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Thursday, August 1

Wildfires burn more than 2 million acres nationwide; 182,000 burning in Washington
As of Monday morning, there are 102 large active wildfires being managed nationwide, burning an estimated 2 million acres according to the National Interagency Fire Center. In Washington, there are around 182,300 acres burning. More than 27,000 wildland firefighters and support personnel have been assigned to wildfires across the country. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Dept. of Natural Resources)

WA agency that will investigate police killings sets start date
Beginning in December, police killings in 12 Western Washington counties will no longer be investigated by police. It will be the first test of a unique state agency, the Office of Independent Investigations, established by the Legislature in 2021 with the intent of erasing the “thin blue line” that has traditionally protected police and allowed them to essentially investigate themselves in fatal officer encounters. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

New King County Sheriff’s Office pursuit policy more restrictive than state law
The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) has released its plan for when officers will be allowed to initiate a vehicle pursuit with suspects. KCSO will still restrict vehicle pursuits to dangerous felonies and DUIs but has also opted to add burglary to its list. This means suspects in smash and grabs could be chased by law enforcement officers, which is something that business owners told KCSO they hoped would change. Continue reading at King 5.

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Associated Press
Boeing names new CEO as it posts a loss of more than $1.4 billion in second quarter
Federal investigation gives more detail on Indian boarding schools, calls for apology
Lawyers for families of passengers killed in 737 Max crashes ask court to block Boeing plea deal

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen city councilmember arrested for rape of a child
Soybean farmers, port come together to celebrate financial contribution

Axios
Statewide delivery fee idea floated (Liias)
Heat wave builds from coast to coast, worsening wildfires
More Gen Zs are putting homeownership dreams on hold
On paid family leave, more states follow Washington’s lead

Capital Press
Sugar prices fall, unlike input costs
Analysis: Farm bill delay would damage growers
WDFW to remove one wolf from NE Washington pack
Trade wars, competition shrink apple exports over past decade
SUN POWER: As Oregon soaks up solar power, farmland shrinks
Inland Pacific NW aphid numbers up slightly, but not an outbreak year

Columbian
Clark County buys Ridgefield Pits, opening the way for a $20M restoration project
Wildfires burn more than 2 million acres nationwide; 182,000 burning in Washington
Two apex predators discovered in Washington state waterway for first time, researchers say
Are noncitizens using Washington driver’s licenses to illegally register to vote in Clark County? (Wylie)

Everett Herald
Swedish battery maker opens first U.S. facility in Marysville
Editorial: End challenge against Everett’s third Pallet village

The Inlander
A Lewiston man missing in action for 80 years is finally laid to rest; and Spokane gets a Climate Resiliency Project to help beat the heat
A proposed wind turbine project promises to bring jobs and tax revenue to the Palouse; some residents think the project has a turbulent future

News Tribune
Flags around the state flew at half-staff today. Here’s what we know about why
‘This is unacceptable.’ Fires keep occurring in a Tacoma gulch frequented by homeless
‘Not everything is going to fit everywhere.’ Home in Tacoma Phase 2 plans get first look
Did you see lots of canoes paddling close to Owen Beach today? Here’s what’s happening

North American Post
Vashon Remembers the Day of Exile

Peninsula Daily News
Derelict vessels present problems for ports

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing names new chief exec
Everett fusion startup Zap Energy lands $130 million
Edmonds School District begins planning for $170 million project

Runta News
After Five Consecutive Years of Drowning Deaths Staying at Historically High Levels, King County Officials Encourage the Public to be Cautious at Lakes, Rivers, and Puget Sound

Seattle Times
Seattle weather: 90-degree days for the first week of August
WA agency that will investigate police killings sets start date
King County sheriff relaxes pursuit policy after legislative changes

South Seattle Emerald
White Center Community Clashes With County on 16th Avenue Road Project
How to Tackle Lack of Regional Affordable Housing? King County Calls In Experts
Opinion: Establishing the Crisis Care Network: Connections Health Solutions Opens in Kirkland

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
“Ghost” boat service will expand this fall

Washington Post
Senate Republicans are set to block a child tax credit expansion
Biden rules protecting trans students take effect — but not everywhere
How much are rents going up? See how prices have changed in your area.
Antarctic temperatures soar 50 degrees above norm in long-lasting heat wave

WA State Standard
State advisory board on juvenile justice asks Inslee to fire director of children’s services (Leavitt, Frame)

Wenatchee World
Update: 2nd-alarm brush fire near Orondo prompts air support and evacuations

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Aberdeen City Council member charged with child rape
Acting chief of Seattle CARE team appointed to permanent position
New King County Sheriff’s Office pursuit policy more restrictive than state law
Here’s how much Washington’s paid leave program has paid out in 5 years (Keiser)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
City of Seattle considering SCORE Jail pilot program for misdemeanor offenders
Lawsuit could derail Everett’s plan to build temporary shelter for women, children
Auburn neighborhood to host community meeting after violent shootout at bus stop
Tesla in Monroe crash that killed motorcyclist was using self-driving system, authorities say

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Endangered soupfin, broadnose sevengill sharks discovered in Puget Sound
Seattle City Council member to announce legislation aimed at curbing Aurora Avenue crime

KUOW Public Radio
Jurassic shark: scientists find ancient species in Puget Sound
‘Very cruel.’ Lost pet owners targeted by scammers posing as Seattle Animal Shelter

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane housing voucher application deadline approaching
Firefighters fully contain all three wildfires in Spokane County
Spokane’s interim police chief leaving to join Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Lime contract ensures accountability for waterway cleanup in Spokane

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Cash-strapped school districts see positive financial outlook after year of state oversight
Opinion: Community voices helped improve CDC’s border policy on dogs (Shewmake)

Crosscut
WA and WI libraries given $249k for tabletop gaming programs
King County’s landfill is scrambling to solve its methane problem

MyNorthwest
Man intentionally kills 25 seagulls with Jeep on Washington beach
DoorDash to implement new fee amid frustrations with Seattle City Council

Wednesday, July 31

60 Native children from Northwest died in U.S. boarding schools, among nearly 1,000 deaths nationwide
More than 60 children from tribes with homelands in Washington, Oregon and Idaho are among the nearly 1,000 Native American children who died in the U.S. government’s abusive boarding school system that tore families apart and devastated Indigenous communities, according to the results of a federal investigation released Tuesday. There were at least 17 boarding schools in Washington, up and down the Interstate 5 corridor, on the coast, and dotted through the arid grasslands of the eastern parts of the state, according to the Interior Department. Many of them were on present-day tribal land. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Hibulb Cultural Center)

Senate passes landmark bills to protect kids online, raising pressure on House
The Senate overwhelmingly passed a pair of bills to expand online privacy and safety protections for children on Tuesday, delivering a major win for parent and youth activists who have clamored for action against tech companies they say are endangering the well-being of kids. The legislation, approved 91-3, would force digital platforms to take “reasonable” steps to prevent harms to children such as bullying, drug addiction and sexual exploitation, and it would broaden existing federal privacy protections to include kids and teens 16 years old and younger. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Kent Nishimura)

King County is getting its first walk-in mental health crisis center
A new walk-in crisis care center in Kirkland for people experiencing mental health emergencies will start accepting patients in early August. It’s the first center of its kind in the county and will begin to fill a gap in the mental health care system: a place for people in crisis to go that’s not the emergency room or jail. People in crisis can go on their own or with a family member. Police or firefighters could bring them here instead of to an emergency room or jail. Someone could call 988, and a mobile crisis team could pick them up and bring them here. An emergency room could refer them. Continue reading at KUOW. (Sasun Bughdaryan)

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Associated Press
Boeing names new CEO as it posts a loss of more than $1.4 billion in second quarter
Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognition
Tesla in Seattle-area crash that killed motorcyclist was using self-driving system, authorities say
Boar’s Head expands recall to include 7 million more pounds of deli meats tied to listeria outbreak
Investigation finds at least 973 Native American children died in US government boarding schools

Capital Press
USDA: Farm labor costs up 47% in Washington
Australia, New Zealand firefighters to help battle wildfires
Farm Bureau analysis: Farm bill delay would damage farmers
Washington Fish and Wildlife mulls lethal control of wolf pack

Columbian
Accidental infant suffocation rate increases in Clark County
Long-awaited Highway 500 pedestrian crossing construction underway; expect some lane closures

Everett Herald
Interior: Nearly 1,000 children died at boarding schools
State grants Everett-based Helion a fusion energy license
Attention ferry travelers: That motorcycle is not cutting in line

Kitsap Sun
Bremerton schools may appoint interim as superintendent probe continues

News Tribune
Water bills are contentious in this Pierce County city. Why do they seem so high?
Pierce County business park project now includes more buildings, jobs, maybe a farm store

Port Townsend Leader
WDFW cited in Duckabush River death
Hunting courses open ahead of summer rush
Dabob Bay Natural Area awaiting approval for 4,000-acre expansion

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA faces a billion-dollar EIDL collateral problem

Seattle Times
Seattle City Council considers bill to extend tip credit indefinitely
Georgette Valle, who fought to ban indoor smoking in WA, dies at 99
60 Native children from Northwest died in U.S. boarding schools, among nearly 1,000 deaths nationwide

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Regional Health comes to tentative agreement with nurses

Spokesman Review
Fire crews gain control of Spokane-area fires
The northern lights set to return to Washington in dazzling fashion
Washington considering killing wolves in two areas after livestock conflicts
Lawsuit filed against Mead School District over alleged football player assaults
The tiny town of Marshall is grappling with the legal implications of a mysterious new lake

Washington Post
Boeing names next CEO as losses skyrocket
More of America’s homeless are clocking into jobs each day
For inmates, little escape from brutal heat in prisons without AC
The Fed is poised to keep rates steady. But rate cuts aren’t far off.
Some dark chocolates contain heavy metals. Should you be concerned?
More than 900 Native American children died at U.S. boarding schools
Senate passes landmark bills to protect kids online, raising pressure on House

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee-area unemployment rate dips in June
2 Cantwell-backed bills protecting children’s online privacy pass US Senate
Concerns raised over Ecology’s ruling on Eightmile Lake Dam reconstruction
WDFW considers lethal removal of Leadpoint, Dominion wolves in northeast WA

Yakima Herald-Republic
Retreat Fire 11% contained, officials cautious as higher temps, drier weather looms

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
WSU researchers aiming to replace artificial turf with real grass
West Seattle mom turns pain into purpose after her son’s murder

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Boeing appoints new CEO as company faces production challenges and legal woes
Thurston County judge orders 43 young adults back to juvenile facility, cites overcrowding

KUOW Public Radio
Boeing names aerospace veteran Kelly Ortberg as its next CEO
King County is getting its first walk-in mental health crisis center
Interior Dept. concludes 3-year probe of Indian boarding schools

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Compass Health union workers picket as negotiations stall
Whatcom County tables resolution to defund 22 North housing complex
Popular Whatcom recreation areas are outside of official boundaries for emergency calls

Crosscut
Chief Amy Smith’s plans for Seattle’s CARE Department
Washington families can apply now for $200 utility bill credits

MyNorthwest
Minimum wage debate pits small business survival against workers needed pay
‘I would like to have my family here:’ Venezuelan asylum seekers take refuge in Kent

The Urbanist
Belltown Group Tries to Block Taller Buildings Downtown Over Birds
Northgate Mall Sees First Housing Start, Continuing Urban Transformation

Tuesday, July 30

Hundreds of thousands of homes to receive $200 Climate Commitment Act electricity credit
The Department of Commerce today announced the Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program. This program provides a $200 energy bill credit to eligible electricity customers across Washington and is funded by the state’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). More than 675,000 low- to moderate-income electric utility customers throughout Washington state, or approximately 20% of all residential customers, are eligible for this program. Continue reading at The Courier-Herald. (WA Dept. of Commerce)

Washington prepares to roll out tax break for office-to-housing conversions
Cities in Washington are eager to see underused office buildings converted to housing. A new state tax break could help. The Legislature approved a law this year to allow developers to defer sales and use taxes if they convert existing structures, like office buildings, into affordable housing. The Department of Revenue last week continued the process of finalizing the rules for how that incentive would work. It said it anticipates having preliminary guidance in August. Cities could start implementing the program after that. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

New report details Dobbs’ grim effect on PNW health care access
While Washington is a state that has done everything it can to keep abortion safe and legal, the changes in other states are taking a toll here. Washingtonians are traveling to Oregon for abortion care they can’t get locally due to mounting out-of-state demand. And delayed abortions in California translate into delays all the way up the West Coast, pushing providers to a breaking point. Continue reading at Crosscut. (J. Scott Applewhite)

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Capital Press
Chicago company plans solar project in Benton County
USDA proposes rule aimed at cutting salmonella contamination

Columbian
Flyers espousing hate speech left on cars in Hazel Dell
Gray wolves to remain on state endangered list after 5-4 vote
Fort Vancouver Assisted Living might be turned into drug treatment center
9 Safeways in Clark County will be sold as part of Kroger-Albertsons merger plan; buyer says no stores will close

Courier-Herald
Hundreds of thousands of homes to receive $200 Climate Commitment Act electricity credit

Everett Herald
Monroe prison guard sentenced to prison for killing roommate
Group sues to stop south Everett Pallet shelter on vacant city property
Downtown trail is first step in making Stanwood a walkable destination
Community rallies around son of ex-Snohomish County prosecutor killed in crash
Comment: Guns aren’t as useful for self-defense as thought

High Country News
When the dams come down, what happens to barge traffic?

Kitsap Sun
Bremerton audit finds hundreds of unlicensed rentals, calling quality into question

News Tribune
FDA discovery might make you think twice about getting that tattoo
Vehicle hits hydrant, causing water main break at Puyallup intersection, officials say
Is homelessness an ‘emergency’ in Pierce County? The county executive doesn’t think so
Starting this August, WA State Parks is setting a stricter limit on how long you can camp

New York Times
More States Are Passing Book Banning Rules. Here’s What They Say.
Senate Passes Child Online Safety Bill, Sending It to an Uncertain House Fate

Olympian
Low- and moderate-income WA residents to be eligible for state Clean Energy Credits
Starting this August, WA State Parks is setting a stricter limit on how long you can camp

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle-area college beefs up its ‘extended reality’ lab
How Washington winemakers are bucking the trend of declining sales
CrowdStrike outage may cost billions. Here’s what businesses should do

Seattle Times
Thousands fewer WA kids were evaluated for special ed during pandemic
Senate passes bill to protect kids online, make tech companies accountable for harmful content

Spokesman Review
Study finds wildfire smoke exposure increases dementia risk
Stevens County town reaches final phases of completion for schoolhouse restoration
Spokane County to join imminent lawsuit over shortage of space in state juvenile detention facilities

Washington Post
Congress will probably have to punt to keep the government open in October

WA State Standard
Thousands of WA households eligible for $200 credit on their electric bills
Washington prepares to roll out tax break for office-to-housing conversions (Hasegawa, Chopp, Gregerson)
A WA teen was trafficked by a man she met on Tinder, she says. She’s still waiting for justice. (Dhingra)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Auburn police say 4 people were shot in ‘planned ambush’ at bus stop
‘Most important evidence I’ve seen in 5 years’ I What a newly leaked Boeing document could reveal
‘It’s something I can’t walk away from’ | Search underway for remains at site of former Indian boarding school
Some Republican officials in Washington are calling VP Kamala Harris a ‘DEI hire.’ Here’s why that is racist (Taylor)

KNKX Public Radio
Wildfire smoke may be worse for your brain than other air pollution, study says

KUOW Public Radio
Washington is offering $200 to some residents to help pay electric bills
The Stranger newspaper sold to former state legislator Brady Walkinshaw
Attention Washington college students: There’s still time to apply for federal aid

Web

Crosscut
New report details Dobbs’ grim effect on PNW health care access
Lawsuit filed against WA AG office for withholding public records

MyNorthwest
Invasive green crabs linked to decline of shrimp, clam populations

The Urbanist
Are Trolleybuses Being Forgotten in Metro’s Rapid Transition to Battery Buses?

Monday, July 29

Amid mental health crisis, local senator forges path for mushroom therapy
When state Sen. Jesse Salomon proposed his first bill on “magic” mushrooms in 2022, he was mostly curious about the response it would get. In 2022, Salomon sponsored Senate Bill 5660 to create a framework for mental health practitioners to have “guides” or “trip-sitters,” who lead clients through psychedelic experiences after ingesting psilocybin. The trial will be the first in the country to study the impact of psychedelic therapy in patients with post-traumatic stress and alcohol use disorders. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Annie Barker)

WA Prisons Delayed Nearly A Third Of All Inmate Release Dates Last Year
An InvestigateWest data analysis found that nearly a third of the approximately 5,000 people released from Washington prisons in fiscal year 2023 were held beyond their earned release date, which takes into account good behavior and credit for time served in county jails before their conviction. The median delay was roughly a month, but some delays stretched well over a year — making it difficult for inmates trying to plan their new lives and costing taxpayers millions. Continue reading at KNKX. (Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Pursues Looser Police Hiring Standards After High-Profile Screening Failure
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has been having a rough year, prompting a leadership change. SPD Chief Adrian Diaz was ousted from his position in May in the wake of an onslaught of lawsuits and scandals. Diaz was replaced with interim Chief Sue Rahr, who had previously served as the King County Sheriff among other law enforcement-related positions…The officer entrance exam, overseen by the Public Safety Civil Service Commission (PSCSC), [is used] as a scapegoat for SPD hiring issues. The most recent instance was at last week’s public safety committee meeting, when Rahr said she wished the PSCSC would reconsider the way they do candidate testing, instituting a testing process that is “much more low barrier and faster.” Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Seattle Channel)

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Capital Press
EPA releases ‘insecticide strategy’ proposal

Columbian
A new world coming: Bus maker Blue Bird embraces an electrified future
Thousands battle Western wildfires as smoke puts millions under air quality alerts
Despite early start, Vancouver schools, teachers union still negotiating as end of contract approaches
A domestic violence survivor signed a lease for a Vancouver apartment she could afford; it was a scam, and she wasn’t alone

Everett Herald
Amid mental health crisis, local senator forges path for mushroom therapy (Salomon)

News Tribune
TV show ‘Cops’ is back and filming in Pierce County. Why the sheriff thinks that’s OK
The state is shutting down JBLM’s DuPont gate for a week. Here’s what you need to know

Peninsula Daily News
NOAA grant to fund Highway 112 project

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tacoma Housing Authority opens first phase of Hilltop development

Seattle Times
Data centers guzzle power, threatening WA’s clean energy push
Inquiry into Garfield High shooting hindered by new law, other factors
Seattle restaurant owners feel weary as Storefront Repair Fund dries up
Inslee vetoed a study of data center power use. Here’s what other states are doing

Spokesman Review
Brush fire along U.S. Highway 195 causes roadblock, Level 1 evacuations; updates on nearby fires burning in region

Washington Post
Fake images are getting harder to spot. Here’s a field guide.
Every question you’ve ever asked about adoption in America
When all of the West is on fire at once, this is who deals with it
Biden endorses Supreme Court reforms, amendment to limit immunity
Alzheimer’s blood test shows 90% accuracy, outperforming other exams
They have jobs, but no homes. Inside America’s unseen homelessness crisis.

WA State Standard
Audit finds cracks in Washington’s egg inspection program
WA to pay $15M to three former foster care youth in sex abuse case
In long-sought change, states must consider tribal rights when crafting water rules

Wenatchee World
Stehekin residents told to evacuate a Pioneer Fire grows
‘We’re just getting started’ | Haaland highlights major salmon recovery effort with $16M investment

Yakima Herald-Republic
Wildfire in Yakima Canyon closes SR 821 and prompts evacuations
Yakima County awards over $8.5 million to homeless service providers

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
2 homes catch fire in Wilderness Rim

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Joint lawsuit by Amazon and BBB aims to combat misleading, fake online reviews
‘Get Out Now’ evacuation ordered for Stehekin as Pioneer Fire containment level drops
Community volunteers provide added layer of security during Seattle’s Torchlight Parade

KNKX Public Radio
WA Prisons Delayed Nearly A Third Of All Inmate Release Dates Last Year

KUOW Public Radio
Calls for vigilance as Washington state battles historic wildfire surge
Smoke or sunshine? WA’s new air quality map tells you what’s ahead
Claws for concern: The green crab epidemic threatening Washington clams
King County judge finds state agency in contempt for keeping teen in adult jail

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Meet Washington’s robust voter registration system
Latino Business Youth program aims to shape next generation of business leaders
Whatcom, Skagit County tribes to receive millions in federal funds for fish hatcheries

MyNorthwest
Evacuation orders increased for 51-day Pioneer fire, only 10% contained

The Urbanist
Seattle Pursues Looser Police Hiring Standards After High-Profile Screening Failure

Friday, July 26

State announces where $16.4 million in asylum-seeker aid will go
Washington’s Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance announced unprecedented investments this week to create a more coordinated response to the state’s growing asylum-seeker crisis. Although King County first began seeing an increase in new arrivals nearly two years ago, the state’s $16.4 million distribution to more than 20 organizations marks the first large-scale effort to try to address asylum-seekers’ growing housing and legal needs. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

PNW tribal fish hatcheries get big boost from Biden administration
The Department of Interior and Commerce invested $240 million in fish hatcheries that directly support tribes in the Pacific Northwest. As part of the Invest in America agenda put forth by the Biden administration, the money will directly support Pacific salmon and steelhead fisheries essential to tribal communities. The investment is part of an agreement the administration and tribal communities in the Upper Columbia River Basin made to restore the salmon population to abundant levels. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Jeff T. Green)

State to start investigating deadly police encounters
The State of Washington is about to change the way it investigates deadly police encounters. Starting December 1, the state’s Office of Independent Investigations will head up inquiries into cases where police are involved in deadly incidents. Currently, when a police officer kills someone, detectives from an outside neighboring or surrounding agency conduct the investigation. In 2021 state legislators voted to change that and created the new agency to handle all deadly use of force investigations. Continue reading at King 5.