Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Wednesday, April 30

Progressive group’s study debunks myth that ‘wealth tax’ drives rich residents out of WA
A progressive think tank is dismissing the claim that if a wealth tax is established in budget plans aimed at closing a $16 billion shortfall, the wealthiest Washingtonians would leave the state in droves. They say that’s just not true. A study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) found that the “millionaire class” grew by 38.6% in Massachusetts despite a wealth take and 46.9% in Washington despite a capital gains tax. Their wealth grew by more than $580 billion in current dollars in Massachusetts and $748 billion in Washington state between 2022 and 2024. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Anna Moneymaker)

Starter homes in Seattle suburbs hit $1M mark
First-time homebuyers in the Seattle area are facing staggering prices, even for so-called starter homes, which now top $1 million in eight local cities, per new Zillow data. Why it matters: Would-be buyers in some of the region’s most exclusive suburbs are confronting entry-level prices five to 10 times higher than the typical national starter home cost of about $193,000, a stark reminder of the region’s persistent affordability crisis. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)

The winners at the 2025 Legislature
We offer this selection of victors from this year’s session with the caveat that we know very little about Gov. Bob Ferguson’s enthusiasm for the veto pen, so some of this stuff might take a big hit at the goal line. Continue reading at Washington Observer. (Tim Gruver)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
County Commissioners complete strategic planning Phase II

Axios
Starter homes in Seattle suburbs hit $1M mark
Seattle air pollution ranks among worst in U.S., report finds

Bellingham Herald
Controversial EV tax credits will be bad news for Tesla (Macri, Fitzgibbon)
WA Legislature passes bevy of housing bills: ‘A good step forward’ (Bateman)
Health benefits, wages remain front of mind for picketing PeaceHealth nurses

Columbian
Students, parents, teachers ask Camas schools to save music programs from cuts
Battle Ground schools: ‘No matter how much we don’t want this to happen, cuts are going to happen’

Everett Herald
Snohomish County salmon recovery projects receive $1.9M in state funding
Five tax bills lawmakers passed to underpin Washington’s next state budget

Kitsap Sun
Children’s care to expand in Kitsap after new hospital partnership

News Tribune
Calls for accountability, transparency as Pierce County amends homelessness plan

New York Times
Trump’s Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows
Live Updates: Supreme Court Appears Open to Approving Religious Charter Schools

Northwest Asian Weekly
Kim to serve as Tacoma’s interim city manager

Olympian
WA Legislature passes bevy of housing bills: ‘A good step forward’ (Bateman)
Washington becomes twelfth state to restrict circus animal use. Here’s why (Liias)
Opportunity, not tragedy: Stronger labor protections for WA youth now law (Fosse)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Police hiring surges in Seattle
Women’s pro hockey league expands to Seattle
Amazon denies it planned to display tariff costs

Seattle Times
Seattle proposing new alternative court path for drug offenses
5 takeaways from the final budget approved by the WA Legislature
With symbolic vote, WA Democrats say wealth-tax fight is not over
Deputies defy Franklin County sheriff’s order to take guns from jail
U.S. economy shrinks 0.3% in first quarter as Trump trade wars disrupt businesses

Spokesman Review
Spokane County Commission approves $31,000 sheriff salary raise
WSU does not join other universities in letter condemning funding threats
Opinion: Why expanding doula care is vital for healthier Washington communities
Opinion: Congress should protect public broadcasting – and the communities it serves

Tri-City Herald
Jail commander says Franklin sheriff blocked entry to jail, got physical with him

Washington Post
Supreme Court seems open to allowing religious public schools
U.S. economy shrank in first quarter of 2025, as tariffs sapped growth
How ‘Make America Healthy Again’ mission has upended public health in Trump’s first 100 days

WA State Standard
Thousands of Washington state workers lose out on wage hikes (Stanford)
State lawmakers launch group to spur ‘guaranteed income’ cash to residents (Jinkins, Nobles)
Thousands of Washington and Oregon children at risk if Head Start ends, lawsuit alleges

Yakima Herald-Republic
Rep. Dufault talks about ban from House floor over parental rights changes (Simmons)
Yakima-Tieton canal, Selah wastewater plant among projects in state’s capital budget

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Report: Gun violence decreasing in King County
Washington women’s prison closure won’t mean job losses, DOC says
REAL ID deadline is 1 week out. What Washington residents should know
Gov. Bob Ferguson has signed 10 bills into law so far this week. Here’s what they do
Financial aid will be reduced for some WA college students, funding will go down for state colleges (Robinson)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Coyote Ridge inmate dies following cell assault
KIRO 7 Investigates: Why your car insurance rates are rising
What’s behind King County’s significant drop in gun violence
After years of struggling, City of Seattle celebrates rise in police applications
Standoff between Franklin County sheriff, commissioners escalates over control of county jail

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
1,100 Seattle buildings in need of retrofit to withstand earthquake forces
AmericCorps cuts prompts two dozen states to sue Trump administration
Seattle’s police chief and mayor optimistic about rebuilding force by next year
Pierce County Council limits local resources for federal immigration surveillance programs

KUOW Public Radio
The plan to boost Black homeownership
WA2025 legislative session: New governor, new budget, new laws
Program to support Black homeowners offers hope, but is it enough to help them buy a house in Seattle? (Taylor)
Washington ACLU sues Trump administration over attempts to dismantle free Head Start preschool program

KREM (CBS)
Eastern Washington lawmakers secure state funding for community projects (Hill, Ormsby, Riccelli)

KXLY (ABC)
Washington childcare workers worried about losing crucial behavioral health support for kids
Central Valley School Board drafts letters requesting investigation into state and WIAA transgender athlete policy

Web

Cascadia Daily News
PeaceHealth nurses picket, set to negotiate with hospital again

Cascade PBS
New Washington energy chair’s industry ties raise ethics questions (Shewmake)
Spokane’s Spokesman-Review newspaper pivots to a nonprofit model

MyNorthwest
Trump Admin. compiling list of sanctuary states, cities
Washington AG fights Trump’s dismantling of AmeriCorps
Washington legislature passes EV credit tax targeting Tesla (Fitzgibbon)
Study debunks myth that wealth tax drives the rich out of WA
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library loses funding in Washington

The Urbanist
Final State Budget Puts Highway Expansion Ahead of Basic Maintenance (Liias)

Washington Observer
The winners at the 2025 Legislature (Fosse)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Last day of April
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Feds issue ‘record of decision’ for project

Tuesday, April 29

Washington lawmakers close out session, sending budgets to governor
This year’s 105-day Washington state legislative session was in many ways a trudge. There was a multibillion-dollar budget deficit to solve. Sharp debate on parental rights and capping rent increases. Clashes over tax policy. Tensions between the new Democratic governor and legislators in his own party. And the unexpected deaths of a sitting senator and a former House speaker. “I’ll say certainly today, it feels like the toughest one that I’ve been through,” House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, said at a post-session news conference. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)

WA lawmakers honor late state senator: ‘Bill Ramos made Washington better’
Washington lawmakers on Sunday honored the late state Sen. Bill Ramos, an Issaquah Democrat who died suddenly April 19 while running on a trail near his home. Democrats and Republicans alike remembered Ramos for his professional contributions to the state — but also for who he was as a person. Senators adopted a resolution commemorating Ramos on Sine Die, the last day of the 2025 session. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Steve Bloom)

Rent Stabilization Makes It Across the Finish Line at Last Minute
Hours before the end of the state legislative session Sunday, both the Washington House and Senate finally signed off on a bill establishing a statewide annual cap on rent hikes for tenants. A longtime priority for many Democrats in the legislature, rent stabilization turned into one of the most hotly debated bills of the year, and faced a rollercoaster of obstacles over the course of the previous 105 days. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Ryan Packer)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Hoquiam Community Forest awarded $2.5M grant
Tour set for contaminated former Weyerhaeuser sawmill

Auburn Reporter
WA Legislature approves hiking Discover Pass price to $45

Axios
Seattle police hiring surges sixfold in 2025
Early 2025 data shows crime dropping in Seattle
Washington Legislature adjourns after passing tax hikes, rent cap

Bellingham Herald
WA lawmakers vote to hit litterbugs in their wallets. What it will cost you
Proposed change could reshape Endangered Species Act. Here’s how it affects WA

Capital Press
Washington lawmakers raise taxes, pass budget, adjourn (Fitzgibbon)

Everett Herald
Brier police levy fails; officials warn current staffing is not sustainable
At a Lynnwood thrift store, rising shoplifting mirrors larger retail crime surge
Bloomberg comment: Stifling climate anxiety only ignores the problem

The Inlander
Offended by annexation comments and worried about immigration enforcement, Canadian tourists are staying away from Spokane

Kitsap Sun
Bremerton tech school secures state funding to complete renovation (Hansen, Nance, Krishnadasan, Richards)

News Tribune
WA lawmakers vote to hit litterbugs in their wallets. What it will cost you
Pierce County exec, sheriff at odds over working with immigration authorities
WA lawmakers honor late state senator: ‘Bill Ramos made Washington better’ (Ramos, Valdez, Saldana, Lovick, Liias)
WA’s 2025 legislative session has adjourned. Here are some defining moments (Fitzgibbon, Ramos)
WA Democrats reveal final operating budget deal, but the hard part is passing it (Robinson, Ormsby)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon enters space race with 27-satellite launch
WA companies, execs poured millions into Trump’s inauguration fund
Microsoft ends contract with transit provider, triggering 287 layoffs

Seattle Times
Why two NW cities celebrate ‘Loyalty Day’ on May 1
Some lanes of I-5 in Tacoma blocked by fatal semitruck crash
Why some Seattle students can’t attend the school of their choice
5 takeaways from the final budget approved by the WA Legislature (Robinson)
Vehicle attack in Vancouver devastates a vibrant and growing Filipino community

Spokesman Review
Legislature completes work on time as focus turns to governor (Alvarado, Wellman, Riccelli, Heck)
WSU international student records reinstated after Trump reverses course on visas
Spokane City Council approves law mirroring state LGBT+ protections after heated meeting
Legislative leaders reflect on ‘challenging’ 2025 session in Washington as it comes to a close (Pedersen, Jinkins)
Central Valley School Board drafts Title IX complaint against the state over transgender sports
Head Start sues Trump administration over DEI confusion, grant freezes to child care program

Tri-City Herald
Washington becomes twelfth state to restrict circus animal use (Liias)
Innovative Pasco program for gifted kids on the fringes draws WA attention

Washington Post
Common chemicals in plastic linked to over 350,000 deaths from heart disease

WA State Standard
Rent increase cap proposal heads to Washington governor (Cleveland, Shewmake)
New taxes, no furloughs in WA Legislature’s $77.8B budget deal (Robinson, Ormsby)
Washington lawmakers close out session, sending budgets to governor (Fitzgibbon, Fey, Frame, Ramos)
WA lawmakers shift approach on closing center for people with disabilities (Farivar)
Five tax bills lawmakers passed to underpin Washington’s next state budget

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington State Ferries prepare for triple traffic surge
What we can VERIFY about Port of Seattle ‘ghost town’ rumors
15% of Snohomish County residents live in wildfire danger zones
Washington facility for drug-affected mothers, infants will remain open
Washington budget awaits approval as Ferguson vows thorough review
Amazon denies tariff pricing display plan after White House calls it ‘hostile’
Washington legislators just passed a new tax that only impacts Tesla, for now
A rent stabilization bill just passed the Washington Legislature. Here’s what it does (Alvarado)
Democrats say Washington’s $77 billion budget proposal aims to protect K-12 education, essential services (Ormsby, Robinson)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington lawmakers wrap up legislative session
What’s driving up gas prices in Washington and 4 ways you can save (Fey, Liias)
Two Black Seattle police officers sue SPD, allege racist practices, culture

KNKX Public Radio
New tax hikes, rent limits head to governor as WA lawmakers end session (Robinson, Ramos)

KUOW Public Radio
What is pension spiking, and how is it costing the state of WA millions?
Rent limits, tax hikes head to governor as Washington lawmakers end session (Robinson, Ramos)
Dozens of international students in Washington to have visas restored by Trump administration
Irish woman with green card held at Tacoma ICE center, questioned about decades-old drug conviction
Tacoma School Board president calls on community to ‘dig in’ on gun violence after three teens die in a week

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane City Council approves $1.25M for safety improvements in West Central
Spokane City Council declares emergency and adopts new alcohol-related ordinance
Spokane City Council votes to affirm right to gender-affirming care and maintain an LGBTQ+ liaison officer with SPD
Mead School Board delays vote on newly proposed transgender student policy due to feedback from State Superintendent

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Coffee roasters in Whatcom, Skagit feel impact of cost increases
High forecast of pink salmon could overwhelm local fishermen, stress processing capacity

Cascade PBS
A breakdown of Washington’s new $78B two-year state budget (Robinson)
WA Legislature approves yearly rent caps – just under the wire (Alvarado)
USDA set to cut $1B for food programs. WA food banks are worried
What you need to know after the 2025 Washington legislative session (Jinkins, Ramos)

MyNorthwest
Washington Democrats pass $77.1 billion budget (Ormsby, Robinson)
WA’s $77.8B budget saga: Ferguson to make final call (Pedersen)
Washington Democrats pass rent cap bill amid controversy (Bateman)
Washington lawmakers approve 6-cent gas tax hike with July start date
Bezos bolts, billions lost: Is Washington’s wealth walking out the door?
Washington lawmakers approve 6-cent gas tax hike with July start date (Liias)
After years of struggling, City of Seattle celebrates rise in police applications
Poll: Bob Ferguson grows on Republicans, sours on Democrats, amidst economic fear heightened

The Urbanist
Rent Stabilization Makes It Across the Finish Line at Last Minute (Alvarado)

Washington Observer
And they’re outta here
A weird last-day vote for the wealth tax (Lovelett, Hansen, Liias, Krishnadasan)
Softer rent restriction makes it to Ferguson’s desk (Alvarado, Cleveland)
Democrats cut more than half of abortion access project
Balancing (a tiny little bit of) the budget on your neighborhood bartender (Stanford)
A $100 fee on getting married to pay for domestic violence victim advocates (Davis)
Ferguson gets his $100M for cops, but local taxpayers get the bill in the long run (Entenman)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Tuesday info, with bridge crash

Friday, April 25

GOP lawmaker barred from House Chamber for rest of session after outburst
Tensions soared in the state House of Representatives Thursday after a Republican lawmaker disrupted proceedings and was barred from returning to the floor. Now state Rep. Jeremie Dufault, a Selah Republican, won’t be allowed back into the House chamber for the rest of session. But he can still participate virtually, Democratic leadership confirmed in an email, adding that this wasn’t Dufault’s first floor disturbance. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Tony Overman)

Compromise reached on Washington bill to cap rent increases
Washington Democrats have landed on a new proposed limit on residential rent increases after negotiations in the Legislature. Under the version House and Senate Democrats announced late Thursday, annual rent hikes statewide would be capped at 7% plus inflation, or 10%, whichever is lower in a given year. The latest bill would also nix a proposed carveout for some single-family homes and shorten the time that new construction would be exempt from the cap. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jason Finn)

Education Department cuts threaten to deepen local schools’ woes
The Trump administration wants to empower local schools by dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The catch: Local school districts nationwide already are struggling with teacher shortages, falling test scores and rising turnover in leadership. Why it matters: Those measures of instability — along with ongoing debates over what should be taught, and how — are just a few of the problems local systems are facing as the White House signals that less help could be coming. Continue reading at Axios. (Axios Visuals)

Print

Axios
Education Department cuts threaten to deepen local schools’ woes

Columbian
Vancouver working on citywide plan to support electric vehicles
‘Essential components of our mission’: Many large employers in Clark County remain committed to DEI

The Daily News
The Daily News Students in Need scholarship fund drive nears $17K
Toutle Lake School Board hosts meeting on state-mandated gender inclusivity policy

Everett Herald
Democrats in Washington Legislature wrap up budget negotiations (Robinson, Tharinger)
Snohomish firefighters appeal vaccine suspensions to Ninth Circuit
Kicking Gas urges households to get in line for subsidies while funds last

Kitsap Sun
WA ‘marine forest’ is official, with help from Bainbridge student

News Tribune
GOP lawmaker barred from House Chamber for rest of session after outburst (Simmons, Jinkins)
WA Republicans walk out in protest after bill closing Rainier School advances
UW report finds ‘patterns of neglect’ in Tacoma police responses to immigration lockup
Opinion: To boost education in Washington, find better administrators

Olympian
WA lawmakers strike deal on rent-cap bill: ‘We need affordability relief now’ (Alvarado, Bateman)
GOP lawmaker barred from House Chamber for rest of session after outburst (Simmons, Jinkins)

Seattle Medium
Washington Enacts Law To Regulate Entry Of Out-of-State Military Forces (Mena)
Transgender Athlete Restrictions Rejected By WIAA, Girls Flag Football Approved
Seattle Faces Significant Decline In Parking Meter Revenue By 2026 Amidst Changing Demand And Rates

Seattle Times
WA lawmaker barred from House floor after outburst
WA Legislature considers new tax aimed at Elon Musk’s Tesla
Opinion: Public charter schools are in the fight for WA kids

Skagit Valley Herald
‘We’re not criminals’: Farmworkers urge Sen. Patty Murray to act amid ICE detainments

Spokesman Review
Conservation group sues governor over Wildlife Commission appointment
Opinion: Cutting maternal health care isn’t just misguided – it’s dangerous

Washington Post
RFK Jr.’s absurd statistic on the spike in chronic diseases in the U.S.
Trump’s immigration ratings turn negative, Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds

WA State Standard
Compromise reached on Washington bill to cap rent increases (Macri, Peterson)
Parental rights overhaul gains final approval in WA Legislature (Santos, Ortiz-Self, Simmons, Stonier)
Washington Legislature approves hiking Discover Pass price to $45

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Valley advocates celebrate ban on use of traveling circus animals

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima officials debate best way to address hard-to-solve homeless issues

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Report: Tacoma police’s response lacking to ICE detention center
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed 7 bills into state law on Thursday. Here’s what they do
Snohomish County Sheriffs under scrutiny by autism advocates over handling of missing man case

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
King County Health Official: ‘Measles is having a field day’
Seattle mayor proposes legislation to help with housing development

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Massive free health care clinic returns to Seattle for 10th year
World Cup Seattle security chief talks staging, safety at planned 2026 event
Former Tacoma resident indicted for attacking 6 power substations in Washington
Seattle Pride seeks community support amid $350K funding shortfall, Pride Parade risk
Man who used ‘ghost gun’ in Pioneer Square carjacking will spend 5 years to life in prison

KUOW Public Radio
Is your ID enhanced? Air travelers scramble to meet May 7 deadline
What bills are graduating this legislative session, and what’s flunking out?
Changes to WA ‘parents rights’ law headed to governor after tense final vote (Stonier, Simmons)
Seattleite killed by Israeli sniper commemorated in legislation amid push for independent investigation

KXLY (ABC)
WSU instructor fired for allegedly attacking student for wearing pro-Trump hat
Tax bill threatens to stretch Spokane emergency room wait times and access to care

NW Public Radio
Unpacked: Washington state’s budget deficit

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Skagit farmworker leaders implore Sen. Murray to help hold ICE accountable
Nonprofit staff struggling to monitor at-risk youth after Skagit facility closure
WWU president signs letter decrying ‘unprecedented government overreach’ by Trump administration

MyNorthwest
Tensions rise over school funding, property tax hearings in Olympia (Bergquist)

The Urbanist
Ferguson’s Continued Focus on Austerity Places King County in Jeopardy (Scott, Bergquist)

Thursday, April 24

Washington must close this facility to protect our rights
I am a proud member of Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL), People First of Washington, and Allies in Advocacy, three organizations with over 1,200 members and run by those with IDD. I stand with advocates with disabilities and encourage our state legislators to close Rainier School. We ask to be believed. We ask to be prioritized. We want Washington State to follow the example of 18 other states and give people the choice to move into the community. It’s where we belong. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (TNT)

WA lawmakers fail to address overcrowding at youth detention centers
Juvenile rehabilitation leaders were banking on changes to state law to relieve an overcrowded and chaotic system that’s left youth and staff to fend for themselves. As the legislative session nears an end, those changes have largely failed to materialize. Bills that lawmakers hoped would stanch the heavy flow of youth to the state’s two juvenile detention centers and relieve overcrowding failed to pass out of the House last week. The fizzling out of major fixes to the system drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike, some of whom called the bills’ demise a “moral failure.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ivy Ceballo)

New Washington law removes medical debt from credit reports, offering relief to thousands
A new law in Washington state is bringing financial relief to thousands of residents by removing medical debt from credit reports, a change that could significantly improve their financial futures. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 30 percent of Washingtonians report living in households with medical debt. Continue reading at KXLY. (KXLY)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
City of Ocean Shores accused of squelching free speech
Permit-to-purchase bill for gun buyers headed to governor’s desk (Berry)

Axios
Speed cameras debut in Washington work zones
Washington lawmakers approve gun permit bill, send it to governor (Berry)

Bellevue Reporter
6-cent gas tax hike central to new transportation deal in Legislature (Fey, Liias)

Capital Press
Reclamation confirms adequate water for Klamath Basin

The Daily News
Trump protesters in Longview aim to protect Medicaid, democracy, due process
Drug tests, behavioral health agency: Here are the draft proposals for HOPE village manager

Everett Herald
WA bill to keep medical debt off credit reports signed into law (Riccelli)
Commerce boss: How Washington state can make it easier for small businesses
Comment: What SAVE Act promotes is red tape, not elections
Editorial: Commonsense best shot at avoiding measles epidemic

The Inlander
Drones help with everything from real estate photography to protecting crops and tracking pygmy rabbits across the Inland Northwest

Kitsap Sun
PCHS clinic could open on Bainbridge next year, if state funding comes through
Bainbridge Island’s inaugural Korean heritage festival to connect culture and well-being
Letter: Bremerton must retain state boost for fast-ferry service
Letter: Protect, and improve, Washington state’s initiative process

News Tribune
Washington must close this facility to protect our rights
WA House advances ‘Tesla tax’ bill after tense late-night debate (Fitzgibbon)
Will WA lawmakers need a special session? And how much would that cost? (Riccelli)
Ex-Tacoma police official went to court over racial bias. City settles for $500K
Tax has raised $60M for Pierce County behavioral health. How’s it being spent?

Northwest Asian Weekly
Shanghai Garden says goodbye after 35 years

Olympian
Will WA lawmakers need a special session? And how much would that cost? (Riccelli)
WA Republicans walk out in protest after bill closing Rainier School advances (Farivar)
Here’s what Tacoma’s U.S. Rep. Emily Randall saw in tour of ICE detention center

Port Townsend Leader
Quilcene school board talks Bible curriculum, trans girls in sports

Puget Sound Business Journal
Airlines respond to softer travel demand
Alaska Airlines sees travel demand steady after price cuts
Boeing weighs its options as trade war disrupts deliveries to China
Opinion: Washington businesses don’t need a heavier tax burden

Renton Reporter
Renton School District cuts librarians from 8 schools

Seattle Medium
Seattle Officers Seek Anonymity in Supreme Court Over Capitol Rally Investigation
As Vaccinations Become A Political Talking Point, Health Officials Warn Of Measles Cases
Community Mourns Tragic Loss of Garfield High School Student in Easter Sunday Shooting

Seattle Times
Trump cuts have WA libraries, museums and tribes scrambling
WA lawmakers fail to address overcrowding at youth detention centers (Wilson, Bergquist)
Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s push to end DEI in K-12 public schools
Judge bars Trump from denying federal funds to ‘sanctuary’ cities that limit immigration cooperation

Spokesman Review
Facing Sunday deadline, lawmakers continue work to adopt Washington budget (Riccelli)
Got medical debt? New state law Riccelli sponsored will protect Washington residents from impacts to credit score (Riccelli)

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Demonstrators decry deportations

Washington Post
Elon Musk had the government in his grasp. Then it unraveled.
As Trump softens his tone on the trade war, China refuses to budge
Big Ten university faculties push for defense compact against Trump
Interior Dept. weighs opening 6 national monuments in the West to mining, drilling

WA State Standard
Democrats in Washington Legislature wrap up budget negotiations (Robinson, Tharinger)
Permit-to-purchase bill for gun buyers headed to WA governor’s desk (Berry)
Oregon Attorney General leads suit against Trump, administration to block tariffs
Republicans walk out after WA House committee votes to close center for people with disabilities (Farivar)

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Downtown Association wraps up survey, eyes inclusive growth, public input
Eastmont open division proposal for transgender athletes fails during WIAA Representative Assembly

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
DOGE cuts hit small farms in western Washington
Seattle U professor: Boeing’s year-over-year quarterly results are great
Backlog building at Washington licensing offices amid scramble to get REAL ID
Pattern of injury: 2 employees suffer severe injuries at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Pike Place Market goes car-free in pilot program
Seattle mayor announces new initiative to expand childcare, early learning

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Boeing doesn’t expect the US trade war with China to slow its recovery
Ballard Bridge to close this weekend for upgrades delayed by last fall’s rain
Seattle law firm to ask judges to permanently block Trump executive orders
Seattle parents demand changes to student enrollment system at school board meeting
Federal Way parents criticize school district’s emergency response to playground shooting

KUOW Public Radio
Tacoma ICE center detentions spike by nearly 50% since March, says U.S. Rep. Randall

KXLY (ABC)
Permit-to-purchase bill for gun buyers headed to WA governor’s desk (Berry)
Washington bill nicknamed ‘Tesla tax’ passes state house of representatives (Fitzgibbon)
New Washington law removes medical debt from credit reports, offering relief to thousands

NW Public Radio
Tacoma physicians are trying to unionize
Programas Head Start reabren en el centro de Washington
Cantwell, Schrier talk possible Medicaid cuts with local health care stakeholders

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: NASA budget cuts would put local research in free fall

Cascade PBS
WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs (Fosse)

InvestigateWest
A 12-year-old killed herself at a Spokane hospital that recently closed its youth psychiatric unit

MyNorthwest
Keeping call centers local (Stanf0rd)
Keeping circus critters out of the ring (Liias)
A greener blueprint for affordable homes (Duerr)
Gun permit bill one step away from being law (Dhingra)
Republicans exit after bill closing disabled schools passes
Sen. introduces bill to move incarcerated to ICE, calling WA ‘a sanctuary for felons’
With only days left, GOP accuses Dems of rushed budget, no transparency: ‘We have no idea who’s being taxed’ (Fitzgibbon)

The Stranger
Slog AM: The Wealth Tax Makes a Comeback, Early Election Results Are in, and RFK Is Still Evil

The Urbanist
After a Baby Step Toward Housing Density, Edmonds Starts Backpedaling

Washington Observer
“Tesla tax” passes House (Fitzgibbon)
A politically dicey vote on the B&O tax
House Democrats narrowly advance big changes to education levies (Bergquist)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Thursday notes

Wednesday, April 23

Changes made to WA tax plan: What’s still in play as end of session nears
With just days left to go in the 2025 legislative session, Washington lawmakers are still mulling over new tax proposals to balance a multibillion-dollar hole in the state’s budget while details of their final spending plan remain under wraps. Those proposals are moving fast and changing quickly as the Sunday deadline approaches. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Nick Wagner)

Deportation flights pick up pace at Boeing Field
As deportation flights out of Boeing Field increase in frequency, human rights advocates are calling for change regarding the treatment of detainees on board. In December 2024, a federal judge ruled deportation flights could continue at Boeing Field. King County’s then-executive Dow Constantine made a 2019 order suspending deportation flights, and after litigation, flights resumed at the King County International Airport in May 2023. Then in December 2024, a federal appeals court judge ruled the flights could continue. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

WA bill to keep medical debt off credit reports signed into law
Washingtonians’ medical debt will not be included in their credit reports, under a bill signed into law on Tuesday. Having medical debt can create a spiraling effect and prevent people from getting approved for car or home loans or apartment rentals. Medical debt can also cause providers to deny services to patients with outstanding bills or dissuade people from seeking care. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)