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Friday, September 6

Washington to fix accessibility violations at its state parks
A deal, announced Thursday, [requires] Washington to identify and fix ADA violations at all of its state parks. The settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice will also require the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to come up with a formal process to maintain current accessible facilities and construct new ones. As part of the agreement, the department has 90 days to propose new policies and procedures for constructing new accessible parks and maintaining old ones. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (WA State Parks)

Over 100 state employees accused of sexual abuse in Washington juvenile detention centers
A new lawsuit has been filed against the State of Washington, alleging decades of sexual abuse and negligence within the state’s juvenile detention facilities. The complaint, filed in King County Superior Court, details numerous instances of abuse suffered by children placed in state-run juvenile prisons and detention centers as far back as the 1960s. The plaintiffs in the case include 188 men and women who allege they were sexually abused while incarcerated as minors in various facilities managed by the state. Continue reading at KIRO. (KIRO)

King County Council considers housing development for middle-income residents
The King County Council is considering a proposal that would build rent-restricted workforce housing for people who make too much to qualify for low-income housing, but struggle to afford rent. Under the new proposal, put forward by King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, the county would use local government bonds to borrow at least $1 billion to build, renovate, or convert buildings into public housing. If given the green light, the rent from those properties would be used to pay back that debt and cover operating costs. Continue reading at KUOW. (Maria Zeigler)

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Axios
Washington state’s schools chief seeks to curb cell phone use

Columbian
More people working in Clark County than year ago but jobless rate still up
‘They shouldn’t be out here’: Heat multiplies struggles for those living in cars in Clark County

Everett Herald
Snohomish County gets new COVID, flu and RSV vaccines

News Tribune
Memorial set for TNT columnist Matt Driscoll. All are welcome at the Sept. 15 event
Nets on the Narrows? What it would take to put suicide prevention nets on the bridges
Are 100+ townhomes the solution for troubled property near Tacoma park? Opinions differ

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle moves to relax restrictions on micro-apartments
Why NAR lawsuit settlement outcomes may include higher home prices
King County Council member proposes $1B workforce housing initiative

Seattle Times
As strike looms, Boeing pushes 777 jets through chaotic production in Everett
WA GOP suing King County Elections over commissioner of public lands primary results

Spokesman Review
Providence’s children inpatient psychiatric center to close this week; Sacred Heart nurses protest
Opinion: As the school year begins, FDA must step up to protect U.S. kids from illegal vapes

Washington Post
Here’s what the hottest summer on Earth looked like
Employers added 142,000 jobs in August as labor market cools

WA State Standard
Washington to fix accessibility violations at its state parks
‘License plate flippers’ help drivers evade police, tickets and tolls
Battery farms, the energy industry’s new darling, line up to enter Pacific NW
Migrants held at Tacoma detention facility spend longer in detention, more likely to be deported

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
City of Tacoma using ‘hostile architecture’ to deter homeless encampments
Sale of 2 retired Washington ferries canceled after would-be buyer’s failed effort to tow them to South America

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington schools using fewer school resource officers
Tacoma scrambles to save first step for people to exit homelessness in Pierce County
Over 100 state employees accused of sexual abuse in Washington juvenile detention centers

KNKX Public Radio
WA GOP file lawsuit to challenge public lands commissioner results

KUOW Public Radio
In Seattle area, 988 mental health hotline supports tens of thousands in crisis
King County Council considers housing development for middle-income residents

KXLY (ABC)
INBH ready to take in patients once Sacred Heart closes child inpatient psych unit
Stopping sexual abuse and misconduct in sports, USL Spokane appoints Safety Officer
Spokane City Council plans roundtable discussions to combat misinformation on new homeless ordinance

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Law enforcement support of Auditor’s Office vital to secure elections

MyNorthwest
Nearly 200 victims sue WA for ‘widespread’ sexual abuse within juvenile detention
Settlement resolves complaint that Washington State Parks failed to conform with disabilities act

The Urbanist
Downtown Design Review Moratorium Gets Mixed Reception from Seattle Council

Thursday, September 5

Interest rates have dropped, but homeowners are not moving
The housing economy is in trouble, and a major reason has been soaring interest rates, which hit a high-water mark of 7.79 percent last fall. Since then, the 30-year mortgage rate has dipped into the low 7s, then the high 6s and as of last week, it fell to 6.35 percent. The drop — coupled with a “likely” rate cut by the Federal Reserve at their upcoming meeting in September — should spell good news for the housing economy, but a major structural problem remains. Close to 60 percent of homeowners have outstanding mortgages that are locked in at rates below 4 percent, according to recently released data from Redfin. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Jackie Molloy)

Washington teacher pay near national high
According to an NEA report released in April 2024, Washington state starting teacher salaries ranked third highest in the nation, with the average state teacher’s starting salary at $55,631 — or $11,101 more than the national average of $44,530. Nationally, the average teacher salary, according to the NEA, came in at $69,544, while Washington’s teachers earned an average of $86,804. That makes Washington state teachers the fourth highest paid, on average, in the nation. Continue reading at The Port Townsend Leader. (OSPI)

Did you use Rainier’s new reservation system this year? The park wants to hear from you.
Reservations are no longer required to enter Mount Rainier National Park. Now, after the park’s first summer testing a timed reservation system, it wants to hear from visitors about how it went. Those who used the reservation system can submit public comments on the experience before Sept. 15. The public comments and reservation data will be evaluated by park officials to determine if the reservation system should continue in the future, park planner Teri Tucker said. An update to the park management plan is expected later this year. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Laurel Demkovich)

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Aberdeen Daily World
New health clinic opens in Westport

Axios
Heat wave intensifies from Phoenix to LA, north to Seattle

Capital Press
EFSEC reschedules vote on Horse Heaven wind and solar project

Columbian
Williams Mine Fire continues to burn in fire scars in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Tacoma has spent $160K on boulders to deter homeless camping. Advocates are displeased
Kroger’s CEO says shoppers would see lower prices after the chain’s merger with Albertsons
Clark County Public Health campaign focuses on proper disposal of e-cigarettes, vaping devices

Everett Herald
Arlington, Mount Vernon doctors file to unionize
5 things to know as Snohomish County exec proposes 2-year, $3B budget
In Marysville development, community and sustainability ‘go hand in hand’
Comment: As strike looms, Biden administration monitors Boeing labor talks

High Country News
What tribal leaders think about Interior’s dams report

The Inlander
Community leaders share their priorities for Kevin Hall, Spokane’s new police chief
Spokane wants to finish joining the regional 911 center, but finance and governance questions remain

News Tribune
Heatwave expected to sweep through Washington, raising the risk of heat-related illness
‘Mismanagement’? Pierce exec forced to declare emergency to save homelessness response
Tacoma has spent $160K on boulders to deter homeless camping. Advocates are displeased
This tiny WA town was the top Airbnb destination worldwide for summer 2024. Here’s why

New York Times
Teenage E-Cigarette Use Drops to a 10-Year Low
Interest Rates Have Dropped, but Homeowners Are Not Moving
The Hot Labor Market Has Melted Away. Just Ask New College Grads.

Port Townsend Leader
Washington teacher pay near national high
Electrification money for ports to help cut emissions
Ban on harvest of all Port Townsend Bay shellfish but crab and shrimp remains in force

Puget Sound Business Journal
Bellevue Arts Museum abruptly closes
Microsoft selling off property to multifamily developer
Settlement may loosen NAR’s ‘stranglehold’ on real estate industry

Seattle Times
The best time to get a flu shot
Brush fire closes Blewett Pass near Wenatchee and Leavenworth
Nearly 200 people sue WA, alleging sex abuse in juvenile detention
Opinion: Seattle seems to be accepting a new normal of higher gun violence
Opinion: Make middle housing in WA easier to build

Spokesman Review
State Sen. Mark Schoesler arrested on suspicion of DUI
Spokane mayor announces cost saving measures, less grim budget outlook
MultiCare expands SANE training for nurses who treat victims of sexual assault
Spokane Valley Councilman Al Merkel found “likely in violation” of Public Records Act

Washington Post
Tribal health officials ‘blinded’ by lack of data
FDA gives an early nod to psychedelic research

WA State Standard
Did you use Rainier’s new reservation system this year? The park wants to hear from you.

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Redmond pot shop targeted in crash-and-grab burglary for fifth time in last year
Suspect in I-5 shooting spree told police he fired at vehicles because he feared for his life
Seattle family loses thousands of dollars to apartment scam when looking for home for disabled son
Portions of roads in downtown Auburn will close for 2 years for Sound Transit parking garage construction

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle Center Monorail fare to increase
As many as 9 burglars ram Redmond pot shop, flee with goods
Seattle students return to heightened security at start of new school year
Back-to-School: Nine cities in 3 counties have school zone speed cameras
Pierce County’s Crisis Recovery Center closed in March. When will it reopen?

KNKX Public Radio
As school starts, questions about finances and safety linger

KUOW Public Radio
Utility rates slated to steadily rise in Seattle, starting in 2025

KXLY (ABC)
New cafe provides free meals and fellowship for Medical Lake seniors
Sacred Heart workers to rally Thursday over planned child inpatient psychiatric unit closure
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown announces more voluntary retirement options to combat budget deficit

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom Water Week turns focus on conservation and education

MyNorthwest
Security highly visible as students return to Seattle’s Garfield High School

The Urbanist
Jerusalem Demsas on How Housing Became a Crisis
Spot Fixes to Improve Safety on Lake Washington Boulevard Move Forward

Wednesday, September 4

More kids are riding electric school buses this fall
More students than ever are headed to class in an electric school bus this fall as school districts race to take advantage of unprecedented government funding to replace their diesel fleets. Exhaust from diesel buses is linked to serious health and development conditions for children, especially in low-income communities. The growing electric bus movement, fueled by a plethora of state and federal incentives, promises to reduce tailpipe emissions and improve kids’ health, too. Continue reading at Axios. (Sarah Grillo)

DACA recipients now eligible to be police officers in Washington
This year Washington joined four other states in opening police jobs to DACA recipients, in a new program aimed at addressing law enforcement shortages while intending to make officer ranks better reflect their communities. Washington offers some unique opportunities for Dreamers, as those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals are commonly called, including access to college financial aid and professional licenses in fields like teaching and nursing. But until this July, becoming a police officer was excluded from that list. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Mary Murphy)

As Washington ranks among top states for chronic absenteeism, educators strive to reverse trend
As students across Washington head back to school, educators are doubling down on efforts to improve attendance. The initiative comes after a recent analysis by the Associated Press and Stanford University educational economist Thomas Dee revealed that Washington has the ninth-highest chronic absenteeism rate in the country. The analysis included data for the 2022-23 school year from 42 states and Washington, D.C., where a student is considered chronically absent if they miss over 10% of the school year. According to the AP, that typically adds up to about three weeks of lost learning time. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

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Associated Press
At least 7 cars hit and 6 people injured in random gunfire on Interstate 5 near Seattle

Axios
More kids are riding electric school buses this fall
What Seattle-area light rail stations are coming, and when

Capital Press
Wildfire season burns on in Oregon
Monson Fruit agrees to pay 250K to settle sex harassment suit
Judge decides Glory cherry trees are identical to Staccato cultivar

Columbian
DACA recipients now eligible to be police officers in Washington
Providence, Aetna reach new multiyear agreement, allowing 35K Washingtonians to receive in-network care
Deadline approaching for $200 energy bill credits, a small piece of a big state law under scrutiny this November
Comment: In Our View: Environmental impact report on bridge crucial

Everett Herald
Providence and Aetna reach new multi-year agreement
Frequent rail riders hail Lynnwood Link’s first regular day

International Examiner
InterIm CDA to rehabilitate vacant Republic Hotel into affordable housing

Kitsap Sun
After WSDOT returns to Warren Ave Bridge project, walkway plan may change again
With rising sea levels coming to Kitsap shorelines, county effort looks to plan strategies

News Tribune
Free ice cream, music and chance to tell Tacoma your vision for these historic buildings
Drug ring had long history of moving meth to WA, feds say. Its leader lived in Lakewood
Lummi salmon hatcheries to see major improvements after tribes work to secure federal funding

Peninsula Daily News
COVID-19 rates are high on Peninsula

Puget Sound Business Journal
Providence, Aetna reach deal to keep coverage for 35,000 WA patients

Seattle Times
Seattle council approves rate-hike plans for utilities, electricity
Daily high records could be threatened this week in Western WA
WA State Patrol confirms at least 6 shootings Monday night on I-5
WA lands commissioner recount results: Democrat Upthegrove poised to advance to general

Spokesman Review
WSU receives $4.8M in funding for hydrogen fueling station and research
Portrait of Spokane’s first Black mayor unveiled in art gallery that bears his name
Spokane County Sheriff’s sergeant fired as he faces assault charges for violent arrest
Tuesday was the first day at Spokane Public Schools. For some, it’s their first day of school in America

WA State Standard
No end in sight for Washington’s battle against invasive green crabs

Wenatchee World
RiverCom announces land purchase for location of future facility
KOZI, KZAL owners to retire, seek buyer for Chelan-based stations

Whidbey News-Times
Island County, Oak Harbor leaders seek healthcare expansion, higher standard of care and greater police resources (Paul)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Sunnyside mushroom farmworkers rally after more firings in August

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle Public Library fully operational after ransomware attack in May
Second contractor pleads not guilty in student’s carbon monoxide death
SPS families, students hopeful about new safety changes, but concerns remain

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle sued over Pier 58 construction
Graham-Kapowsin High School student shot before school
AG files petition to civilly commit Whatcom County sex offender
Seattle Public Library systems back up after May ransomware attack
6 shootings with at least 7 vehicles hit in overnight shootings across Interstate 5
Deal reached: in-network coverage secured for 35,000 Providence patients in WA
Bremerton School District on the hook for large settlement for former praying football coach
US Postal Service prepares ahead of elections, looks to boost confidence in ballot management
The CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons are in court to defend plans for a huge supermarket merger

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Can the new owl management plan prevent the extinction of spotted owls?
Yelm schools to open a day late as teachers and school district ratify new contract

KNKX Public Radio
Should WA’s foresters harvest timber or sell it for carbon credits

KUOW Public Radio
As Washington ranks among top states for chronic absenteeism, educators strive to reverse trend

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office fires deputy over misconduct
Spokane Public Schools no longer automatically issuing laptops to middle schoolers

Web

Crosscut
All Seattle Public Library services restored after cyberattack
Upthegrove retains spot in Public Lands general election race

The Urbanist
Lynnwood City Center’s Growth Aspirations Hinge on Two Slow-Moving Megaprojects

Tuesday, September 3

Affordable housing project in Vancouver’s Waterfront Gateway gets $4.5M in state funds
The state commerce department announced Thursday that it’s distributing $12.6 million to help create 300 units of low-income housing near public transit centers across the state…[including] $4.5 million to an affordable housing project in Vancouver’s Waterfront Gateway. The six-floor apartment building to be operated by the Native American Youth Association, or NAYA Family Center, will serve low-income residents. The development will cost more than $40 million. Continue reading at The Columbian. (OTAK)

WA prisoners pay millions in fees to the state. Most of the money isn’t being used
Washington is sitting on millions of dollars collected from incarcerated people for phone calls and other fees – money that is supposed to be spent to improve prisoner welfare. The Incarcerated Individual Betterment Fund grew by about $1 million from last July to an estimated $12 million at the end of June, according to budget documents. Advocates, prisoners and their family members say much of the money in the fund is collecting dust. And many believe the account shouldn’t exist at all, arguing the state should bankroll programs the fund is supposed to support. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (John Moore)

Washington state puts $29 million toward loans for communities most impacted by ‘war on drugs’
A Washington state program meant to address the disparate impacts of the “war on drugs” has given $29 million to 12 homeownership and loan programs for Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities. A slice of that funding has gone to community development financing institutions and other programs that provide low-interest loans for things like a second mortgage to renovate a home, or a loan for a small business or to buy a used car. The effort is only one part of the state Department of Commerce’s $200 million dollar Community Reinvestment Project to help address the legacy of punitive state and federal policy for low-level drug offenses. Continue reading at KUOW. (Tierra Mallorca)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen city council votes to remove request for proposal for ‘homeless village’

Capital Press
EFSEC resets Horse Heaven vote; windmill layout wild card

Columbian
‘Actions must be taken’: Camas schools face $14M budget shortfall
New COVID vaccines arrive in WA as respiratory virus season approaches
Affordable housing project in Vancouver’s Waterfront Gateway gets $4.5M in state funds
Often delayed, I-5 Bridge replacement environmental impact statement expected in September

Everett Herald
South Everett ballfields get inclusive playground
‘Today feels like Christmas’: Lynnwood light rail is here at last
South Everett program sending kids on boat adventure could soon end
‘It’s not a cake walk’: Overdose event spotlights treatment in Snohomish County
Comment: To save one species, should we be killing another?
Comment: Protect state’s strength in drug research, development
Editorial: Light rail reshaping the future of Snohomish County

Indian Country Today
What it takes to preserve and revitalize the Nooksack language, Lhéchelesem

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Governor vaguely hints at possible ‘short-term solutions’ for WSF inter-island service

News Tribune
Stay away from toxic algae at this Key Peninsula Lake, health department warns
A simulated neighborhood is being built in North Puyallup. What will it be used for?
Proctor neighborhood controversy about Amici House church conversion project continues

New York Times
From School Librarian to Activist: ‘The Hate Level and the Vitriol Is Unreal’

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle’s hiring market is one of the hottest in the nation
Seattle lands funding to help building owners curb emissions
Club nurtures space for Native community experiencing homelessness

Seattle Times
What to know about connecting to the new Lynnwood light rail line
What safety measures will be in place on first day of school in Seattle?

Skagit Valley Herald
State Supreme Court rejects recall attempt of three Skagit County officials

Spokesman Review
Spokane County settles $5 million debt to Costco
City of Spokane to spend $9 million to create or rehab 67 affordable housing units
State superintendent recommends school districts update their cellphone policies by next year

Washington Post
A louder voice in fighting abortion bans: Men in red states
New coronavirus vaccines are costing uninsured Americans up to $200
Biden administration moves to end subminimum wages for disabled workers

WA State Standard
Washington embarks on once-a-decade update of wildlife conservation plan
‘Perfect storm’ of crises is leading to cutbacks in abortion care, advocates say
WA prisoners pay millions in fees to the state. Most of the money isn’t being used (Hansen)
Despite federal dams, Columbia and Snake River tribes fight to keep fishing traditions alive

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
How UW scientists are using AI to fight the opioid epidemic
Yelm teachers, district to vote on tentative agreement Tuesday
This popular recreation area in the Cascades could close for a decade
Sewer line collapses in front of Port Townsend ferry terminal, leaving a sinkhole
Washington hotel workers walk off the job, join thousands of others striking across the country

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Officer involved shooting in Kent ruled homicide
Seattle students heading back to classes with new safety plan
Yelm teachers, district reach tentative agreement to avoid strike
Rash of highway shootings increase to as many as 5 with 4 hurt; suspect in custody

KNKX Public Radio
Thawing Alaskan permafrost is unleashing more mercury, confirming scientists’ worst fears

KUOW Public Radio
Puget Sound tanker traffic thickens as Canadian pipeline boosts oil flow
Washington state puts $29 million toward loans for communities most impacted by ‘war on drugs’

KXLY (ABC)
How to spot fake news on social media
Spokane organization awarded grant to help increase homeownership

Web

Crosscut
Idaho, Oregon take different approaches to worker heat deaths
DACA recipients now eligible to be police officers in Washington (Lovick)

MyNorthwest
City of Lakewood raises illegal parking fines by more than $100

The Urbanist
Lynnwood Link Opens to Huge Crowds and Night Markets
Seattle’s Downtown Activation Plan Remains Stuck in Low Gear

Friday, August 30

Washington alters bar exam requirement
Since 2019, 4,364 applicants have taken the bar exam in the state, according to the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). More than one-third failed the exam. The notoriously difficult exam has set a lofty standard for those entering the profession, but it may soon fall into obsolescence. The bar exam in Washington state will become optional as early as next year. When that happens, it will be the first time in Washington state’s history that a bar exam will not be necessary to obtain a law license. Washington will join Oregon as the only states to abandon the proven method the legal services industry relies on to determine competency. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal. (PSBJ)

WA House passed tax-free weekend of school shopping in 2022. Why was it never created?
Washington nearly implemented a tax-free weekend back in 2022. Under the proposal, sales tax wouldn’t be charged between Sept. 3 and Sept. 5 of that year on purchases of items under $1,000. The bill made it through the House by a 91-7 vote, but it met a different fate in the Senate, as it didn’t make it out of the Ways and Means committee. So why did Washington’s Senate reject the tax-free weekend back in 2022 after it passed the House by such a wide margin? Continue reading at Tri-City Herald. (Getty Images)

Feds giving West Coast states $100 million to create zero-emission truck fueling network
Oregon, California and Washington are getting a major boost from the federal government to advance the shipment of goods by zero-emission trucks on Interstate 5. The U.S. Department of Transportation is giving the three states $102 million to create a network of charging and fueling stations to power battery and hydrogen-fuel cell semitrucks, according to a news release from Oregon’s congressional delegation on Tuesday. Additional federal funding will also pay Oregon $17 million to create two small-scale electric vehicle charging networks for standard vehicles. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Mustafa Hussain)