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Friday, January 5

Eight lawmakers to watch in Washington’s 2024 session
Comfortable shoes are required for the upcoming 2024 legislative session, as this one promises to be a full-on sprint for 60 days. Perseverance and patience, too, for those lawmakers determined to pass a bill or three. A prodigious amount of legislation is pre-filed for introduction on the first day, signaling widespread elevated expectations among the ranks of each party. Here are eight lawmakers to watch as they influence key conversations when the action begins Jan. 8. Continue reading at KNKX. (Ted S. Warren)

WA ferry system scraps timeline for resuming normal service
After several years of trying to predict when normal ferry service might return, Washington State Ferries is now acknowledging what most regular riders likely already suspected: Until new boats come online four to five years from now, normal service is not possible. More trips will be added occasionally as crew and boats become available, but they should not be expected. Under this new plan of lowered expectations, WSF’s goal is to deliver 95% of its trips — lower than its historical goal of 99%. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

Leading WA lawmakers give media a rundown on their 2024 legislative priorities
Leading lawmakers in Washington discussed some of their legislative priorities for the upcoming 2024 session Thursday during the annual legislative preview leading up to the start of the session on Monday, Jan. 8. Legislators will have a short 60-day window this year to pass a supplemental budget as well as policy bills. They also will have to decide whether or not they will address six ballot initiatives that have been turned into the Secretary of State. Separate panels of lawmakers — including budget writers, transportation leaders, and House and Senate leadership — sat before news media and the public to answer questions Thursday. Gov. Jay Inslee made an appearance to discuss some of his priorities for the session as well. Continue reading at News Tribune.

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Axios
COVID ticking up in King County

Bellingham Herald
Overdose fatalities surged in Whatcom County in 2023. How many involved fentanyl?
New session, new bills. Here’s some of what WA lawmakers are proposing in 2024 (Walen, Duerr, Gregerson, Nguyen, Leavitt, Wellman, Valdez, Berry, Farivar, Ramos, Dhingra, Salomon)

Capital Press
Washington snowpack falls way behind

Everett Herald
Clinic to offer free care for Mountlake Terrace High students

Indian Country Today
Closed juvenile detention facility may be returned to Chinook (Hunt)

News Tribune
Will Tacoma and Olympia get snow next week? One meteorologist thinks there’s a chance

Olympian
Leading WA lawmakers give media a rundown on their 2024 legislative priorities (Robinson, Ormsby, Jinkins, Billig, Liias, Fey)

Port Townsend Leader
EV car sharing service launched in Port Townsend

Puget Sound Business Journal
Small-business owners have a new reporting requirement this year

Seattle Medium
America’s Health Report: Washington State Ranks 7th

Seattle Times
WA ferry system scraps timeline for resuming normal service (Liias)
Seattle’s minimum wage, raised again, among highest in nation

Skagit Valley Herald
Salish Sea Stewards to begin annual training process

Spokesman Review
Washington voters want more social services and less taxes, poll finds
SPS receives $200,000 to expand mental health services in their schools
Washington Supreme Court says WSU had no duty to protect student from sexual assault in an off-campus home

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Plastic recycling resumes in Walla Walla in 2024

Washington Post
Economy added 216,000 jobs in December, capping a year of solid gains

WA State Standard
Ballot initiatives cast shadow over Washington legislative session (Jinkins, Billig)
Legislature’s lead budget writers offer clues about what’s next for state spending (Robinson, Ormsby)

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Valley internet provider LocalTel faces backlash on widespread email outage

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County plans public forums on affordable housing needs

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Woodinville tech company is ‘revolutionizing’ electric vehicle batteries
Most commonly stolen vehicles in Washington state might surprise you
New AI technology in Seattle aims to improve traffic flow, reduce carbon emissions
Washington lawmakers to tackle transportation project funding during upcoming session (Liias, Jinkins)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
‘Growing concern’ over Burien homeless crisis fuels lawsuit against camping ban
Lawmakers discuss new approach as public safety focus gains bipartisan support in 2024 (Jinkins, Rule, Billig)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington state lawmakers to take on fentanyl and housing in Inslee’s final legislative session
Minor Earthquake hits Southwest Washington, not linked to Mt. Saint Helens activity officials say

KNKX Public Radio
Eight lawmakers to watch in Washington’s 2024 session (Robinson, Fitzgibbon, Nguyen, Billig)

KUOW Public Radio
The viruses are returning to normal in Washington for winter 2024
People experiencing homelessness in Burien sue city over camping ban

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane’s Opioid Task Force revived by West Spokane Wellness Partnership

KXRO
Pacific Razor Clam designation as official Washington State Clam up for consideration again (Chapman, Ryu)

Q13 TV (FOX)
10-day waiting period to purchase a firearm starts Monday
Washington’s new street racing law goes into effect on Jan. 1
Washington state lawmakers to take on fentanyl and housing in Inslee’s final legislative session (Jinkins, Trudeau, Wellman)

Web

Crosscut
Over a third of WA’s job safety fines are reduced after appeals

MyNorthwest
Minimum wage in Seattle goes into effect, among highest in county
Exclusive: Gov. Jay Inslee doubles down on the Climate Commitment Act despite high gas prices

Thursday, January 4

WA expands health coverage for immigrants
A growing number of states are opening taxpayer-funded health insurance programs to immigrants, including those living in the U.S. illegally. Eleven states and Washington, D.C., together provide full health insurance coverage to more than 1 million low-income immigrants regardless of their legal status, according to state data compiled by KFF Health News. Most aren’t authorized to live in the U.S., state officials say. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Dreamstime/TNS)

WA AG Ferguson calls for increase to penalty for price-fixing, collusion
Along with Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) and Rep. Darya Farivar (D-Lake City), Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is proposing legislation to increase the maximum penalty for antitrust violations like price-fixing and collusion. According to a media release, the maximum penalty for anti-competitive behavior like collusion, monopolization, or price-fixing is $900,000 for corporations, even if the illegal activity results in a profit many times that amount. The proposed legislation would increase the maximum penalty up to three times the illegal gains or losses avoided. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Karen Ducey)

Minimum wage hike, new gun regulations become law in 2024
It’s a new year. For Washington, that means a few new laws are in effect. For the second year in a row, Washington will retain the title as the state with the highest minimum wage in the country. In 2024, minimum wage will rise to $16.28 per hour from the current rate of $15.74. Seattle workers will see their minimum wage rate rise over a dollar to $19.97 per hour for employers with 501 workers or more. Continue reading at The Herald. (Lindsey Wasson)

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Axios
What 2024 could bring to Seattle-area real estate

Bellingham Herald
Community organization helps support Walmart encampment residents, clean up site
A cold snap is coming. It could mean snow for Bellingham and Whatcom County lowlands
Summer work scheduled for Mount Baker Highway. Here’s what to expect in Whatcom County

Capital Press
Washington bill proposes shooting first wolf back to carcass (Van De Wege)
New Washington grain commissioner emphasizes sustainability

Columbian
Washington’s U.S. Sens. Murray, Cantwell get up-close look at I-5 Bridge maintenance

The Daily News
Vancouver among 16 communities most impacted by air pollution, according to new state report

Everett Herald
Minimum wage hike, new gun regulations become law in 2024 (Peterson, Lovick)
Editorial: Lawmakers take second swing of hammer for housing (Liias, Peterson)

Indian Country Today
Lummi Nation opposes BP’s purchase of Cherry Point parcels

News Tribune
Opinion: Policing in Tacoma is not broken. Take a walk on the beat before condemning cops

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon finances another low-income housing project, this time in South Seattle

Renton Reporter
Renton presents agenda for 2024 legislative session

Seattle Times
WA expands health coverage for immigrants
Seattle office building is set for apartment conversion
Unhoused people sue Burien over new homeless camping law

Skagit Valley Herald
Fish and Wildlife gathering information on four regional species

Spokesman Review
Spokane plans to clear bike lanes with new and ‘transformative’ snow plow
Sheen on Spokane River originated from spill at Inland Empire Paper Company

Tri-City Herald
New WA ‘targeted’ tax break law could add 200+ nuclear fuel jobs in Richland

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Police Department enters 2024 with new accreditation
Port of Walla Walla takes next step to improve Life Flight services in the Valley

Washington Post
See the states where minimum wage jumped in 2024
Another Covid wave hits U.S. as JN.1 becomes dominant variant

WA State Standard
Redrawing contested legislative district could cost several GOP state lawmakers their seats (Jinkins, Billig)
Why a leading option for treating opioid addiction is not widely available in Washington prisons

Wenatchee World
Town Toyota Center’s public facilities district board bans circus animals for 6 months

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Lawsuit filed against Burien’s public camping ban
Reignited fire at Buddhist temple in Seattle destroys historical documents
New record set for warmest December in history in western Washington areas

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Several homeless people sue City of Burien over new camping ban
Millions of workers get pay boost as 22 states raise minimum wages
WA AG Ferguson calls for increase to penalty for price-fixing, collusion (Trudeau, Farivar)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington lawmakers draft new plans to counter pot shop burglaries (Keiser)

KNKX Public Radio
Schools enlist chat-based startup to help students address stress

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle electric customers may notice higher bills this month
Washington AG cries fowl, but poultry payout for chicken price-fixing ruffles some feathers
‘They’re our relatives.’ Samish Indian Nation prepares to welcome new orca calf to Puget Sound

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Washington wolverines up for protected status change amid climate threats
Fentanyl, housing, public safety top priorities for Washington Legislature (Ramel, Lekanoff, Alvarado)

Crosscut
Poll: Washington voters want to spend more – while cutting taxes

MyNorthwest
As tree species face decline, ‘assisted migration’ gains popularity in PNW

Wednesday, January 3

State Legislators Push for ‘Year of Housing 2.0’
In 2023, the Washington State Legislature focused its attention on increasing the state’s housing supply with a fervor not seen in decades. With local governments still trying to get a handle on the full impact of the changes around zoning and permitting laws that the legislature passed earlier this year, many state lawmakers currently getting ready to head back to Olympia to begin the 2024 session want to see this upcoming year turn the “year of housing” into a two-parter. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Ryan Packer)

Cap-and-trade, climate change return to the 2024 WA Legislature
Washington’s 1-year-old cap-and-invest program will be one of the dominant issues of the 2024 Legislature, from adjustments to how carbon auction money is being spent to efforts to study its impact on fuel costs and the oil industry. Lawmakers will consider fine-tuning the new system in several ways when the legislative session begins on Jan. 8. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Genna Martin)

Black Legislators Look To Tackle Key Issues In 2024 Legislative Session
As we turn the page on another year, Black legislators in Washington state are ready to begin a legislative session that has a host of issues they are ready to address. Black leaders in the state legislature represent diverse districts as they set their priorities for the 2024 session. “We have the greatest number of Black legislators in the Washington state legislature in the history of the state at one time,” says Rep. Debra Entenman (47th District). “And there are things that we want to do that will improve the lives of Black people.” Continue reading at Seattle Medium.

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Axios
Washington now bans most pre-employment pot tests (Keiser)

Courier-Herald
Washington seeks options to curb rent pressure for tenants of state-financed housing

The Daily News
Cowlitz County juvenile offenders learn gardening, teamwork

Everett Herald
How to contact your state lawmaker in the 2024 legislative session
‘Good to be home’: Johnson is first woman to be Snohomish County sheriff

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap Homes of Compassion expands to Bainbridge with site focused on workers

Peninsula Daily News
Health officer: Little data doesn’t mean less risk

Puget Sound Business Journal
Former Bellevue senior living center to become affordable housing
Small-business owners need to know about these tax credits in 2024

Seattle Medium
Seattle Urban League Spent Millions To Battle COVID-19
Black Legislators Look To Tackle Key Issues In 2024 Legislative Session (Entenman, Taylor)

Seattle Times
Electric car models eligible for $7,500 tax credit cut to 13
Sound Transit looks to other cities as it considers fare gates
The new FAFSA form for college aid is out: 5 things to know
AG investigating WA mobile home park owner after 100-plus complaints
For many job seekers, WA job market still far from a pre-pandemic norm
Editorial: Investigate at federal level why local justice failed Manuel Ellis
Opinion: Modernize security checks that are vital to our supply chain

Skagit Valley Herald
State Department of Labor and Industries tightens oil refinery safety regulations

Spokesman Review
New Washington state laws regarding guns, pot and drag racing taking effect
State representative introduces bill to address increase in graffiti along state roadways

Washington Post
Seniors are embracing marijuana, which offers relief — and risk

WA State Standard
Eight lawmakers to watch in Washington’s 2024 session (Robinson, Fitzgibbon, Nguyen, Billig, Jinkins)
Building Northwest schools so they can shake off the region’s next megaquake

Wenatchee World
Chelan County PUD considers rate adder for Peshastin Water District customers

Yakima Herald-Republic
New Yakima Council ousts city manager, selects Patricia Byers as mayor

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Repeated fires prompt filing of demolition permits for vacant Seattle apartment building
16 Washington communities identified as ‘overburdened’ by environmental harms, health impacts
Tacoma’s vacant Gault Middle School, known to be ‘dangerous and derelict,’ heavily damaged in early morning fire

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
SeaTac Federal Detention Center sees staffing crisis
Report: Air pollution is shortening lifespans in these Western Washington communities

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
WSU study: Wide pay ranges in job ads may decrease recruits’ trust in employers

KUOW Public Radio
New year, new rules: 2024 brings new laws for Washington state

KXLY (ABC)
Lisa Brown stays busy on first day as Spokane mayor
Downtown Spokane community calling for year-round safety measures following pilot program

NW Public Radio
Paid leave for families in Washington helps some, frustrates others

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham Immigration Advisory Board may be halted
New year brings new leaders in Bellingham, Whatcom County governments

Crosscut
Cap-and-trade, climate change return to the 2024 WA Legislature (Nguyen, Mullet, Doglio)

MyNorthwest
After warmest December on record, new year to bring new cooler days
Atty. General Ferguson responds after state sent checks to dead people

The Urbanist
State Legislators Push for ‘Year of Housing 2.0’

Tuesday, January 2

Washington has highest state minimum wage in 2024
For the second year in a row, Washington has the highest statewide minimum wage in the country. Washington’s 2024 wage floor of $16.28 per hour reflects recent rises in inflation, which determine how much the state’s minimum wage rises each year. The new minimum wage in Washington is higher than California’s, which is $16 per hour. It also tops New York and Massachusetts, which have $15-per-hour minimum wages. Continue reading at Axios. (Tory Lysik)

3 policies we’ll pursue in Olympia to help fix our state ferry system
our ferry system is overworked and overwhelmed. There is no silver bullet to fix our ferries, but there is silver buckshot. After meeting with dozens of WSF crewmembers, union reps, community leaders and maritime experts we are building plans to turn the tide. Our policies focus on three areas: investing in new vessels with lower fuel costs; rebuilding the ferry workforce; and fostering transparent, accountable leadership. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Meegan M. Reid)

Behind bars and then a bill: WA prisoner leads effort on ‘second chance’ legislation
Charles Longshore is a legal expert and a community organizer. And he’s been in prison for more than a decade. As part of his mission to do good, Longshore wrote a bill for the Legislature to consider during the upcoming 2024 session. Over the past several months, Longshore has spent countless hours – and thousands of dollars of his own money – making phone calls and sending messages to dozens of advocacy organizations and people, building a coalition of supporters around the bill. Continue reading at KUOW.

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Aberdeen Daily World
Scrutiny mounts over sale of aging forests in Grays Harbor
County will see $788K in eviction prevention funds next year

Axios
Washington has highest state minimum wage in 2024

Everett Herald
As calendar turns, Lynnwood light rail is no longer ‘next year’
Labor board: Starbucks broke law in Everett, Seattle store closures
Even before Silvana flooding, still not clear who can order evacuations
Newborn southern resident orca spotted in Puget Sound near Kingston
Legislators want to boost state’s recycling rate, but they disagree on how (Berry, Fey)
Comment: Two bills will continue work regarding police conduct
Editorial: 2023 was an eventful year, In Our View

Indian Country Today
Plan to breach snake river dams was the work of tribes

Kitsap Sun
Rep. Greg Nance: 3 policies we’ll pursue in Olympia to help fix our state ferry system

News Tribune
City, state to blame for fiery crash that killed 1, injured others, survivor contends
‘Super El Niño’ may be on the way, new NOAA report says. What that means for WA weather
Opinion: Dept. of Natural Resources’ decision not to log this area is cause for celebration
Opinion: The system works — but policing is broken. The trial in Manny Ellis’ death proves it
Opinion: A law to make WA greener is coming. A compost facility could arrive in your city soon

New York Times
In 2024, Expect New Debates on A.I., Gender and Guns
More Women Who Are Not Pregnant Are Ordering Abortion Pills Just in Case

Port Townsend Leader
DNR designates forest for conservation

Puget Sound Business Journal
Small-business grants you can apply for in 2024
Microsoft, OpenAI hit with a new copyright lawsuit

Seattle Times
Seattle’s top data stories of 2023
Seattle RV safe lot finally opens after a year of delays
WA readers say no cellphones in school is a good idea
The new Washington laws taking effect in January 2024
Should WA schools restrict cellphones? One district has.
Seattle Public Schools wins $1.75M from vaping companies
HUD reports record-high homeless count in 2023 for U.S., WA
Inslee’s last legislative session holds some of the biggest issues yet
SeaTac federal jail struggles with 50% vacancy rate for key positions
Those breathing poorer air in WA live sicker, die younger, report says
As newcomers pour in, share of people born in WA declines in Seattle
Seattle settles police leader’s lawsuit over blame for 2020’s ‘pink umbrella incident’
Editorial: Make Seattle school bus safety a legislative priority in 2024
Editorial: Defense policy bill good for WA, and for bipartisanship
Editorial: King County should help fund new site to shelter unhoused Native people
Opinion: WA just dodged a bullet-train boondoggle
Opinion: Seattle’s pedestrian-first culture doesn’t always mean safety
Opinion: Job losses follow proposal to boost pay for incarcerated people in WA (Simmons)
Opinion: Victims in juvenile rape cases aren’t getting justice in King County

Spokesman Review
A bittersweet goodbye: Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl reflects on his time leading department
Wildfire smoke increased death rate in Spokane compared to statewide metric, says new state report
The Spokane Regional Opioid Task Force announced it was ending this month. Now it may continue in 2024
Lisa Brown names chief of staff, city spokeswoman and more leadership positions as she prepares to take office
Washington AG orders phone company Lumen to pay $825,000 to customers over illegal pandemic disconnections

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Amy Schwab to be sworn in as port commissioner
Providence St. Mary leadership talks about financial, staffing issues

Washington Post
Stock market surges into 2024, shrugging off recession fears
Blue-collar workers won big in 2023, defying bleak predictions
Millennials have found a way to save up to buy houses: Living with mom and dad

WA State Standard
The new Washington state laws taking effect in January 2024
The Standard’s guide to following the Washington state legislative session
Building Northwest schools so they can shake off the region’s next megaquake
Washington Department of Health cuts hundreds of jobs as federal COVID funds run out

Wenatchee World
How a Leavenworth WSDOT crew saved Christmas
Chelan County PUD closes in on remaining safety changes after 2018 PUD employee death

Whidbey News-Times
State representatives discuss school priorities (Paul, Shavers)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Release of Yakima County’s annual homeless report delayed
WA AG’s office investigating mobile home park owner Hurst & Son
Attorney shortage continues in courts around WA, with new proposals on the table (Torres)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘I feel this is mostly targeted’: Asian-American families in Redmond experience home break-ins and burglaries

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Street racing among new laws, changes going into effect in Washington in 2024

KNKX Public Radio
Behind bars and then a bill: WA prisoner leads effort on ‘second chance’ legislation (Simmons)

KUOW Public Radio
Jury rules in favor of 5 Black UW police officers in racial harassment case
Seattle now has highest minimum wage of any major city in the United States
Police training commission moves to decertify Auburn cop charged with murder
The $7,500 tax credit for electric cars will see big changes in 2024. What to know
Only 4% of detained youth are offered attorney access by Seattle police, audit finds
Seattle police face reckoning over ‘culture’ in 2024 as federal oversight winds down
Here’s how much private and homeschooling in WA has jumped since the pandemic
Police groups say it’s time to ‘move forward together’ after Tacoma police trial verdict
WA lawmakers propose to ban companies like Amazon from spending on local elections (Mena)
Suicides spike at WA prisons, prisoners say they need more access to mental health care
I was a ‘library kid.’ But my old school is among many in WA that no longer have librarians
Reforms coming to WA elections after three counties settle with the UCLA’s Voting Rights Project
State workers see dramatic increase in workplace injuries and illnesses as Washington tops national average

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham Library, WTA expand help for behavioral health gap
Lummi Nation opposes BP’s $50M purchase of Cherry Point parcels
Business in 2023: Employment catchup, stubborn home prices and no recession
Year in Review 2023: New leaders, new jail, old challenges dominate NW Washington news

MyNorthwest
Electric bills will rise in 2024, Seattle City Light says
El Niño, drought, wildfires defined Washington’s weather in 2023

Friday, December 15

NW states, tribes reach ‘historic’ deal with feds over Columbia River Basin fish and dams
A decades-long battle over dams in the Columbia River Basin had a breakthrough Thursday, as the Biden administration announced a deal with four tribes in the region and the states of Oregon and Washington that is meant to restore salmon and other fish runs while also looking at the possibility of eventually breaching four of the dams. The settlement agreement calls for a 10-year pause in legal fighting that dates back to the 1990s. It also includes a promise – but not a guarantee – of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds and other money for wild fish restoration in the Columbia River Basin over the next decade, along with support for clean energy production by the tribes, according to a White House statement. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Clark County Council, area’s state legislators agree third bridge needed over Columbia River
Clark County has a long wish list for the upcoming legislative session that includes the Interstate 5 replacement bridge project, infrastructure, public defense, public safety and more. Yet during a meeting Wednesday between the county councilors and local legislators, much of the discussion focused on something not on their list — the need for a third bridge over the Columbia River in Clark County. Orcutt said the need for a third bridge is evident given Clark County’s population growth. “If you look at Cowlitz County, with a population of about 110,000, we’ve got five bridges across the Cowlitz River with a total of eight lanes in each direction,” Orcutt said. Meanwhile, only seven lanes total cross the Columbia River in Clark County, which has a population of more than 525,000, he added. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Amanda Cowan)

Evictions on the rise; city & service providers expanding winter shelter options
In the beginning of 2022, attorneys would see eviction filings in the low 100s each month. As of this fall, there are closer to 300 or more filings every month — 318 evictions were filed in Pierce County in October 2023. 80% of eviction cases are because of nonpayment and, Morzol said, with rental assistance funding depleting, it is likely to see the number of evictions continue on this upward trend. Of federal funding provided in response to the pandemic, Pierce County has $1,300,300 in rental assistance allocated for the next two years. From 2020-2022, the county had $150,609,258 allocated for rental assistance. Continue reading at NW Public Broadcasting. (Lauren Gallup)