID-19
University of Washington staff rally for better protections
Rep. Matt Shea fined for damaging Capitol steps with oil

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Inslee gathers business leaders to talk about phased efforts to reopen
Washington hospital leaders say don’t delay getting necessary health care
Washington state reports 261 new COVID-19 cases and 8 deaths Thursday
Watch: Washington Gov. Inslee, industry leaders on reopening retail, auto, hospitality
As Ferndale’s Intalco smelter nears curtailment, chances of saving it look bleak
Medal of Honor recipient from Puyallup dies after battle with lung cancer
Coronavirus updates: Inslee issues personal services guidelines for Phase 2
Whatcom health department has reported 943 negative COVID-19 tests in past 2 days
Troopers seek scammer who pressures drivers to swap cash for fake gold jewelry
Opinion: Hardworking young people are building our future. Don’t leave them out of COVID relief

Capital Press
Early odds tilt slightly toward winter La Nina

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Quarantini time! New state rule allows cocktails to-go
Snohomish County jail employee suspected of drug smuggling
Alaska Airlines cuts Paine Field departures to one per day
Inslee changes course, says diners won’t have to sign in
Editorial: Lawsuits not path to reopening state’s economy

Islands’ Weekly
Drop in vaccination leaves children vulnerable to other diseases

Issaquah Reporter
King County loses second most clean energy jobs in nation

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Tons of taters: Kitsap food banks take in potatoes from Washington farmers
COVID-19 closed the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort for weeks. It’ll reopen Monday.
Pentagon looks to train, deploy combat units with ‘social distancing protocols in place’

News Tribune (subscription required)
It’ll take more than a pandemic to crush Tacoma’s hot housing market, brokers say
Emerald Queen Casino in Fife reopening next week; new I-5 site to open in June
Pierce County sees 25 new COVID-19 cases, two new deaths

New York Times
DeVos funnels coronavirus relief funds to favored private and religious schools

Olympian (subscription required)
Washington hospital leaders say don’t delay getting necessary health care
Washington state reports 261 new COVID-19 cases and 8 deaths Thursday
Thurston County retailers are reopening for business — curbside, that is
Child care might be harder to find after COVID-19. Will that hurt economic recovery?
Lacey City Council awards community development block grants to 7 nonprofit
Inslee gathers business leaders to talk about phased efforts to reopen
House Democrats’ plan would give billions to Washington state. How would money be spent?
Op-Ed: The bankrupt agenda of the GOP congressional leadership

Peninsula Daily News
Portions of Olympic National Park reopen today
COVID-19 cases rise to 50 on Olympic Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
As unemployment claims rise, Washington business owners brace for long recovery
PPP fixes and tax breaks. Here’s what’s in the HEROES Act for small business
Opinion: A PPP lesson: Nation’s unemployment benefits should not be for everyone

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Antibody test results of 2 Snohomish County residents throw into question timeline of coronavirus’s U.S. arrival
As reopening continues amid coronavirus, Inslee says he’ll be confident going to a restaurant, but concerned about open casinos
Washington halts unemployment payments for 2 days after finding $1.6 million in fraudulent claims amid coronavirus pandemic
Seattle-based digital real estate firms Porch.com, Redfin are each hit with lawsuits
Talton: Reopening blues: Don’t count on a quick recovery
After son’s shooting death in Rainier Beach, mother calls for community action
‘I don’t feel like it’s even Ramadan’: Washington’s Muslim community adapts to staying at home during holy month
More tribal casinos opening in Washington state, with coronavirus precautions
Washington’s busy wildfire season will be impacted by coronavirus pandemic
Seattle-based Holland America Line lays off 2,000 layoffs, makes other cuts as coronavirus halts cruises
LA Times: Panicked over ‘murder hornets,’ people are killing native bees we desperately need
Op-ed: I am a nurse, a DACA recipient, and I belong in this country
Op-ed: Washingtonians are going hungry — please help emergency-food fund

Skagit Valley Herald
5-15 Master Gardeners put resources online for growing food
Rules put in place for farmworker housing
Motel voucher funding runs out
Highway 20 over North Cascades opens

Snoqualmie Valley Record
King County loses second most clean energy jobs in nation

Spokesman Review
Shea billed $4,700 for olive oil poured on Capitol steps in response to Satanist demonstration
‘Everybody sticks together’ in Garfield County, but they’ve stayed apart enough to reopen without a virus case
‘It’s going to be a learning curve’: Lincoln County businesses prep to reopen ahead of most of state
Jobless claims up in Washington; so are fraudulent claims
University of Washington Medicine staff rally for better protections
Spokane County denied variance to move early to next phase of reopening; leaders hopeful for clearance next week
Opinion: Food supply chain links all of us

Tri-City Herald
170 Tri-Cities area warehouse workers will lose their jobs. COVID-19 is partly to blame
New $13 billion contract awarded for Hanford tank farm cleanup
Pasco schools moving graduation to August because of coronavirus
Kennewick farmers market to open. And free McDonald’s fries
71 Tri-Citians have now died of coronavirus. Two new deaths reported
Op-Ed: Coronavirus has beef producers around the world back on their heels and hooves

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: Sadly, scoundrels and miscreants using coronavirus fear to run scams

Washington Post
More people are flying again. Here’s what to expect at airports and on planes.
CDC offers few guidelines for reopening safely
Wondering what’s safe as states start to reopen? Here’s what some public health experts say.
A noose, an ax and Trump-inspired insults: Anti-lockdown protesters ratchet up violent rhetoric
Retail sales plunged 16.4% in April, a record decline
Colleges push ideas for fall return. But some fear making the crisis worse.
A majority of Americans going to work fear exposing their household to virus, poll finds
Editorial: The virus spreads in close quarters. That should factor into reopening decisions.
Op-ed: States have taken the lead in fighting the coronavirus. Now we need aid.
Trump expresses anger that his China trade deal is off to a rocky start
Democrats scrutinize State Dept. plan to overhaul Social Security
In remote Alaska, changes coming in how the Air Force prepares for war
North Dakota businesses dominated the PPP. Their secret weapon? A century-old bank founded by radical progressives.

Yakima Herald Republic
Thursday sees 7th strike by Yakima Valley farmworkers protesting conditions during COVID-19 pandemic
Yakima County commissioners seek more local control of business reopening
Yakima County COVID-19 cases increase by 65; four more deaths
Yakima County first-time unemployment claims increase 8% from prior week
Kittitas County won’t receive variance to open businesses now, but application remains active

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee can’t guarantee Washington will enter Phase 2 of reopening on June 1
Large-scale vaccine testing expected by July, NIH director says
Real-time updates: Another $1,200 included in new stimulus as unemployment rises
Seattle healthcare workers will be among the first to eat this season’s Copper River salmon

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Washington hospitals urge people not to delay care because of COVID-19 concerns
Copper River salmon arrives, but fanfare exchanged for focus on health care workers
Beekeepers worried hives are being destroyed due to murder hornet fear
State pauses unemployment payments to deal with fraudsters
FDA halts COVID-19 in-home test kits in Seattle
Coronavirus: Inslee issues Phase 2 rules for salons, offices
Couple reunited after both survived COVID-19
SDOT to start installing temporary curbside priority pick-up zones for retail shops
Police warn of contact tracing scams in Washington

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
King Co. records no new coronavirus deaths for first time in over 2 months
Retailers making safety changes to reopen during Phase 2
Washington lottery sales skyrocket amid COVID-19 entertainment doldrums
More Washington casinos re-opening against Governor Inslee’s wishes
State to pause unemployment benefit payments this week amid fraud probe
Washington State hospitals urge patients to continue to seek care

KNKX FM
Like A Scene Out of ‘Mad Max’: Washington And Oregon State Parks Struggle To Address Crowds

KUOW FM
Working at a Seattle grocery store amid a pandemic: ‘They’re counting on us to deliver the goods’
What makes a neighborhood special and sustainable during a pandemic?
Now serving: masks.
CDC Issues Decision Tools To Guide Reopening Of Schools, Businesses, Transit
What are you smoking? Clearing the air about cannabis
We’d love to share a bus ride with Mayor Durkan
Online Pharmacy Saw A ‘Panic-Driven’ Boom In Drug Touted By Trump
Trump Names Leaders Of ‘Operation Warp Speed’ Vaccine Effort
Court Allows Emoluments Case Against Trump Over D.C. Hotel To Proceed
What You Need To Know About The Flynn, Biden And ‘Unmasking’ Story

Q13 TV (Fox)
Unemployment fraud continues to spike, following $1.6 million paid last month to impostors
UW Medicine employees demonstrate for increased COVID-19 protection
Companies of all sizes struggling to pay rent
Emerald Queen Casino to reopen Monday, May 18
Rep. Matt Shea fined for damaging Capitol steps with oil

Web

Slog
Sawant Will Discuss Tax Amazon Package in Her Own Committee
Opinion: What Will Really Make Jeff Bezos a Trillionaire Is Seattle’s Commitment to Long-Term Lockdown
Lawmaker Calls for an Immediate Audit of State Filing and Voter Registration System (Tarleton)

Thursday, May 14

State agencies told to find almost $2 billion in savings, freeze hiring
Gov. Jay Inslee ordered Washington agencies on Wednesday to look for some $1.9 billion in budget cuts and freeze hiring and equipment purchases. With the state facing a projected $7 billion hole in revenue through the 2023 fiscal year, all departments received notice Wednesday to look for savings equaling 15% of their budgets through June 2021. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Elaine Thompson)

Haircuts coming as Washington counties reach COVID-19 ‘Safe Start’ Phase 2. Here’s how
Several personal and professional service businesses will begin to open up again as Washington starts to move towards Phase Two of the “Safe Start” statewide re-opening, according to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Kevin Keister)

Experiment shows human speech generates droplets that linger in the air for more than 8 minutes
Ordinary speech can emit small respiratory droplets that linger in the air for at least eight minutes and potentially much longer, according to a study published Wednesday that could help explain why infections of the coronavirus so often cluster in nursing homes, households, conferences, cruise ships and other confined spaces with limited air circulation. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Sergio Moraes)

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Associated Press
Inslee orders hiring freeze, agencies prepare for 15 % cuts
What you need to know today about the virus outbreak
US immunologist warns of ‘darkest winter’ if virus rebounds
US report indicates broad risk of COVID-19 at wildfire camps
Trump’s push for opening school clashes with Fauci’s caution
Total layoffs rise to 36 million since coronavirus hit
Kitsap County talks waste management as facilities reopen
Virus restrictions fuel anti-government ‘boogaloo’ movement
States, tribe seek to suspend coal sales on US lands
Justices fear ‘chaos’ if states can’t bind electors’ votes
AP Courtside: Supreme Court hangs up on phone arguments
Seattle sees 1st case of childhood disease tied to virus
US jobless claims in millions again, higher than expected
Aircraft to spray invasive moths in northwest Washington

Aberdeen Daily World
OS City Council votes 7-0 to reopen drive-on beach approaches after 7-week closure
Public Health to hire epidemiologist to assist with COVID-19 response
Construction on Elma child care facility expected to begin this summer
Commentary: Forget the red-blue street fighting and just wear a mask
Letter: Are we killing our planet?

Auburn Reporter
State to deploy brigade of ‘contact tracers’ to track virus (Hobbs)

Bainbridge Island Review
Unemployment claims still at record levels in Washington
No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Kitsap County Wednesday

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Haircuts coming as Washington counties reach COVID-19 ‘Safe Start’ Phase Two. Here’s how
Whatcom County health department reports 2 new coronavirus cases, no deaths Wednesday
As coronavirus restrictions ease, here are Whatcom stores offering curbside service
As the economy starts to reopen, COVID-19 testing of workers now available in Whatcom
‘Our hearts go out to you’ as these Bellingham graduation ceremonies go virtual
Child care might be harder to find after COVID-19. Will that hurt economic recovery?
Canadians seeking to keep U.S. border closed to non-essential travel another month
Inslee issues directive to freeze most hiring, contracts and purchases due to COVID-19
Casino reopening draws crush of traffic
Coronavirus updates: Inslee announces contact tracing initiative
Washington state reports 182 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths Wednesday
Singing COVID-19 ‘superspreader’ infected dozens at choir in Washington, CDC says
Los Angeles Times: Washington state allows bunk beds for farmworkers despite coronavirus risks

Capital Press
Mount St. Helens: Remembering the big blast 40 years ago
Washington sets virus rules for farmworker housing
Plant-based artificial meat expected to boost high-protein crops

Columbian
Vancouver in pilot program to look for COVID-19 clues in wastewater
In Our View: Tough test for Employment Security Dept.

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Local wedding industry braces for a summer of canceled vows
Both of Darrington’s iconic summer music festivals canceled
Harrop: Cash has lost even more cachet during pandemic
WaPo: Commentary: For ‘Generation Covid,’ the future looks grim
Letter: Sheriff should stick to his job description

Federal Way Mirror
Federal Way man charged with federal drug trafficking after Navy sailor’s fentanyl death
State to deploy brigade of ‘contact tracers’ to track virus
Supreme Court ponders state’s limits on presidential electors

The Inlander
How the pandemic impacts the mental health of local front-line workers
As our energy use has shifted during coronavirus shutdowns, renewable energy is outpacing coal

Islands’ Weekly
Investigation concludes former Lopez secondary school principal sexually harassed coworkers
Washington’s COVID-19 Safe Start FAQ

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Fourth of July parade canceled
Inslee announces contact tracing initiative

Kitsap Sun
Pandemic aid money available to Olympic College students
Whaling Days, Brewfest are the latest summer festivals to be canceled
Another 3 million Americans file jobless claims as layoffs continue to ravage economy
County working to respond to roadside dumping complaints as solid waste facilities reopen

Olympian
2020 Thurston County Fair canceled in response to COVID-19
‘There isn’t enough time.’ Scientists may need years to identify coronavirus immunity
Canadians seeking to keep U.S. border closed to non-essential travel another month
Haircuts coming as Washington counties reach COVID-19 ‘Safe Start’ Phase 2. Here’s how
Inslee issues directive to freeze most hiring, contracts and purchases due to COVID-19
Coronavirus updates: Inslee issues personal services guidelines for Phase 2
When it comes to the economy, there’s no going back to normal after COVID-19 trauma

Peninsula Daily News
NOLS to hold virtual ‘Lunch with a Librarian’
Phases of reopening outlined
Officials concerned about increased travel from out of county

Puget Sound Business Journal
T-Mobile Park to host free Covid-19 testing twice a week through the end of May
US jobless claims mount to 36m since start of lockdowns
The pandemic will permanently change the auto industry
Small-business loan deadline poses test for Mnuchin
Coronavirus pushes America’s coal industry to once-unthinkable lows
Sound Transit draws timeline for capital plan realignment process, reveals initial revenue decreases
Providence, Swedish cut executive salaries, take other cost-cutting measures
Boeing wins $3.1B Navy deals, some for missiles it hasn’t made since 2008 recession
Boeing confirms one of its biggest customers is in talks to defer new jets for years
Shifting SBA guidance could create ‘legal mess’ for PPP recipients

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Starbucks demands landlords lower its rent for the next year, citing ‘staggering economic crisis’ of coronavirus
Washington adds more than 116,000 unemployment claims as state slowly reopens from coronavirus
Child in Washington has new, mysterious ailment that could be linked to coronavirus
Coronavirus surveillance program in King County put on hold because of FDA concerns
Coronavirus daily news updates, May 14: What to know today about COVID-19
Spirit of generosity guides Ramadan for Washington state’s Muslim community, despite coronavirus lockdown
Seattle’s new Stay Healthy Streets keep us moving during the coronavirus pandemic
Seattle council bill, if signed by Mayor Durkan, would allow for rental payment plans after coronavirus crisis
36 million have sought US unemployment aid since virus hit
Photos of the day, May 14: Seattle Times photographers document life during the coronavirus pandemic
Delta to retire Boeing 777 jets, sees up to $1.7 billion charge
Alcoa accused of not ‘putting up a fight’ to save Ferndale aluminum plant as plans to curtail operations move ahead
Amazon to soon end coronavirus pay raises for warehouse workers

Snoqualmie Valley Record
COVID-19 shakes up valley businesses, housing market

Spokesman Review
State agencies told to find almost $2 billion in savings, freeze hiring
Spokane Public Schools defers decision about financial emergency, awaits clarity about state budget
Spokane Tribe Casino reopening Thursday with new safety measures in place
Spokane Arena slated to become homeless shelter pending City Council approval
Local effort to trace, quarantine those who come into contact with COVID-19-positive people ramps up

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities ‘Walmart Lady’ remembered as kind, strong after dying from coronavirus
3 Tri-Cities businessmen start nonprofit to cut Hanford red-tape that’s slowing cleanup
Tri-Cities COVID-19 death toll remains one of highest in Washington state
Hanford strategy for worst nuclear waste criticized. Plant estimates skyrocket to $41 billion
Editorial: Mask up Tri-Cities, and show some consideration for others

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: Closing of railroad hub is a tough blow

Washington Post
Ousted vaccine official warns Congress of ‘darkest winter’
Wisconsin justices strike down stay-at-home extension
Nearly 3 million Americans filed jobless claims last week; eight-week total at 36.5 million
Limits of smartphone data are on display as country seeks to reopen
McConnell’s claim that Obama left behind no ‘game plan’
Experiment shows human speech generates droplets that linger in the air for more than 8 minutes
Ex-detective charged in Ahmaud Arbery’s death lost arrest powers for skipping use-of-force training
Doctors express glimmers of hope as they try out new approaches against coronavirus
Abbott virus test hailed by Trump dogged by accuracy questions
U.S. has granted 2 people refuge since late March, records show
Elon Musk already restarted Tesla production. Now the county says it’s allowed next week.
With colleges shuttered, more students consider gap years. But those may be disrupted, too.

West Seattle Herald
QFC and Fred Meyer partner with the City of Seattle and Seattle Mariners for free COVID-19 drive-thru testing

Yakima Herald Republic
Selah attorney: Proclamation does not allow people to ignore governor’s pandemic order
Ag worker strikes continue Wednesday, with walkout at Monson Fruit in Selah
Community members sew thousands of masks for farmworkers
Coronavirus update: 96 new cases in Yakima County, 5 more in Kittitas County
Elk hoof disease found in Yakima herd

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Real-time updates: Free food items available in King County, Tacoma on Thursday
Over 500 complaints filed with Governor’s office over Petco disregarding stay-home order
Delta to retire Boeing 777 fleet by the end of the year
First western Washington casino to reopen greeted with eager crowds
Seattle doctors make a ‘big difference’ in coronavirus battle on hard-hit East Coast

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Inslee orders hiring freeze, agencies prepare for 15% cuts
Police warn of contact tracing scams in Washington
What to expect at your dentist
‘Made a true community’: Cookbook store shows up weekly for frontline workers
What will college look like in the fall? Two presidents talk about classes, sports
Fred Hutch recruits essential workers for COVID-19 study
Local startup believes its tech can help in fight against COVID-19
Angel of the Winds Casino reopens with safety measures in place
McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma to reopen Friday with safety measures in place
Parents voice concerns over students’ return to class during virtual town hall
New set of emergency rules in place for farmworker housing during pandemic
Some restaurants don’t plan to reopen during ‘Phase 2,’ citing costs
Inslee announces plan for state’s COVID-19 contact tracing system

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
Inslee orders hiring freeze, other spending restrictions at state agencies
Hairdressers file petition to delay salons re-opening until Phase 4
Delta retiring its Boeing 777 fleet, to rely on Airbus jets for long-hauls
Plans for what schools will look like in the fall underway
Universities statewide trying to plan for fall classes amidst Coronavirus pandemic

KNKX FM
Eruption anniversary plans blown up and reborn, kinda like subject Mount St. Helens

KUOW FM
THIS IS WHY YOU’RE FINDING FANCY MEAT CUTS AT YOUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE — BUT MAYBE NOT GROUND BEEF
How do you approach the moral dilemmas of the coronavirus pandemic?
36.5 Million Have Filed For Unemployment In 8 Weeks
White House List Of Testing Labs Wasn’t Helpful, States Say
Most nursing homes in King County have had a Covid-19 case
Live updates: Coronavirus pandemic in Washington state
With School Buildings Closed, Children’s Mental Health Is Suffering
Eruption anniversary plans blown up and reborn, kinda like subject Mount St. Helens
May 13th | What are your pandemic pet peeves and big questions?
Seattle Covid-19 home testing project halted pending federal approval
Apple, Google Coronavirus Tech Won’t Track Your Location. That Worries Some States.
Navajo Nation President Says COVID-19 Has Killed 103
Fauci Says U.S. Death Toll Is Likely Higher. Other COVID-19 Stats Need Adjusting, Too
Fed Chief Says More Relief Spending May Be ‘Costly, But Worth It’

Q13 TV (Fox)
‘It’s hard to find masks’: Protecting the homeless population from Covid-19 proves challenging
Angel of the Winds Casino Resort reopens at half capacity
Seattle sees 1st case of childhood disease tied to coronavirus
Inslee to order widespread coronavirus testing in nursing homes
Some dental hygienists are worried about welcoming patients back
Nearly 90 jobs slashed at Pierce Transit, Union worries about viral exposure

Wednesday, May 13

1,371 contact tracers ready assist health departments
More than 1,300 people in Washington state have been trained and are ready to work with local health departments to do contact tracing once a case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in a county. At a news conference Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee said that of those already trained, 351 are from the National Guard, 390 are from the Department of Licensing and 630 are state or local health professionals. He said that number could be expanded even more in the coming weeks. Continue reading at The Yakima Herald. (Elaine Thompson)

How Washington school districts are succeeding and struggling since coronavirus shut them down
For an hour-and-a-half on Wednesdays, Yakima School District’s Franklin Middle School turns into a bread line. Six lines of cars form in the school’s parking lot, said the principal, Sherry Anderson, and local police help direct the traffic. Each vehicle is filled with parents and kids waiting to receive a week’s supply of food, a lifeline amid a pandemic that has harmed the factory and farming community in Washington’s Yakima Valley. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Emily M. Eng)

Operation 100% aims to provide relief for all applicants waiting for unemployment benefits
Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine released a lengthy statement Tuesday from Olympia to explain how the state plans to help everyone who is waiting to receive unemployment benefits. Continue reading at The Olympian.

Print

Associated Press
US choir outbreak called ‘superspreader event’ in report
1,371 contact tracers ready assist health departments
US says Washington state overstepped with oil train law
Gray whale washes up along southwestern Washington coast
First employer cited for violating COVID-19 safety rules
Report: UW Medicine sees $500 million shortfall due to virus
‘A pretty scary thing’: Kid illness tied to virus worries NY
AP Exclusive: CDC guidance more restrictive than White House
New clusters pop up; Europe debates summer tourist season
Musk becomes champion for businesses defying shutdown orders
Boeing goes another month without a single airliner order
Dam operators must now make water temp control plan
AP Courtside: Last day of phone arguments is about electors
Justices hear election year cases over ‘faithless electors’
Gray whale washes up along southwestern Washington coast
1,371 contact tracers ready assist health departments
AP Courtside: Kavanaugh cites ‘chaos’ in electors case
US judge asks Nevada high court if gun makers can be liable

Aberdeen Daily World
OS City Council votes 7-0 to reopen drive-on beach approaches after 7-week closure
Still grappling with reopening plan, commissioners hopes to vote on Phase 2 variance request Monday
Op-ed: Why can’t we just pause?

Auburn Reporter
King County health officer directs residents to use face coverings
Blood drives cancelled through June; new “pop-up” sites being organized
City of Auburn to receive $2.4 million in coronavirus relief

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Whatcom County Health Department reports six new coronavirus cases Tuesday
Restaurant customer lists needed to trace contacts, but will remain private, Inslee says
Here are Whatcom County’s latest projections for the rate of COVID-19 infections
Small classes. Masks. Limits on visitors as Western plans for students’ return in fall
Inslee issues guidance for limited in-store retail, manufacturing in phase 2
Inslee: Contract tracing information to be kept private
Highway across North Cascades opens to traffic after seasonal closure
Naval rescue helicopter airlifts injured skier off Mount Baker glacier Saturday
Washington’s Phase 2 restaurant dining: parties of 5, face coverings, no bar seating
Whatcom County Health Department reports six new coronavirus cases Tuesday
Washington state reports 208 new COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths Tuesday
New COVID rules require you to give name, contact info before getting a restaurant seat
Watch live: Gov. Jay Inslee 1:30 p.m. Tuesday press conference and reopening update
More Americans turning to drugs and alcohol as coronavirus stress rises, survey shows
As deaths mount, coronavirus testing remains wildly inconsistent in long-term care
Opinion: Hardworking young people are building our future. Don’t leave them out of COVID relief

Bothell Reporter
Metro, Sound Transit request more federal aid as ridership plummets

Capital Press
Wolf pack kills calf in northeast Washington
Wolf advocates push curbs on lethal removal in Washington
Processor returns part of 2019 potato crop to farmers
Rail transfer facility closes at Wallula, Wash.

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Homeless get nonprofit help applying for stimulus checks
State says stop, but this Snohomish barber keeps cutting
State to deploy brigade of contact tracers to box in virus
Commentary: Best path to resume work is to protect workers
Saunders: Closing schools will come at great cost to students
Letter: Governor’s stay-home order is within his authority

Federal Way Mirror
Metro, Sound Transit request more federal aid as ridership plummets
Blood drives cancelled through June; new “pop-up” sites being organized
Operation 100% aims to provide relief for all applicants waiting for unemployment benefits

Islands’ Weekly
BLM Spokane District restores access to some recreation sites for day use
Antibody testing – there are no shortcuts to success

Issaquah Reporter
King County fire chiefs release video message about COVID-19 pandemic

Journal of the San Juan Islands
On the hunt for Asian Giant Hornets

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Mural by S’Klallam artist Jeffrey Veregge to go in at the new Seattle Center arena
Kitsap doctors find many aren’t seeking medical care, even when they need it
Mount Vernon choir outbreak called ‘superspreader event’ in report
US coronavirus curve may be flattening, but estimated death toll keeps rising. What does this mean?

News Tribune (subscription required)
Coronavirus updates: Inslee announces contact tracing initiative
Pierce Transit furloughs, lays off employees amid revenue declines during coronavirus

New York Times
Fearing a second wave, California State university system will keep classes online in the fall
Coronavirus Live Updates: Fed Chair Warns Economic Damage Could Be Permanent
Why Some Women Call This Recession a ‘Shecession’
A Guide to Pandemic Scams, and What Not to Fall For

Olympian (subscription required)
Inslee issues guidance for limited in-store retail, manufacturing in phase 2
A look at Thurston County jobs, industries hit hardest by the COVID-19 shutdown
Martin Way homeless shelter, supportive housing to be topic of virtual public meeting
Thurston County Food Bank opens drive-up site at Evergreen
Farmers to give away 200,000 pounds of potatoes at Tacoma Dome on Thursday
Restaurant customer lists needed to trace contacts, but will remain private, Inslee says
New COVID rules require you to give name, contact info before getting a restaurant seat
1 new COVID-19 case in Thurston County Tuesday, ZIP code map updated

Peninsula Daily News
More help requested in Clallam County
Mosaic offering online special needs activities
Three more counties can ease virus restrictions early
US plans reimagine fighting wildfires amid virus risk

Puget Sound Business Journal
In key milestone to reopen economy, Inslee’s ‘contact tracing’ team is now in place
This was supposed to be the year driverless cars went mainstream
Exclusive reader poll: Businesses win breaks on rents, mortgages as pressures build in office market
As death toll in nursing homes climbs, calls to redesign them grow
Employers can let workers change health plans without waiting
King County Covid-response fund expands with millions earmarked for small businesses
Seattle council OKs payment plan for back rent owed during pandemic

Seattle Times (subscription required)
“I mean, is nobody reading the news?”: Some ask why Sea-Tac Airport took so long to expand safety measures
Justices hear election year cases over ‘faithless electors’
WSU and UW researchers look into how the coronavirus spreads from people to their pets
How Washington school districts are succeeding and struggling since coronavirus shut them down
Westneat: Stop the presses: Coronavirus sidelines, for now, the Real Change street newspaper
Seattle public health doctor sues after being denied green card
These Oregon counties want to reopen Friday. Their COVID-19 cases are surging
REI plans to partly reopen six Seattle-area stores this week; customers will be asked — but not required — to wear face coverings
Port of Seattle places cop on leave over viral video discouraging enforcement of state’s anti-coronavirus measures
Washington has 1,371 people trained and ready to begin tracking down the coronavirus
Gray whale washes up on southwest Washington coast
Amazon urged by 13 attorneys general to disclose data on worker coronavirus infections and reinstate unpaid time off policy
Boeing’s backlog falls by more than 500 jets this year as aviation’s coronavirus crisis deepens
Bloomberg: Nightmare at sea ends in death for some of 90,000 stranded cruise-ship workers
Bloomberg: Ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort released from prison to home confinement over virus concerns
The dining experience will be dramatically different when Seattle-area restaurants reopen after coronavirus rules ease
Editorial: Children’s scheduled vaccines cannot wait
Op-Ed: Don’t delay necessary health care because of COVID-19

Skagit Valley Herald
Valley Shine has a new mission: hand sanitizer
Local researchers discover harbor porpoises may eat salmon
Chorale COVID-19 cases subject of national report

Snoqualmie Valley Record
North Bend considers summer water use restrictions
Blood drives cancelled through June; new “pop-up” sites being organized

Spokesman Review
State Sen. Mark Schoesler blocks Inslee’s proposed extension of emergency rules on domestic violence orders (Jinkins, Billig)
Restaurants weigh cost, benefits of reopening under ‘long string’ of Phase 2 limits
Spokane County Commission votes to ask state to move to Phase 2 of reopening; Inslee vows to ‘look at’ proposal
Grocery union seeks to extend hourly ‘hero pay’ bonus
State nixes proposal for outdoor Spokane graduations at Albi Stadium
Health officer: ‘Very strong likelihood’ masks will be mandated in Spokane soon
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office gets tech to access phones without passcodes, raising privacy concerns

Tri-City Herald
Pasco has the most COVID cases in Tri-Cities area. Here’s the breakdown for 7 towns
2020 graduation canceled in Kennewick. What Tri-Cities schools plan instead
3 free food giveaways planned in Tri-Cities. Grants given to local nonprofits
Op-Ed: Hardworking young people are building our future. Don’t leave them out of COVID relief

USA Today
US coronavirus curve may be flattening, but estimated death toll keeps rising. What does this mean?
State budget hits due to coronavirus are trickling in and it’s not pretty

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Editorial: Those on Electoral College must vote as state voters do

Washington Post
Twitter employees don’t ever have to go back to the office (unless they want to)
Jared Kushner clarifies after saying he’s ‘not sure’ he can commit to date for presidential election
6 takeaways from Anthony Fauci’s and health officials’ testimony to Senate panel
Judge puts Justice Department’s move to drop charges against Michael Flynn on hold
To save neighborhood businesses, people rebel against delivery apps
Infection rates were climbing at Nebraska meatpacking plants. Then health officials stopped reporting the numbers.
As some countries ease up, others are reimposing lockdowns amid a resurgence of infections
A girl survived two heart attacks. Doctors are linking them to coronavirus.
Tensions over restrictions spark violence and defiance among protesters as Trump pushes states to reopen
Aimee Stephens, the center of landmark transgender rights Supreme Court case, dies before the ruling
Opinion: Today’s children are the pandemic generation. For millions, the future is now grim.
Plastic pollution threatens marine life, humans and ecosystems. Enter the future vacuum of the seas.
Fla. felons must pay court debts to vote; many find it impossible
Trump’s ‘ask China’ response to CBS’s Weijia Jiang shocked the room — and was part of a pattern
In a time of global crisis, should the world cancel poor countries’ debts?
The pandemic and loss of aircraft data are taking a toll on weather forecasting
Facebook will pay millions to content moderators who suffer PTSD at work
Powell warns of long, painful downturn if Congress does not provide more economic relief
With Fed’s encouragement, corporations accelerate debt binge
April saw the sharpest increase in grocery store prices in nearly 50 years

Whidbey News-Times
Iconic inn gets new cedar roof thanks to grant
Pandemic’s impacts on county budget mitigated
Spike in ferry ridership spurs concerns

Yakima Herald Republic
Selah council backs coronavirus proclamation; Mayor says she will make clarifications
Governor’s office says Selah proclamation unlawful; Yakima cruising events not authorized
Yakima Valley fruit companies say they’re following safety guidelines; protesting workers disagree
Memorial to launch free bilingual phone line for emotional and crisis support
Public safety: Pandemic presents new landscape for law and justice
COVID-19: Yakima County’s average pace hits 64.4 new cases a day in May
1,371 contact tracers ready assist health departments

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee unveils plan for rapid COVID-19 contact tracing in Washington
Real-time updates: Employment Security restricting calls to focus on ‘complex’ claims issues
Washington’s Phase 2 of coronavirus recovery requires restaurants to keep daily log of customers
Angel of the Winds Casino Resort gambles on reopening in Snohomish County Wednesday
Mount St. Helens Institute in financial trouble due to coronavirus
Port of Seattle police officer on leave after posting video urging officers not to enforce stay-home orders

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Inslee announces plan for state’s COVID-19 contract tracing system
Inslee’s COVID-19 restaurant directives trigger bleak business predictions
Port of Seattle officer posts video telling officers not to enforce stay-at-home orders
Angel of the Winds Casino reopening with safety measures in place
Shortages force grocery stores to limit meat purchases
Traffic in Seattle area slowly returning
Arlington gym reopens in protest of stay-at-home order
Free COVID-19 drive-thru testing begins Wednesday at T-Mobile Park
Beach town reopens for reservations with new rules
King County issues directive urging public to wear face masks in most public spaces
911 calls for serious health conditions down 25% in King County, officials say
1 million nurses needed by 2022

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
COVID-19: Gov. Inslee announces contact tracing effort
Privacy concerns raised due to state’s new COVID-19 contact tracing strategy
Spaced out: State issues Phase 2 guidelines for opening retail stores
Angel of the Winds casino reopens Wednesday; first in state since COVID-19 outbreak
Port of Seattle officer’s post about not enforcing stay-home orders goes viral
Reopening guidelines ‘more devastating,’ Vancouver restaurant owner says
Restaurants prepare to reopen in Phase 2, but worry about added costs

KNKX FM
Washington’s system for tracking vaccinations isn’t ready for COVID-19, doctors say
Pierce County hires new medical examiner in first step toward remaking the embattled office
Washington plans to test all nursing home residents and staff, says state doctor
UW Medicine to furlough some workers and cut pay for senior leaders

KUOW FM
Seattle’s first confirmed case of rare childhood disease linked to Covid-19
Documenting Self-Isolation: 14 Days Through 14 Instant Photos
Act Now To Get Ahead Of A Mental Health Crisis, Specialists Advise U.S.
Rural Skamania County is cautious about Phase 2 of reopening
Restaurants to keep log of dinner parties for coronavirus contact tracing upon reopening
Washington plans to test all nursing home residents and staff for Covid-19, says state doctor
Aimee Stephens, Transgender Woman At Center Of Major Civil Rights Case, Dies At 59
Despite Early Warnings, U.S. Took Months To Expand Swab Production For COVID-19 Test
‘There Was So Little Information’: Polio Survivors Offer Pandemic Perspective
Want Your Stimulus Check Direct Deposited? Sign Up By Noon Wednesday
In Cases On Trump Financial Records, Supreme Court Weighs Separation Of Powers
When Can We Expect A Coronavirus Vaccine?
Unsettled contract negotiations add to strain on UW resident doctors on Covid-19 frontline

Q13 TV (Fox)
1,371 contact tracers ready to assist health departments in Washington
Restaurant owners struggle with phase 2 reopening guidelines
Mariners host free drive through Covid-19 testing
Republican lawmakers have concerns regarding Gov. Inslee’s contact tracking plan
Report: UW Medicine sees $500 million shortfall due to virus

Web

Crosscut
When the Chehalis floods again, who pays the price?
Opinion: Why Seattle needs a government-funded news outlet
Opinion: Seattle’s coming recession, explained

Slog
Inslee Wants to “Box in the Virus.” Let’s Break Down That Box.
Opinion: Seattle Should Pass a Law Requiring People to Wear Face Masks in Indoor Public Spaces
Some Seattle Restaurants See Shortage of To-Go Cocktail Containers

Tuesday, May 12

Western governors join Gavin Newsom in $1 trillion appeal to Congress for coronavirus aid
Four western governors joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom in asking Congress for $1 trillion in aid for states and local governments reeling from the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

UW Medicine faces $500 million shortfall because of coronavirus pandemic; staff cuts and furloughs coming
UW Medicine, which has played a significant role in responding to the coronavirus pandemic on a local and national scale, is now in deep financial trouble due to that very pandemic. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

Real-time updates: Washington restaurants reopening in Phase 2 must follow these rules
Restaurants and taverns in Washington can partially resume dine-in capabilities in Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start Washington” plan to reopen the economy. Phase 2 allows more businesses and activities to re-open with adequate safety and health standards in place. Under Phase 2, dining rooms may open with less than 50% capacity, tables with no more than five people seated, and no bar seating area. Continue reading at King 5. (Seattle Fire Dept.)