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Thursday, May 30

Out-of-state abortions have increased by 50% in Washington post-Dobbs, UW study finds
Out-of-state abortions have increased by 50% in Washington since the Supreme Court ruled the procedure is not constitutionally protected, according to a new University of Washington study. Researchers found the number of patients seeking abortions in Washington from other states increased from 4% of abortions to 6% of abortions in the state. Much of that increase comes from Texas patients and other states that have restricted abortion since the ruling, known as the Dobbs decision. Despite the increase in patients, the study did not find the level of care had decreased. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Orion Donovan Smith)

WA salmon passage projects are getting more than $75 million
Migrating salmon and steelhead face all kinds of obstacles littered throughout Washington. But piece by piece, those barriers will be removed, thanks in part to nearly $75 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. The money will support projects working to free up miles of habitat for multiple species of steelhead and Pacific salmon, including those listed under the Endangered Species Act. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

How WA counties are spending millions in opioid settlement dollars
Washington is so far set to receive around $1.6 billion in settlement funds from companies accused of playing a role in fueling the opioid epidemic. Local governments in Washington are expected to receive an estimated $373 million from the national settlement over the next two decades. They’ll also get about $645 million up until 2038 from $1.3 billion in various state settlements. The other half of the $1.3 billion will go to Washington’s state government. Other settlements still pending could yield additional money. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Drew Angerer)

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Axios
Adrian Diaz no longer chief in shake-up at Seattle PD
Boeing faces federal deadline for safety improvement plan

Bellingham Herald
Gaza-war protesters agree to dismantle tent camp at Western Washington University
Whatcom County’s tourism revenue continues steady climb; which sectors are most affected?

Capital Press
House farm bill aims to improve, update programs
‘WE’RE PREPARED’: Firefighters get ready as wildfire season bears down on the West
Editorial: Inslee heeds no opposition to energy projects

Columbian
Clark County Jail to bill Medicaid for medications for alcohol and opioid use disorder

Everett Herald
Union firefighters, Boeing reach new tentative agreement
Sultan, Snohomish to get federal money for clean school buses
Edmonds favors joining South County Fire — but not ready to commit

The Facts Newspaper
Most EPS foam containers banned from sale and distribution in WA starting June 1

The Inlander
The ACLU and other law firms sue Washington state seeking to prevent ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ from taking effect
Creative developers are supercharging our middle housing ordinance, and projects will start coming out of the ground

News Tribune
More homes on the way at Tehaleh after land deals made with two separate builders
Taking an ocean vacation this summer? WA has the second-highest tsunami risk in US
Pierce County not taking chances, announces burn ban to begin in unincorporated area
Get ready — construction work will impact both ends of I-5 in Pierce County this summer

Olympian
Youth can now ride Amtrak trains and buses for free while in Washington state. Here’s how
More positions axed and hours cut in Yelm Schools. Program and service cuts coming in June

Puget Sound Business Journal
Snohomish County awards grants to small businesses hit by pandemic

Seattle Times
WA salmon passage projects are getting more than $75 million

Spokesman Review
Confidence soaring for Inland Northwest aerospace industry
Out-of-state abortions have increased by 50% in Washington post-Dobbs, UW study finds
As insurance rates spike, companies will soon be required to explain rate hikes to policyholders
Developer sues Spokane Valley over delays, requirements in proposed Painted Hills development

Tri-City Herald
1,100 Tri-Cities medical workers vote to strike if fair wage demands aren’t met

WA State Standard
How WA counties are spending millions in opioid settlement dollars
21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nation’s aging grid
Low-wage states with cheap housing dominated the post-pandemic jobs boom

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Work to begin on reducing flood risk from Mount St. Helens lake
What to know about Sue Rahr, Seattle’s new interim police chief
Styrofoam and polystyrene materials, like takeout containers, will be banned in Washington
Family-run Lynnwood asbestos company hit with one of the biggest fines L&I’s doled out in years
Seattle mayor says Diaz out as police chief; former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr will serve as interim

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Jesse Jones: More than 100k cars still on WA roads with recalled airbags
Kent School District labor group calls for resignations of district’s top leaders
Adrian Diaz, out as Seattle Police Chief, former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr is in
Watchdog report highlights trend of investor-owned rental homes in U.S. housing market
As thousands of veterans receive PACT Act benefits, VA working to ensure equitable rollout

KUOW Public Radio
Hoping to use the computer at a Seattle library? Think again

KXLY (ABC)
‘Pathetic, ugly’; Children racially abused at McEuen Park, according to Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham City Council hits pause on Silver Beach rezoning

Crosscut
Seattle Police Department Chief Adrian Diaz out amid controversy (Lovick)

MyNorthwest
South Lake Union homeless encampment cleared away
New Seattle National Archives to be a ‘very large project’
Washington insurance: Health plan prices may rise; new rule set to begin

The Urbanist
Free Youth Fares Come to Amtrak Cascades in Washington

Wednesday, May 29

Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says
As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide approximately 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses. Low-income, rural and tribal communities — accounting for approximately 45% of the selected projects — are slated to receive roughly 67% of the total funding, per the administration. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (TW Farlow)

Why free money makes you more likely to get a job: Basic income lessons from Tacoma and beyond
Guaranteed basic income is an anti-poverty policy gaining traction in Washington cities. Tacoma recently started its second basic-income pilot, on the heels of a separate King County experiment. The program was designed to demonstrate the effect that small, temporary cash payments without strings attached can have on the financial stability of participants long-term. The Washington state Legislature funded a second version in Tacoma to expand the participant pool and study the feasibility of a basic-income program long-term. This month, GRIT 2.0 began sending out cash payments to the new cohort. Continue reading at KUOW. (Engin Akyurt)

WA schools must serve students with disabilities until 22, court rules
Washington state students with disabilities are eligible to receive services from public schools until they turn 22, a federal appeals court ruled last week. Current state law cuts off services to these students, who are often severely disabled, at the end of the school year that they turn 21. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals justices determined that this violates federal law governing education for students with disabilities. Their decision will overturn this law after a short waiting period. Continue reading at The Seattle Times.

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Axios
Washington has one of the highest work-from-home rates

Bellingham Herald
Work begins on roundabout at busy Hannegan Road intersection. Here’s what to expect.
WWU administration sets deadline for anti-war protesters to remove campus encampment

Capital Press
Inslee: Hawks not in way of Horse Heaven power project
UI-led team receives grant for fire research at molecular level

Columbian
Woodland schools new policy forces staff to reveal students’ gender identity information to parents
‘Parents’ bill of rights’ legislation includes vague language, could lead to discrimination, says lawsuit (Stonier, Wylie)

Everett Herald
Union firefighters, Boeing reach new tentative agreement
Youth now ride for free on Amtrak Cascades trains in Washington
‘Here for the long term’: Boeing, Amazon push for Snohomish County partnerships
Letter: College financial aid is investment in future for all

News Tribune
Network incident hits Puyallup Tribe. Here’s what it means for tribal services
Sneak peek: Walking trails, water access are part of new Tacoma maritime center design
Why will it take 2 more years and $1M to create regional group to address homelessness?
ShotSpotter CEO on how gunshot-detection tech works, what he would tell Tacoma skeptics
Washington’s statewide Styrofoam ban goes into effect June 1. Here’s what you need to know
Opinion: At 1 Tacoma school, kids go to recess next to I-5. Here’s what we’re doing to help

New York Times
With Payments to College Athletes, Another Fight Looms for Women

Puget Sound Business Journal
Noncompete agreements are under fire — but not just from federal rules

Seattle Times
Washington ferry users facing month of longer wait times
SPS kicks off community meetings ahead of school closure proposal
WA schools must serve students with disabilities until 22, court rules
Will climate change cause more WA beach closures because of algae or bacteria?

Skagit Valley Herald
State auditor releases audit on former Hamilton clerk’s misappropriations

Spokesman Review
Ecology and EPA restart free PFAS well testing in West Plains, expanding eligibility
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee travels to Europe and meets with officials at Porsche and other companies

Tri-City Herald
6 Prosser workers arrive at hospital fearing radiation exposure. What really happened?

WA State Standard
Democratic employees in Washington Legislature seek union
Ransomware attack knocks Seattle Public Library’s computer system offline
Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says

Yakima Herald-Republic
New nonprofit helps farmworker with idea for cherry picking harness
Toppenish school board hires Toron Woolridge as next superintendent

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Clark County leads the way in Washington retail sales
Proposal to put further requirements on equity project funding in Seattle tabled until next week

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Youth ride free on Amtrak Cascades
Seattle vote on delivery driver pay cut delayed
Survey shows homelessness up by 23% in Pierce County
Marysville Schools could lose liability insurance in August
Has your insurance gone up? Starting in June companies have to tell you why
Bellevue police arrest 2 juveniles suspected of making death threats to students on social media

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle mayor to make ‘major public safety announcement’ Wednesday
Boeing and local firefighters union reach ‘tentative’ contract agreement
Seattle police face hiring challenges despite increased recruitment efforts
Seattle Public Library shuts down online services after ‘ransomware event’
Encampment on sidewalk between South Lake Union, Seattle Center to be cleared Wednesday

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz out
Tensions flare at Seattle school closure meeting
Seattle leaders discuss recruiting, retaining women officers
Why hasn’t Seattle activated its emergency shelter plan for migrants in Tukwila?
Why free money makes you more likely to get a job: Basic income lessons from Tacoma and beyond

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Valley City Council approves new provider to help curb homelessness
Proposed contract with Lime requires 10% of scooters in underserved neighborhoods
Spokane Regional Transportation Council releases new safety plan to make Spokane’s roads

Web

MyNorthwest
Hackers target Seattle Public Library system
Seattle Police Department faces staffing shortages causing slower response times

The Stranger
Liquified “Natural” Gas Is One of the Most Pressing Risks to Our Climate

The Urbanist
Community Transit Rolls Out Region’s First Hydrogen-Fueled Bus

Tuesday, May 28

Washington Saves fills gap for private-sector employees without a 401(k); plan set to launch in 2027
Most people who have retirement savings set their money aside in a 401(k) or similar tax-deferred accounts. But 401(k)s are not available to everyone. About 40 percent of private-sector Washington employees work for companies that don’t offer retirement plans, according to an analysis from AARP. For those roughly 1.2 million Washingtonians who don’t have access to an employer-sponsored retirement account, lawmakers recently created an alternative: Washington Saves, an automatic individual retirement account program for private-sector employees. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

WA’s ‘one of a kind’ youth homelessness response shows big results
Over the last decade, Washington state has built from nearly nothing a uniquely robust youth homeless response system that is showing staggering results. By one count, there were 40% fewer homeless youths living on their own in 2023 than there were in 2016. At the center of the state’s transformation is the Office of Homeless Youth, an agency created in 2015 not only to administer funding but to shape policy and solutions for homeless youths and young adults. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

States shift toward kin-first foster care
In recent years, state legislatures — some frustrated with crowded foster care systems — have sent more resources and money toward kinship foster care. At the start of the year, Washington State’s kinship caregivers saw a massive rise in monthly foster care payments, with base payments starting at $722 to $860, based on the age of the child. Officials from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families told Stateline that more than policy change, a “culture shift” among the staff to prioritize support for kinship caregivers has increased their kinship care placements. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Scott Olson)

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Axios
How much Airbnb tenants in Seattle can earn

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham sees declining trend in federal funding for affordable housing, services

Capital Press
Corn resistant to five herbicides stokes weed control debate

Columbian
Is the middle class shrinking? Here’s how much you have to make to be in WA’s middle class
Washington Saves fills gap for private-sector employees without a 401(k); plan set to launch in 2027
Woodland schools new policy forces staff to reveal students’ gender identity information to parents
‘People are just much more willing to fight’: More health care workers in Clark County push to unionize

Everett Herald
Bike sign project marks lanes, distances for Everett cyclists
Struggling Marysville schools dropped from insurance pool
State OKs Marysville plan with schools, jobs on chopping block
Here’s your chance to give feedback on the US 2 trestle and its future
As wildfires creep west of Cascades, county plans for next Bolt Creek
Comment: I lost my niece to gun violence 10 years ago this week
Editorial: FAA bill set to improve flight safety, experience
Letter: Expanding grants will help more students get college degrees

Kitsap Sun
Navy program helping military families navigate Kitsap prenatal care services

News Tribune
Tacoma touts streets initiative as a success. Could there be another round in 2025?
2021 heat wave killed nearly 30 people in Pierce County. What lessons were learned?
Tacoma schools to lose ‘hugely impactful’ career-guidance specialists. Folks aren’t happy
Increase in number of homeless people? Annual count says yes, though results imperfect
Opinion: ‘Legislative privilege’ is bogus. Why won’t WA House speaker answer for it— in court? (Jinkins)

New York Times
Lawyers to Plastics Makers: Prepare for ‘Astronomical’ PFAS Lawsuits
Climate Change Added a Month’s Worth of Extra-Hot Days in Past Year

Northwest Asian Weekly
Northwest Asian Weekly sold — Assunta Ng passes the torch to next-generation ownership group

Puget Sound Business Journal
Immigrants a crucial part of American small-business boom
Sound Transit won’t alter light rail plans to accommodate Amazon

Seattle Medium
UW To Enact A Student’s Vision For Black-Student Housing
Washington Ranks Among Top 10 States with the Most Billionaires in U.S.
Washington’s Members Of Color Caucuses Prioritize Criminal Justice Reform And Housing In 2024 Session (Dhingra, Farvivar, Trudeau, Cortes, Gregerson)

Seattle Times
What a 32-hour workweek looks like in San Juan County
Schools across WA are struggling to balance their budgets
Seattle isn’t claiming Tukwila’s migrant crisis. But it did start here
Twin crises hit Washington State Ferries as it tries to right the ship
WA’s ‘one of a kind’ youth homelessness response shows big results (Senn)
Wait times decrease for WA mental health patients, but gains are ‘fragile’

Spokesman Review
Washington Lands Commissioner: Wildfire season is here, so be careful
WSP trooper suffers medical emergency on Interstate 90, collides with another vehicle
Spokane County adds additional public forums in Deer Park, Liberty Lake on comprehensive plan
How an ‘unbelievable’ $55 million gift brought Gonzaga’s Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center to life
Spokane County Commissioner Al French proposes ambitious PFAS solution for new water source on the West Plains. Some remain skeptical

Tri-City Herald
Wildfire closes 20+ miles of highway across Hanford nuclear site Saturday night
Mandatory KID watering restrictions possible this summer. What you can do now
Any WA student can enroll in new virtual school. Why Pasco is offering online classes

Washington Post
The climate refugee crisis is here
America’s best decade, according to data
Covid will still be here this summer. Will anyone care?
How a simple fix could double the size of the U.S. electricity grid
Home insurance was once a ‘must.’ Now more homeowners are going without.
In communities of color, long-covid patients are tired of being sick and neglected

WA State Standard
States shift toward kin-first foster care
More weapons showing up in Washington’s schools
On the Washington-Idaho border, a high school for pregnant and parenting teens
How did Moms for Liberty end up on WA’s approved list of groups training teachers?

Wenatchee World
Yakama Nation leads charge as EPA sets limits on PFAS in Columbia River

Yakima Herald-Republic
School funding shortfalls in Yakima Valley are part of a bigger statewide issue

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Black leaders reflect on 4 years since police killing of George Floyd
WSF to remove large vessel from fleet for the next 4 weeks. Here’s which routes will be impacted
Stuck in the likely path of a new I-5 bridge, Vancouver property owners struggle with uncertainty
Chinatown-International District homeless shelter residents asked to ‘downsize,’ facility preparing to move
‘They are American, it’s an American story’: Memorial Day event honors Nisei veterans who fought in WWII

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
FAA deadline fast-approaching for Boeing

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Puget Sound’s first hydrogen=powered bus set to launch in Snohomish County
Sound Transit to introduce fare inspection process using ambassadors on June 3
Navigation Center shelter relocation welcomed by some neighbors in Seattle’s CID

KNKX Public Radio
Northwest bees that fly during mild winters are dying quicker than before

KXLY (ABC)
Green Bluff farmers face fruit loss due to cold weather
Spokane police looking for witnesses to Pride mural defacement
Eastern Washington’s critical need for long-term care volunteers
City of Spokane considering settlement to family of man shot by police

NW Public Radio
Officials clash over North Cascade grizzly bear reintroduction
Fruit storage contractor faces fines after Wenatchee worker’s death

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham REI union members strike day before Ski to Sea
Health department closes recreational harvest of shellfish in Whatcom County

Crosscut
Tech CEOs join chorus of criticism for Seattle housing plan
WA spent $5B over past decade on homelessness, housing programs
WA college students build campus harm-reduction support networks

Friday, May 24

With June 1 rent increases looming, mobile home residents face uncertain future
There’s only a week and a half until Joann Wellman’s rent at Pinewood Park increases beyond her capacity to pay. Pinewood Park residents will see their monthly rent increased from $615 to $700 for motorhomes and $850 for mobile homes after their community became the latest purchase of Hurst & Son LLC, a real estate investment company with a headquarters in Port Orchard. The company owns nearly 80 mobile home communities across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, five of them being in Kitsap County. They’ve raised rents up to 55% in Aberdeen, Yakima, Spokane, Bellingham and Moscow, Idaho, tacking on additional expenses like utilities, penalty fees for rule violations, and a water usage cap. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Meegan M. Reid)

WA Gov. Inslee rejects plan to limit turbines on proposed huge Tri-Cities wind farm
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has directed the state’s energy facility siting council to recommend allowing more turbines to be built at the Horse Heaven Wind farm project just south of the Tri-Cities. The project, which would be the largest wind turbine project in the state, was initially proposed to stretch for 24 miles along the ridgeline of the Horse Heaven Hills south of Kennewick, dominating the southern skyline view from much of the Tri-Cities. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Bob Brawdy)

New hope is budding for Washington pot shops seeking to go cashless
Marijuana dispensary owners say they want change– and not the kind that jingles in your pocket. Since recreational weed was legalized more than a decade ago, pot shops in Washington have proven to be prime targets for thieves. However, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency recently said they intend to reclassify marijuana as a less serious drug, and the move has created new hope for pot shop owners who wish to open bank accounts. Continue reading at King 5.

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Capital Press
Water rationing starts in Central Washington
Inslee sends Horse Heaven power project recommendation back to site council

Columbian
Clark County Council rejects quick action to help Vancouver pay for 150-bed homeless shelter
Interstate 5 Bridge tolling scenarios: Low-income program, weekend rates and heavy truck tolls

Everett Herald
The Memorial Day holiday weekend travel nightmare is upon us
Letter: Alternative is needed to 8-hour shutdown of I-5
Letter: Demand Senate honor mothers by passing child tax credit bill

Kitsap Sun
Poulsbo Police Department bringing back K-9 narcotics unit
With June 1 rent increases looming, mobile home residents face uncertain future

News Tribune
It was meant to help revitalize downtown. Is Tacoma Town Center circling the drain?
Can you legally fly a drone over a person’s home in Tacoma, Pierce Co.? Here are the laws
Opinion: Humble, stubborn and relentless: Tacoma needs more leaders like Catherine Ushka
Opinion: This rule can promote affordable housing. But it risks pushback and more segregation

Olympian
Pierce County lawmaker responds to investigation into conduct at Legislature (Morgan)
WA Gov. Inslee rejects plan to limit turbines on proposed huge Tri-Cities wind farm
Squaxin tribe gets federal grant to remove 5th Avenue Dam. Nisqually project funded too

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle is flush with new millionaires, report finds
Seattle council OKs plan to accelerate police hiring
Seattle home prices rising at more than twice the national rate
What employers need to know about the crushing childcare costs
Search for homelessness czar moves ‘full-speed ahead’ amid concerns
Sea-Tac expects near-record number of travelers over holiday weekend
Opinion: Space-based economy is about to take off

Seattle Times
Insuring a Seattle-area home now costs more. Here’s why
SPS won’t reschedule graduations that fall on Muslim holiday
Seattle police chief target of racism, ‘mutiny,’ community leaders say
Sound Transit to keep South Lake Union light rail station next to Aurora
Lawsuit says Snohomish County deputies not justified in Sultan shooting

Spokesman Review
How Spokane tourism grew into a $1.5 billion industry in 2023
Washington governor sends back plan for huge Tri-Cities wind farm, asks to add more turbines

Washington Post
Alaskan rivers are turning orange. Climate change could be to blame.
Schools that never needed AC are now overheating. Fixes will cost billions.

WA State Standard
Lawsuit seeks to block Washington ‘parental rights’ initiative (Pedersen)
Inslee rejects recommendation to shrink footprint of massive wind farm
WA joins Ticketmaster lawsuit, demands compensation for overcharged customers

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Boys aged 12-15 accused of weeks-long crime spree in Seattle
New hope is budding for Washington pot shops seeking to go cashless (Strickland)
Seattle Children’s Hospital loses bid to quash lawsuit based on alleged health care racism
What’s that noise on Whidbey Island? UW study finds Navy jet noise impacts residents’ health

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Healthier Together: Mental health crisis among children
Everett police supporting plan for public cameras to combat crime
Renton police upgrade defibrillators in patrol vehicles to save lives
Lawsuit seeks to block Washington parental rights law that critics call a ‘forced outing’ measure

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Police must report what it’s doing to hire women: City Council resolution
Could opting for diesel-powered over electric ferries get Washington new boats faster?

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Strike ends as WWU reaches deal with student employee union
Nooksack River to remain closed ahead of game fishing opening day
Whatcom County Council wants to know about all payouts, including risk pool

MyNorthwest
Are big time gangs operating in King County?
SPD’s assistant chief placed on administrative leave

Thursday, May 23

Capital gains tax receipts in Washington tumble
Capital gains tax collections in Washington have plummeted in their second year, creating potential challenges for the next governor and legislative budget writers in 2025. State lawmakers knew the capital gains tax would be an unpredictable revenue source, prone to up and down swings. Now they have a better sense of what that volatility looks like. Each fiscal year, up to $500 million from the tax is deposited into a state account for schools, early learning, and child care programs. Any tax collections beyond that amount go to an account that helps pay for school construction and renovations. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Seth Wenig)

How to get naloxone mailed to your WA home for free — and how to use it
Washington is getting more than 54,000 naloxone kits that reverse opioid overdoses, and you can order them through the mail for free. The opioid overdose reversal kits are distributed through the state Department of Health. The program is managed by the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance, a community-based nonprofit organization offering health and harm reduction services for drug users in the Pacific Northwest. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Mark Schiefelbein)

WA state prison program aims to strengthen bonds between children, incarcerated parents
The Washington State Department of Corrections now has a program designed to help incarcerated parents bond with their kids when they visit. It’s called the Imagination Library. The visitation room at the Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen is a newly renovated area that’s now a creative child-friendly space. The goal is to help foster the relationship between a child and their incarcerated parent during a visit. Continue reading at KOMO. (DOC)