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Thursday, November 2

WA’s new drug law could help needle exchanges — or restrict them
Facilities like Blue Mountain that serve small cities and surrounding rural areas are the basis for a model of care known as “health engagement hubs” that the Washington State Department of Health hopes will help address the fentanyl crisis, reduce overdoses and offer a pathway to treatment to those who want it. There’s a worry, however, that centers like Blue Mountain – and similar programs such as one run by Willapa Behavioral Health and Wellness in Grays Harbor County – might be threatened by restrictive local ordinances that would hinder their work. The sweeping drug possession law passed by the Legislature in May includes a provision that could allow local jurisdictions to limit harm reduction services. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Andrew Engelson)

Young adults on medication for depression, anxiety surge in Seattle area
The use of medication to combat depression and anxiety increased sharply in the Seattle area during the pandemic, and new data shows one group is largely responsible for that increase: young adults. Rates of depression and anxiety surged as the pandemic took hold, leading to an increase in prescriptions for medications to help people cope with these mental health conditions. The data also shows young adults in Seattle rank among those most medicated nationwide for depression and anxiety. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Kylie Cooper)

Rents in Washington show signs of stabilizing
As apartments built over the past few years open to tenants rent prices across Washington are leveling off, a new analysis of the state’s rental market found. Still, the number of people behind on rent remains high, worrying advocates who say more is needed to help keep tenants in their homes. Bills to limit large rent hikes failed to pass during this year’s legislative session, but some lawmakers have indicated they plan to bring up those proposals again in 2024. “It’s going to be another session on housing next year,” Senate Housing Chair Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, said Tuesday. “We’ll see what comes out.” Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Axios
Courts take action as police reform stalls
Daylight saving time sends Seattle into the dark
Seattle debates gunfire detection technology — again

Capital Press
USDA awards local and regional food grants
Judge dismisses Easterday suit against Tyson
Spokane symposium will feature regenerative ag proponent
Report: Horse Heaven windmills would ‘dominate’ landscape
BEHEMOTH BLADES: Nearly the length of a football field, these wind turbine parts are hard to move

Columbian
Evergreen Habitat for Humanity gets $2.5M donation to fund homes for 100 families in need
Editorial: Local elections secure and conducted fairly

The Daily News
Learning to Grow Inc., opens new childcare facility in Elma
Shoreline at full bore: Ocean Shores embarks on effort to save south end
Small part of Washington sport halibut share on the table at fishery council meeting

Everett Herald
Diversity report identifies gaps in support at Snohomish County offices

The Inlander
A historic property may be added to Riverside State Park, connecting it to Waikiki Springs and providing river access vital to salmon reintroduction in the region
Two members of Washington’s congressional delegation joined a bipartisan call for cannabis policy reform

News Tribune
Tacoma police trial grinds to halt after judge disallows testimony from police instructors
Biden administration announces $334M to hire police officers, improve security at schools

Northwest Asian Weekly
Community Center fills up with senior voters, vaccine advocates

Olympian
Attention WA teens. Apply now to serve as a page during 2024 legislative session
Species die-offs and extreme weather. How WA marine heatwave ‘blobs’ are wreaking havoc

Puget Sound Business Journal
Report: Demand for Seattle office space only 21% of normal

Seattle Times
Young adults on medication for depression, anxiety surge in Seattle area

Spokesman Review
Some Inland Northwest bird species to be renamed in light of racism from historic namesakes
‘Like an open wound’: Washington task force holds event to highlight missing and slain Indigenous women
Washington State agrees to nearly $17 million settlement with a dozen former J Bar D Boys Ranch residents

Tri-City Herald
Rare nerve and brain disease spread by mosquitoes confirmed in Tri-Cities area woman

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
WSF solicits feedback on Fauntleroy ferry dock redesign

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Waitsburg recognized by state Governor’s Smart Communities Awards

Washington Post
Fed leaves rates unchanged as officials debate economy’s path
As climate disasters mount, the world isn’t spending nearly enough to adapt

WA State Standard
Protecting public art from natural disasters
Rents in Washington show signs of stabilizing (Kuderer)

Wenatchee World
Chelan County PUD removes first oil-lubricated generator, to replace with air-lubricated system

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
A milk carton shortage might be coming to Washington schools. Here’s why

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
North Seattle residents, crime prevention groups work towards a solution to rising crime

KNKX Public Radio
Tacoma Police official cites racial bias in resignation amid ethics probe

KUOW Public Radio
Many people in Okanogan County say ‘don’t bring in’ grizzlies
Sound Transit will start issuing tickets to riders who don’t pay their fare share

Q13 TV (FOX)
Urgent need for resources as more than 300 migrants seeks asylum at Tukwila church
Judge denies prosecution’s witness in trial of Manny Ellis’ death, hearing ends 5 hours early

Web

Cascadia Daily News
PeaceHealth St. Joseph fined for dangerous-waste violations
Your home’s assessed value went up — what does that mean for your taxes?

Crosscut
WA’s new drug law could help needle exchanges – or restrict them

Wednesday, November 1

Rep. Senn: Beyond the skyline – Bellevue’s silent struggle with poverty
Nestled within gleaming high-rises and corporate headquarters of international tech giants, Bellevue exudes an aura of affluence. It is a city known for its lush parks, good schools and robust economy. Yet, underneath this façade, Bellevue harbors a stark reality, often overshadowed and ignored: poverty. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Whatcom County agrees to spend more money on affordable housing projects
The Whatcom County Council has unanimously approved a resolution supporting an increase in the amount of funds used for affordable housing projects. The resolution states that the County Council “supports making housing affordability and homelessness a top legislative priority and working with State Legislators to advocate for any technical fixes or clarification bills necessary to maximize the County’s ability to use EDI funding for housing affordability efforts.” Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Rachel Showalter)

How the country’s largest ferry system is going green
Washington State Ferries — the largest U.S. ferry system by ridership, carrying more than 17 million people last year and about 24 million annually pre-pandemic — is working to shift to a zero-emissions fleet by 2050. In Washington state and nationwide, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, which drive climate change. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)

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Associated Press
Expert on breathing testifies at Tacoma police trial but only after fight from defense

Aberdeen Daily World
If these (ghost) trees could talk
Tesla station juices EVs in Ocean Shores
Westport stews on short term rental regs

Axios
Seattle is emerging as Fusiontown, U.S.A.
How the country’s largest ferry system is going green
Seattle companies’ big climate pledges are big question marks

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham sets higher fees for rental registration and inspections. See how much
Whatcom County agrees to spend more money on affordable housing projects
Coming together: Whatcom supports Lummi Nation’s fentanyl declaration
PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s penalized for violating dangerous waste laws

Capital Press
New secret plan proposed in Snake River dam lawsuit

Columbian
Clark County housing market heats over summer, now cooling off
Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad’s Chelatchie rail yard expansion halted
Editorial: Keep up electric vehicle infrastructure progress

Everett Herald
Crashed tourism helicopter in Copper Lake could stay there until 2024
Trees cut down near Lowell Riverfront Trail to contain freeway runoff

News Tribune
Rent hike displaces residents after a $7 million mobile home park sale near Puyallup
Judge rules on request to block Pierce County homeless village. Here’s what it means

Olympian
Ex-medical director at WA island for sex predators sexually harassed worker, suit says
‘I cried with happiness.’ New nonprofit in Olympia helps refugees create a new home
Realtors liable for nearly $1.8 billion in damages for inflating commissions, jury finds

Puget Sound Business Journal
How dirty is jet fuel? Boeing and NASA aim to find out.

Seattle Times
Sound Transit to resume citations for passengers as it enforces fares
Look both ways! Eastside light-rail trains begin practice runs
Daylight saving time ends soon; here’s how to weather the change
Watch: Is the water safe to drink? Residents east of Spokane face PFAS contamination
Tana Senn: Beyond the skyline: Bellevue’s silent struggle with poverty
Editorial: Rent-to-own program should be one promise to tribes that WA keeps (Pollet, Stearns)

Skagit Valley Herald
Local students’ DNA research may help to better track porpoises

Spokesman Review
For the second year in a row, three WA counties reportedly go against state election security suggestion
Opinion: Bring compassion, connection when working to end homelessness

Tri-City Herald
After 20+ years, success at Hanford’s huge nuclear waste treatment plant

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
19-year-old who died after police pursuit was suspect in Walla Walla Circle K shooting

Washington Post
How AI is crafting a world where our worst stereotypes are realized
How to get help choosing an ACA plan during open enrollment
Underpaid child-care workers seize on pandemic lesson: America needs them

WA State Standard
Northwest hydrogen hub backers highlight project’s expected economic benefits
Kaiser Permanente and Washington workers reach deal to avoid strike
Court case on fate of Snake River dams postponed at least 45 more days

Wenatchee World
EPA grants $1M to Chelan County for NCW wildfire, smoke resiliency program

Yakima Herald-Republic
WA lawmaker plans hiatus from think tank job to comply with ethics rules (Pedersen)
Yakima Health District looks at changes to give it more control over Group B water systems
Editorial: Answers to homelessness are simple, but not easy

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Engine failure takes another Washington state ferry out of service
Seattle police can only use ruses in some circumstances under new policy
‘Treat me like everybody else’: Bridging the gap with those living with disabilities
Pulmonary expert testifies in trial for the death of Manuel Ellis, despite objections from defense

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Overnight camping ban going into effect in Burien
Bethel district officials walk to school with students over road safety concerns
Washington State National Guard members deployed to Middle East

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Another Washington ferry taken out of service for repairs
Weather: The odds of an El Niño winter look favorable in western Washington
Thefts targeting first responders have become ‘cost of doing business’ in Seattle

KUOW Public Radio
Aging Boomers can’t find caregivers in rural WA. Who can fill the gap?

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Valley City Council defers new plan to address homelessness
WA Department of Ecology to require companies to add more recycled plastic in packaging

Q13 TV (FOX)
Burien camping ban goes into effect; sanctioned encampment ‘temporarily’ aids unhoused people at church

Web

Cascadia Daily News
City to buy 114 acres in Lake Whatcom watershed

MyNorthwest
New ‘first-in-the-nation’ policy limits Seattle police from knowingly lying
Volunteer group says it has cleared 1 million pounds of trash in Seattle camps

West Seattle Blog
LINCOLN PARK PICKLEBALL? Seattle Parks says it’s ‘pausing project construction for two weeks’
LAST CALL: Deadline today for your thoughts on draft Seattle Transportation Plan – plus, a list of 15 possible ‘transformational’ local projects

Tuesday, October 31

Editorial: Clean energy, not expanding gas pipeline, is WA’s future
In the fight against climate change, Washington has led by example. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s recent decision to allow expansion of a natural gas pipeline through Idaho, Washington and Oregon is antithetical to those efforts. “It makes no sense to shackle ourselves to a source of energy whose cost will go up in the coming decades instead of the clean energy sources whose costs are coming down dramatically,” argued Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Paul Tong)

The challenge in mandating electric heating in Washington state
Government officials see electric heat pumps as a crucial tool for decarbonizing buildings, which produce an estimated 25% to 28% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions globally. But, new building codes that would have required most new buildings in Washington state to use electric heat pumps were shelved a few months before they were set to take effect in July. Washington state officials are now pursuing a different strategy for residential and commercial buildings that doesn’t strictly require heat pumps in new buildings. Continue reading at Axios. (Aida Amer)

Here’s how collective bargaining for Washington legislative staffers could go
Recommendations in a 100- page report from the leader of the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations were delivered to lawmakers earlier this month. The report arrives after Washington became one of the first states to allow employees of the House, Senate and legislative agencies to form unions and collectively bargain. Debbie Brookman, director of the labor relations office shared that “the report is my best effort to take feedback from employee survey data and other research, including my personal experience with the practical impacts of collective bargaining, and provide a thoughtful approach for the Legislature’s consideration,” she said. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

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Associated Press
Prosecutors In Manny Ellis Trial Enter Its 5Th Week By Questioning His Closest Allies
Abuse victims say gun surrender laws save lives. Will the Supreme Court agree?
Autoworkers are the latest to spotlight the power of US labor. What is the state of unions today?
Biden administration is moving toward a narrower student loan relief targeting groups of borrowers

Axios
The challenge in mandating electric heating in Washington state
Breaking even on your Seattle-area home could take 11 years

Bainbridge Island Review
KPHD: Mental health keeps getting progressively worse

Capital Press
Washington Fish and Wildlife rejects petition from wolf advocates

Columbian
Sales of electric vehicles revving up in Clark County; 2,000 BEVs registered in county this year
Kaiser Permanente, Washington health care workers reach tentative contract agreement
Editorial: Opposition to libraries continues despite benefits

The Daily News
Cowlitz County Jail to receive new cameras

Everett Herald
Edmonds-Kingston ferry route at half-capacity ‘until further notice’
Editorial: Meta lawsuit must bring changes to protect children

Islands’ Weekly
State awards LIFRC $148,610 for environmental education

Olympian
Jury hears recorded statements of two police officers accused of killing Manuel Ellis
Amid financial issues, Pierce County AIDS agency lays off CEO, staff. CEO alleges racism

Puget Sound Business Journal
Port outlines priorities for Sea-Tac Airport in proposed spending plan
Opinion: Our property insurance crisis has been a long time coming

Seattle Times
Seattle police’s delayed deception policy goes into effect Wednesday
Kaiser Permanente and WA workers reach tentative contract agreement
WA ferry fleet loses a Seattle to Bremerton boat; strain continues
Editorial: Clean energy, not expanding gas pipeline, is WA’s future

Spokesman Review
Pickleball club coming to downtown Spokane
Spokane VA recognized for dramatic improvement in patient feedback
As Washington gas prices stay higher than almost any other state’s, debate over state climate legislation rages
Opinion: Fall is here, and with it the beginning of respiratory illness season
Opinion: More action needed to keep river on road to recovery

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Port of Walla Walla Commissioners vote to create tax increment area

Washington Post
Home schooling’s rise from fringe to fastest-growing form of education
Online news hits a tipping point, as creators surge past legacy media

WA State Standard
Conservationists fail in push to tighten WA wolf killing rules
Here’s how collective bargaining for Washington legislative staffers could go (Riccelli, Pedersen, Stanford)

Yakima Herald-Republic
Work to locate burials at Fort Simcoe Indian boarding school in WA intensifies
Respiratory illness in Yakima County remains low as colder weather arrives
Agritourism is growing across Yakima Valley and the state … just don’t call it that

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Providence Everett nurses approve strike as labor contract expires
Washington’s Baker River sockeye salmon run smashes record, despite hydroelectric dams
Bus driver workers’ compensation claims skyrocket as exposure to drugs increases
New program will use heat from King County sewers to warm privately owned buildings

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle survey seeks your input on crime, police response times and community concerns
Seattle to implement nation’s 1st policy governing use of police ‘ruses’ during investigations
Bellevue parents protest against potential school closure amid district’s declining enrollment concerns

KUOW Public Radio
Hong Kong drops gun charge against Washington state Sen. Jeff Wilson
Kaiser reaches tentative deal with WA health care workers, avoiding strike
Could a streetcar be the key to reviving downtown Seattle’s arts and entertainment scene?
Wildlife advocates push back on pickleball in Seattle’s Lincoln Park

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office warns of crypto scam

NW Public Radio
Missing: What to do when someone disappears

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘Fall back’ this weekend for daylight saving time. Here’s what you need to know

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Landlords to face higher fees for inspections

MyNorthwest
In Seattle, phones ding. Killer whales could be close
‘It does not smell’: Wash. program to use sewage to keep businesses warm

The Stranger
Delays Plague Workgroup Meant to Help Victims of Police Violence

West Seattle Blog
FERRY-DOCK WORK: Fauntleroy repairs, repaving tonight and Tuesday night
LIGHT RAIL: Here’s everything Sound Transit showed at West Seattle event, as another round of drilling continues

Monday, October 30

Providence Everett staffing spurs nurses to authorize strike
Dana Robison, a labor and delivery nurse at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, has seen patients in labor waiting on a bench in the hallway. “I tell them, ‘If you think your baby’s coming out, yell real loud,’” she said. According to nurses, it’s just one of many examples of a daily crisis at the Everett hospital. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)

Family members of police brutality victims push for more reform
Washington Coalition for Police Accountability members and citizens whose loved ones died in police encounters announced on Thursday they will back three police reform laws in the 2024 legislative session. These include House Bill 1513, which would prohibit police from stopping drivers solely for infractions like broken headlights or expired registration tabs. House Bill 1445 would expand the Washington Attorney General Office’s authority to investigate law enforcement agencies, and House Bill 1579 would establish an independent prosecutor at the state level to make charging decisions regarding officers involved in deaths. Continue reading at KING 5.

Hong Kong authorities dismiss gun charges against Washington state senator
A Washington state senator won’t be prosecuted for having a revolver in his baggage when he arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport earlier this month. Firearm-related charges against Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, were dismissed by a Hong Kong court, according to information a Wilson spokesman provided Sunday night. But prosecutors could refile if he commits another gun offense in Hong Kong in two years, spokesman Erik Smith said in an email. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (B.S.P.I./Getty Images)

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Bellevue Reporter
Off-duty pilot charged after psychedelic mushroom-induced ‘breakdown’

Columbian
Voices of Experience: Those who’ve lived on the streets bring empathy to organizations helping Clark County’s homeless
Clark County retail space continues to be in high demand
Vancouver traffic calming project sites announced
Volunteer restoration project celebrates 1 million trees in Southwest Washington watersheds

Everett Herald
$2.2M project to widen sidewalk on Mukilteo bridge starts Sunday
Providence Everett staffing spurs nurses to authorize strike
Snohomish County deputy sues police academy, trainer over sexual harassment allegations
Comment: Use law to keep guns out of hands of domestic abusers
Washington clears backlog of over 10,000 sexual assault testing kits

News Tribune
Kids can get dental, medical care at this local school without parents taking off work

Peninsula Daily News
Ridge funding included in Biden ask

Puget Sound Business Journal
Why supermarket bank branches have increasingly become a relic
Southwest Airlines makes triple-digit order for more Boeing 737 Max jets

Seattle Times
Snohomish County settles lawsuit over care worker’s rough arrest
Sound Transit needs more railcars soon, so it won’t run out of room for riders
PFAS is in the groundwater west of Spokane. What’s known about the contamination is only growing.
Case against WA state Sen. Jeff Wilson, who brought a gun on flight, dismissed
Seattle leaders don’t have much to say about city’s restroom problem
Data shows Seattle area is more liberal than ever
As Skagit Valley waterways get warmer, the Swinomish push to save fish
Editorial: King County gun violence prevention office is a much needed new tool
Opinion: ‘Hug your kids every day’: A Bellevue mom’s fentanyl tragedy
Opinion: ‘He had so much in life to live’: A son, brother, friend lost to gun violence

Tri-City Herald
‘Voice of hope.’ Help for the Tri-Cities most vulnerable and homeless
Trouble finding Tri-Cities child care? You’re not alone and why it may get worse

Vancouver Business Journal
The Ed & Dollie Lynch Fund Joins the Endeaver Fund to support new trades facility for Vancouver Public Schools

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Meet Heather VanTassell, the next director of the Walla Walla Public Library

Washington Post
The Native American population exploded, the Census shows. Here’s why.
UAW reaches tentative deal with GM, which could end strike
$100,000 bills. No forbearance. Student loan servicers are making dramatic errors.
Biden to sign sweeping artificial intelligence executive order
Why many scientists are now saying climate change is an all-out ‘emergency’

WA State Standard
New rules to protect homes from wildfire ignite controversy
Hong Kong authorities dismiss gun charges against Washington state senator
How you can help prevent your ballot from getting rejected

Wenatchee World
Newhouse criticizes North Cascades grizzly bear reintroduction plan, public comment period open

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Family members of police brutality victims push for more reform
Washington state senator who inadvertently brought firearm in luggage will not face charges
5th anniversary of Lion Air 737-Max crash: Lessons learned

KUOW Public Radio
Washington ferries will pause ads, at least until Coca-Cola controversy fizzles
New push to ‘hold police accountable’ gains steam in Washington state
Snohomish County businesses can’t totally nix cash under new law

KXLY (ABC)
National Drug Take Back Day helps families dispose of unused drugs

Q13 TV (FOX)
Firearms charge against Washington state senator Jeff Wilson dismissed in Hong Kong court

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Resuming police foot patrols downtown part of city’s renewed safety plan
Western alum creates nasal spray device for opioid overdoses

Crosscut
Fair weather yields fruitful 2023 apple harvests in Washington

MyNorthwest
Gov. Inslee, some local residents speak out about ads on ferry exteriors

The Stranger
Forced Out: The Electrical Engineer

West Seattle Blog
FERRY ALERT UPDATE: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to two boats
LINCOLN PARK PICKLEBALL? Councilmember Herbold asks Parks to host public meeting

Friday, October 27

Illegal child labor is surging in WA and across US. Sen. Murray wants to hold businesses accountable
A record 138 businesses in Washington were fined for violating child labor laws last year, the highest number in recent memory, according to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat. Murray introduced legislation Thursday to crack down on the growing problem. “Companies have gotten away with it,” Murray said in an interview with KUOW. “And the more they get away with it and the more they have cheap labor and nobody’s noticing you’re doing anything, they just keep doing it.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Mobile home residents are seizing the opportunity to buy their parks
Mobile home parks are coming up for sale and there are signs that a new law giving residents a chance to buy them is working. Since mid-July, 11 properties have gone on the market in Washington and residents of seven are using tools from the three-month-old law to pursue ownership, the state House Housing Committee heard Thursday. Before Senate Bill 5198 became law, mobile home parks did not have to be sold on the open market. Now, owners must notify tenants and dozens of eligible community groups of the opportunity to make an offer. They also have to inform the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and the state Department of Commerce. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Mark Hatfield)

WA has cleared its backlog of sexual assault testing kits, AG says
The state has cleared a decades-old backlog of more than 10,000 forensic kits collected from sexual assault survivors, state officials said Thursday. In 2015, legislators passed a state law requiring police agencies to send kits for testing within 30 days and for the lab to test a kit within 45 days of getting it. In 2016, the state implemented a kit-tracking system, and the next year, the Attorney General’s Office received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to inventory and test kits. In 2019, lawmakers budgeted money to build a new lab in Vancouver, which is now operating. Continue reading at Seattle Times.