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Monday, October 9

How a Washington agency is trying to get housing built on public land
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources owns more than 7,000 acres of “transition land” scattered across the state. Most of this property is surrounded by development, leaving it unsuitable for timber sales – the department’s largest source of revenue from the roughly 5.6 million acres it manages. As the state tries to figure out what to do with these oddball parcels, some see an opportunity to build more housing at a time when it’s badly needed. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

In wake of ‘Blake,’ 1,500 drug convictions scrubbed in Snohomish County
More than 200,000 cases statewide needed to be adjudicated again due to the Blake decision, said Grace O’Connor, managing attorney for the Blake Defense Program. The state Office of Public Defense set up the program specifically to deal with the legal headaches the Blake decision created. But some things the courts cannot fix. They can’t get former inmates their time back or their lives back on track. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

Port Angeles pharmacy becomes first in Washington state approved for abortion drug mifepristone
A pharmacy in Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula just became the first in the state to announce publicly that it will begin dispensing mifepristone — the first of two drugs used in most medication abortions. This marks a big change for a drug most people once had to go to a doctor’s office to get. Continue reading at KUOW. (Charlie Neibergall)

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Axios
Indian Americans now largest Asian American group in U.S.

Bainbridge Island Review
Opinion: Why aren’t noise laws enforced on vehicles?

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County getting new equipment. Here’s how it’s preparing for another flood disaster

Capital Press
GOP senator: Washington Ecology keeps cap-and-trade secrets

Columbian
Judge orders Larch to remain open until Tuesday; still deciding on further closure delays
East Vancouver neighbors oppose a city zoning change that would allow apartment development
I-5 bridge environmental impact statement delayed, again – this time until 2024

Everett Herald
In wake of ‘Blake,’ 1,500 drug convictions scrubbed in Snohomish County (Simmons)
Group advocating for addiction recovery launches in Snohomish County (Davis)
‘Poster child’ estuary preserved at Edmonds’ Meadowdale Beach Park (Peterson)
Editorial: North Cascades need return of grizzly bears

Federal Way Mirror
Feedback sought for future light rail facility in Federal Way

Issaquah Reporter
Issaquah council OKs transportation agreement, Newport Way NW improvements

News Tribune
‘I thought we were going to have digital driver’s licenses by now. What’s the holdup?’ (Mullet)
Yes, your landlord can increase your rent that much. A WA renter’s guide to rent raises
Client at the heart of the Washington Supreme Court’s Blake ruling has died
Opinion: Washington couple taxed on money they haven’t made yet. Supreme Court could stop it

Olympian
Thurston County Judge rules in favor of ‘legislative privilege’ to shield public records

Puget Sound Business Journal
Kroger, Albertsons could land in court with regulators over antitrust issues, reports say

Seattle Times
Will high gas prices derail WA’s climate policy? (Nguyen, Fitzgibbon, Doglio)
No guns, no uniforms: Meet WA’s new investigators of police force
How Redmond evolved from sleepy WA suburb to fast-growing city
Why Seattle can’t collect on $4.3 million worth of traffic tickets
Where to go when nature calls? Seattle has a public restroom problem
Violence and transit: What’s happening and what Seattle-area agencies are doing to protect riders
Editorial: A Tukwila church steps up where the federal government fails on migration
Opinion: UW misinformation researchers will not buckle under political attacks

South Whidbey Record
Langley council brings back housing committee

Spokesman Review
Democrats and Republicans in Washington state agree the nation’s debt is unsustainable. What could Congress do about it?
‘Not what Spokane represents’: Overnight string of vandalism appears on Spokane LGBTQ+ landmarks
Opinion: Wildfire mitigation work can keep people safe and our insurance market healthy

Tri-City Herald
Homeless people being bused to Tri-Cities? Advocates say there’s no truth to claim

Washington Post
UAW doesn’t expand strike, citing progress in talks with Ford, GM
Rich countries promised poor nations billions for climate change. They aren’t paying.

WA State Standard
How a Washington agency is trying to get housing built on public land
WA counties lawsuit presses state to cover more legal defense costs for the poor
States that send a mail ballot to every voter really do increase turnout, scholars find

Wenatchee World
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to acquire 650 more acres near Mansfield for pygmy rabbits

Whidbey News-Times
Sheriff’s Office to begin removing RVs from roadside encampment

Yakima Herald-Republic
Help needed in Yakima County for child care crisis
Yakima County’s labor force is growing again
Editorial: Yakima County crisis response unit is a step forward

Broadcast

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Gov. Inslee requests federal aid for survivors of August wildfires
Seattle leaders address violence, safety issues aboard public transit
Revive I-5 project continues with driving surface improvement work starting Monday
Seattle town hall calls for transparency, police accountability after death of Jaahnavi Kandula
Washington to raise minimum wage to $16.28 in 2024, retaining highest rate in U.S.
Pierce County judge rules in favor of 28 counties’ lawsuit against DSHS on behavioral health evaluations

KNKX Public Radio
As San Juan county workers switch to 32 hours a week, some are taking second or third jobs

KUOW Public Radio
NW tribes push for removal of Snake River dams
Dude, where’s my train? Why freight makes Amtrak late
2023 set to be deadliest year yet for overdoses in King County
Washington counties win initial legal victory over scarce mental health beds
Washington state gets $1B boost for roadwork, including EV infrastructure
This Seattle author wrote a memoir for LGBTQ youth. Now it’s being banned
Ginormous South Tacoma warehouse project gets green light despite social justice, environmental concerns
Port Angeles pharmacy becomes first in Washington state approved for abortion drug mifepristone

Web

Crosscut
Why isn’t the Pacific Coastal rainforest treated like the Amazon?

Friday, October 6

Does Washington need a new agency to oversee jails?
Washington would create a new independent agency to set safeguards and conduct inspections of city, county and regional jails, under a proposal a statewide task force is backing. The Legislature directed the task force to review the current situation in jails and to make recommendations on restoring a statewide authority to set mandatory minimum jail standards. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (John C. Magee)

New WA agency will review fatal police shooting of Redmond mother
Washington’s new Office of Independent Investigations says it will review the 2020 shooting death of Andrea Churna by a Redmond police officer to determine whether a new criminal investigation into her death is warranted. The Churna shooting is the first such review formally announced by the OII, a first-of-its-kind agency formed by the Legislature to address conflicts of interest that arise when police investigate themselves. The agency, which is still in its formative stages, eventually will investigate every law enforcement-caused death in the state. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

Washington state ramps up fight against air pollution with new data-collecting devices
Earlier in the week, Gov. Jay Inslee was in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. Inslee was shown new devices that will record data on pollutants you can breathe in and that cause health issues like vehicle exhaust and wildfire smoke. Washington Department of Ecology officials said, “Starting this year, we will be producing biennial reports on each community, so every two years. The data we collect will be shared online, where all community members can access it.” Sites for air quality devices will be re-evaluated in six years. Continue reading at KOMO News. (Mike Kilmas)

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Associated Press
Final day of Kaiser Permanente strike with no deal in sight for workers
Biden Memo Directs US Agencies to Restore ‘Healthy and Abundant’ Salmon Runs in the Northwest

Aberdeen Daily World
New members appointed to property value appeals board

Axios
More Seattle-area women are working soon after giving birth

Capital Press
Washington train trestle destroyed by fire to resume service this month
Seafood processor fined for Clean Water Act violations

International Examiner
City of Seattle offers new funding options to battle rising commercial rent

News Tribune
‘He was my best friend.’ Sister of man who died in Tacoma police custody testifies
State DOH pulls funding from Pierce County AIDS Foundation, which serves 3,000 people

Olympian
Client at the heart of the Washington Supreme Court’s Blake ruling has died
Thurston median home price up 2% over September 2022, but down sharply from August
Want to serve on a Lacey advisory board? You now have an opportunity to get paid
Is it legal in WA to use a handicap parking space without a permit? Here’s what to know

Puget Sound Business Journal
From NDAs to overtime pay, the feds are reshaping worker relations

Seattle Times
As Washington’s economy booms, more older residents live in poverty
New WA agency will review fatal police shooting of Redmond mother
In trial of Tacoma officers, Manuel Ellis’ sister describes search for clues in his death
Port of Seattle Commissioner Felleman violated ethics code, board finds

Spokesman Review
Spokane Public Schools, West Valley to receive payout from settlement with vape manufacturer Juul

Washington Post
Economy adds 336,000 jobs in September, in a stunning gain

WA State Standard
Does Washington need a new agency to oversee jails?
Washington among states suing feds to force update of wood stove standards
Environmental groups ask Avista and Puget Sound Energy to leave powerful gas lobby
What is artificial intelligence? Legislators are still looking for a definition.
As wildfires grow, poor, elderly disproportionately affected

Yakima Herald-Republic
Editorial: It’s vaccination season — get your shots

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Manuel Ellis’s sister testifies Ellis ‘happy and upbeat’ the day he died

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Both directions of the SR 520 floating bridge over Lake Washington closed this weekend
Washington state ramps up fight against air pollution with new data-collecting devices

KUOW Public Radio
Why Mercer Island is permanently closing its city hall
The job market was stunningly strong in September
Can AI reduce traffic deaths? These Seattle engineers are putting it to the test
The communities experimenting with how to be more resilient to a changing climate

Q13 TV (FOX)
Seattle Police Chief sheds light on plan to enforce new drug law
Dead trees uncover truth of massive earthquake that current models don’t plan for
Seattle cop who made callous remarks after Indian woman’s death has been administratively reassigned

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: Libraries protect the freedom to read

Crosscut
Washington AG calls for rent, fee rollbacks at Aberdeen mobile park
B.C. pioneers Canada’s new ‘$10 a Day’ national child care system

Thursday, October 5

Gov. Inslee asks White House to aid Spokane County wildfire survivors
In a letter to President Joe Biden, Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday asked for financial assistance and a major disaster declaration to help Spokane County wildfire survivors. The Gray and Oregon Road fires killed two people, destroyed 700 structures, and torched over 20,000 acres in August. Hundreds of people lost their homes, and Inslee declared a statewide emergency as thousands were forced to evacuate. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

Washington may avoid child care cliff, but many providers are still struggling
Washington is unlikely to see a huge drop in child care services even as federal pandemic aid supporting providers dries up. Expiration of the funds led to nationwide concerns that millions of children could lose care. About $24 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act was distributed to states to help keep child care centers open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. That funding ran out on Saturday. Washington officials, however, say the state used most of its almost $390 million in federal child care stabilization funds, as well as new state revenue, to support child care centers beyond the pandemic. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

Sen. Patty Murray now 2nd in line to be president after McCarthy’s dismissal
After Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s ouster from his position as speaker of the House, Washington’s U.S. Senator Patty Murray is now second in line to the presidency. Typically, the line of succession after the president is the vice president, then the speaker of the House, then the Senate Pro Tempore, which is the role Murray holds. Her office confirmed that with no leader in the House — just an “acting” speaker — Murray is now second in line to the presidency. This will be the case until the House elects a new speaker. Continue reading at KOMO.

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Bellevue Reporter
Washington minimum wage to top $16 an hour next year

Bellingham Herald
Gas prices increase across Whatcom County and Bellingham, and they’ve hit a new threshold

Capital Press
Washington breaks biodiesel law for 14th straight year

Columbian
Clark County, La Center consider restricting camping on public property
WSU Vancouver relaunches on-campus child care to smiles for children and parents
Vancouver establishes affordable housing fund with money to come from developers that get tax exemption

Everett Herald
800K Washingtonians must restart student loan payments this month (Berg)
Comment: Companies eventually will have to track their emissions
Comment: Flood of misinformation isn’t the problem; demand is
Letter: Handicapped parking law should be better enforced

News Tribune
Where were Manuel Ellis’ hands during deadly encounter with Tacoma cops? Expert testifies
‘It’s unreal’: What recent vehicle thefts at the Tacoma Mall reveal about a broader problem
Opinion: It’s one of Pierce County’s unhealthiest places. A local man wants to change that

Olympian
Video played for jury shows part of Manuel Ellis’ encounter with police the night he died
Dad died after medics waited outside his home, lawsuit says. His son called 911 twice

Puget Sound Business Journal
Alaska Airlines launches startup incubator for aviation tech
Kaiser workers in SW Washington, Oregon join massive strike
IRS in lawmakers’ crosshairs over tax-credit moratorium

Seattle Times
New WA air-quality monitors draw critique from environmental justice advocates
Gov. Inslee asks White House to aid Spokane County wildfire survivors
As Seattle gas prices soar, so does interest in electric vehicles
Deadly bird flu jumps to harbor seals in Salish Sea, first for West Coast
Editorial: Seattle can’t enforce laws until King County fixes jail staffing

Skagit Valley Herald
La Conner School District puts mastery-based learning on display (Wellman)

Spokesman Review
Inslee asks Biden to declare Gray and Oregon Road fires ‘major disaster’ to unlock more federal aid

Tri-City Herald
Clean energy projects could cover 19K acres near Tri-Cities. Will they create enough jobs?

Washington Post
A coordinated ‘swatting’ effort may be behind school shooting hoaxes terrorizing kids across U.S.

WA State Standard
Washington may avoid child care cliff, but many providers are still struggling
First Amendment advocates fight growing number of U.S. book bans

Yakima Herald-Republic
Agreement will add personnel and negotiators to Yakima Valley SWAT team

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New SeaTac minimum wage among highest in US
‘Week Without Driving’ challenge aims to make policymakers aware of public transit problems
Research uncovers new details on earthquake threats in western Washington
Gov. Inslee asking President Biden for federal aid amid Gray, Oregon Road fire recovery
600 employees have left, retired from Providence Everett since 2021, union says

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Sen. Patty Murray now 2nd in line to be president after McCarthy’s dismissal

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle mayor signs bill to increase downtown hotel fees, boosting revenue for tourism
Mother, sister of Manny Ellis expected to testify in trial of Tacoma police officers

KNKX Public Radio
Washington state’s efforts to trade timber revenue for carbon credits

KUOW Public Radio
NPR’s Climate Week: A spotlight on solutions
Push to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day continues in Congress
Bellevue leaders ‘not proud’ of delays to open parking lot for people living in vehicles
Freeze! Police! What happens when people get caught doing drugs in Seattle?

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Police Department offering free theft de-escalation training to local businesses
City council wants to add crosswalks at E 29th Avenue for pedestrian safety

Q13 TV (FOX)
CDC has stopped printing COVID-19 vaccination cards
Snohomish County warns of increase in infant deaths over unsafe sleep environments

Web

Cascadia Daily News
President: WWU’s future is bright amid ‘crisis of confidence’ in higher ed

Crosscut
WA authors are teaching AI how to write — without their consent

The Stranger
A Militia Adopted Three Highways in Washington (Ramos, Berg)

Wednesday, October 4

Fewer students enroll at state’s public colleges, study says
The decline in college enrollment during the pandemic has slowed, but the state’s public colleges continue to see fewer students than in previous years. The trend is threatening to impede the state’s progress toward education equity, according to a new report from the Washington Student Achievement Council. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)

WA drafts permanent rules to better protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke
When wildfires tear through Northwest forests, pouring heavy smoke across Washington state, health officials’ guidance is often to simply stay inside. But that’s not an option for people who work outdoors. After two years of emergency rules guiding smoke response for employers and employees, the state is drafting a set of permanent rules. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

WA Sen. Cantwell wants Congress to act on fentanyl crisis in NW tribes
On the heels of a string of overdose deaths in Lummi Nation, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell is calling for a congressional hearing to examine how the fentanyl crisis has disproportionately affected Native communities. Washington state has seen the biggest increase in overdose deaths in the nation — more than 21% reported between February 2022 and February 2023. And Native communities across the country continue to experience disproportionate increases in overdose deaths despite efforts to prevent and treat drug addiction and overdoses in their communities. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

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Associated Press
Thousands of US health care workers go on strike in multiple states over wages and staff shortages

Axios
Seattle just had its sixth hottest summer on record
Flyers rate Sea-Tac one of the worst airports in the U.S.

Capital Press
Ag stakeholders: Does Biden salmon announcement end dam breaching worries?

Columbian
Vancouver City Council considers restrictions on large warehouses ahead of moratorium’s expiration

Everett Herald
Helicopter crash in Copper Lake sparks environmental, health concerns
Washington’s Job Skills Program has trained employees for 40 years
Fewer students enroll at state’s public colleges, study says

Islands’ Weekly
Gov. Jay Inslee tours Kaleetan on way to Lopez Island (Ramel)

News Tribune
‘Can’t breathe, sir’: Jurors hear Manuel Ellis’ final words in trial’s opening remarks
More money for Sheriff’s Department but fewer deputy positions part of ’24-25 budget plan

Olympian
Park Service seeking comment on plan to return grizzly bears to Washington

Puget Sound Business Journal
Here’s how much more top tech CEOs make than median workers

Seattle Times
King County proposes millions in funding for cultural sector
Historic trial of Tacoma officers starts with wildly divergent accounts
Audits confirm issues with King County Regional Homelessness Authority
Out of 400 therapists in Washington, why just 32 confirmed openings for new patients
With NW tribes holding ‘too many funerals,’ Cantwell wants congressional hearing on fentanyl
Opinion: Is the state managing its public lands for all Washingtonians? Not yet

Skagit Valley Herald
Appeals to gravel pit expansion heard, county to make decision Friday

The Skanner
Washington State Minimum Wage Moving Up to $16.28 Per Hour

Snoqualmie Valley Record
Snoqualmie council talks transit, housing, crime with state reps (Ramos, Callan)

Washington Post
Climate change is driving amphibians to extinction, study finds
Supreme Court to weigh whether disability activists can sue hotels after online searches
Kaiser Permanente workers begin walking off the job; 75,000 expected to strike

WA State Standard
As union lawsuit falters, state readies Tukwila psychiatric hospital for patients
Building more homes is Oregon governor’s top priority for 2024 legislative session
Washington State Library cuts hours and leaves jobs unfilled as its budget takes a hit
Battery storage seen as ‘backbone’ of reliable electric grid but adoption uneven across US

Yakima Herald-Republic
How Quincy farmers uncovered a toxic truth in the fertilizer industry
Pacific Ag receives state grant for Sunnyside biomethane facility
Editorial: Health district’s Narcan program will save lives

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Catalytic converter thefts down in Washington, but repair costs still high for unlucky victims
Officials at Echo Glen Children’s Center were warned about an escape. Then, 7 teens still made it out

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
SDOT, Harrell create ‘first of its kind’ framework to hit city’s zero-emission goals
Tacoma city workers rally on steps of City Hall for a fair contract

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle OPA unable to investigate fake tombstone case due to ‘conflict of interest’

KNKX Public Radio
Jurors hear about Manuel Ellis’ death during opening statements in Tacoma officers trial

KUOW Public Radio
Washington state is trashy, and there’s a study to prove it
WA drafts permanent rules to better protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke
Water usage around Seattle is down, but the recent rain still won’t help reservoirs
Latinos in WA are aging. Bilingual, bicultural resources for their caregivers aren’t keeping pace

KXLY (ABC)
Staffing shortages cause Spokane paramedics to work constant overtime
New behavioral health clinic providing mental health resources in northeast Spokane

Q13 TV (FOX)
Nationwide emergency alert test will hit mobile phones, TV today
Despite rainfall, Seattle Public Utilities still calling for customers to conserve water

Web

Crosscut
Lessons unearthed from the Northwest’s little-known histories
What WA leaders are watching for in the Manuel Ellis police trial (Lovick)

Tuesday, October 3

Washington minimum wage to top $16 an hour next year
Minimum wage workers in Washington will get a pay hike in January. The state’s minimum wage will rise to $16.28 an hour starting Jan. 1, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries has announced. That’s a 54-cent increase from the current hourly rate of $15.74, which is the highest of any state in the nation and more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

Billion-dollar disasters nearly tripled in WA over 20 years
Natural disasters causing at least $1 billion in damage nearly tripled in Washington state over the last 20 years, due primarily to wildfires and droughts, according to recent data. In addition to threatening homes and property, disasters are causing insurers to change how they factor climate and extreme weather risks into premiums. Continue reading at Axios. (Kavya Beheraj)

Opening statements to begin in historic trial of three Tacoma officers
Opening statements in the historic murder trial of Tacoma police are scheduled for Tuesday morning, beginning what is expected to be a high-profile test of Washington’s expanded power to hold law enforcement accountable. It is the first prosecution under a 2018 voter-approved initiative, which lowered the threshold to hold police officers accountable for on-duty deaths. It is also the largest Washington state prosecution against officers for an on-duty death since the 1930s. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Brian Hayes)