Click here for our Daily E-Clips policy.

Thursday, January 11

Washington House passes bill to allow splitting of residential lots
The state House of Representatives on Monday voted to require cities to allow residential property owners to split their lots into smaller parcels – the first of many proposals this year aimed at getting more housing built across Washington. Following a year of significant housing legislation in 2023, lawmakers have again made the issue a priority. The lot-splitting legislation was one of three bills the House approved on the first day of this year’s legislative session. The measure will go next to the Senate. The same bill, House Bill 1245, passed the House last year but failed to make it through the Senate. On Monday, it passed the House 94-4. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

Rep. Doglio: A vision for Washington’s future: Priorities for the 2024 legislative session
In the ever-shifting landscape of Washington state, our unwavering commitment to progress is paramount. As we navigate the current 60-day legislative session, I emphasize three critical priorities requiring immediate attention: rent stabilization, optimizing Washington’s recycling system, and clean energy. Navigating through the ongoing 2024 legislative session, the path forward is clear. Urgency is required in addressing rent stabilization, revolutionizing our recycling system, and investing in clean energy. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Tony Overman)

Proposal would limit rent increases in Washington
Washington state could limit how much landlords can raise the rent. Bills submitted in the House and Senate would cap rent hikes to 5% a year starting in 2025. Under the proposals, landlords would need to give renters six-months notice of any increases higher than 3%. Those tenants would be allowed to get out of their leases, if the law passes as written.” Unfortunately, so many people are hurting and suffering from significant rent increases that we must be compelled to act,” said Democrat Rep. Emily Alvarado. Continue reading at King 5.

Print

Associated Press
Carbon pollution is down in the US, but not fast enough to meet Biden’s 2030 goal, new report says

Auburn Reporter
Gov. calls for action on homelessness, climate, abortion rights (Reed)

Axios
West Coast study to examine disease impacting honeybees
Washington had sixth-highest U.S. homelessness rate in 2023

Capital Press
What’s in a name for new apple? Potentially millions of dollars

Columbian
Washington House passes bill to allow splitting of residential lots (Peterson)
Democrats propose new tax on real estate sales over $3M to fund affordable housing (Berg, Chopp)
State schools superintendent touts student success, broaches need for sustained funding

Everett Herald
Low bill would make fighting at school a felony for kids, parents (Berg)
‘From COVID to heart failure’: Long-COVID patients feel unseen, unheard
Comment: Will of the people doesn’t always get the final say
Editorial: Humans should keep eye on rise of generative AI (Nguyen, Lovelett)

The Inlander
New regulations in Olympia and Boise aim to impact workforce, change voter registration requirements, update gun buying process

News Tribune
Watch: 2024 WA Legislature Preview, Q&A with state lawmakers. (Billig)
Will Tacoma cops acquitted in Manny Ellis case be fired? Here’s when decision will come

New York Times
State Legislators, Wary of Deceptive Election Ads, Tighten A.I. Rules
As Utility Bills Rise, Low-Income Americans Struggle for Access to Clean Energy

Olympian
Rep. Beth Doglio: A vision for Washington’s future: Priorities for the 2024 legislative session

Port Townsend Leader
Development director promises faster permitting

Seattle Times
Seattle’s high housing costs haven’t stopped people from living alone
As Alaska Airlines cancellations mount, travelers may still get a break
Homeless people are getting older, but age-appropriate help is limited
WA chicken, tuna rebate checks leave some recipients scratching their heads

Skagit Valley Herald
Mount Vernon Library Commons fully funded after receiving $12.5 million grant

Spokesman Review
It’s about to get really cold in Spokane. Here’s how to stay safe
Male pronouns within Washington state constitution could be changed to gender-neutral terms (Ramos, Mena)
State Superintendent says Washington school kids’ rights are ‘slipping,’ asks for help from state (Stonier)

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Developing resilience against ferry challenges

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Valley schools part of nationwide substitute shortage
Walla Walla YMCA opens outdoor nature-based preschool program

Washington Post
SEC makes it easier to trade bitcoin in landmark decision
Budget fight threatens poor families with cuts to housing aid, evictions
We’re in danger of falling off a ‘snow loss cliff.’ Here’s what that means
Covid kills nearly 10,000 in a month as holidays fuel spread worldwide, WHO says

WA State Standard
Design unveiled for Billy Frank Jr. statue that will be displayed at U.S. Capitol
Democrats propose new tax on real estate sales over $3M to fund affordable housing (Berg, Chopp)
Washington regulators restrict medical license of Idaho doctor who spread COVID-19 disinformation

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Rescue Mission to open 24-hour cold shelter this weekend
Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority to hire consultant for possible tax increment area
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife takes Chelan County, businesses to court over land use permit

Yakima Herald-Republic
No forever chemicals detected in Yakima’s latest drinking water test

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Proposal would limit rent increases in Washington (Alvarado)
Seattle city attorney opposes bill that would allow dismissal of misdemeanor cases (Farivar)
‘You ask yourself if it’s even worth working’: Skagit County parents push for more child care centers

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Alaska says it will continue to cancel flights through Saturday
‘Wide range’ of possibilities for Western Washington snow as forecasts take shape

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington lawmakers propose criminal charges for crane operators who violate safety regulations (Frame)

KNKX Public Radio
3 takeaways from Gov. Jay Inslee’s ‘State of the State’ address kicking off his final year in office

KUOW Public Radio
Alaska cancels all 737 Max 9 flights through Saturday

KXLY (ABC)
Washington Department of Health providing Narcan to public high schools

NW Public Radio
A Journey Delayed — Sea-Tac airport flights delayed, canceled after 737-9 Max grounding

Web

Cascadia Daily News
WWU student workers aim for ‘wall-to-wall’ union protection
Whatcom County calls on Inslee, Biden to declare a fentanyl emergency

MyNorthwest
Man settles for $250k with WA state prisons after injury from basketball game

The Stranger
Democrats Could Pass Huge Wins for Workers (Fitzgibbon, Keiser)

Wednesday, January 10

Washington Republicans introduce bills targeting abortion providers and transgender youth
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Monday, January 8, marked the first day of session for the Washington State Legislature, and Republican lawmakers in Washington have introduced some controversial bills. According to the Washington State Legislature website, Senators Mike Padden, Phil Fortunato, Jim McCune, Cyndy Jacobsen and Leonard Christian have sponsored bills that would affect abortion providers, LGBTQ+ youth and those seeking gender affirming care. Continue reading at KXLY. (4 News Now)

Edmonds lawmaker wants to stop police from lying in interrogations
Rep. Strom Peterson (D-Edmonds) introduced House Bill 1062, which would effectively ban police from lying about evidence during suspect interrogation. Under HB 1062, anything a suspect says in custody while a police officer uses “false facts about evidence or unauthorized statements regarding leniency” during interrogation will be thrown out of court. The legislation is meant to prevent false confessions. Continue reading at The Herald. (Ryan Berry)

Washington lawmakers look at providing unemployment benefits to striking workers
Washington may become one of a few states that allow striking workers to qualify for unemployment benefits under certain conditions. Under House Bill 5777, workers who walk off the job will qualify for unemployment if employers lock them out of their place of employment. Lockouts are one way management can pressure a striking workforce during contract negotiations. Workers experiencing lockouts would still have to wait a week before being eligible for unemployment insurance. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Anna Liz Nichols)

Print

Associated Press
2023 was the hottest year on record: What can be done?
Starting his final year in office, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee stresses he isn’t finished yet

Axios
Antisemitic incidents in U.S. surged 360% after Hamas attack: ADL

Bellingham Herald
‘The strongest state in the nation’: Gov. Jay Inslee delivers State of the State address

Capital Press
Impending cold snap not likely to harm winter wheat
Report: Wind and solar projects cause tax shift in Washington

Columbian
Bill to ban child marriage gets unanimous support in Washington House, moves to Senate (Stonier)
State Department of Ecology fines Washougal waste transfer facility $25,000 for violations

Everett Herald
State pays out $250K to inmate for neglect of Monroe prison injury
Edmonds lawmaker wants to stop police from lying in interrogations (Peterson)
Letter: Take action at state, national level to address poverty, homelessness

News Tribune
Strong winds bring Pierce Co. power outages. How to prepare, what to do if you lose power

New York Times
U.S. Carbon Emissions Fell in 2023 as Coal Use Tumbled to New Lows
More Than 20 Million People Have Signed Up for Obamacare Plans, Blowing by Record

Olympian
‘Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.’ Smokey Bear could soon be on WA state license plates (Nobles, Donaghy)

Peninsula Daily News
Legislature kicks off with a housing focus (Jinkins)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amid Max 9 grounding, Boeing reports brisk order, delivery activity

Seattle Medium
Declaring, “Hate Has No Home Here,” Renton Used COVID Funds To Close Racial Gaps
Washington Lawmakers Prioritize Fentanyl Addiction, Homelessness, And Housing Affordability
Mayor Harrell Seeks To Increase Affordable Housing By Advancing Improved Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan

Seattle Times
Truck fuel leak disrupts WA ferries in Anacortes
Gov. Inslee to WA lawmakers: ‘I’m not riding into the sunset’ (Billig)
Federal proposals could curtail climbing anchors in WA wilderness
Extra homeless shelter space opening during Seattle-area cold weather
Editorial: Fully explore option of Sound Transit fare gates
Opinion: Bring back oversight for WA’s jails. Lives depend on it
Opinion: King County setting records for homeless deaths is becoming awfully routine

Spokesman Review
Meet two guests of honor at Inslee’s annual state legislature address this year
In last annual address, Inslee tells Washington lawmakers the state is the best it’s ever been (Billig)
New bill aims to solve healthcare shortage by offering med school scholarships for underserved areas
Spokane city attorney, spokeswoman and housing and homelessness leaders approved by City Council

Tri-City Herald
High winds rattle Tri-Cities, knocking out power. Next up is a frigid snowstorm
2023 was Earth’s hottest year on record. Here’s how hot it got in Tri-Cities last year
Whatever happened to Richland’s plan to build a 3rd high school to ease crowding?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Oil tank removal from Heritage Square Park site adds $130K in project costs

WA State Standard
Washington lawmakers look at providing unemployment benefits to striking workers (Keiser)
Inslee vows to press ahead on climate policy and other priorities in final year of term (Ortiz-Self)

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee Valley College receives grant for agricultural department
Chelan County PUD decides not to change Columbia River water levels

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Around 3,400 PSE customers still without power in Puget Sound area
‘Our state is stronger than ever’: Inslee addresses priorities in final State of the State address
Blizzard Warning in effect for the Cascades, WSDOT recommends delaying mountain pass travel
Police shoot, kill woman who was experiencing mental health crisis, firing shots outside Tacoma home

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Blizzard-like conditions descend on Western Washington mountain passes
Starting his final year in office, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee stresses he isn’t finished yet

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee delivers his final state of the state address
Seattle city attorney rejects statewide proposal to lessen misdemeanor cases

KNKX Public Radio
Lawmakers return to Olympia to tackle housing, public health, education and transportation

KUOW Public Radio
3 takeaways from Gov. Jay Inslee’s last ‘State of the State’ address (Billig)
State Patrol was not prepared for ‘sheer size of the crowd’ at I-5 protest
A prayer for cooperation and compassion as Washington’s 2024 legislative session begins (Jinkins)

KXLY (ABC)
Washington Governor Inslee to sign executive order to reduce recidivism
Spokane Public Schools partners with nonprofit to expand student mental health services
Washington Republicans introduce bills targeting abortion providers and transgender youth
‘It feels like nobody cares’: Homeless Spokane couple struggling to find shelter as temperatures get colder

Web

Cascadia Daily News
What to do if you see a suspected overdose
Everyone should carry naloxone. Here’s how to get it
300-bed Bellingham homeless shelter slated for November opening ‘at the latest’

Crosscut
Q&A: Gov. Jay Inslee talks policing housing and his final year

The Stranger
Slog AM: WA GOP Wants to Ban Trans Care, Florida School District Bans Five Dictionaries, Serious Winter Weather Ahead

Tuesday, January 9

WA Legislature kicks off short session with optimism, lengthy agenda
Monday’s opening ceremonies kicked off what is expected to be an active two months. Lawmakers will pass an updated budget, including untangling the mathematical knot caused by a massive increase in the cost of transportation projects. They will also work on some of the biggest issues facing Washington: homelessness, the lack of affordable child care and the quest to provide more treatment for people with substance use disorders amid record overdose deaths. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Lindsey Wasson)

Bill to ban child marriage gets unanimous support in Washington House, moves to Senate.
Child marriage is still legal in Washington, and on Monday state lawmakers moved along a proposed law to ban it. Today, children of any age can get married in the state. If they’re 17, they need parental consent. If they’re younger than that, they need approval from a judge. State law currently says a judge may grant permission for a child younger than 17 to get married “out of necessity.” But the law doesn’t outline what that so-called necessity looks like. On the first day of the 2024 legislative session, the state House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to ban marriages of anyone under the age of 18. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Ellen Dennis)

Washington Bill Would Allow People to Sue for Stealthing
Washington could become one of the few states to make stealthing, the act of secretly removing a condom or some other sexual barrier during sex, explicitly illegal. House Bill 1958 would add a new chapter to the Revised Code of Washington describing civil penalties for this form of sexual assault. Bill sponsor Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle) wrote the bill after a friend shared their story of being stealthed. Continue reading at The Stranger. (Lester Black)

Print

Associated Press
Busy Washington state legislative session kicks off with a focus on the housing crisis (Jinkins, Ramos)
New labor rules aim to offer gig workers more security, though some employers won’t likely be happy

Axios
Boeing faces fresh scrutiny over 737 MAX planes

Bellingham Herald
Large-scale Bellingham housing projects coming online in 2024
City settles accident-related lawsuit involving fired Bellingham Police detective
‘Bomb cyclone’ throws a roundhouse punch at Whatcom County. Here’s what to expect

Columbian
‘Forever chemicals’ decline in Vancouver water but officials unsure why
Labor shortages in construction cause delays, drive up costs in Clark County
Clark County Commission on Aging tackles emergency preparedness in 2024

Everett Herald
Bill would rename curriculum to honor late Tulalip lawmaker (Lekanoff, Cortes)
Editorial: A few bills worth attention in a short session (Lekanoff, Ryu, Salomon, Orwall, Ortiz-Self, Fosse)

Olympian
Bill to prohibit child marriages passes House on first day of session. Here’s what else happened (Nance, Hansen, Jinkins, Leavitt, Stonier, Peterson)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Inspections turn up more Boeing 737 Max 9s with door problems

Seattle Times
WA Legislature kicks off short session with optimism, lengthy agenda (Nance, Jinkins)
Editorial: Leaders must step up to dissuade dangerous freeway protests

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County District Court with judge vacancy

Spokesman Review
Bill to ban child marriage gets unanimous support in Washington House, moves to Senate (Stonier)
Spokane Airport sees handful of flight cancellations as FAA grounds all Boeing 737 Max 9s
Patty Murray pledges to work ‘around the clock’ to fund government after congressional leaders reach $1.6 trillion deal
Opinion: Spokane needs to look beyond the known and commit to solving homelessness

Tri-City Herald
Pasco schools buy up another $4M in farmland near new high school. What we know
Blizzard warning issued for I-90, I-84 passes. Tri-City wind gusts near 50 mph forecast

Washington Post
Millions of gig workers could qualify as employees under new Biden-era rule

WA State Standard
2024 Washington state legislative session gets underway (Jinkins)
Washington House passes bill to allow splitting of residential lots (Peterson)
State lawmakers consider blocking Washington police from lying during interrogations (Peterson)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Ukrainian refugees get job training in Snohomish County
Rebate checks could be part of Washington’s 2023 legislative session (Jinkins, Mullet, Nance)
Downed trees, high winds leave tens of thousands without power in Puget Sound area
After-action report details protest that closed NB I-5 in Seattle, created gridlock for hours

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
United Airlines finds loose bolts on door plugs in grounded 737 MAX 9 planes
Frustrations continue after another day of canceled Alaska flights at Sea-Tac Airport
After years of delays, mayor vows to deliver on promise of affordable housing at Fort Lawton
Washington AG sues Michigan company accused of defrauding thousands of small businesses

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
No word on Tacoma on if officers cleared in Manny Ellis’ death will be disciplined
Busy Washington state legislative session kicks off with a focus on the housing crisis (Jinkins)
Thousands in western Washington lose power as winter storms sweeps through region
Washington State Patrol ‘did their best’ to handle protest that shut down I-5, chief says

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle mayor wants more housing at Fort Lawton
Should school meals be free for all at Washington elementary schools?
Should Washington stay in standard time? These lawmakers say ‘yes’ (Dhingra)
‘From the Central to the south,’ Seattle neighborhoods ask for an engaged police force

KXLY (ABC)
Family Promise expecting to be at capacity ahead of winter weather
Progress in reducing crime visible at Second and Division, but challenges remain for local

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom council may ask governor, president to declare fentanyl emergency

Crosscut
Yakama Nation’s new public safety campus gives justice room to grow

The Stranger
Washington Bill Would Allow People to Sue for Stealthing (Berry)

West Seattle Blog
Sound Transit, Rethink The Link, Duwamish Tribe guests @ District 1 Community Network’s first 2024 meeting

Monday, January 8

Lawmakers to take on fentanyl, housing in Inslee’s final legislative session
Lawmakers return to Olympia today to address housing, climate change and the fentanyl crisis in an abbreviated legislative session that marks Jay Inslee’s final one as governor. During a session preview this week, the Democratic governor described climate as the biggest long-term issue he wants to address this session. He referenced his six grandchildren and his fear about what the environment will look like when they’re his age. Continue reading at Associated Press. (Lindsey Wasson)

Recycling 101: What to know about sorting in King County
Got questions about recycling that fresh-fruit packaging or envelopes with plastic windows? We’ve got answers. Times editorial board members and Opinion columnists Melissa Davis and Josh Farley made a malodorous examination of what happens to King County’s recyclables. They both grew up with bottle deposits and came away with revelations to solve family disputes about what is actually recyclable and only aspirationally so. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Josh Farley)

‘Co-Living’ bill would revive a nearly extinct affordable housing type in Washington cities
Should cities in Washington state allow people to live in small rooms with shared kitchens and sometimes shared bathrooms? That’s a question state lawmakers will consider in a hearing on Monday, Jan. 8. Sixty years ago, people in Seattle could rent tiny apartments, just big enough for a bed and a little sitting area. A few older buildings like that burned down, and in the 1970s and 80s, many cities made them illegal. State Rep. Mia Gregerson, a SeaTac Democrat, wants to bring them back, so that people on limited incomes can live near their jobs again. Continue reading at KUOW. (Joshua McNichols)

Print

Associated Press
Lawmakers to take on fentanyl, housing in Inslee’s final legislative session (Jinkins, Wellman, Trudeau, Doglio)

Aberdeen Daily World
Coastal lawmakers meet in Aberdeen ahead of session (Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman)

Axios
Nearly 200 Boeing 737 MAX-9 planes grounded globally after hole torn open midflight
Fentanyl, housing, highways top Washington lawmakers’ agenda (Jinkins, Liias, Fitzgibbon)

Bainbridge Island Review
Public safety must be a priority, legislators say (Liias, Jinkins)

Bellingham Herald
As overdoses surge, here’s where to get Narcan and how to use it to help save a life
Overdose fatalities surged in Whatcom County in 2023. How many involved fentanyl?
Alaska Airlines grounds all Boeing 737 Max-9s after hole blows open in cabin during flight

Columbian
Cap-and-trade, climate change return to the 2024 WA Legislature (Doglio, Mullet)

Everett Herald
Boeing seeks a safety-rule exemption on 737 Max jets
What’s on the agenda for Snohomish County legislators? (Robinson, Liias, Lovick, Berg, Cortes)
Comment: Do public officials control own social media spaces?
Editorial: Finland model for state to reduce traffic deaths (Liias, Lovick)

The Inlander
What to look forward to in Washington’s upcoming legislative session (Riccelli, Billig)

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Open Letter to Senator Lovelett (Lovelett)

News Tribune
Washington state facing an increase in spread of the new coronavirus variant, flu and RSV

New York Times
The Income Gap Jeopardizing Retirement for Millions

Olympian
2024 WA LEGISLATURE PREVIEW: Q&A WITH STATE LAWMAKERS. ASK YOUR QUESTIONS (Billig)

Peninsula Daily News
State sees rise in overdose deaths
Family grieves after fentanyl deaths

Puget Sound Business Journal
Alaska Airlines grounds 65 Boeing jets, cancels flights after blowout
Construction in for a ‘mixed’ 2024 as spending slows in private sector

Salish Current
Legislator priorities in the 40th and 42nd Districts: mental health, housing and more (Shewmake, Rule, Timmons, Ramel)

Seattle Times
Harrell wants to revise Fort Lawton housing plan by adding units
From a state clam to car tab discounts, lawmakers’ agenda takes shape (Fitzgibbon, Mena, Nguyen)
So many bills, so little time: What to watch in the WA Legislature’s 2024 short session (Jinkins, Billig, Liias)
Editorial: WA must stay the course on culvert removal to save salmon
Editorial: The 2024 legislative session: A packed agenda in a busy political year
Opinion: Rise in homelessness reflects a governance crisis
Opinion: Recycling 101: What to know about sorting in King County (Fey, Berry)

Spokesman Review
Washington’s right-to-counsel law alters the eviction process
As Washington’s pandemic protections ended, evictions soared
Spin Control: Here’s how to keep tabs on the upcoming legislative session
Washington state’s legislature convenes Monday. What’s in store this year? (Robinson, Billig)
‘Exponential change brought to life’: How educators are using artificial intelligence to teach
Opinion: An essential resource for our schools

Tri-City Herald
WA suspends license of owner of 4 Tri-Cities massage parlors over felony charges
Washington taxpayers paid nearly $700,000 for boulders to deter return to encampments

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
WSF drops ferry restoration plan, now estimates 2028 for resuming full service

Washington Post
Why decades of progress in cars’ fuel efficiency is ending
Yellow school buses are going green with a $1 billion investment

WA State Standard
Washington Legislature will kick off 2024 session today
WA not meeting Medicaid lead testing requirements for kids, audit finds

Wenatchee World
2 flu deaths reported in Chelan, Douglas counties
Modern Policing | De-escalation, mental health and body cameras

Whidbey News-Times
Bill targets military housing tax exemption

Yakima Herald-Republic
Filipino Community Hall in Wapato now on National Register of Historic Places
Yakama Nation Fisheries receives grant funding to realign highway near Leavenworth
Mobile home park residents near Moxee raise concerns about water and cost increases

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington State Ferries releases contingency plans for when new vessels may arrive
Flight delays, cancellations impact hundreds of travelers at SEA after 737 Max 9 grounding

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Local impact worsens as FAA grounds 737s in response to Boeing MAX emergency landing
Year-round standard time, public safety, and more: What’s on the table for state lawmakers in 2024 (Dhingra)
Muslim community mourns rideshare driver and ‘relentless volunteer’ who was gunned down in Edmonds

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
‘Everyone is fed up’: North Seattle encampment returns months after city outreach efforts to clear it

KUOW Public Radio
FAFSA delays are straining families and colleges
New mental health teams are hitting the streets in downtown Seattle alongside police
‘Co-Living’ bill would revive a nearly extinct affordable housing type in Washington cities
‘Astonishing’ increase in car theft charges as juvenile criminal cases surge in King County
(Gregerson)
WA lawmakers lay out priorities heading into 2024 session as ballot initiatives loom (Jinkins, Ormsby)
Washington State Ferries confirms passenger fears: Service disruptions will continue for years

NW Public Radio
Reactions from PNW on nationwide directive to protect old-growth forests

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Salmon, agriculture among Whatcom executive’s priorities in next 4 years
Opinion: ABC Recycling’s scrap metal plan: 30 jobs at what cost?

Crosscut
The Washington Legislature kicks off today. Here’s what to watch (Robinson, Ormsby, Jinkins, Trudeau, Liias)

Friday, January 5

Eight lawmakers to watch in Washington’s 2024 session
Comfortable shoes are required for the upcoming 2024 legislative session, as this one promises to be a full-on sprint for 60 days. Perseverance and patience, too, for those lawmakers determined to pass a bill or three. A prodigious amount of legislation is pre-filed for introduction on the first day, signaling widespread elevated expectations among the ranks of each party. Here are eight lawmakers to watch as they influence key conversations when the action begins Jan. 8. Continue reading at KNKX. (Ted S. Warren)

WA ferry system scraps timeline for resuming normal service
After several years of trying to predict when normal ferry service might return, Washington State Ferries is now acknowledging what most regular riders likely already suspected: Until new boats come online four to five years from now, normal service is not possible. More trips will be added occasionally as crew and boats become available, but they should not be expected. Under this new plan of lowered expectations, WSF’s goal is to deliver 95% of its trips — lower than its historical goal of 99%. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

Leading WA lawmakers give media a rundown on their 2024 legislative priorities
Leading lawmakers in Washington discussed some of their legislative priorities for the upcoming 2024 session Thursday during the annual legislative preview leading up to the start of the session on Monday, Jan. 8. Legislators will have a short 60-day window this year to pass a supplemental budget as well as policy bills. They also will have to decide whether or not they will address six ballot initiatives that have been turned into the Secretary of State. Separate panels of lawmakers — including budget writers, transportation leaders, and House and Senate leadership — sat before news media and the public to answer questions Thursday. Gov. Jay Inslee made an appearance to discuss some of his priorities for the session as well. Continue reading at News Tribune.