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Wednesday, September 18

Washington’s sockeye runs are smashing records
Washington is seeing a record-breaking sockeye salmon run this year despite a July heatwave that threatened a kill-off in the Okanogan River. The surge is a tangible sign of success for a water management plan adopted in 2014 that has Indian tribes, dam operators and fish managers in the U.S. and Canada working together to ensure optimum river water levels as fish cross nine dams. Continue reading at Axios. (DeAgostini)

Demand for WA paid family leave benefits is overwhelming staff, agency says
Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program keeps growing, but its staff and resources do not, leaving applicants with delays for benefits and long waits for customer service. The Employment Security Department wants to hire 98 new employees over the next two years in response. It’s a roughly $23 million ask. The new employees will help answer phones, process applications and assist employers with paperwork and questions.“ Despite recent staffing increases, the program is not adequately staffed based on current application volumes,” department officials wrote in a budget request to the governor. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Inslee announces $1.5M emergency funding for San Juan ferries
Gov. Jay Inslee is providing $1.5 million in emergency funding to restore critical ferry transportation throughout the San Juan Islands, he announced during a meeting with county leaders Tuesday, Sept. 17. The interisland route has been the least reliable in the Washington State Ferries (WSF) system, Inslee said in a Tuesday news release. The challenges, caused by crew shortages, have created life and safety issues for island residents and service providers. Continue reading at Cascadia Daily News. (Andy Bronson)

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Associated Press
Russia goes all-out with covert disinformation aimed at Harris, Microsoft report says

Axios
Washington’s sockeye runs are smashing records
Suspicious packages mailed to election officials across U.S.
Downtown Seattle pins big hopes on Amazon workers’ return

Capital Press
Analysts: Global beef supplies shrinking
U.S., Japan try again on fresh-potato access
USDA approves field study of bird flu vaccine for cattle

Columbian
Disability advocates challenge Vancouver’s elected leaders to go a week without driving
Vancouver City Council OKs $900K loan, tax breaks for developer to remodel building for mixed-income housing
Vancouver City Council expresses collective decision on five ballot initiatives to appear before voters in November

Everett Herald
Feds OK key stretch of Eastrail in Snohomish County
Now a cooling center, Mill Creek Library gets big upgrades
Generations coveted Boeing jobs. Strike reveals how much has changed.

Indian Country Today
So few old trees, so much logging

News Tribune
Stalled Tacoma apartment project is for sale. Who will take on transit-oriented site?
Pierce County dam blocks salmon passage. Watch a crew of volunteers help fish move along
More than 500 units of affordable housing planned in Tacoma. Here’s when they might open

New York Times
Live Updates: Fed Expected to Cut Rates, but by How Much?

Puget Sound Business Journal
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian cleared to seal merger
Former Zulily employees file lawsuit over handling of layoffs
Seattle’s social housing initiative faces alternate funding measure
Seattle moves to comply with state law to allow more backyard cottages

Seattle Times
West Seattle’s light rail estimate soars past $6 billion
Troopers caution I-5 drivers after 3 carjackings south of Seattle
Congress is gridlocked. These members are convinced AI legislation could break through

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit River to temporarily close to recreational fishing

Spokesman Review
Spokane just sweltered through the city’s third-hottest summer on record
After a decade of steady increases, Spokane utility rates may jump next two years
BLM lifts fire restrictions; Spokane County and DNR still upholding theirs for now

Tri-City Herald
See inside Richland’s newest $7.4M fire station. It’s all about location, location location

Washington Post
Here’s how much water ChatGPT uses to help you write an email
House looks poised to reject GOP bill to avert government shutdown
How a rate cut would affect hiring, inflation, housing and the stock market
The Fed is poised to cut rates for the first time since 2020. The question is how much.

WA State Standard
Demand for WA paid family leave benefits is overwhelming staff, agency says

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Historic cabins at beloved state park may be closed forever
New Amazon return-to-office policy expected to impact traffic
Washington state’s cannabis industry braces for change as federal reclassification considered

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle’s Downtown shines brighter with new lighting initiative
3 Bonney Lake schools targeted with threatening social media posts
New orca birth makes a big splash from San Juan Islands to Bothell
Inmate program rebuilds 30-year-old boardwalk in Whatcom County
Washington receives $300,000 for landslide research and prevention
State Patrol investigating multiple carjackings on I-5, suspects arrested
Washington man sentenced for joining violent attack on Capitol police line
Seattle City Council approves controversial drug and prostitution buffer zones
Tech employees are divided over Amazon’s decision to bring workers back to the office
It’s official: Boeing CEO announces temporary layoffs for ‘large number’ of US workers
The Biden administration is letting Alaska Airlines buy Hawaiian Air but with conditions

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington State Patrol to increase I-5 patrols after series of carjackings
Boeing CEO says company will begin furloughs to save cash during labor strike
Seattle City Council passes new measures to combat sex trafficking and drug related crimes

KNKX Public Radio
U.S. overdose deaths plummet, saving thousands of lives

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Ferndale School District tightens cell phone policy
Inslee announces $1.5M emergency funding for San Juan ferries
A new era of ADUs results in unprecedented move of a historic Bellingham home

Crosscut
Seattle enacts controversial drug, prostitution “stay out” zones

MyNorthwest
Seattle City Council passes legislation creating SODA, SOAP zones

The Urbanist
Harrell Proposal Would Relax Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules, Implement State Law

Tuesday, September 17

Almost 700,000 WA households receive $200 credit for electric bills
Nearly 700,000 Washington households received a $200 credit on their electricity bills in recent weeks — one of the state’s most visible investments to date under a climate law that is now in the hands of voters. State Department of Commerce officials estimated 685,113 low- and moderate-income households got the one-time credit as of Thursday, roughly 10,000 more than predicted when Gov. Jay Inslee launched the program in July.
Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Washington joins national campaign to curb recidivism among people exiting prison
Gov. Jay Inslee issued an executive order Monday to deepen and expand Washington’s efforts to prepare individuals for successful reentry in communities upon leaving prison. His order calls for developing “a comprehensive entry and exit process” tailored to each person’s needs in areas such as housing, employment, health care, substance use treatment, and mental health services. It also seeks to ensure each person has a Washington identification card or driver’s license and information on how to access social services. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Office of the Governor)

After budget cuts, juvenile probation counselors struggle to keep up with youth crime surge
In Washington state, every youth charged with a crime gets a juvenile probation counselor whose job is to figure out how they ended up in trouble — and how to keep them out of it. In King County, juvenile probation counselors say they are buckling under the weight of unmanageable caseloads following recent budget cuts and an increase in serious youth crime. Court staff say the caseloads ballooned after the county created a new program in 2021 meant to keep more young people out of the court system. It sent kids accused of first-time misdemeanors and lower-level felonies to community groups for intervention, rather than to diversion overseen by the court and probation counselors. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

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Axios
Seattle City Council considers prostitution exclusion zone
Pandemic-era learning loss recovering but not for all students
Instagram overhauls teen accounts with sweeping privacy, age-verification changes

Bellingham Herald
What is the city doing about homeless encampments? Mayor Lund just provided an update
Whatcom County hired a temporary medical examiner based in Montana. How will that work?

Capital Press
Ag panel calls for new farm bill, and soon
USFSW goes to court to delist wolves in Lower 48

Columbian
Boeing considers temporary layoffs to cut costs during Machinists strike
Cowlitz Family Health Center uses RV to bring dental care to rural patients
Federal study finds climate change will boost Pacific Northwest hydropower
Oregon tribe sues over federal agency plans to hold an offshore wind energy auction

Everett Herald
Supreme Court reinstates Mill Creek child rape conviction
State appoints special administrator to oversee Marysville schools
Everett submersible was plagued with problems, investigators say
Boeing considers furloughs, other measures amid Machinists strike
Comment: Climate peril we overlook has already arrived

High Country News
States own lands on reservations. To use them, tribes have to pay

International Examiner
Wing Luke Museum executive director Joël Barraquiel Tan stepping down

News Tribune
WA renters pay more for housing than renters in all but four states, Census Bureau says
‘Not a matter of if.’ Sec. of State reveals how WA is combating AI deep-fakes this election

New York Times
What Fed Rate Cuts Will Mean for Five Areas of Your Financial Life
Instagram, Facing Pressure Over Child Safety Online, Unveils Sweeping Changes

Olympian
Check out what a new bridge and restored estuary could look like in downtown Olympia

Puget Sound Business Journal
Microsoft donates millions for Seattle park project
Habitat for Humanity embarks on Seattle condo project
Here’s what’s next as Kroger-Albertsons FTC trial wraps

Seattle Times
Orca baby born to L pod
Almost 700,000 WA households receive $200 credit for electric bills
WA death penalty chamber officially closes, ending tumultuous history
WA lawmakers call for investigation into UW grad’s death in West Bank

Spokesman Review
WSU board gives Schulz power to negotiate with newest Pac-12 members
Providence Heart Institute to undergo $42 million renovation beginning spring of 2025
Getting There: Spokane County commissioners reconsider proposed Bigelow Gulch name changes

Washington Post
Antibiotic resistance could cause over 39 million deaths by 2050, study says
Generations of workers coveted Boeing jobs. Strike reveals how much has changed.
In the U.S., opioid-maker Purdue is bankrupt. Its global counterparts make millions
Scientists just figured out how many chemicals enter our bodies from food packaging
This region has the world’s largest concentration of data centers. We got a rare glimpse inside one.

WA State Standard
Reykdal seeks $3B injection for WA public schools in next budget
Washington joins national campaign to curb recidivism among people exiting prison

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Poverty rate skyrocketed in Bellingham last year, census data shows
Police shoot, kill man in crisis armed with knife on BNSF tracks in Sumner
Family and advocates call for Maple Valley hit-and-run to be investigated as a hate crime
How Amazon’s new return-to-office mandate could impact Seattle’s economy, housing market and employees
Washington training canceled after Kim Potter, officer that killed unarmed man, was scheduled as guest speaker

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
How to earn free Seattle transit tickets
‘Person in crisis’ shot by police in Sumner
Orca calf – just days old – spotted with mother near San Juan Island
Amazon says workers will return to the office five days a week in 2025
Nearly a third of students stay home from middle school in Bonney Lake after online threats surface

KUOW Public Radio
Downtown Seattle may get a boost from coming interest rate cuts
Amazon is ordering employees to go back to pre-Covid, in-office schedules
Seattle’s free and subsidized preschool program still has room for 600 kids
After budget cuts, juvenile probation counselors struggle to keep up with youth crime surge

KXLY (ABC)
SPD says more police means less crime in Northeast Spokane parks
Spokane Valley Fire Department expresses support for regional 9-1-1 services amidst back-and-forth with city

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham nears completion of long-awaited wetland bank
Bellingham City Council formally opposes Albertsons-Kroger merger

Crosscut
State recommends limits for Tri-Cities wind turbine farm project

MyNorthwest
Sullivan: WA roads accumulated 38 million pounds of litter, stop littering!
Amazon employees ordered to report to work 5 days a week to ‘strengthen culture’

The Urbanist
Renton Seeks to Create a New Urban Neighborhood Around Planned Transit

Monday, September 16

Half of America’s rental households considered cost-burdened
Although a slowing rental-housing market may mean more concessions and even rent cuts in some locations, effectively half of America’s renters currently are considered cost-burdened. That’s according to one-year estimate data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey released last week. It found 21.1 million renters spent 30% or more of their income on housing costs last year — a reference to a commonly used threshold for housing affordability. That volume represents 49.7% of the 42.5 million rental households in the United States. Continue reading at The Puget Sound Business Journal. (Getty Images)

WA prisons sent 100 staffers to Norway. The goal: A humane system
Sgt. Alexandrea Collecchi knows all about the dangers of prison. Last year, the sergeant was offered the chance to head a team that is part of a multimillion-dollar effort advocates believe will make Washington’s prisons safer. It does not involve tighter restrictions, heightened surveillance or more fencing. Its operating principle: humanity. The effort looks to Norway, which in the 1990s transformed its prison system in response to frequent riots and high recidivism. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

WA districts are banning student cellphone use. Here’s how it’s going
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction released guidance in late August recommending that schools update their cellphone policies to limit use by the start of the 2025-26 school year amid a wave of research on the harmful effects of smartphones and social media. But many Washington districts are already instituting cellphone policies that restrict or ban use in classrooms. Policies differ across districts, but the goal remains the same: prevent distraction, improve mental health and get kids offline. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Tim Robberts)

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Associated Press
Boeing strike extends a new era of labor activism during workplace decline
WA state tries to block Albertsons and Kroger deal to avoid past merger issues

Bellingham Herald
$7.3 million state grant will go toward cleanup of contaminated Bellingham Bay site

Capital Press
Climatologists predict weak La Nina this winter
EFSEC approves Horse Heaven wind and solar project
Environmentalists tell 9th Circuit CAFO rules must be tightened

Columbian
New WA State Fair memorial honors Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII
Legislative candidates report rampant vandalism, theft of campaign signs in Clark County
Is state cutting down its ‘legacy’?: Conservationists want to curb the logging of old-growth trees

Everett Herald
Ending the Boeing strike won’t be easy. Here’s why.
How ‘clean’ is clean enough for recyclables? Waste experts weigh in
Comment: Coordinate efforts to prevent substance abuse, suicide
Comment: Give taxpayers details on state workers’ contract deals

Kitsap Sun
Olympic College opens its new Shops Building
Bremerton nursing home dinged for outbreak, review of state records shows

News Tribune
Pierce County parents say kids are riding overcrowded buses, sitting four to a seat
Opinion: Pierce County shouldn’t wait until it’s too late. Install school metal detectors now

Puget Sound Business Journal
Half of America’s rental households considered cost-burdened
Goodwill plans $100 million housing project on Tacoma headquarters property

Seattle Times
In reform effort, WA prisons sends more than 100 staffers to Norway

Skagit Valley Herald
Port of Anacortes receives grant to strengthen cybersecurity

Spokesman Review
210-unit apartments underway near downtown Spokane

Tri-City Herald
WSU Tri-Cities enrollment sees post-pandemic rebound. But it’s not all good news

Washington Post
Boeing machinists: Strike is a now-or-never moment
Why House Republicans still can’t manage to fund the government
Tech giants fight plan to make them pay more for electric grid upgrades

WA State Standard
WA districts are banning student cellphone use. Here’s how it’s going
‘We want what’s fair’: Boeing workers on strike in Washington take to the picket lines

Yakima Herald-Republic
New map shrinks size of Terrace Heights annexation; council will hear more Tuesday

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Boeing considers temporary furloughs amid machinists strike
2-year-old girl hospitalized after 3-year-old sibling accidentally shoots her, police say

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Lawsuit to block Kroger-Albertson merger goes to trial Monday
Boeing CFO considering temporary layoffs, announces hiring freeze ‘at all levels’
Gets Real: ‘My food is not poison’: coalition fights rhetoric of ‘Chinese Restaurant Syndrome’

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
WSDOT unveils new HOV and transit lanes on SR 520 in Montlake
Boeing faces $3.5 billion loss as strike continues, workers demand fair compensation
Washington anti-trust lawsuit to block proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger begins monday

KNKX Public Radio
Big border plans come with anxiety and opportunity
What’s at the core of WSU’s new apple variety name delay?

KUOW Public Radio
Despite opioid epidemic, drug court enrollment is down. King County hopes to change that

Web

Cascadia Daily News
State approves loan funding for Cornwall Avenue Landfill cleanup
In Washington, you can vote from jail — or upon release from prison
Skagit County may prohibit large energy projects on vulnerable agricultural land

Crosscut
Washington Labor & Industries interpreters file wage-theft lawsuit

MyNorthwest
Bonney Lake shooting after trailer theft leaves two dead, suspect at large
Port of Seattle: Outage was ransomware attack; ransom hasn’t been paid

The Urbanist
Seattle’s Stay Out Orders and Encampment Sweeps Continue Trend toward Criminalization

Friday, September 13

Inslee bestows Smart Communities Awards on Clark County projects
A couple of vocal protesters and a sudden downpour couldn’t put a damper on Gov. Jay Inslee’s remarks outside the Clark County Public Service Center on Thursday as he presented three county projects with 2024 Governor’s Smart Communities Awards. Smart Communities Awards have been bestowed annually since 2006 in recognition of government agencies and community partners for exceptional land-use planning and development. “We recognize the power of local leadership,” Inslee said, “and we recognize the power of communities.” Continue reading at The Columbian. (Amanda Cowan)

Study finds prevalence of firearms is driving soaring gun deaths in U.S. – not mental illness
The prevalence of firearms in the U.S. – not mental illness – is driving the surge in gun deaths across the country, a new study concludes. The research led by an Oregon Health & Science University professor looked at mental health conditions and firearm deaths in the U.S. and 40 other countries. It found the U.S. had 20 times more deaths by firearms than the other countries even when rates of mental illness were the same. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Aristide Economopoulos)

New Washington law requires colleges to provide Narcan and fentanyl test strips to students
A new law is providing college campuses in Washington with the resources need to keep students safe from opioid overdoses. House Bill 2112 went into effect in June and requires all public and private colleges and universities in Washington to provide fentanyl prevention education and resources to students. The law is meant to protect students amidst a growing opioid crisis in the state. The bill specifically requires that colleges and universities have fentanyl testing strips and Narcan available on campus and that residence hall staff be trained on how to administer Narcan. Continue reading at KXLY.

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Associated Press
Boeing factory workers go on strike after rejecting contract offer

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen City Council votes unanimously to approve rezoning
Aberdeen City Council is continuing fluoride discussion

Axios
Boeing workers strike after rejecting contract offer
Up to 21 Seattle schools could close under district plan

Bainbridge Island Review
BI council OKs ban on crematoriums
BI looking for right answer for road to success

Bellingham Herald
City says drinking water not affected by sewage spill at Bloedel Donovan Park
Mt. Baker Highway named among ‘sketchiest’ mountain roads in the U.S. in new ranking
Gas prices drop in Whatcom County, and this local station is only charging $3.26 a gallon

Capital Press
Washington wildlife managers target Onion Creek wolf pack for culling

Columbian
Inslee bestows Smart Communities Awards on Clark County projects
Fentanyl test strips coming to Clark County college campuses as overdose deaths spike

The Daily News
Federal funding buoys Yakama Nation’s fish recovery efforts
Coalition maintains undocumented kids have a right to attend public schools

Everett Herald
Boeing machinists union to strike at midnight Friday
Arlington airport eyes future, gets $5M in new federal funding

International Examiner
District Notes: News and happenings in and around the Chinatown International District

Kitsap Sun
More than $75,000 in car repairs have been a lifeline for homeless residents in Kitsap

News Tribune
Former Pierce Sheriff candidate investigated for cyber harassment, impersonating officer
Will controversial psychiatric hospital ever move forward in Tacoma? It’s a good question
Homeless contracting blunder leads to new oversight of county’s Human Services department

New York Times
Boeing Workers Walk Off the Job in First Strike Since 2008
Biden Administration Ratchets Up Tariffs on Billions of Dollars of Chinese Goods

Olympian
$10M to keep historic oak tree standing for now? Citizen group gains partial victory in court
Thurston deputy suspended after ‘women don’t belong in law enforcement’ remark, Sheriff says
Demonstrators call for Commissioner Clouse’s reinstatement during brief gathering Wednesday

Peninsula Daily News
Forest auctioned despite protest
Port of Port Townsend purchases 3.4 acres for future industrial park

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing workers reject contract deal
Microsoft lays off hundreds of employees
Small-business tax cut will soon expire. Why its future is uncertain.

Seattle Times
Seattle parents react to SPS school closure proposals
Northwest cherry harvest yielded ‘outstanding crop’ this year
Machinists hit picket lines on Friday after rejecting contract offer
Seattle median household income hits $121,000, census data shows
Record Columbia River sockeye run gets a well-timed break from heat
Free college credit program for WA high schoolers sees enrollment jump

Skagit Valley Herald
Port of Skagit restricts access to Trans Mountain Pipeline
Port of Skagit hears presentation on public safety campus
Skagit County to hold public hearing on Guemes Island Ferry fare increases

Sol De Yakima
Cereza tuvo una “cosecha excepcional” en el noroeste
Evento de prevención contra el fentanilo se realizará el 20 de septiembre
Aumentan inscripciones en programa de créditos universitarios gratis para estudiantes de preparatoria en WA

Spokesman Review
Sen. Mark Schoesler pleads not guilty to DUI charge
First public dual language school opens in Spokane County; Washington may get more
Spokane activists hold vigil for Washington resident killed by Israeli military in West Bank
New Spokane Business Association makes public debut, determined to quash downtown crime
Amid campaign of opposition, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown backs down from treatment service in Chief Garry park

Tri-City Herald
Richland names new chief of police. He will be the 3rd in five years
Franklin PUD sued over its elections. Latino citizens shut out of choice, lawsuit says
Franklin leader says he was cleared of all ‘wrongdoing’ in criminal probe. Was he though?

Washington Post
The disaster no major U.S. city is prepared for
Why Boeing workers voted to strike after rejecting proposed deal
Warning: This story contains sodium, saturated fat and added sugars
Boar’s Head plant tied to deadly listeria outbreak to close indefinitely
Boeing workers vote overwhelmingly to strike, in defeat for troubled company

WA State Standard
Boeing machinists reject contract offer, go on strike
Almost 700,000 WA households receive $200 credit on their electric bills
Study finds prevalence of firearms is driving soaring gun deaths in U.S. – not mental illness

Yakima Herald-Republic
Cherry harvest yielded ‘outstanding crop’ across the Northwest
Japanese beetle quarantine permanently expanded in the Lower Valley
Opinion: Yakima’s Dial-A-Ride dilemma shouldn’t be insurmountable
Opinion: Toppenish School District has good reason to stop arming teachers

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle school with program for deaf students could close
5 things to know about the proposals for closing Seattle public schools
Why are Boeing machinists striking? Are they still getting paid? Here’s what to know

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Microsoft announces new layoffs within Xbox division
Thousands of Boeing workers on strike after rejecting contract
Around the Sound: First of its kind postpartum hotel and retreat
Verdict reached in wrongful death trial of BLM protester Summer Taylor
Class-action lawsuit claims Amazon misled consumers with fake discounts
Seattle Public Schools considers closing at least 17 schools to help $100M deficit, low enrollment

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Parents push back against SPS consolidation plans, fearing student impact
Jury decides WA state patrol is not liable for death of protester killed in 2020 on I-5

KNKX Public Radio
Boeing machinists go on strike after rejecting contract

KUOW Public Radio
Shhh! The orcas can’t hear their dinner
Hundreds attend vigil remembering Seattle woman killed by Israeli military in the West Bank

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane organizations and activists raise awareness for disability voting rights
New Washington law requires colleges to provide Narcan and fentanyl test strips to students
City of Spokane will not be purchasing building for addiction recovery center relocation to East Spokane

NW Public Radio
On the Palouse, a mobile farm stand makes fresh food accessible
Bonneville Power Administration could be losing money because of contract handling, federal audit says

Web

Cascadia Daily News
YWCA Bellingham to add new shelter for women and children in 2025

Crosscut
WA’s carbon auction prices — and gas prices — are down from 2023

MyNorthwest
Boeing machinists vote to strike, shut down aircraft production
Report: Seattle has second-worst congestion, third-worst traffic in nation

The Stranger
Seattle’s Friend, Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi
One-Third of the City Council May Not Be Able to Vote on Renters’ Rights
Council Sacrificed $7.75 Million in Mental Health Funding to Mayor’s Plan to Avoid New Taxes on Big Businesses
Seattle Renters Commission “Powerless” to Advocate for Tenants Due to “Ongoing Neglect” from Mayor Harrell, Council

The Urbanist
West Seattle Link Cost Estimates Jump As Much As $1.5 Billion
Fall 2024 Transit Service Changes Include Big Shakeups Across Puget Sound

West Seattle Blog
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Final Environmental Impact Statement out early

Thursday, September 12

WA health insurance rates to jump over 10% for 2025
Washingtonians who get their health care coverage on the state’s market will see higher rates next year, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner announced Wednesday. Each year, the commissioner’s office approves changes to insurance rates. The 11 insurers selling plans in the upcoming health benefit exchange, or the state’s online health insurance market, asked for an 11.3% average increase, according to the commissioner’s office. The office agreed to a 10.7% average. Continue reading at The Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

College credit program for WA high schoolers sees enrollment jump now that it’s free
About 10,000 more students enrolled in Washington’s College in the High School program in the first school year that the dual credit courses were free for all students. That’s according to data from the Washington State Education Research and Data Center as well as the Council of Presidents, an association representing Washington’s public four-year colleges and universities. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (sdominick)

Washington lawmakers to introduce ban on flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes
A statewide campaign called “Flavors Hook Kids Washington” aims to ban all flavored tobacco products. The effort comes from lawmakers, health experts and anti-tobacco groups working to undo decades of marketing campaigns that targeted the Black community. The statewide flavored tobacco ban bill is expected to be introduced in January 2025 in Washington’s next legislative session. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)