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Monday, September 11

Opinion: Streamlined permitting will help get more people into housing
Permit review timelines may not be visible when you are walking down a street in your neighborhood, but they are a critical part of the work that allowed for those homes to first be built. If this isn’t working, it can have a significant impact on housing availability and affordability. Even though cities and counties do not share much information on their timelines, we know that the wait is unacceptably long in many places. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Climate risks worry home buyers, especially on the West Coast
Potential climate disasters are a major worry for people buying homes in Washington, as well as elsewhere along the West Coast, according to new research from Zillow. High home prices in West Coast markets may be forcing many people who are worried about climate risks to compromise and accept those risks anyway. While Pacific state homebuyers were more likely to consider climate change-related issues when choosing a home, they also were more likely than people elsewhere to say they plan to buy in an area with one or more disaster risks. Continue reading at Axios. (Maura Losch)

Washington’s new equity director on where her office goes from here
Washington’s new Office of Equity director, Megan Matthews, wants you to know she’s ready to get to work. The Standard spoke with Matthews to learn more about her approach to leading the Office of Equity in the wake of her predecessor’s dismissal, what exactly the office does and how she plans to hold its work accountable to Washingtonians. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Gov. Inslee’s Office)

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Axios
Climate risks worry home buyers, especially on the West Coast
Washington state’s math test scores rebound — slightly

Bellingham Herald
Beware of the ‘triple-demic’: Whatcom County health officials looking toward cold and flu season

Capital Press
Washington senator proposes cap-and-trade rebates for farmers (Mullet)

Columbian
Vancouver playground promises fun for users of all abilities (Cleveland, Stonier)
Evergreen teachers union, district reach tentative agreement
Clark County’s five most dominant sectors increase footprints as county grows by nearly 50 percent

Everett Herald
New Everett reservoirs built to weather big earthquake in $23M project
Paper or plastic? Snohomish County may require businesses to take cash
Editorial: Larger issue in Marysville schools’ budget woes

International Examiner
Program teaches youth about Seattle’s Duwamish River and its toxic seafood
Community leaders rally for unity in response to South End home invasions targeting elderly Asians

Kitsap Sun
State’s New Hope Act paves way for Rep. Simmons, others to clear criminal records (Simmons, Hansen)

News Tribune
Why didn’t health officials find Listeria in Tacoma Frugals machines in April inspection?
WA students are making a comeback on state assessments. Is Pierce County following?
$20M claims against Tacoma, WSDOT say ‘dangerous’ road design led to crash that killed 6

Olympian
‘We have got to find a way.’ Olympia’s largest tiny home village needs money to stay open

Peninsula Daily News
Olympic National Park fires slow their growth

Puget Sound Business Journal
Washington State Hospital Systems Face Financial Losses
Kroger agrees to $1.4B opioid settlement; reveals deal to sell 413 stores related to Albertsons mega-merger

Seattle Times
WA struggles to hand out federal cash to find and replace lead pipes
WA court to hear case that seeks to stop ballot signature rejections
Campus recovery groups support student sobriety as overdoses rise in WA
Behind hotel doors, King County’s homeless people find relief, new risks
Editorial: Mental health needs go beyond what $1 billion will do for King County
Opinion: Efficient permitting will lead to more housing
Opinion: China’s economic decline brings risks to both Washingtons

The Skanner
Evergreen Public Schools and Teachers Union Reach Agreement on New Contract

Spokesman Review
Sen. Murray tells House Republicans to ‘back off’ as Congress returns to D.C. with government shutdown looming
Opinion: Congress must reauthorize the Affordable Connectivity Program

Tri-City Herald
WA board says Tri-Cities judge should be censured and suspended for 2nd DUI
Fire burns Zintel Canyon again. Kennewick officials investigating if a person started it

Washington Post
Black history is ‘being attacked.’ These parents found alternatives.

WA State Standard
Federal court dismisses second challenge over boundaries of Washington legislative district
Washington’s new equity director on where her office goes from here
U.S. Justice Department asks Supreme Court to take up abortion pill case

Yakima Herald-Republic
Inside temporary foreign worker housing: Checking in on H-2A in Yakima
Yakima officials to host regional fire authority discussion

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Off-duty Seattle officer struck by his own stolen car while interrupting vehicle thieves

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle City Council could soon vote on new drug possession law
Narcan available over-the-counter to combat rising fentanyl overdose deaths
Inslee’s initiative aimed at removing encampments from state land needs more money

KNKX Public Radio
WA state Supreme Court rules against school district that sued for construction funding

KUOW Public Radio
Advocates challenge the suspension of prisoner-led cultural groups at Stafford Creek
An $8 rifle spurred a change to Washington’s background check law. Here’s how.

KXLY (ABC)
I-90 overpass, traffic light in Liberty Lake now open

Q13 TV (FOX)
WA Crime Lab on track to clear backlog of rape kits in next 3 months
Lanes of I-5 reopen near SR-520 after ’emergency repairs’
Future of AI in Washington classrooms

Web

The Stranger
Judge Blames “Defund” and Cop Shows for Problems with Seattle Policing

Friday, September 8

WA Supreme Court sides with state in suit over school building costs
Out of options to fund repairs to its decaying buildings, a 400-student school district in one of Washington’s poorest counties launched a legal challenge against the state two years ago. On Thursday, the Wahkiakum School District lost in a unanimous ruling from the Washington Supreme Court. Local taxpayers are still expected to share in the costs of maintaining and constructing school buildings, even if, like Wahkiakum, they haven’t approved a bond in 20-plus years. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Lawmakers react to southwest Washington teacher strikes
About 2,000 teachers across Vancouver-area school districts began the school year on strike. State lawmakers wish this wasn’t the case. But what separates Democratic and Republican lawmakers on the issue is simple: Republicans like Wilson and Hawkins believe teachers should never go on strike. Democrats like Wellman and Stonier see strikes as one of the few options teachers have to make their voices heard. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Camas Education Association)

Lands commissioner: State will install 21 fire detection cameras around Washington
When a wildfire sparks, swift response times by first responders can mean the difference between a small brush fire and a deadly inferno. State officials say new artificial intelligence cameras installed in fire danger zones around Washington will improve wildfire response times by alerting dispatch centers at the first signs of smoke from flames. The lands commissioner said it is her goal to install at least 60 of the wildfire cameras around Washington in the next few years. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (WA DNR)

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Associated Press
A Black Man Imprisoned Since 1998 Walks Free And His Attorneys Raise Concerns About Police Racism

Axios
Rigid return-to-office mandates may backfire, experts say
Traces of fentanyl and meth linger on Seattle public transit, study finds

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham cracking down on campers and RVs parked around the city by unhoused dwellers
Bellingham Police seeking federal grant for ‘civil-disturbance’ unit and crime-alert software

Capital Press
Ag program critics offer suggestions for farm bill reform
Washington wolf advocates reset clock for rule decision

Everett Herald
Traces of meth, fentanyl exposure common on Puget Sound, Everett buses
Snohomish County man, 38, dies at jail in Everett

Indian Country Today
‘We must take care of the water’

Issaquah Reporter
Issaquah City Council expected to approve sales tax increase

News Tribune
Praying football coach who won Supreme Court case resigns

Olympian
In blow to small school districts, WA Supreme Court rules for state in building costs case

Peninsula Daily News
Memorial services set this weekend for Tokitae
Firefighters sent to interior park

Puget Sound Business Journal
Pickleball complex eyed for Seattle’s first planned RV safe parking site

Seattle Medium
Washington State’s Office Of Independent Investigations To Reopen Deadly Force Cases
Strike At Downtown Seattle Starbucks Over ‘Unsafe’ Conditions

Seattle Times
WA Supreme Court sides with state in suit over school building costs (Mullet)
First of three WA ferries pulled for hybrid-electric conversion
Drug smoke wafts through transit but not at toxic levels, UW study says
What will it take for Seattle to end remaining federal oversight of SPD?
Editorial: Congress, what could be more important than feeding mothers and children?
Opinion: One overlooked way to fight opioid deaths: Give people something to do

Spokesman Review
WSU study: Pandemic led to surge in multigenerational homes
Lands commissioner: State will install 21 fire detection cameras around Washington

Tri-City Herald
WA opioid settlement with Wal-Mart means more than $1 million coming to Tri-Cities
Bateman Island will remain closed after wild fire scorches about 6 acres

Washington Post
Dangerous heat is spreading. See what it will be like where you live in 2030 and 2050.
Covid worries linger on college campuses as fall semester begins

WA State Standard
Lawmakers react to southwest Washington teacher strikes (Wellman, Stonier)
WA Supreme Court says state isn’t responsible for 100% of school construction costs (Mullet)
Millions more workers would receive overtime pay under proposed Biden administration rule

Yakima Herald-Republic
More electric vehicle chargers are just around the corner in Yakima
Eastern Washington residents sought for new aviation work group
Editorial: Fish biologists’ work is saving salmon, preserving culture

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Federal judge ending most oversight of Seattle police from consent decree
Washington Supreme Court rules against lawsuit demanding state pay more for school construction

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Federal Way restaurant owner suing Tacoma for millions over alleged police negligence

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle-Bainbridge ferry route halts vehicle traffic for a week due to major terminal renovation
Weekend memorials planned to honor the late southern resident orca Tokitae

KNKX Public Radio
Climate advocates push to amend Seattle’s new tree ordinance
New minimum wage is on the table for unincorporated King County

KUOW Public Radio
Trust issues: Amazon could be fractured by impending FTC lawsuit, reports suggest
There’s meth on that: Study finds drug traces on Seattle transit rides
WA State Supreme Court rules against school district that sued for construction funding

KXLY (ABC)
Organizations offering fire assistance for Oregon Road Fire victims
Progress being made on housing development in northeast Spokane

Q13 TV (FOX)
UW study finds meth, fentanyl in air and on surfaces of public transit

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham police seek funding for bicycle team

Crosscut
Federal judge lifts most judicial oversight of Seattle police
Federal affirmative action ruling may impact WA cap-and-trade (Lekanoff)

The Stranger
Slog AM: A Higher Minimum Wage for Unincorporated King County, Cops Joke about Pedestrian Killed by Cop, Mexico Overturns Federal Abortion Ban

Thursday, September 7

Out of the smokestack, into the state budget
Washington’s cap-and-trade auctions are pulling in money faster than expected, spurring new ideas for spending, along with calls to rework the program to ease costs for consumers. Amid talk of what to do with all of the money, others are raising alarm about how companies are passing the cost to consumers, including with higher gasoline and energy prices. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

EPA scientists deployed as toxic algae persists in Columbia River
The Environmental Protection Agency will begin sampling the Columbia River near the Tri-Cities, Washington next week to sort out why toxic algae keeps popping up there. Toxic algae has been found in the Columbia River for the third week in a row in the Tri-Cities with the latest results showing the neurotoxin anatoxin-a is present at a level much higher than the Washington state standard for safe recreational use. Continue reading at KUOW. (Anna King)

Editorial: Invest in internet infrastructure expansion
Like running water or electricity, we should expect governments to construct and support infrastructure that delivers fast, reliable service to all American households. In May, the Washington State Broadband Office announced $121 million in grants for 19 broadband construction projects. Those efforts have been enhanced by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021. Such investments are essential for expanding the economy and improving the lives of all Americans, with internet infrastructure serving as one of the few areas in which urban and rural residents can find common ground. Continue reading at Columbian.

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Axios
Hate crimes fell in Seattle last year, while rising elsewhere

Bainbridge Island Review
Ferry spans set to go into place on BI

Capital Press
Washington cap-and-trade costs shoot past $1 billion (Mullet)

Columbian
Camas and Evergreen teacher strikes continue
Once homeless, Vancouver couple find comfort, stability in tiny-home community
Hockinson school showcases sustainability as Gov. Inslee visits
Editorial: Invest in internet infrastructure expansion

The Daily News
Employment growth in Cowlitz County drives business, report shows

The Inlander
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe wants to bring salmon back to the entire Inland Northwest — and it’s starting with Hangman Creek

Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan County Parks and Fair Department to Break Ground on Capital Projects

News Tribune
Are 2 bosses better than 1? Local health board thinks so. Here’s why, what it will cost

Olympian
Capital High School is locked out Wednesday morning after police find student with gun
Body camera video shows Thurston County deputy shooting man near Lacey July 4

Peninsula Daily News
Bainbridge terminal open for passengers only

Seattle Medium
Washington To Receive And Allocate $60 Million To Tackle Ongoing Opioid Crisis
Ferguson Thwarts Third Attempt To Block Washington’s Assault Weapons Ban
Washington’s Low Teacher-To-Student Ratios Stated In New Report
Man Killed by Police After Revived With Naloxone

Seattle Times
WA’s carbon-pricing auctions collect nearly $1.5 billion as allowances reach record price (Mullet)
Editorial: A big thanks to Seattle waterfront greenway visionaries
Opinion: Students like us must lead the charge when it comes to teen mental health

South Whidbey Record
Judge orders new Growler study, but no immediate change in operations

Spokesman Review
Woodward administration calls for pause on choosing new Trent shelter operator
Kim Wyman, Washington’s former top election official, shares what keeps her up at night and why she still has faith in U.S. democracy

Washington Post
SBA program upended in wake of Supreme Court affirmative action ruling

WA State Standard
Out of the smokestack, into the state budget (Mullet)
India’s tariffs on U.S. apples come to an end, a plus for Washington growers

Yakima Herald-Republic
Grants available to restore historic cemeteries, barns and theaters across WA
Federal judge dismisses Yakima Union Gospel Mission’s lawsuit against state

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Rural Washington fire stations struggling to recruit new volunteers
Salmon begin to return home to Issaquah hatchery for spawning season
Joe Kennedy, football coach once fired for prayers, resigns after one game back at Bremerton
New collaborative program aims to help district grads address Tacoma’s teacher shortage

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle City Council greenlights over 70 new speed cameras to curb illegal street racing
Washington Sen. Cantwell says end of Indian tariffs to be big boon for state growers
Federal spending on homelessness increases along with unhoused population

KNKX Public Radio
Washington may upgrade Western gray squirrel to ‘endangered’ status

KUOW Public Radio
Federal judge salutes ‘the end of the beginning’ of Seattle’s police reform efforts
EPA scientists deployed as toxic algae persists in Columbia River
Bremerton’s praying football coach resigns after brief return

KXLY (ABC)
City of Medical Lake helping residents begin rebuilding process
DNR, Spokane Conservation District holding post-fire assistance meeting for Gray Fire victims
Spokane leaders promoting fentanyl awareness, education to address crisis

NW Public Radio
Toxic algae found in Columbia River for third week, EPA scientists on the way and new OSU study “sniffs” for toxins

Q13 TV (FOX)
SPD consent decree: Judge lifts most federal oversight of Seattle Police Department

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Neighbors, county leadership spar over potential metal shredder

Crosscut
King County Council considers increasing minimum wage to $19/hour

The Stranger
After 11 Years of Federal Oversight, Judge Rules SPD Mostly Compliant but Declines to End Entire Consent Decree

Wednesday, September 6

State will keep fiscal tabs on three cash-starved Washington school districts
As students return to Washington classrooms, state education officials are closely monitoring how three cash-strapped public school districts are spending money. Marysville, La Conner and Mount Baker districts, all located in western Washington and part of Northwest Educational Service District 189, are in this position because they are beginning the school year without a balanced budget as the state requires. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (LaConner School District)

Idahoans by the hundreds are seeking abortions in neighboring states. What we know
Idaho’s abortion ban has driven scores of women across three different borders to seek care in the year since it went into effect. The shift has public health implications beyond abortion, experts said. Many patients are able to travel out of state for the procedure, but the added distance imposes extra obstacles. Those barriers prevent some from traveling at all. And the harsh penalties doctors face under Idaho’s ban have caused some fear about treating complicated pregnancies. Continue reading at Olympian.

Washington sees 77% increase in traffic deaths as young drivers head back to school
New numbers show a dramatic increase in the number of high school and college-age students dying in traffic crashes during back-to-school time. Washington state is seeing the second highest increase nationwide. A new report from USA Today Blueprint details a dramatic increase in the number of young drivers between 16 and 24 years old who are killed in traffic crashes in August and September. Washington state saw a 77% increase between 2018 and 2021, the most recent year data is available. Continue reading at KOMO 4 TV.

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen school, police respond to shooting threat

Axios
School vaccine exemptions are declining in Washington state
Washington had some of the nation’s worst power outages in 2021
Telehealth abortions are up in Washington state

Columbian
Crews focus on preservation of Clark County roads
Evergreen, Camas teachers’ strikes enter week two (Stonier)

The Daily News
Kelso airport sees growth in business, partly due to skilled workers, officials say

Everett Herald
52 Everett Public Schools employees become teachers through new program
Mother sues Snohomish County over son’s 2020 jail death
Seeing triple? 3 ferries on Edmonds-Kingston route for six days
Grant aids apprenticeship program in Mukilteo and elsewhere

News Tribune
WA state needs public’s help to monitor for three invasive species and one plant partner

Olympian
Idahoans by the hundreds are seeking abortions in neighboring states. What we know
Tri-Cities advocates already seeing homelessness surge as federal aid dries up
Which Washington state counties have the highest rate of sexually-transmitted infections?

Peninsula Daily News
COVID is on rise; few seen in hospitals

Puget Sound Business Journal
FTC antitrust suit against Amazon likely coming this month, reports say
Polyclinic, Everett Clinic parent company lays off WA employees

Seattle Medium
Nicole Bascomb-Green Named Chair Of The Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Seattle Human Services Department Allocates Over $3.8 Million To Support Local Families
Innovative Public–Private Partnership For Elliott Bay Waterfront Park Revitalization

Seattle Times
Down-to-the-wire deal clears way for school to start Wednesday in Seattle
Editorial: Help all of WA aggressively disrupt the scourge of fentanyl
Opinion: Praying coach’s actions do not alter the Constitution

Skagit Valley Herald
Blood donations needed throughout the region

The Skanner
Fatal Police Shooting of Pregnant Ohio Woman Raises Concerns Over Firing at Moving Vehicles
As People Live Longer Should There be an Age-Limit for Politicians

Spokesman Review
All evacuations lifted for the Gray and Oregon Road fires

Tri-City Herald
New step taken to turn Tri-Cities into national model for a clean energy center

Washington Post
Poor families could see cuts to food aid as Congress battles over budget

WA State Standard
State will keep fiscal tabs on three cash-starved Washington school districts
Bird flu outbreak in Washington possibly spreading to seals
Death rates for people under 40 have skyrocketed. Blame fentanyl.

Wenatchee World
Opinion: ESD and WSD Superintendent: ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Overdose reversal drug Narcan now available at some major stores
Seattle Public Schools, workers union reach tentative agreement
Bellevue School District students return after controversial consolidation

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle-Bainbridge ferry route will close for vehicles during walkway construction

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Endangered northern leopard frogs hop back into the wild
Council member sees more challenges in Seattle’s yet-to-be adopted drug possession law
Washington sees 77% increase in traffic deaths as young drivers head back to school
High-speed chase leads to fiery crash on I-5 near Mountlake Terrace, suspected felon still at large

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Council gives I-5 lid idea first official thumbs up
Wheelless in Seattle: Bainbridge ferry nixes cars, bikes for a week
Seattle police chief’s alleged relationship with employee prompts inquiries, roils department

KXLY (ABC)
All evacuations lifted for Gray Fire in Medical Lake
Riverside School District students return to class following Oregon Road Fire

NW Public Radio
What will happen to employees at WestRock Paper Mill when it closes?
Scientists discover ‘turtle power’ could help monitor radioactive materials
Wildfires can impact your mental health

Q13 TV (FOX)
Bellevue teens win Technovation Award for innovative abortion support app
Seattle Public Schools reaches tentative agreement with unionized janitors, cafeteria staff

Web

Cascadia Daily News
In first veto, county executive rejects new ferry fare rules
Cooler temperatures, rain slow Sourdough Fire

The Stranger
Seattle City Council Considers Resolution to Lid I-5 (Pedersen, Liias, Fey)
Seattle Nonprofit Launches First Indigenous Guaranteed Income Program in the US

Tuesday, September 5

A road map for lowering insulin costs in Washington
Washington should make insulin more widely available at cheaper prices and offer a free 30-day supply at least once a year for people who are short on the drug and can’t afford it. That’s the message delivered to state lawmakers from a workgroup assigned to chart a course to increase insulin access and affordability. Hundreds of thousands of Washington residents with diabetes depend on insulin every day. To lower costs, members recommend a long-term strategy for the state to expand a drug rebate program and contract directly with manufacturers to sell insulin at lower prices. In the short term, they want Washington to follow other states and require manufacturers to cover the cost of a 30-day supply of insulin for people who need it urgently. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

State’s ban on assault weapons will remain in place for now, Thurston County judge rules
A Thurston County judge ruled Friday that a ban on the sale of assault weapons in Washington state should remain in place as a lawsuit challenging the ban works its way through the court system. “My legal team remains undefeated against the gun lobby in court,” Ferguson said in the press statement. “This common-sense gun reform will save lives by restricting access to the preferred weapon of mass shooters.” Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee requested legislation to ban assault weapons during the 2023 legislative session. The law immediately went into effect when Inslee signed the bill on April 25, making Washington the 10th state to have bans on assault weapons in place. Continue reading at Olympian.

Sen. Lovick: Living up to King’s ‘Dream’ requires an honest history
This week we recognized the anniversary of one of the most pivotal points of the civil rights era. On Aug. 28, 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place. As is the case with all major moments in history, it is so critical for us to understand the context of an event to truly know its complexity and importance. I’ve watched in sadness as other states have stopped teaching our shared history. In our state we’ve gone the other direction. We’ve passed laws in our Legislature to ensure Washington educators have the tools needed to best teach ethnic studies in their coursework. We must face our past. The good and the bad. We must tell the whole story so that we can learn and not repeat the mistakes and violence that came before. Continue reading at Everett Herald.