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Tuesday, August 20

‘Find your apple’: Be Well WA initiative encourages residents to take small steps to improved health
Launching the new Be Well WA initiative, city and state leaders want Spokanites to take just one step a day to improve their health. Developed by the Washington Department of Health, the campaign aims to give tips on how people can make small improvements in their movement, emotional well-being, nourishment and social connection. Spokane Regional Health District health officer Dr. Francisco Velazquez said recent surveys conducted by the agency have shown improvements in physical activity, but the community still struggles with mental health. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Amanda Sullender)

Survey finds nearly 40% of WA parents quit work or got fired after having kids
A new study from Child Care Aware of Washington found that a lack of child care in the state costs families and employers billions of dollars annually. Employee turnover and absenteeism and lost family income associated with child care cost about $6.9 billion last year, or around $870 per resident. The report analyzes survey data from Zogby Analytics, which sampled 606 parents in Washington, and applies the findings to the state’s 1.5 million parents with children 12 years or younger. The cost of care, disruptions in availability and a lack of care options are all problems. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

For Native Americans in Washington, stark health care disparities and preventable deaths endure
A lack of access to quality health care — and the resulting deleterious effects on the health of tribal citizens — reflects a widespread problem affecting Native Americans and Alaska Natives across Washington, a new report finds. Native Americans and Alaska Natives are living shorter lives, suffering from higher rates of preventable and treatable diseases — and dying from them more often — while living with dramatically worse access to health care when compared with white Washingtonians, according to the report from the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health care access. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Tyler Tjomsland)

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Auburn Reporter
Report: Prisoners still routinely isolated in WA

Capital Press
Apple industry expects good year, but down from last season
Truckers ask Washington to change course on electric big rigs
Tough firefighting conditions persist in central Idaho mountains

Columbian
Group calls on DOJ to investigate Tacoma police for excessive force and discrimination
350 acres burn near massive Hanford nuclear waste plant in Eastern WA, diverting workers
Washington’s EV rebate program not working as advertised, prospective Clark County car buyers say

Everett Herald
Snohomish County corrections deputies get new contract
Snohomish County struggles to fill open sheriff’s deputy jobs
Everett City Council mulls revival of city’s chamber of commerce
Legacy Forest Defense Coalition set on halting timber sale near Arlington

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Ferry data from staff and local partners shape Council request for ‘Executive Relief’ from state

News Tribune
Would overhaul of WA’s public defense lead to better outcomes or ‘vigilante land’?
Group calls on DOJ to investigate Tacoma police for excessive force and discrimination
It’s seal pup season in WA. You could be fined over $30k if you harass or approach them
Have thoughts on Mount Rainier’s new timed entry system? The park wants your feedback
WA’s high court considers lowering public defense caseloads. What to know for Pierce County

New York Times
How a Law That Shields Big Tech Is Now Being Used Against It

Peninsula Daily News
Growth minimal at Brinnon wildfire
Washington State Ferries sells two vessels

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW breaks ground on $60M facility
AI is already fueling layoffs, but there is one silver lining
Seattle software company sues Albertsons over trade secrets

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Legal Aid to significantly expand immigration services

Spokesman Review
Kevin Hall to start work as Spokane’s police chief on Aug. 26
Developers hope to pivot on Wandermere property once lauded as next Kendall Yards
‘Find your apple’: Be Well WA initiative encourages residents to take small steps to improved health

Tri-City Herald
350 acres burn near massive Hanford nuclear waste plant in Eastern WA, diverting workers

Washington Post
Why no president has slowed the U.S. oil boom
NFL concussion settlement ignores ‘critical’ MRIs and other tests, saving the league millions

WA State Standard
Survey finds nearly 40% of WA parents quit work or got fired after having kids
Drought in the West has cost hydropower industry billions in losses, analysis finds
Report lays bare stark disparities in health care outcomes for Native Americans in Washington
Opinion: Washington is spending millions to reduce solitary confinement. Where are the results?

Wenatchee World
Evacuation levels lowered in Pioneer Fire; visitors to Stehekin not allowed

Yakima Herald-Republic
Bohoskey Drive fire near Terrace Heights caused by sparks from metal work, fire officials say

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Invasive crab species detected in new area of Washington coast
Here’s how one county in Washington is trying to become fireproof
Washington youth detention facility pays millions in sex abuse settlements against staff

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle smoke shop’s glass prevents smash-and-grab
Wrongful death trial of protester Summer Taylor on I-5 to begin this week
1,300 Snoqualmie Pass customers still without power since Saturday night storm
Company developing fuel efficient airplanes gets investment from Alaska Airlines
Suicide rates increase among young Asian Americans, with some groups at higher risk
Former SPD officer fired for controversial comments that sparked international outrage speaks out

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
WSF bids farewell to 2 ferries after 50 years of service
Fired Seattle police officer says ‘limited value’ comment was taken out of context

KUOW Public Radio
For Native Americans in Washington, stark health care disparities and preventable deaths endure

KXLY (ABC)
Clarkston schools will offer free school meals for all students
Spokane City Council approves Kevin Hall as new police chief

Web

MyNorthwest
Plaintiffs asked to identify and describe their tattoos; They say the request is racist

Monday, August 19

Climate change is already reshaping PNW shorelines. Tribal nations are showing how to adapt
Tribal nations along the coasts of Washington and Oregon are navigating impacts ranging from ocean warming and acidification, which threaten culturally and economically important fisheries, to increased coastal flooding and erosion from sea level rise and storm surges. The effects of climate change are most acutely felt in Indigenous communities, with roots that run thousands of years and generations deep in the land; those on the coast are particularly vulnerable. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ivy Ceballo)

Drought in the West has cost hydropower industry billions in losses in two decades, analysis finds
Persistent drought in the West over the last two decades has limited the amount of electricity that hydropower dams can generate, costing the industry and the region billions of dollars in revenue. When there isn’t enough hydropower available, utilities are forced to purchase energy from fossil fuel producers, mostly from natural gas companies, that drive up emissions. The purchase of gas-powered electricity to supplement a lack of hydropower drove carbon dioxide emissions up 10% over the 18 years, the study found. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

For homebuyers impacted by racist housing covenants, Washington state offers zero-interest loans
A new program aimed at reducing the impact of racist housing deeds, which once forbade selling homes to various minority groups in Washington state, is taking shape. The Covenant Homeownership Program, run by the state’s Housing Finance Commission, offers prospective homebuyers from those communities no-interest loans of up to $150,000 to cover down payments — one of the biggest hurdles to buying a home — and closing costs. Borrowers repay the loan upon selling or refinancing of their home. Continue reading at KUOW. (Tierra Mallorca)

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Axios
DoorDash spends over $1M to fight Seattle minimum wage law

Capital Press
Clean-energy transformation gets cool reception in Western Washington
Washington farm group seeks lawmakers’ help in dispute with Health Department

Columbian
Homeless camping bans vs. sit-lie laws in WA. What’s the difference?
Clark Public Utilities encourages qualifying customers to apply for energy credit

Everett Herald
New roundabout planned for US 2 through Sultan
With new facility, Mountlake Terrace to treat chemical that kills coho
After 47 citations, Sea Mar sues to save Marysville residency program
Comment: Our county is growing; trees must grow with us

News Tribune
Renton-based firm with litigious property-owner history just bought 3 more Tacoma sites
Controversial gunshot-detection technology to be deployed in Tacoma soon. Here’s where
Tacoma homeless shelter to embark on $20M expansion ‘to respond to an increase in need’

Peninsula Daily News
Wildfire spreads to 445 acres

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle, county streamline approach to homelessness
Downtown Seattle’s recovery is a step closer to 2019 benchmark
Seattle restaurants near tipping point as minimum wage hike looms

Seattle Times
WA state’s sex offender registry: What to know
WA State Patrol lost unknown number of emails
The island where WA has confined hundreds for sexual violence: What to know
Climate change is already reshaping PNW shorelines. Tribal nations are showing how to adapt

Skagit Valley Herald
Child care pilot partnership set to begin
More farmland preserved along I-5 corridor

South Seattle Emerald
Seattle’s Public Safety Committee is considering exclusion zones for drug use, sex work. The public has thoughts.

Spokesman Review
Challenges ahead as Spokane pivots from warehouse for the homeless
Medical Lake, Elk residents rebuild from devastating wildfires one year ago
What have first responders learned a year after the Gray and Oregon Road fires?
Getting there: Large construction projects persist countywide, creating delays as crews forge on
Opinion: Washington is eyeing a delivery tax to fund roads, but the idea is full of potholes

Washington Post
Alcohol played a part in 2.6 million deaths in 2019, WHO says
The movement to diversify Silicon Valley is crumbling amid attacks on DEI

WA State Standard
AI will play a role in election misinformation. Experts are trying to fight back
Fewer Washington kids are going to foster care despite steady stream of child neglect reports
Drought in the West has cost hydropower industry billions in losses in two decades, analysis finds

Wenatchee World
Thunderstorm sparks fires in Chelan County

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Council to consider Terrace Heights annexation, new “stay out of drug areas”

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
”This is what the future is what wildland wildfire looks like’: How one county is becoming fire proof

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
JBLM beaches reopen for swimming, new safety measure in place
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge celebrates 50th anniversary
Two retired Washington ferries to be recycled in Ecuador after decades of service

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Outages leave thousands of Seattle residents without power, likely due to weather
Expert links Seattle’s rental price drop to zoning reforms, increased housing supply

KNKX Public Radio
Tacoma PD to launch gunshot detection system pilot program
New affordable housing units could curb displacement in this Tacoma neighborhood

KUOW Public Radio
Need anti-withdrawal meds? In King County, call this 24/7 hotline
For homebuyers impacted by racist housing covenants, Washington state offers zero-interest loans
Get ready for your first light rail moment, Lynnwood. Sound Transit plans meet cute for transit newbies

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane City Council approves grant to help meet childcare needs for families
Spokane program supports children’s mental health in early learning environments

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Ferndale box first in Whatcom County to dispense free Narcan kits 24/7
Love or hate them, Bellingham’s abundant urban deer are challenge to manage

The Urbanist
South Shoreline Light Rail Brings Suburban Retrofit with Thousands of Homes

West Seattle Blog
VIDEO: County reps’ Town Hall and more @ 34th District Democrats’ August meeting (Fitzgibbon, Alvarado)

Friday, August 16

Classrooms nationwide need more back-to-school cooling
Classrooms nationwide need more cooling during back-to-school season now compared to past decades, a new analysis finds. Maintaining a comfortable and healthy environment in schools is key to kids’ educational success, but that’s getting harder amid a warming climate. Like other buildings, schools must adapt to a changing climate — and that can mean costly upgrades. Continue reading at Axios. (Axios)

Missing children, unmarked graves, unanswered questions: Washington’s Native American boarding schools
A new report from the U.S. Department of the Interior documents the atrocities carried out over the course of close to 150 years at government maintained and supported Native American boarding schools. The report lists 417 schools across 37 states and U.S. territories, including 17 boarding school sites in Washington state. It confirms that close to 1,000 children died while attending federally operated or federally supported boarding schools and identifies 74 marked and unmarked burial sites at 65 different school sites. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Why WA’s foster care system is shrinking fast
The number of children in Washington’s foster care system dropped by almost half in the past six years, reflecting a shift in approach that prioritizes keeping families together. A law that took effect in July 2023 accelerated the agency’s push in this direction. It raised the judicial standard for ordering a child removed from “serious threat of substantial harm” to “imminent physical harm.” The number of children placed in foster care fell by 14% in the year after House Bill 1227 passed. Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen City Council attempting to build better, together

Axios
UW getting up to $21M as part of cancer “moonshot”
Classrooms nationwide need more back-to-school cooling
Navigating Seattle’s closed-off “Healthy Streets” post-COVID

Capital Press
Winter wheat production up by a third in Oregon, Washington
Commentary: Inaction on traceability is unacceptable

Everett Herald
After tax measure failure, Everett could offer buyouts
Council approves Paine Field plan with $297M in potential improvements

Kitsap Sun
State commission demands Bremerton judge provide medical info that led to delays

News Tribune
School leaders’ Suncadia trip cost nearly twice the figure initially given, records show
Can you get pulled over for changing lanes in an intersection in WA state? Here’s the law
Tacoma homeless shelter to embark on $20M expansion ‘to respond to an increase in need’
Is Pierce County doing enough to address homelessness? Tacoma city leaders don’t think so
Opinion: New State Department ruling makes international adoption harder for hopeful parents

New York Times
Realtors Resist Changes in Commissions

Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle City Council weights controversial SODA zones in downtown, CID

Olympian
‘Deeply concerning.’ WWII tank leaking radioactive waste into ground in WA, feds suspect

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle, county streamline approach to homelessness
The National Observer: What killed the ‘Great Migration?’

Seattle Times
Why WA’s foster care system is shrinking fast
Report: Incarcerated people still routinely isolated in WA prisons

Spokesman Review
Study finds unhealthy air quality from wildfires can affect fertility treatments
In farewell to McMorris Rodgers, Fairchild summit showcases progress, pitfalls for military families

Tri-City Herald
$500,000 in HVAC fixes needed as students head back to this Tri-Cities high school

Washington Post
Hearing about leaked Social Security numbers? Here are some tips.

WA State Standard
To lower prescription drug costs, states head to the courthouse
Farmers say proposed drinking water requirements would drive up costs
Can 230 new units of affordable housing curb displacement in this Tacoma neighborhood?

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Guaranteed income being studied on Olympic Peninsula
Drones as first responders: A new path forward takes shape in Washington

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Tacoma police to deploy ShotSpotter technology
WSDOT progresses on fish habitat restoration despite challenges
‘It’s been like a warzone here’: Auburn father hopes new police tech will find his son’s shooter

KUOW Public Radio
San Juans’ sea stars start long crawl back from near-extinction
2 men face RICO charges for violent home robberies in Western Washington that targeted Asian Americans
Missing children, unmarked graves, unanswered questions: Washington’s Native American boarding schools

KXLY (ABC)
Extracurricular activities saved in Moses Lake schools thanks to successful fundraising efforts

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Medicare slashes costs for 10 key medications

Crosscut
WA State Patrol admits losing an unknown amount of public records

The Stranger
We Arrest Because We Care
Council Sacrificed $7.75 Million in Mental Health Funding to Mayor’s Plan to Avoid New Taxes on Big Businesses

Thursday, August 15

Whatcom County launches 24/7 Narcan dispenser program with first location operational
A new county initiative to increase access to opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan, launched this week. On Tuesday, Whatcom County Health and Community Services announced that it had opened the first of a series of naloxone dispensers to be placed across the county. The dispensers can be accessed 24 hours a day, and are free to use. According to WCHCS Health Officer Amy Harley, they’re designed to increase access to the potentially life-saving drug even at times when it wouldn’t otherwise be available. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Rachel Showalter)

Behavioral health grants from the state Department of Commerce will fund new and renovated Inland Northwest facilities
Last week, the state Department of Commerce announced it would be disbursing nearly $13 million in behavioral health grants to the Inland Northwest. This funding, which comes from the state’s capital budget, will allow health providers to build or renovate behavioral health facilities to increase capacity in the region. This year, grants were distributed to projects that would fulfill regional needs, increase access to those under age 18, or build intensive treatment facilities that could support individuals needing long-term placements. Continue reading at The Inlander. (Young Kwak)

Possible price hike on personalized plates would help WA wildlife
If you’ve got a personalized license plate, it may surprise you to know that the money you paid for it went toward caring for and protecting wildlife in Washington. That may help soften the blow of a price hike on plate renewals that the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will ask lawmakers to approve next year. Today, it costs $52 to buy a personalized license plate and $42 to renew each year. The agency will seek to boost the renewal fee to $52. A hike of $10 a year would generate an estimated $1.6 million per biennium, according to agency staff. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife)

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Axios
Medicare drug talks yielded $6 billion in savings
Seattle’s young adults face economic setbacks, but some make gains

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County launches 24/7 Narcan dispenser program with first location operational

Capital Press
Commentary: Bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act offers a lifeline for forests
Editorial: Removing ‘burdensome impediments’ to renewable energy projects

Everett Herald
Boeing faces steep climb in catching up to Airbus
Larsen tours Whidbey Island transit facility with eyes on expansion
New $50M rehab hospital near Lynnwood is ‘more than just a building’
Council approves Paine Field plan with $297M in potential improvements
DelBene presents $960K check for Snohomish County work on Chinook Marsh

High Country News
Indigenous celebration of Hanford remembers the site before nuclear contamination

The Inlander
A pilot program in Spokane is addressing the mental wellness of students and teachers in child care centers
Behavioral health grants from the state Department of Commerce will fund new and renovated Inland Northwest facilities
“Pedestrian interference” tickets spiked during Expo celebrations; meanwhile, Spokane Police are now enforcing the Proposition 1 camping ban

International Examiner
“From The Heart of a Dragon” documentary highlights past and present entrepreneurs and cultural workers creating community in the CID

News Tribune
There’s a plan to replace I-5 bridges over Nisqually delta. Here’s how to give input
Train clips tanker truck on Tacoma’s Tideflats. Here’s what we know about fuel spill
Rigging the system.’ Is Tacoma’s grease-trap policy killing its small-restaurant scene?
Opinion: My experience as a Black and Asian woman informs and improves my work in the House

New York Times
Wind Beat Coal Two Months in a Row for U.S. Electricity Generation
U.S. Announces Prices for First Drugs Picked for Medicare Negotiations
Canceling Subscriptions Could Get Easier Under New Biden Administration Rules

Olympian
There’s a plan to replace I-5 bridges over Nisqually delta. Here’s how to give input

Puget Sound Business Journal
Federal judge overturns $72M verdict against Boeing
‘First-of-its-kind’ housing project breaks ground at JBLM

Seattle Times
Does light rail solve I-5’s traffic congestion?
White House says deals struck to cut prices of popular Medicare drugs that cost $50 billion yearly

Skagit Valley Herald
Concerns expressed about proposed energy storage facility
Skagit County report shows water quality has improved since monitoring began

Spokesman Review
Spokane’s Proposition 1 is now being enforced
Low summer flows on the Spokane River prompt city’s water conservation rules

Washington Post
Surprise jump in retail sales casts aside recession fears
White House touts $6 billion in Medicare drug price savings
Internet giant’s foes on both coasts consider what it takes to crack a monopolist

WA State Standard
Possible price hike on personalized plates would help WA wildlife
Prisoners still routinely isolated in WA, despite efforts to cut solitary confinement
Can 230 new units of affordable housing curb displacement in this Tacoma neighborhood?

Yakima Herald-Republic
Federal Report on Indian boarding schools doesn’t tell full story, local experts say

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
SR 520 toll rate increase starts today. Here’s what you should know
Tacoma Police Department is dispatching unarmed officers to some calls
The new statewide approach to recruit more police officers in Washington
Back to school: Mental health is top of mind for Seattle students, advocates
Washington homeowners are paying the price for wildfires before they ignite
Downtown Seattle surpasses pre-pandemic hotel demand, total visitors nearing 2019

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
SR 520 bridge toll rates to increase Thursday
Southlake Union Streetcar could be offline until fall
Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject tentative contract
Olympia decriminalizes some psychedelic drugs like mushrooms
Whatcom County installs first 24/7 dispenser for opioid reversal medication
More states moving to green fleets for public transportation with help from federal funding
Pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked road near Sea-Tac Airport to have charges dropped
Justice Department defends Boeing plea deal against criticism by 737 Max crash victims’ families

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Audit finds Marysville School District’s future is ‘in doubt’
King County sees downturn in fentanyl-related deaths, yet the crisis persists
‘There are no quick fixes’: WSF director tackles long-standing issues in first 5 months

KNKX Public Radio
Shellfish harvesters have to consider biotoxins later in fall and winter
Grid storage research facility in Richland promotes better energy storage

KUOW Public Radio
FCC adopts an alert system for missing Indigenous people
Medicare negotiated drug prices for the first time. Here’s what it got
What’s an ‘entheogen’? Magic mushrooms are now a low priority in Olympia

KXLY (ABC)
Cheney teachers rally for better pay, smaller class sizes and more resources
Kalispel Tribe receives $130k grant to expand dental care in Pend Oreille County
Parking requirements in Spokane expected to change drastically over the next few years

Web

MyNorthwest
Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject tentative contract
Sound Transit preparing for Lynnwood light rail opening on Aug. 30

The Urbanist
Where Did King County Metro’s Ridership Go?

Washington Observer
A new look for ballot initiatives

Wednesday, August 14

‘I really don’t know where we go from here’: Analysis highlights Washington child care crisis
A statewide research analysis published in July revealed the lack of access to child care has resulted in a $6 billion loss to Washington’s economy. Despite state investments that kept child care businesses afloat during the pandemic, the child care crisis remains severe, according to the study by Child Care Aware of Washington. The study found challenges such as disruptions, turnover, absenteeism and lost income due to child care issues amounted to $6.9 billion in 2023 in Washington. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Amanda Cowan)

WA Supreme Court ruling in Amazon case sets ‘precedent’ on price gouging
Washington’s Supreme Court ruled last week in favor of consumers who say they were victims of price gouging on Amazon’s digital store at the start of COVID-19 lockdowns. That’s significant because, unlike most states, Washington does not have a statute preventing excessive price increases in times of emergency, like the aftermath of a natural disaster or a global pandemic. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Brandon Garcia)

Rising costs for Washington school districts outpace state funding, report finds
In recent years, districts are spending a lot more money to keep Washington’s schools running — but state funding isn’t keeping up. That’s according to a new report from the League of Education Voters, which found school districts have increased spending on staff by 19.7% between the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years. Districts are spending well above state-funded levels for operating staff, especially for office support and custodians — 40% of whom are hired using more funds than allocated by state lawmakers. Districts are also spending about 5% more on teachers and 11% more on teachers’ aides, or paraeducators, than they’re funded for by the state. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)