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Thursday, June 13

Pacific Northwest still cool on built-to-rent houses
Despite a chronic need here for affordable housing, the national trend to build houses for rent, not for sale, hasn’t gained traction in the Pacific Northwest. With mortgage rates perched near record highs for the year, there has been a proliferation of such housing in many communities across the U.S. They offer residents property management perks without down payments or long-term commitments — and no mortgages. Continue reading at Axios. (Sarah Grillo)

Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication
The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. The nine justices ruled that abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the medication, mifepristone, and the FDA’s subsequent actions to ease access to it. The case had threatened to restrict access to mifepristone across the country, including in states where abortion remains legal. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Allen G. Breed)

For older renters, Western WA’s housing boom can sow insecurity
Data analysis by AARP shows 6,889 adults 55 and older are expected to experience homelessness this year in Washington state. The homeless population is getting older nationally and locally. The median home sale price in King County has topped $1 million. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Seattle metro area is nearly 1,900/month. “We have skyrocketing housing costs here in the Puget Sound,” said Cathy McCaul, AARP Washington’s advocacy director. “The more marginalized and more vulnerable in the community are feeling more susceptible to these shifts. Especially if you’re on a fixed income it is doubly, triply, more difficult to maintain stable housing.” Continue reading at Crosscut. (Genna Martin)

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Axios
Pacific Northwest still cool on built-to-rent houses
Supreme Court preserves abortion pill access after tossing challenge.

Capital Press
Farmworker pay rules face suits from both sides
9th Circuit weighs Endangered Species Act pre-emption of Klamath water rights
Editorial: A ‘fanciful’ plan for Washington’s energy future
Editorial: We must get real about looming water crisis

Columbian
Thefts of charging cables pose yet another obstacle to appeal of electric vehicles
More Clark County street drugs include more than one illicit substance. Combination makes treatment more difficult

Everett Herald
Pride flag vandalism raises concerns on Whidbey Island
How will radio collars work on reintroduced grizzlies in North Cascades?
As deadly overdoses decline, Snohomish County builds on what’s working
Free Snohomish County program offers training for manufacturing careers
How can Edmonds make new schools more sustainable? Students have ideas
Editorial: Utilitarian but sturdy restrooms should be a relief

The Inlander
Cannabis is a growing business, but Olympia is limiting its impact in Spokane County
Lime returns to Spokane later than usual with a stricter city contract that aims for ‘more accountability’
As Instagram updates its features to prevent youth cyberbullying, Inland Northwest organizations weigh in on how social media affects the communities they serve

News Tribune
You might see picketers today outside a Tacoma hospital. Here’s what’s happening
Thinking of walking your dog without a leash? Tacoma leash law violators face $513 fine
Drivers should expect delays on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge this weekend during repairs

New York Times
Live Updates: Supreme Court Maintains Broad Access to Abortion Pill
Supreme Court, in Starbucks Ruling, Curbs Labor Regulator’s Authority

Olympian
Olympia volunteers repaint ‘Rainbow Rails’ after longtime attraction was defaced
What will civilian oversight of law enforcement look like in Olympia? Now there’s a plan

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam sheriff pursuing $9.6M grant for public safety facility

Port Townsend Leader
Plans to improve ferry system include added service for PT
Washington State Ferries to host two virtual public meetings
Pride features affirmation, inclusivity, visibility, rebellion and love

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW President Ana Mari Cauce to retire next year
Bellevue mayor credits Amazon for city’s affordable housing gains

Seattle Times
Makah Tribe will again be allowed to hunt gray whales off WA coast
Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication

Spokesman Review
Evacuation level lowered for fire southwest of Spokane
Washington state law requires hospitals to provide emergency abortions, Inslee says

Washington Post
Fed forecasts just one rate cut this year as inflation fight grinds on

WA State Standard
U.S. Supreme Court rejects attempt to limit access to abortion pill
How a college football star helped launch Washington’s new youth mental health helpline

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Popular King County beaches closed due to high bacteria levels
Gun violence continues to escalate in Seattle, neighborhoods on edge
Senators examine youth vaping epidemic, call for more enforcement over illegal products
Shoreline residents fighting to save trees to be removed in city’s 175th street improvement project
Supreme Court, siding with Starbucks, makes it harder for NLRB to win court orders in labor disputes

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
High bacteria levels close several Seattle-area beaches
Seattle City Council committee approves adding license plate readers to all SPD vehicles

KNKX Public Radio
After nearly 25 years, federal officials approve a limited Makah whale hunt

KUOW Public Radio
Following 3 Seattle area teens’ shooting deaths, community leaders call for structural gun violence solutions

KXLY (ABC)
Grant County person dies of hantavirus, typically carried by rodents
Complaint lodged against Councilman Al Merkel alleging transparency violations

NW Public Radio
Federal grant to help people in northeastern Washington get hooked up to the power grid

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Nooksack Basin treaty tribes want to secure water rights for future generations
EMS reviewing transport data after claims by Lummi Nation of inadequate emergency response
Opinion: Realtors, farmers agree: water adjudication will push sprawl, won’t save salmon

Crosscut
For older renters, Western WA’s housing boom can sow insecurity
UW President Ana Mari Cauce announces plans to step down in 2025

The Urbanist
County’s Plan for Redeveloping Downtown Campus Still Shrouded in Mystery

Wednesday, June 12

Gov. Jay Inslee says Washington will make clear that hospitals must provide emergency abortions
Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday said Washington will spell out in state law that hospitals must provide abortions if needed to stabilize patients, a step that comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on whether conservative states can bar abortions during some medical emergencies. There is no indication that patients have been denied emergency abortions in Washington, but the Democrat said during a news conference in Seattle he wanted to remove any doubt that hospitals were required to provide those services if necessary. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Gene Johnson)

Washington launches mental health, school safety helpline for teens
On Tuesday, the Washington Attorney General’s Office launched a youth-focused hotline …HearMeWA is a statewide reporting system for youth facing any kind of challenge or crisis: everything from food insecurity and social difficulties to suicidal thoughts and threats of violence at school. Any Washington resident under the age of 25 can use the hotline, which is operated by the gun violence prevention nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

72% of Washington eighth graders not proficient in math, report shows
Most Washington K-12 students failed to meet basic math and reading proficiency standards in recent years, according to a new report. The analysis from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that in 2022, 66% of Washington fourth graders were not proficient in reading and 72% of eighth graders were not proficient in math. Data from all 50 states, published annually by the foundation, show Washington students doing marginally better than the national average. Across the United States in 2022, 68% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading and 74% of eighth graders were not proficient in math. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Aberdeen Daily World
One arrested following Westport bombing incident

Capital Press
USDA under secretary tours Odessa groundwater replacement project
Washington Grain Commission approves ‘very healthy’ $7.2 million budget

Columbian
Clark County children can get free breakfast, lunch every day this summer
Evergreen, Vancouver district eighth-graders lag behind state in math scores
Gov. Jay Inslee says Washington will make clear that hospitals must provide emergency abortions
Biden administration seeks to wipe consumer medical debt off most credit reports with proposed rule

Everett Herald
With eye on growing county, PUD replaces aging Marysville substation
Free Snohomish County program offers training for manufacturing careers
New public database answers Snohomish County’s pressing crime questions

News Tribune
95 new species coming to Tacoma aquarium after $7M revamp. Here’s a sneak-peek inside

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon reloads multibillion-dollar affordable housing fund
Constantine updates plan to remake 7 blocks in downtown Seattle
What businesses need to know about the newest SBA lending program

Seattle Times
Bacteria in water closes several Seattle-area beaches
WA hospitals must provide emergency abortions, Inslee says
Washington launches mental health, school safety helpline for teens

Spokesman Review
Spokane landlords can no longer ban tenants from installing AC units
Wildfire forces dozens of evacuations southwest of Spokane amid high winds; fire knocked down Tuesday night
Opinion: Cost of care is increasing, but WA Cares’ benefit isn’t

WA State Standard
72% of Washington eighth graders not proficient in math, report shows
Inslee affirms WA’s position that hospitals must provide emergency abortion services

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Dozens of Pride flags stolen in downtown Burien
Burien police chief resigns, accepts outside employment opportunity
Inslee’s directive ensures emergency abortion services in Washington as SCOTUS abortion rulings loom

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Post-pandemic learning loss affecting WA students
Two Seattle police officers under investigation after violent arrest caught on video
Boeing sales tumble as the company gets no orders for the 737 Max for the second straight month
Garfield High School student raises money to increase school’s security following deadly shooting
‘A ticking time bomb:’ family of crash victim suing state DOT over ‘dangerous’ SR 509 intersection

KNKX Public Radio
BLM shrinks proposed size of controversial Lava Ridge wind farm

KUOW Public Radio
Mapped: Shootings around Seattle’s Garfield High School this year
Damaged track switch derailed sulfur-hauling train in Whatcom County
Should cops return to Seattle high schools? Interim Chief Rahr signals she wants to talk about it

KXLY (ABC)
Downtown Spokane Pride mural struck again by vandalism
School-based health centers provide easy access to healthcare for students
Students and teachers in Spokane feeling the benefit of ditching phones in the classroom
Medical Lake Mayor bans fireworks to prevent wildfires, city still recovering from Gray Fire

Web

Crosscut
Audit finds more problems with how WA spent federal COVID aid

MyNorthwest
Seattle City Council takes steps to expand use of automated license plate readers
Amazon adds $1.4B to affordable housing fund for regions where it has corporate offices

Tuesday, June 11

WA medical cannabis users get break from the nation’s highest pot taxes
Thanks to a new state law, Washingtonians with a medical cannabis card can get a break from the nation’s highest tax on the drug. The change, which took effect Thursday, could nudge more people to get medical cards and potentially depress revenues from the cannabis tax, which generated nearly $470 million in fiscal year 2023. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Cindy Schultz)

No more lead in your eyeliner: New Washington state law bans toxic cosmetics
A new state law aims to get cosmetics with certain chemicals out of Washington’s stores and salons. Advocates say it’s the strongest law of its kind in the country, though states including California, Minnesota, and New York have similar regulations. Now comes the long process of store owners, hair stylists, and communities figuring out which products they’ll still be able to use and which ones they’ll need to toss. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Rural residents ask about tax rates, land use as state studies renewable energy projects
Washington officials want to know what rural residents think about renewable energy development. At an online public meeting Wednesday, people from across the state raised questions about tax rates, farm and forest land use, and views they said could be obstructed by wind and solar farms.In 2023,Governor Jay Inslee signed a law that could make it easier and faster to build renewable energy projects. The law also requires the state to study how these projects affect rural residents and local economics. Continue reading at KNKX. (Roy Harryman)

Print

Axios
Alternatives to ShotSpotter draw concern

Capital Press
Labor Department defends H-2A pay rules from union attack
Economist: Farmers get income boost from wind, solar projects

Columbian
Washington opens bidding to build its five new electric ferries
Washington, Oregon legislators press I-5 Bridge replacement officials about permits, cost and impact on property owners

Everett Herald
How will the FAA Act benefit Paine Field?
Free therapy service for seniors strives to meet soaring demand
A big decision for Boeing’s next CEO: Is it time for a new plane?
Edmonds School Board set to approve $200M plan to rebuild 2 schools

News Tribune
Some homeless folks to get portable toilets. Will they help curb disease, pollution?
Before 6 died in Tacoma wreck, officials knew intersection was deadly, lawsuit claims
Driving without a seat belt in Pierce County? These signs with special sensors will know
Pierce County’s only reentry center for DOC prisoners shifting focus after nearly 50 years
Man died at Tacoma immigration detention center of natural causes, medical examiner says
Study shows WA residents among top earners in US. Here’s how much the median person makes
Opinion: I love computers, but I didn’t see many people like me in tech. That’s changing

Olympian
Lawsuit filed against WA state, several agencies for automatically deleting messages
Washington ferries are going electric. WSDOT just opened nationwide bidding to build them

Peninsula Daily News
State ferries to host meetings next week

Seattle Times
King County approves use of e-bikes on regional trails
King County ignored civil rights complaints for 20 months
Thousands in WA behind on Puget Sound Energy bills risk shut-offs
WA medical cannabis users get break from the nation’s highest pot taxes

Spokesman Review
Annual survey counts 15% fewer homeless people in Spokane County
Getting There: Latah Valley and South Hill drivers may see significant delays during construction
Opinion: EWU “right-sized” out of existence

Washington Post
Retailers are finally cutting prices. Will it last?
The world agreed to ban this dangerous pollutant — and it’s working
‘Very unpredictable’: Colleges fear FAFSA fiasco will hurt enrollment
Biden proposes banning medical debt from credit reports, loan decisions
U.S. economy growing significantly faster than expected, World Bank says

WA State Standard
WSU receives grant to study bird flu, other diseases in livestock
72% of Washington eighth graders not proficient in math, report shows

Wenatchee World
Regional Sports Complex consultants study 2 potential Douglas County sites for project
Pioneer Fire suspected cause was structure fire, Chelan County marine patrol assists hikers

Yakima Herald-Republic
Wildfire burning on Yakima Training Center grounds

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Retail theft task force in Washington sends first conviction to prison
Renton deploying drone technology into different divisions of police department

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
‘Cut up and thrown into the street’: Pride flags vandalized in Burien

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Protesters demand accountability after video shows SPD officers beating man on sidewalk
What to know about FDA warning on paralytic shellfish poisoning in the Pacific Northwest

KNKX Public Radio
Medical examiner rules Tacoma ICE detainee died of natural causes
Rural residents ask about tax rates, land use as state studies renewable energy projects

KUOW Public Radio
Pierce County hopes to cultivate community gardens with new seed libraries
No more lead in your eyeliner: New Washington state law bans toxic cosmetics

KXLY (ABC)
Childcare funds available for local families
Spokane City Council approves $5 million in Covid relief funding for childcare, housing and other city projects

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Community gathers to mark 25 years at pipeline remembrance

MyNorthwest
Designs unveiled for new I-5 bridge between Washington, Oregon
‘If you flee, we will pursue you:’ Washington police respond to new law
Scammers impersonating police in Lynnwood, Olympia through phone calls
Year-long Washington probe yields 84,000 fentanyl pills, hundreds of pounds of drugs

Monday, June 10

‘Not enough beds’: A look at the farmworker housing crisis in eastern Washington
Washington’s robust agriculture industry is centered in and around Yakima and the Tri-Cities. That industry depends on H-2A guest workers and domestic workers to tend to orchards and fields, and harvest the fresh fruit and vegetables that fill American grocery stores and local markets. For those farmworkers, it can be a challenge to find quality, affordable housing in the Tri-Cities area. The gap in farmworker housing has serious implications for the future of Washington’s farming industry and its workers. Continue reading at The Columbian. (John Froschauer)

A law to protect WA health care workers keeps patients in crisis
Under Washington state law, any assault on a health care worker can be a felony — including spitting, slapping or other actions that might otherwise be treated as minor offenses with fewer consequences for the accused. The decades-old statute was meant to protect providers, who are increasingly harmed in violent attacks. But increased penalties for people in crisis do little to deter violence, experts say. And reporters’ findings reveal an unintended consequence: More people with serious mental illness are funneled into the legal system, even as cities across the country search for ways to keep them out. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Vartika Sharma)

‘It’s not just a Garfield problem.’ Students, families push for community safety measures following school shooting
A growing vigil of flowers and candles lined the front steps at Seattle’s Garfield High school this weekend, in tribute to a 17-year-old student who was fatally shot on campus Thursday. He has been identified by family and his football team as Amarr Murphy. The morning after the shooting, with Garfield closed for the day, a crowd of students, parents, and community members gathered outside to grieve and call for increased safety measures in the school and surrounding community. Several parents and students said they want to see more police presence outside the school and stronger measures to keep guns out of kid’s hands. Continue reading at KUOW. (Liz Jones)

Print

Axios
Where unaccompanied migrant children in the PNW come from

Bellevue Reporter
WSDOT responds to stakeholders about future I-90/SR 18 projects

Capital Press
Central Washington irrigators placed on half rations
Judge rejects U.S. government liability for $47 million Washington ranch fire

Columbian
Health experts: Syphilis is a prevalent infection in Clark County homeless camps
‘Not enough beds’: A look at the farmworker housing crisis in eastern Washington
Oregon closes more coastal shellfish harvesting due to ‘historic high levels’ of toxins

Everett Herald
How will the FAA Act benefit Paine Field?
For those with disabilities, recycling is harder in Snohomish County

Federal Way Mirror
Sen. Wilson talks new legislation with Senior Advisory Commission (Wilson)

New York Times
Some homeless folks to get portable toilets. Will they help curb disease, pollution?
Lawsuit filed against WA state, several agencies for automatically deleting messages
Driving without a seat belt in Pierce County? These signs with special sensors will know

Puget Sound Business Journal
Loan program aimed at Black affordable housing builders gets $1M boost

Seattle Times
One of the biggest myths about racism, revealed
A law to protect WA health care workers keeps patients in crisis (Dhingra, Davis)

Skagit Valley Herald
State audit identifies issues with La Conner Library District

Spokesman Review
How fentanyl’s despair ravages the streets of Spokane: ‘This doesn’t mean I want to die’
Officials say new broadband system in Spokane County will be a boost to rural communities
A tale of two middle schools: Spokane’s Salk Middle School enforces phone prohibition this year, ‘a marked change’

Washington Post
Pharmacists cite highest number of drug shortages since 2001
Microplastics are infiltrating our organs, threatening our health
Five ways to sleep better during a heat wave without blasting the AC
Which states make the most from sports betting? What about lotteries?
Biden administration sets 50 miles per gallon fuel economy standard for 2031

WA State Standard
Inslee’s effort to cut pay, oust regulatory leader falters
Comment: Here’s why Washington’s long-term care program is a game-changer

Wenatchee World
Pioneer Fire near Lake Chelan at 300 acres, evacuation notice issued
Wenatchee School Districts presents ‘other funds’ preliminary budget for 2024-2025
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife seeks public input on pygmy rabbit status

Yakima Herald-Republic
Water allotment drops to 47% in the Yakima Basin
Local fire jurisdictions to see quicker air support – at no cost to them

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Authorities investigating shooting involving Renton police officer
Families help Garfield High School seniors host prom after fatal shooting of classmate
Road closures, bus route delays due to fire in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Calls for action following gun violence
Maple Valley daycare loses it license and is under investigation
Thurston County deputies arrest man after car pursuit in Lacey
Bellevue Police Department has had enough with traffic fatalities

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Lake Chelan wildfire grows to nearly 300 acres; evacuation orders in place
‘Absolutely terrified’: Seattle students push for more mental health support in schools

KNKX Public Radio
There’s more to farmers markets than meets the eye
Seattle Public Library goes low-tech after cyberattack

KUOW Public Radio
Summer Covid surge hits Washington state
‘It’s not just a Garfield problem.’ Students, families push for community safety measures following school shooting

KXLY (ABC)
Thousands gather downtown for Spokane Pride Parade

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Olympic Pipe Line explosion’s human toll, and the families’ legacy
Bellingham’s tragedy was pivotal moment for national, state pipeline safety rules

Crosscut
Seattle Public Schools postpones next step in school closures

Friday, June 7

Why some WA students are still waiting for college financial aid
After months of confronting glitching forms, reporting errors and reprocessing efforts, Washington colleges have finally handed off financial aid award letters to thousands of students. The delays didn’t affect eligibility, but did force students to make enrollment decisions much later in the year. In Washington, some financial aid officials say numerous applications still need to be corrected and processed. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kylie Cooper)

WA cracks down on gassy garbage
Washington is cracking down on landfill methane emissions — in other words, how gassy our garbage can get. The new rules, published by the state Department of Ecology in May, mean the state will surpass federal emission regulations set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The new rules mean municipal solid waste landfills will have stronger monitoring standards for methane emissions and will need to fix methane leaks within a certain timeline. The rules also require more landfills to install equipment that captures and destroys methane before it’s released into the atmosphere. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (King County)

Fatal drug overdoses declining slightly in King County after 2023 surge
Officials in King County say after a bleak year of increased drug overdoses in 2023, they are starting to see signs of hope. At the county’s fourth annual conference on substance use Thursday, officials said fatal drug overdoses are trending down slightly in 2024. Brad Finegood is a strategic advisor with Public Health – Seattle & King County. He said when they met last year, “hope was hard to find. We were in a place of escalating overdose. Today I’m super excited to let you know that in 2024 our overdose numbers are actually going down a little bit…” Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)