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Friday, May 12

WA lawmakers’ ‘year of housing’ could ease the affordability crisis
For years, proposals in the Washington Legislature to address the state’s dire housing availability and affordability crisis have withered and died in the face of opposition – even as the problem worsened. This year was different. On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed 10 housing bills into law. And although the governor’s ambitious $4 billion housing-bond proposal fell flat, lawmakers nonetheless put $1 billion into new state budgets geared at easing the affordability crisis, according to the Office of Financial Management. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Amanda Snyder)

Editorial: The way Washington schools kids in lockup is criminal
Washington spends an enormous amount of time and money wrestling with education — with varying success. This state sweats over what to pay for students with special needs, and where to be more equitable, and how to boost the number of kids going to college. But there is one group of students that inspires no action at all: Kids who are locked up. Only 14% of kids who spend time incarcerated ever graduate from high school, according to a state report issued five months ago. There is no debating where that number leads: to depressed wages, which means fewer taxpayer dollars, and increased spending on prisons or homelessness. Continue reading at Seattle Times.

Inslee Signs Most Comprehensive in the Nation Battery Recycling Bill That Addresses All Battery Types
Governor Jay Inslee signed a new law (SB 5144) May 11, 2023 that will provide battery recycling across Washington under a producer responsibility program. The bill begins the program by recycling small, portable primary and rechargeable batteries first starting January 1, 2027. Washington becomes the 10th jurisdiction to adopt a product stewardship program for batteries and is the most comprehensive. Most of the older laws only cover limited chemistries of batteries. In the last two years, Washington DC and California passed similar laws but are limited to regulating smaller, portable batteries. Washington’s law differs in that medium-sized batteries, such as those in e-bikes, scooters, and larger outdoor power equipment are also included. Continue reading at San Juan Islander.

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Capital Press
Forecasters: Strong El Nino may be on the horizon
Washington joins states seeking to dim wind turbine lights
Washington safety agency fines irrigation district $168,000

The Daily News
Washington flu deaths up tenfold from prior season

Everett Herald
Marysville schools serving layoff notices for up to 45 teachers
Islamic group wins permit battle south of Snohomish

News Tribune
Tacoma reappoints city manager. Here’s what they said about Elizabeth Pauli’s leadership

Olympian
Tacoma woman with TB continues to defy court orders. Will she ever be arrested?
Shelton High School goes into lockdown in ‘swatting’ incident Thursday morning
WA flu deaths 10 times higher this season than last, but similar to pre-COVID years

Peninsula Daily News
Jamestown receives $13M for psychiatric care facility
Timeline for reopening Hurricane Ridge Road expected in June
Hood Canal Bridge closures begin Saturday

Seattle Medium
Hot Pursuits In Seattle Not Permitted Without Training
Why “No Right Turn On Red” Is In Seattle’s Future

Seattle Times
Seattle-area cooling centers open ahead of unusually hot weather
WA high court reverses Black man’s conviction over racial bias in jury selection
National honors go to 2 WA schools for environmental innovation
Editorial: The way Washington schools kids in lockup is criminal (Callan)
Opinion: We all scream for capital gains tax dividends for working families

Washington Post
Who can donate blood? What to know about FDA’s new guidelines

Yakima Herald-Republic
‘Goldilocks’ weather means late, but possibly better, cherry harvest in the Yakima Valley

Broadcast

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington state sees most deadly flu season in 5 years, Department of Health says
Census study: 171,000 people plan to move away from King County in the next year

KNKX Public Radio
Washington’s freshman class of lawmakers — the largest in a long time — makes itself heard (Mena, Orwall)

KUOW Public Radio
Spokane’s Camp Hope is close to closing. What did it teach the region about homelessness?
Should we think of gun violence as a ‘disease’? These epidemiologists do

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Lummi Nation ends COVID-19 public health emergency
Locals ‘begging’ officials to fix Glacier Creek Road

Crosscut
WA lawmakers’ ‘year of housing’ could ease the affordability crisis (Bateman, Gregerson, Salomon, Trudeau, Heck, Taylor)

San Juan Islander
Inslee signs most comprehensive in the nation battery recycling bill that addresses all battery types (Stanford)

Washington Observer
A first-term lawmaker’s big year (Mena)

Thursday, May 11

The national COVID emergency is over. What does that mean in WA?
While most state and federal COVID proclamations have already lapsed, including masking and vaccination requirements, Thursday’s expiration of the nationwide public health emergency will further “end the flexibility” the government has for some COVID-aid efforts, according to Public Health — Seattle & King County. Other changes as the federal emergency ends include the country’s future supply of vaccine, treatments and testing. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Yakima residents weigh in on new WA heat rules for outdoor workers, set to take effect in June
Yakima area business owners said they need more time to comply with new state requirements to protect people working outside in high temperatures, while advocates for workers said the changes are necessary, especially with hot weather in the forecast. The state heat rules for outdoor workers, which lay out requirements for breaks, shade and water provisions at high temperatures, are tentatively scheduled to begin on June 15. Continue reading at The Yakima Herald. (Evan Abell)

Editorial: Mental health isn’t driving Tacoma youth violence — but the system is failing our kids
The violence we see in our communities — and in particular the epidemic of youth violence that has recently rocked Tacoma — cannot be boiled down and attributed to simply a lack of “mental health” services. Whether it’s well-meaning elected officials doing the talking or those trying to score political points, applying a broad brush, in this case, is both dangerous and disingenuous. Equally true: Pierce County desperately needs a functional youth mental health system, one capable of serving the complex needs of kids and families in Tacoma and beyond. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Dean J. Koepfler)

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Associated Press
Amazon to receive $1 billion in tax breaks for new data centers

Axios
Hot temperatures could set a record in Seattle

Bellingham Herald
Tenants frequently face deposit theft in Bellingham. Here’s what you can do about it
Excessive heat watch for Whatcom County is forecast as temperatures spike
2 Hanford tanks are leaking nuclear waste into the ground. Plan to deal with them settled

Capital Press
Fuel expected to stay below last summer’s record highs

Columbian
Clark-Cowlitz rescuers take ‘more human’ approach to those in mental health crises

Everett Herald
COVID-19 public health emergency officially ends
Port of Everett settles stormwater lawsuit for $2.5M
Editorial: In defense of pickleball, its birthplace and its ‘Pwock!’ (Lovick)
Letter: Farmworkers in H-2A via program often are abused

The Inlander
Yakama Nation warns feds they’ll sue over long delayed cleanup of a Columbia River island connected to Bonneville Dam
Opinion: Despite their grip on power in Olympia, Washington Democrats are failing in law enforcement and transparency in government

International Examiner
CID announced as one of 11 endangered national historic places

News Tribune
Editorial: Mental health isn’t driving Tacoma youth violence — but the system is failing our kids

New York Times
E.P.A. Proposes First Limits on Climate Pollution From Existing Power Plants

Olympian
Inslee rescinds COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state workers, but offers cash to keep up with shots

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA rolling out a big change to its marquee lending programs
Gen Z workers feel overworked and underpaid

Seattle Medium
New Program Aims To Help Diversify The Tech Industry
City On Board With Alki Elementary Rebuild
Gov. Inslee Signs Bill To Remedy Discrimination In Housing

Seattle Times
The national COVID emergency is over. What does that mean in WA?
Inslee rescinds COVID-19 vaccine requirement for WA state employees
King County Metro to reduce bus trips this fall; not enough drivers
State report finds WA education agency hasn’t tracked federal funds effectively (Pollet)
Seattle-area hikes: Trailhead Direct transit-to-trail service returns
Opinion: We all scream for capital gains tax dividends for working families

Spokesman Review
After Spokane passed city drug laws, other local governments look to craft their own
Bipartisan, Cantwell-backed rail safety bill informed by Spokane officials advances to Senate floor

Tri-City Herald
WA irrigation district serving Benton County fined $168K over worker safety

Washington State Standard
The state’s child care gap proves tough to solve (Wilson)
Inslee to ditch vax mandate for state workers as health emergency ends

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Valley College union says it has ‘no confidence’ in college president
Yakima residents weigh in on new WA heat rules for outdoor workers, set to take effect in June

Broadcast

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Inslee lifts COVID-19 vaccine requirement for Washington state workers
Here’s what to expect in the U.S. as Title 42 ends for asylum-seekers
An EPA proposal to (almost) eliminate climate pollution from power plants

KUOW Public Radio
Should we think of gun violence as a ‘disease’? These epidemiologists do
Washington ends Covid-19 vaccine requirements for state employees

Q13 TV (FOX)
Bill cracks down on street racing, WSP uses aviation to catch perpetrators (Lovick)

Web

Crosscut
Washington to invest $21M in abortion, reproductive health care (Hansen, Slatter, Cleveland, Riccelli, Keiser)
Inslee rolls back COVID vaccine mandate for WA state employees

MyNorthwest
Department of Health sunsets COVID-19 exposure app WA Notify
Two Puget Sound schools change schedule due to shelter-in-place incidents
Seattle changing school start times to save money; pushing other cuts to close major deficit
Port of Everett settles $2.5M lawsuit over sewage water violations

West Seattle Blog
ALKI ELEMENTARY: District plans May 22nd community meeting about school rebuild

Wednesday, May 10

Trans minors protected from parents under Washington law
Minors seeking gender-affirming care in Washington will be protected from the intervention of estranged parents under a measure Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law Tuesday. The new law is part of a wave of legislation this year in Democratic-led states intended to give refuge amid a conservative movement in which lawmakers in other states have attacked transgender rights and limited or banned gender-affirming care for minors. Licensed shelters and host homes in Washington had generally been required to notify parents within 72 hours when a minor came into their care. Under the new law, facilities can instead contact the state Department of Children, Youth and Families, which could then attempt to reunify the family if feasible. Continue reading at Associated Press. (Ed Komenda)

Breaking down the biggest chunk of state housing dollars
Central to the package of housing legislation that state lawmakers passed in Olympia this year is a record investment in the Housing Trust Fund, the largest individual pot of state money that is available to help get more people into affordable homes. Lawmakers raised the amount of money going to the trust fund to $400 million, a roughly 40% increase over the last budget cycle and more than double the amount that they provided for the account in some recent years. It’s an investment that advocates say is long overdue but still not enough, given the growing need for housing for people at the lowest income levels. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Dan Reynolds)

Gov. Inslee signs bill to help survivors of sex trafficking in WA
Gov. Jay Inslee recently signed a bill intended to help survivors of sex trafficking access housing, health services and more in Washington. Substitute Senate Bill 5114 was written by and for survivors of adult sex trafficking, according to the WASE coalition of 34 agencies working to prevent commercial sexual exploitation of vulnerable people. The coalition hopes the money will be spent on culturally responsive programs and services tailored toward those disproportionately affected by human trafficking, including communities of color. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Auburn, and Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, will fund services like legal advocacy, safety planning, substance-use disorder treatment, housing, health services and education. Continue reading at Crosscut.

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Associated Press
Trans minors protected from parents under Washington law (Liias)

Axios
Seattle’s Chinatown among most endangered historic places
Meet Washington’s new state dinosaur, the Suciasaurus rex

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County home sale prices drop, but WA remains third most-expensive state

Capital Press
Washington to adopt California ban on diesel trucks

Columbian
Washougal chief steps in at Vancouver Police Department
Editorial: Dems already have head start on new drug law

Everett Herald
Trade fair gives Snohomish County kids glimpse of college alternatives
Lynnwood council member Binda admits to violating ethics rules

Olympian
WA Gov. Inslee signs bill limiting wind turbine lights. But he vetoes local control

Seattle Medium
Gov. Inslee Signs Bill To Remedy Discrimination In Housing (Taylor)
New Law Aims To Prevent Childhood Drownings (Berg)

Seattle Times
Seattle neighborhood placed on unfortunate historic places list
Why conservation groups are trying to restore native prairies in WA
To aid the killer whales, the real apex predator gets some pushback
Seattle makes obstructing firefighters illegal

Sequim Gazette
Local lawmakers optimistic about special legislative session (Chapman, Tharinger, Van De Wege)

Spokesman Review
Opinion: With the public health emergency ending, what will change? Here’s what you need to know

Tri-City Herald
Big E. Washington employer lays off hundreds of workers. Paper mill is being idled

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla students win top award at Youth Legislature event in Olympia

Washington Post
Inflation eased again in April, but prices are still rising fast

Washington State Standard
A climate cash spending spree is about to get underway in Washington state (Fey)
New law blocks Washington employers from testing for pot when hiring
Breaking down the biggest chunk of state housing dollars
‘This is what the capital budget should be about’ (Lovick, Tharinger)
As overtime looms in Olympia, deal on drug possession law proves elusive (Dhingra)
Law would redirect surging public requests for election records

Yakima Herald-Republic
New list of Native boarding schools with Catholic affiliation includes Yakima school
Opinion: County’s homeless idea should stop before it starts

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Gov. Inslee signs bill furthering protections for survivors and victims (Nobles)
Inslee signs bill making sure first responders get treatment for job-related PTSD, other ailments
Gov. Inslee signs bill protecting homeowners from decades-long real estate listing agreements (Mullet)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Suciasaurus rex named Washington state’s official dinosaur (Morgan)
Inslee signs bill to create support programs for survivors of adult sex trafficking (Orwall, Wilson)

KNKX Public Radio
Inflation stayed high last month, compounding the challenges facing the U.S. economy

KXLY (ABC)
Community workshop invites public to weigh in on NSC to I-90 connection
Local leaders, community members discuss mental health resources, housing at homeless symposium

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom County population rises after pandemic decline

Crosscut
Gov. Inslee signs bill to help survivors of sex trafficking in WA (Orwall, Wilson)

MyNorthwest
Chinatown-International District “Most Endangered” listing energizes preservationists

Tuesday, May 9

Housing was a priority during 2023 session. Here are bills Gov. Inslee signed into law Monday
Gov. Jay Inslee visited King County Monday afternoon to sign into law a large package of housing-related bills passed during the 2023 legislative session. “This session our legislature needed to go big so people could go home,” Inslee said. “And our Legislature — I’m happy to say — has gone big this year so people can go home.” The governor added that homelessness is a housing crisis while also noting that the behavioral health system needs to be improved as well. “But fundamentally we don’t have enough roofs for people to be under in the state of Washington,” the governor said. Lawmakers allocated over $1 billion dollars for the 2023-25 biennium for housing to help construction keep pace with the more than one million homes that are estimated to be needed in the state over the next 20 years. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Olympian)

State seeks to repair harm caused by racially restrictive real estate covenants
Washington state is setting aside money to help people who were hurt by racially restrictive real estate covenants — documents that were used to enforce segregation in the early- to mid-20th century. Gov. Jay Inslee signed a measure into law Monday that will create a down payment assistance program for people affected by the racist covenants, which were often used to ban property from being sold or rented to someone who wasn’t white. Descendants of those discriminated against would also qualify under the law. These documents frequently barred Black, Indigenous, Asian and other people of color from entire neighborhoods, excluding them from homeownership opportunities and limiting their ability to build generational wealth. Continue reading at Axios. (Annelise Capossela)

Suciasaurus Rex Named Washington State’s Official Dinosaur
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a bill designating the Suciasaurus rex as the official dinosaur of the state. Inslee signed into law House Bill 1020 on Thursday. The new law honors a therapod fossil discovered in 2012 at Sucia Island State Park in Washington’s San Juan Islands. The fossil belonged to a therapod, a two-legged meat eater like the Velociraptor and the Tyrannosaurus rex, according to the Burke Museum. Rep. Melanie Morgan, D-Parkland, sponsored the bill starting in 2019 at the suggestion of a group of fourth graders in her district. “Designating the Suciasaurus rex the state dinosaur has always been about civic engagement for our youth and their government,” Morgan said in a statement after the bill passed the House. “Passing their Dino-mite bill shows that we value their opinions and their contributions to our communities.” Continue reading at The Skanner. (Wikipedia)

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Associated Press
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signs law allowing duplexes, fourplexes (Bateman)

Aberdeen Daily World
‘No More Stolen Sisters’

Axios
State seeks to repair harm caused by racially restrictive real estate covenants (Taylor)
New Washington law allows more police vehicle chases

Bellingham Herald
More workers at Whatcom’s 3rd largest employer are seeking to form a union
Housing was a priority during 2023 session. Here are bills Gov. Inslee signed into law Monday (Bateman, Taylor, Thai, Gregerson, Kuderer, Shewmake, Mullet, Trudeau)

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: State lawmakers take step to improve child care (Senn)
Camas joins lawsuit against ‘forever chemicals’ manufacturers

Everett Herald
Sound Transit: Prioritize Lynnwood over East Link
Comment: State should make itself a haven for abortion care
Comment: Bill of Rights’ guarantees come with limits and duties
Editorial: Lawmakers can reach accord on drug possession law (Robinson)
Editorial: Pride event should work with Arlington on safety

Olympian
In 2020, the Puyallup River was polluted. Now a hydroelectric dam operator must pay $1M
El Niño likely in 2023. Here’s how it differs from La Niña, what it means for the PNW

Seattle Times
Fred Meyer, QFC illegally barred BLM pins at work, judge rules
Gov. Inslee signs bills to increase housing in WA (Kuderer)
Judge approves $1 million settlement over Puyallup River rubber spill

Skagit Valley Herald
Drug task force fearing for funding

The Skanner
Suciasaurus Rex Named Washington State’s Official Dinosaur (Morgan)

Spokesman Review
Spokane City Council outlaws public drug use, possession
Washington passes climate goals for crypto and data centers
After Idaho’s strict abortion ban, OB-GYNs stage a quick exodus
Ponderosa pines and other trees of Eastern Washington soon will be featured on Capitol grounds in Olympia

Tri-City Herald
5 roundabouts in 3 miles. West Richland’s new $31M ‘ game changer’ for traffic access

Vancouver Business Journal
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and PeaceHealth St. John Both Awarded ‘A’ Grade

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla looks to expand tax exemption program used by Lodge developers

Washington Post
Most U.S. adults say the abortion pill mifepristone should stay on the market, Post-ABC poll finds

Yakima Herald-Republic
State proposes permanent rules for temporary worker housing
Higher interest rates, lack of affordable homes slow Yakima Valley real estate sales
Farmworkers continue to speak out about conditions at Sunnyside mushroom plant

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Gov. Inslee signs bills aimed at housing costs, shortage (Taylor, Chopp)
Largest penalty in Washington environmental criminal case ordered after turf pollutes river
Washington Attorney General warns of recent small business scam
Washington State Patrol helping law enforcement make traffic stops from the air
Landslide blocking tracks causes Amtrak to cancel trains between Seattle and Portland

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Inslee signs law allowing duplexes, fourplexes in Washington (Bateman)

KUOW Public Radio
Washington needs YOU to fight the green crab invasion!: Today So Far

KXLY (ABC)
More multi-family housing raises fears for homeowners, hopes for buyers

Web

Cascadia Daily News
2021 flood victims face rising housing costs, homelessness

MyNorthwest
Seattle City Council works to create protections for firefighters
West Seattle Bridge ramp reopens as crews repair hole early
Gov. Inslee signs 10 housing bills into law in WA’s ‘year of housing’
Seattle Public Library announces plan for young adults nationwide to access banned books

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: City gives approval to zoning exceptions for Alki Elementary rebuild

Monday, May 8

Safety concerns linger six months after teen killed at Ingraham High
Six months after Seattle Superintendent Brent Jones promised to review and update safety measures after a shooting at Ingraham High School left one student dead, students and parents say they’re frustrated by the district’s lack of communication and failure to provide timely updates. On Nov. 8, 17-year-old Ebenezer Haile was shot by another student in a school hallway. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

What’s so special about WA’s upcoming special session?
The 2023 regular legislative session may be over, but lawmakers will be heading back to Olympia soon for a special session. Gov. Jay Inslee is calling them back to work on May 16, so they can come up with a new statewide drug possession law. The law as it stands right now is a stopgap measure that will expire July 1. Continue reading at KUOW. (Wikimedia)

‘Glass half empty or half full’ Hospital staffing bill passes amidst compromise
A top official in the Washington State Nurses Association called the hospital staffing bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee a “major step forward” to improving staffing conditions at hospitals across the state. The bill was signed by Inslee April 20. It strengthens nurse staffing committees at individual hospitals and provides protections for staff taking meal and rest breaks. Continue reading at The Wenatchee World.