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Friday, August 4

Opinion: Don’t let the oil industry gaslight us about high prices at the pump
Climate policies are a familiar punching bag for the oil industry, which has spent many millions of dollars blocking progress at every turn. For decades, they’ve avoided accountability for their impact on our health, lands, waters, communities, and wallets. Last year, while Washingtonians dealt with exorbitant fuel prices, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and others brought in record profits. In Washington, they are starting to be held accountable with the recently implemented Climate Commitment Act. With oil companies finally being required to pay their fair share of the climate crisis, it’s little surprise that they are trying to stop this transition to a sustainable future — these investments are our pathway away from fossil fuel dependence, and are a direct threat to their profits. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

$142K salary needed to afford a ‘starter’ home in Seattle, Redfin reports
A “starter” home in Seattle looks a lot different than elsewhere in the United States — it’s a lot more expensive and you need to earn a lot more to afford it. According to recent data published by Redfin, a first-time homebuyer needs to earn about $64,000 annually to afford a “typical” starter home in the United States. The national numbers pale in comparison to Seattle where the median sale price of a starter home is around $535,000. Redfin reports that a person needs to earn $141,794 a year to afford this type of property, with a median mortgage payment of $3,545. That’s 4.4% higher than a year ago. For a non-starter home, Redfin reported last November that a person needs to earn $205,000 annually to afford one in Seattle. Continue reading at KUOW. (Tierra Mallorca)

Connecting with non-English speakers is still a challenge during emergencies
When Fabiola Cortez received text messages asking how the fire was going, she drove quickly to her home in Underwood where her husband was waiting for her. Cortez’s family evacuated during the Tunnel 5 wildfire that destroyed ten homes and close to 600 acres in Skamania County in mid-July. Cortez speaks Spanish, but the information came in English. “I understood a little bit, but my daughter was with me,” Cortez said. Some adults rely on the translation their bilingual children can often provide. Cortez went to community meetings but those were in English, too. While Washington requires local organizations to develop emergency communication plans for Limited English Proficiency populations, officials say providing fast and accurate information for these communities during wildfire emergencies is challenging. Raul Martinez, external affairs manager at the Washington Department of Natural Resources says the agency tries to serve all non-English speaking communities, but “this isn’t something that we can do by ourselves.” Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting.

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Bellingham Herald
Sourdough fire could burn all summer as firefighters defend town, hydroelectric plant
Homeless and a lack of resources: Why this Bellingham family of 8 is living in their car
‘All means all’: Sehome High School models a new standard of inclusive learning

Columbian
Vancouver Housing Authority makes air conditioning a priority in facilities housing low-income seniors

Everett Herald
State launches refund portal for legal fees from vacated drug cases
Fire levies fail in Mukilteo, Arlington area; pass elsewhere

News Tribune
‘Reckless, negligent and wrongful.’ Mother of man killed by Pierce County deputy sues
Comment: Feds should spark prescribed burns on federal lands to mitigate extreme fire seasons

Olympian
You’ll never guess the stories behind these six uniquely-named places in Washington State

Peninsula Daily News
Department of Natural Resources seeks to buy 82 acres southeast of Forks to replace trust lands

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon posts highest quarterly profit since 2021
Microsoft’s Bellevue workforce dwindles as leases lapse, records show
Washington ranks as one of the worst states for retirees. Here’s why.

Seattle Medium
Refunds Going To Residents Of Washington State Drug Cases
Electric Vehicles On The Rise In Washington State
Wash. Supreme Court: Authorities ‘Plainly Breached’ State Statute Governing Mental Care

Seattle Times
WA starts new system for hit-and-run alerts
Plans for long-delayed Seattle streetcar line hit City Hall snag
Seattle-area child care is scarce, costly and out of reach. Here’s why
Family of woman killed by Redmond police appeals to new state agency for fresh investigation
On San Juan Island, tension over red foxes and photographers’ access to them
Opinion: Don’t let the oil industry gaslight us about high prices at the pump

Spokesman Review
Snake River sockeye run sputters
Rosauers to pay employees over $350,000 for labor violations

Washington Post
Economy adds 187,000 jobs in July, showing strong but moderating growth

WA State Standard
‘Severe violator’: Dollar Tree fined again for breaking worker safety rules

Wenatchee World
Sen. Patty Murray provides update on state’s wildfire response

Yakima Herald-Republic
Grant will address health equity for Yakima County’s Latino population
Editorial: EV charging stations in the Yakima Valley foretell changes to come
Editorial: Refunding drug-possession fines is only fair

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
I-90 bridge to stay open during Seafair, heavy traffic expected this weekend
‘Suspicious materials’ found inside envelopes mailed to King, Okanogan County election officials
Seattle firefighters ask for more protections as violent attacks continue

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Traces of fentanyl found inside envelope sent to King County Elections office
Seafair security plan includes SPD, federal partners as influx of visitors expected
Rise in drownings along Snoqualmie River sparks call for increased safety measures
Congresswoman tours Issaquah Target, touts organized retail theft legislation

KNKX Public Radio
New, community-driven performing arts venue in Port Angeles has its grand opening

KUOW Public Radio
Tribes call for national ban on salmon-killing chemical in car tires
Dolly Parton to visit WA in celebration of children’s book program
$142K salary needed to afford a ‘starter’ home in Seattle, Redfin reports
They once faced housing insecurity themselves. Now they help other Seattleites find stability
A wheelchair ramp, respite care: What WA’s long-term care tax could realistically get you

NW Public Radio
Connecting with non-English speakers is still a challenge during emergencies

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Ross Lake Resort evacuated due to Sourdough fire

Thursday, August 3

National parks, including 3 in WA, will be free to enter Friday
In honor of the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, national parks will offer free admission Friday. That includes Washington’s three big ones: North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park. There are two more free entrance days at national parks this year: National Public Lands Day on Sept. 23 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Jennifer Buchanan)

A vending machine in Seattle that dispenses the morning-after pill
Starting in 2024, public colleges and universities statewide will be able to get funding to install vending machines selling emergency contraception. Washington will become the first state to have set aside money to do so. State representative Gerry Pollet, who represents northeast Seattle, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore, helped get the vending machine funding into the state budget. Schools can apply for up to $10,000 to install a machine, and the total fund is $200,000. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Transformed Colman Dock opens to ferry riders in Seattle
Just after 5 a.m. Thursday, commuters got off the ferry from Bainbridge Island and walked through the newly-designed Colman Dock for the first time. Washington State Ferries said about 50,000 square feet of new space is created with the concourse and other new features. The $467 million project also included foundational work on the pier. Continue reading at KING5.

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Axios
Seattle residents: Watch out for this phone scam
Washington’s most beautiful colleges

Capital Press
WDFW: Barred owls must go to save spotted owls
Lightning, low humidity increase fire risk in E. Oregon, Washington
THE RISE OF CANOLA: Northwest canola acreage continues to surge

Columbian
Columbia Palisades plan in east Vancouver adds 835 residential units, restaurants
La Center City Council OKs policing proposal from Cowlitz Indian Tribe
State grant aids Clark County landowners in repair of salmon habitat
Street requirement could make ‘missing middle’ development in Walnut Grove smaller, more expensive

The Daily News
Editorial: Thumbs up to Longview summer school changes, thumbs down to low Cowlitz River flows

Everett Herald
Housing, new roads coming to Everett waterfront’s Millwright District
Study: 49,000 new homes built last year in Washington not enough

The Inlander
One year ago, Spokane became a statewide leader in housing reform — but did the law work?
Washington debuts a new bureau to handle vacated drug possession conviction refunds

News Tribune
Fight over renters’ rights moves to court. Citizens group says Tacoma is confusing voters

Olympian
Dolly Parton is coming to Washington to celebrate Imagination Library. What to know

Peninsula Daily News
Brush fire contained off Highway 19

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tacoma agency boosts worker pay to keep pace with housing costs
Lenders worry about rent control after agency’s tenant-protection ask

Seattle Medium
Encampment Closed In Rare Emergency Action

Seattle Times
National parks, including 3 in WA, will be free to enter Friday
Ticks spreading in the Pacific Northwest? Warming trends could worsen health threat
King County levy for seniors and vets wins voter approval
Seattle’s new Colman Dock ready to open
Opinion: Expand treatment courts to address King County’s fentanyl crisis

Spokesman Review
Weathercatch: Spokane’s dry streak is approaching two months. But it could be a lot worse
Car chased by police stops only after it crashes through wall of building in downtown Spokane
Gardening: Hotter, drier summers means it’s time to rethink landscapes

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Wallan elected Washington State LGBTQ Commission co-chair

Washington Post
Strikes spiked in July, as workers seek higher wages to keep up with inflation

WA State Standard
Xylazine or ‘tranq’ in WA: Rising drug threat or an empty one?
New study reveals illegal shooting of eagles and other protected birds

Wenatchee World
Farmers voice funding requests as Senator Murray visits Wenatchee

Yakima Herald-Republic
Free health screenings and back-to-school resources part of Yakima health fair Saturday

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Transformed Colman Dock opens to ferry riders in Seattle
Unions, employees preparing for Tacoma paper mill closure

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle activists call for a ban on encampment removals during winter, cite inadequate services

KNKX Public Radio
ICE now using two Washington airports for deportation flights

KUOW Public Radio
Amazon takes Washington regulators to court over alleged safety violations
A vending machine in Seattle that dispenses the morning-after pill (Pollet)

KXLY (ABC)
Federal judge temporarily blocks persecution of out-of-state abortion referrals
Evacuations lowered for wildfire burning near Cheney

NW Public Radio
Mega-warehouse legal battle continues over traffic, water quality

Q13 TV (FOX)
Salmonella outbreak at Washington Care Center: 29 confirmed cases

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom adjudication process delayed by months
Proposed changes to Skagit agritourism code vex farmers, event venues

Crosscut
Activists sue Idaho over ‘abortion trafficking’ travel ban (Hansen)
WSU researchers study a coronavirus spread by camels in Kenya

MyNorthwest
‘I want to see a more humane response’: 43% of Seattle homeless sweeps given no notice, no help

Wednesday, August 2

What WA’s new wildfire smoke rules might mean for outdoor workers
As climate change worsens the number and intensity of wildfires, people everywhere face the short- and long-term health effects of smoke exposure, from shortness of breath, to headaches and even death. Those who work long hours outside are increasingly at the mercy of their employers to minimize their exposure. There are no federal regulations explicitly protecting outdoor workers from wildfire smoke. But in the next few months, Washington could be the second state to impose a permanent rule regulating outdoor workers’ exposure to one of the fastest-growing pollutants. But, employers and workplace advocates disagree on the proposal. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Elaine Thompson)

Tribes call for feds to ban chemical in car tires that is linked to salmon deaths
The Port Gamble S’Klallam and Puyallup tribes, along with the Yurok, which is the largest native nation in California, petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to establish regulations prohibiting the manufacture and use of the substance, known as 6PPD. Researchers in 2020 identified an offshoot of the chemical–6PPD-quinone, or 6PPD-q–as the culprit causing premature salmon deaths in urban streams and rivers in the Puget Sound region. In the current budget cycle, the state Legislature approved $2.7 million for developing a 6PPD action plan and completing an assessment of replacement options for the chemical, along with about $5.2 million for addressing toxic tire wear material in stormwater. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Federal judge temporarily blocks any possible prosecution of Idaho doctors for providing out-of-state referrals for abortion
A federal judge has temporarily blocked any attempt to prosecute or strip medical licenses from Idaho doctors providing out-of-state referrals for abortion. Idaho implemented its ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy last year following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The court case is part of a broader strategy of Planned Parenthood to encourage those seeking abortions in Idaho to receive them in states where they are legal. Continue reading at Spokesman-Review. (Sarah A. Miller)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen city administrator discusses homelessness survey
Westport drafts rules for winter homeless shelter

Axios
Predictions for hotter, drier late summer spark Washington wildfire fears

Capital Press
Washington blueberry farm fined $12,000 for irrigating without water right
Officials toast new USDA ARS building on WSU campus
Vilsack on Snake River dams: Ag ‘well-represented’ in mediation

Columbian
Clark County considers buying waste transfer stations
Clark College gets $1M in federal funding to develop Center for Clean Energy
Editorial: Lack of early learning spots hurts children

The Daily News
Fire department levy lid lift passing in Ryderwood, Vader and failing in Kalama

Everett Herald
2023 August primary election results for Snohomish County
Series of brush fires stalls I-5 traffic in Marysville
Editorial: Lacking confidence in elections? See how it’s done.

News Tribune
Live voting result updates for Aug. 1, 2023 primary election in Pierce County, WA
Can you drive through a yellow light in WA or should you stop? Here’s what the law says

Olympian
Live voting result updates for Aug. 1, 2023, primary election in Thurston County, WA
All six fire ballot measures on track to pass in Tuesday’s primary

Puget Sound Business Journal
Tacoma paper mill will close in September
Sound Transit to study Amazon’s preferred site for SLU station

Seattle Medium
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Seattle Public Library Present “Black Activism In Print”
Savannah Parker Makes History As The 2023 Miss Seafair: Inspiring Young Black Girls Across Seattle

Seattle Times
Seattle City Council votes down Sawant’s rent control proposal
Skagit County farm owners split over proposal to stop hosting weddings
Inflation is hurting meal providers as need for food rises
Seattle’s I-5 squeeze finally not so tight as new lane opens
Editorial: Give Seattle’s Community Violence Task Force time, resources
Opinion: I-5 wildlife crossings can ‘bridge the divide’ that hurts species diversity

Spokesman Review
Federal judge temporarily blocks any possible prosecution of Idaho doctors for providing out-of-state referrals for abortion
State dismisses allegations that Spokane City Councilman Zack Zappone violated campaign finance disclosure law

Vancouver Business Journal
Pickleball present exciting opportunities for local businesses

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Voter turnout appears in line with previous Walla Walla County primary elections

WA State Standard
Washington weighs in against Idaho law restricting out-of-state abortions
Tribes call for feds to ban chemical in car tires that is linked to salmon deaths

Yakima Herald-Republic
Editorial: Army’s doing the right thing for East Selah’s wells

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma’s Emergency Medical Services levy lid lift passing after initial returns
Paper license plates are out the window in Washington
Female Colonel takes over command of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District
Seattle City Council votes down rent control trigger law

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Climate change may be to blame for dying landscapes along I-5

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
King County voters favoring levy to support veterans, vulnerable communities
Inslee, Ferguson say Idaho’s abortion ‘travel ban’ is illegal

KNKX Public Radio
Seattle mayor proposes drug measure to align with state law, adding $27M for treatment

KUOW Public Radio
King County on pace to reach 35% turnout in Aug. 1 primary
The pandemic transformed Seattle’s homeless shelters for the better, advocates say. But challenges remain

KXLY (ABC)
Former Spokane city administrator refutes city’s claims of sexual misconduct
Nearly three years after Babb Road Fire, Malden continues to recover

NW Public Radio
Idaho Freedom Caucus asked hospitals for abortion records
Teams battle Eagle Bluff Fire in Okanogan County
As the money grows, Washington’s film and TV industry is taking root

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Incumbents fare well in Whatcom, Bellingham primaries

Crosscut
What WA’s new wildfire smoke rules might mean for outdoor workers

MyNorthwest
Link Light Rail tracks sinking near stadiums, disruptions expected
Dry July continues trend of below-average rainfall in WA
Seattle City Council votes down rent control proposal
AG Ferguson files brief challenging Idaho’s abortion travel ban
Seattle City Council tree protection ordinance goes into effect

The Stranger
Mayor Bruce Harrell Shares His New Pitch for the War on Drugs

West Seattle Blog
ELECTION 2023: County Council, School Board, Port, levy results

Tuesday, August 1

WA attorney general challenges Idaho’s abortion travel ban
Washington is joining several states in challenging Idaho’s recent abortion travel ban, arguing the new law is harmful and has already flooded Idaho’s neighbors with residents seeking care, according to a brief filed Monday. It’s the third time Washington has weighed in on Idaho’s latest abortion laws. The ban infringes on the right to interstate travel and First Amendment rights to talk about abortion with minors and engage in “expressive conduct,” the complaint argues. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert)

Labor’s plan for fighting climate change and creating jobs in Washington
A coalition of unions on Monday released a report laying out an ambitious “worker-centered climate roadmap” to create more than 800,000 jobs across Washington in the building, transportation, energy, and low-carbon manufacturing sectors. The 104-page blueprint details 20 actions that collectively, labor leaders say, will promote a healthier environment and economy by curbing greenhouse gas emissions and providing workers with family-sustaining wages. Some ideas in the report are already on the state’s to-do list, like expanding public transit to increase ridership, committing to 100% electric school buses, and building out electric vehicle public charging infrastructure. Some are bound to stir debate should they gain traction in the Legislature. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Scott Eisen)

Washington State Patrol announces new hit-and-run alert system to begin Tuesday
The Washington State Patrol will implement a statewide hit-and-run alert system on Tuesday that will help various law enforcement agencies readily identify dangerous drivers who have been involved in serious crashes, the agency announced Monday. The alert system, which was authorized by the state legislature earlier this year, is scheduled for a two-year pilot and evaluation period. Last year, the state saw more than 300 hit and runs resulting in serious injury or death, WSP Chief John Batiste said in Monday’s news release. Continue reading at Olympian. (WA State Patrol)

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Associated Press
New wildfire near Spokane prompts mandatory evacuations
Amazon adds video telemedicine visits nationwide to its virtual clinic

Aberdeen Daily World
City of Aberdeen passes fees for vacant building program

Axios
New laws limit big box stores in Seattle’s historic maritime and industrial zones
Seattle moves toward installing cameras to catch drag racers

Bellingham Herald
New federal student loan repayment plan sign-up starts soon. What happens if you default?
Facial ID for whales and dolphins? It’s happening. Here’s how it can help research in WA

Capital Press
EPA proposes pesticide ban across much of western Oregon, Washington
Washington, B.C. resume hunt for scarce murder hornets

Columbian
YWCA, NAACP call for Vancouver police officer to be fired in Taser case
Noise wall takes shape on Highway 14 in Vancouver
Clark County Public Health: Avoid water at Vancouver, Camas lakes
Vancouver Housing Authority appoints Andy Silver as new CEO

News Tribune
Brown trees and shrubs ahead — entire sections of new I-5 HOV project landscaping are dead
Opinion: Those serving Tacoma’s most vulnerable can’t afford to live here. Ours are getting a raise

Northwest Asian Weekly
Sam Cho appointed to USDOT advisory committee on human trafficking

Olympian
Washington State Patrol announces new hit-and-run alert system to begin Tuesday

Puget Sound Business Journal
Can tax breaks fix housing? Bellevue is about to find out.
IRS may push for early end to lucrative ERC tax credit

Seattle Times
SPD agrees to improve public disclosure
WA attorney general challenges Idaho’s abortion travel ban
Divided Seattle City Council to vote on rent control
Harrell proposes $27 million for Seattle addiction treatment, drug enforcement bill
Seattle-area animal shelters say inflation is making more people surrender pets

Spokesman Review
Spokane-based Hi-Rel Laboratories is the only NASA contractor in Eastern Washington to work on new manned mission to the moon
‘This is not just impacting a section of the community’: Local leaders talk fentanyl crisis at roundtable discussion
Opinion: State has opportunity to help Black mothers with new doula guidelines

Tri-City Herald
Need to do laundry during a peak energy time? It’s going to cost more in Tri-Cities

Washington Post
An abortion ban made them teen parents. This is life two years later.
When every day somewhere is a climate record of some sort

WA State Standard
A parched summer is posing difficulties for Washington farmers and fish
Labor’s plan for fighting climate change and creating jobs in Washington
U.S. ag secretary touts Biden climate agenda as boost for rural America in Oregon visit
Plagued by teacher shortages, some states turn to fast-track credentialing

Wenatchee World
Washington cherry industry expects a larger harvest than last year’s
Secretary of state visits Wenatchee to talk election security, library system

Yakima Herald-Republic
Drones to monitor water levels for threatened bull trout in central WA
Editorial: Yakima City Council hosting public hearing on use of HUD funding

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Families of DUI victims waiting for justice because of case backlog
Gov. Inslee, AG Bob Ferguson say Idaho abortion travel ban ‘illegal’
‘An extreme step:’ Washington child welfare workers call on Inslee to fire top DCYF boss
Farmers watering selectively, high sturgeon deaths reported amid drought

KUOW Public Radio
Can mayor’s proposal mend rift between Seattle and Washington’s drug laws?

KXLY (ABC)
Washington v. Blake: New refund site launches for simple drug possession conviction costs
Evacuations in effect for wildfire burning southwest of Spokane

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Crews battle Sourdough wildfire in Whatcom County

Crosscut
What Crosscut learned from a public records request by Real Change

MyNorthwest
Federal Way mosque asks public for help after break-in
Seattle pushing to adopt WA laws on public drug use, possession

Monday, July 31

‘Clearly greenlighted’: Washington and Oregon lawmakers upbeat about I-5 bridge replacement

Washington and Oregon lawmakers got a clearer idea Friday of what a new Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River might look like, how much drivers may pay to use it and how residents of both states can stay involved as the project moves toward construction. The three-hour virtual meeting was the first major update since each state approved spending $1 billion toward a new bridge. Washington lawmakers committed $1 billion in 2022, while Oregon lawmakers in June authorized the first of four anticipated $250 million bond sales to pay the state’s share of the bridge replacement. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Oregon Department of Transportation)

New state housing dollars a ‘drop in the bucket’ compared to need

Despite record investments in housing this year, the state must continue pumping more money toward affordable housing and rent stabilization to curb homelessness in Washington, advocates told lawmakers Wednesday. At a state Senate Housing committee meeting in Vancouver, lawmakers heard from state and local leaders about what else is needed to address the housing and homelessness crisis. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Dan Reynolds Photography via Getty Images)

Seattle-area teachers worry as heat waves can make classes unbearable
When the classroom thermometer passes 80 degrees and starts marching toward 90, survival mode kicks in. During the Seattle area’s May heat wave, teachers grabbed ice pops and sprayed students’ flushed necks with water, urging them to move in front of a fan. Some found refuge under a shady tree outside, and some kids got sick and went home. Continue reading at The Seattle Times.