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Friday, April 5

‘Nowhere else to cut’: Seniors face 14% rent increases, in homes they own
This past legislative session, Democrats introduced House Bill 2114 in Olympia, seeking to limit rent increases by 7%. But opposition from Republicans and divided Democratic lawmakers stalled the bill. It passed the House, but didn’t make it out of committee in the Senate. For manufactured home owners, the prospect of ever-increasing rents leaves them in a precarious position. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

When will light rail reach Lynnwood? Sound Transit sets opening date
Sound Transit’s light rail service will extend another 8½ miles on Aug. 30, when two stations open in Shoreline and trains finally cross the Snohomish County line into Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood. The $3.3 billion corridor took 15 years to design and build, since voters approved higher sales taxes in 2008 for the project, along with extensions in East and South King County. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

More federal money for child care is coming to Washington
Child care assistance for those most in need is getting a boost in Washington. As part of the federal funding package Congress approved last month, the state will receive almost $12 million more over the next year to help low-income families pay for child care, according to estimates from The Center for Law and Social Policy. That brings Washington’s total for the federal grant program this money will flow under to around $128 million. The funding will likely build on Washington’s work to expand access to its child care subsidy system. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Rebecca Rivas)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen ramps up cleanup at homeless camps

Axios
Meta to broaden labeling of AI-made content

Bellingham Herald
Drug trafficker providing fentanyl, other drugs to Whatcom, Skagit counties sentenced
New charges filed against fired Whatcom Co. deputy accused of multiple sexual assaults
Plans for Coast Salish longhouse in popular Bellingham park near WWU moving forward (Lekanoff)

Capital Press
Yakima River water supply forecast drops to 63%
Northwest wheat acreage holds ‘pretty steady’ in USDA report

Columbian
State to fund new youth mental health center at former Daybreak facility in Brush Prairie
Vancouver police stretched thin as officers pulled off patrol to respond to growing number of calls
Battle Ground council rejects partnership to almost double amount of affordable housing in the city

Everett Herald
Lynnwood Link to launch in August: ‘A major milestone’ for light rail
‘Nowhere else to cut’: Seniors face 14% rent increases, in homes they own

International Examiner
Six “abandoned” Filipino migrant fishermen fight wage theft and labor trafficking, garner community support

Kitsap Sun
Opinion: Why the trend toward quick and easy appointments may not be making us healthier

News Tribune
Pierce County Thai restaurant chain broke OT laws, owes thousands in back wages
New pilot program aims to help unhoused Tacoma students access affordable housing

Olympian
Another National Park just made it more difficult for you to visit
An Olympia motel will become permanent supportive housing by the summer. Here’s why
Washington has some of the worst roads in America, according to a new nationwide analysis

Peninsula Daily News
District, PAPEA continue to bargain

Puget Sound Business Journal
Sound Transit sets start date for Lynnwood light rail service

Seattle Times
What’s behind the ‘outrageous’ rise in WA car insurance rates
When will light rail reach Lynnwood? Sound Transit sets opening date
Nighttime gunshots may have broad impact on health and sleep of millions, study finds
Editorial: Cities make progress on homelessness while regional effort flounders
Opinion: Many patients, not enough beds: Here’s how to solve a care crisis

Spokesman Review
Avista Stadium ‘changing fast’ with offseason upgrades, more on the way
‘City Line is exceptionally popular’: Spokane’s new rapid transit bus system hits 500,000 rides
New Multicare Deaconess and Valley hospital contract ratified; up to 25% wage increase coming for some workers
Opinion: All in Coeur d’Alene should denounce racism against Utah players

Tri-City Herald
Should wind turbines be limited on Tri-Cities Horse Heaven Hills? WA taking comments

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Comprehensive Healthcare mobile outreach to begin this summer

Washington Post
The AI deepfake apocalypse is here. These are the ideas for fighting it.
Employers added 303,000 jobs in March, reflecting strong labor market

WA State Standard
WA trade mission heading to Vietnam without Inslee (Nguyen, Robinson, Thai, Tharinger)
More federal money for child care is coming to Washington
After a long slog, climate change lawsuits will finally put Big Oil on trial
Idaho Legislature passes bills to limit gender expression, ban compelled pronoun use

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
2-year-old child shot outside Federal Way IHOP dies
Here’s when Sound Transit says Lynnwood light rail will begin service
Evacuation order lifted for 20 Mercer Island homes in area of water main leak
Washington Supreme Court reverses Kitsap County DUI case decision challenging breathalyzers

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Mercer Island residents evacuated due to landslide risk have been allowed to return
Federal proposals aim to increase medical training for students in rural communities
Man arrested, accused of ramming police cars, driving wrong way on I-90 during chase

KNKX Public Radio
It’s a big year for regional light rail, but tough questions loom for Sound Transit board

KUOW Public Radio
After 16 years and $3 billion, Lynnwood light rail set to open this summer
King County drivers better be on their best behavior — these signs are watching you

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane police officers who shot, killed man in west central Spokane identified

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Nooksack Basin residents prepare to define, defend water rights
Bellingham, Anacortes median home prices head in opposite directions

Crosscut
Two new directors fill vacant seats on Seattle school board
Mossback’s Northwest: How avalanches changed PNW train travel

MyNorthwest
Highly contagious puppy disease raises concerns in Renton

PubliCola
After series of hurried meetings, Homelessness Authority decides to continue search for permanent leader

Thursday, April 4

Youth homelessness in WA dropped 40% in 6 years, report says
Washington saw a significant drop in youth homelessness over six years, according to a new report, something advocates say was due in part to new strategies, including emergency cash grants for youth in the margins. Between 2016 and 2022, homelessness among people ages 12–24 in Washington decreased by 40% from nearly 24,000 to just over 14,000, according to the report by the state Office of Homeless Youth — which was created in 2015 — and A Way Home Washington. Continue reading at Axios. (Shoshana Gordon)

How do wildfires affect mental health? A new UW study examines the connection
Checking air quality and staying indoors when smoke inundates the Seattle area has become second nature during Washington’s wildfire season in recent years. But new research highlights how wildfires can affect a less visible aspect of well-being: mental health. A University of Washington study published in late February found an increase in prescriptions to treat depression and anxiety or stabilize mood in the six weeks after wildfires. The study used prescription data, commercial insurance claims and pharmacy records to examine the impact of 25 large California wildfires from 2011 to 2018. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Richard Vogel)

Did Seattle defund the police? Five graphs explain this enduring myth
“Why has Seattle lost so many police officers?” The answer is not that the Seattle Police Department was defunded. Let’s rewind to 2020, when protests following the police murder of George Floyd launched a movement to defund police departments across the U.S. — including Seattle. Activists called for up to 50% police budget reductions, arguing that savings could be put toward community services. In Seattle, council members made gestures toward reducing police spending and “civilianizing” more public safety services. So, was the police department ultimately defunded? Continue reading at KUOW. (iStock)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen ramps up cleanup at homeless camps

Axios
Youth homelessness in WA dropped 40% in 6 years, report says

Bellingham Herald
Controversial hire at Thurston Sheriff’s Office resigns after community backlash, threats
Plans for Coast Salish longhouse in popular Bellingham park near WWU moving forward
Gray whale season has arrived in Puget Sound. Here’s where you can find ‘Sounders’ in WA
Walmart encampment property owner pushes back against city’s lawsuit, denies allegations

Capital Press
Site council drafts report to Inslee on Horse Heaven power project
What if…A look at the fallout if the lower Snake River dams are demolished

Columbian
Washington officials want Biden to declare January storms a federal disaster
New Clark College campus at Boschma Farms designed for advanced manufacturing, renewable energy programs

Everett Herald
Police brushed off 911 calls before stabbing at Tulalip hotel
Pfizer to lay off 119 workers with closure of south Everett plant
Lynnwood light rail opening date announcement coming Thursday
County weighs ban on selling fireworks where lighting them is banned
Comment: Hands-free or not, phones still a driving distraction
Comment: Species helped most by Endangered Species Act is us
Editorial: Necessary study of violent extremism gets reprieve

The Inlander
Police shootings already outpace all of last year
As Spokane smashes building permit records, a planned South Hill sixplex offers hints at the city’s dense future
A coalition of elected litigators, including Washington’s Bob Ferguson, looks to disrupt a nascent cannabis industry
Spokane Public Library and Thrive International collab will provide refugee housing in the latest evolution of library services

News Tribune
Controversial hire at Thurston Sheriff’s Office resigns after community backlash, threats
Opinion: My son is one of 750,000 in Washington with a rare disease. Lawmakers failed them

Peninsula Daily News
Makah Tribe to receive federal funds to support ocean mapping capabilities

Puget Sound Business Journal
IRS stops $1B in ERC claims as lucrative tax credit nears deadline
Wetlands project yields abundant climate benefits for Bothell campus

Seattle Times
Washington state’s first journalism fellows hired (Keiser)
Seattle’s social housing developer struggles to take shape
WA utility offers an alternative maritime fuel, but gets pushback
How do wildfires affect mental health? A new UW study examines the connection
Immigrant who died in ICE custody spent 13 years in solitary — many in WA prisons
Officer hired as sheriff’s deputy despite involvement in fatal Manuel Ellis arrest resigns
Editorial: Gates Foundation grant aims to steer more WA students into higher ed
Opinion: Amazon must do better with its packaging for our oceans’ sake

Spokesman Review
WSU police officer who fired at student over knife threat identified

Tri-City Herald
Will Tri-Cities schools see expected ‘financial crisis,’ layoffs other WA districts face?
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to block WA maps ousting Central WA’s first Latina senator

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Man charged with arson after allegedly starting fire at Walla Walla hospital

Washington Post
America’s new high-risk, high-reward $20 billion climate push
Hundreds of people breached airport security in the past year, TSA says
Which states are restricting, or requiring, lessons on race, sex and gender
America has legislated itself into competing red, blue versions of education (Liias)
Squatters have become a right-wing talking point. What to know about the rare practice.

WA State Standard
Another veteran Washington state lawmaker won’t return in 2025
Here’s how Washington’s legislative districts will change for this year’s elections

Wenatchee World
Weather forecasting tech company plans 2 X-band radars to cover NCW gaps

Yakima Herald-Republic
Amilio Morales puts safety first for WSDOT workers in Central Washington

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Residents in 20 Mercer Island homes asked to temporarily evacuate due to unstable soil
Proposed trail in Kirkland would extend Burke-Gilman by connecting Bellevue to Bothell
Officer acquitted in death of Manuel Ellis resigns from Thurston County job two days after being sworn in

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Would speed-limiting devices in cars work in Washington? (Donaghy)
Police: Passengers assault, rob Uber driver in Rainier Beach
Migrants’ stay in Kent hotel extended thanks to anonymous donation
Ex-Tacoma officer cleared in Manny Ellis trial resigns days after being hired as deputy
‘Children’s lives are at risk’: New traffic camera active in Everett to deter school zone speeding

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Venezuelan refugees take down camp from Seattle tennis courts
‘We’re going to track you down’: Federal Way mayor sends warning to criminals
Lawmaker says Ariel Garcia’s death shows gap in Washington law to protect kids
Residents demand immediate change to save lives at intersection after deadly Renton crash
Officer acquitted in Manny Ellis’ death resigns days after becoming Thurston County deputy

KUOW Public Radio
Did Seattle defund the police? Five graphs explain this enduring myth
Migrants descended on a Seattle tennis court. Then an anonymous donor paid for their hotel

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane International Airport receives enforcement order for PFAS contamination cleanup

NW Public Radio
Washington, Idaho receive “F” grades for tobacco prevention programs

FOX13 TV
Seattle Public Schools cancels gifted program ‘cohorts’ for equity reasons

Web

Crosscut
U.S. Supreme Court declines to block new WA legislative map
Whatcom County city debates removing fluoride from its water

MyNorthwest
Asylum-seeking refugees in Kent get to stay in hotel for another 11 days
White House pushes for extension of internet program aiding many Washingtonians

The Stranger
Will Seattle Respond to the Refugee Crisis with Housing or Handcuffs?

West Seattle Blog
Does the draft ‘One Seattle Plan’ envision enough housing? That question takes centerstage at West Seattle open house

Wednesday, April 3

As Washington’s prison population shrank, the cost of incarceration went up
Keeping people in Washington’s prisons has gotten more expensive in recent years. The state is one of several where costs per prisoner have climbed as overall prison populations decline. Washington recently closed a prison to save money, but officials say rising prices for essentials, as well as facility maintenance, are contributing to the ballooning price of keeping people locked up. Continue reading at KNKX. (Jeanie Lindsay)

Washington adds worker protection laws, including ban on mandatory anti-union meetings Washington workers will soon gain some new rights, including protections against employers holding mandatory meetings on religious and political issues. “In Washington state, we protect that which we value. We value our workers and we value our working families,” said Gov. Jay Inslee, who signed a slate of workplace protection bills on Thursday. The Employee Free Choice Act makes Washington the sixth state to prohibit employers from disciplining or firing employees who refuse to attend “captive audience” meetings, which employers often use as a union-busting tactic. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Office of the Governor)

Study says Washington state is home to four of the healthiest cities in the country
A new study conducted by Wallethub found that where you live does matter when it comes to health, and depending on the effectiveness of your city’s wellness promotions, it can impact your ability to stay healthy. The Wallethub comparison looked at 182 cities and identified the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in the country. The study listed four cities in Washington. One was ranked among the top three healthiest cities: Seattle. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Pete Caster)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Dialogue Project aims to mend community division with conversation

Axios
Traffic deaths are up in Washington state

Columbian
New Washington budget boosts state spending by $2B
Battle Ground City Council rejects partnership to create Eaton Park Apartments
Murray, Perez secure $3 million for Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment facility improvement project (Murray, Gluesenkamp)

Everett Herald
Everett faces June deadline to present AquaSox stadium plan
Congress approves $5M for Everett’s opioid crisis, child care needs

News Tribune
Study says Washington state is home to four of the healthiest cities in the country
Congressional dollars headed for Pierce County. Here’s which projects will receive funding

Northwest Asian Weekly
Police arrest suspects in string of burglaries targeting Asian Americans in Kirkland

Port Townsend Leader
Short-term rental options under review

Seattle Times
WA laws aim to detect cyber attacks, protect election workers (Leavitt, Valdez)
WA’s top problem? Your answer may depend on where you live
U.S. Supreme Court denies stay in Central WA redistricting case
‘Lost Patients’ podcast Episode 4: What led to deinstitutionalization
Opinion: Finally here to stay? Near 1 million in WA now get Obamacare
Opinion: Why a TikTok ban isn’t what we need
Editorial: New alternatives to WA bar exam level the field for law licensing

Spokesman Review
Not ‘reasonable’: Spokane International Airport hits back against state PFAS cleanup order
Veteran Benefits Administration officials hold Pullman town hall to discuss PACT Act with local veterans
Opinion: We should invest in the lower Snake River Dams – not tear them down

Washington Post
Boeing’s troubles are spilling over to its airline customers
As obesity rises, Big Food and dietitians push ‘anti-diet’ advice

WA State Standard
U.S. Supreme Court won’t block Washington’s new legislative district map
Power generated from Northwest dams fell last year to lowest level in two decades
Washington adds worker protection laws, including ban on mandatory anti-union meetings (Keiser)

Wenatchee World
WA addresses AI in public schools
SCOTUS OKs new WA voting maps, Wenatchee Valley to split into 3 districts

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Northwest dairy farms push to allow whole milk, 2% milk in schools
Thurston County hires former Tacoma officer acquitted in death of Manuel Ellis
Washington now home to 18 cities where the typical home is worth $1 million or more
Facing demotion, Washington State Patrol trooper resigns after citing innocent truck driver
Scathing federal report rips Microsoft for shoddy security, insincerity in response to Chinese hack
Community meeting held after deadly Renton crash; residents call for more traffic safety measures
Defense in a Des Moines triple homicide case attempted to submit AI-enhanced video as evidence. A judge said no

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Race to save an orca calf off Vancouver Island
Pacific Northwest leads nation in infrastructure vandalism
Thousands of Pierce County Comcast customers without services after vandalism
Federal Student Aid Application overhaul frustrates high school seniors and families

KNKX
As Washington’s prison population shrank, the cost of incarceration went up

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle City Council approves wage increases, simultaneously growing budget shortfall
Former Redmond hotel to open as supportive housing for chronically homeless by May

KXLY (ABC)
Children and families in Northeast Spokane benefitting from local mental health clinic
SNAP hosting resource carnival to help families apply for Working Families Tax Credit

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: Another NW port city wonders: How do we keep local news alive?

Crosscut
Seattle Council unanimously approves raises for 10,000 city workers

West Seattle Blog
East Marginal Way ceremonial groundbreaking, and levy talk
Look ahead 20 years in one night: ‘Draft One Seattle Plan’ WS open house Wednesday

Tuesday, April 2

Use Food Well: New Campaign Seeks to Reduce Food Waste in Washington
Each year, Washington generates one million tons of food waste, including half a million tons of edible food. That’s enough food to make 105 meals for every person in Washington. On April 1, the Washington Department of Ecology will launch the Use Food Well campaign in conjunction with the start of National Food Waste Prevention Week, April 1 to 7. Reducing food waste can increase food security, reduce climate impacts, and help Washington residents save money. Continue reading at The Skanner. (WA Department of Ecology)

Gov. Inslee signed more than 150 bills last week. Here’s some of what he signed into law
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed more than 150 bills last week at appearances throughout Western Washington. On Monday, the governor signed bills at the state Capitol in Olympia. On Tuesday, he signed a host of climate, environmental and labor bills in Kent, and on Friday, Inslee signed supplemental capital and operating budgets at the UW Center for Behavioral Health and Learning in Seattle. Here’s some of what the governor signed last week. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Elaine Thompson)

As campaigning revs up, WA laws aim to detect cyber attacks and protect election workers
As the 2024 campaign season heats up, new laws are taking hold in Washington to protect election workers and boost security of ballot counting statewide…Washington lawmakers seek to bolster public confidence in the conduct of elections amid the continuing spread of misinformation and cyberthreats. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Karen Ducey)

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Associated Press
3M settlement over ‘forever chemicals’ OK’d
West Coast whale population recovers 5 years after hundreds wash ashore
States move to shore up voting rights protections after courts erode federal safeguards

Aberdeen Daily World
Judge dismisses Wills recall petition
Truckloads of trash hoisted from Quinault beaches

Axios
New Washington law will crack down on catalytic converter theft
Meet the Washington company at the center of the EV battery revolution

Bellingham Herald
Birchwood Food Desert Fighters ask community for help to promote local food access

Capital Press
Spokane County cattlemen deliver beef to veterans

Columbian
Clark Public Utilities pilot program offers $50 credit to electric vehicle owners
EV owners agree to not charge during peak hours, helping utility manage power supply, its costs
Clark County Sheriff’s Office’s program lets deputies call mental health providers for help on calls

Everett Herald
WSU hosting spring trainings on marine conservation, sustainability
New Latino community center in south Everett gets $3.8M from state
Editorial: Small nuclear plants may be key to state’s energy mix

High Country News
Meet the women fighting to end detention and deportation in Washington

News Tribune
Puget Sound Energy is asking to raise gas and electricity rates. Here’s what we know
A dozen U.S. senators call on ICE, DHS to end misuse of solitary in immigration detention

Olympian
Gov. Inslee signed more than 150 bills last week. Here’s some of what he signed into law

Seattle Times
WA timber sale blocked as judge orders climate change study
Chinatown International District activist Matt Chan dead at 71 (Nguyen)
Are potatoes vegetables? WA Sen. Cantwell and Gov. Inslee think so
Opinion: Roll on, Columbia: How to meet WA’s complex power, conservation needs

The Skanner
‘Use Food Well’: New Campaign Seeks to Reduce Food Waste in Washington

Spokesman Review
Department of Ecology forces Spokane International Airport into PFAS cleanup framework after agreement could not be reached

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
WWCC, professional staff union reach collective bargaining agreement
Public meetings roundup: Sheriff’s office requests funds for new reserve deputy
CTUIR smolt release part of broader effort to return salmon to Walla Walla Basin

Washington Post
HOAs are blocking solar panels and native lawns. Here’s how to fight back.

WA State Standard
‘Work of passion:’ How Catalina Velasquez’s life led her to immigrant rights advocacy
As campaigning revs up, WA laws aim to detect cyber attacks and protect election workers (Leavitt, Valdez)
Ferguson, other Democratic AGs ask SCOTUS to block red state bans on emergency abortions

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Money running out for critical transportation program in Snohomish County
‘Most’ King County public health clinics could close in 2025 without funding fix
Renton community members to share concerns about street where woman, 3 children were killed

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New $15 Peak Toll is costing SR 167 commuters more; state insists speeds are up
Delayed Boeing Max deliveries affecting airlines; United is asking pilots to take unpaid leave

KXLY (ABC)
MultiCare, nurses union reach agreement pending union vote
Spokane Valley retirement community advocates for more security amidst rising crime

Web

Cascadia Daily News
State awards $500K for DNA testing to help clear backlog of unidentified remains

Crosscut
How property tax caps push some WA counties to the financial edge (Pedersen, Randall)

West Seattle Blog
Highland Park ex-substation now officially open for ‘affordable homeownership’ proposals. Here’s what that means
East Marginal Way Corridor Project update and transportation-levy process preview @ West Seattle Transportation Coalition’s meeting

Monday, April 1

Fentanyl crisis descends on jail in a small WA town short on treatment
Fentanyl is the most ubiquitous opioid available without a prescription and the cause of record-breaking overdose deaths across Washington. Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin, and opioid treatment experts say that access to medications like methadone and buprenorphine is more important than ever to help people stay alive. As the fentanyl crisis tightens its grip in Washington and across the country, there is growing agreement in the public safety sphere that people in jails and prisons would benefit from medications to treat opioid use disorder. But logistical and bureaucratic barriers still exist. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Elise Amendola)

New WA law aims to erase black market for stolen catalytic converters
When the price of precious metals began tumbling late last summer, so too did demand for stolen catalytic converters, the exhaust-cleaning components that can be cut from a vehicle’s undercarriage in seconds and sold on the black market. But demand will inevitably go back up once the prices of rhodium, palladium and platinum — metals used in the manufacture of catalytic converters — rise again, law enforcement officials and lawmakers say. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Helber)

Washington youth mental health shows best improvement in 20 years
Suicidal thoughts among 10th graders in Washington are at the lowest rate in 20 years, according to a new survey from the state Department of Health. The same survey also found that while mental health among youth in the state is improving, 30% of 10th graders are experiencing persistent depressive feelings and six in 10 report feeling anxious or nervous. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Dorothy Edwards)