Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Thursday, August 8

As wildfire season becomes more threatening, experts are turning to AI
With climate change driving hotter, drier summers across the West, the intensity of recent fire seasons is outpacing workers’ ability to track and analyze fires with traditional methods. But government agencies and private sector companies are adapting artificial intelligence technologies in their wildfire monitoring and fighting strategies. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (NOAA)

‘We’re at a breaking point.’ Washington ferry workers demand 20% raise
Unionized ferry workers who keep Washington state’s ailing fleet afloat are calling for higher pay and better staffing. Last year, Washington State Ferries had to delay or cancel hundreds of sailings due to crew shortages. “They’re building new ferries, but who’s going to work on those ferries?” asked Brandi Bennett, chief engineer on the MV Tillikum that serves the San Juan Islands. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

As teen employment rises in WA, so do youth labor violations
Between 2014 and 2022, complaints about working conditions for minors doubled — and one expert thinks this might be just the tip of the iceberg. More than a third of violations involved minors working too many hours, too late on a school night or when they were supposed to be in school, the data shows. The second-largest category of violations, 17%, resulted from workers missing meal or rest breaks. Violations for performing prohibitive tasks ranked fourth on the list of most common violations. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Lizz Giordano)

Print

Associated Press
Boeing’s new CEO visits factory that makes the 737 MAX, including jet that lost door plug in flight

Aberdeen Daily World
Riley Carter resigns from Aberdeen City Council while locked up

Axios
Too few Seattle-area kids are vaccinated, officials warn
Abortions exceed pre-Roe numbers as telehealth access grows

Capital Press
Goldendale energy project picks up federal critic

Columbian
Dollar Tree required to reform testing process after WA finds toxic children’s products
OHSU study finds wildfire smoke impacts fertility; Clark County residents included in research

Everett Herald
Edmonds College to offer 2 new four-year degree programs
Everett worker criticizes Boeing instructions as complicated, confusing

The Inlander
Washington has fallen behind when it comes to cannabis policy
Eastern WA now has a dedicated federal attorney for Missing or Murdered Indigenous People cases
Gonzaga’s Climate Institute plans to make Spokane more bearable in extreme climate events with $20 million EPA grant

Kitsap Sun
All 5 fire agencies’ ballot measures appear to pass
Washington gas prices fell from last week: See how much here

News Tribune
What will it cost to replace this major Pierce County bridge? The study alone is $1.8M
Opinion: Matt Driscoll made me a better writer. We could learn a lot from the example he set

New York Times
Opinion: A Dystopian Effort Is Underway in the Pacific Northwest to Pick Ecological Winners and Losers

Olympian
Thurston County Auditor’s office ramps up for a very busy 2024 election season

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle City Council quickly passes controversial jail pact

Seattle Medium
State Agencies Urge Public To Check Trees For Invasive Insects
NSF Grants $1.5 Million To North Seattle College To Boost Minority Participation In STEM
Metro To Boosts Transit Service With Over 3,700 New Weekly Bus Trips And RapidRide G Line Launch

Seattle Times
Stehekin residents prepare to defend their town as Pioneer fire nears

Skagit Valley Herald
Battery energy storage facility proposed in Skagit County

Spokesman Review
Melissa Bedford resigns from Spokane Public Schools Board
Everywhere and everlasting: How PFAS affect the human body
Spokane’s Upper Cemetery fire could’ve been worse if crews hadn’t treated the area just one week before

Washington Post
After social media outcry, CDC tells doctors to better manage IUD pain
‘I think I’ve been drinking poison’: Schools face no U.S. requirement to test for lead
Google monopoly ruling challenges the idea that the internet has outgrown antitrust law

WA State Standard
As wildfire season becomes more threatening, experts are turning to AI
U.S. Education Department to gradually roll out new FAFSA form by Dec. 1

Wenatchee World
Chelan County launches therapy court to help struggling offenders
Gov. Inslee proclaimed statewide emergency amid WA’s wildfire surge. Her’s what to know
Declining enrollment: What it means for NCW schools and communities | How are schools funded?

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County presses Pacific Power on wildfire-related power outages
Wednesday update: Retreat Fire containment grows to 64%, new team coming in

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
A ferry special delivery: Woman gives birth on board WSF vessel
Pioneer Fire creeps close to Stehekin but residents remain resilient
What it will take for the Southern Resident orca population to bounce back
Smoky air from Canadian, eastern Washington fires to drift over Puget Sound
Boeing’s new CEO visits factory that makes the 737 Max, including jet that lost door plug in flight

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sound Transit breaks ground at Sumner Station
State offers wildfire tax relief to those in affected areas
Yelm community rallies to try and save sports programs

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Local organizations in Thurston County enhance efforts to address homelessness

KUOW Public Radio
‘We’re at a breaking point.’ Washington ferry workers demand 20% raise
Seattle Archdiocese faces new sex abuse lawsuits naming known offenders
King County wants old homes taken apart carefully, not crushed and tossed
Seattle’s Kaiser midwifery practice shuts down, even as demand for midwives increases
Tips can’t go toward Seattle’s minimum wage after December. Restaurateurs, labor advocates clash over changes

KXLY (ABC)
City of Spokane says progress is being made on housing and homelessness initiatives

NW Public Radio
Shucks! It’s been a bad year for hot shellfish
U.S. Department of Labor says it has no control over farmworker’s prevailing wages

Web

Cascadia Daily News
National Weather Service issues heat advisory for Thursday and Friday

Crosscut
As teen employment rises in WA, so do youth labor violations
The Newsfeed: WA abortion providers, patients feel impact of Dobbs

MyNorthwest
Pioneer wildfire moves inside Stehekin city limits
2 contractors charged in carbon monoxide death of Evergreen college student

Wednesday, August 7

PFAS found near Edmonds school sparks concerns about wells
The state Department of Ecology is investigating contamination near Madrona K-8 School, after a consulting firm found so-called “forever chemicals” in the school’s stormwater management system. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Stephanie Davey / The Herald)

High schoolers’ mental health shows small improvement in new survey
There are small signs of improvement in the mental health of U.S. teenagers, a government survey released Tuesday said, but the share of students — particularly girls — feeling sad and hopeless remained high. Continue reading at Associated Press. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

WA audit finds Marysville School District in financial jeopardy
A new state audit found that the future of the Marysville School District could be in jeopardy as the financial condition of the district declines. The report from the Office of the Washington State Auditor, released on Monday, said the eroding financial situation in the district, with approximately 9,700 students, “raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue.” Continue reading at Cascade PBS. (Amanda Snyder/Cascade PBS)

Print

Associated Press
US abortion numbers have risen slightly since Roe was overturned, study finds
High schoolers’ mental health shows small improvement in new survey

Axios
Train travel is booming in the Pacific Northwest

Capital Press
South Korea trade team tours Pacific Northwest wheat crop
WDFW seeks to contain deadly deer, elk disease
Crews wrestle Durkee Fire near submission as Western wildfire season rages on

Columbian
Johnston Ridge Observatory and Spirit Lake Highway are slated to reopen in spring of 2027
Focus turns to understanding scope of chronic wasting disease outbreak in area deer

Everett Herald
Ferguson and Reichert move toward showdown in Washington governor’s race
Serrano, Brown poised to advance in Washington attorney general race
Snohomish County congressional incumbents sail to general election
Primary sets up competitive races for Snohomish County legislative seats
PFAS found near Edmonds school sparks concerns about wells
Despite high mortgage rates, Snohomish County home market still competitive
WaPo: Boeing workers pointed to rush on 737 Max line before blowout
Editorial: Center provides transparent view into elections

News Tribune
Live voting result updates for Aug. 6, 2024, primary election in Pierce County, WA
‘That view is so beautiful.’ City to spend $600K to overhaul blighted Tacoma overlook
She owed thousands of dollars in rent. But did her Puyallup landlord take things too far?
A baby left in a hot car died in Puyallup last year. Here’s why charges weren’t filed

New York Times
Recession Risks Rise as Consumers Turn Cautious

Puget Sound Business Journal
Wells Fargo economist: ‘History tells us this doesn’t end well’
SBA launches new loan, beefs up small-business programs

Seattle Times
Why primary care physicians are becoming harder to find in WA

Spokesman Review
Everything you need to know about the Aug. 6 primary
Focus turns to understanding scope of chronic wasting disease outbreak in area deer

Washington Post
A booming industry of AI age scanners is aimed at children’s faces, and some parents hate it
EPA takes emergency action to stop use of dangerous pesticide
Americans tapped $8 billion in tax credits on home energy upgrades
Boeing interview transcripts paint picture of chaos in 737 Max assembly
A judge ruled Google is a monopoly. Its empire spans more than search.

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Protected bike lane upgrades complete on Fourth Avenue in Seattle
Seattle City Council approves SCORE Jail pilot program

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Safety board to prove FAA’s oversight of Boeing after panel blew off a 737
Seattle mayor mandates 3 days of in-office work for city employees

KXLY (ABC)
No immediate plans for road changes despite multiple fatal crashes recently along Highway 395
Spokane business organizations support camping bans ahead of Supreme Court hearing
Idaho governor Brad Little expands paid parental leave to include foster families

Web

Crosscut
Live updates: Washington state 2024 primary election results
After tense meeting, Seattle Council OKs deal with Des Moines jail
Washington governor’s race narrows to Bob Ferguson, Dave Reichert
WA audit finds Marysville School District in financial jeopardy

Tuesday, August 6

Northwest lawmakers join push to block Kroger-Albertsons merger
Opponents of the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons got some high-profile backup Friday when around two dozen U.S. lawmakers asked a federal court in Oregon to temporarily block the deal. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

Google is an illegal monopoly, federal court rules
A federal court has found that Google illegally abused its market power to quash competition in internet search, handing the Justice Department a landmark victory against Big Tech. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)

Washington and other states ask Musk to curb election misinformation on X
Election officials in Washington and four other states sent a letter to Elon Musk on Monday imploring him to fix the AI chatbot on X, formerly known as Twitter, after it shared misinformation about the 2024 presidential election. Continue reading at Axios. (Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios)

Print

Associated Press
Heat deaths of people without air conditioning, often underscore energy inequity
Secretaries of state urge Elon Musk to fix AI chatbot spreading election misinformation on X

Aberdeen Daily World
Riley Carter resigns from Aberdeen City Council while locked up

Auburn Reporter
King County Sheriff’s Office modifies pursuit policy

Axios
Nearly 11% of Washington state is multiracial
Washington and other states ask Musk to curb election misinformation on X

Capital Press
USDA pesticide spray program for grasshoppers, crickets ruled unlawful
Friction over wolves erupts in northeast Washington

Columbian
Vancouver nonprofit Akin receives $1.2 million from Department of Commerce for early childhood mental health treatment services

Everett Herald
Cannabis company wants to bring store to Monroe. City says no.
Sound Transit exploring paid parking at Lynnwood light rail station
Snohomish County PUD to start distributing bill credits this month

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Eligible electricity customers can receive $200 energy credit through state climate change program

News Tribune
Opinion: Laying off guidance specialists, taking admins to a resort? How’s that help students?

New York Times
Decline in Veterans’ Homelessness Spurs Hopes for a Broader Solution

Olympian
Eastern WA nuclear workers who inhaled plutonium, radioactive particles are suing

Peninsula Daily News
North Olympic Peninsula receives $35M in Recompete funding

Seattle Medium
Wildfire Smoke Set To Affect Seattle’s Air Quality
City Of Tacoma Showcases Equity Index Success In Recent Case Studies

Seattle Times
WA ferry workers union seeks better pay for crew below deck
Data centers got a huge tax break to create WA jobs. Is it paying off? (Berg, Keiser)
Thousands fewer WA kids were evaluated for special ed during pandemic

Skagit Valley Herald
Fare increases coming for Guemes Island Ferry

South Seattle Emerald
Seattle City Council Considers Legislation for ‘Stay Out of Area’ Prostitution and Drug Zones

Spokesman Review
An expensive eye in the sky: Spokane police will use new $164,000 drone to fight crime
WaPo: Google is an illegal monopoly, federal court rules
Survey: Half of American cardholders now carry credit card debt, many with no plan to pay it off

Washington Post
6 ways the Google antitrust ruling could change the internet
U.S. stock indexes move higher the day after global market rout
Boeing leaders to testify as NTSB unveils documents on 737 Max door plug blowout
More Americans are moving into flood and fire hot spots

WA State Standard
Washington falls short covering child care subsidy costs
A chatbot spread falsehood about WA elections. The secretary of state wants it fixed.

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Mother of teen shot, killed in Auburn calls for more accountability for parents if their kids commit crimes
Seattle officer fired over his insensitive comments files $20 million claim
The race to save our orcas: How the Southern Resident population reached an alarming low point
Boeing, FAA executives set to testify at Tuesday NTSB hearing into 737 MAX door plug blowout

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
First case of chronic wasting disease found in deer in Washington State
Wildfire State of Emergency declared due in part to fuel needs
Google illegally maintains monopoly over internet search, judge rules
Fireworks likely caused 5-acre fire near Graham that burned multiple buildings

KNKX Public Radio
Threatened bull trout in the Klamath Basin thriving after 30 years of conservation work

KXLY (ABC)
Cleaning up forests before fire season is helping crews fight wildfires
Charges dismissed against teenager for damaging pride crosswalk
On eve of Washington primary, elections officials warn about misinformation

NW Public Radio
Protecting farmworkers: Wenatchee nonprofit provides resources amid heat waves, wildfire season
Fatal deer disease found in Washington for the first time

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Did you vote by mail? Experts say it’s safe and secure
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community receives cybersecurity grant to combat targeted threats
Updated NWS zones promise more accurate weather warnings for Western Washington

MyNorthwest
Three alarm fire near Auburn under control after reaching 5 acres in size
Google illegally maintains monopoly over internet search, judge rules
Harrell: City of Seattle, King County workers will return to in-person this fall

Monday, August 5

New report details Dobbs’ grim effect on Pacific Northwest health care access
When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, advocates worried that it would result in delayed and substandard care for people seeking abortions, as well as widespread misinformation about the legality of abortion, as states adopted a variety of policies. Now, new data released this month shows these worst-case scenarios have come to pass, with ramifications in the Northwest not just for abortion but for all kinds of health care. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Ted S. Warren)

Take a look: Updated plans for new Washington State Ferries hybrid-electric boats
KING 5 got an exclusive look at new hybrid-electric Washington State Ferries (WSF) boat models. The new boats will include charging units on the upper decks. WSF leaders told KING 5 the new fleet will be the most reliable it’s ever been. Regular ferry riders shared their frustrations with daily sailing delays and cancellations.
Continue reading at King 5.

Gov. Inslee declares statewide emergency for Washington wildfires
Governor Jay Inslee declared a statewide emergency proclamation in Washington due to wildfires. On Friday, the governor issued the proclamation, saying the state has been experiencing unusually dry weather conditions and extremely high temperatures which leads to high-risk fuel conditions in many areas. Continue reading at KXLY. (Amanda Snyder)

Print

Capital Press
Deer with chronic wasting disease found in Washington

Columbian
New report details Dobbs’ grim effect on Pacific Northwest health care access
Washington’s bag ban, meant to reduce waste, hasn’t made much of a dent in discarded plastic
Seattle area leads the world in big new tech office leases

Everett Herald
‘Magic happens’: Paine Field aerospace center dedicates new hands-on lab
WSU training to teach locals about what is truly recyclable
Snohomish County PUD to start distributing bill credits this month

Kitsap Sun
Port of Bremerton continues improvements after award winning year

News Tribune
Are more license plate readers coming to Pierce County? Here’s where they would be
Tacoma could soon make big changes to parking rules. What will it mean for drivers?
Rules of the Road: Providing a bit of clarity on the act of passing stopped buses

Seattle Times
Kitsap passenger-only ferry service at risk after part failure
Above normal temperatures to continue in Seattle for second week of August

Skagit Valley Herald
Derelict boats being recycled to prevent marine pollution

Spokesman Review
Hydropower remains essential to affordable, reliable electricity in Idaho
‘We are America’s best’: 116th Air Refueling Squadron celebrates 100 years of service in Spokane

Washington Post
Dow drops more than 1,000 points in global market selloff
How time in nature builds happier, healthier and more social children
More Americans are moving into flood and fire hot spots
A wildfire is bearing down on a tiny town. And hardly anyone is leaving.
Study suggests nearby rural land can cool cities by nearly 30 percent

WA State Standard
Dollar Tree required to reform testing process after WA finds toxic children’s products
NorthWestern to acquire more of Colstrip while other utilities unload coal

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee man sentenced to 5 months in jail in April arson case
‘Mission first, people always’ | New Wenatchee Police Department chief talks about new role
Declining enrollment: What it means for NCW schools and communities

Yakima Herald-Republic
Sunday update: Containment on Retreat Fire up to 49%
Water supply up slightly to 51%; Yakima Tieton irrigation makes emergency canal repairs

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Take a look: Updated plans for new Washington State Ferries hybrid-electric boats
Medicine garden at Washington Corrections Center brings healing and connection for Indigenous inmates
Thieves steal $30,000 worth of equipment, gear from Key Peninsula Fire Department

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Kitsap Transit Fast Ferries experience unforeseen disruptions, risks for cancelations
Illegal campfire sparks new fire, campground in North Cascade National Park closed
Longview Lumber hit with $145,000 fine by Department of Ecology for stormwater violations

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Easy fire closes part of SR 20, officials estimate 100% containment set by October

KNKX Public Radio
Gov. Inslee declares statewide emergency for Washington wildfires
Crews make progress on containment in Swawilla and Bridge Creek Fires

KUOW Public Radio
Washington state and counties square off over juvenile rehabilitation closures

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane mayor denies Medical Lake facility under consideration for new homeless shelter site
First case of chronic wasting disease in Washington confirmed in Spokane County
Homeless say Spokane Police swept them from Browne Street viaduct

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Guemes Island Ferry replacement project stalls with funding in flux
Six months in, downtown medics balance overdose calls with dedicated social work
Wildfire activity prompts closure near Easy Pass trailhead on North Cascades Highway

Crosscut
WA teen still waiting for justice after being trafficked via Tinder (Dhingra)

MyNorthwest
Hollingsworth withdraws bill that would have slowed minimum wage increases

Friday, August 2

‘Really frustrating.’ New requirement for temporary WA license plates causing headaches
Washington has been dealing with a shortage of permanent metal vehicle license plates for months. That’s only half the problem facing car dealers and car buyers. In 2022, the state Legislature passed a law that did away with window-taped paper permits and required car dealers to affix durable, temporary plates to the front and back of new and used cars. The problem: Those expire 45 days after a buyer drives off the lot. And it’s taking longer than 45 days for some of those buyers to get their permanent plates. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Craig Sailor)

WA counties sue state Department of Children, Youth and Families
Thirteen Washington counties sued the Department of Children, Youth and Families on Thursday for suspending its intakes of youth offenders as some lawmakers and juvenile justice experts called on Gov. Jay Inslee to fire the department’s leader. The lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court follows a turbulent month for the overwhelmed department, which on July 5 announced it would not take any more sentenced juveniles into its two overcrowded detention centers. The department then transferred 43 young men, ages 21 to 25, to an adult prison to address overcrowding, which a Thurston County judge last week ruled violated a settlement agreement and statute. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Thomas James Hurst)

Charge up, Washington! State launches rebate program for electric vehicles
The Washington State Department of Commerce just hit the accelerator on a new program to provide up to $9,000 in rebates for low-income households that purchase electric vehicles. The program provides rebates for households earning less than 300% of the federal poverty level, allowing individuals earning around $45,000 and families of four earning $93,000 or less to benefit. The rebate can be applied instantly at participating dealerships, making it easier for residents to make the switch to electric. Continue reading at KUOW. (Michael Marais)