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Tuesday, August 19

Trump vows to end mail-in ballots with executive order
President Donald Trump said Monday that he plans to sign an executive order aimed at ending mail-in voting and eliminating voting machines, a proposal that election experts note he cannot carry out on his own. Trump has long criticized mail-in ballots, calling them fraudulent. On his Truth Social account, Trump wrote: “THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!!” Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)

Ferguson pushes back after Bondi designates WA a ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is pushing back against U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who last week identified the state as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction that impedes federal immigration enforcement. Bondi sent Ferguson a letter on August 13, in which she told him to repeal laws that she said obstruct federal efforts. In the letter, posted by Ferguson on X, she cited a Trump administration executive order that could tie federal funding to immigration cooperation. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (AP)

Change to state’s suicide and crisis line has driven large increases in contacts
During Dianna Caber’s 15-year tenure at South Sound 911 – the public safety answering center for a majority of fire and law enforcement agencies in Pierce County – dispatchers have rarely transferred anyone to a regional crisis and suicide hotline. Practically every call that reached their Tacoma communication center was handled by first responders. “The only caller we were transferring to a crisis line before was someone who called and said ‘can I talk to crisis?’” Caber, manager of the center, said. “Outside of that, it was getting entered for a law enforcement or fire department response.” Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (South Sound 911)

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Axios
The online school helping Washington level up

Capital Press
A beautiful crop and a ‘bloodbath’ of a cherry season
Washington forecast for record apple harvest, big year expected for U.S.

The Daily News
Catlin Rotary Spray Park reopens after 3 years of renovations

Everett Herald
Applicants sought for housing programs in Snohomish County
Snohomish County honored nationally for Index-Galena road repair
Judge grants injunction in Snohomish County lawsuit versus Trump admin

Kitsap Sun
Change to state’s suicide and crisis line has driven large increases in contacts

News Tribune
Records show Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank’s trips in U.S. and abroad
Day shelter for the homeless closes. ‘This certainly is going to have an effect’
What are rules for using WA handicap parking placards or plates? What state says
Tacoma may pay $600K to ex-cop who said city defamed him after Manny Ellis’ death
How many Washington students have childhood vaccine exemptions? What data shows
Opinion: Can the Tacoma City Council play fair on initiatives for once?

Olympian
Thurston County must hire dozens more attorneys, staff by 2036 to serve poor defendants

Puget Sound Business Journal
Billions in Covid-era dollars remain for small businesses
Potential Opportunity Zones in program’s new iteration, mapped
Seattle food bank prepares to open facility at former mortuary site
Construction to begin on giant housing project near University Village

Seattle Medium
Disabled Navy Veteran Grateful to Be Alive After Shooting While Busking On Seattle Waterfront

Seattle Times
WA sues Trump administration over electrical grid cuts
WA sues Trump administration over withheld funding for crime victims
Gov. Ferguson defends WA immigration policy from White House attacks
Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court should reject appeal of WA gun magazine ban

Spokesman Review
Washington officials question Trump’s fight against mail-in voting
Dry fuels – and weather – could spread Sunset fire near Lake Pend Oreille
RFK Jr. poked at vaccine research funds. That could hurt local research, industry
Unions, contractors clash over proposal to require labor equity in Spokane projects

Tri-City Herald
One team, one dream.’ Inside Pasco’s $127M high school and new ‘blended’ culture
Comment: Christian nationalists embrace the immoral if they have power

Washington Post
Trump says he will ‘lead a movement’ to eliminate mail-in voting
Trump budget officials claim sweeping spending power from Congress
Oklahoma to require teaching candidates from two blue states to take ‘America-first’ exam
Education Dept. prioritizes allegations that students of color are getting unfair advantages

WA State Standard
Trump administration vows to ‘come after’ sanctuary states and cities
As gun tests in criminal investigations surge, WA struggles to keep up
Trump wants states to feed voter info into powerful citizenship data program
Democratic AGs sue DOJ to receive federal funding for victims of violent crimes

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Sound Transit increases security presence to combat safety concerns

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Construction isn’t just a season anymore
Trump vows to end mail-in ballots with executive order
Kroger announces plan to close two more stores in Everett and Kent
Ferguson pushes back after Bondi designates WA a ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’

KNKX Public Radio
Trump wants to stop states from voting by mail and using voting machines
Washington’s hydropower has created a data center boom. Some are concerned about its future.

KUOW Public Radio
WA budget cuts end a “Meaningful” program for people with disabilities
WA officials respond to DOJ letter threatening state over sanctuary policies
Washington interpreters demand state address more than $280K in missed payments
Washington’s hydropower has created a data center boom. Some are concerned about its future.

KXLY (ABC)
Evacuations in place for 200-acre wildfire burning near Cle Elum
City of Spokane allocates $7.5 million for affordable housing projects
WATCH on KXLY+: Governor Ferguson to hold press conference responding to AG Pam Bondi’s letter on Washington immigration policy

NW Public Radio
Controversy bleats among 4-H leaders and parents. Rules on goats’ weights are changing at this WA fair

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Animal feeding operations are increasing Whatcom’s air pollution, study finds
How many local kindergartners have all their vaccines? Fewer than the state average

Cascade PBS
Native nations collaborate with WA, OR on Walla Walla water rights

MyNorthwest
WA senators challenge Trump’s vote-by-mail plan
Ferguson challenges Bondi’s ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Tuesday info

Monday, August 18

Washington sees surge in COVID rates
Washington is among a dozen states seeing elevated levels of COVID as a new variant ripples through the nation. Why it matters: The XFG “stratus” variant is driving up cases just as kids return to school — and as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unilaterally alters federal vaccine guidance. Driving the news: The CDC updated its regional data for COVID-19 test positivity on Monday, Aug. 11. The data accounts for the week ending Aug. 2. Continue reading at Axios. (Sarah Grillo)

‘Pennies from the sun’: Schools in rural communities look to save money in solar power project
Harrington School District is one of 16 rural schools across Eastern Washington turning sunlight into savings, thanks to a new project bringing solar power to rural communities. “It’s pennies from the sun,” said David Funk, president of Zero Emissions Northwest. Partners for Rural Washington and Zero Emissions Northwest have partnered to bring solar projects to 16 rural schools across Eastern Washington. The initiative is funded by one-time incentives from the Community Solar Expansion Program, which was authorized by the state Legislature and is administered through the Washington State University Energy Program. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Monica Carrillo-Casas)

UW study sees success during test for new opioid-use therapy
UW Medicine doctors have possibly discovered a new treatment for opioid-use disorder that causes less withdrawal than some other forms of treatment. Their findings were published in JAMA Network Open on Friday, according to the University of Washington Newsroom website. UW doctors worked with the Downtown Emergency Service Center, a non-profit that helps people who struggle with long-term homelessness and the issues that cause it. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Robert Cianflone)

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Axios
Washington sees surge in COVID rates
Washington state wineries bet on events as wine sales slow
Trump raises end to mail-in ballots after claiming Putin questioned their security

Capital Press
USDA plant inspectors challenge exclusion from union rights
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission picks new chairman

Columbian
Manufacturing-dependent Cowlitz County is an industrial air pollution hotspot in WA
‘Community kind of feel’: Property owner wants to build 19-home cottage cluster in Clark County

The Daily News
Financial tech CEO obtains stake in small Longview bank
Cowlitz County residents confront Gluesenkamp Perez over Israel policy
Report: Reported rapes down, drug offenses up in most parts of Cowlitz County

Everett Herald
Mill Creek raises concerns over South County Fire deployment plan
ICYMI: Stillaguamish Tribe merges both worlds to save salmon near Stanwood
The Snohomish County Health Department prepares to use a nearly $100,000 state grant to form a new safety council

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap County plans next phase to fix Point No Point beach
TSA launches faster PreCheck lane at Sea-Tac Airport. How does it work?
Updated approval rating polls show where Donald Trump stands in Washington state
Questions raised about traffic, noise raised as comment period continues on Navy drydock

News Tribune
This street will be closed all week, Puyallup drivers. Here’s why
Day shelter for the homeless closes. ‘This certainly is going to have an effect’

Puget Sound Business Journal
T-Mobile cutting 121 jobs in King County

Seattle Medium
Suspect Arrested In Golden Gardens Park Shooting; Man Hospitalized
Washington Attorney General Enforces New Rent Hike Cap, Fines Eight Landlords
Superintendent of Washington State School For The Blind Resigns Amid Threats From Former Employee

Spokesman Review
Sunset, Crescent Road fires continue to burn with drier weather incoming
‘Pennies from the sun’: Schools in rural communities look to save money in solar power project
Jenkins set to retire after modernizing Pullman Police Department, rebuilding culture at WSU Police Department

WA State Standard
People in ICE custody complain of long waits for deportation
WA fire officials press for safety reforms amid accessory dwelling unit surge
20 WA superintendents are reenvisioning state’s ‘broken’ K-12 funding model

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Trump says he’s going to ‘lead a movement’ to get rid of mail-in ballots
Washington governor defends law on ICE cooperation after federal legal threat

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
UW study sees success during test for new opioid-use therapy
WSDOT to close SR 99 tunnel overnight for $1.5M road grip project
Fence at Denny Blaine Park installed to hide nudity, vandalized day after installation

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane man arrested on rape and kidnapping charges
Gov. Ferguson stands firm on sanctuary state status despite federal pressure
Cow takes ‘high-steaks’ adventure on I-90 in Spokane, blocks westbound lanes
“The crop is great”: Green Bluff farms bounce back from last year’s failed harvest with plentiful peach trees

NW Public Radio
Fewer Canadians are visiting the US. Here’s how business owners in one border town are reacting

Web

InvestigateWest
After Homeland Security ‘welfare check,’ Idaho school district says immigration requests will draw new scrutiny

The Urbanist
‘Save the Corner’ Campaign Targets 92 Affordable Homes on Bainbridge Island

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Monday info

Friday, August 15

Top Biden official to lead Washington’s largest state agency
Gov. Bob Ferguson on Thursday announced the hiring of a Biden administration executive to lead the state Department of Social and Health Services whose programs serve nearly a quarter of Washington’s population. Ferguson chose Angela Ramirez, chief of staff to former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, to guide the department that oversees vocational rehabilitation, long-term care, behavioral health treatment and developmental disabilities services. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)

WA resumes EV charger program after court rules against Trump pause
Washington state has resumed a program to build a network of electric vehicle chargers that the Trump administration had withheld funding for earlier this year. A federal judge in Seattle in June ordered the Trump administration to restore the funding, in response to a lawsuit brought by Washington and other states. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Hal Bernton)

Idaho’s latest anti-drag crusade began with a falsehood, lawsuit says
The claim — a drag queen exposing his genitals to children — was so incendiary, so horrifying that the Idaho Family Policy Center demanded voters change the law to “address these vile sexual exhibitions in places where children are present.” But when Coeur d’Alene prosecutors reviewed unedited video of the drag performance at the city’s 2022 Pride in the Park festival, they concluded there had been no exposure of genitalia — nothing illegal, nothing to charge. A year later, a jury reached the same conclusion in a civil suit, awarding $1.1 million to the performer, Eric Posey, after finding that a right-wing blogger had defamed him by accusing him of indecent exposure. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Kaye Thornbrugh)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Bear Gulch Fire expands to 7,360 acres
Ecology opens public comments for Cosmo Specialty Fibers remediation

Axios
Seattle braces for rare August atmospheric river
Which Seattle-area industries rely most on noncitizen workers

Capital Press
USDA plant inspectors challenge exclusion from union rights
Odds tilt in favor of winter La Niña, National Weather Service says
National FFA sees record membership, Northwest and California all grow

Columbian
Anxious about tariffs, Clark County families get early start on back-to-school shopping
Battle Ground adopts new policy to curb students’ cellphone use; Ridgefield and Washougal in the process

The Daily News
Split Longview council passes 15% trash rate increase
Kelso schools lose staff through attrition after $2.3M cut from budget
Castle Rock housing development changes from multifamily units to single-family
Appeals court upholds Stuffys II COVID fines; Longview diner focused on reopening

Everett Herald
Department of Ecology extends drought funding
Everett council approves $360,000 for new ‘skate dot’
Lynnwood holds special budget meeting during summer recess

Islands’ Weekly
Healthy smiles, healthy community: Hot topics in oral health
Library levy lid lift approved by wide margin | Where possibilities thrive, now and into the future

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Nature Nugget: YCC upgrades the Patos Island lighthouse and trails
The San Juan Preservation Trust launches effort to protect 30 acres on San Juan Island

Kent Reporter
SR 18 to close over Tiger Mountain summit Aug. 15-18
Overnight lane closures coming near Kent on SR 99 at SR 516

Kitsap Sun
Bear Gulch Fire on Olympic Peninsula continues to grow
Gap in West Sound coverage of naloxone sites means pharmacies, health care fills need

Mercer Island Reporter
King County Metro adding more than 900 weekly bus trips, improved 2 Line connections

New York Times
Judge Halts White House Effort to Defund Schools With D.E.I. Programs
Tribal Colleges Rely on Federal Funding. Their Leaders Fear the Trump Years.

Northwest Asian Weekly
Proof of belonging: Asian American citizens carry passports amid ICE fears
Interpreter denied, protection orders ignored: Chinese American women and advocates say legal system continues to fail them

Puget Sound Business Journal
$274M project breaks ground in Bothell
Companies brace for higher health-care costs
Apartment construction in Puget Sound region has shifted
SBA is stepping up one aspect of its Covid-era collections effort

Renton Reporter
What’s going on around Renton? | Aug. 14 edition

Seattle Times
King County takes next steps toward crisis center on Capitol Hill
WA resumes EV charger program after court rules against Trump pause

Tri-City Herald
NAACP gets ‘safe space for advocacy’ after 75+ years in Tri-Cities
Protesters to rally in Lacey Aug. 16 against Trump’s redistricting ‘power grab’
Comment: The role of local government should have in immigration enforcement

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Islanders celebrate, commemorate belonging
VHS educator named Washington history teacher of the year

WA State Standard
Top Biden official to lead Washington’s largest state agency
With more self-driving cars on the road, states put more rules in place
Immigration crackdown intensifies in D.C. under Trump order for federal control
Happy birthday, Social Security. Unless Congress acts, full benefits end in 7 years.
Washington interpreters demand state address more than $280K in missed payments

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
On thin ice: A closer look at Pacific Northwest’s glaciers
Lawyer: Visa issue led to ICE detention of Everett mom from New Zealand
With I-5 closure ahead, WSDOT urges alternatives — are commuters listening?
Former Seattle police officers who attended Capitol riot described it as peaceful, docs show

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Nordstrom asks these employees to return to office 4 days per week
Seattle tech layoffs: Oracle cutting 161 jobs amid AI investment push
WA AG’s Office: Judge blocks use of Medicaid data for immigration enforcement
Judge strikes down Trump administration guidance against diversity programs at schools and colleges

KUOW Public Radio
First-class flights and resort booze. WA Commerce failed to oversee ed grant, audit finds
Religious groups pressure retail pharmacies, including Costco, not to carry abortion drug

NW Public Radio
Washington state is getting three new ferries, and they’re hybrid-electric
Federal judge hears arguments in ACLU lawsuit against HHS about Head Start
Juez federal escucha argumentos en demanda de ACLU contra HHS sobre Head Start
Fewer Canadians are visiting the US. Here’s how business owners in one border town are reacting

Web

Cascade PBS
Yakima voters to decide on $6M levy to cover 2026 city deficit
Scientists monitor the loss of vital eelgrass plants in Salish Sea

InvestigateWest
Idaho’s latest anti-drag crusade began with a falsehood, lawsuit says

MyNorthwest
Judge blocks Medicaid data use in immigration enforcement

The Urbanist
Sound Transit’s 2 Line Is Even More Popular Than We Thought
Op-Ed: PCC Provides Model for State Rail Ownership in Washington State

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Friday + weekend notes

Thursday, August 14

Concealed carry licenses in Washington jump after approval of gun permit law
The number of Washingtonians licensed to carry concealed pistols is climbing rapidly in the face of a new state law that will require prospective gun owners to secure a state permit before purchasing a firearm. In all of 2024, the total number of Washingtonians with concealed carry licenses increased by fewer than 6,000, compared to about 14,000 already this year, state data show. By the end of July, Washington had 713,195 active concealed pistol licenses, known as CPLs, according to the state Department of Licensing. That’s up from 699,000 licenses to start the year and equivalent to about one license for every 11 residents. Continue reading at KUOW. (Timothy Dykes)

Washington ferries are going hybrid-electric, but disposal of old ones poses environmental, legal risks
An abandoned former Washington state ferry, the Olympic, rests slanted on a shoreline off Ketron Island, in southern Puget Sound. Aboard, flakes of corroded steel and other debris scatter across the floors, graffiti lines the walls, and at high tide, water pours over the deck. Rust has crept over its forest green paint, the signature color of Washington State Ferries. Some 25 years ago, the Olympic sold for $71,000 at a state surplus auction. Years later, it sold again. This time, allegedly, on eBay. Continue reading at InvestigateWest. (Aspen Ford)

WA unemployment holds steady at 4.5%, job growth shows signs of slowing
Washington’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.5% in July, the Employment Security Department confirmed. The state added 10,800 jobs, showing signs of continued, but slowing growth, according to the department. “After a slow start to 2025, job growth in June and July brought the Washington employment landscape back to the overall story of continuing — but slowing – growth,” Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist at the Employment Security Department, said in a prepared statement. “Washington businesses added 10,800 jobs in July and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.5%.” Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (KIRO 7)

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Capital Press
‘Highly competitive’ Colombia purchases U.S. wheat
U.S. sets record for exporting energy, mostly fossil fuels
Three competitors dragged into antitrust lawsuit against John Deere

Everett Herald
Restoring the natural order
Sound Transit breaks ground on massive Bothell bus facility
Snohomish County Council grapples with worse-than-expected budget woes

The Inlander
Spokane City Council could require contractors on major public works projects to sign union agreements and hire economically disadvantaged workers
Oped: Spokane Transit Authority should take advantage of new state law allowing transit users onto transit boards

Kitsap Sun
Sedgwick ramp closing for another weekend, as road project nears completion

News Tribune
Hazy skies forecast for Pierce County as fire in Olympics continues to burn
Report: Lots of apartments planned in Tacoma, but many remain on pause
Mount Rainier butterfly researchers track climate change. What have they found?

New York Times
Big Tech’s A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up Electricity Bills for Everyone

Puget Sound Business Journal
Providence signals more layoffs in WA
How rental rules may shift for World Cup
How tariff turmoil is affecting the appeal of “Made in USA”
Two generations are making a risky bet on housing. It may not pay off.

Seattle Times
WA launches online Narcan finder
Estonian nationals sentenced in WA for $577M Ponzi scheme
Lawsuit claims abuse report led to retaliation by Hilary Franz
Judge blocks use of WA Medicaid data for immigration enforcement
Groups sue to try to get Tacoma $20 minimum wage initiative on ballot

Spokesman Review
Inland Northwest fires ignite under red flag warning
Wildfire from Olympic National Park casts thin veil of smoke over Spokane
Labor strike causes construction delay on North Spokane Corridor, asphalt supply concerns

Tri-City Herald
Will Chiawana still be WA’s largest high school after Sageview opens?
Richland halts all school employee hiring 2 weeks before classes begin
Strike idles Eastern WA, Tri-Cities construction sites as workers seek ‘fair wages’
Comment: Women, volunteers left behind in Washington firefighter protections

WA State Standard
Venezuelan man sues Montana authorities after arrest, detention in Tacoma ICE facility
Tacoma detention center must pay for violating minimum wage law, appeals court affirms

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
ICE arrests dip in July but remain high in Washington
Funding delay forces thousands of low-income seniors out of jobs

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
I-5 closure ends this weekend, with years of work still coming
Wildfire smoke could create ‘hazardous’ air quality in Mason County
WA unemployment holds steady at 4.5%, job growth shows signs of slowing

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle considers measure to protect homeowners from predatory offers
Concealed carry licenses in Washington jump after approval of gun permit law

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Falls Community College receives over $100,000 for its AI training program
New partnership provides Douglas County deputies with more resources for crisis calls
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office warning of scammers calling and posing as law enforcement to get people to evacuate their homes

Web

InvestigateWest
Washington ferries are going hybrid-electric, but disposal of old ones poses environmental, legal risks

MyNorthwest
WA unemployment holds steady at 4.5%, job growth shows signs of slowing

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: Tech Workers Must Challenge the Political Power of Their Bosses

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Thursday info
ROAD-WORK ALERT: Highway 99 tunnel closures ahead for traction improvement

Wednesday, August 13

Washington state dead last in U.S. police staffing
Washington state ranks last in law enforcement staffing for the 15th year in a row, according to FBI data analyzed by the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC). Why it matters: Low staffing levels stretch departments thin, impact officer safety, slow response times and, according to law enforcement leaders, create a cycle that pushes more officers out of the profession. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)

WSP continues investigation into SCSO sergeant’s death; reminds drivers of road safety rules
As Washington State Patrol continues to investigate the death of a Spokane County Sheriff Sergeant who was hit and killed on the highway, the agency is reminding everyone of the road rules meant to keep us all safe. On Saturday, 59-year-old SCSO Sergeant Kenneth Salas died after being struck by a motorcycle while helping move a hay bale off I-90 near Four Lakes. The Washington State Patrol is investigating the crash. WSP said state law requires drivers to move over one lane or reduce speed to 10 miles below the posted speed limit when emergency vehicles, construction crews or vehicles providing roadside assistance block a traffic lane. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)

Advances in AI cameras help catch wildfires faster
Summer is slowly fading, but it’s still hot. Especially in North Idaho. “ Our fire danger today is very high,” said Kane Steinbruecker, the chief fire warden of the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association. “We’re one step below extreme, so we’re still very much in fire season, and we want folks to understand that and to plan accordingly when they go to the woods.” The summer fire season in North Idaho is on track to be average, he said, not better or worse than normal. But firefighting is becoming a year-round activity. Continue reading at NWPB. (Lauren Paterson)