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Monday, November 27

Over 200 employees hired to staff Tukwila behavioral hospital bought by Washington
Washington has hired a little over 200 employees to staff a Tukwila psychiatric hospital the state bought in August for nearly $30 million, according to Jo Sahlin, a spokesperson for the newly-named Olympic Heritage Behavioral Health Hospital. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open Olympic Heritage on Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee said he wanted the hospital to be a “recruiting tool” for the mental health profession. In recent years, the state has struggled to keep its psychiatric hospitals sufficiently staffed, leading to employees at the hospital raising safety concerns for both patients and staff. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)

Editorial: It now takes at least 6 figures for a family to get by in Seattle
The other morning, down in the Chinatown International District, the line outside the door was 200 long, snaking around the cul-de-sac at Eighth Avenue and Weller Street as though fans were waiting for a big show. The opening was indeed big, and unfortunately keeps getting bigger. They were waiting for the 10 a.m. doors at the Chinatown ID food bank. This is how it’s been going across the city this fall. Demand at the food bank in the U District is up an alarming 47% compared with last year. It’s the same in North Seattle. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim/The Seattle Times)

A local firefighter with terminal cancer doesn’t qualify for worker’s comp because he was a volunteer. His family is calling for change
Ron Cato spent 30 years of his life marching into burning buildings, rescuing people from smoldering rubble and speeding down streets in a fire engine, sirens blaring. He did it to help people on what were sometimes the worst days of their lives. “People have really bad days,” he said. “I don’t like to see that. I like to help them have a better day. I’ve had lots of times where I’ve been able to do that. And some days they’ve died. It goes hot and cold.” With months left to live, the firefighter has one final mission. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)

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Everett Herald
Climate report aims to answer: Who is most harmed by climate change?
Traffic cameras, and tickets, come to Edmonds; Mukilteo could be next
Farmland, salmon habitat find delicate balance in county program
Amid staffing crisis, student nurses run into shortages in education too
Comment: Ignorance, complacency on AI already posing threats

News Tribune
Native ‘water warriors’ took to canoes during recent Port of Tacoma protest. Here’s why
A Pierce County agency is selling all of its public housing. What happens to the tenants?
Pierce County just approved a $3.2 billion budget. Here’s where the money’s going
No more stuck trucks. Construction begins on taller I-5 overpass in Pierce County
Delay in turning over GPS data for sheriff, top investigator will cost Pierce County

Northwest Asian Weekly
The last neighborhood pharmacy in the CID adapts

Olympian
Thurston County, local cities agree to fund construction of new affordable housing
Do you want to visit a WA state park for free? Here are 12 days that you can in 2024

Puget Sound Business Journal
Many businesses are exploring AI as talent troubles persist
‘Super successful’ homeless outreach effort put to the test in Seattle
Legal battle over Sea-Tac arrivals facility could stretch into 2025
Seattle council rejects move toward transportation impact fee

Seattle Times
Sound Transit fare ambassadors are checking if you paid, but nicely
Seattle wavers on Fort Lawton housing as years pass, cost estimate soars
Here’s what jurors in the Tacoma police trial aren’t being told
Grizzlies once roamed the Cascades; some people want them to return
Seattle participatory budgeting allots $27M to public restrooms, other needs
WA one of just two states where illegal immigration is up
Snohomish, Pierce counties under burn ban due to poor air quality
Seattle urban area trends warmer in newest USDA Plant Hardiness map
Editorial: WA’s cap-and-trade system may go up in smoke without reforms (Mullet)
Editorial: The answer to learning loss is within reach
Opinion: Student discipline: Are schools equipped to handle behavioral extremes?
Opinion: It now takes at least 6 figures for a family to get by in Seattle
Opinion: WA has an obligation to tribes and all citizens to fix salmon-blocking culverts

Spokesman Review
A local firefighter with terminal cancer doesn’t qualify for worker’s comp because he was a volunteer. His family is calling for change (Riccelli)

Washington Post
States must target transportation carbon emission cuts under new federal rule
Where we build homes helps explain America’s political divide
This lawsuit could disrupt the U.S. tax system. Key facts are in dispute.

WA State Standard
Ache of uncertainty: Aging parents caring for disabled adult children worry what’s next
Over 200 employees hired to staff Tukwila behavioral hospital bought by Washington
When foster care kids are sex trafficked, some states fail to figure it out
West Coast leaders urge feds to reverse decision allowing natural gas pipeline expansion

Wenatchee World
‘A really tough game for small businesses’: NCW owners grapple with increasing costs, shift to online shopping

Broadcast

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Stage 1 burn ban in effect for Snohomish County due to air pollution
Western Washington’s November rain falls short, with hopeful forecast ahead
Burien City Council to discuss location options for new pallet village Monday

KNKX Public Radio
Tacoma continues to grow. Three residents discuss the city’s future
Public transit systems try to avoid a ‘death spiral’ as remote work hurts ridership

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle got dark and rainy again. Do we still need to conserve water?
A beaver dam blocked spawning salmon at Carkeek Park. Now humans are giving nature a nudge
Seattle City Council approves 2024 budget with money for housing, homelessness, and mental health
King tides are coming. Is Seattle’s South Park neighborhood ready?

Q13 TV (FOX)
Court document alleges Meta willingly designed its platforms to hook kids: report

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Homelessness increase strains nonprofit capacity
Macy’s employees strike on Black Friday weekend over safety, wages
Innovative sewage solutions pitched to replace Bellingham’s aging system

Crosscut
Seattle City Council candidates got $2.4M from Democracy Vouchers
People over party is no longer the mantra of Washington politics

MyNorthwest
Tacoma businesses give back by reimbursing families’ Thanksgiving dinners
‘A Christmas miracle’: Benefactor donates $800K to fund food bank relocation

Publicola
Under Vague Emergency Driving Policy, SPD Officers’ Reckless Driving Often Goes Unpunished

The Stranger
Slog AM: Truce Extended Two Days, Evictions Double, Family of Four Needs More than $100,000 to Live in Seattle

West Seattle Blog
‘The ferry crisis hurts right now’: Vashon Island residents propose ways to ease the pain
MONDAY: Hiawatha closure, Lincoln Park play area, pickleball updates, more promised at Seattle Parks online meeting

Wednesday, November 22

WA students flock to computer science, and AI adds to the allure
Despite the pandemic and recent tech layoffs at industry giants like Amazon and Microsoft, the state’s flagship university is still turning away thousands of students who want to major in computer science — fueled, in part, by their interest in artificial intelligence. Nearly 1,250 students earned bachelor’s degrees in computer science at Washington colleges and universities last year, according to the Washington Student Achievement Council. There’s still high demand from employers who want qualified computer science majors — so much so that some of the tech world’s biggest employers like Amazon, Microsoft and Google, sponsor programs in high schools to help students get ahead. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Washington state invests $30 million to bolster mental health services and reduce wait times
Washington state is investing nearly $30 million to address a longtime problem with increasing demand for state mental health services. It’s an issue the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has been sued over in the past, with hundreds of people forced to wait several months to be admitted for state mental health services. The new 136-bed facility in Tukwila, Olympic Heritage Behavioral Health, is aimed at adding to the state’s ability to admit new patients who have been civilly committed. Continue reading at KOMO 4.

EPA discovers ‘forever chemicals’ in Pacific Northwest water systems
In a massive country-wide study, the EPA now has an idea of which harmful contaminants called “forever chemicals” or PFAS are found in public water systems. The EPA highlighted water systems with contaminants detected above the agency’s minimum reporting level. High levels were detected at JBLM and Sammamish Plateau Water, and the highest levels by far were in Artondale, near Gig Harbor. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Bellingham Herald
Trails open in Bellingham and Whatcom, just in time for Thanksgiving outdoor activities
In WA’s northern waters, Lummi keep sustainable, ancient salmon fishing techniques alive

Capital Press
NCRS adopts original Odessa study EIS for project funding

Everett Herald
Behind the badge: Everett’s new police chief plans to stay the course
‘I was sexually assaulted’ at game, Silvertips ex-photographer says
First flu-related death of the season reported in Snohomish County

News Tribune
Uninvited guests ready to return to area holiday tables: COVID-19, RSV and the flu
For disabled people, taking Tacoma’s extended streetcar line isn’t always a smooth ride
Ex-deputy prosecutor gets more than $4M in wrongful-firing case against Pierce County
$300M downtown project stalled amid sluggish market. What’s next for Tacoma Town Center?
Op-Ed: Salmon are Washington’s shared legacy. Protecting them requires changing our hearts (Lekanoff, Stearns)

Olympian
Idaho girl went out of state for an abortion. Why her boyfriend faces a criminal charge

Puget Sound Business Journal
Port of Seattle earmarks $85M for maritime upgrades
Paul Allen foundation awards millions for biological research
As price drops for homes hit a record, here’s how Seattle fared
Why hiring is again the top concern for businesses as layoffs mount

Seattle Times
Opponents of WA climate law file signatures to repeal it
WA students flock to computer science, and AI adds to the allure
Binance founder pleads guilty in Seattle; company to pay $4.3 billion
Seattle City Council passes 2024 budget, answers few revenue questions
Seattle City Council narrowly rejects development fees for transportation
Electron Dam agrees to $1M fine for artificial turf spill on Puyallup River
U.S. unemployment claims drop by 24,000 to 209,000, another sign of labor market resiliency
Editorial: No thank you to ‘news vouchers’

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County presents 2024 budget for public comment

Spokesman Review
Opponents of Washington climate law submit signatures to repeal
Opinion: A high-quality learning environment needed for all students

Washington Post
As Democrats push to ban caste discrimination, some Indian Americans object
States must target transportation carbon emission cuts under new federal rule

WA State Standard
Petitions filed for initiative to erase Washington’s ambitious climate law

Wenatchee World
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission denies conservation groups’ request for less lethal measures against gray wolves

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Health District reports first flu death, MultiCare Memorial requires masks

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Kia Boyz’ challenge becomes public safety issue changing lives
EPA discovers ‘forever chemicals’ in Pacific Northwest water systems
Thousands of passengers to board ferries over Thanksgiving weekend
Lummi Tribe fighting fentanyl crisis with a mix of culture and modern medicine

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington state invests $30 million to bolster mental health services and reduce wait times
Seattle’s South Park receives long-awaited stormwater drainage upgrades to combat flooding
Seattle entrepreneur launches ‘Black Black Friday Card’ to support local Black-owned businesses

KUOW Public Radio
CZ, founder of crypto giant Binance, pleads guilty to money laundering violations

Q13 TV (FOX)
Thieves steal $12K worth of tools from homeless housing organization

MyNorthwest
Renton minimum wage workers may soon be getting pay hike

Tuesday, November 21

New state revenue forecast projects $191 million increase in 2023-25 biennium
The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released new estimates for the 2023-25 state budget Monday showing that the state’s projected General Fund revenue collections will be $191 million more than September’s projection. Revenue is now expected to be $66.9 billion. Additionally, the estimates for the 2025-27 biennium showed an increase of $579 million from September’s revenue projection, totaling $71.5 billion, according to a news release Monday from the Office of Financial Management. Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)

Election mail threats across the PNW prompt new look at protections heading into 2024
Pierce County Auditor Linda Farmer has a goal. “We’re really hoping to make government boring again,” she said. “And that’s a good thing – when it’s working well, you shouldn’t notice that it’s there.” Farmer took office in January. Her job is to oversee elections and make sure they run smoothly. Continue reading at KUOW. (Pierce County Auditor)

Nonprofit hospital chain in Washington to refund $13.4 million to low-income patients
A non-profit chain of hospitals in Washington will refund up to $13.4 million to more than 15,000 low-income patients who used their services after a state Attorney General’s Office investigation found those patients should have qualified for financial assistance. Low-income patients at five PeaceHealth hospitals in Washington including Bellingham, Friday Harbor, Longview, Sedro-Woolley and Vancouver were affected, according to a news release from Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office Monday Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Bellingham Herald)

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Capital Press
Inslee backs grizzly bears in North Cascades
Weather forecaster calls for mild, dry winter in NW

Everett Herald
Providence Everett nurses end strike, return to understaffed shifts
Editorial: Bolster protections for state, county election staff

Kent Reporter
State Senate Democrats’ Members of Color Caucus stands against hate (Kauffman, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Lovick, Nguyen, Valdez, Nobles, Randall, Saldaña, Trudeau)

Kirkland Reporter
Kirkland officer accused of creepy behavior with bikini baristas

News Tribune
Maritime trades need workers. New Tacoma student skills center aims to provide them
In WA’s northern waters, Lummi keep sustainable, ancient salmon fishing techniques alive
This Pierce County senior center could close. ‘We all feel so emotional about the idea’

Olympian
Nonprofit hospital chain in Washington to refund $13.4 million to low-income patients
Thurston County Commissioners were set to earn $135,864 in 2024. Now, they will make more
WA Secretary of State asks Postal Service for action on out-of-service mailboxes
New state revenue forecast projects $191 million increase in 2023-35 biennium

Puget Sound Business Journal
UW Bothell, Cascadia College unveil $79M Innovation Hall
As mass transit systems flounder, here’s how Seattle compares
Health system agrees to refund $13.4M to Washington patients
Companies grapple with political backlash against DEI programs

Seattle Times
Where should South Lake Union light rail go? Compare these 2 locations
Prepare for long WA ferry waits over Thanksgiving weekend
Seattle Indian Health Board to open Native-led substance use treatment center
Federal court moves to drastically weaken Voting Rights Act
Teachers and students grapple with fears and confusion about new laws restricting pronoun use

The Skanner
Rosalynn Carter: Advocate for Jimmy Carter and Many Others, Always Leveraging Her Love of Politics – AP

Spokesman Review
Washington Secretary of State calls on postal service after old drop boxes used on Election Day

WA State Standard
Only you (almost) can put Smokey Bear on Washington license plates (Nobles, Donaghy)
Consumer spending drives another $200M in expected state revenue growth

Wenatchee World
Chelan County PUD’s Rocky Reach Dam sees 93.78% juvenile Chinook survival rate — highest in 20 years

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
EPA discovers ‘forever chemicals’ in Pacific Northwest water systems
Lummi Tribe fighting fentanyl crisis with a mix of culture and modern medicine
Luggage theft at Sea-Tac Airport hit an all-time high in 2022. Here’s what we found in 2023

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington Attorney General: PeaceHealth violated Washington state law in multiple ways

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Smokey Bear license plates could be coming to Washington
Nearly 300K people expected on Washington ferries over Thanksgiving week
This gas station will be offering 40 cents off per gallon of fuel Tuesday evening

KNKX Public Radio
Washington scientist brings new hope to dying coastal sea star
Election mail threats prompt new look at protections for 2024
Former Washington state House candidate faces felony voter fraud charges

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle students push city to boost mental health funding in schools
UW, WSU agree to continue the Apple Cup, at least through 2028
Election mail threats across the PNW prompt new look at protections heading into 2024

Q13 TV (FOX)
Food banks struggle to meet holiday demands with rising prices
FTC issuing nearly $1,000 in average refunds to victims of tech support scam

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Students, community members mark Trans Day of Remembrance
Moratorium extended on high-density development in Silver Beach
PeaceHealth to refund millions to low-income patients after AG investigation

Crosscut
‘Home was never a place’: One woman’s life in WA foster care
Grocery costs make this Thanksgiving more expensive than ever

MyNorthwest
Smokey Bear license plates part of state’s campaign to prevent forest fires

The Stranger
Slog AM: Temporary Ceasefire Reportedly Imminent in Gaza, Pack City Hall for a Ceasefire, World’s Oldest Dog Dies

West Seattle Blog
Spawning season ends in Fauntleroy Creek. Here’s how many salmon showed up

Monday, November 20

Immigrant detainees resort to hunger strikes in protest of conditions at Tacoma facilityOn a side street in Tacoma, wedged between railyards and the Puyallup River just off Interstate 5, sits the Northwest Detention Center, one of the largest federal immigrant detention facilities in the nation. It’s privately run, long-mired in controversy and as of Friday, about 100 detainees there were refusing meals to protest conditions at the site. Hunger strikes have become common at the detention center, with six already this year, according to Maru Mora Villalpando, founder of La Resistencia. The grassroots organization, led by undocumented immigrants, wants the facility closed and has organized a rally outside the gates every night during the current hunger strike, which has gone on for about six days. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)

Huge spike in costs to help salmon could derail WA transportation budget
Come January, lawmakers will face a surprise that will strain Washington’s transportation budget for years: an up to $4 billion increase in the cost of complying with a court order to improve salmon passage under state highways. It’s an eye-watering sum, doubling the size of current estimates, that could force difficult questions about the future of some transportation projects. But, facing a deadline imposed by a federal judge in a lawsuit brought by Washington tribes, the Legislature may have no choice but to act, and soon. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark/The Seattle Times)

Amazon forced drivers to work at dangerously fast pace, WA regulator says
Delivery drivers at a Seattle-area Amazon warehouse are required to load vans at a dangerously fast pace, Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries alleged. At Amazon’s Sumner facility, drivers have to load their vans in a “manner and timeframe” that leads to a high or very high risk of lower back injury, the department claims in a previously unpublicized citation issued in June. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Luke Johnson/The Seattle Times)

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Aberdeen Daily World
November is family caregiver’s month

Bellingham Herald
Old-growth trees live another day as controversial Bellingham townhome development hits pause
Would a safe-driving refresher test when we renew licenses save lives on WA roads?

Capital Press
NAWG: No new farm bill before spring
USFWS proposes shooting 400K invasive barred owls to save spotted owl

The Daily News
Longview Public Library launches pre-K reading program

Everett Herald
Starbucks workers in Everett, Marysville join national strike
Snohomish County funds Spanish voters’ pamphlets, but not ballots — yet
Sen. Bernie Sanders says ‘We must stand’ with Providence Everett nurses
On National Adoption Day, 11 Snohomish County families grow by 1
Comment: What Providence’s treatment of nurses means for patients

Islands’ Weekly
Washington residents wait in darkness for Congress to end daylight savings

Mercer Island Reporter
City council eyes 2024 with approval of State Legislative Priorities

News Tribune
2nd juror in Tacoma police trial falls ill. Judge postpones proceedings
Woman who was hit by gunfire during Friday standoff with police in Bremerton has died
Pierce County homicide suspect who barricaded himself in Bremerton now dead, police say
Traffic camera fines can be $250 in this Pierce County city. Here’s where they’re planned
Op-Ed: Have you seen the turnout for Pierce County’s election? So many missed opportunities

Olympian
Thurston County judge rules in favor of lawmakers’ privilege to withhold records
Students, parents and teachers plead for OSD to keep schools open
Op-Ed: Would a safe-driving refresher test when we renew licenses save lives on WA roads?
Op-Ed: We must help Thurston tenants without driving local landlords out of business

Puget Sound Business Journal
End of key tax provision could spell doom for some businesses

Seattle Medium
Washington State To Purchase 9,000 Acres of Forestland in Wahkiakum County
Seattle Releases Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy Use For City Employees

Seattle Times
Amazon forced drivers to work at dangerously fast pace, WA regulator says
Huge spike in costs to help salmon could derail WA transportation budget (Fey)
Judge rules WA lawmakers can withhold documents via ‘legislative privilege’
Safety advocates call for changes to ‘Seattle’s most dangerous corridor’
Makah Tribe may soon exercise right to hunt gray whales off WA coast
Police fatally shoot homicide suspect during Bremerton standoff; woman at scene also dies

Tri-City Herald
Big Tri-City overpass project just got more expensive. Extra $3M ‘heartburn’ for council

Washington Post
UAW workers ratify contracts with Big 3 automakers
Seniors made up 63 percent of covid hospitalizations earlier this year
World’s richest 1% pollute more than the poorest two-thirds, Oxfam says
China vows to crack down on fentanyl chemicals. The impact is unclear.
The fierce battle over junk fees that cost consumers billions of dollars a year

WA State Standard
Online schooling for Washington’s youngest students is on the rise
Democrats urge feds to update banking ‘red flags’ on legal marijuana businesses
Immigrant detainees resort to hunger strikes in protest of conditions at Tacoma facility

Wenatchee World
Stormwater bills going up in Wenatchee
Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority re-ups lobbying firm contract with familial tie

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Hilltop Heritage students voice safety concerns following lockdowns prompted by ‘Kia Boyz’
Cannabis users appear to be relying less on conventional sleep aids, according to new Washington State University study
Microsoft hires OpenAI founders to lead AI research team
Seattle rabbi speaks out after suspicious envelope delivered to synagogue

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
‘Not in our name’: Hundreds rally at Space Needle to demand Gaza ceasefire

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Climate change is hastening the demise of Pacific Northwest forests
Potential toll hike for I-405 and SR 167 could come as early as February 2024, WSDOT says
Western gray squirrels uplisted to endangered status due to Pacific Northwest habitat loss

KNKX Public Radio
Volunteers help sagebrush, wildflowers grow back after fires

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle ties record for homicides set in the 1990s
Should Seattle expand involuntary commitment for mental health and addiction?

NW Public Radio
WSU Student workers could go on strike before final exams, end of semester
Volunteers helping sagebrush, wildflowers grow where fires burned
Workers at Tacoma Art Museum vote unanimously to unionize
Western gray squirrels now considered ‘endangered’ in Washington

Q13 TV (FOX)
City of Burien threatens potential legal action against church for homeless encampment

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Downtown workers don’t feel prepared to handle crisis on their doorsteps
Housing project proposal that irked environmentalists shifts hands

Crosscut
City Council amended Seattle’s $7.8B budget. Here’s what’s changing

MyNorthwest
Nurses return to work at Providence Medical Center-Everett
Meth: The other drug on the streets, and how it’s becoming more dangerous

The Stranger
Slog AM: Drama at OpenAI, Temporary Ceasefire Talks Progress, Shakira Reaches Deal in Tax Fraud Case

West Seattle Blog
Endings and beginnings at Alki Community Council’s November meeting
Saving, and loving, Longfellow Creek and its salmon

Friday, November 17

New WA team fighting organized retail theft presses first charges
A Bremerton man was charged Thursday with first-degree organized retail theft, marking the first prosecution by a new Attorney General’s Office unit created to crack down on organized retail crime. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Luke Johnson / The Seattle Times)

WA expands health insurance plans to undocumented residents, but it’s still cost-prohibitive
Around 105,000 people are newly eligible to buy health insurance in Washington. That’s because, for the first time, undocumented residents can purchase health insurance through Washington Health Plan Finder. About 60% of Washington’s undocumented residents have lived in the state for 10 years or more. However, until this year, health plans for that group were limited to children, pregnant people and people qualifying under the Alien Emergency Medical program. Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting. (U.S. Department of Agriculture / Lance Cheung)

IBM pulls ads from X as Musk amplifies antisemitism
IBM said Thursday it will stop advertising on X, formerly Twitter, after a report from a media watchdog organization found that its ads had appeared on the Elon Musk-owned social media site alongside pro-Nazi tweets. Continue reading at Washington Post.