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Monday, December 4

A year full of best, worst rankings. How Washington ranked on national studies in 2023
Throughout each year, studies are done on all different facets of life across America and in Washington state. Studies and reports on state rankings tend to place the Evergreen State either in the top ten or the bottom ten. It seems the state is mentioned over and over again, across all kinds of categories. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Tony Overman)

Federal funds to extend life of ferries
One of the ferries on the Clinton-to-Mukilteo route will benefit from an award of $4.8 million in federal funds meant to keep the aging vessels in service years longer. U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, along with U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, announced the award, which comes through the Federal Transit Administration. Continue reading at South Whidbey Record. (Sue Misao)

‘Unexpected’ deaths are up in Washington’s prisons
At least 29 people died unexpectedly in Washington’s state prisons from July 2022 to June 2023, according to a new state report. That means deaths are up from the last reporting period, when the state Department of Corrections identified 11 unexpected deaths in its prisons. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Brian Lyman)

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Associated Press
Alaska Air acquires Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9B agreement, including debt
OxyContin maker bankruptcy deal goes before Supreme Court with billions for victims at stake

Axios
Washington state population hits 8 million
How Washington and other states say Meta knowingly hurt kids
New Washington state rules promoting heat pumps face pushback

Capital Press
White House: Snake River dam mediation ‘still in active negotiations’
Washington Farm Bureau: Cap-and-trade costs farmers over $153 million
West Coast leaders urge feds to reverse decision allowing natural gas line expansion

Columbian
Taxes, tolls, tugboats: Interstate 5 Bridge faced growing pains
Evergreen, Vancouver public schools brace for staff cuts in 2024
Oregon’s legal psilocybin clinics draw hundreds – mostly from out of state
Main Street in downtown Vancouver ready for makeover as city strives to assure businesses
A lahar on Mount Adams would put thousands at risk but monitoring stations would warn of dangerous flows
Editorial: U.S.-China cooperation good for Washington

Everett Herald
Index, smallest town in Snohomish County, is No. 1 in voter turnout
Again, Boys and Girls Club tagged with suspected gang signs in Everett
Free STI clinic opens in Everett after 14-year hiatus — and as rates spike
Comment: Officials, citizens can make pledge to build bridges
Comment: Mukilteo needs traffic cameras for safety, less noise
Comment: Amid AI and ‘deepfakes,’ a thirst for the ‘authentic’
Editorial: Improving civic health starts by coming to table (Heck)

Journal of the San Juan Islands
State awards $100,000 grant toward repairing Sunken Park’s boardwalk

News Tribune
East Pierce County city considers safe parking site for those experiencing homelessness
Opinion: The nursing crisis is ravaging U.S. hospitals — including a local military facility

Olympian
A year full of best, worst rankings. How Washington ranked on national studies in 2023
Facing a $6.2 million budget shortfall, Saint Martin’s rolls back raises. Faculty aren’t happy

Puget Sound Business Journal
Home sellers saying ‘sayonara, Seattle’; ‘hello, Spokane’
Emerging challenges are weighing on business optimism and profits

Seattle Times
Despite cooling inflation, many costs rising for Seattle residents
Floods put WA historic documents at risk, but a new home is pricey (Mullet)
WA special education school accused of abuse is closing amid scrutiny
Metro outreach teams at Burien Transit Center aid passengers in need
WA winner of Rise prize seeks global solutions to environmental problems
Former WSDOT economist alleges he was pressured to lie about gas prices (Liias)
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith’s Bellevue home spray-painted with demands for Gaza cease-fire
Editorial: Hold King County’s Doors Open arts tax accountable
Editorial: Restore balance to juvenile legal system in King County
Editorial: WA lawmakers double down on cynical ‘legislative privilege’
Opinion: ‘Escape liberal hell’: Republicans really are fleeing WA
Opinion: Seattle is an artificial intelligence hub in a rapidly changing field

South Whidbey Record
Federal funds to extend life of ferries

Spokesman Review
Spokane County Commission votes against property tax increase
Are state rules enough to protect against the heavy metals in farm fertilizers?
Northwest Republicans object to leaked draft of Snake River dams agreement
Spin Control: Can’t leap to conclusions on study of justices’ campaign money
Getting There: Studded tires are unnecessary and destructive, WA officials say
Death of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra O’Connor hits home for Spokane judges, attorneys
Comment: Alaska Airlines plans to buy Hawaiian Airlines

Washington Post
What you can do to boost your covid and flu shots’ effectiveness
How a single word could hold up global talks to save the planet
Companies made big climate pledges. Now they are balking on delivering.

WA State Standard
‘Unexpected’ deaths are up in Washington’s prisons
Looking for child care in Washington? A new online marketplace aims to help
‘Forever chemicals’ in thousands of private wells near military sites, study finds
Initiative poses extra hurdle for merging of Washington, California carbon markets (Nguyen, Doglio, Mullet)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Latest Yakima County job numbers include slight decline in ag employment
Are state rules enough to protect against the heavy metals in farm fertilizers?
Family members talk about fight to find missing and murdered Indigenous people in WA
Editorial: Historic boarding school photos speak timeless truths

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Where we could see flooding in western Washington this week
What you need to know about Washington Health Benefit Exchange
Snohomish River expected to rise to near ‘major’ flood stage by Wednesday

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
At least half of Mukilteo elementary school damaged in overnight fire

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
New Alzheimer’s drug given to first patient at Harborview Medical Center
Holiday shoppers beware: Study shows 80% of US retail receipts contain harmful chemicals

KNKX Public Radio
Seattle Children’s nurses pen letter about low staffing levels, violence
Farmers and growers seek leeway under new agriculture overtime law

KUOW Public Radio
Okanagan River salmon eyed for endangered-species protection
Washington state population tops 8 million and it’s not getting any younger
Week in Review: Burien, price tags, and an update on the trial of three Tacoma police officers
Anti-Asian hate is underreported in King County. New community gatherings aim to change that

Q13 TV (FOX)
Thick, wet snow heightens avalanche risk in the Cascades

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham physician has new lawyers in PeaceHealth lawsuit
Lummi ‘Commod Squad’ provides hundreds with food, services every week
Opinion: Tired of packaging? Let’s fix it

Crosscut
Tumwater mobile home tenants lobby against rent hikes
Tokitae’s death surfaced orcas’ complicated history in the PNW

MyNorthwest
Atmospheric river returns to Western Washington, bringing heavy rains
Former WSDOT economist files claim against state over gas price forecast

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Bridge bus-lane camera up and running and citing
FOLLOWUP: Here’s what SDOT plans to add, and remove, along Alki Point Healthy Street

Friday, December 1

Native and state leaders push for K-12 schools to fully implement tribal history curriculum
Miranda Lopez remembers when she first learned about local Indigenous activist and athlete Rosalie Fish. Fish, a University of Washington runner from the Cowlitz Tribe, is nationally known for dedicating her races to Indigenous women who are missing or murdered, including her aunt. Lopez is from the same part of eastern Washington where Fish’s aunt is from.“It was eye-opening. I didn’t realize that this really big issue is happening right where I grew up,” Lopez said. “It breaks my heart.” Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)

Leaked document says US is willing to replace the power generated by Snake River dams
The U.S. government is willing to help build enough new clean energy projects in the Pacific Northwest to replace the hydropower generated by four controversial dams on the Snake River, according to a leaked Biden administration document that is giving hope to conservationists who have long sought the removal of the dams as a key to restoring depleted salmon runs. Still, Congress would have to agree before any of the Lower Snake River dams in Washington state are removed, and that’s unlikely to happen in the near future. Continue reading at KNKX. (Nicholas K. Geranios/AP)

Washington State and Oregon State reach scheduling agreement with Mountain West
Washington State still doesn’t have a full picture of what its 2024 season will look like. The Cougars are almost there now, though. Pac-12 holdovers WSU and Oregon State have reached a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West Conference for next season, Washington State announced Friday, striking a deal that will provide each school six games against Mountain West teams, three home and three away. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)

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Columbian
Evergreen Habitat for Humanity completes 3 homes in east Vancouver’s Johnson Village
‘The state of Washington is making this a highest priority’: Gov. Jay Inslee wants Intersate 5 Bridge
Clark County Council OKs voting precinct changes, adding 3 new precincts and amending 11 others
Southwest Washington under flood watch, according to NWS Portland
Amtrak adds 2 additional Portland-Seattle round-trips
Clark County’s Environmental Justice Coalition seeks members
Port of Vancouver accepts applicants for community funding
Public Service Center in Vancouver hosts law enforcement training
Opinion: Secret talks on Snake River dams bad policy

Everett Herald
Everett AquaSox stadium upgrade gets $1.1M green light from city
Man sentenced for racist threats to Edmonds animal control officer

The Inlander
Spokane judge dismisses lawsuit attempting to remove Trump from Washington’s 2024 ballot

News Tribune
Op-Ed: The loss of responsible local newspapers and reporters is a problem for democracy

Olympian
Washington state records worst general election turnout. Here’s how Thurston County compares
Amtrak will add trains to route between Seattle and Portland starting in December
Trial of Tacoma police officers postponed again. This time one of the defendants is ill
New Thurston County, Port of Olympia Commissioners sworn in Tuesday

Puget Sound Business Journal
State council updates energy efficient standards for new buildings
Washington’s labor force participation rate dips, again
Canadian government orders Boeing spy jets
Port, Tacoma Schools plan maritime skills center on waterfront site
Proposed capital gains tax shelved by Seattle City Council committee
The new program aims to attract local laid off tech workers

Seattle Times
House expels New York Rep. George Santos. It’s just the sixth expulsion in the chamber’s history
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, has died at age 93
News outlets turn to Reddit as Musk’s X descends into chaos
Lawsuits against Trump over Jan. 6 riot can move forward, appeals court rules
WA AG, others support blocking Idaho bathroom law
Opinion: Take toxins out of tires to protect salmon, other wildlife
Opinion: Ask not what AI can do for you; ask about your own well-being

Spokesman Review
Translators ensure ‘all are welcome’ at the Christmas Bureau
Washington State and Oregon State reach scheduling agreement with Mountain West

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla County commissioners decide to increase current expense levy by 1%

Washington Post
This year will be Earth’s hottest in human history, report confirms
Biden’s got a new set of orders for Obamacare. Is it his last?

WA State Standard
Washington lawmakers look at shielding people from surprise ambulance costs (Cleveland)
Farmers and growers seek leeway under new agriculture overtime law
Fed consider removing Snake River dams in leaked agreement with plaintiffs in lawsuit
Native and state leaders push for K-12 schools to fully implement tribal history curriculum (Lekanoff)

Wenatchee World
Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority nails down 2024 budget, anticipates $44 million revenue

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
No trespass order dissipates downtown homeless camp
Former WSDOT economist accuses state leaders of retaliation for refusing to lie about gas prices
Renton could soon have a higher minimum wage. Here’s what you need to know.
EB I-90 closed near North Bend after 30 spun out semis didn’t chain up, WSDOT says
Safety Commission to recommend lowering blood alcohol content level, return of DUI checkpoints

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Olympia could widen zone prohibiting people from sleeping on sidewalks
New shelter could be coming for asylum seekers staying at Tukwila church

KNKX Public Radio
Seattle’s biggest holiday makers market returns this weekend
Skagit’s white birds of winter are ambassadors among land use, values conflicts
Leaked document says US is willing to replace the power generated by Snake River dams

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle sets new record for most homicides in a single year
Avoid cantaloupe unless you know its origins, CDC warns amid salmonella outbreak
New homes in Washington state will have to include energy efficient heating and cooling

KXLY (ABC)
23,000+ Washington students will qualify for maximum amount in Pell Grants under new FAFSA reforms

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom sheriff’s early retirement to create brief leadership void

Crosscut
Tumwater mobile home tenants lobby against rent hikes

The Stranger
Slog AM: War Resumes in Gaza, Congress Expels Santos, Have You Seen the Whale?

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Here’s why West Seattle Stadium site might become EV-charging lot instead of off-leash area
FOLLOWUP: Here’s where the ‘Quiet Zone’ project stands, four months in

Thursday, November 30

Native and state leaders push for K-12 schools to fully implement tribal history curriculum
According to a 2022-2023 school year report from the State Board of Education, around 80% to 90% of school districts are incorporating tribal history and culture in their social studies programs. That’s a big jump from the last report from the 2021-2022 school year when 44% of districts reported having yet to implement tribal history and culture into their social studies curricula. But without minimum standards, Henry Strom, executive director of the state’s Office of Native Education, said it’s difficult to know how many schools are providing quality Since Time Immemorial curricula because the original 2015 legislation did not set minimum standards. That’s why HB 1332 is important, he said. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Grace Deng)

WA adopts new rules to phase out fossil fuels in new construction
This week the state Building Code Council approved a watered-down version of its original heat pump mandate. Rather than outright requiring electric heat pumps, it would make it more cumbersome and expensive for builders to meet energy efficiency targets without installing heat pumps. The codes will require new homes and buildings to meet the same total energy performance as those built with electric heat pumps while allowing builders flexibility to choose appliances. Basically, if builders choose gas appliances, they will need to make up the efficiency losses elsewhere in the construction. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Do you want to visit a WA state park for free? Here are 12 days that you can in 2024
Did you miss the twelfth and final day of this year to visit one of Washington’s state parks for free? Not to worry, the Washington State Discover Pass Program has announced designated free days for 2024. Every year, Washington State Parks has 12 Discover Pass free days in which people are able to visit any of the over 140 state parks or lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for free. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Adam Lynn)

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Associated Press
Tackling climate change and addressing hunger: States recycle and donate food headed to landfills

Axios
Washington ranks among states with most electric car miles

Bellingham Herald
A Bellingham supermarket’s land is for sale, and the state wants to be its landlord

Capital Press
Wolf advocates appeal to Inslee again for new policy
Researchers get $4.2 million to study honeybee disease
Wolverines gain ESA protection based on 2100 climate projections
Feeding those in need: Farmers, ranchers and processors undertake a ‘heart-driven’ effort

Columbian
Neighborhood park for Minehaha in the works
Clark County seeks volunteer for weed control board
‘All of us want help:’ Unhoused residents in Clark County prepare for colder-than-normal weather
Editorial: Pac-12’s demise leaves WSU, public in lurch

The Daily News
Lower Columbia College receives $1 million gift
Cowlitz County says no to raising taxes, yes to department cuts

Everett Herald
Mukilteo-Clinton ferry gets grant for renovations focused on walk-ons
At tense meeting, Marysville schools stare down drastic cuts to sports, more
Editorial: Duties on both sides of camera during arrests

The Inlander
State officials want a new fire-focused license plate
A study says states with medical pot see decreasing insurance premiums
The Nez Perce Tribe shares its work to restore balance in the documentary ‘Covenant of the Salmon People’
city’s homeless shelter will likely remain in the hands of the Salvation Army – despite an overwhelming vote to hand control to Jewels Helping Hands

News Tribune
‘Choose cats, not couches.’ Tacoma considers regulations on the declawing of felines
Defense expert says Manuel Ellis was resisting arrest the night he died in police custody
37,000 bottles labeled as one drug might be filled with pills of another medication
Tacoma candlelit vigil in memory of World AIDS Day takes place at Owen Beach this week
Comment: Joshua Ellis killed Wendi Traynor. Race shouldn’t impact how long he spends in prison

New York Times
Biden Administration to Require Replacing of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years

Olympian
Amtrak will add trains to route between Seattle and Portland, starting in December
Do you want to visit a WA state park for free? Here are 12 days that you can in 2024
The Landing opens in west Olympia, bringing 62 units of affordable housing to families

Peninsula Daily News
Clallam housing waiting lists long
Clallam, Jefferson counties each receive park maintenance grants

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why AI is a double-edged sword for businesses and workers
How Tacoma’s hotel-to-housing conversions make neighborhoods safer

Seattle Medium
Peacehealth Accused Of Violating Washington State Law On Multiple Fronts
Washington State University Study Reveals Cannabis Users Abandon Sleep Aids
Monsanto Ordered To Pay $165 Million Verdict Over PCB Contamination In Seattle School
Seattle City Council Rejects Proposal For Developer Impact Fees To Fund Transportation Projects

Seattle Times
Inside the effort to truck sockeye salmon past Lake Washington
WA adopts new rules to phase out fossil fuels in new construction
Sewage spill into Lake Washington closes Seattle’s Matthews Beach Park
GOP lawmakers ramp up pushback on Snake River dam deal still in the making
Editorial: Foster kids without stable placements are at risk — and pose risks
Opinion: Free Press roundup: Powerful reports on local journalism crisis
Opinion: Small landlords are at the mercy of broken King County eviction court

Skagit Valley Herald
Highway 20 to close for the season Thursday

Spokesman Review
Idaho girl went out of state for an abortion. Why her boyfriend faces a criminal charge
Moses Lake could be central to Washington’s electrification push with Sila Nanotechnologies’ revamped battery manufacturing facility

Tri-City Herald
$7M project starts on I-182 Broadmoor interchange. What you need to know

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
$4.8 million federal grant will help aging ferries, including two serving Vashon
Positive signs for Vashon watershed as stream health improves across King County

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Valley tourism stakeholders start defining 10-year plan

Washington Post
Suicide rate reached record high in 2022 but dropped among young people
In sweeping decision, EPA proposes that water utilities nationwide replace all of their lead pipes

WA State Standard
What advocacy groups want from lawmakers in 2024
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists wolverines as ‘threatened’ under Endangered Species Act
Native and state leaders push for K-12 schools to fully implement tribal history curriculum (Lekanoff)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima won’t increase utility taxes next year to balance budget and pay for pools

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle records most homicides in at least 44 years in 2023
Discussion renewed over direct electric vehicle sales in Washington
Psychiatric unit at Seattle Children’s has nurses in ‘persistent state of fear’
Taking a day trip between Seattle and Portland just got easier. Here’s why.
Parents concerned about their children’s safety after latest ‘Kia Boyz’ incident near Tacoma middle school

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Nurses describe Seattle Children’s Hospital as a ‘combat zone’ after dozens of alleged attacks

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
North Cascades Highway to close for the season Thursday evening
Storm to bring lowland rain, heavy mountain snow to western Washington. Here’s what to expect

KNKX Public Radio
Nine detainees still refusing meals at Tacoma immigration facility

KUOW Public Radio
Burien approves homeless hut shelter after months of debate

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane’s mayor-elect Lisa Brown prioritizing homelessness, public safety

NW Public Radio
Tacoma tenant protections measure passes — now what?
More federal support on the way for solving Eastern Washington MMIP cases
‘I went into medicine to help my community’: Nez Perce doctor speaks on rural health care and building a future for the next generation

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘It’s not going to be secure’; Concerns grow after another Echo Glen escape (Mullet)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
WWU battles persistent sewage leak affecting Outback Farm
Broken boiler leaves Bellingham Family Partnership students, staff in limbo

Crosscut
Culture complaint spark WA utilities commission investigation

MyNorthwest
Ranking: Find out why Washington is the best state to find a job
Gov. Inslee touts green energy at new Moses Lake battery factory

The Stranger
Many Blame Last Night’s Rainier Mall Fire on the Homeless
Seattle’s Antifa City Council Lets Police Department Keep Its Slush Funds

West Seattle Blog
LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit reps @ West Seattle Transportation Coalition tomorrow
FOLLOWUP: Plan for ex-substation in Highland Park gets unanimous council-committee approval

Wednesday, November 29

Editorial: To land a second airport, WA’s case must be ironclad
The arduous effort to find a second international airport in Puget Sound is flying in circles. The Legislature created a new work group to look closely at the expansion of existing airports. The stakes are astonishingly high. Without future expansion, the current capacity will fall short of the 27 million trips — called enplanements — needed each year by 2050, according to a Puget Sound Regional Council 2021 study. The review maintained that, if the region could meet that demand, another $31 billion would be added to Washington’s economy, as well as more than 200,000 jobs. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

A WA worker’s death reveals the limits of safety enforcement
A fatal trench collapse in 2016 set precedent for holding employers criminally liable, but officials still struggle to head off repeat violations. Washington saw 80 trauma-related workplace deaths last year, the highest number since 2010, according to state figures. The state’s Department of Labor & Industries bears responsibility for enforcing safety standards and investigating workplace fatalities. The agency imposed more than $14.7 million in fines last year for employer safety failures, injuries and other violations. Continue reading at Crosscut. (M. Scott Brauer)

Washington makes another run at heat pump rules
Controversial requirements aimed at getting electric heat pumps installed in newly constructed houses, apartments and commercial buildings cleared a final regulatory hurdle Tuesday. The suite of changes, approved by the Washington State Building Code Council, is part of a broader effort by the state to slash carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in residential and commercial construction. What the council enacted Tuesday offers builders incentives in the permitting process for choosing electric heat pumps – which provide both heating and cooling in the same unit – instead of natural gas furnaces. The appliances are more energy efficient and result in less pollution than gas furnaces. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Narrow Aberdeen mayor’s race triggers recount

Axios
Washington’s undocumented immigrant population rebounds

Everett Herald
‘My rights were violated’: Everett officer arrests woman filming him
Lynnwood council, jarred by anti-Semitic rants, approves tax increase
County Council set to approve more than $130M for affordable housing
Marysville schools stare down drastic cuts to sports, libraries, more

The Inlander
Spokane City Council raises police budget and OKs raiding traffic camera fund to pay for cops — with a few caveats

News Tribune
Deputies shoot, kill man in intersection near South Hill Mall following pursuit
Opinion: The loss of responsible local newspapers and reporters is a problem for democracy

Northwest Asian Weekly
Empowering SE Asian voices: State Rep. My-Linh Thai spearheads national caucus for change (Thai)

Olympian
New Thurston County, Port of Olympia Commissioners sworn in Tuesday
City adopts new boundaries aimed at keeping people from sleeping on sidewalks during the day
Opinion: Washington’s police pursuit rules are putting you in danger. Mayors want them fixed

Puget Sound Business Journal
Small businesses look overseas for workers
Seattle’s Black Boardroom Initiative goes bicoastal
Why distress in the multifamily market could spread in 2024
Amazon launches AI-powered chatbot to compete with Microsoft

Seattle Times
Burien chooses site for homeless shelter as county deadline passes
Workers sue WA mushroom farm, allege wrongful firings, labor violations
Editorial: To land a second airport, WA’s case must be ironclad (Fey)
Opinion: Save our ferry system: A plea for help from an islander

Spokesman Review
Burn ban in effect in Spokane County as heavy use of wood stoves and fireplaces breeds trough of stagnant air
Washington Supreme Court commissioner grants stay in Pac-12 suit, pausing WSU’s and OSU’s grip on conference

Tri-City Herald
WA judicial commission claims Tri-Cities judge broke the law and public’s trust
Leaked ‘secret plan’ reveals Biden admin’s $1B+ proposal preparing for Snake dam breaching

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Voters reject additional funding for Burbank fire district in final election results

Washington Post
Hospitals and doctors are fed up with Medicare Advantage
New CDC life expectancy data shows painfully slow rebound from covid
China to restrict graphite exports to United States as tech war escalates

WA State Standard
Washington makes another run at heat pump rules
Idaho’s infant, mother death rate is rising, new report finds
Oregon’s legal psilocybin clinics draw hundreds – mostly from out of state
Nine detainees still refusing meals at Tacoma immigration facility as protest hits 18th day

Yakima Herald-Republic
COVID cases and hospitalizations rose through September, Yakima Health District reports
High demand for apartment rentals continues in Yakima, with not enough supply, survey shows
Editorial: Toppenish mini-forest offers welcome healing
Comment: Redistricting was meant to boost Pasco Latino voices. Some wonder why they lost ground

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Mother loses 16-year-old to fentanyl overdose, warns parents of how accessible the drug is
State Supreme Court puts ruling that gave Oregon State, Washington State control of Pac-12 on hold

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Marysville School District facing ‘extreme’ budget crisis that could close schools, eliminate sports

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Campaign renews push to adopt teens from foster care
Washington 1st in US for parental financial support of adult children, study reveals

KUOW Public Radio
Rush-hour traffic in Seattle increases blood pressure, but not for the reason you think

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane city budget allocates funding for SPD’s traffic unit

Q13 TV (FOX)
SPD Officer quits job amid allegations he worked as ‘muscle’ for a couple dealing drugs
Local parents struggle to find available pediatric COVID-18 vaccines amid U.S. shortage

Web

Crosscut
A WA worker’s death reveals the limits of safety enforcement

MyNorthwest
Derelict boat with troubled past sinks off Orcas Island
Vashon Island struggling economically due to state ferry crisis

West Seattle Blog
PARK PROJECTS MEETING, REPORT #3: The pickleball plan

Tuesday, November 28

Crime, taxes and artificial intelligence on tap as WA lawmakers prep for session
Rising costs of transportation projects. Using artificial intelligence in Washington classrooms. Preserving affordable housing. Spending proceeds from the state’s new capital gains tax and recent cap-and-trade auctions. Those are a few topics state lawmakers will delve into when they return to Olympia for committee days, an annual fete in which they get schooled on issues that may arise in an upcoming session. In this case, it’s the 60-day session that begins Jan. 8. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Jerry Cornfield)

Why have Washington eviction cases doubled in the past six months?
A growing number of Washington renters are at risk of losing their housing. Eviction filings in Washington more than doubled over the past six months. Monthly filings topped 2,000 in October, a rate that exceeds pre-pandemic levels. The state is on track to eclipse the rate of 2019, when more than 15,000 evictions were filed. The sharp rise in filings comes after recent years of historic lows, held off by a combination of unprecedented federal aid, temporary moratoriums on evictions and rent hikes, and legislative reforms that fundamentally restructured the legal process landlords must clear to remove a tenant from their home. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Genna Martin)

The second shift: Child care crisis forces families into grueling schedules
Child care costs have spiked 220% since 1990, and the crisis is especially acute in Washington state. It has the fifth-highest average weekly cost of child care in the nation, and Seattle is the second most expensive city, trailing only San Francisco. Even if parents can afford child care or receive government aid, they still face the hurdle of low availability. It’s typical for day cares to have years-long waitlists. Long waitlists and low availability are typical in child care. Despite the high cost of tuition, child care workers often make close to minimum wage, leading to high rates of burnout and attrition. Margins are extremely thin for child care centers because of regulations that mandate employee-to-child ratios. The high cost of staffing, combined with insurance and other expenses, means no one feels like they’re getting a good deal. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)