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Thursday, November 30

Native and state leaders push for K-12 schools to fully implement tribal history curriculum
According to a 2022-2023 school year report from the State Board of Education, around 80% to 90% of school districts are incorporating tribal history and culture in their social studies programs. That’s a big jump from the last report from the 2021-2022 school year when 44% of districts reported having yet to implement tribal history and culture into their social studies curricula. But without minimum standards, Henry Strom, executive director of the state’s Office of Native Education, said it’s difficult to know how many schools are providing quality Since Time Immemorial curricula because the original 2015 legislation did not set minimum standards. That’s why HB 1332 is important, he said. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Grace Deng)

WA adopts new rules to phase out fossil fuels in new construction
This week the state Building Code Council approved a watered-down version of its original heat pump mandate. Rather than outright requiring electric heat pumps, it would make it more cumbersome and expensive for builders to meet energy efficiency targets without installing heat pumps. The codes will require new homes and buildings to meet the same total energy performance as those built with electric heat pumps while allowing builders flexibility to choose appliances. Basically, if builders choose gas appliances, they will need to make up the efficiency losses elsewhere in the construction. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Do you want to visit a WA state park for free? Here are 12 days that you can in 2024
Did you miss the twelfth and final day of this year to visit one of Washington’s state parks for free? Not to worry, the Washington State Discover Pass Program has announced designated free days for 2024. Every year, Washington State Parks has 12 Discover Pass free days in which people are able to visit any of the over 140 state parks or lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for free. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Adam Lynn)

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Associated Press
Tackling climate change and addressing hunger: States recycle and donate food headed to landfills

Axios
Washington ranks among states with most electric car miles

Bellingham Herald
A Bellingham supermarket’s land is for sale, and the state wants to be its landlord

Capital Press
Wolf advocates appeal to Inslee again for new policy
Researchers get $4.2 million to study honeybee disease
Wolverines gain ESA protection based on 2100 climate projections
Feeding those in need: Farmers, ranchers and processors undertake a ‘heart-driven’ effort

Columbian
Neighborhood park for Minehaha in the works
Clark County seeks volunteer for weed control board
‘All of us want help:’ Unhoused residents in Clark County prepare for colder-than-normal weather
Editorial: Pac-12’s demise leaves WSU, public in lurch

The Daily News
Lower Columbia College receives $1 million gift
Cowlitz County says no to raising taxes, yes to department cuts

Everett Herald
Mukilteo-Clinton ferry gets grant for renovations focused on walk-ons
At tense meeting, Marysville schools stare down drastic cuts to sports, more
Editorial: Duties on both sides of camera during arrests

The Inlander
State officials want a new fire-focused license plate
A study says states with medical pot see decreasing insurance premiums
The Nez Perce Tribe shares its work to restore balance in the documentary ‘Covenant of the Salmon People’
city’s homeless shelter will likely remain in the hands of the Salvation Army – despite an overwhelming vote to hand control to Jewels Helping Hands

News Tribune
‘Choose cats, not couches.’ Tacoma considers regulations on the declawing of felines
Defense expert says Manuel Ellis was resisting arrest the night he died in police custody
37,000 bottles labeled as one drug might be filled with pills of another medication
Tacoma candlelit vigil in memory of World AIDS Day takes place at Owen Beach this week
Comment: Joshua Ellis killed Wendi Traynor. Race shouldn’t impact how long he spends in prison

New York Times
Biden Administration to Require Replacing of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years

Olympian
Amtrak will add trains to route between Seattle and Portland, starting in December
Do you want to visit a WA state park for free? Here are 12 days that you can in 2024
The Landing opens in west Olympia, bringing 62 units of affordable housing to families

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam housing waiting lists long
Clallam, Jefferson counties each receive park maintenance grants

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why AI is a double-edged sword for businesses and workers
How Tacoma’s hotel-to-housing conversions make neighborhoods safer

Seattle Medium
Peacehealth Accused Of Violating Washington State Law On Multiple Fronts
Washington State University Study Reveals Cannabis Users Abandon Sleep Aids
Monsanto Ordered To Pay $165 Million Verdict Over PCB Contamination In Seattle School
Seattle City Council Rejects Proposal For Developer Impact Fees To Fund Transportation Projects

Seattle Times
Inside the effort to truck sockeye salmon past Lake Washington
WA adopts new rules to phase out fossil fuels in new construction
Sewage spill into Lake Washington closes Seattle’s Matthews Beach Park
GOP lawmakers ramp up pushback on Snake River dam deal still in the making
Editorial: Foster kids without stable placements are at risk — and pose risks
Opinion: Free Press roundup: Powerful reports on local journalism crisis
Opinion: Small landlords are at the mercy of broken King County eviction court

Skagit Valley Herald
Highway 20 to close for the season Thursday

Spokesman Review
Idaho girl went out of state for an abortion. Why her boyfriend faces a criminal charge
Moses Lake could be central to Washington’s electrification push with Sila Nanotechnologies’ revamped battery manufacturing facility

Tri-City Herald
$7M project starts on I-182 Broadmoor interchange. What you need to know

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
$4.8 million federal grant will help aging ferries, including two serving Vashon
Positive signs for Vashon watershed as stream health improves across King County

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Valley tourism stakeholders start defining 10-year plan

Washington Post
Suicide rate reached record high in 2022 but dropped among young people
In sweeping decision, EPA proposes that water utilities nationwide replace all of their lead pipes

WA State Standard
What advocacy groups want from lawmakers in 2024
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists wolverines as ‘threatened’ under Endangered Species Act
Native and state leaders push for K-12 schools to fully implement tribal history curriculum (Lekanoff)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima won’t increase utility taxes next year to balance budget and pay for pools

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle records most homicides in at least 44 years in 2023
Discussion renewed over direct electric vehicle sales in Washington
Psychiatric unit at Seattle Children’s has nurses in ‘persistent state of fear’
Taking a day trip between Seattle and Portland just got easier. Here’s why.
Parents concerned about their children’s safety after latest ‘Kia Boyz’ incident near Tacoma middle school

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Nurses describe Seattle Children’s Hospital as a ‘combat zone’ after dozens of alleged attacks

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
North Cascades Highway to close for the season Thursday evening
Storm to bring lowland rain, heavy mountain snow to western Washington. Here’s what to expect

KNKX Public Radio
Nine detainees still refusing meals at Tacoma immigration facility

KUOW Public Radio
Burien approves homeless hut shelter after months of debate

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane’s mayor-elect Lisa Brown prioritizing homelessness, public safety

NW Public Radio
Tacoma tenant protections measure passes — now what?
More federal support on the way for solving Eastern Washington MMIP cases
‘I went into medicine to help my community’: Nez Perce doctor speaks on rural health care and building a future for the next generation

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘It’s not going to be secure’; Concerns grow after another Echo Glen escape (Mullet)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
WWU battles persistent sewage leak affecting Outback Farm
Broken boiler leaves Bellingham Family Partnership students, staff in limbo

Crosscut
Culture complaint spark WA utilities commission investigation

MyNorthwest
Ranking: Find out why Washington is the best state to find a job
Gov. Inslee touts green energy at new Moses Lake battery factory

The Stranger
Many Blame Last Night’s Rainier Mall Fire on the Homeless
Seattle’s Antifa City Council Lets Police Department Keep Its Slush Funds

West Seattle Blog
LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit reps @ West Seattle Transportation Coalition tomorrow
FOLLOWUP: Plan for ex-substation in Highland Park gets unanimous council-committee approval

Wednesday, November 29

Editorial: To land a second airport, WA’s case must be ironclad
The arduous effort to find a second international airport in Puget Sound is flying in circles. The Legislature created a new work group to look closely at the expansion of existing airports. The stakes are astonishingly high. Without future expansion, the current capacity will fall short of the 27 million trips — called enplanements — needed each year by 2050, according to a Puget Sound Regional Council 2021 study. The review maintained that, if the region could meet that demand, another $31 billion would be added to Washington’s economy, as well as more than 200,000 jobs. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

A WA worker’s death reveals the limits of safety enforcement
A fatal trench collapse in 2016 set precedent for holding employers criminally liable, but officials still struggle to head off repeat violations. Washington saw 80 trauma-related workplace deaths last year, the highest number since 2010, according to state figures. The state’s Department of Labor & Industries bears responsibility for enforcing safety standards and investigating workplace fatalities. The agency imposed more than $14.7 million in fines last year for employer safety failures, injuries and other violations. Continue reading at Crosscut. (M. Scott Brauer)

Washington makes another run at heat pump rules
Controversial requirements aimed at getting electric heat pumps installed in newly constructed houses, apartments and commercial buildings cleared a final regulatory hurdle Tuesday. The suite of changes, approved by the Washington State Building Code Council, is part of a broader effort by the state to slash carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in residential and commercial construction. What the council enacted Tuesday offers builders incentives in the permitting process for choosing electric heat pumps – which provide both heating and cooling in the same unit – instead of natural gas furnaces. The appliances are more energy efficient and result in less pollution than gas furnaces. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Narrow Aberdeen mayor’s race triggers recount

Axios
Washington’s undocumented immigrant population rebounds

Everett Herald
‘My rights were violated’: Everett officer arrests woman filming him
Lynnwood council, jarred by anti-Semitic rants, approves tax increase
County Council set to approve more than $130M for affordable housing
Marysville schools stare down drastic cuts to sports, libraries, more

The Inlander
Spokane City Council raises police budget and OKs raiding traffic camera fund to pay for cops — with a few caveats

News Tribune
Deputies shoot, kill man in intersection near South Hill Mall following pursuit
Opinion: The loss of responsible local newspapers and reporters is a problem for democracy

Northwest Asian Weekly
Empowering SE Asian voices: State Rep. My-Linh Thai spearheads national caucus for change (Thai)

Olympian
New Thurston County, Port of Olympia Commissioners sworn in Tuesday
City adopts new boundaries aimed at keeping people from sleeping on sidewalks during the day
Opinion: Washington’s police pursuit rules are putting you in danger. Mayors want them fixed

Puget Sound Business Journal
Small businesses look overseas for workers
Seattle’s Black Boardroom Initiative goes bicoastal
Why distress in the multifamily market could spread in 2024
Amazon launches AI-powered chatbot to compete with Microsoft

Seattle Times
Burien chooses site for homeless shelter as county deadline passes
Workers sue WA mushroom farm, allege wrongful firings, labor violations
Editorial: To land a second airport, WA’s case must be ironclad (Fey)
Opinion: Save our ferry system: A plea for help from an islander

Spokesman Review
Burn ban in effect in Spokane County as heavy use of wood stoves and fireplaces breeds trough of stagnant air
Washington Supreme Court commissioner grants stay in Pac-12 suit, pausing WSU’s and OSU’s grip on conference

Tri-City Herald
WA judicial commission claims Tri-Cities judge broke the law and public’s trust
Leaked ‘secret plan’ reveals Biden admin’s $1B+ proposal preparing for Snake dam breaching

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Voters reject additional funding for Burbank fire district in final election results

Washington Post
Hospitals and doctors are fed up with Medicare Advantage
New CDC life expectancy data shows painfully slow rebound from covid
China to restrict graphite exports to United States as tech war escalates

WA State Standard
Washington makes another run at heat pump rules
Idaho’s infant, mother death rate is rising, new report finds
Oregon’s legal psilocybin clinics draw hundreds – mostly from out of state
Nine detainees still refusing meals at Tacoma immigration facility as protest hits 18th day

Yakima Herald-Republic
COVID cases and hospitalizations rose through September, Yakima Health District reports
High demand for apartment rentals continues in Yakima, with not enough supply, survey shows
Editorial: Toppenish mini-forest offers welcome healing
Comment: Redistricting was meant to boost Pasco Latino voices. Some wonder why they lost ground

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Mother loses 16-year-old to fentanyl overdose, warns parents of how accessible the drug is
State Supreme Court puts ruling that gave Oregon State, Washington State control of Pac-12 on hold

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Marysville School District facing ‘extreme’ budget crisis that could close schools, eliminate sports

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Campaign renews push to adopt teens from foster care
Washington 1st in US for parental financial support of adult children, study reveals

KUOW Public Radio
Rush-hour traffic in Seattle increases blood pressure, but not for the reason you think

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane city budget allocates funding for SPD’s traffic unit

Q13 TV (FOX)
SPD Officer quits job amid allegations he worked as ‘muscle’ for a couple dealing drugs
Local parents struggle to find available pediatric COVID-18 vaccines amid U.S. shortage

Web

Crosscut
A WA worker’s death reveals the limits of safety enforcement

MyNorthwest
Derelict boat with troubled past sinks off Orcas Island
Vashon Island struggling economically due to state ferry crisis

West Seattle Blog
PARK PROJECTS MEETING, REPORT #3: The pickleball plan

Tuesday, November 28

Crime, taxes and artificial intelligence on tap as WA lawmakers prep for session
Rising costs of transportation projects. Using artificial intelligence in Washington classrooms. Preserving affordable housing. Spending proceeds from the state’s new capital gains tax and recent cap-and-trade auctions. Those are a few topics state lawmakers will delve into when they return to Olympia for committee days, an annual fete in which they get schooled on issues that may arise in an upcoming session. In this case, it’s the 60-day session that begins Jan. 8. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Jerry Cornfield)

Why have Washington eviction cases doubled in the past six months?
A growing number of Washington renters are at risk of losing their housing. Eviction filings in Washington more than doubled over the past six months. Monthly filings topped 2,000 in October, a rate that exceeds pre-pandemic levels. The state is on track to eclipse the rate of 2019, when more than 15,000 evictions were filed. The sharp rise in filings comes after recent years of historic lows, held off by a combination of unprecedented federal aid, temporary moratoriums on evictions and rent hikes, and legislative reforms that fundamentally restructured the legal process landlords must clear to remove a tenant from their home. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Genna Martin)

The second shift: Child care crisis forces families into grueling schedules
Child care costs have spiked 220% since 1990, and the crisis is especially acute in Washington state. It has the fifth-highest average weekly cost of child care in the nation, and Seattle is the second most expensive city, trailing only San Francisco. Even if parents can afford child care or receive government aid, they still face the hurdle of low availability. It’s typical for day cares to have years-long waitlists. Long waitlists and low availability are typical in child care. Despite the high cost of tuition, child care workers often make close to minimum wage, leading to high rates of burnout and attrition. Margins are extremely thin for child care centers because of regulations that mandate employee-to-child ratios. The high cost of staffing, combined with insurance and other expenses, means no one feels like they’re getting a good deal. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen School District sends pair of levees to February ballot

Axios
Western gray squirrel listed as endangered in Washington state

Capital Press
New plant hardiness map shows higher temps
Washington man jailed for illegal fishing technique
EPA seeks pause in suits over forced electrification trucks

Columbian
WA lawmakers revive call to let cities have elections in even-numbered years (Valdez, Farivar)

The Inlander
With improvements in the courts underway, Spokane County may plan for robust language access after advocates push for changes

News Tribune
Defense witness testifies that police force used against Manuel Ellis was appropriate

Olympian
WA state Capitol Rotunda to host holiday tree lighting for first time since pandemic
Worried about the respiratory disease affecting dogs? Here are symptoms to look out for

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why the hiring market is still tight in Washington state
First homebuilders, now homebuyers. Is Amazon’s housing push working?

Seattle Times
Voter turnout hits modern low in WA
Seattle-area eviction cases spike as pandemic aid dries up
Why grades are up and test scores are down in WA schools
In Lynnwood, opioid treatment center sparked outcry amid need for treatment (Davis)
Police training expert: Tacoma officers charged in Manuel Ellis’ death justified in use of force
Opinion: Academics is less of a priority in our schools, and it shows
Opinion: This year, WA’s apple growers have reasons to be thankful
Opinion: Upgrade Amtrak Cascades or build high-speed rail? The choice is clear

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon receives funding for parks projects

Spokesman Review
Spokane City Council approves mayor’s $1.2 billion 2024 budget with some adjustments
Inland Empire Paper Co. seeking millions from feds to maintain ‘working forests’ as development pressure builds
Editorial: Time for Congress to update online protections for young people

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla to collect comments about community development funds until Dec. 20

Washington Post
Where we build homes helps explain America’s political divide
Medicaid’s ‘unwinding’ can be especially perilous for disabled people
If the U.S. wants more 15-minute cities, it should start in the suburbs

WA State Standard
Into a caregiving void: Family members fill crucial role providing long-term care
Crime, taxes and artificial intelligence on tap as WA lawmakers prep for session
Climate change, drought, wildfires reduce value of private forestland in the West by billions

Yakima Herald-Republic
Stage 1 burn ban issued in Yakima County until further notice
Historic photos show student life at Fort Simcoe Indian boarding school
Yakama descendants search for relatives’ remains at Mool-Mool, or Fort Simcoe state park
Editorial: Saving salmon will cost billions more — what’s an icon worth?

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Over 140 ballots found in out-of-service mailboxes across Washington
‘This has to be fixed’: Reactions from officials after three teens escape Echo Glen Children’s Center (Mullet)
‘He’s just so sick:’ Landfill employees concerned about arsenic exposure amid King County violations

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Captain and crew of water taxi that diverted runaway barge set to be honored for heroics
Burien City Council approves pallet shelter location to combat homelessness in split vote

KUOW Public Radio
Incoming: King tides to Puget Sound
The second shift: Child care crisis forces families into grueling schedules
New culverts in Washington state cost $20 million each. The DOT needs to replace 400 of them by 2030
A music teacher left two jobs following allegations of sexual harassment. Kent School District hired him anyway

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane City Council adopts 2024 annual city budget
Lori Kinnear says goodbyes before Betsy Wilkerson takes her position

Web

Crosscut
Why have Washington eviction cases doubled in the past six months? (Peterson, Kuderer)

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Ex-substation site in Highland Park closer to ‘affordable homeownership’ future
PARK PROJECTS MEETING, REPORT #1: Changes planned in seasonal closing time for Alki Beach

Monday, November 27

Over 200 employees hired to staff Tukwila behavioral hospital bought by Washington
Washington has hired a little over 200 employees to staff a Tukwila psychiatric hospital the state bought in August for nearly $30 million, according to Jo Sahlin, a spokesperson for the newly-named Olympic Heritage Behavioral Health Hospital. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open Olympic Heritage on Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee said he wanted the hospital to be a “recruiting tool” for the mental health profession. In recent years, the state has struggled to keep its psychiatric hospitals sufficiently staffed, leading to employees at the hospital raising safety concerns for both patients and staff. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)

Editorial: It now takes at least 6 figures for a family to get by in Seattle
The other morning, down in the Chinatown International District, the line outside the door was 200 long, snaking around the cul-de-sac at Eighth Avenue and Weller Street as though fans were waiting for a big show. The opening was indeed big, and unfortunately keeps getting bigger. They were waiting for the 10 a.m. doors at the Chinatown ID food bank. This is how it’s been going across the city this fall. Demand at the food bank in the U District is up an alarming 47% compared with last year. It’s the same in North Seattle. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim/The Seattle Times)

A local firefighter with terminal cancer doesn’t qualify for worker’s comp because he was a volunteer. His family is calling for change
Ron Cato spent 30 years of his life marching into burning buildings, rescuing people from smoldering rubble and speeding down streets in a fire engine, sirens blaring. He did it to help people on what were sometimes the worst days of their lives. “People have really bad days,” he said. “I don’t like to see that. I like to help them have a better day. I’ve had lots of times where I’ve been able to do that. And some days they’ve died. It goes hot and cold.” With months left to live, the firefighter has one final mission. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)

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Everett Herald
Climate report aims to answer: Who is most harmed by climate change?
Traffic cameras, and tickets, come to Edmonds; Mukilteo could be next
Farmland, salmon habitat find delicate balance in county program
Amid staffing crisis, student nurses run into shortages in education too
Comment: Ignorance, complacency on AI already posing threats

News Tribune
Native ‘water warriors’ took to canoes during recent Port of Tacoma protest. Here’s why
A Pierce County agency is selling all of its public housing. What happens to the tenants?
Pierce County just approved a $3.2 billion budget. Here’s where the money’s going
No more stuck trucks. Construction begins on taller I-5 overpass in Pierce County
Delay in turning over GPS data for sheriff, top investigator will cost Pierce County

Northwest Asian Weekly
The last neighborhood pharmacy in the CID adapts

Olympian
Thurston County, local cities agree to fund construction of new affordable housing
Do you want to visit a WA state park for free? Here are 12 days that you can in 2024

Puget Sound Business Journal
Many businesses are exploring AI as talent troubles persist
‘Super successful’ homeless outreach effort put to the test in Seattle
Legal battle over Sea-Tac arrivals facility could stretch into 2025
Seattle council rejects move toward transportation impact fee

Seattle Times
Sound Transit fare ambassadors are checking if you paid, but nicely
Seattle wavers on Fort Lawton housing as years pass, cost estimate soars
Here’s what jurors in the Tacoma police trial aren’t being told
Grizzlies once roamed the Cascades; some people want them to return
Seattle participatory budgeting allots $27M to public restrooms, other needs
WA one of just two states where illegal immigration is up
Snohomish, Pierce counties under burn ban due to poor air quality
Seattle urban area trends warmer in newest USDA Plant Hardiness map
Editorial: WA’s cap-and-trade system may go up in smoke without reforms (Mullet)
Editorial: The answer to learning loss is within reach
Opinion: Student discipline: Are schools equipped to handle behavioral extremes?
Opinion: It now takes at least 6 figures for a family to get by in Seattle
Opinion: WA has an obligation to tribes and all citizens to fix salmon-blocking culverts

Spokesman Review
A local firefighter with terminal cancer doesn’t qualify for worker’s comp because he was a volunteer. His family is calling for change (Riccelli)

Washington Post
States must target transportation carbon emission cuts under new federal rule
Where we build homes helps explain America’s political divide
This lawsuit could disrupt the U.S. tax system. Key facts are in dispute.

WA State Standard
Ache of uncertainty: Aging parents caring for disabled adult children worry what’s next
Over 200 employees hired to staff Tukwila behavioral hospital bought by Washington
When foster care kids are sex trafficked, some states fail to figure it out
West Coast leaders urge feds to reverse decision allowing natural gas pipeline expansion

Wenatchee World
‘A really tough game for small businesses’: NCW owners grapple with increasing costs, shift to online shopping

Broadcast

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Stage 1 burn ban in effect for Snohomish County due to air pollution
Western Washington’s November rain falls short, with hopeful forecast ahead
Burien City Council to discuss location options for new pallet village Monday

KNKX Public Radio
Tacoma continues to grow. Three residents discuss the city’s future
Public transit systems try to avoid a ‘death spiral’ as remote work hurts ridership

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle got dark and rainy again. Do we still need to conserve water?
A beaver dam blocked spawning salmon at Carkeek Park. Now humans are giving nature a nudge
Seattle City Council approves 2024 budget with money for housing, homelessness, and mental health
King tides are coming. Is Seattle’s South Park neighborhood ready?

Q13 TV (FOX)
Court document alleges Meta willingly designed its platforms to hook kids: report

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Homelessness increase strains nonprofit capacity
Macy’s employees strike on Black Friday weekend over safety, wages
Innovative sewage solutions pitched to replace Bellingham’s aging system

Crosscut
Seattle City Council candidates got $2.4M from Democracy Vouchers
People over party is no longer the mantra of Washington politics

MyNorthwest
Tacoma businesses give back by reimbursing families’ Thanksgiving dinners
‘A Christmas miracle’: Benefactor donates $800K to fund food bank relocation

Publicola
Under Vague Emergency Driving Policy, SPD Officers’ Reckless Driving Often Goes Unpunished

The Stranger
Slog AM: Truce Extended Two Days, Evictions Double, Family of Four Needs More than $100,000 to Live in Seattle

West Seattle Blog
‘The ferry crisis hurts right now’: Vashon Island residents propose ways to ease the pain
MONDAY: Hiawatha closure, Lincoln Park play area, pickleball updates, more promised at Seattle Parks online meeting

Wednesday, November 22

WA students flock to computer science, and AI adds to the allure
Despite the pandemic and recent tech layoffs at industry giants like Amazon and Microsoft, the state’s flagship university is still turning away thousands of students who want to major in computer science — fueled, in part, by their interest in artificial intelligence. Nearly 1,250 students earned bachelor’s degrees in computer science at Washington colleges and universities last year, according to the Washington Student Achievement Council. There’s still high demand from employers who want qualified computer science majors — so much so that some of the tech world’s biggest employers like Amazon, Microsoft and Google, sponsor programs in high schools to help students get ahead. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Washington state invests $30 million to bolster mental health services and reduce wait times
Washington state is investing nearly $30 million to address a longtime problem with increasing demand for state mental health services. It’s an issue the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has been sued over in the past, with hundreds of people forced to wait several months to be admitted for state mental health services. The new 136-bed facility in Tukwila, Olympic Heritage Behavioral Health, is aimed at adding to the state’s ability to admit new patients who have been civilly committed. Continue reading at KOMO 4.

EPA discovers ‘forever chemicals’ in Pacific Northwest water systems
In a massive country-wide study, the EPA now has an idea of which harmful contaminants called “forever chemicals” or PFAS are found in public water systems. The EPA highlighted water systems with contaminants detected above the agency’s minimum reporting level. High levels were detected at JBLM and Sammamish Plateau Water, and the highest levels by far were in Artondale, near Gig Harbor. Continue reading at KING 5.