Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Monday, August 21

Thousands under evacuation orders and some homes burn as wildfires race through Washington state
Fast-moving wildfires raced through Washington state on Friday, burning some homes and prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people in small rural communities. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Zack Zappone)

She hung a Pride flag at her shop. She was killed over it, officials say.
When a clothing store opened in Cedar Glen, Calif., in the summer of 2021, the owner hung a Pride flag at the entrance, her friends recalled. Whenever someone would tear down the flag, owner Laura Carleton would raise another one. But after someone complained about the flag on Friday, the encounter turned deadly. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Matthew Clevenger)

Far-right legal group sues Washington officials over new runaway youth health care law
The lawsuit names Washington’s governor, attorney general and DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter as defendants. The group behind the lawsuit is run by Stephen Miller, who served as a senior advisor to former President Trump. Continue reading at KNKX. (Megan Farmer)

Print

Associated Press
Thousands under evacuation orders and some homes burn as wildfires race through Washington state
1 dead, 185 structures destroyed in eastern Washington wildfire
Federal grants will replace culverts that are harmful to fish
White House science adviser calls for more safeguards against artificial intelligence risks
Starbucks told to pay $2.7 million in lost wages to manager fired after arrest of 2 Black men
Rain from Tropical Storm Hilary lashes California and Mexico, swamping roads and trapping cars
Tropical Storm Hilary swirls northward packing deadly rainfall along Mexico’s Baja coast
Teamsters add their heft to dozens of Amazon delivery drivers picketing around the country

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham to consider banning ‘open carry’ firearms at City Hall, athletic stadiums

Columbian
Going solar can work, even in the cloudy Pacific Northwest – but do the math, one homeowner warns
The play’s the thing: Vancouver works to make its parks more accessible, fund for children of all abilities
After decades without trains running rail development worries Clark County neighbors
Editorial: State’s carbon-pricing program needs tweaking

The Daily News
1-million-square-foot industrial warehouse being built by Longview Wye

Everett Herald
On Camano shore contaminated by feces, locals blame lack of oversight
Providence nurses: Conditions at Everett hospital still dire, or worse

News Tribune
Investigation of former Sumner High coach accused of abuse was inadequate, suit alleges
Editorial: Create a new city in Pierce County? Here are lessons from the last time it happened (Morgan)

Olympian
Thurston County at risk of losing sole public broadcast outlet after cities end contracts
State’s ‘aggressive litigation’ against Value Village may end with WA AG paying up to $5.7M in fees
Tired of the smoke in Western Washington? Forecasters say relief may be coming this week
Lolita the killer whale is remembered by her favorite humans. ‘She’s swimming free’
Op-Ed: The issues underlying the great rift between renters and homeowners

Seattle Medium
3 Killed, 6 Injured In South Seattle Mass Shooting

Seattle Times
As Washington’s ferry fleet ages, why aren’t we building new boats? (Nguyen, Lovelett, Liias)
South King County cities bypass state law to limit homeless shelters (Macri, Peterson)
Amtrak debuts first-ever electric bus on Cascades route
The pandemic changed who moves to the Seattle area. Here’s how
As 6 large WA wildfires burn, here’s when Seattle-area smoke could clear
Interstate 90 closed in Spokane County as Gray fire burns
Human-caused fires on the rise in Washington, Oregon
Editorial: Order to redraw discriminatory WA district map is the right call
Opinion: Historic climate devastation demands historic action
Opinion: Restore valuable WA prison programs
Opinion: Cancer in kids is too high a price for cheap gas

Spokesman Review
Second fatality reported as Medical Lake, Elk wildfires grow overnight, crews work to protect property

Washington Post
The states that produce the most doctors, artists and writers, and more
Many long-covid symptoms linger even after two years, new study shows
She’s a Republican gun owner. Now she’s pleading with GOP lawmakers for change.
She hung a Pride flag at her shop. She was killed over it, officials say.
5 wins for UPS workers that could influence pay and standards for others

WA State Standard
How Washington is treating housing as health care
Lax food storage gives rise to bear problems in North Cascades National Park
Towns could save themselves from wildfire — if they knew about this money

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle air quality worst among major world cities Monday morning; expected to improve
3 die, 3 others hospitalized related to Listeria outbreak at Frugals Tacoma location
Mass shooting kills 3, injures 6 in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood
State of emergency declared by Gov. Inslee for Spokane County wildfires

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
When smoky skies should clear in Western Washington
Inslee visits Spokane County to meet with firefighters

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Western Washington air quality remains among worst in world amid wildfires
Airplane Lake fire escalates to 1,445 acres with 0% containment in Chelan County
TSA finds two loaded firearms in traveler’s backpack at Sea-Tac airport
Thousands under evacuation orders and some homes burn as wildfires race through Washington state
‘Moving in the right direction’: New data points to recovery of downtown Seattle

KNKX Public Radio
Federal grants will replace water tunnels beneath roads that are harmful to fish
Far-right legal group sues Washington officials over new runaway youth health care law
Record heat boosting wildfire risk in Pacific Northwest

KUOW Public Radio
The little Chinook that could: Salmon surviving seal-sized bite mesmerizes fish ladder visitors
Seattle has started to chill out … with more AC
Week in Review: fire, heat, and high-speed trains

KXLY (ABC)
Monday Update: Slow progress on major wildfires burning in Spokane, but there’s hope
Evacuations expanded for Oregon Road Fire near Elk
Gray Fire in Medical Lake reaches over 10,000 acres
Inside the fireline: First-hand look at the Oregon Road fire
Inslee names man ‘Washingtonian of the Day’ for act of bravery in Gray Fire
WA Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, fire officials provide update on Gray Fire
I-90 still closed west of Spokane Monday due to wildfire, drivers detour through Cheney
‘We shouldn’t have to deal with fires that are preventable’ Spokane firefighters contain fire on Thorpe Road

NW Public Radio
With wildfires increasing, the threat to utilities is also on the rise

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Officials break ground on center for unhoused people (Shewmake)
Famed Southern Resident orca Tokitae dies in captivity
Tests confirm B.C. waters contaminated Nooksack River

Crosscut
Seattle city employees say low pay, safety contribute to vacancies
Hot prisons are ‘cruel and unusual punishment,’ advocates allege

MyNorthwest
Opposing politicians clash over potential multi-billion dollar bullet train (Liias)
Smoke should clear from Seattle skies by Tuesday
Ferry runs aground in San Juan Islands, out of service for repairs
Beloved killer whale Tokitae dies at Miami Seaquarium
Tacoma Housing Authority creates minimum wage of $32 per hour
UW develops first underwater 3D positioning app for smart devices
‘It was horrifying’: Anti-Semitic fliers have pair of Kirkland neighborhoods on edge

Friday, August 18

Planning begins for Washington law offering new pathways to high school graduation
Washington students will soon be able to use workforce experience to graduate high school. At a State Board of Education meeting on Thursday, members began hammering out proposed rules to put House Bill 1308 into effect. The law, approved during this year’s legislative session, allows high school students to move toward graduation by completing a “performance-based learning experience,” such as professional skill-building, internships, or community service. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

Opinion: To ease housing crisis, remove barriers to off-site construction
Builders across the country are rethinking how we construct homes to address the housing affordability and availability crisis that has left millions of average Americans struggling to purchase homes. Between 2017-22, national housing costs skyrocketed by 52%. Over the next 20 years, the Washington Department of Commerce estimates a need for 1.1 million new houses in the state. Off-site construction, also known as modular or prefabricated construction, offers a practical solution streamlining the building process and significantly reduces construction time, delivering projects 20% to 50% faster than traditional methods at a cost savings of up to 20%. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (NRB Modular Solutions)

Human rights group raises alarm about use of force, chemical weapons at Tacoma ICE center
In a new report, the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights has raised concerns about the use of force at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma and how those incidents are being reported. The data provided by ICE has been incomplete, said Angelina Godoy, director of the Center for Human Rights. Even when looking at the partial data, there are a lot of inconsistencies, she added. “If ICE’s own data is so poor and internally inconsistent, then we’re going to have real problems, for example, when we go to implement HB 1470, which mandates that the Department of Health do inspections and improve conditions at the facility,” she said. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Malnutrition, ship strikes likely cause of spate of whale strandings

Axios
COVID hospitalization rates rise statewide
Amtrak’s first electric bus takes off

Capital Press
Pacific Northwest barley harvest ‘better than expected’
Ag stakeholders say they’re shut out of federal Snake River dam mediation
Washington potato industry sees EPA pesticide plan as threat
Introducing WA 64, a new hybrid apple variety from Washington State University

The Daily News
Kelso OKs up to $1.6 million for affordable housing project off Catlin Street

Everett Herald
Providence nurses: Conditions at Everett hospital still dire, or worse
In summer heat, Snohomish County PUD trains for winter storms
Nonprofit blocked by Everett’s ban on downtown medical, social services

High Country News
Meet the beetle threatening Washington’s cherries, hops and other crops

Indian Country Today
Quinault Indian Nation aims to close the digital divide

International Examiner
Paddle to Muckleshoot: A celebratory, ceremonial healing experience

News Tribune
Parts of Lakewood park to be closed indefinitely following fire that forced evacuations

Olympian
What’s the plan for fixing that problematic stretch of I-5 over the Nisqually delta?
Don’t trust Friday’s cool-down. Heat returning this weekend will raise regional fire risk

Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles city policy draws criticism
Murray vows for help in rebuilding lodge
Opinion: CCA: an investment (Chapman, Tharinger)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Aerospace consortium backs proposal for federal tech hub in Spokane
WA labor agency cites Amazon over safety in Spokane fulfillment center
7 secretaries of state urge FTC to reject Kroger, Albertsons deal
Race for industrial space heats up around Paine Field
Survey says 4% pay raises are in store for Washington employees

Seattle Medium
Fentanyl Test Strips No Longer A Debate

Seattle Times
Seattle’s nights are hotter than ever. Climate change means more to come
Big salmon run at Seattle’s Ballard Locks is wowing visitors
Smoke, unhealthy air blanket half of WA as wildfires dot the map
Opinion: To ease housing crisis, remove barriers to off-site construction

Spokesman Review
Aerospace manufacturing center eyed for Airway Heights

WA State Standard
Planning begins for Washington law offering new pathways to high school graduation (Stonier)
Members of Congress press Inslee on plan to shift dollars away from drug task forces
Food aid shipment departs Washington amid threats to program in Congress
Biden administration proposes $106 million for Western salmon and steelhead recovery
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ends Alaska visit with emphasis on ferries

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Neighborhood Health offers free showers and water during record-breaking heat

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Our community has a responsibility to our young people’: Tacoma’s efforts to curb teen crime

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Is student loan debt a national crisis? Nearly half of borrowers think so
High wildfire risk: Burn bans in effect across western Washington
Homelessness surges by 11% nationwide largely due to cost of living, evictions, report says

KUOW Public Radio
Record heat boosting wildfire risk in Pacific Northwest
Should we nix these Seattle buses? Today So Far
Human rights group raises alarm about use of force, chemical weapons at Tacoma ICE center
Far-right legal group sues Washington officials over new runaway youth health care law

NW Public Radio
Dolly Parton celebrates Imagination Library of Washington

Q13 TV (FOX)
I-405 to close between Renton, Bellevue this weekend
Air Quality Alerts issued through Monday for much of Washington state due to wildfires

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Wildfires rage amid hot, dry temperatures
With fewer riders, WTA seeks new direction
Schools, child care centers latest battleground for RV parking

Crosscut
More art, less trash: Washington reuse centers promote upcycling
WA senators just released more previously redacted records (Saldaña, Randall, Kuderer, Mullet, Morgan, Salomon, Billig)

Thursday, August 17

WA’s carbon-pricing program nears $1 billion in revenue, far outpacing early estimates
Washington’s latest auction of carbon-emission allowances raked in an estimated $62.5 million last week, with revenue from the state’s carbon-pricing program now nearing a billion dollars and far outpacing early estimates. Lawmakers this year budgeted about $2 billion in anticipated revenue from the auctions for projects intended to reduce emissions and improve air quality over the next two years. The Climate Commitment Act aims to reduce the state’s production of carbon dioxide, methane and related gases to 45% below 1990 levels in the next seven years, 70% below 1990 levels by 2040 and decarbonize by 2050. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

On Washington’s public lands, a rise in fires caused by people
Fires have more than doubled so far this year on state-managed public land in Washington compared to 2022, and people are mostly to blame for the blazes. On Washington state lands, there have been 49 human-caused fires through Aug. 1, compared to 27 during that same time frame last year, according to the Department of Natural Resources. People have caused at least 82% of the fires this year on state land, the department said. Lightning-strike fires are also up. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (David Ryder)

Washington state receiving $58M to replace culverts beneath roads that are harmful to fish
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced nearly $200 million in federal infrastructure grants to upgrade tunnels that carry streams beneath roads but can be deadly to fish that get stuck trying to pass through. Washington state is receiving the largest sum of any state with $58 million. Many of the narrow passages known as culverts, often made from metal pipes or concrete, were built in the 1950s and contribute to population declines of salmon and other fish that live in the ocean but return to freshwater streams to spawn. Continue reading at Associated Press. (Ted S. Warren)

Print

Associated Press
Amazon imposes new fees on sellers who ship their own products to customers
Washington state receiving $58M to replace culverts beneath roads that are harmful to fish

Aberdeen Daily World
WDFW adds 40 acres to wildlife area near Elma
Grays Harbor College selected for free meals program
Grays Harbor sees highest COVID rate in WA among nationwide spike

Bellingham Herald
WSDOT launches Amtrak electric buses that will operate between Seattle and Bellingham

Columbian
Workers in Clark County toil away amid extreme heat
Vancouver Police Department hires two assistant chiefs
Jenny Creek Road Fire evacuation zones rolling back as crews get handle on fire
Officials in Clark County concerned about troubling trend in work zone crashes

The Daily News
Editorial: Thumbs up to Cowlitz County cooling shelters, thumbs down to Oregon drug law

Everett Herald
Lake Stevens starts charging for police body camera footage
Dome Peak wildfire swells to 770 acres east of Darrington

The Inlander
We spent a weekend at Spokane’s most notorious intersection. Here’s what we saw.
West side bust highlights Washington’s strict cannabis lounge regulations
Opinion: How Spokane is leading the nation with latest transit project

News Tribune
Lakewood residents are receiving fire evacuation warnings. Here’s what those levels mean
Pickets this week at MultiCare Indigo clinics over surge of patients vs. quality of care

Olympian
Withheld documents may provide insight into the records WA lawmakers want to keep secret (Mullet, Saldana, Kuderer, Hasegawa, Randall, Billig)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle rebate program incentivizes use of electric trucks
Alaska Airlines flight attendants picket again ahead of contract talks
SBA makes sweeping change to 8(a) program after court ruling
Tacoma council adopts resolution to encourage micro-businesses
Here are the changes to the SBA 7(a) program and how they’re working

Seattle Medium
Drug Possession Law Pushed To September By Lawmakers
Fire Last Straw For Troubled Encampment In North Seattle
Editorial: Having Our Say Against Carbon Pollution

Seattle Times
Mount Rainier bans all fires starting Friday
Asia-Pacific leaders cap off trade meetings with Space Needle summit
WA AG sues O’Reilly Auto Parts, says pregnant workers faced discrimination (Keiser)
WA’s carbon-pricing program nears $1 billion in revenue, far outpacing early estimates

Skagit Valley Herald
Burn bans expanded in county, on public lands
Grant awarded for removal of Hart Slough creosote pilings

Spokesman Review
Critical fire conditions forecasted in Eastern Washington Thursday and Friday
Amazon fulfillment center in Airway Heights cited for unsafe conditions

Tri-City Herald
More destructive Japanese beetles found in Tri-Cities. Could it lead to a quarantine?
100+ temperature smashes 100-year-old Eastern WA heat record. Next worry is fire

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Fire burns about 600 acres in north Walla Walla County

Washington Post
Here’s where water is running out in the world — and why
New vaccines this fall could curb covid variant, respiratory viruses

WA State Standard
On Washington’s public lands, a rise in fires caused by people
Extra cap-and-trade auction may net $62M for Washington
Conservative group sues Washington over law to protect trans youth in crisis

Wenatchee World
Link Transit shows K8M electric bus at state transit association conference
Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority commissioner tapped for state transportation commission seat

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington had highest year-over-year drug overdose death increase in US, data show

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle’s Pike Place Market opened 116 years ago today

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
KCRHA outlines progress with homeless crisis in presentation to Seattle leaders
AG Ferguson sues O’Reilly Auto Parts for alleged discrimination against pregnant employees
Washington State Ferries begin journey to zero emissions with first contract for hybrid-electric conversion

KNKX Public Radio
UW researchers find pattern of Tacoma ICE facility using chemical agents, force against detainees

KUOW Public Radio
How hot temps, wildfire affect NW power grid
Has summer school helped in the fight against pandemic learning loss?
Washington sues O’Reilly Auto Parts, alleging discrimination against pregnant workers

KXLY (ABC)
Excessive heat impacts local food bank

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Amtrak’s new electric bus launches Bellingham-Seattle service

MyNorthwest
Fire closure of North Cascades Highway is hurting local businesses
Evacuation orders lifted in Lakewood after major fire at Fort Steilacoom Park
$50 million project on 196th Street in Lynnwood now complete

Wednesday, August 16

Washington awards $150M contract to convert ferries to hybrid-electric power
Washington State Ferries announced Tuesday it has awarded a roughly $150 million contract to ship builder Vigor to convert up to three of the state’s largest vessels to hybrid-electric power. Moving the largest ferries to hybrid-electric power is one of several steps the ferry system is pursuing as it looks to wean itself off diesel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agency’s long term plans call for retrofitting more ferries to hybrid-electric, building new hybrid-powered vessels, adding charging stations at terminals and retiring diesel ferries. Thus far, there is $1.33 billion secured to build up to five hybrid electric Olympic Class vessels and convert up to four other boats to hybrid electric. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (WSDOT)

Ultra high-speed train connecting Vancouver B.C. to Portland would ‘transform the Pacific Northwest,’ Washington Democrats argue
A team of Washington Democrats is calling for the federal government to help fund a high-speed rail line that would travel up to 250 miles per hour and stretch from Canada to Oregon. In the letter, the Democrats argued the project would lead to better access to jobs, affordable housing, climate initiatives, shared resources, increased tourism and economic growth for the Pacific Northwest region. During the 2022 session, the Washington State Legislature allocated $4 million for additional analysis and framework for future high-speed rail and another $150 million legislators hope the federal government will match for the project. Officials sent a status report to Governor Jay Inslee and the Legislature on June 30. Continue reading at KING5.

Comment: State lawmakers acted on housing; now it’s our turn
Lack of homes, inflation and other economic challenges over the years have all led to a housing attainability crisis. So, while much work remains to address this crisis, I was heartened that the state Legislature this year took meaningful action to help local communities better coordinate and plan in the shared work for more housing choices. New laws adopted this year will help cities facilitate more housing, and streamline how local communities track and report on permits for housing construction. Taken as a whole, these bills demonstrate a collaborative, coordinated plan for confronting the affordability crisis across our state. With the Legislature on break until early 2024, the work must continue at the local level if we are going to be successful in addressing the housing crisis. It is not enough for Olympia to act; we must all act and work together on the changes ahead. Continue reading at Everett Herald.

Print

Associated Press
Federal grants will replace tunnels beneath roads that let water pass but not fish

Aberdeen Daily World
Scammers pose as power company officials

Bellingham Herald
Annual asbestos warning goes out to people living near Swift Creek and Sumas Mountain
Whatcom County home prices drop, although Bellingham sees an increase in real estate costs

Capital Press
Report: Breaching Snake River dams would put thousands of farmers at risk

Columbian
Vancouver eyes easing rules on size of buildings
‘What’s a cooling center?’: Many in Clark County in need have no idea facilities exist
Editorial: Is it time to aggressively address climate change?

Everett Herald
Lynnwood celebrates nearly $50 million project on 196th Street
Comment: State lawmakers acted on housing; now it’s our turn
Editorial: Police raid on newspaper a blatant abuse of power

News Tribune
Pierce County needs more than 110K new housing units by 2044. Where will they come from?
Pierce Transit puts troubled Bus Rapid Transit project on hold and turns to quicker fix

Olympian
Where’s that smoke coming from? Wildfire maps show location, status of WA state fires
Campfires banned on DNR-protected lands due to fire danger, agency says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Commercial real estate sales volume slows considerably
Telework, paid leave on table for Pregnant Worker Fairness Act
Seattle unveils $7.5M housing investment in Rainier Valley

Seattle Medium
Urban League Of Metropolitan Seattle To Host 2nd Annual Summer Resource Festival

Seattle Times
New report details dozens of uses of force at Northwest ICE center
Seattle, King County upgrade burn bans, prohibit recreational fires
Dolly Parton kicks off free book program for WA kids (Stonier)

Spokesman Review
Heat sets record Tuesday in Spokane; dry winds bring fire danger later this week
Harris in Seattle: Vice president touts ‘Bidenomics’ in speech to mark anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act

Tri-City Herald
West Nile virus detected in 3 Eastern WA towns. Worst year since 2009, say officials
Dolly Parton visits Washington to celebrate expansion of her Imagination Library (Stonier, Heck)

Washington Post
Cancer among younger Americans is on the rise, new study shows

WA State Standard
Washington awards $150M contract to convert ferries to hybrid-electric power
Extreme heat: What King County’s emergency preparedness planner wants you to know

Yakima Herald-Republic
Firefighters respond to fire on Ahtanum Ridge in Yakima
Yakima County Commissioners extend solar moratorium again
Yakima and Ellensburg set new high temperature records on Tuesday
New Yakima County team helps rescue animals during wildfires and other emergencies

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Sinking light rail track in Seattle under repair this week
Company awarded contract to convert largest Washington ferries to hybrid-electric power
‘People want cooling:’ King County’s program to get heat pumps in homes that need it the most
Ultra high-speed train connecting Vancouver B.C. to Portland would ‘transform the Pacific Northwest,’ Washington Democrats argue

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
‘Win-win situation’: Washington families benefit from Dolly Parton’s book gifting program
PSE asks customers to save energy as heat wave blankets western Washington
North Cascades Highway remains closed as crews battle Sourdough Fire amid rising temperatures

KNKX Public Radio
Government’s own experts found ‘barbaric’ and ‘negligent’ conditions in ICE detention
Pacific Northwest heat wave could break temperature records through Thursday

KUOW Public Radio
As Seattle area heat wave continues, outdoor workers feel the burn
‘The most dense and consolidated damage I’ve seen’: A WA firefighter’s dispatches from Maui

KXLY (ABC)
Cooling resources available for seniors to beat the heat this summer

NW Public Radio
Heat safety 101: Prevention, warnings and treatment
Distrito legislativo de Washington Central debe redibujarse

Q13 TV (FOX)
Nearly 90% of Washington wildfires are human-caused; officials on alert as fire danger lingers
‘Heat islands’ pose challenge for residents trying to stay cool in King County

Web

Crosscut
Washington considers consolidating elk management (Lekanoff)

MyNorthwest
City of Burien considers new controversial homeless sweeps strategy
Seattle City Council approves increase of EV stations with state goals on the horizon
Vice President Harris visits Seattle, discusses climate crisis, economy

Tuesday, August 15

Stifling prison heat used to be just a Southern problem. Not anymore.
Climate change has amplified heat-related struggles in more state prisons. Some advocates have argued that hot conditions in prisons constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. The conditions have led to lawsuits and protests across the country. To address these problems, some states are offering alternative cooling methods such as cooling beds and increased access to water stations or ice; others have allocated funding toward upgrading or building new facilities with air conditioning. In Washington, there are five HVAC system upgrade projects that received legislative funding for the Monroe Correctional Complex, the Washington Corrections Center for Women, the Washington State Penitentiary and the Progress House Work Release. Most states, however, have taken little to no action, advocates say. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Creative Commons)

Hazardous heat comes to the Pacific Northwest
An upper-level ridge of high pressure over western Washington and Oregon will likely continue to bring hazardous temperatures for the next several days, National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Reedy told Axios. The ridge should begin to break down by next weekend, said Reedy, with temperatures cooling slightly into the 80s throughout the region. The Pacific Northwest stood out this year for its relatively mild temperatures compared to the widespread heat waves blanketing the U.S. for much of this summer, and the world’s record-breaking July temperatures. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)

WA’s $5M youth homelessness effort is ramping up. Is it working?
Washington’s policies to prevent youth and young adult homelessness are considered among the best in the country. In a 2021 report, the National Homelessness Law Center’s analyzed states’ “readiness to tackle the specific challenges of youth homelessness” and ranked Washington first among states, and second overall, behind Washington, D.C. But the report noted that its rankings did not reflect states’ success in preventing youth homelessness, and Washington’s own data show its room for improvement, especially for youth who have been through public systems. A report published in June by the Department of Social and Health Services showed that nearly 1,100, or 15%, of the more than 7,000 young people who left state systems — foster care, the juvenile justice system, or inpatient behavioral health treatment — between July 2020 and June 2021 were homeless one year later. Continue reading at Crosscut. (David Ryder)