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Thursday, July 18

Seattle interim police chief fires officer who made ‘vile’ comments
Seattle interim police Chief Sue Rahr has fired an officer and union leader who made comments, described as “vile” and callous, downplaying the death of a young woman killed by another officer speeding through a crosswalk. Mayor Bruce Harrell, in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, said he supported Rahr’s decision, even though city officials and the chief recognize it will likely be appealed, lead to arbitration and potentially affect the department’s efforts to end 12 years under federal oversight that has narrowed its focus to officer accountability. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

WA Supreme Court considers cutting public defender caseloads
Would slashing public defender caseloads in Washington better ensure people accused of crimes, but unable to afford a lawyer, receive counsel as they are constitutionally guaranteed? The state Supreme Court is considering a request to reduce the number of cases public defense attorneys handle each year by up to two-thirds, and is seeking the public’s opinion on whether it is a good idea. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Faced with limited work options, asylum-seekers are starting businesses in Washington state
In general, asylum-seekers must wait 150 days after submitting an asylum application to apply for federal work authorization. That leaves them with around five months of not being employable, which often means they can’t pay for rent, food, and other basic necessities on their own. Starting a small business is one way asylum-seekers and other immigrants can prepare to make a living as they await work authorization. But for some, the consequences of not having an income outweigh the risks of launching their business before being authorized to work. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Wetlands witchery: project works to steady meandering river

Axios
Biden administration cancels another $1.2B in student debt

Capital Press
Judge dismisses utility’s suit against cap-and-trade
GOING TO MARKET: Westerners continue to patronize farmers markets

Columbian
Clark County Council OKs committee to advise on issues affecting disabled people
9th U.S. Circuit Court denies Clark County’s attempt to dismiss wrongful death suit in Kevin Peterson Jr. shooting

Everett Herald
State commission weighs permanent closure of Cama Beach cabins
Comment: Rally shooter’s motive is irrelevant; his gun isn’t
Letter: Costly slaughter of barred owls won’t help spotted owls

The Inlander
After six years of negotiations, the United States and Canada have agreed to update the Columbia River Treaty
Even as Idaho has a surplus in its state education budget, one North Idaho district is turning to online crowdfunding to maintain its mission

News Tribune
‘Tough love.’ Pierce County city says police can remove homeless from public property
Now with more authority to outlaw public camping, what will Pierce County leaders do?
Are parents allowed to give their kids alcohol in Washington? Here’s what state law says

Olympian
Fish barrier removal work to slow traffic on U.S. 101 near Thurston-Mason county line for weeks

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing workers put strike on the table amid contract talks

Seattle Times
Software error scrambles Washington hunting tag draw
Seattle interim police chief fires officer who made ‘vile’ comments

Skagit Valley Herald
Commerce gives $255,000 to Skagit organizations
Anacortes housing project leaves future of historic building uncertain

Spokesman Review
How this year’s high summer temperatures pose a threat to local trout, salmon
How utilities are holding up to the power demand during Spokane’s heat wave

Vancouver Business Journal
PeaceHealth opens new emergency room expansion

Washington Post
Boeing’s largest union says it will strike if contract negotiations fail

WA State Standard
Boeing workers signal support for strike if contract talks fail
WA Supreme Court considers cutting public defender caseloads
Pierce County residents have requested millions for eviction prevention so far in 2024

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
25 tiny homes at Seattle shelter damaged in fire
Attorneys for Auburn police officer file motion for new murder trial
For people in Whatcom County, living on the streets could mean dying on the streets
Seattle police officer fired for ‘cruel comments and callous laughter,’ department says

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Boeing machinists pass strike sanction vote
Congress examines transparency pricing for healthcare costs
SPD officer fired after joking about death of Jaahnavi Kandula, killed in officer involved crash

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle cop fired over remarks about Indian graduate student’s death
Seattle’s accessory dwelling unit boom continues, outnumbering single-family permits 2 to 1
Faced with limited work options, asylum-seekers are starting businesses in Washington state

KXLY (ABC)
Third week of extreme heat impacting local businesses in Spokane
Spokane City Council considers more camping bans after Supreme Court ruling
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to vote on moving wolves off endangered species list

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County explores how to build a rehabilitative jail with help from national experts

MyNorthwest
Fire damages dozens of tiny homes in Seattle
Going green isn’t what you think when it comes to WSDOT safety

The Urbanist
SLU Decision Points to Uphill Battle for Chinatown Station Advocates

Wednesday, July 17

Attorneys for convicted Auburn police officer seek new trial and judge
The attorneys for Auburn police officer Jeffrey Nelson, convicted last month of murder and assault for the shooting death of Jesse Sarey in 2019, are seeking a new trial and a new judge to hear it, alleging “unprecedented” judicial interference during deliberations and “egregious” misconduct by special prosecutors during his six-week trial. Nelson, a 12-year Auburn veteran officer, was the first police officer to be charged under new police-accountability and training provisions contained in I-940, a citizens initiative that passed in 2018. That measure removed language from the police deadly-force statute that previously made charging an officer with murder almost impossible. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

Biden’s push to cap rent hikes could energize the pursuit in Washington
Democratic state lawmakers in Washington came up empty this year when they sought to cap rent increases to help tenants cope with surging costs of housing. They view President Joe Biden’s call Tuesday for limiting rent hikes as validation that housing affordability is a problem nationwide, and say it could re-energize the conversation on assisting renters in Washington. Under Biden’s proposal, landlords could raise rents no more than 5% a year if they want to claim a federal tax break enabling faster write-off of depreciation costs. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Mario Tama)

Washington tribes receive $52 million through landmark climate law
Tens of millions of dollars raised by a landmark climate law in Washington state will go to Native American tribes that are at risk from climate change and rising sea levels to help them move to higher ground, install solar panels, buy electric vehicles and restore wetlands, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday. Nearly every Native American tribe in Washington is receiving money. Among them is the 3,000-member Quinault Indian Nation on the Pacific coast of the Olympic Peninsula, which is getting $13 million to help relocate its two main villages to higher ground, away from the tsunami zone and persistent flooding. Continue reading at KOMO. (Lindsey Wasson)

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Associated Press
Rising sea levels push the Quinault Nation to look toward higher ground
Judge rejects WA attorney general Bob Ferguson’s effort to get Catholic church records

Axios
Heat wave fans spread of avian flu

Capital Press
Yakima River basin water supply drops a little
The heat is on: Wildfire activity elevates in West
Hot potatoes: Above-normal heat stretch puts plants into lull
Farmers, red states ask Supreme Court to review electric vehicle mandate

Columbian
Kalama omits gender-inclusivity rules from student handbook
Vancouver City Council considers zoning district to protect city’s mobile home parks
Share’s Summer Meal Program moves into apartment complexes to feed more Clark County children

Everett Herald
At new Marysville water treatment facility, plants filter out pollutants
Editorial: Weekend’s violence should steel resolve in democracy

News Tribune
National Weather Service issues red flag warning for W. Washington over fire danger
Crowd-control restrictions implemented at popular Pierce County park. Will they continue?

Peninsula Daily News
Legislators learn effects of climate change in park

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle Aquarium sets opening date for $170M Ocean Pavilion

Seattle Times
Seattle’s cost of living crisis hits the arts hard. Why that matters
Restaurant industry scrambles as new minimum wage approaches
Attorneys for convicted Auburn police officer seek new trial and judge
Aging bridges in 16 states will be improved or replaced with the help of $5B in federal funding

Spokesman Review
Fair game: More teachers are ‘gaming’ during lessons, but is it safe?
New kiosk at Northeast Community Center offers free health supplies

Washington Post
Biden set to announce support for major Supreme Court changes

WA State Standard
Biden’s push to cap rent hikes could energize the pursuit in Washington (Trudeau, Peterson, Kuderer)
Jayapal, Smith call for closure of for-profit immigration detention facilities

Yakima Herald-Republic
Windmill Farms workers conduct work stoppage at Sunnyside mushroom plant

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
A woman’s toddler died of a fentanyl overdose in her bed. She is now charged with manslaughter
Skagit County mom wants death certificate changes for those killed by ‘controlled substance homicide’

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Activists call on Amazon to speed up climate goals amid Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day is a major cause of injuries for warehouse workers, Senate review says
Money from Washington’s landmark climate law will help tribes face rising seas, climate change

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington tribes receive $52 million through landmark climate law
Seattle City Council passes ordinance to adopt harsher penalties for illegal street racing

KUOW Public Radio
The Trump assassination attempt and why counterterrorism is hard to combat in the U.S.
Following Trump shooting, Washington state politicians condemn violence and spread conspiracy theories

KXLY (ABC)
Level 3 (Go Now) evacuations ordered for 520-acre wildfire burning in Asotin County
Catholic clergy abuse survivors call for alleged Washington abuse documents to be released

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Just how filthy is Bellingham Bay — and who is cleaning it up?
With new health center now open, Lummi Nation sets sights on detox facility

MyNorthwest
Seattle City Light rate hikes to be higher than forecast
Suspect dies in Pierce County deputy-involved shooting
Activists call on Amazon to speed up climate goals amid Prime Day
Whatcom County deaths of unhoused people on pace for record amount
Seattle council votes to crack down on street racing; adds fines, classifies as reckless driving

The Urbanist
King County Plans to Close Transit Center Restrooms Despite Promising Pilot

Tuesday, July 16

Sale of large capacity magazines remains illegal after WA Supreme Court stay ruling
The Washington State Supreme Court upheld Monday morning a temporary legal pause preventing the sale of large-capacity magazines in Washington after a Cowlitz County judge in April found the state ban violated the U.S. and Washington constitutions in lawsuits involving Kelso gun store Gator’s Custom Guns. The state Supreme Court will hear the overall case — which will determine the future of the 2022 state high-capacity magazine ban — after granting direct review and bypassing the Washington State Court of Appeals in June. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Keith Srakocic)

Washington faces shortfall of qualified special education teachers, audit finds
Washington lacks qualified special education teachers and teachers’ aides, but the state doesn’t know how bad the problem really is — just that at least 1.5% of the teachers aren’t qualified for their jobs. That’s according to a new state audit, which found that alongside high vacancy rates in special education, a “significant number of those in the classroom do not hold full teaching endorsements for special education or are comparatively inexperienced in this field.” Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Richard Ross)

Where Have All the Washington State Ferries Walk-on Passengers Gone?
Washington State Ferries (WSF) ridership has recovered from the pandemic faster than nearly any public transit agency in the state. 2023 WSF ridership recovered to 78% of the 2019 ridership, better recovery than all but three Washington state transit agencies. But the recovery has been uneven, with drive-on ridership (drivers, passengers, and motorcycles) recovering much faster than ‘walk-ons’ (pedestrians and bicyclists). Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Travis Merrigan)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Changes to Aberdeen’s camping ordinances afoot
Editorial: Please follow county burn ban restrictions

Axios
Exclusive: Energy Department proposes AI strategy
Seattle statue of Hiroshima bombing survivor stolen
Biden to propose capping national rent increases at 5%
Gray wolves could fall off Washington state endangered list

Capital Press
Murphy leads WSU’s bread lab
Fish and Wildlife rules wolf shooting lawful, won’t remove more wolves

Columbian
Washington universities enrollment questions persist
Popular Clark County program Dozer Day expands nationally
Clark County Public Health shines the light on heat in new study
Sale of large capacity magazines remains illegal after WA Supreme Court stay ruling

Everett Herald
Ferry line jumpers face a $145 fine — and scorn from other drivers

News Tribune
‘Crucial’ undeveloped Pierce County trail will become 3.5 miles for bikers, pedestrians
Tacoma ranked one of the worst U.S. cities for renters, according to new study. Here’s why
Crowd-control restrictions implemented at popular Pierce County park. Will they continue?

New York Times
Why Is the Oil Industry Booming?

Olympian
This story pole honors the Boldt Decision and Indigenous activists who fought for it
WA has over 90 road construction projects this summer. Use our guide to avoid traffic
WA is one of the states with the highest quality of life, CNBC says. Here’s where it ranks

Puget Sound Business Journal
Distress, foreclosure worries grow for hotel properties
Feds deliver $1.5B for Columbia River I-5 bridge project

Seattle Times
Why some WA universities are seeing a drop in enrollment
Millions of world’s children unvaccinated against deadly diseases
Black women employed by King County report lower pay, discrimination
Amazon Prime Day is a major cause of injuries for warehouse workers, Senate review says

Spokesman Review
One dead, others hospitalized after weekend evening swim at Coyote Rock
Last week’s temperatures broke records and roadways, and the heat isn’t letting up anytime soon

Washington Post
Why melting ice sheets are making our days longer
Pentagon confronts Gold Star divide among grieving military families
Witnesses warned police of shooter at least 86 seconds before gunfire, video shows

WA State Standard
Washington faces shortfall of qualified special education teachers, audit finds
WA high court leaves ban in place for now on large capacity ammo magazines

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Voters to weigh in on Port of Everett boundary expansion
Yes, ‘zombie fires’ can happen in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s how they work
16-year-old accused of shooting Tacoma police officer could be charged as an adult, judge says

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Police investigating theft of WWII tribute statue in Seattle
Severe illnesses linked to Diamond Shruumz products, one potential fatality

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane police issue warnings for illegally parked campers
‘They looked the other way’; Child sex abuse victim wins suit against Cheney School District

Web

Cascadia Daily News
DNR expects a ‘sporty’ week of fire conditions in North Cascades
City of Bellingham anticipating budget deficit with ‘flattening of revenues’
Whatcom County, faced with ‘sobering’ budget reality, announces temporary hiring freeze

Crosscut
Wildlife advocates skeptical of WA wolf count
WA Supreme Court lets high-capacity ammo ban stand for now
Nonprofits to build affordable housing near Mount Baker station

MyNorthwest
Don’t be that person: State troopers fine ferry line cutters $145
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department reports officer-involved shooting
Court documents reveal ‘hate crime’ at Edmonds Ezell’s Chicken restaurant
King County deputies make arrests; seize nearly 30 pounds of drugs, 18 firearms, flame thrower

The Urbanist
Community Transit Plans ‘Swift Gold Line’ Bus to Arlington
Where Have All the Washington State Ferries Walk-on Passengers Gone?

Monday, July 15

Clark County’s Community Court ‘way different from regular court’, sees success in helping the homeless
It’s been one year since the launch of Clark County Community Court to connect homeless people with resources rather than punish them for living outside. The joint effort between Clark County District Court and the city of Vancouver has received Clark County mental health sales tax funds, as well as state dollars. Community Court sessions occur in a space that looks more like a classroom than a courtroom. The judge, prosecutor, defense attorney and defendant sit together at a paint-stained table in a small room at Recovery Café, a nonprofit on Fourth Plain Boulevard that helps people recover from addiction. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

‘Unprecedented’: WA transfers 43 men in juvenile detention to adult prison
Forty-three men over the age of 21 were transferred Friday to adult prisons from the juvenile detention center they were sentenced to due to safety concerns from a “rapidly growing population,” according to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families. All of those transferred have sentences that extend past their 25th birthdays and would have eventually transferred to DOC to serve the remainder of their sentences, according to a DCYF news release. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mike Siegel)

Selling Washington’s food and farm products to the world
Washington is the apple growing capital of the nation. It’s home to Walla Walla onions, Penn Cove mussels, Rainier cherries and Yakima Valley hops. While the state’s residents know these agriculture and aquaculture stars well, the rest of the country and world do not. To change that, the state Department of Agriculture is assembling a program to help promote products grown, raised, caught, baked and brewed in Washington. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (WA Dept. of Agriculture)

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Axios
How to get money to install a heat pump in Washington state

Capital Press
Officials outline Columbia River Treaty update
Washington wolf pack attacks cattle; one wolf shot
Survey: Most adult consumers support farm subsidies
Heat hammers Oregon blackberries, aids Washington grapes
17 states allege Biden opens path to unionize foreign farmworkers

Columbian
Why Washington’s wolf count is under scrutiny
Feds approve new $1.5 billion grant for I-5 Bridge replacement
Seattle Peace Park statue of Hiroshima bombing survivor stolen
Clark County’s Community Court ‘way different from regular court’, sees success in helping the homeless

Everett Herald
Everett council locks in building heights for Park District (Fosse)
Lake Stevens fight to take over sewer district could end soon
Do plastic bans work? Local waste experts say it’s too soon to know
Beautiful but deadly: Drownings common at Eagle Falls, other local waters
Comment: Navy’s commitment to Everett homeport ironclad

News Tribune
A plus for electric buses: ‘They smell better.’ Pierce Transit gets big grant to buy more
Tacoma approves $4.6M for ‘homeless encampment mitigation.’ What will that pay for?
When will Tacoma’s Old City Hall open for business? Here’s an update on landmark’s rehab

Puget Sound Business Journal
Kiewit, Sound Transit still sorting out who will pay for I-90 flub
These WA cities rank among the most expensive for senior housing
Umpqua Bank business survey reveals trends and priorities for Puget Sound decision-makers
Negotiations over I-90 light rail ‘construction challenges’ continue, Sound Transit director says

Seattle Times
Why some WA universities are seeing a drop in enrollment
Regional homelessness efforts need success, but job tougher than ever
Black women employed by King County report lower pay, discrimination
Seattle City Light rates to increase as utility struggles with supply, demand
‘Unprecedented’: WA transfers 43 men in juvenile detention to adult prison
Comment: Couples and families need insurance coverage for therapy
Comment: What Seattle can learn from Boston and Detroit to decrease gun violence

Spokesman Review
EWU rebrands itself polytechnic, while shifting its definition
Expand SNAP or hike crop prices? Congress is locked in a farm bill fight.

Washington Post
Judge dismisses classified documents case against Trump
Wait, does America really still employ a ton of news reporters?
‘Everyone is drinking it’: Why this type of ‘forever chemical’ seems to be everywhere

WA State Standard
Selling Washington’s food and farm products to the world

Yakima Herald-Republic
Human trafficking prevalent in Washington, but precise numbers hard to find

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New audit shows where drug overdoses, crime are the worst in Seattle
State department transfers 43 young men from juvenile to adult jails in Washington
Seattle restaurant owner responds to ire sparked by ‘living-wage’ surcharge after viral receipt

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Eight injured after bus crashes into Renton ravine
Parking rates are changing around Seattle starting July 15

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Fire at Pierce County recycling center caused ‘toxic smoke’
Kittitas County Jail first in WA to implement new inmate health monitoring system
Washington leaders condemn political violence after assassination attempt on Trump
Pierce County to improve road, driver safety using “SmartSigns” with real-time feedback

KNKX Public Radio
Green invasion hits Orcas Island’s Cascade Lake
‘Salmon Wars’ podcast documents Northwest tribes’ ongoing plight
Controversy arises over way Pierce County doles out homelessness aid
Ruling on homelessness raises the risks for domestic violence survivors, experts say

KUOW Public Radio
Robots are helping build new apartments in Seattle
Seattle-area grocery workers ‘flabbergasted’ by Kroger-Albertsons sales plan
Sex abuse survivors ask Vatican to investigate Seattle Archdiocese as Washington’s lawsuit fails

KXLY (ABC)
‘It makes me feel absolutely abandoned.’ City of Pullman construction impacting local downtown businesses

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Annual report: Bellingham, Whatcom County see drop in crime reported in 2023

Crosscut
Could B.C.’s safe drug supply experiment work in Washington? (Goodman)
What’s back, on hold six weeks after Seattle library cyberattack?

Washington Observer
School administrators get out early with a $1 billion budget boost request

Friday, July 12

Seattle launches initiative to reduce gun violence
Seattle, King County and others announced the launch Wednesday of a 100-day initiative to educate and support teens and others who are most at risk of gun violence. King County pledged $1.6 million to expand community-led violence intervention programs, amp up a public awareness campaign on gun violence prevention and responsible gun ownership and contribute to a Harborview Medical Center violence prevention program. Continue reading at Axios. (Aïda Amer)

WA adopts landfill rules to combat methane leaks
New rules intended to keep a tighter lid on methane gas leaking from the state’s landfills as food and garbage decompose went into effect last month. The state Department of Ecology estimates the new rules will affect 26 landfills, around half of those in the state, and will decrease landfill-related methane emissions by around 1.6 million metric tons a year. That would be a 38% reduction, according to environmental nonprofit Industrious Labs. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Kitsap launches youth opioid prevention program
As concerns about adolescent opioid use have grown across Washington, Kitsap County has launched a youth-oriented opioid prevention program using funds received from its participation in a settlement between the state and three companies who help fuel the opioid epidemic. The new Youth Opiate Prevention Program will work alongside school districts and other providers to distribute opioid education messaging and introduce science-based prevention strategies to both youth and caregivers. Continue reading at The Kitsap Sun.