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Monday, April 29

Washington electric vehicle rebates up to $9,000 available beginning in August
Washington motorists will gain access this summer to new state rebates – up to $9,000 in some cases – to help cover the cost of leasing or purchasing electric vehicles. Single Washington residents earning up to $45,180 annually or a family of four with income up to $93,600, will be eligible for a rebate of up to $9,000 for a new electric vehicle lease of three years or more. They’d also qualify for up to $5,000 for a new EV purchase or two-year lease. Continue reading at The Columbian. (David Zalubowski)

Heard of the Working Families Tax Credit? Neither have many local families
The Legislature created and funded the Working Families Tax Credit in 2021. Depending on income and number of dependents, taxpayers can receive a refund from the state between $50 and $1,255 per year. It’s a new program, so many don’t know it exists and could be missing out on free money. Though the state has refunded more than $8.3 million to Snohomish County taxpayers, more than $18 million is still available for taxpayers who qualify, according to December 2023 data from the state Department of Revenue. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

Inslee: ‘We’re going as fast as humanly possible’ getting ferry boats in the water
As Washington residents and ferry users become “justifiably frustrated” with the state’s ferry system, Governor Jay Inslee is pushing to keep electric ferries in the fold long after his tenure as governor has ended. “We’re getting boats in the water as fast as humanly possible,” Inslee said on The John and Shari Show on KIRO 97.3 FM. “There are five electric boats that are going through the RFP process to get them in as fast as humanly possible.” Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)

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Associated Press
The drug war devastated Black and other minority communities. Is marijuana legalization helping?

Axios
How the FTC ban on noncompetes could impact Seattle

Bellingham Herald
Mobile mental health van increases access to therapy in Whatcom County
Undercover operation at a Whatcom Co. hotel led to rescue of 7 potential trafficking victims

Capital Press
Feds: Grizzly bears coming to north-central Washington
USDA gives 34 Northwest firms energy grants for Earth Day
Labor Department sets sweeping new H-2A foreign guestworker rule

Columbian
State’s new law involving PSE aspires to set a course for the future
Scientists confine, study Chinook at restored Snoqualmie River habitat
Washington electric vehicle rebates up to $9,000 available beginning in August
Climate change supercharged a heat dome, intensifying 2021 fire season, study finds
Stroke, hemorrhage, sepsis: Idaho doctors detail ways abortion ban risks patients’ health
Northwest’s only nuclear plant is in WA. Are you ready for a radiation release emergency?

Everett Herald
To live in drug-tainted housing, or to live without shelter?
$55? That’s what a couple will pay on the Edmonds-Kingston ferry
Larsen’s new migratory birds law means $6.5M per year in avian aid
Heard of the Working Families Tax Credit? Neither have many local families (Berg)
Comment: Congress can add drones to fight against wildfires
Comment: Leave working forests to their vital climate work

Kitsap Sun
Bainbridge Island named one of the top small towns in the West
Navy’s tech scout, Poulsbo business network partner to enhance Kitsap startup ecosystem

News Tribune
Fecal bacteria threatens shellfish harvesting in one local bay, other areas of the state
Hundreds of apartments planned in this Pierce County city. Some people aren’t pleased
New bell schedule coming to Tacoma Public Schools in 2024-25. Some folks aren’t happy

Olympian
Closing Madison and McKenny schools taken off table as OSD cuts central offices

Peninsula Daily News
Department of Ecology declares statewide drought emergency

Puget Sound Business Journal
Puyallup Tribe becomes primary investor in liquid battery startup
Pay and promotions aren’t moving exactly as expected in 2024 – but it’s not all bad news

Seattle Times
Even Portland now is banning camping, part of the West Coast retreat
King County jury awards almost $11M to woman abused under guardianship

Spokesman Review
Challenges loom as higher education in Eastern Washington sees seismic shakeups
Thousands expected to apply for housing vouchers in Spokane County this summer
Two Spokane-area school districts receive Purple Star Award for support of military families
$15 million from renewed Forest Service program will support schools, roads in rural Washington

Tri-City Herald
2 PNW tribes say Tri-Cities casino plan could start an ‘Indian war’

Vancouver Business Journal
New state law simplifies testing process for those seeking architectural career

Washington Post
You can now get a $7,500 upfront discount for buying an EV
Finding space for wind farms might be easier than we thought
Lawsuits test Tesla claim that drivers are solely responsible for crashes
Claiming high user satisfaction, IRS will decide on renewing free tax site

WA State Standard
Washington’s border waters are on the cusp of a major rise in oil tanker traffic

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee City Council approves contract for wastewater treatment plant designs

Yakima Herald-Republic
An early harvest could yield high volumes for asparagus growers in the Yakima Valley
Sustainable Yakima Committee ‘no longer exists’ after 139 petition signatures are rejected

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Sound Transit opens 2 Line, connecting Bellevue and Redmond
High-speed pursuit spanning about 50 miles ends in crash near SEA airport
What does human trafficking look like? Washington woman shares her story

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Light rail opens long-awaited East Link extension
Gun seized from 17-year-old in a South Seattle High School
Second possible overdose death in Burien in just seven days
Tacoma protest against 150-acre warehouse project turns violent after ‘manager’ intervenes
Victim’s father on 5th anniversary of Seattle crane collapse: ‘Just another day of living in grief’

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office considers new tools for improved pursuit strategies
Surging weather disasters disrupt insurance models, driving up home insurance by 23%
Seattle homebuyers to face tough summer market despite 4% price drop, potential rate cuts

KUOW Public Radio
A little sunlight goes a long way for this family support center in Olympia
Bellevue’s light rail is rolling. Will a Seattle connection arrive in time for the World Cup?
What would a ban on non-compete clauses mean for tech companies in Washington state?

KXLY (ABC)
Contract for Spokane’s largest homeless shelter set to expire

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Sikh festival hosted in Lynden honors the birth of the religion
Whatcom Community College national hub for filling cybersecurity worker demand

MyNorthwest
Inslee: ‘We’re going as fast as humanly possible’ getting ferry boats in the water

West Seattle Blog
Seattle Police are still offering Living Room Conversations. Here’s how one went at a West Seattle home
West Seattle Food Bank’s ‘Instruments of Change’ gala spotlights ‘explosive growth’ and honors C & P Coffee (Alvarado)

Friday, April 26

Bellevue-to-Redmond light rail opens to fanfare
The Sound Transit 2 Line that connects Redmond with Bellevue is ready to roll, nearly eight years after breaking ground. Approved by a ballot measure in 2008, the full $3.7 billion, 14-mile East Link route will eventually serve Seattle’s Judkins Park, Mercer Island, Redmond and multiple stations in Bellevue, per Sound Transit. Continue reading at Axios. (Sound Transit)

Washington’s preschool system ranks below most other states, report finds
Washington’s access to quality preschool services falls below many other states, only serving 16% of four-year-olds and 8% of three-year-olds, a new national report found. The report also found that despite its low rankings for access, Washington scores fairly well for funding for the child care sector, ranking eighth for state spending. But despite the spending, families still struggle to find care. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

Four SPD women employees file $5M claim alleging discrimination
Several Seattle Police Department women employees filed a tort claim Thursday for $5 million, alleging sexual discrimination and harassment by Police Chief Adrian Diaz and other department leaders. The claim, filed on behalf of four women in the department against SPD and the city of Seattle, follows a February report that described female employees’ anonymous allegations of sexual harassment and a “good old boys club” that discouraged women from climbing the ranks. Continue reading at Seattle Times.

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Associated Press
Microsoft quarterly profit rises 20% as tech giant pushes to get customers using AI products

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen council supports homeless shelter
Paring down North Aberdeen Bridge Alternatives

Axios
Bellevue-to-Redmond light rail opens to fanfare

Capital Press
EFSEC withholds findings on Horse Heaven project
With massive Washington harvest, apple prices ‘dismal’
Susewind: Count shows Washington wolves aren’t endangered

Columbian
River pilots keep ships rolling on the Columbia
Change coming to Clark County court system as it prepares for growth

Everett Herald
Everett baby dies amid string of child fentanyl overdoses
Compass Health cuts child and family therapy services in Everett
Edmonds fire service faces expiration date, quandary about what’s next
Grizzlies to return to North Cascades, feds confirm in controversial plan

Kitsap Sun
Unemployment claims in Washington declined last week
Connecting homeless campers with services and shelter takes time, statistics show

News Tribune
He joined Tacoma police to help address racial biases. He now claims he became a victim
Tehaleh developers had option to build low-income homes. They paid nearly $770k instead

Olympian
Eld, Henderson Inlets may see shellfish harvest restrictions due to fecal pollution
Northwest’s only nuclear plant is in WA. Are you ready for a radiation release emergency?
Ban on high-capacity magazines will remain after WA Supreme Court Commissioner’s ruling

Puget Sound Business Journal
Oracle sheds Bellevue office after shrinking Seattle footprint
After closing $1.45 billion deal, Everett’s Fortive is hunting for more acquisitions
As Microsoft sheds offices, its lease costs could soon fall significantly, filing shows

Seattle Times
Your how-to guide for the new Eastside light rail line
What to expect when you try the Eastside’s eight light rail stations
Four SPD women employees file $5M claim alleging discrimination
Tukwila schools open doors to 300 new migrant students without warning

Spokesman Review
Spokane Valley hydrogen fuel company explains layoffs
Federal agencies decide to restore grizzlies to North Cascades
Spokane Arena to close for three months for $10 million renovation
Spokane International Airport and Department of Ecology at odds a month from PFAS cleanup deadline

Washington Post
The AI hype bubble is deflating. Now comes the hard part
Everything TikTok users need to know about a possible ban in the U.S.
They found safe spaces on TikTok. A ban could devastate their communities

WA State Standard
Washington’s preschool system ranks below most other states, report finds
WA ammo magazine restrictions to remain in place as state appeals judge’s ruling

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
East Link Extension opens to riders Saturday after nearly a decade of construction
Burien business owners say safety concerns mount amid camping ban enforcement standstill
Court rules Washington’s high-capacity magazine ban will stay in place while legal challenge unfolds

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Grizzly bears returning to North Cascades
3 children hospitalized in Everett for fentanyl in 5 days
Mercer Island neighbors say city ignored warning signs of pipe leaks
Healthier Together: UW program looks to bridge gap in maternal health

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle’s street trees have something to tell you
Seattle cop accuses Chief Diaz of ‘predatory behavior’ and ‘grooming’
TikTok creators in Western Washington consider the potential impact of a national ban

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane receives $1 million to combat opioid crisis

NW Public Radio
Yakima Libraries celebrate Día, a children and books day
‘Higher Ground’ exhibit explores queer life on the Palouse

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County Executive refuses to step down, welcomes inquiry
New Bellingham Public Schools office aims to promote collaboration, sustainability

Crosscut
Washington’s gray wolf populations are making a strong comeback
WA Supreme Court upholds temporary ban on high-capacity magazines

Geekwire
Techie-turned-lawmaker uses his Microsoft chops to challenge the status quo as a state senator (Nguyen)

MyNorthwest
Burien camping ban saga continues as mayor speaks on resolution
SPD releases bodycam footage of April 17 officer-involved shooting
WSDOT wraps up investigation into ex-employee’s gas price whistleblowing claims

The Urbanist
East Link TOD: BelRed’s Scattered Development Could Preface Bigger Housing Boom

Thursday, April 25

High-capacity gun magazines stay illegal in WA, court commissioner rules
High-capacity magazines, those holding more than 10 bullets, will remain illegal to buy or sell in Washington, while the state appeals a lower-court ruling that found the ban unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court commissioner ruled Thursday. That stay means Washington’s ban on the magazines, which the Legislature passed in 2022, remains in place unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ted S. Warren)

WA farmers brace for summer drought on heels of harvest shortfalls
Last week, the Washington Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency for most of the state, aiming to help everyone from farmers to local irrigation districts better prepare for drought in the coming months. This nearly statewide drought emergency is the third in the past decade — a similar emergency was declared in 2015 and 2021. Climate change has made extreme weather events, such as the heat dome from 2021, more frequent. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Genna Martin)

Coalition against female genital mutilation supports victims in Washington state
A coalition of nonprofit and state organizations, formed under a Washington law creating criminal and civil penalties for female genital mutilation, has set out to educate and support victims and people at risk of undergoing the nonmedical procedures. The law, which took effect last year, cites more than 500,000 people in the U.S. who have either experienced or are susceptible to female genital mutilation, a cultural practice meant to suppress female sexual desires and improve one’s prospects of marriage. Continue reading at KUOW. (LSS)

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Associated Press
Remnants of bird flu virus found in pasteurized milk, FDA says
Southwest will limit hiring and drop 4 airports, including Bellingham, after loss
Biden administration is announcing plans for up to 12 lease sales for offshore wind energy
Dairy cattle must be tested for bird flu before moving between states, agriculture officials say

Axios
Seattle could see a long, hot summer, new forecast shows
Federal regulators just passed two new worker-friendly rules

Bellingham Herald
Lummi Island resident sues county and executive over ferry rate hike taking effect June 1

Columbian
Habitat for Humanity completes 2 more homes in Johnson Village in east Vancouver
Washington State Public Disclosure Commission discusses AI, money in politics at monthly event in Vancouver

Everett Herald
Boeing’s $3.9B cash burn adds urgency to revival plan
Editorial: Federal, state program will put more roofs to work

The Inlander
More Washington homes could soon get solar
As EWU readies to share maps of racial covenants in Eastern Washington, a Spokane title company is helping homeowners disavow the racist documents

News Tribune
Washington ranked among the most dangerous states in the country, according to new study
Opinion: $500K of art once lined Tacoma’s Link light rail. Some is now sitting at the dump

Northwest Asian Weekly
Madison Zack-Wu on pioneering change in the strip club industry

Puget Sound Business Journal
New overtime rule may not survive expected court challenge
Boeing 737 Max production delays expected to last a while longer

Seattle Times
Feds greenlight return of grizzlies to WA’s North Cascades
Kids spending longer in King County juvenile detention, audit finds
High-capacity gun magazines stay illegal in WA, court commissioner rules

Spokesman Review
Electric vehicle rebate program launches soon in Washington
Lind Town Council claims they removed the mayor. The mayor disagrees
Fish and recreationists alike may be pleased by city project in West Spokane
Supreme Court hears case that pits Idaho abortion ban against federal protections for pregnant women
Spokane teens to perform ‘painful,’ ‘dark’ plays to take a stand against gun violence 25 years after Columbine

Tri-City Herald
Students return to classes at West Richland elementary after Monday’s deadly shootings

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Agencies partner to bring Wildfire Ready Neighbors program to Walla Walla County

Washington Post
Why this summer may be especially hot in the United States
Why the U.S. is struggling to replace lead pipes a decade after Flint
U.S. solar companies, imperiled by price collapse, demand protection
A global study just revealed the world’s biggest known plastic polluters
Buying and selling a home will change soon. Here’s what you need to know
U.S. economic growth slowed in first quarter as consumer spending starts scaling back

WA State Standard
Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
State of Washington looks to former inmates for recidivism advice
Sex trafficking federal lawsuit filed against Motel 6, three King County locations
‘It’s infuriating’: Lawmaker says a GPS ankle monitor on ex-cop could have prevented West Richland tragedy (Davis)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
WNBA legend Sue Bird joins Seattle Storm ownership group
Boeing reports big first quarter loss in the middle of negotiations with its firefighters union
Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights
Snohomish County woman urges safety changes after Tesla on autopilot crashed, killed fiancé

KNKX Public Radio
Puyallup Tribe partners with renewable energy storage startup

KUOW Public Radio
Coalition against female genital mutilation supports victims in Washington state
Leave the imported shrimp, take the local bivalves. Navigating sustainable seafood choices

KXLY (ABC)
Some union workers at Sacred Heart are not participating in the strike

NW Public Radio
New funding to build farmworker housing in the Pacific Northwest, nationwide

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham students share about local, tribal history
30,000 postcards sent to residents ahead of water rights legal summons
Whatcom Democrats board calls for County Executive Satpal Sidhu’s resignation

Crosscut
King County will use $6M grant to build EV charging ports
WA farmers brace for summer drought on heels of harvest shortfalls

GreenState
Cannabis waste could fuel the green building movement (Stanford)

MyNorthwest
Snohomish County Search and Rescue seeks volunteers amid uptick in missions

The Urbanist
Phinney Ridge Apartment Complex Pioneers Unique Communal Model

Wednesday, April 24

WA to launch EV rebate program. Here’s what you could save
Washington state will launch an electric vehicle rebate program this summer in an effort to make EVs affordable for between 6,500 and 8,000 low-income residents, state officials announced Tuesday. People earning 300% or below of the federal poverty level are eligible for the program’s incentives. That works out to earnings of less than $45,180 annually for a single person or less than $93,600 for a family of four. The program will run through June 2025 or until funds run out. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Guaranteed college financial aid coming to WA students on food assistance
Students from families on Washington’s food assistance programs will soon automatically qualify for financial aid to attend college. That’s due to a new state law, House Bill 2214, that guarantees state financial aid for students enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP for short and sometimes called food stamps. The law calls for the automatic tuition aid to be available by the 2025-26 school year. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

New state deepfake image protection law goes into effect June 6
A new state law that is aimed at protecting children and adults from the devastating consequences of deepfake images goes into effect on June 6. Senator Mark Mullet is one of the legislators who worked on passing the bill after he heard about an incident from his daughter who attends Issaquah High School. The new law states that first time offenders would face misdemeanor charges but repeat offenders could be looking at a felony. Continue reading at KIRO 7.

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Associated Press
Boeing posts a $355 million loss as the plane maker tries to dig out

Axios
Seattle is the nation’s second-biggest new AI job hotspot

Bellingham Herald
Two early-season wildfires pop up on same day in Northwest Washington; wind tests crews

Columbian
‘Pollutants’ from BNSF locomotives in rail yard called ‘outrageous’ by Lincoln neighborhood residents

Everett Herald
Providence to pay $200M for illegal timekeeping and break practices
Judge halves $784M for women exposed to Monsanto chemicals at Monroe school
Comment: Jobs should be safe regardless of who’s providing labor

Kitsap Sun
Emerging treatment models helping address opioid epidemic in Kitsap, statewide

News Tribune
Have an opinion on county’s controversial homeless village? Here’s a chance to air it
Opinion: Chambers Creek Dam is on the ropes. It’s time to finish the job — and take it down

New York Times
Business Groups Sue to Stop F.T.C. From Banning Noncompete Clauses
Live Updates: On Emergency Abortion Access, Justices Sound Sharply Divided

Port Townsend Leader
Breakwater Celebration (Tharinger)

Puget Sound Business Journal
FTC finalizes noncompete ban and sets up legal battle
Businesses face ‘seismic shift’ after FTC bans noncompetes

Seattle Times
Kroger to pay WA $47.5 million over role in opioid crisis
In Seattle, even the rich can’t escape the high cost of poverty
WA to launch EV rebate program. Here’s what you could save

Skagit Valley Herald
Coastal razor clam digs allowed through Monday

South Whidbey Record
School district honored with ‘Purple Star Award’

Spokesman Review
Count shows wolves increasing in Washington
Washington hospitals collectively reported $1.7 billion in operating losses in 2023. What does that mean for Spokane?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
New Touchet library under construction delivers on a 30-year promise

Washington Post
Biden administration to require greater transparency on airline fees
Groups sue to block FTC’s new rule barring noncompete agreements
Nearly 2 in 5 Americans breathe unhealthy air. Why it’s getting worse
Supreme Court hears arguments in case over emergency abortion care
FTC bans contracts that keep workers from jumping to rival employers
What you need to know about new overtime rule that will benefit millions

WA State Standard
Guaranteed college financial aid coming to WA students on food assistance
Washington electric vehicle rebates up to $9,000 available beginning in August
Loss of federal protection in Idaho spurs pregnant patients to plan for emergency air transport

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Asbestos concerns worry neighbors of proposed gravel mine in Whatcom County

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New state deepfake image protection law goes into effect June 6 (Mullet)

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle’s troubled past and present suggest a new approach to mental health
Washington state hospitals are still losing money, leading to ‘heartbreaking decisions’

KXLY (ABC)
Stickers with racist slogans found in downtown Spokane
Spokane teens perform play to raise awareness about gun violence in schools

NW Public Radio
Rural Alzheimer’s, dementia patients face disparities in access to care

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Two human-caused fires kick off wildfire season in Whatcom, Skagit counties

Crosscut
Seattle rallies as Supreme Court weighs criminalizing homelessness

MyNorthwest
More freedom for Washington workers as noncompete contracts are challenged

Tuesday, April 23

Can intensive support in court keep people from re-offending? Tacoma is giving it a go
People ensnared in the criminal justice system often go on to re-offend. Tacoma is looking to help break that cycle through the launch of two therapeutic courts. The city announced in an April 9 news release that its Community Court and Mental Health Court seek to treat the “root causes of crime.” The courts take a holistic approach to reducing recidivism rates. Successful graduates of the therapeutic-court programs will see their charges dismissed. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Brian Hayes)

In WA and beyond, a child care crisis is holding parents back
In 2022, more than 1 in 10 young children had a parent who had to quit, turn down or drastically change a job in the previous year because of child care problems. And that burden falls most on mothers, who shoulder more child-rearing responsibilities and are far more likely to leave a job to care for kids. The dilemma is common throughout Washington and the U.S., where high-quality child care programs can be prohibitively expensive, government assistance is limited and day care openings are sometimes hard to find at all. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

New federal funds will help thousands in Washington get solar power for free
Washington state will receive $156 million in federal funds for new programs to install rooftop solar on thousands of homes and apartment buildings, and to expand access to solar energy in tribal communities. The money is a slice of $7 billion in grants nationwide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday through its Solar For All program, which aims to make solar energy more available and affordable for low- and moderate-income Americans .In Washington, the state Department of Commerce will use the funds to start four new programs. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)