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Thursday, July 11

Washington issues statewide burn ban amid record heat wave
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources issued a burn ban on all the forest land it controls across the state, effective Wednesday, July 10. The ban, which runs through Sept. 30, was enacted in response to the heat wave that’s hit much of Washington over the past week…The ban covers “burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes, and prescribed burns,” according to the DNR’s news release. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (WSDOT)

Spokane Public Schools to ban cellphone use in classrooms
Spokane Public Schools will ban cellphone use in classrooms next year. The Spokane School Board on Wednesday reviewed its districtwide procedure detailing student cellphone use, advising the district to adopt a more stringent and comprehensive policy for use in classrooms. The district plans to implement the proposal before school starts in September, superintendent Adam Swinyard said. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Colin Mulvany)

Housing discrimination complaints fell sharply in Washington last year
Complaints from people who say they are being discriminated against in the housing market declined in Washington last year, but remained at an all-time high nationwide. It’s the third year in a row that the national record for the complaints has been broken, according to a new report from the National Fair Housing Alliance. In Washington, there were 347 total complaints of housing discrimination. The most being for discrimination against people with disabilities. That’s down nearly 56% from 787 last year. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Associated Press
Political ads on social media rife with misinformation and scams, new research finds

Axios
Washington sees human smuggling spike, feds say
Biden plan requires hospitals to improve maternal care

Capital Press
‘Excessive heat warning’ not likely to harm Northwest wheat crop
Above-average Walla Walla sweet onion crop, but ‘sticker shock’ at stores
Biden, Trudeau announce preliminary agreement on Columbia River Treaty

Columbian
Providers of services to homeless people in Clark County struggle
Clark County school districts see high superintendent turnover due to fatigue, uncertainty
Heat wave threatens Clark County’s homeless community; outreach workers deliver water, supplies
Reported crime falls in Vancouver, Clark County, but public perception doesn’t reflect it, police chief says

Everett Herald
Broadband coming to these rural Snohomish County locales
Kroger and Albertsons plan to sell these 19 Snohomish County grocers

News Tribune
Republicans stymie bid to make it easier to open homeless shelters in Pierce County
‘Highly flawed’? Controversy arises over way Pierce County doles out homelessness aid
‘Do not start a fire outside.’ Washington issues statewide burn ban amid record heat wave
Are changes coming to your grocery store? What latest Kroger-Albertsons news could mean
Are you allowed to bury your pet in your backyard in Washington? Here’s what the law says
Car thefts up, violent crime down in Washington last year, new law enforcement report says
Opinion: Don’t deter the huddled masses. Deter private prison kleptocrats who profit off them
Opinion: Pierce County AIDS Foundation lost your trust. We’re sorry. Here’s what comes next

Peninsula Daily News
OlyCAP to launch income program

Puget Sound Business Journal
Northgate Station mixed-use project breaks ground
Microsoft, Apple drop OpenAI board observer seats
Boeing deliveries pick up as company grapples with fresh challenges

Seattle Times
U.S.-Canada reach deal on Columbia River Treaty
What would it cost to make South Seattle light rail crossings safe?
Record sockeye salmon run on Columbia now threatened by hot water
Seattle, King County, community leaders launch plan to combat gun violence
Groups sue to restore endangered species protection for U.S. northern Rockies wolves

Spokesman Review
Spokane heat wave breaks heat records three days in a row
Spokane Public Schools to ban cellphone use in classrooms
As hot weather persists, Washingtonians can no longer burn outside
Providence to close children’s inpatient psychiatric center at Sacred Heart
Greenacres Park in Spokane Valley defaced with racist, white supremacist messages
Developers are planning Kendall Yards’ tallest building near the Monroe Street Bridge
Comment: Faith and Values: Church’s apology for involvement with Native boarding schools is too little too late

Washington Post
Relieving the growing burden of medical debt
IRS reports collecting $1 billion from rich households’ back taxes
Biden unveils $1.7 billion to boost EV production at U.S. auto factories
The U.S. has a plan to protect workers from heat. Here’s who would be safeguarded.
Inflation dropped more than expected in June, and economists say Fed could cut rates in September

WA State Standard
Housing discrimination complaints fell sharply in Washington last year
More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
High wildfire danger prompts burn ban on all DNR land in Washington
Bail set at $2 million for Alderwood Mall shooting suspect after re-arrest
WSP asks for public’s help in finding suspect who threw bricks at vehicles on I-90

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New toll rates for SR 520 bridge to begin August 15
House approves bills that aim to roll back efficiency standards for refrigerators, dishwashers

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Police watchdog heads ignored complaints against former Chief Adrian Diaz: letter to council

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane BIPOC-owned businesses receive over $170,000 in funding
Is voter fraud a valid concern for mail-in ballots? Election researchers say no

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Intelligent robotic sorting cuts landfill waste, risk to human workers

Crosscut
Burn ban issued for Washington forest lands through Sept. 30

MyNorthwest
Burien school fire now being investigated as arson, latest in series of statewide fires
Washington crime report: Hate crimes, youth offenses rise; officer staffing still low

The Urbanist
Policy Lab: We Want Bread, and Paid Vacation Too!
Seattle’s Dual Dispatch Civilian Crisis Responder Program Expands, Despite Obstacles

Wednesday, July 10

WA abortion clinics scramble to care for out-of-state patients. How far are they traveling?
For decades patients have come to Washington for abortions from other Northwest states, including those where rural residents might not have had access close by to abortion services. But since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, the number of abortions performed in Washington has increased as more people from out-of-state seek services. And there is some data that shows it now takes longer on average to get an abortion in Washington. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald.

Seattle OKs incentives for developers turning offices into housing
Seattle will soon exempt conversion projects from certain building regulations and fees that apply to other types of development. Among them: the Mandatory Housing Affordability program, or MHA, the city policy that requires developers to set aside affordable apartments or pay toward an affordable housing fund. If successful, the new effort could bring hundreds more apartments to central Seattle neighborhoods such as downtown. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert )

Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might
For decades, states have relied on gas taxes to provide much of the money to maintain roads and bridges. But as cars become more fuel efficient, and some Americans switch to electric vehicles, state leaders say the gas tax won’t pay the bills for much longer. Cities and counties in Washington state also have asked for help, and some local leaders have asked state lawmakers to consider a retail delivery fee — or to authorize cities to collect one. State lawmakers commissioned an analysis, published last month, looking at the potential for such a program. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Nam Y. Hu)

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Axios
Crime fell in Washington state last year

Bellingham Herald
WA abortion clinics scramble to care for out-of-state patients. How far are they traveling?
‘It’s 86 degrees in here’: Affordable housing residents call for action amid Bellingham heat wave

Capital Press
EPA: Season between spring and fall frosts growing

Columbian
West Nile virus is back in Eastern WA. People and horses should take these precautions
Young gay Latinos see rising share of new HIV cases, leading to call for targeted funding
‘Most of our snow is already gone,’ Washington climatologist says; recent heat wave had little impact

The Daily News
Longview to focus capital funds on easy fixes
Kelso to review possible updates to residential building regulations

Everett Herald
Crime down in Everett in 2023, new report says
Inslee energized from visit to Everett fusion firms

News Tribune
Tacoma Public Schools leaders went on a $4,600 Suncadia retreat. Was it ‘frivolous’?
Is it legal to use your phone at a red light in Washington State? Here’s what the law says
Opinion: The Supreme Court is wrong on homelessness. You can’t criminalize people for existing

Port Townsend Leader
Mayor: Rezoning golf course would help address housing

Puget Sound Business Journal
Cities betting on incentives to fuel downtown comeback
SBA sent thousands of PPP loans to collections without notice
Kroger identifies WA stores it will sell as part of Albertsons deal
Seattle makes it easier to turn commercial buildings into housing

Seattle Medium
Community Groups Come Together To Fight Food Insecurity
Seattle’s Summer Meals Program Aims To Serve Over 100,000 Free Meals To Youth
UW’s AVELA Empowers Underrepresented Students In STEM Through Mentorship And Outreach

Seattle Times
Seattle OKs incentives for developers turning offices into housing
PNW data center boom could imperil power supply within 5 years
WA Supreme Court deals blow to lawsuit seeking to protect vehicle residents

Spokesman Review
Housing inventory is slowly growing in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene
This is your body on heat: How summer weather can lead to organ failure, death
AP scores release today: Here’s how high school students are preparing for college early
Spokane County, city of Spokane to contribute additional $750,000 toward projects at Beacon Hill recreation areas

Washington Post
Surging AI energy needs could bring Three Mile Island back online
As extreme heat bakes the West, emergency helicopters struggle to fly
Many universities are abandoning race-conscious scholarships worth millions

WA State Standard
Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might (Liias)
State grants will help sustain behavioral health providers in Kitsap County

Wenatchee World
New fire burning west of Lake Wenatchee

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘I’ve never met evil like this’: Washington State Patrol trooper shot by suspect speaks in court

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Kroger, Albertsons to rid itself of 124 stores in Washington
DCYF explains decision to freeze inmate intake, prosecutors react
Bellingham elementary school has become the latest target for hate
Heat rules for outdoor workers are in force, no such rules for indoor workers
Mercer Island leaders working with residents to prevent water shortage amid hot weather

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle City Council greelights office-to-housing conversions, eyeing up to 2k new units

KXLY (ABC)
Moses Lake School District announces more layoffs
Two Spokane Safeway stores could be sold in Albertsons-Kroger merger
Crime rates fall in most categories across Washington last year. Hate crimes and vehicle thefts on the rise

NW Public Radio
Medication first, and then a whole-health approach
High temps could be killer as heatwave continues in the Northwest

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Multiple Haggen, Safeway stores to be sold in proposed merger
Whatcom food banks ask county for $2M in annual funding as demand escalates

Tuesday, July 9

A costly cool: Seattle residents turn to AC during heat wave
With Puget Sound region temperatures in the 90s, box fans aren’t cutting it. Residents are turning to something that was once as un-Seattle as umbrellas and honking in traffic: air conditioning. But the cost of cooling can run into the thousands of dollars for installation, and it comes with higher electricity bills. In recent years, thousands of low-income Washington residents have received free air conditioners or energy assistance through city and state programs. Government incentives have also been made available for heat pumps, which can cool homes as well as heat them but cost anywhere from $8,000 to more than $40,000 to install. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Audrey Richardson)

Scammers are at work again, WA state officials say. Here’s what you need to know
A new scam is targeting area residents, the state Department of Transportation announced via social media on Monday. The scam, apparently sent by text and email, asks those who received it to pay an unpaid balance tied to the Good to Go! program, which is a pass used by commuters who regularly cross the Tacoma Narrows bridge. WSDOT officials urge residents to not click on unknown links in emails or texts. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Getty Images)

Union votes herald a new era for workers in Washington Legislature
The stage is set for the first-ever contract negotiations between Washington state lawmakers and some of their most trusted employees. Democratic staff in the state House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to unionize Monday, joining their Republican peers in both chambers who elected to form bargaining units last month. Conversations about collective bargaining for legislative employees date back more than a decade. But it wasn’t until a 2022 law that Washington joined Oregon and Maine in offering legislative staff the opportunity to unionize. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen city council unanimously extends homeless notice to vacate to 30 days

Axios
Seattle heat waves are longer, hotter and more frequent
Biden-era worker protections are on shakier ground after Supreme Court ruling

Bellingham Herald
Power supplier asks customers to limit use of electricity from 4-8 p.m. today due to heat
Bellingham Police Department bolsters staffing; city rejoins Whatcom County drug task force

Capital Press
Wildfire season off to a fast start in hot weather
EPA, DOJ sue three Lower Yakima Valley dairies
Federal heat rule mulled to better protect workers
Company proposes to put batteries on farmland in Western Washington

Columbian
New Woodland Community Library nears completion
Rent inflation remains a pressure point for small businesses
City removes racist graffiti from Bellingham elementary school known for diverse enrollment

Everett Herald
Everett edges 14-year-old unofficial temperature record
One of Snohomish County’s most popular trails to close for 3 months
Boeing agrees to plead guilty to felony in deal with Justice Department

Federal Way Mirror
Investigation reviews FWPD’s crime reporting

International Examiner
Japanese Americans angered by decision to approve wind farm at Minidoka

News Tribune
One of the worst invasive species threatens WA waters. Here’s what to do if you see it

Olympian
Scammers are at work again, WA state officials say. Here’s what you need to know

Puget Sound Business Journal
FTC noncompete ban suffers setback
Boeing to plead guilty to fraud charges, pay $244M fine

Seattle Times
A costly cool: Seattle residents turn to AC during heat wave
Pierce County Council member won’t sit in chambers over pride flag
Bellevue middle schoolers over the moon about winning NASA challenge

Skagit Valley Herald
Concrete Town Council agrees to settle long-running dispute

Spokesman Review
Seniors and unhoused people are most at risk during heat wave
Spokane City Council approves local gun control, expanding on state law

Tri-City Herald
West Nile virus is back in Eastern WA. People and horses should take these precautions
One of the worst invasive species threatens WA waters. Here’s what to do if you see it

Washington Post
U.S. officials plan to kill 450K invasive owls that are endangering native owls

WA State Standard
WA suspends intakes at two youth detention centers
Union votes herald a new era for workers in Washington Legislature

Wenatchee World
Authority eyes $3.8M annual infrastructure boost
Confluence Parkway project open house next week
Douglas County faces $20.5M revenue reduction over 25 years amid tense TIF discussions, while Port
Wildfire Roundup | Fires in Wenatchee Valley contained, Pioneer Fire grows, ODESZA show sparks fire

Yakima Herald-Republic
West Nile virus found in mosquito pool in Lower Yakima Valley

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington snowpack already mostly melted heading into heat wave
Mercer Island says mandatory water restrictions could be enacted if use doesn’t decrease
The challenges people of color face in accessing mental healthcare during, after pregnancy
‘This is literally deadly’: King County homelessness agencies activate emergency response amid heat wave

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Residents asked to conserve power in extreme heat
Spikes in water usage, Mercer Island calls for immediate conservation
Tacoma attorney who represents victims’ families reacts to Boeing settlement
House to consider GOP backed bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote
Washington families to receive millions in settlement from chicken price-fixing scandal

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle’s air conditioning usage rises amid escalating ‘heat island’ effect
Mercer Island urges immediate water conservation as reservoir levels drop swiftly

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane City Council approves early retirement plan for police

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Campfires banned in North Cascades National Park starting Friday

Crosscut
It’s getting harder for PNW residents to access public records

MyNorthwest
Stretch of SR 11 Highway buckles under extreme heat
‘Very concerning position’: Mercer Island nears crisis with water shortage
Alaska Airlines flight attendants win big contract; Vote to ratify set for August

Monday, July 8

Why ‘deadbeat dam’ removals are so difficult in WA, PNW
Kwoneesum Dam once had a purpose. It created a lake for girls attending a summer camp to swim, canoe and sail. But just two decades after the dam was built in the mid-1960s, the camp closed, and the land was sold to a timber company. Kwoneesum is just one example of the dams that have outlived their usefulness. These aging structures, dubbed “deadbeat dams” by some working toward their removal, choke off habitat, and threaten homes in some instances. It’s a problem gaining more recognition across the country. Continue reading at The Seattle Times (Jarrette Werk)

WA counties to receive nearly $30M in payments for tax-exempt federal land
Washington’s counties will share close to $30 million in payments this year from the U.S. government to compensate them for untaxable federal land within their boundaries. The Interior Department last week announced $621.2 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes for state and local governments nationwide. How much each place receives depends on the number of acres of federal land in the jurisdiction and its population. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (U.S. Forest Service)

State department suspends intake at 2 juvenile rehab facilities in Washington
The Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) announced Saturday that it has suspended intake at two juvenile rehab facilities due to overcrowding and safety concerns. “When too many young people are concentrated in small spaces, it can escalate behaviors and limit the ability for therapeutic rehabilitation,” said Secretary Ross Hunter. “This was not sustainable. Our facilities must be safe, therapeutic, and functional.” Continue reading at King 5.

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Aberdeen Daily World
County Commission extends veteran’s ombudsman contract

Axios
Seattle apartments keep getting smaller
Boeing to plead guilty to fraud over 737 Max crashes
Warmest June on record hits Earth, boosting odds of warmest year

Capital Press
‘Armchair engineer’ sees bigger goal behind Snake River dam controversy
During harvest, judge restores prevailing wages for Washington farmworkers

Columbian
Washington shoring up aquatic invasive species program
Department of Ecology poised to begin $160M cleanup of Bellingham inlet
10 years ago Clark County feared refer madness; today legal marijuana is a main street business

Everett Herald
Project aims to restore fish habitat to the Pilchuck River
COVID pills ‘sold out everywhere’ in Snohomish County, patients say
Comment: Loss of Supreme Court’s legitimacy can lead to violence
Comment: Veterans of all eras should know about asbestos threat

Kitsap Sun
Supreme Court decision on homeless camping changes sweeps. What will that mean in Kitsap?

News Tribune
Ex-Gig Harbor teacher is accused of child molestation. What happens to his certificate?
County emphasizes rapid rehousing as $17.6M doled out to homelessness service providers

Puget Sound Business Journal
New business surge continues despite high interest rates
Seattle council committee advances amended office-to-housing bill
Seattle council members back watered down office-to-housing proposal

Seattle Times
Seattle Public Schools closes deficit and approves budget
Why ‘deadbeat dam’ removals are so difficult in WA, PNW
WA’s sweet cherry industry hit by natural disasters, sour market
WA suspends taking in sentenced youth at two detention centers
Sue Rahr’s approach as Seattle police chief: Move in, clean up, move on

Spokesman Review
Amid nationwide struggle to rebound school attendance to pre-COVID numbers, one school district stands out

Washington Post
Boeing will plead guilty to fraud related to fatal 737 Max crashes
Inside America’s billion-dollar quest to squeeze more trees into cities
No one had ever charged a school shooter’s parents with homicide. She did it anyway.

WA State Standard
WA counties to receive nearly $30M in payments for tax-exempt federal land
In Wenatchee Valley, seniors in need of affordable housing face long waits and cultural barriers
Northwest ecosystems changed dramatically when wolves were nearly exterminated, study finds

Whidbey News-Times
Mayor closes carnival for weekend after ride caused injuries

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Authorities investigating shooting involving Federal Way police
Here’s what you should know about the Ballard Bridge construction
State department suspends intake at 2 juvenile rehab facilities in Washington
A scam text message posing as the Good To Go! service is targeting Washington drivers
Boeing accepts plea deal to avoid criminal trial over 737 Max crashes, Justice Department says

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Kitsap Transit awarded $17 million to upgrade aging facility
Level 3 evacuations expanded for Pioneer Fire along Lake Chelan as fire grows
Intakes suspended at DCYF juvenile facilities due to safety concerns over rising numbers
Persistent heat wave in the US expected to shatter new records as it bakes West and swelters in East

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Ballard Bridge construction begins, expect closures and added travel time

KNKX Public Radio
Citizens face growing obstacles to public records — and Northwest legislators are making them worse

KUOW Public Radio
Asylum-seekers living outdoors brace for Seattle-area heat wave
Hundreds in Seattle become U.S. citizens on Independence Day

KXLY (ABC)
Controversy follows Washington transgender athlete named champion
All extracurriculars on the chopping block at Moses Lake School District

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham airport pursuing larger role in Northwest Washington air travel

MyNorthwest
Kitsap Transit awarded $17 million to upgrade aging facility

Friday, July 5

Biden’s undocumented spouses order could ‘change everything’ for some in WA
On June 18, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that grants protection to many undocumented spouses of American citizens who have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years. An estimated 12,000 spouses of American citizens in Washington and 500,000 nationally could benefit from the order, along with any of their children who aren’t U.S. citizens. Biden’s action not only protects qualifying individuals from deportation but allows them a much easier path to getting permanent legal residency. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Audrey Richardson)

Court fight tests WA’s protections for tenants threatened with eviction
When a tenant in Washington faces eviction, it’s possible they can reach a settlement agreement with their landlord that allows them to stay in their home. A state law approved in 2021 bars these agreements from forcing renters to waive certain protections – things like rights to mediation of tenant-landlord disagreements, rent repayment plans, and 14-day eviction notices. That law is now getting tested by litigation that is on the verge of landing before the state Supreme Court. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Stephen Zenner)

As heat waves intensify, more public housing residents may get help with AC bills
The summer has already been a scorcher and heat alerts across the country could lead to more records broken. Public housing residents, many elderly, children or sick, are disproportionately vulnerable to heat illness, yet there’s no federal mandate to provide them air conditioning. In fact, until last month the Department of Housing and Urban Development allowed local housing agencies to subsidize tenants’ heating bills, but — with some exceptions — explicitly said they could not pay for cooling bills. Continue reading at KUOW. (AP)