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Wednesday, February 14

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Rep. Jamila Taylor: People with disabilities are part of the WA housing crisis, too
Supported Living is a long-term service model that provides care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and supports them in their communities. I am hopeful that we can adopt a new tax of 1% on the value of the selling price of properties over $3.025 million to support a dedicated funding source for more Supported Living housing. This proposal was already heard by my colleagues in the House and Senate (HB 2276, SB 6191) and it should be a part of our final budget. As a community, it makes sense to adopt a modest tax on the sale of high-value properties to make housing available for those currently without. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Getty Images)


Lawmakers debated a bill to limit rent increases on Tuesday Feb. 13 as their last piece of legislation before the house of origin cutoff.

Washington state House lawmakers vote to regulate rent increases
House lawmakers on Tuesday approved statewide legislation that would limit annual rent increases for Washington tenants. The vote came before a key deadline to keep legislation alive this session. Bills had to be passed from their house of origin Tuesday to continue to be considered. House Bill 2114 would limit rent increases to 7% for tenants in a 12-month period. Additionally, landlords would not be able to raise the rent within the first year of tenancy. The bill passed by a vote of 54-43 and was the last bill to be considered in the House before the cutoff. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Shauna Sowersby)


Bryin Thomas (middle) and Brandin Thomas (right) in 2014.

WA adults serving extra prison time for juvenile offenses may see sentences reduced
At 18, Brandin Thomas was charged in the 2004 killing of Hassan Farah, a teacher and father of three who was driving a cab in south Seattle at the time he was shot. Thomas was 20 when he was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and attempted robbery. He’s 38 now. A bill in the state Legislature, House Bill 2065, is aimed at sending people like Brandin Thomas home. It will apply the 2023 ban on juvenile points retroactively. This means people who are in prison serving sentences lengthened by juvenile points will be able to get resentenced without the points factored in. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Bryin Thomas)


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Aberdeen Daily World
Hoquiam city council approves $879,000 amendment regarding North Shore Levee

Axios
Jeff Bezos sells over $4 billion in Amazon shares in past week

Bellingham Herald
Washington state House lawmakers vote to regulate rent increases (Alvarado, Stonier, Peterson, Cleveland)
City of Bellingham moves against owner of land that is site of homeless encampment

Columbian
What $15 tolls could mean for Washington drivers, state’s budget
Washington state drinking water, hydropower at risk as Pacific Northwest snowpack shrinks
Vancouver City Council wants to expand Affordable Housing Fund into county but details need ironing out
‘These are predatory fees. There’s no question about that’: ‘Junk fees’ burden renters in Clark County

Everett Herald
2024 February special election results for Snohomish County
Youth sports tournaments rake in Snohomish County tourism grants

Puget Sound Business Journal
Alaska Airlines flight attendants take step toward strike

Seattle Times
WA House votes to limit rent hikes; tough Senate road awaits (Macri)
Editorial: Add fentanyl to child endangerment law (Saldana, Goodman)
Rep. Jamila Taylor: People with disabilities are part of the WA housing crisis, too

Tri-City Herald
WA judicial commission sets hearing for Tri-Cities judge on harassment, abuse claims
Victims advocacy group says Washington AG is investigating clergy abuse by Catholic bishops

WA State Standard
WA adults serving extra prison time for juvenile offenses may see sentences reduced (Stearns)
Plan to cap how much landlords can raise rent moves ahead in Washington Legislature (Alvarado, Street, Nobles)

Wenatchee World
More than 1,,000 sign petition to save Columbia Elementary
Chelan County contracts help to track short-term rental complaints
Eastmont settles discrimination lawsuit with family of disabled student

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Traffic camera expansion bill passes out of House
Washington’s snowpack on track to decrease by nearly half by 2080s
Public safety goals outlined by new Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee
Washington veterinarians push for more state funding to address workforce shortage
After years of pleas, clean air agency orders King County to test landfill air for arsenic

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Alaska Airlines flight attendant says she has colleagues ‘going without food right now’

KNKX
Another WA agency sues private prison company running ICE facility (Ortiz-Self)

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Should high-potency cannabis products be regulated differently in Washington state?
Flight attendants protest outside Sea-Tac airport for fair pay, better working conditions
Seattle’s newest affordable housing development to open Wednesday along Aurora Avenue
Advocacy group claims Catholic Bishops were subpoenaed to produce abuse-related evidence

KUOW Public Radio
How a Northwest tribe is escaping a rising ocean
Tacoma approaches affordable housing from a new angle: anti-displacement

KXLY (ABC)
Bill protecting referees in Washington passes House, moves onto Senate
Wildlife agencies investigating thousands of dead fish found in Spokane River at Long Lake Dam

FOX13 TV
Cap and trade debate in Olympia
Pot shop smash-and-grabs: Legislators float solutions, but others say they don’t go far enough

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Kulshan Community Land Trust nabs $2.25M grant for affordable home project

Crosscut
PFAS in Washington’s well water could make you sick
WA bill would add explicit ‘deepfakes’ to child pornography laws (Mullet, Orwall)

Tuesday, February 13

Students arrive to an assembly warning against the use of fentanyl, at Shorecrest High School in Shoreline. Lori Carpenter, who lost her son Garrett to fentanyl in 2018 just before high school graduation, spoke at the

WA House passes fentanyl education bill
Public schools in Washington may soon be required to teach about the dangers of the deadly drug fentanyl, as a bill that passed out of the House unanimously on Friday heads to the Senate. House Bill 1956 would require schools to provide education about fentanyl and other opioids in health classes to as many seventh and ninth grade students as possible during the remainder of the 2024-25 school year after materials are updated, and annually to seventh and ninth graders every year thereafter. The bill will be heard in the Senate on Thursday. If it passes and is signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, it would go into effect immediately and materials would need to be updated for use by Dec. 1. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)


A UAW worker holds a strike sign

Washington House approves unemployment benefits for striking workers
Workers who are on strike or locked out of their workplace by their employer due to a labor dispute would gain access to unemployment insurance benefits under a bill the Washington state House approved in the early morning hours Tuesday, after working through the night. The bill passed on a 53-44 vote. Five Democrats voted with Republicans against it. Democrats voting “no” included Reps. Mike Chapman, Debra Entenman, Larry Springer, My-Linh Thai and Amy Walen. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Anna Liz Nichols)


Two protesters, one wearing an Oath Keepers badge and openly carrying a firearm, walk around outside of the Washington State Capitol ahead of the beginning of the legislative session on Monday, January 11, 2021, in Olympia. The capitol was fenced off with members of the National Guard present following the January 6 insurrection in DC. Some protesters in Olympia came with weapons. Members of the Oath Keepers were also present in DC on Jan. 6.

Open carry guns at zoos and bus stops in Washington state? That could soon be banned
The Washington State Senate approved legislation Friday that creates new limits on the state’s open carry laws for guns, aiming to add to the list of public settings where openly carrying firearms is prohibited. The goal is to help families and children feel safe “without fear of intimidation by folks who may be parading around with their weapons, openly carrying,” bill sponsor Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle) said. Senate Bill 5444 would make it illegal to openly carry a firearm at zoos, aquariums, bus stops, and public libraries. The bill doesn’t address carrying concealed weapons in Washington, which requires a license. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)


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Axios
What Seattle-area light rail stations are coming, and when

Columbian
One-day Cowlitz River smelt dip approved for Thursday
Clark Public Utilities holding series of informational workshops designed to explain rate hike, complexity of its mission

Courier-Herald
Will WA pick a state stone? Wilkeson, Tenino put themselves into the running (Nobles)

Everett Herald
Comment: Let state judges correct past wrongs on sentences
Comment: Supportive housing isn’t reducing ranks of homeless
Editorial: Switch of local elections may be premature

Indian Country Today
New and lingering challenges to salmon recovery

Kent Reporter
33rd Legislative District Town Hall set for Feb. 17 at Highline College (Keiser, Orwall, Gregerson)

News Tribune
Sacred to tribes, document that set stage for Indian fishing rights on display in Tacoma

Olympian
BIPOC groups send scathing letter to lawmaker who voted against rent stabilization (Cleveland, Alvarado, Trudeau, Nobles, Kauffman, Street, Mena, Gregerson)

Seattle Times
WA House passes fentanyl education bill (Leavitt)
As deadline looms, WA House vote on rent bill is uncertain (Alvarado, Jinkins, Trudeau)
How clean is WA’s electricity? We lead the country in one way
$15 tolls are coming for WA drivers. Where, why and is it fair?
Editorial: For WA’s littlest learners, the future looks brighter

Skagit Valley Herald
Effects of Boldt decision felt 50 years later

Spokesman Review
Thousands of fish found dead in Spokane River near Long Lake Dam
More people were shot by Spokane law enforcement in two weeks than in the entirety of 2023
The bureaucracy of burning: Washington DNR hopes state money will come in to fund more prescribed burns

Washington Post
Inflation eased in January, but not as much as expected

WA State Standard
Washington House approves unemployment benefits for striking workers
Washington preps to merge carbon market with California amid repeal threat (Nguyen)
Biometric ID options for alcohol purchases move a step closer to becoming reality in WA (Keiser)

Wenatchee World
Senate unanimously votes JC Baldwin to Washington State Transportation Commission

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New report reveals concerns women have working within the Seattle Police Department
Funeral home directors: Cash-strapped families are deliberately leaving deceased relatives unclaimed
‘Fish Wars’ warriors celebrate 50 years after historic court ruling gave Washington tribes fishing rights

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
New bill could make significant difference for Washington renters
Seattle flight attendants join global picket as unions fight for better pay
Woman said sergeant told her she looked ‘yummy’ as SPD looks into lack of female retention

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
‘We need an all-hands-on-deck-effort’: Seattle Public Safety chair to lead 1st meeting
Seattle takes public feedback ahead of surveillance systems purchases for crime fighting
30×30 Women in Law Enforcement report highlights sexual harassment, discrimination at SPD

KUOW Public Radio
Washington lawmakers aim for new open carry limitations in certain public settings (Valdez)

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane County experiencing uptick in deadly law enforcement shootings

FOX13 TV
Senate bill for $770M for paraeducators, some say it’s focused on the wrong thing (Stanford)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Activists ask Skagit County to reconsider ‘absurd’ decision for controversial gravel mine

Monday, February 12

Billy Frank Jr., left, a Nisqually tribal elder who was arrested dozens of times while trying to assert his Native fishing rights during the Fish Wars of the 1960s and ’70s, poses for a photo Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, with Ed Johnstone, of the Quinault tribe, at Frank’s Landing on the Nisqually River in Nisqually, Wash. They are holding a photo from the late 1960s of Frank and Don McCloud fishing on the river.

The Boldt Decision’s impact on Indigenous rights, 50 years later
Fifty years ago, a federal judge in Western Washington issued a decision that dramatically improved the economic – and legal – prospects of Indigenous nations within the state. U.S. District Judge George Hugo Boldt ruled on Feb. 12, 1974, that Native Americans were entitled to half the salmon catch in the state because of treaties signed a century before. It was a key decision in the long-running Fish Wars that had rocked Washington for decades. The case, United States vs. Washington, is considered by experts one of the most comprehensive and complex legal fights in the history of Native American law, not only forcing the U.S. to keep promises in signed treaties but also affirming in U.S. law that tribes are sovereign nations. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Ted S. Warren)


Glass bottles are gathered at the People's Depot in Portland, Oregon, a beverage container redemption center, before they are collected by the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative.

A proposed bottle-deposit bill in Washington would help the environment — and low-income communities
Billions of bottles and cans flow through the American economy every year, from the squeezable plastic of Poland Springs to the crisp pop tabs of OLIPOP. Most of these containers end up in public and household recycling bins, but in a constellation of 10 states, including California and Oregon, many will go to redemption centers, where residents can receive 5 or 10 cents per bottle upon return. Now, an 11th state is considering a bottle bill. Like most bottle bills, Washington’s HB 2144 is primarily a piece of environmental legislation, created to reduce litter and landfill waste. But this bill goes further: It acknowledges that the vast majority of bottles are collected by people who return drink containers for informal income. Continue reading at High Country News. (Erin X. Wong)


Rep. My-Linh Thai: Recognizing Lunar New Year: A Celebration of Inclusion and Healing
As Washington prepares to usher in the Year of the Dragon this Lunar New Year, I find myself reflecting on the complex tapestry of our community. This vibrant celebration, observed by billions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, shines a light on the richness and diversity that our communities contribute to the American fabric. Yet, celebrating Lunar New Year also compels us to acknowledge the historical shadows that persist—stark reminders of the need for greater understanding and inclusion. The history of Asian Americans in the United States is, unfortunately, marred by exclusion and prejudice. Continue reading at NW Asian Weekly.


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Axios
Why Washington’s dancers want a “strippers’ bill of rights”

Capital Press
Judge grants Snake River dam litigation stay through 2028

Columbian
Vancouver Police Department lauds year-old body cam program, but some critics still wary
Washington state drinking water, hydropower at risk as Pacific Northwest snowpack shrinks

The Daily News
Longview library to up ESL programs as local Spanish speakers increase

Everett Herald
Navy plans frigate shuffle to increase military ships in Everett
At aerospace gathering in Lynnwood, Boeing urges workers to ‘speak up’
Comment: Better use for your gift-card balances than companies (Alvarado, Trudeau)
Comment: Lawmakers see pool of cash in unspent gift cards
Comment: Lawmakers dismiss concerns for well-being of boys, men (Hunt, Ramos, Bateman, Doglio)
Comment: More work remains to improve law enforcement culture (Lovick)
Letter: Octopus farms should be banned before they open in state
Editorial: Boeing safety failures draw more eyes on its jets

High Country News
A proposed bottle-deposit bill in Washington would help the environment — and low-income communities

News Tribune
State trooper, Thurston County jail accused of mistreating woman who suffered brain bleed
Clergy reporting, stripper safety and fake images ban. Here’s what passed in the WA Legislature this week (Pedersen, Gregerson, Orwall, Berry, Saldaña, Frame)

Northwest Asian Weekly
Rep. Thai: Recognizing Lunar New Year: A Celebration of Inclusion and Healing 
Seattle City Council answers call to recognize Lunar New Year 

Puget Sound Business Journal
Pay-transparency rules could expand to millions of workers
Home prices up in Seattle area in January, with largest gain in Kitsap
Here’s what analysts expect for the housing market after a tough 2023

Seattle Times
For the first time in decades, number of kids in King County drops
King County pleaded for help from the Legislature. Olympia said no (Nobles, Randall, Pedersen)
Students rally for more representative classes, staff in Seattle schools
Financial literacy may become a graduation requirement for students
SPD’s woman employees describe harassment, discrimination in report
A Seattle suburb known for affordability becomes example of U.S. debate on homelessness
Editorial: Don’t delay legislation on high-potency cannabis (Davis, Salomon, Robinson)
Editorial: The Boldt decision’s enduring legacy, 50 years on
Opinion: The ‘terrifying’ teen hit-and-run case shows: We still need locks
Opinion: End ‘juvenile points’ sentencing that disproportionately harms Indigenous people

Sol De Yakima
Cámara de Representantes de WA aprueba elecciones locales en años pares (Paul, Mena, Gregerson)

South Whidbey Record
Letter: Lawmakers need to understand ferry needs

Spokesman Review
Spokane’s ‘normal’ snowpack drops 38% in the last year
Cheers! Accelerated liquor license bill advances through the Washington Senate (Keiser)

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Workforce housing project receives $2 million boost

Washington Post
Colleges, students and states reeling from FAFSA setbacks
Medicaid’s prescription for health includes food and housing in some states
Earth breached a feared level of warming over the past year. Are we doomed?

WA State Standard
WA Democrats ditch bill repealing voter-backed cap on property tax hikes (Pedersen, Jinkins)
Controversial proposal to regulate hospital mergers advances in Legislature (Randall, Kuderer, Dhingra)
Estimates show capital gains tax repeal draining billions from Washington budget (Robinson)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Water is a component of Yakima plan to respond to climate change

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Parents of woman killed by falling crane in Seattle fight to improve safety laws
Fentanyl education in schools: Unanimous support one new bill is seeing from House lawmakers (Riccelli)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Bill requiring AEDs in gyms unanimously passes Senate (Hunt)
New bill would force clergy to report child abuse, neglect (Frame)
‘Self-centered act’: WSP suggests charges for I-5 protesters
Behind the scenes: Troopers crack down on dangerous drivers from above
Washington is only state providing tax-payer funded lawyers to tenants facing eviction

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle’s payroll tax proposal scrutinized as businesses demand usage clarity
Washington State Senate pays tribute to former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll

KUOW Public Radio
Controversial energy project moves closer to breaking ground
In Tacoma, some volunteers chafe at ‘toothless’ police oversight role
Passing bills, bills, bills: Highlights from week 5 in the WA Legislature (Pedersen)
Seattle Police is a ‘good old boys club’ where women struggle to get ahead, report says

NW Public Radio
Bellingham’s Immigration Advisory Board being evaluated
Clarkston homeless facing another move as camp is forced to close

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Biden’s No. 2 in agriculture promotes aquaculture’s next generation at Northwest Indian College

Crosscut
The Boldt Decision’s impact on Indigenous rights, 50 years later

My Edmonds News
Town hall meeting with 21st District lawmakers Feb. 17 at Kamiak HS (Ortiz-Self, Peterson, Liias)

Shoreline Area News
Stanford bill funding more paraeducators in schools passes Senate (Stanford)
Senate passes Stanford bill to protect homeowners from losing equity (Stanford)

Waterland Blog
33rd District Town Hall will be Saturday, Feb. 17 at Highline College  (Gregerson, Keiser, Orwall)

Friday, February 9

Patrick Schmeichel puts ballots through sorting machines at King County Elections headquarters in Renton on Nov. 7.

WA House votes to allow local even-year elections
In an effort to boost low turnout in local elections, the Washington House passed a bill Thursday that would allow cities and special districts to have elections in even years. Washington currently has elections in odd years for city positions, like council seats, and special districts, including water and sewer districts. House Bill 1932, which needs approval from the state Senate to move forward and become law, would give those governments permission to switch those races to even years, when more voters tend to cast ballots. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)


A bag of 4-fluoro isobutyryl fentanyl which was seized in a drug raid is displayed at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Testing and Research Laboratory in Sterling, Va., on Aug. 9, 2016.

Rep. Mari Leavitt: My constituent lost a son to fentanyl. WA can solve this crisis — if we act fast | Opinion
The opioid and fentanyl crisis has hit our communities hard. Sadly, a whopping 68 percent of overdose deaths in Washington are from opioids, including fentanyl. Even more alarming, our state had the second-highest percentage increase — at 65 percent — in deaths from fentanyl poisoning over a one-year period. How is this happening? According to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, seven out of 10 pills sold to kids are laced with fentanyl. Many who have died don’t always intentionally misuse drugs. Many have sought drugs from friends or social media for pain or other medical purposes, not knowing that the pills they consumed were counterfeits with lethal doses — just two milligrams can kill someone — of fentanyl. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Cliff Owen)


His juvenile record added 17 years to his prison time. A new bill would allow him to be resentenced
Leadership representing 20 tribal organizations in Washington state are among the voices pushing for a new law that could reduce sentences for inmates currently serving time. State Rep. Chirs Stearns, a lawyer and member of the Navajo Nation, is advocating for a new law, House Bill 2065, that would allow some convicted criminals to be resentenced if their juvenile record was considered as part of their punishment process – something the state no longer allows as of last year. Continue reading at King 5.


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Aberdeen Daily World
Hoquiam building a new abode for homeless or at-risk young adults

Axios
What’s next for Columbia River salmon restoration efforts
Workers worry ChatGPT and AI could replace jobs, survey finds
Bill to limit lying by police scaled back in Washington Legislature (Peterson)

Capital Press
Feds object to slashing Easterday’s terms by 35 months
WDFW proposes to take wolves off state endangered list

Columbian
WA House approves bill to expand dormitory-like housing (Gregerson)
After delays, I-5 Bridge replacement environmental impact statement on the horizon
Washington Senate strikes ‘delicate’ balance on rules for clergy reporting child abuse (Frame, Kuderer)
Olympic stumble: Rent control bill passes House appropriations, fails in Senate appropriations
Clark County Council OKs Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership’s education program at Vancouver Lake

Everett Herald
Everett paraeducator wages increase as board approves new contract
Warm winter melts meager snowpack in Cascades, with far-reaching effects

News Tribune
WA schools would lose nearly $6 billion if initiative to repeal capital gains tax is approved
Rep. Mari Leavitt: My constituent lost a son to fentanyl. WA can solve this crisis — if we act fast

Puget Sound Business Journal
IRS seeks more information from businesses that received ERC

Seattle Times
Razor clams, geoducks battle to be WA’s top clam (Chapman)
WA House votes to allow local even-year elections (Gregerson, Mena, Paul)
Seattle property taxes rank in top 5 most expensive among big cities
What’s at stake in the push to make Lunar New Year a Washington state holiday (Thai)
Editorial: Publicly air WA’s long-term care plan
Opinion: WA renters deserve stability in their housing costs

Sol De Yakima
Cientos se manifiestan para ampliar ayuda a inmigrantes indocumentados en WA (Saldaña, Walen)

Spokesman Review
Incentives for injured employees to stay in the workforce pass the House
Alcohol in strip clubs? Washington Senate approves bill boosting dancer protections and allowing alcohol service (Saldaña, Pederson, Liias)

Tri-City Herald
WA Liquor Control Board halts protocol after controversial visits. Queer spaces still safe
WA schools would lose nearly $6 billion if initiative to repeal capital gains tax is approved

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla nurse starts mobile health care service
WA House passes bill to allow cities to share sales tax revenue

Washington Post
States bet big on career education, but struggle to show it works

WA State Standard
Why Washington might shorten the time mortuaries must keep unclaimed bodies
Lawmakers back rewrite of bar and nightclub lewd conduct rules after inspection backlash (Pedersen, Jinkins, Saldaña)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Biomethane plant gets green light from Sunnyside, with objections from neighbors

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle teacher gave melatonin to children at early education center, state investigation finds
His juvenile record added 17 years to his prison time. A new bill would allow him to be resentenced (Stearns)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Mount Baker preschool begs Seattle to remove nearby encampment
Bill to push for even-year elections across Washington state clears House
‘Stuff I’ve never seen’: Searching for solutions as teen crime soars across Washington
EXCLUSIVE: Boeing worker claims company has been cutting corners at Everett plant

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle Children’s to pay $215K to people exposed to aspergillus mold
Seattle funds $1.8M for public restrooms in 20-acre waterfront redevelopment

KUOW Public Radio
Kiosks for free Covid and flu tests unveiled this week in Washington state
Both hands on the wheel, Washington drivers. Your insurance rates are about to jump 24%
Did your Seattle rent just go up, by a lot? The city’s relocation assistance program might be able to help

KXLY (ABC)
Local agencies seeing steady upward trend in overdoses in Spokane

FOX13 TV
Critics of proposal to raise property taxes call it the ‘largest in state history’ if fully implemented (Pedersen)

Web

Big Country News
Bill to Create Washington ‘Fuel Tax Discovery Team’ Headed to Inslee’s Desk for Approval  (Ramos)

Crosscut
Will WA ever end supermajority law for school construction bonds? (Hunt, Stonier)

MyNorthwest
Senate bill to raise penalties on cannabis shop ‘smash-and-grabs’ passes 49-0

The Urbanist
State House Passes Bill Allowing Even-Year Local Elections  (Gregerson, Mena)

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Affordable-homeownership project on Admiral Church site gets city grant. Here’s what’s ahead

Thursday, February 8

House Bill 1958 would allow civil action to be taken against those who remove or tamper with a sexually protective device, such as a condom, before or during intercourse without a partner’s consent.

‘Stealthing’ could soon be banned in WA under bill passed by House
A sexual practice known as stealthing could soon be punishable in Washington state under a bill that passed the House chamber with a bipartisan vote on Wednesday. Stealthing is removing or tampering with a sexually protective device, such as a condom, before or during intercourse without a partner’s consent. It is considered a form of rape and treated as such in some places. House Bill 1958 is sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry, D-Queen Anne, and passed off the debate floor with a 64-33 vote. Berry’s bill is more expansive than laws in other states and adds dental dams, spermicides, cervical caps, and other devices used to prevent pregnancies and the spread of disease to the list of barriers that cannot be removed or tampered with. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (DREAMSTIME)


Law enforcement officers, firefighters and medics from Snohomish, King and Pierce counties use computers to simulate an active shooter scenario in a ballroom at Angel of the Winds Arena on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in Everett, Wa

0.3% sales tax for public safety has support of local Democrats, police
Years after Snohomish County’s failed sales tax hike proposition for public safety, the Legislature could pass a bill to allow counties and cities to impose the tax without a public vote. House Bill 2211 would grant local legislative bodies, like city or county councils, to impose up to an extra 0.3% sales tax, with all the revenue going to public safety. Rep. Mary Fosse, D-Everett, is a sponsor of the bill and Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, is a sponsor of its Senate counterpart. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Andy Bronson)


Only five states prohibit growing cannabis at home, including Washington.

Olympia considers allowing Washingtonians to cultivate cannabis
Among the states that have legalized recreational cannabis, Washington was a pioneer. Back in 2012, the Evergreen State was the first to move forward with legalization, along with Colorado. Since Washington and Colorado broke down the doors in 2012, 24 of 50 states have now legalized recreational cannabis. Of those 24, only five still prohibit home-grow. Washington is one of those five. That’s right, the first state to legalize cannabis is one of the few that still criminalizes growing your own. Continue reading at The Inlander. (Young Kwak)


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Associated Press
Adult dancers in Washington want a strippers’ bill of rights. Here’s how it could help them (Saldaña, Walen)

Axios
Bill to cap rent hikes moves ahead in Washington Legislature (Alvarado)

Capital Press
Inslee’s gas price bill fails to clear committee
Economist: ‘Better’ wheat, cattle markets seen for 2024

Columbian
Out of gas: Inslee’s oil transparency bill stalls in Legislature (Nguyen)
‘You don’t do anything but survive’: Cost of living, rents on rise, straining many Clark County residents

Courier-Herald
WA leaders ‘absolutely’ committed to saving local journalism

The Daily News
Longview looks to create sustainable business park on Columbia River
Debate continues over apartments, businesses on Woodland’s Belmont Loop

Everett Herald
Everett schools deficit shrunk by $23M following loss of 140 staff
0.3% sales tax for public safety has support of local Democrats, police (Lovick)
Marysville homeowners to pay an average $818 more in property taxes
Comment: Understanding America through its Black history
Editorial: Leave the interrogation ruses to the TV cop shows (Peterson)

The Inlander
Olympia considers allowing Washingtonians to cultivate cannabis (Ormsby)
Spokane County wildfire victims seek help from state, federal government as recovery continues
A post-pandemic drop in student attendance across Washington still has educators wondering how to get students back in class

Journal of the San Juan Islands
$47 million infrastructure investment helps pave the way for more than 3,000 new affordable housing units

News Tribune
‘Stealthing’ could soon be banned in WA under bill passed by House (Berry)
Hundreds rally in Olympia for immigrant healthcare, unemployment benefits (Saldaña)
Personnel turmoil prompts temporary closure of center serving Tacoma’s LGBTQ community

Puget Sound Business Journal
NTSB report sheds light on Alaska Airlines 737 Max blowout
Black business owners disproportionately crunched by credit
Amazon cutting hundreds of jobs across health organizations
Amazon’s leased office footprint shrinks for 1st time in over a decade

Seattle Medium
Washington State Invests $85M In Grants To Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Seattle Times
Why Seattle will fund fewer new affordable housing projects this year
Hundreds rally for expanding help for undocumented immigrants in WA (Saldana, Walen)
Editorial: Whipsaw of legal settlements shows need for leadership on effective policing
Opinion: Too many guns are unsecured at home, with tragic results

Skagit Valley Herald
State releases data on wildlife-related recreation

Spokesman Review
Economist predicts future of Cosmic Crisps and other Washington commodities
Plans to build Washington’s largest wind farm held up again amid local controversy

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
There goes the neighborhood
Letters to the editor | Feb. 8 edition (Climate Commitment Act)

Washington Post
New air pollution rule could prevent thousands of premature deaths
Alaska flight that blew door plug had bolts removed at Boeing facility

WA State Standard
WA House approves bill to expand dormitory-like housing (Gregerson)
Migrants rally at WA Capitol for health care, unemployment benefits (Jinkins, Saldaña)
State will make free COVID and flu tests available in new vending machines
Washington looks to put its most famous volcano on a specialty license plate
Washington Senate passes bill to ban hog-tying by police after death of Manuel Ellis (Trudeau, Lovick)
Washington Senate strikes ‘delicate’ balance on rules for clergy reporting child abuse (Frame)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Biomethane plant gets green light from Sunnyside, with objections from neighbors

Broadcast

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
House votes to ban octopus farming in Washington state, moving bill to Senate (Peterson)
WA Republicans push back against proposed bill that would allow 3% property tax increases

KNKX Public Radio
How a “strippers’ bill of rights” could help adult dancers in the Washington State (Walen)

KUOW Public Radio
Cheers to Lunar New Year Beer! (Thai)

KXLY (ABC)
Meeting to discuss PFAs in Spokane’s West Plains leaves more questions

NW Public Radio
$30,000 grant advances civil rights education in rural Washington

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Interfaith Coalition sunsets housing programs

Crosscut
Washington State University earns $15M a year on stolen land
A WA bill would extend unemployment pay to workers on strike (Doglio)

MyNorthwest
Clergy become mandatory child abuse reporters in bill, with big exception

The Stranger
Conservative Senate Democrats Stiff Renters Yet Again (Cleveland, Gregerson, Trudeau, Mullet, Pedersen, Alvarado)

West Seattle Blog
School Funding 101: Here’s what would-be West Seattle advocates just learned