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Wednesday, December 13

State lacks Spanish-speaking nurses; for Everett student, it’s personal
About 13% of people in the United States identify as Hispanic, and nearly 70% speak Spanish at home. But only 8% of doctors speak Spanish, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Latino Health and Culture research center at the University of California, Los Angeles. Just over 10% of nurses are Hispanic, according to a national nurse survey. Hispanic people make up 14% of the state’s population. A diversity snapshot last year showed Hispanic nurses were the most underrepresented in the state, making up 5% of registered nurses and 5% of registered nursing students. Just over 3% of Washington doctors were Hispanic, according to the state medical commission. Continue reading at The Herald. (Annie Barker)

How unfinished housing reform business will spill into WA’s 2024 legislative session
Washington state lawmakers hope to keep at last some of the momentum going from 2023, which many called “the year of housing.” A lot of the energy came from the House of Representatives, where a bipartisan team led the charge for statewide legalization of backyard cottages (also known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs). Another bill legalized “missing middle housing” like duplexes and townhomes in neighborhoods currently dominated by single-family homes. Peterson said short session or not, in 2024 lawmakers hope to finish some of 2023’s unfinished housing reform business. Continue reading at KUOW. (Tierra Mallorca)

Most kids in WA still aren’t tested for lead, despite risks
A report from the state auditor’s office, released Tuesday, says that 74% of Washington kids on Medicaid born from 2014 to 2016 had not undergone a blood test for lead between their first and sixth birthdays. A blood test is the only way to reliably determine lead exposure. Lead is especially harmful to kids, who can be exposed through paint, household products made in other countries like toys and tableware, and contaminated soil. Continue reading at Seattle Times.

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Associated Press
Crews work to contain gas pipeline spill in Washington state

Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor County adopts 2024 budget, seeks to close $3.1 million deficit

Axios
Supreme Court agrees to hear abortion pill case
After powder threats, election offices look to Narcan and PPE

Bellingham Herald
1 killed, 2 hospitalized by suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at The Evergreen State College
Opinion: The anti-life cruelty of forcing Kate Cox to flee Texas to end a nonviable pregnancy

Columbian
Rights without a remedy: Washington law creates dilemma for low-income renter at mobile home park on Highway 99
‘A road to home’: Thrive 2 Survive to provide staffing, case management to people living at Vancouver’s Safe Parking Zone
FAFSA changes create delays for students seeking to apply for financial aid at Washington State University Vancouver, Clark College, other schools

Everett Herald
State lacks Spanish-speaking nurses; for Everett student, it’s personal

High Country News
The Endangered Species Act’s complicated legacy in Indian Country

International Examiner
Community health clinic ICHS reflects on 50 years of crisis and opportunity
Filipinotown Magazine highlights Seattle’s vibrant Filipino American community, “changes the narrative” of erasure in the CID

News Tribune
Notorious derelict vessel is finally gone from Tacoma waterway. Here’s what happened
Defense lawyer tells jury Manuel Ellis ‘created his own death’ by resisting Tacoma police
Opinion: Kroger and Albertsons want to merge. We work there. This is all about greed

Olympian
State agency had its own ‘legislative privilege’ policy in place to shield certain records

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing revs up 737 Max deliveries as new orders roll in
Seattle council passes historic plan to reduce building emissions
Here’s why relief might be on the horizon in 2024 housing market

Seattle Times
Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm is leaving
Most kids in WA still aren’t tested for lead, despite risks
What WA drivers should know about Tesla’s giant recall
Manuel Ellis ‘created his own death,’ Tacoma officer’s defense argues
Seattle approves new mandates for sidewalk repair and construction
A year into crisis, Tukwila church struggles as 500 asylum-seekers face winter
King County settles lawsuit filed over problematic search warrant in homicide investigation
Opinion: Take out dams and keep the Snake River salmon’s last, best place

Skagit Valley Herald
Impacts of Skagit River flooding remain

Spokesman Review
Central Valley School Board newcomers assume office
New downtown Spokane clinic offers cutting-edge Alzheimer’s treatments and research
Spokane awarded $9.2 million federal grant to overhaul pedestrian safety, install new bike lanes
Getting There: Washington transportation department releases first rest stop plan in years, asks state for millions to fund renovations
Opinion: The Affordable Connectivity Program enhances health care equity

Tri-City Herald
WA Gov. Jay Inslee praises 1st-of-a-kind ‘green’ fertilizer plant planned in Richland
‘A train wreck for a long time.’ Senate committee talks fentanyl problem in Indian Country

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
AT&T sues the city of Walla Walla in federal court over cell tower permit denial
A new apple is headed to Washington orchards, with a naming contest planned in 2024

Washington Post
Supreme Court will hear case on access to key abortion drug mifepristone
Nearly 200 nations clinch unprecedented agreement to transition away from fossil fuels

WA State Standard
School officials urge state to extend emergency graduation waiver
Petitions filed for ‘parents’ bill of rights’ ballot measure in Washington
US Supreme Court to decide fate of medication abortion access nationwide

Wenatchee World
Chelan County PUD hires new chief financial and risk officer
Columbia River Drug Task Force arrest 2, seize 9,400 fentanyl pills
Chelan County commissioners pass $56.9M 2024 budget, reserve funds to fill 2.6M gap

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima Council directs city to stop downtown parking enforcement for 60 days
$1 million EPA grant will focus on nitrate and air quality awareness in the Lower Valley

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Kenmore City Council votes against an affordable housing building
Nurses at Seattle Children’s psychiatric unit gather to voice concerns over increased violence (Macri, Pollet)
‘A piece of me died’: Former Sea-Tac employee receives largest payout ever for workplace injury
College student dies, 3 others hospitalized after ‘symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning’
Once an eyesore in Tacoma’s Foss Waterway, problematic former fishing vessel to be deconstructed

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Child at Auburn school finds jar of cocaine on playground, tastes powder
Seattle Children’s Hospital nurses hold vigil to raise awareness on ‘combat zone’ workplace
Man arrested in King County after detective made false statements gets $225,000 settlement
US proposes replacing engine-housing parts on Boeing jets like one involved in passenger’s death
‘Their eyes were wide open’: Evergreen student dead, 2 injured from carbon monoxide poisoning

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle mayor to sign new building emissions policy into law Wednesday
Seattle-based Zulily accuses Amazon of ‘bullying’ it out of business in lawsuit
Trial of Tacoma police officers accused in Manny Ellis death close to jury deliberations
Lawsuit accuses Fred Hutch, UQ Medical Center and more of failing to protect data amid breach

KNKX Public Radio
Cascadia bullet train stuck at the station as feds dole out big bucks for rail

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Children’s nurses call out workplace violence (Berry)
Leaked documents on Snake River dams leads to congressional hearing
How the fight to stop election misinformation morphed into a free speech battle
How unfinished housing reform business will spill into WA’s 2024 legislative session (Peterson, Bateman, Gregerson, Reed)

KXLY (ABC)
Enrollment woes leave Washington school closures on the table
$40.6 million on the way to low-income Washingtonians from AG lawsuits
‘It’s just wrong’: Spokane property owner accused of profiting from tenants’ rent assistance while behind bars

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘You’re pushing the boundaries. Don’t push it any further,’ judge warns prosecution in Ellis case
1 student killed, 2 hospitalized from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at Evergreen State College

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Poverty rate declines, but that’s not the whole story

Crosscut
It’s been a tough year for legislative transparency in Washington
SCOTUS won’t hear the challenge to WA’s ‘conversion therapy’ ban

MyNorthwest
More than 30,000 gallons of gas spill after pipeline leaks in Skagit Co.

The Stranger
Bad Apples – 2023 Reveals of SPD Officers Bullying Kids, Driving Dangerously, Committing Crimes
Slog AM: Supreme Court Will Hear Abortion Pill Case, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at Evergreen State College

West Seattle Blog
LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit CEO leaving after less than a year and a half

Tuesday, December 12

Gov. Inslee proposes another $941 million for clean energy, climate action in WA
Gov. Jay Inslee proposed on Monday another $941 million for action on climate change, including environmental justice, clean energy and transportation projects, in his 2024 supplemental budget. The budget would tap into stronger-than-expected revenue from the state’s carbon-pricing program. The proposal comes toward the end of the first year of the program that makes the state’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases pay for their pollution. It would add to the $2.1 billion already allocated by lawmakers during the 2023 session for the next two years toward climate and clean energy projects. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Ombuds program in King County gives those experiencing homelessness an ally in navigating system, resolving problems
The ombuds program was established by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority last year. The program helps people navigate a tangled network of assistance and resolve problems they encounter along the way. The idea for the Seattle-based homeless ombuds program, which employs five people, was conceived in 2019. It’s designed to act as a human resource, investigation and network hub. As of November, 431 people had reached out to the program: 330 sought support and facilitation, 76 submitted complaints and 25 had general comments or concerns. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Joshua Hart)

Kitsap’s first one-stop drug recovery center in Poulsbo aims to break cycle of addiction
It’s been over a month since the North Kitsap Recovery Resource Center opened to fill the need for substance dependency treatment in the north country. At the resource center, those in need of treatment can walk into the center at 19351 8th Avenue NE in Poulsbo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays, or call for services, at no cost. There, visitors can access peer support, nursing, substance use disorder evaluations, mental health appointment assistance and counseling, computers, laundry, Narcan and medications for opioid use disorder and alcohol addiction. It is all free, with the only requirements being an interest in recovery or a criminal charge in North Kitsap or Bainbridge Island. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun.

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Associated Press
Inflation eases again as Fed looks to modify interest rates
Commercial fishermen need more support for substance abuse and fatigue, lawmakers say
The Supreme Court rejects an appeal over bans on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children

Axios
More older Washingtonians are using cannabis

Capital Press
Inslee defends cap-and-trade, plans more climate bills

Columbian
PeaceHealth to close its Lacamas Clinic
Ombuds program in King County gives those experiencing homelessness an ally in navigating system, resolving problems
Editorial: Include inclusionary zoning in housing debate

Everett Herald
Lawsuit: Children given Benadryl at Lynnwood day care
Marysville could get $250,000 in federal money for flood mitigation
Darrington school reduces lunchroom waste with new milk dispensers
Editorial: Lynnwood’s steps protect online public comment

High Country News
Washington works to reconcile its history of Indigenous boarding schools

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap’s first one-stop drug recovery center in Poulsbo aims to break cycle of addiction

News Tribune
Special prosecutor: Tacoma police ignored Manuel Ellis’ calls for help and ‘let him die’
Opinion: Federal attempt to combat antisemitism puts universities in an impossible position

Olympian
Inslee announces climate priorities for upcoming 2024 legislative session

Puget Sound Business Journal
Starbucks says it wants to ink first union contracts next year
Hottest rental markets of 2023 reveal a shifting multifamily sector
Big questions, new lawsuits emerge after landmark real estate verdict
Retirement plans see boost as states mandate IRAs and tax credits lower costs

Seattle Times
Seattle Public Utilities ends request for limits on water use
Bellevue family whose house was destroyed in landslide receives $5M
Health costs are soaring in WA. Here’s what may be behind that climb (Randall)
Seattle’s Skillet to pay $324K for alleged wage-theft law violations, firings
Gov. Inslee proposes another $941 million for clean energy, climate action in WA (Nguyen, Mullet)
Military testing reveals hundreds of drinking water wells contaminated with PFAS in WA
Editorial: Remove culverts for WA’s climate resiliency
Opinion: Climate justice in WA is not served by rejecting natural gas

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla County 2024 budget hearing extended to Dec. 18
Public meetings: Budgets on the agenda in College Place, Walla Walla and Columbia County

Washington Post
Covid and flu rising ahead of holidays, increasing ER visits
Equal Rights Amendment was introduced 100 years ago — and still waits
Pharmacies share medical data with police without a warrant, inquiry finds

WA State Standard
Naming of two state buildings awaits action by lawmakers (Hunt, Doglio)
Inslee vows to assist families with energy costs, prevent gouging by oil firms
Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to WA ban on ‘conversion therapy’ for minors

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee USPS workers picket to raise awareness on proposed changes

Yakima Herald-Republic
Mediator joins negotiations between YVC and faculty union
State funds will help Yakima health District meet growing needs next year

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Closing statements continue in trial of 3 Tacoma officers charged in Manuel Ellis’ death
Lynnwood daycare allegedly drugged kids with Benadryl before they napped, lawsuit says

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Closing arguments kick off as emotional, intense Manny Ellis trial winds to close
Crews cleaning up 30,000 gallons of gasoline after pipeline leak in Skagit County
State lawmakers consider making driver’s ed requirement for those under 24-year-old
Supreme Court rejects an appeal over Washington ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
How will Washington state benefit from Federal Railroad Administration grants?
More than 300 trees could be removed in Shoreline for major roadway improvements

KUOW Public Radio
Washington state phases out super-polluting gases used in refrigerators, air conditioners

KXLY (ABC)
Bipartisan bill to lower health care costs passes with overwhelming support

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Rules meant to quiet ABC Recycling meet resistance
Whatcom County reports significant transmission of influenza, RSV

MyNorthwest
Ringleader pleads guilty in major King County rental assistance fraud case

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: City says water supply is finally back to normal
FERRY ALERT UPDATE: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth resuming 2-boat service

Monday, December 11

New minimum wage, gun waiting period begin Jan. 1. Here’s what else takes effect in new year.
Washington residents will experience several changes at the start of the new year including a higher state minimum wage, and the effects of new laws that were adopted during the 2023 legislative session. Workers can expect other changes as well, such as a 4.9% increase in average workers’ compensation premiums for 2024. Jointly, workers and employees will pay an additional $65 per year for each full-time employee. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Tony Overman)

More WA students will be eligible for college financial aid next year
Nearly 15,000 Washington students will be newly eligible to receive federal financial aid money in 2024 under a plan that also expands the federal Pell Grant fund and makes it easier to apply for aid, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said this month during a virtual news conference. The financial aid is awarded on a sliding scale based on a family’s income. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be repaid. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Kevin Clark)

Washington caps insulin costs at $35/month. More reforms may come
In the United States, the average cost of insulin per unit is more than 10 times the price internationally. The price to consumers varies depending on the type of insulin and mode of delivery, but an analysis from the drug pricing website GoodRx found that per-package costs for mixed insulin — a combination of long- and short-acting insulins — ranged from $42.96 to $704.41, based on claims from October 2022 to September 2023. In Washington, a $35 cap on monthly supplies of insulin is now making the drug more affordable and more accessible to people who need it — and who were paying enormous sums previously. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Matt M. McKnight)

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Axios
Washington may require driver’s ed for more young drivers (Fey, Liias)

Bainbridge Island Review
WSF: Walla Walla, Chimacum nearing return to service

Capital Press
Yakima fruit company fined in two fatal accidents
Western Innovator: Research cultivates shiitake mushrooms
‘Highly irregular’: Legal experts weigh in on leaked Snake River dam package

Columbian
Developer voluntarily makes affordable units available in Washouga
New van allows Columbia River Mental Health Services Tem to id those in need along Fourth Plain
Ridgefield looking for a link: Officials in rapidly growing city seek additional connection to Interstate 5
Vancouver to receive nearly $5.7 million for improvements along Fourth Plain, Cantwell announces
Is requiring new apartments to include affordable units the right move for Vancouver? It’s working in Redmond
Southwest Washington lawmakers say health care, worker shortage, public safety among priorities for upcoming legislative session (Cleveland, Stonier, Wylie)
Editorial: Taking positive steps in fight against fentanyl

Federal Way Mirror
Governor proposes more funding to fight fentanyl crisis

Everett Herald
Everett’s new budget trims $104M, with deficit still looming
Near Mt. Index, Forterra secures key piece in conservation puzzle
Dozens in limbo due to meth, fentanyl contamination at Clare’s Place
After antisemitic rants, Lynnwood council changes public comment rules
Editorial: Incoming sheriff seeks outreach to strengthen trust

News Tribune
A Puyallup cold storage facility burned years ago. When will the debris be cleaned up?
From development darling to besieged debtor. How things turned ugly at Point Ruston
Tacoma tries out new tax break meant to create lower rents. Will it work going forward?

Olympian
Chehalis tribal officer involved in shooting at Lucky Eagle Casino, Sheriff’s Office says
New minimum wage, gun waiting period begin Jan. 1. Here’s what else takes effect in new year

Puget Sound Business Journal
Operating in the Red: Hospital systems throughout Washington encounter financial pressures on multiple fronts as the pre-pandemic business model falters

Seattle Times
Gasoline pipeline leaks near Mount Vernon, spilling into creek
How WA’s king tides amp up flood risks amid global sea level rise
More WA students will be eligible for college financial aid next year
Seattle promised free college. How’s it working out? | Ed Lab revisited
New King County milestone: One-quarter of residents born outside U.S.
Should Seattle reconsider safe drug-consumption sites? We look at Vancouver’s example
Opinion: Uphold WA’s landmark Climate Commitment Act
Opinion: Next-gen tech leaders, ask what you can do for your country
Opinion: With owls or nudists, sometimes the best we can do is nothing (Dhingra)
Editorial: Put the brakes on plan to close King County youth detention center
Editorial: Without the right leader, King County’s homelessness crisis will not subside

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
The Health Clinic opens at Garrison Middle School, giving students access to care

Washington Post
Banning fossil fuels is now a make-or-break issue at climate talks
How a true believer’s flawed research helped legitimize home schooling

WA State Standard
Naming of two state buildings awaits action by lawmakers
Cascadia bullet train stuck at the station as feds dole out big bucks for rail

Wenatchee World
NCW cleans up with EPA grant for contaminated land

Yakima Herald-Republic
Mediator joins negotiations between YVC and faculty union
State says it is at a ‘critical juncture’ with Japanese beetles; seeks permission from residents for treatment

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
School closes Monday after Olympic Pipeline gas spill near Conway
1 man killed by Chehalis Tribal Police officer inside Lucky Eagle Casino
Kirkland safe parking program seeing increase in people needing a place to stay
Closing arguments begin Monday in trial of 3 Tacoma officers charged in Manuel Ellis’ death
Dog boarding facilities taking extra precautions as mystery dog respiratory illness reaches Washington

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Amazon asks federal judge to dismiss the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit
Conway school decides to close as crews clean up leaking pipeline

KNKX Public Radio
Shimmering glass sculpture ‘The Salmon School’ returns to Tacoma

KUOW Public Radio
Week in Review: Denny Blaine Park, flooding, and invasive owls

KXLY (ABC)
Fentanyl crisis disproportionately impacts Native American communities

Q13 TV (FOX)
Gasoline from the Olympic Pipeline spilled into creeks in Skagit County
Minimum wage, cannabis use, waiting period for guns: New laws going into effect in Washington in 2024

Web

Cascadia Daily News
New Whatcom sheriff names leadership team
Bellingham’s shoreline history: A boom, bust of resource extraction
Lummi Nation leader urges Biden to declare national fentanyl emergency
‘COVID dogs’ overwhelm Whatcom shelter, face increasing euthanasia rates

Crosscut
Why convictions lag compared to sex trafficking reports in the PNW
Washington caps insulin costs at $35/month. More reforms may come (Keiser)

MyNorthwest
Tacoma’s renter rights’ measure is in effect, but the city won’t enforce it

Friday, December 8

Compass Health dedicates Everett block to housing and behavioral health services
Snohomish County is facing a behavioral health care crisis. In its biggest project ever, a local nonprofit wants to pair health care with housing to help solve the problem. Compass Health began as an orphanage 115 years ago, and now has more than 20 locations to provide health care and housing services for low-income people in Northwest Washington. Now Compass is thinking bigger — an entire block in Everett dedicated to behavioral health care and permanent supportive housing. Continue reading at The Herald. (Olivia Vanni)

Inslee warns that state effort to move people out of encampments is getting short on cash
State programs to help transition people out of homeless encampments and into housing are running out of money, Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday, calling on the Legislature to provide funding to keep them going. Since Inslee launched a statewide homeless encampment initiative last year, 30 encampments along state highways have closed, and more than 1,000 former residents of those camps have moved into housing, according to the governor’s office.As part of a budget proposal he will release in full next week, Inslee is asking legislators to approve $140 million for homelessness programs. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Laurel Demkovich)

Washington lawmakers propose big changes to cap-and-trade
Washington Democrats Sen. Mark Mullet and Rep. Mike Chapman have introduced cap-and-trade reform legislation in the House and Senate to hold down energy costs.Senate Bill 5783 and the identical House Bill 1887 seek to lessen cap-and-trade’s upward pressure on fossil fuel prices by stretching out forced cuts to greenhouse gases.The state would still meet its ultimate goal of nearly eliminating fossil fuels by 2050, but would miss its target of halving carbon emissions by 2030. Continue reading at Capital Press.

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Aberdeen Daily World
Recount ratifies Orr’s mayoral win
Sacraficial sand: Berm to hold off waves in Ocean Shores, for now

Axios
How the “big five” airlines came to dominate the skies
The fight against organized retail crime heats up in Washington

Capital Press
Washington Democrat proposes ban on small-gas engines (Walen)
Washington lawmakers propose big changes to cap-and-trade (Mullet, Chapman)

Columbian
Student project aims to help businesses stand out, customers save with ‘Ridgefield Passport’
Latest ‘Voice of the River’ highlights dams: Confluence Project aims to revive tribal history along river
Vancouver Housing Authority plans to renovate Esther Short Commons; building’s value helps pay for renovations
Clark County expert encourages vigilance as holidays are a prime time for scams, and AI could give scammers a boost
Editorial: Website good tool, but child care still needs help

Everett Herald
Automated traffic speed cameras get the green light in Mukilteo
Everett council president backs down from ban on holding 2 offices (Fosse)
‘As the water recedes,’ Snohomish County grapples with record flood
County Council members launch bipartisan ‘Building Bridges’ nonprofit
Compass Health dedicates Everett block to housing and behavioral health services (Cortes)

The Inlander
Spokane’s lone Black paper is revived
Spokane’s American Indian Community Center hopes to build a new facility in High Bridge Park
Despite the proliferation of cannabis, studies show substance use is down among minors where it’s legal
Spokane asks Legislature to strengthen hate crime laws, raise property tax cap; pay for parks, fire station, child care center (Billig)

News Tribune
Opinion: Tacoma says trees are critical. So why do we let so many big, old ones get cut down?

Olympian
Inslee proposes $100 million more to clear people from living in freeway rights-of-way

Puget Sound Business Journal
Zulily closing Seattle operations, state filing shows
Seattle-area company won’t renew National Association of Realtors bond

Seattle Times
Sound Transit nears approval on flat $3 fare
New WA lab could mean quicker justice for DUI cases, safer roads
Seattle cop to get over $600K after wrongful firing, arbitrator orders
Editorial: Focus on youth mental health or face unimaginable costs
Opinion: Trees are (part of) the answer

Spokesman Review
Biden promises more respect, less red tape for tribes at Tribal Nations Summit
Washington business groups sue EPA, calling water quality standards ‘impossible’
Mayor-elect Lisa Brown announces initial cabinet appointments, elevates civil rights director to cabinet

Washington Post
The racial homeownership gap is widening. New rules might make it worse.

WA State Standard
Inslee warns that state effort to move people out of encampments is getting short on cash (Macri)

Wenatchee World
Douglas County commissioners call port authority levy into question — again
Petitioners appeal to governor after Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission denies gray wolf rulemaking.

Yakima Herald-Republic
Fruit growers discuss economic pressures and new technology at meeting in Kennewick

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New toxicology lab aims to reduce state’s blood test backlog
Gov. Inslee to request another $100 million to continue clearing encampments
‘DO NOT PAY IT’: Fred Hutch warns of ‘threatening spam emails’ after cyberattack

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Tacoma says it can’t enforce new ordinance aimed at protecting renters
Firefighters rescue students from Olympia school bus stuck in floodwaters
New bill would end Washington’s twice-yearly time changes once and for all (Dhingra)
Seattle cancer patients face blackmail threats after recent Fred Hutch data breach

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington State Patrol opens toxicology lab to help improve backlog issues
City of Tacoma will not enforce renters’ rights initiative that passed in November
Law requiring teen suspects to have legal representation hinders police investigations

KNKX Public Radio
No auto insurance? 3 strikes could lead to vehicle impound
Hundreds pack meeting about kids play area by Seattle nude beach
Sound Transit debating installing a flat fare system for one-way rides
‘Sticker shock’: Despite past costs, Inslee seeks $100M to prevent homelessness

KUOW Public Radio
Rattlesnake Mountain soon to be co-managed between feds and Tribes

KXLY (ABC)
Victims of abuse at a boys’ home in northeastern Washington decades ago to receive nearly $17 million
‘Emotionally gut-wrenching and painful’: EWU task force recommends transformation to tackle ongoing budget concerns

Q13 TV (FOX)
Snohomish County collecting info on flood damages for disaster ais request
$4.5M into new Federal Way crime lab to crack down on massive test backlog

Web

Cascadia Daily News
The reshaping of Bellingham Bay — from past to present
Major Whatcom, Skagit fentanyl supplier gets 8-year sentence

Crosscut
Why convictions lag compared to sex trafficking reports in the PNW

Thursday, December 7

WA proposes ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in clothes, other products
The Washington State Department of Ecology has proposed bans and new reporting requirements for toxic chemicals used to repel water, heat and fuel in some clothing, firefighting gear and cleaning products. The chemicals have been turning up in drinking water sources near airports and military bases where crews were required to use and train with toxic firefighting foams for decades. As new statewide drinking water testing requirements roll out, the chemicals have contaminated over 200 public water sources so far. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Kylie Cooper)

Here’s how WA spent first sliver of cap-and-trade dollars
As Washington conducted another sale of pollution credits on Wednesday, a new report shows initial dollars spent from the state’s carbon pricing program bolstering public transit and transportation services. More than 100 projects received slices of $76.2 million in Climate Commitment Act revenue in the last budget, contributing to a reduction of 191,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to data compiled by the Department of Ecology. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (SDOT)

Bloodworks NW removes barriers for gay, bisexual donors
Starting Wednesday, gay and bisexual men in the Pacific Northwest have more freedom to donate blood than they have had since 1985. This year the FDA changed its donor restrictions that had come out of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and Bloodworks Northwest implemented the modernized rules Wednesday. The old rules made it challenging for gay and bisexual men to donate blood, requiring lengthy wait periods. Now all donors, no matter their sexual orientation, will follow the same donation policies. Continue reading at KUOW. (AP)