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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)

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Associated Press
Local election workers fear threats to their safety as November nears. One group is trying to help
A suburban Seattle police officer faces murder trial in the death of a man outside convenience store

Aberdeen Daily World
Elma gas plant property value drops by $52M

Axios
SCOTUS weighs strict abortion ban against emergency care law
Will noncompete clauses soon be illegal? The FTC is about to vote on it

Bellingham Herald
State closes another Whatcom County shooting range. Here’s why they did it.
Proposed agreement spells out Whatcom County jail construction and operations
Authorities arrest Ferndale man as part of multi-agency human trafficking investigation

Capital Press
Washington wolves set record for population growth
Comment: A snapshot of the region’s energy portfolio

Everett Herald
With light rail coming soon, Mountlake Terrace’s moment is nearly here
Comment: Setting record straight on 3 climate activism myths
Comment: Debate remains around legalized abortion and crime
Editorial: EBT program a boon for kids’ nutrition this summer

High Country News
When dams come down, what happens to the ocean?
These Washington nurses want their hospital to be more like Oregon

News Tribune
Can intensive support in court keep people from re-offending? Tacoma is giving it a go

Puget Sound Business Journal
Providence to pay over $200M for wage violations
SCOTUS ruling could result in challenges to impact fees
Union: Striking electricians have shut down multiple area job sites

Seattle Times
In WA and beyond, a child care crisis is holding parents back
WA solar energy projects getting $156 million in federal funds
Supreme Court seems poised to allow laws that penalize homelessness
Seattle Children’s won’t turn over gender-affirming care records to Texas

Skagit Valley Herald
Section of Skagit River opens for spring chinook

Spokesman Review
Schulz departing as Washington State University president
Riders can hop on a Spokane-area bus for free during weekends from May 4 to June 30
Spokane City Council will consider requiring 4 to 6 months’ notice before landlords can raise rent by much

Tri-City Herald
Thousands of Tri-Cities students forced indoors Monday by bad air after massive fire
Richland’s Chamna Preserve earthquake unusual for this area. Here’s how it was different

Washington State Standard
New federal funds will help thousands in Washington get solar power for free
Supreme Court appears to lean toward allowing local restrictions on homeless encampments

Yakima Herald-Republic
USPS to move some mail processing to Spokane, will update Yakima post office

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington state prison using video games to help incarcerated fathers bond with their kids
Seattle Children’s won’t turn over gender-affirming care records in lawsuit settlement with Texas
Styrofoam, packaging with PFAS will be banned in Washington this summer. What that means for consumers

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Kroger to pay $47.5 million to Washington state to combat fentanyl crisis
Seattle small businesses unaware of storefront repair fund despite rising break-ins
Seattle hospital won’t turn over gender-affirming care records in lawsuit with Texas

KUOW Public Radio
Digital reading soars in Seattle, creating problems for local libraries
Washington’s plastic bag fee reduces waste — but not to the extent intended, report finds

KXLY (ABC)
First day of Sacred Heart workers’ strike

Web

MyNorthwest
Will a ‘Heat Dome’ be part of the upcoming Seattle summer?
Kroger to pay nearly $50M to Washington to combat fentanyl crisis
‘SPD is dying’: What Seattle police officers are saying during exit interviews
South King Fire offering free smoke alarm installation for Federal Way residents

Monday, April 22

State’s new law involving PSE aspires to set a course for the future
Over the past couple of years, Washington lawmakers have wrestled with a daunting task. The problem: The state’s largest utility, Puget Sound Energy, sells natural gas to nearly 1 million customers and burns gas and coal to electrify cities. That contributes millions of metric tons of planet-warming gasses to the atmosphere. Seeing a tough road ahead to decarbonize, PSE requested help from lawmakers. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

The high cost of 4/20: Expert warns of dangers associated with marijuana
April 20 is considered by many as a high holiday for marijuana aficionados. However, there’s growing evidence it’s not as harmless as once believed. Despite legalization across the country and widespread public approval, the federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug. That’s led to limits on research regarding medical usage that could back up anecdotal evidence of marijuana helping people. Continue reading at King 5.

Auburn police officer’s murder trial tests new state law for police misconduct
The first police officer charged with murder in Washington under a new legal standard for police misconduct is heading to trial. Jury selection is scheduled to begin April 22 in the trial of Auburn police officer Jeffrey Nelson. In August 2020, then-King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg charged Nelson with second-degree murder and first-degree assault for killing 26-year-old Jesse Sarey. Nelson tackled and ultimately shot Sarey while trying to arrest him for disorderly conduct. Continue reading at KUOW. (Auburn Police Department)

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Associated Press
Supreme Court will take up the fight over ghost gun
With homelessness on the rise, the Supreme Court will weigh bans on sleeping outdoors

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

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County paid $225K to settle sexual harassment complaints
Public health alert: Beef with a potentially deadly form of E. coli got sent to stores
Former Bellingham police officer sues city over vaccine mandate, alleges discrimination

Capital Press
With massive Washington harvest, apple prices ‘dismal’
Yakama Nation slams Horse Heaven decision; order not public

Columbian
People are staying homeless for longer than ever before in Clark County — experts say fentanyl is a factor

Everett Herald
Lake Stevens selects new school superintendent
Here’s your chance to weigh in on how Marysville will look in 20 years
Comment: To save orcas, agencies should suspend salmon fishing
Comment: The crime of homelessness

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap teens report fewer feelings of depression, suicidal tendencies

News Tribune
Drivers will have to start paying to use those EV charging stations in Gig Harbor
Tacoma named No. 1 most sought-after renting destination in West, report shows
MultiCare at odds with another insurer. Patients being notified of potential disruptions
New tax to nearly triple county’s affordable housing money, but even that’s not enough

New York Times
Spurred by Teen Girls, States Move to Ban Deepfake Nudes (Mullet)

Olympian
Gotta go? These I-5 rest areas in Thurston County will close in May, WSDOT says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Affordable housing project backed by Microsoft opens in Renton
Supreme Court decision may have ripple effect on development impact fees
An increasingly popular perk is hitting hurdles as employers overlook the pitfalls
Seattle eyes temporarily exempting some center city developments from design review

Seattle Times
Unpaid rent in low-income housing skyrocketed, evictions may be next
A future without natural gas? New law involving PSE aspires to set the course (Nguyen)

South Whidbey Record
Whidbey part of statewide drought emergency

Spokesman Review
Sacred Heart strike starts today. Picketing begins at 2 p.m.
Use of force expert calls Spokane deputy’s actions from August park arrest ‘excessive,’ ‘unreasonable’; FBI involved
‘Even if it’s terrifying, just keep going’: Chelsea Adams gained courage to come forward about her sexual abuse years later

Tri-City Herald
Update: Burning Tri-Cities cold storage center partially collapses. Evacuations lifted
New solar farm project proposed south of Tri-Cities. Learn more this week in Kennewick

Washington Post
Biden Title IX rules set to protect trans students, survivors of abuse
The pandemic cost 7 million lives, but talks to prevent a repeat stall
As Supreme Court takes up homeless ban, a city’s unhoused feel abandoned
Nine practices from Native American culture that could help the environment

WA State Standard
WA charter school performance on par with other public schools, state report says

Yakima Herald-Republic
Nationwide FAFSA issues hit colleges and students in Central Washington
Toppenish School District announces 48 staff reductions amid budget shortfall

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Jury selection in trial of Auburn police officer accused of murder begins
The high cost of 4/20: Expert warns of dangers associated with marijuana (Davis)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
DOJ creates carjacking task force for Western Washington
After more than three months, some I-5 protesters have been charged
Deadly crash in Central Tacoma has residents worried about safety of intersection
Parts of King County are receiving additional funding to go towards homelessness assistance
‘It’s a vicious cycle’: Ballard businesses lose thousands of dollars due to recurring break-ins

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle coalition demands more housing, sustainable transportation in city growth plan
Supreme Court to hear arguments on Oregon homelessness case with regional implications

KNKX Public Radio
Excessive force, racial bias lawsuit against Tacoma police will end with $300K settlement
Despite petitions, federal regulators approve construction on expanded Northwest gas pipeline

KUOW Public Radio
An uncontained tugboat oil spill fouls Seattle waterways
Auburn police officer’s murder trial tests new state law for police misconduct
These Northwest snails might need stronger protection than just their tiny shells

KXLY (ABC)
Fencing erected days ahead of strike at Sacred Heart Medical Center

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Van Zandt Dike will close to target shooting after public safety concerns (Shewmake)
Homeless people scatter as city, business owners welcome cleaner downtown
Opinion: Nursing-home staffing mandates critical to dignified care

Crosscut
Seattle City Council rejects affordable housing development bill
A federal program could fix Washington’s salmon-killing culverts

MyNorthwest
What led to Washington drought as wildfires, rainbows on the horizon
Corrections Guild ‘extremely fearful’ as more weapons infiltrate Kent jail
International students remain in quarantine in King County hotel after measles exposure

Friday, April 19

Most Seattle-area renters report big rent hikes in the past 12 months
Rents in the Seattle area, and much of the nation, rose sharply during the early years of the pandemic. Since 2023, though, the rental market has softened, giving some relief to local renters — at least that’s what most industry reports say. But after looking at some new survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau, I’m not sure Seattle-area renters would agree with those reports. According to the survey, a clear majority of renters in the Seattle area say their rents have increased in the past year. And for most, the increase was not an insignificant amount. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

WA Supreme Court Commissioner hears arguments for, against stay on high-capacity magazine ban
Washington state’s ban on the sale of “high-capacity” magazines will remain for now while state Supreme Court Commissioner Michael E. Johnston decides whether to keep the ban in place as a ruling on its constitutionality makes its way through the court system. The stay was filed April 8 by the Attorney General’s Office after Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor ruled the state’s ban on high-capacity magazines unconstitutional in a lawsuit between Washington State and Gators Customs Guns, a firearms dealer in Kelso. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Steve Bloom)

Summer grocery program to feed WA kids launching soon
When summer nears, hundreds of thousands of kids in Washington can face three months without free meals provided by their schools. But starting this summer, a new federal program will help lower-income families who rely on free school breakfasts and lunches. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children is similar to a program that helped feed families during the pandemic. With a push from Murray, a permanent version of the program was approved federally in 2022 and is set to launch in Washington this summer, thanks to some new funding from the state Legislature. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Justin Sullivan)

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Associated Press
Biden administration restricts oil and gas leasing in 13 million acres of Alaska’s petroleum reserve

Auburn Reporter
King County releases $3 million to help find shelter for the homeless

Axios
Why Seattle isn’t much of a weed destination city — yet

Bellingham Herald
WA was one of first, biggest adopters of law enforcement drones. Why is it funding more?
WA Supreme Court Commissioner hears arguments for, against stay on high-capacity magazine ban
Opinion: Marginalized communities need big environmental wins

Capital Press
EPA promises to make herbicide strategy better for farmers

Columbian
PeaceHealth nurses picket Vancouver hospital, demanding safe staffing and fair wages

Everett Herald
Study: New AquaSox stadium downtown could cost up to $120M
Key takeaways from Everett’s public hearing on property tax increase

The Inlander
Since the start of legalization more than a decade ago, the feds promised to make cannabis research easier, yet those promises remain unfulfilled

Islands’ Weekly
WSF meets with San Juan County residents
Community meeting: Sea level rise adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Research shows curtailing Chinook salmon ocean fishing promotes Southern Resident Orcas and Wild Chinook recovery

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Land Bank to release strategic plan

Kent Reporter
Sound Transit constructing giant bridge in Kent for light rail
Kent Police to join new Western Washington Carjacking Task Force

News Tribune
WA council rules in split vote on huge Tri-Cities wind farm. Will Gov. Inslee agree?
Would regional approach work better to address homelessness? Local effort is underway
Editorial: Guaranteed income returned to Pierce County this week. Why free money deserves a shot

Port Townsend Leader
Port Angeles port approves contract for Maritime Trade Center bid

Puget Sound Business Journal
New report shows sustained growth for WA’s life science industry
Businesses face deadline to snag part of $5.5B credit-card settlement

Redmond Reporter
Redmond’s new affordable housing project gets mixed feedback

Seattle Medium
The toughest issue for teachers is even tougher for students

Seattle Times
Tourism is big business for Seattle, but it comes with challenges
Two King County cities get $3 million to expand homeless shelters
Most Seattle-area renters report big rent hikes in the past 12 months
Opinion: New limits on ‘forever chemicals’ are great. We can do more

Skagit Valley Herald
Federal agencies release final environmental impact statement on grizzly restoration

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
‘Color of Threads’ short film explores lives of 1909 Pendleton women
Energy efficiency programs in Walla Walla draw visit from Gov. Jay Inslee

Washington Post
Earth’s record hot streak might be a sign of a new climate era
Biden limits oil drilling across 13 million acres of Alaskan Arctic
‘Forever chemicals’ are widespread. Now the U.S. may force a PFAS cleanup.
Biden Title IX rules protect trans students, end Trump-era system on sexual assault claims

WA State Standard
North Cascades Highway will open for year April 19
Summer grocery program to feed WA kids launching soon
Lawmakers hope to use this emerging climate science to charge oil companies for disasters
Despite petitions, federal regulators approve construction on expanded Northwest gas pipeline

Wenatchee World
Community gathers for 2nd public hearing on Columbia closure

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Dramatic increase’ in bank robberies in North Seattle
Department of Justice launching carjacking task force in Seattle
Violent prison gang accused of running cockfighting ring in eastern Washington
UW researchers hoping to save a sea star population nearly wiped out 10 years ago

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Pierce County teacher arrested on charges of child molestation

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
King County commits $3 million to combat homelessness in Tukwila and Burien
‘It’s concerning’: Firefighters gear up after early drought declared in Washington

KXLY (ABC)
Deadline to apply for FEMA wildfire assistance, loans is tomorrow
Spokane police shoot armed man on campus of Shadle Park High School

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Emergency drought announcement includes Whatcom, Skagit as dry summer anticipated

Crosscut
Tri-Cities wind turbine farm proposal halved for endangered hawks
Whatcom County paid $225K to settle sexual harassment complaints

Thursday, April 18

Clark County Council pushes to provide more ‘middle housing,’ aiming to increase access to homeownership
As part of a long effort to create a greater variety of housing options with potential for smaller, more affordable homes, the Clark County Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to revise rules governing residential development. The goal is to increase residents’ access to homeownership as Clark County’s population grows and housing prices skyrocket. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

With gun reform law in limbo, Edmonds rep is ‘confident’ it will prevail
For just under two hours earlier this month, the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines was legal in Washington, when a Cowlitz County judge ruled a 2022 ban passed by lawmakers unconstitutional. Now, the decision is on pause as the state seeks further consideration from the Supreme Court. Edmonds Rep. Strom Peterson, who helped push the law through the Legislature two years ago, still believes the law he passed is constitutional. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Ted S. Warren)

In WA, it might soon be easier to get mental health help over the phone
Washington state is heading into a new stage as it tries to develop better systems for responding to mental health crises: It’s placing counselors for its 988 mental health crisis hotline alongside staff who answer 911 calls. On Tuesday, officials from across King County and the state gathered in Kent to announce the creation of a call hub staffed by both 911 call-takers and crisis counselors. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Hannah Furfaro)