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Monday, August 14

90s and more: Excessive Heat Warnings across Western Washington
Several weather advisories have been posted by the U.S. National Weather Service for areas across Western Washington, warning of dangerously hot temperatures through Tuesday evening. In Western Whatcom County, Western Skagit County, and Everett, daytime temperatures in the mid-80s to low-90s are expected through 11 p.m. Tuesday night. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Judge rules in favor of Montana youths in landmark climate decision
In the first ruling of its kind nationwide, a Montana state court decided Monday in favor of young people who alleged the state violated their right to a “clean and healthful environment” by promoting the use of fossil fuels. The court determined that a provision in the Montana Environmental Policy Act has harmed the state’s environment and the young plaintiffs, by preventing Montana from considering the climate impacts of energy projects. The provision is accordingly unconstitutional, the court said. Continue reading at Washington Post. (Thom Bridge/AP)

EPA clears WA to do more controlled burns to prevent wildfires
Washington firefighters now have more planning time and a longer season to ignite the controlled burns they use to prevent massive wildfires threatening landscapes and homes and blanketing the state in choking smoke. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved Washington’s smoke management plan last week, marking the first update to the state’s main document guiding prescribed burns in more than two decades. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Colin Mulvaney/The Spokesman-Review)

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Bellingham Herald
Increased toxins from excessive algae in Lake Wiser prompts warning from Whatcom County

Columbian
Sens. Cleveland and Liias: Thanks for help, Oregon, now let’s build bridge
‘Vulnerable victim’ deaths in Washington drive criminal penalties in negligence cases
‘Dangerous’ hot temperatures expected in Vancouver, Southwest Washington today
Editorial: GOP disses young voters at its own peril
Letter: Carbon pricing is needed
Editorial: Vancouver adjusts canopy amid climate change

The Daily News
EXPLAINER: Longview School District’s $112M budget proposal
GeoGirls program blends science and summer camp at Mount St. Helens

Everett Herald
As tenant protection ends, landlords can evict without mediation again (Robinson)
Editorial: Fate of four dams may turn on talks, climate change
After no one runs for 5 Snohomish County offices, what’s next?

News Tribune
This part of unincorporated Pierce County is big enough to be a city. Should it be? (Morgan)
Overnight fire lights up skies — heat and dry conditions causing multiple South Sound blazes
Op-Ed: A fair perspective on Affirmative Action

Olympian
Concerns surround ‘reopening’ of Thurston County jail. Here’s how it’s going so far
Think school supplies are pricey? Imagine buying enough for 3,500 Thurston County students

Peninsula Daily News
Kilmer requests include Peninsula projects funds
Editorial: OUR VIEW: Legislation would stem ‘news deserts’
State treasurer: Lack of retirement savings could mean future crisis

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing 737 Max’s anti-ice system draws concern from FAA

Seattle Times
EPA clears WA to do more controlled burns to prevent wildfires
Heat wave arrives in Western WA, with a side of smoke
In Seattle, test scores lag but opportunities align to help Black male students
Seattle social housing developer sees first round of funding (Chopp, Saldaña)
Editorial: The research is hard to ignore: Paying for early education pays off

Spokesman Review
Record-breaking heatwave expected in Spokane this week
Cases of COVID-19 are going up nationally for the first time this year. What about Spokane?

Tri-City Herald
WA public hearing set on large Tri-Cities wind farm. Not everyone will get to speak
Update on NW heat wave: Hottest days of the summer expected this week
Historic B Reactor in Eastern WA shutting down tours for 2 years. Why it’s closing

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
State grants help area hospitality businesses recover from pandemic losses
City says heat, longer billing cycle caused higher Walla Walla water customer bills

Washington Post
Judge rules in favor of Montana youths in landmark climate decision

WA State Standard
U.S. District Court temporarily blocks enforcement of Idaho transgender bathroom law
Bird flu outbreak stokes fears for Washington’s wild birds

Wenatchee World
‘I just wanted to make sure you guys have thought about the community’ | Concerns raised in Chelan County about PUDs crypto mining rate changes
Confluence Health reaches contract agreement with Wenatchee Valley Medical Group

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington firefighters who died in the line of duty honored in statewide memorial service
This weekend’s fires in Pierce County prompt stern warnings ahead of increased risk
Evacuations triggered by brush fire lifted in Thurston County near Offut Lake
‘We refuse to give up’: Western Washington organizations work to address food insecurity

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
90s and more: Excessive Heat Warnings across Western Washington
Smoke from Sourdough fire settles over Seattle

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Local, state agencies release more warnings about increased fire danger amid rising temperatures
Washington gas prices among highest in the nation due to taxes and new emissions program
Seattle mayor wants ‘urgent action’ from council after delay on drug possession law

KNKX Public Radio
Coronavirus FAQ: Is it wiser to get a booster now or wait for the new fall booster?

KUOW Public Radio
Power production resumes at Skagit dams near Sourdough Fire
Washington sends Task Force 1 to Hawaii in wake of wildfires
2 rambunctious youngsters, no dying elders might spell hope for NW orcas
Week in Review: fires, taxes, and elections
Here comes Covid, walking down the street: Today So Far

KXLY (ABC)
‘Presence is the number one thing out there’: WSP increasing patrols as students return to campus’
Weather Alert: Dangerous heat for the next four days
Investigators: West Spokane arson suspect told police she set Dishman Hills fires, too
Mayoral veto stalls removal of racist statue in downtown Spokane

NW Public Radio
Central Washington Legislative District must be redrawn
Vacaciones en el “paraíso” se convierten en desastre para familia de Washington

Web

Cascadia Daily News
‘I’ll chain myself to this bowling alley if I have to’

MyNorthwest
Amazon is rolling out a generative AI feature that summarizes product reviews
Maui wildfire is now the deadliest in the US in more than 100 years
Swimming beach at Green Lake closed after discovery of toxic algae
Washington is the 8th most expensive US state for household bills

The Stranger
Seattle Calls for Reform as SPD’s Top Brass Union Returns to the Bargaining Table

Friday, August 11

Consumers seeing relief in some food prices as inflation continues to slow
Consumers are getting some relief from higher prices as core inflation, which excludes food and energy, continues to show signs of cooling — an encouraging sign for the U.S. economy, according to economists. The Department of Labor’s report on Thursday showed the consumer price index rose 0.2% in July, in line with expectations, and 3.2% in the past year compared to 3% in June. Despite that slight uptick, economists say that it’s still good news for the economy overall and for consumers. This is the second month core inflation has reached pre-pandemic levels, according to an analysis of Department of Labor data by the Roosevelt Institute. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Scott Olson)

Washington state buys shuttered psychiatric hospital in Tukwila
Washington state officials are buying a recently shuttered for-profit psychiatric hospital in Tukwila in an attempt to shore up the state’s mental health system. The purchase of the Cascade Behavioral Health facility, which closed last month, will prevent the loss of more treatment beds amid a long-running shortage of psychiatric treatment options. Funding for the $29.9 million purchase comes out of the state Department of Social and Health Service’s current budget, according to agency spokesperson Tyler Hemstreet. “Any additional funding will be through a supplemental funding request” to the Legislature, he wrote in an email. Under state operation, the facility – which was licensed for 137 beds – will be used for patients moving through Washington’s civil commitment system, according to Hemstreet. That will then open space for more patients needing competency and restoration services at Western State Hospital, he added. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Genna Martin)

WA ferry fares to increase this fall and next
The price of a ferry ride is set to go up around 40 cents on the state’s busiest routes — in October and then again in the same month the following year, a step state transportation officials say is necessary to cover the full cost of running the boats. The state Legislature budgeted $725 million for operations in 2024 and 2025, assuming $419 million of that would come from fares. The Washington State Transportation Commission and Washington State Ferries said they would monitor ridership and revisit the budget in the 2024 legislative session. People took 17.4 million trips last year. So far this year, ridership is 77% of pre-pandemic levels. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

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Axios
Washington gas prices are no longer the nation’s highest — but they’re still up

Capital Press
Climatologists foresee strong El Nino

Columbian
Ridgefield, Ecology reach legal settlement over Park Laundry

Everett Herald
Avian reovirus suspected after crow deaths in Snohomish County

News Tribune
This company just moved its headquarters and 300 jobs to Puyallup. They’re hiring
WA state task force deploying to Hawaii in wake of fires. Here’s its makeup and mission

Olympian
Thurston judge will decide next month if state lawmakers have privilege to withhold records
Lacey City Council awards $408,000 contract to dig 3 deep holes near Judd Street

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why the CHIPS Act could be a ‘carpe diem’ moment for businesses
Boeing 737 Max’s anti-ice system draws concern from FAA

Seattle Medium
Rest Areas In Washington State Has New Strategic Plan
Washington Doctors Accused Of Improper COVID Treatments

Seattle Times
WA ferry fares to increase this fall and next
King County shows off salmon habitat where once stood a hotel
Treaty tribes haul in Chinook bounty on Seattle’s Elliott Bay, Duwamish
North Cascades Highway closes again as Sourdough fire burns
As budget shortfall looms, Seattle City Council debates need for new revenue

Spokesman Review
Maple Street Bridge project to cost $4.7 million; construction start date unclear
Washington to allow anglers to keep Chinook salmon caught in the Snake
VA extends deadline for retroactive toxic exposure benefits, following website problems
Process to review offensive landmarks, street names in Spokane vetoed by Woodward
WSU Spokane’s new School of Medicine building is ready for students following $17 million renovations

Tri-City Herald
Historic B Reactor in Eastern WA shutting down tours for 2 years. Why it’s closing

WA State Standard
Federal judge orders redrawing of Yakima Valley legislative district
U.S. District Court temporarily blocks enforcement of Idaho transgender bathroom law
Consumers seeing relief in some food prices as inflation continues to slow
It will cost more to travel on a state ferry in Washington this fall
Why Washington’s jury diversity problem starts outside the courthouse

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County’s June unemployment figure the lowest since at least 1990
U.S. Labor Department orders Ostrom to pay $130K for H-2A violations
Consultant tells Yakima City Council more than $267K needed to fix Naches River span
Opinion: Crime lab cuts ribbon — next, it’ll cut time solving crimes

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Director of Rainier Beach safety outreach group speaks out about July shooting
‘An extreme step:’ Washington child welfare workers call on Inslee to fire top DCYF boss
COVID-19 hospitalizations remain steady in WA despite new strain, nationwide trend

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
92% of students concerned they won’t have enough money to pay for fall term, study shows
Ferry prices to increase to help Washington meet revenue requirements
Why are more than 200 unused tiny homes locked in a storage lot in Seattle?
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell introduces legislation to combat rising vacant building violations, fires

KUOW Public Radio
UPS union negotiated a historic contract. Now workers have the final say
State vet says bunny killing virus is ‘here to stay’
If you never got a Covid booster, get one now: experts say

NW Public Radio
Part of HWY 20 reopened, firefighters still actively working in area as Sourdough Fire burns

Web

Cascadia Daily News
State proposes tighter safety regulations for refinery workers years after tragedy (Lovelett)
Whatcom, Skagit jobless rates remain at 2023 lows

Crosscut
Washington state buys shuttered psychiatric hospital in Tukwila

Thursday, August 10

The latest flare-up over Washington’s heat pump rules
Washington is aiming to reduce energy use in buildings by 70% compared to the levels envisioned with the 2006 edition of the state building code. And the building code council has a mandate to get it done by early next decade. Washington regulators derailed earlier this year when they tried to mandate electric heat pumps, rather than natural gas, be used to warm newly built homes and apartments. But now a path is emerging for them to offer builders incentives to choose heat pumps instead of gas. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

WA foster parents say the state still hasn’t fixed its investigative system
The state has been aware for years that fears of retaliation and frustration around investigations have driven away some otherwise willing foster parents. CPS investigations of abuse or neglect allegations are high-stakes, often difficult processes — mishandling one could also leave a child in a dangerous household. But Silvia Zarate’s experience aligns with a pattern advocates describe of overly punitive treatment of foster parents by the Department of Children, Youth and Families when those caregivers face accusations of abuse, neglect or even lower-level licensing violations. In a 2018 report to the Legislature on the topic of foster parent complaints, the department said it would undertake “enhanced systemic monitoring of foster parent supports” to tackle the problem. DCYF did not respond to a question asking what specifically the department has done since then to address concerns about investigations. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jake Parrish)

VP Kamala Harris to visit Seattle to speak on inflation and climate crisis
Vice President Kamala Harris will speak in Seattle on President Joe Biden’s administration’s efforts to combat inflation and the climate crisis on Aug. 15. The vice president’s visit comes ahead of the one-year anniversary of Biden signing his landmark Inflation Reduction Act. Harris plans to discuss her administration’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis with what she believes is the urgency it demands while building a clean energy economy that creates good-paying jobs. Continue reading at KOMO4.

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Axios
Sexual misconduct on airplanes is increasing, prosecutors warn
What it takes to be in the top 1% in Washington state

Bellingham Herald
Unpleasant reality: Whatcom County’s child abuse rates far exceed the statewide average
North Cascades Highway reopens as wildfire continues to advance in rural Whatcom County
Meridian School District shares plans to address child-care deserts in Whatcom County

Capital Press
Labor recruiter WAFLA offers money management classes for farmworkers

Columbian
Clark County projects it will add 73,500 jobs from 2025-2045
Vancouver eyes climate-adaptive trees for future

Everett Herald
Everett Transit seeks feds’ advice after Proterra bankruptcy
In Everett, ‘instead of helping us, they just want to put us in jail’
Editorial: Supreme Court left abortion decision to the people

The Inlander
A developer wants to build on one of the last untouched parts of Liberty Lake, raising environmental concerns

News Tribune
Farmers’ Almanac predicting an ‘unusually snowy’ winter in WA. Here’s the full forecast
Pierce County Executive vetoes council decision on controversial homeless village zoning
Report: More than a third of WA drivers canceled summer travel plans over high gas prices

Olympian
Olympic National Park reopens two trails after cougar attack, but others remain closed

Puget Sound Business Journal
Port of Seattle approves $33M for Maritime Innovation Center
WA agency acquires shuttered behavioral health hospital in Tukwila
Billions of SBA dollars in crosshairs after Supreme Court decision

Seattle Times
Early signs suggest WA could see a late-summer COVID wave
‘Disturbing uptick’ in sexual assaults on aircraft, officials say
Proposed San Juan Island trail divides farmers, recreation advocates
Port of Seattle approves $33 million Fishermen’s Terminal building renovation
Seattle City Council clears way for completion of $160 million aquarium expansion
Editorial: Free books for WA kids from a country music legend and literacy fairy godmother
Opinion: Modernize Columbia River Treaty to meet challenges ahead

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County facility helping to turn used oil, beef fat into diesel fuel

Spokesman Review
2023 Washington apple harvest starts strong
Washington buys upgraded devices to help prevent wolf-livestock conflict

Tri-City Herald
2 Amazon centers have yet to open in Pasco. Is a safety dispute in Western WA to blame?

WA State Standard
The latest flare-up over Washington’s heat pump rules
Nearly 300,000 fentanyl pills seized in one of King County’s largest drug busts

Wenatchee World
Confluence Health CEO talks staffing, finances and future of Wenatchee’s hospital system

Yakima Herald-Republic
Retirement town hall meeting planned in Yakima on Aug. 17

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Vice President Kamala Harris returning to Seattle to discuss climate crisis

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
WSP warns of ‘rat-running’ trend in which drivers cut through lots to avoid backups
Seattle to save historic cedar tree in Wedgwood neighborhood
Overdose calls in King County have increased by 65% this year
North Cascades Highway reopens after closing due to 1,700-acre Sourdough Fire
Sexual abuse cases onboard flights rise; one woman’s fight for a conviction
VP Kamala Harris to visit Seattle to speak on inflation and climate crisis

KNKX Public Radio
Inflation got a little higher in July as prices for rent and gas spiked

KUOW Public Radio
New deal saves Seattle’s celebrity tree, ‘Luma’
Seattle lays out plan to uphold treaties and consider Indigenous concerns
Seattle strikes down its fee on arcade games, pinball, pool, and more fun

KXLY (ABC)
Paramedics ask for better solutions as fentanyl overdoses skyrocket

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington AG cracks down on criminals who fail to submit DNA
Seattle City Council passes bill to protect app-based workers from ‘unreasonable deactivation’

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Family Care Network to drop insurer, could strand PeaceHealth employees

Crosscut
WA foster parents say the state still hasn’t fixed its investigative system

MyNorthwest
Frustration about upcoming Seattle Police contract emerges at city council meeting

Wednesday, August 9

U.S. Sen. Murray visits Whatcom County to hear about efforts to fill child-care gaps
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a vocal advocate for addressing a shortage of child care options in Washington, visited the site of a proposed early learning center on Monday in Whatcom County. Plans are underway to create the Whatcom Early Learning Center in the Meridian School District, which will use the site to offer a solution to child care deserts in the rural parts of the county, according to the Whatcom County Early Learning Center information guide. The center plans to have space for up to 120 children who are infants through 5 years old. There would be extended hours and days of operation as a way to support working families. Continue reading at Olympian. (Meridian School District)

Supreme Court reinstates federal ‘ghost gun’ rule backed by Washington state
A Biden administration effort to clamp down on untraceable firearms made from kits can continue for now, after the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in Tuesday. It’s a small victory for states, including Washington, who say federal inaction has led to more of the “ghost guns” crossing their borders and getting used in crimes. Attorney General Bob Ferguson joined 21 other attorneys general last month in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the rule, which was issued last year. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

After 20+ years radioactive waste melting plant in Eastern WA takes key step forward
Glass has been melted inside the world’s largest radioactive waste melter at the Hanford nuclear reservation site for the first time, more than 20 years after construction on the vitrification plant began. “This is a proud time for our Hanford team as we have established a molten glass pool in our first melter,” said Brian Vance, the Department of Energy Hanford manager. Four melters are at the heart of the planned operations of the Waste Treatment Plant, or vitrification plant, to turn radioactive and chemical waste into a stable glass form for disposal. Continue reading at Tri-City Herald. (Bechtel National)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Sous chef’s heroism highlights drug problem in Aberdeen

Axios
Sinking tracks cause shutdowns to Seattle light rail service

Bellingham Herald
Highway remains closed as Sourdough Fire creeps toward town, power-generating plant

Capital Press
Washington slams EPA pesticide pilot project

Columbian
Battle Ground urges state to keep Larch Corrections Center operating
Battle Ground OKs eight-year multifamily tax break for West Main Commons project
NorthStar Clinic opens in central Vancouver to provide addiction treatment (Cleveland, Stonier)
Traffic fatalities jump in Clark County and Washington – driven by speed, alcohol, drugs, distraction
Editorial: On road to improving traffic safety with program

News Tribune
Washington state to shut down online benefits portals, statewide call centers for IT upgrade
WA state household bills $2.5k more than national average. Which counties cost the most?
Tacoma’s main library to close soon for $6M renovation. Here’s what that money will buy
Heard of ‘rat-running?’ Some WA cities ban it. What to know about this driving shortcut

Olympian
U.S. Sen. Murray visits Whatcom County to hear about efforts to fill child-care gaps

Seattle Times
Seattle settles lawsuit by 911 manager who cited dispatch concerns
Seattle City Council adds more protections for app-based workers
Student Voices: Grief lingers after the pandemic. Kids need more support
Opinion: Congress must modernize access to methadone to save lives

Skagit Valley Herald
Olympia oysters flourishing in Fidalgo Bay

Spokesman Review
Washington’s high gas prices make it the best state in the nation to go electric, study says
I-90 closed in western Spokane County due to chemical spill in crash

Tri-City Herald
After 20+ years radioactive waste melting plant in Eastern WA takes key step forward

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
College Place receives $427K loan to help design new water storage tank

WA State Standard
Supreme Court reinstates federal ‘ghost gun’ rule backed by Washington state
WA Sen. Patty Murray proposes new grants to help prevent youth homelessness
State ferry system may face budget gap even with fare hike

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee School District joins lawsuit against social media companies

Yakima Herald-Republic
‘Near-perfect growing conditions’ help boost WA apple crop
Yakima received roughly same amount of precipitation this weekend as past three months combined

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma police shoot, kill man at home where neighbors say there was frequent gunfire
Over half of Seattle residents live in ‘urban heat islands,’ new climate study finds
Aberdeen man who was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor laid to rest decades later

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Expansion of drug treatment services to Pioneer Square approved by Seattle City Council
Seattle residents to voice opinions on police labor negotiations at City Council meeting
Sen. Murray introduces legislation aimed at preventing youth homelessness

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle becomes first in U.S. to protect gig workers from sudden ‘deactivation’
Seattle lays out plan to uphold treaties and consider Indigenous concerns
Sourdough Fire takes bite out of Seattle’s electricity supplies
How a Seattle-area school district ignored repeated warnings of ‘grooming-like behavior’

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane School Board to work on $200 million bond plan
Northwest Autism Center expanding services to reach all regardless of ability
EB I-90 closed near Tyler due to hazardous materials leak

Q13 TV (FOX)
Burien continues to ignore $1M offer from King County to address homelessness crisis

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: State’s ‘Death With Dignity’ law is flawed for some patients

MyNorthwest
Funds, partnership with Cinerama passes Seattle City Council
Boeing delays Starliner’s crewed launch until March 2024, at the earliest
Cyclists file claims against Seattle, seek improvements on ‘Missing Link’ of Burke-Gilman Trail

Tuesday, August 8

Climate change is making PNW hydropower less reliable
As drought settled in over the Pacific Northwest this year, some electric utility managers did something unusual: They looked to California for hydropower. While the Golden State’s reservoirs retained an abundant supply of water after an abnormally wet winter, in Washington, the nation’s leading producer of hydropower, some systems saw less water than expected. The hydropower variability this year represents one example of some of the changes the country can expect in a warming world, according to a new report from Stanford researchers. The report challenges the notion that hydropower will carry the Northwest into its clean energy future, suggesting that without meaningful modeling for climate change in energy resource planning, the West will be ill-prepared to meet demand and its ambitious clean-energy goals. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Earth recorded its hottest-ever month in July. But how hot did it get in Western WA?
The World Meteorological Organization has declared that July 2023 was officially the hottest month on record. Interestingly, Western Washington was one of the only regions in the country that didn’t get blasted by heat throughout July. The Puget Sound area stayed at an average high of about 80 degrees during the mid-July “heat dome” that cooked most of the U.S. west of the Rocky Mountains. Western Washington escaped the heat thanks in part to a low-pressure system sitting off the coast providing the region with cooler air, National Weather Service meteorologist Carly Kovacik told McClatchy News. After a month of going against the grain when compared with the rest of the county, August will finally be Puget Sound’s turn to warm up. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Steve Bloom)

Washington cities, counties now required to plan for climate change
Planning for severe storms, flooding, wildfires and poor air quality will soon be required for Washington cities and counties. A law passed by the Legislature this year requires local governments to consider climate change in their 20-year comprehensive plans beginning in 2025. The Department of Commerce released early guidance last month on how to do that. The guidance focuses on two new sections that must be included in long-range plans: lowering greenhouse-gas emissions and raising defenses against climate-related threats. With the law, the state isn’t mandating that localities meet specific emissions targets, just that they commit to strategies that can help with reductions. Sarah Fox, climate program manager for the Department of Commerce, said the guidance helps cities and counties reduce their impact on the planet as well as improve their ability to withstand the harsher effects of climate change. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jovelle Tamayo)