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Monday, October 24

Heartache, anger in Central Washington over drinking-water wells tainted by ‘forever chemicals’
The Hyatts’ well was one of 300 residential drinking water wells tested for contamination from two firefighting foam chemicals that seeped into groundwater flows from the Army’s Yakima Training Center. They are part of a class of “forever chemicals” — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS — that rank as one of the most pervasive sources of pollution on the planet. In the human body, the two firefighting foam chemicals may disrupt the immune system, interfere with hormones, increase the risk of prostate, kidney and testicular cancers, high blood pressure in pregnant women and harm the reproductive system, according to studies cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Jennifer Buchanan)

Judge to decide if Seattle police can be held liable in sex trafficking case
Women who say they were abused and sexually assaulted by a Seattle hip-hop artist will have to wait to learn whether the Seattle Police Department can be held liable for its handling of an alleged multistate sex trafficking scheme. Since at least 2017, interviews and records including police case files, emails and texts show that eight people — six women and the parents of two women — told police that women have been sexually abused and exploited for profit by [Solomon “Raz”] Simone against their will. But despite assurance from a lead detective that he was investigating claims, and had opened a case, the allegations languished. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

At 10, she speaks out for Uvalde’s victims, but the girl she used to be is gone.
In the shooting’s aftermath, many of Uvalde’s children were plagued by post-traumatic stress, but, to most people, Caitlyne [Gonzales] wasn’t one of them. By September, she had become Robb’s most public survivor, a voice for her friends who were dead and for those who were alive but too daunted to say anything. She had spoken at rallies in Uvalde and Austin and to U.S. senators in Washington. She’d demanded that the people in charge of her school district fire the police officers who failed to save her classmates. But the girl Caitlyne had been before “that day,” as she’d started calling the May 24 massacre, was gone. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Katherine Frey)

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Associated Press
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan

Bainbridge Island Review
Medicare open enrollment is October 15 to December 7

Bellingham Herald
You don’t need solar panels for solar power. Community solar sites can power your WA home

Capital Press
U.S. natural gas industry breaking production, export records

Columbian
Student enrollment a roller coaster in Clark County

The Daily News
Three Cowlitz County school districts ask for more time to spend pandemic relief funds

Everett Herald
‘Hungry to shop local,’ but obstacles abound in downtown Everett

Journal of the San Juan Islands
County Council Approves $3.5 Million Commitment to Affordable Housing

News Tribune
A commercial airport in East Pierce County? These people are mobilizing to fight it

Olympian
Olympia area officials, residents organize against Thurston airport proposal

Peninsula Daily News
North Olympic Peninsula counties to view COVID measures

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon to switch security vendors, resulting in 1,200 Seattle-area layoffs
Seattle-area health care leaders warn hospital finances are in dire shape

Seattle Times
King County adds email, text ballot tracker ahead of WA election
Through Pacific Northwest drought and downpour, what will happen to the salmon?
Federal exam shows pandemic hit 8th grade math especially hard in WA
Judge to decide if Seattle police can be held liable in sex trafficking case
Heartache, anger in Central Washington over drinking-water wells tainted by ‘forever chemicals’
Column: Why Seattle needs to start taking wildfire smoke more seriously

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County’s COVID-19 case rate at six-month low

Tri-City Herald
More COVID deaths in Tri-Cities area. Vaccines urged before holiday gatherings
World’s largest radioactive waste melter halted in Eastern WA. It was overheating

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Worsening inflation takes toll on everyday life in Walla Walla Valley
With old Walla Walla regional airport terminal set for demolition, Civil Air Patrol seeks new meeting space

Washington Post
Rishi Sunak, the next U.K. prime minister, says nation faces ‘profound economic challenge’ in first public remarks
At 10, she speaks out for Uvalde’s victims. But the girl she used to be is gone.
U.S. economy likely grew a lot last quarter. Most people didn’t notice.

Yakima Herald-Republic
Stanford University to study foreign agricultural worker program in WA
Yakima City Council takes another look at regional crime center

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle homeless encampment under Ship Canal Bridge has some neighbors concerned

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Grocery store unions push back on Kroger-Albertsons merger
Biannual workshop held in King County for women interested in pursuing firefighting, EMS careers

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Snohomish County seeing uptick in business following reopening of US-2
Gas prices drop for 2nd straight week in Seattle, Washington state, nationally

KUOW Public Radio
Rain has finally arrived in the Northwest … watch out

KXLY (ABC)
City Council to discuss resolution on the future of transportation in Spokane

Q13 TV (FOX)
Weekend rain brings needed relief to exhausted firefighters
Researchers concerned about mental health risks of dabbing, highly potent cannabis products

Web

MyNorthwest
Gov. Inslee: State is doing everything it can to fight wildfires
Seattle Children’s seeing spike in RSV cases

West Seattle Blog
More brown water reported in The Junction (and beyond)

Friday, October 21

Gov. Inslee announces new measures to assure abortion access
Gov. Jay Inslee announced legislation he’ll seek to guarantee abortion access and ensure medical privacy in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the national right to abortion and sent the matter to the states. Inslee, speaking outside the Campus Services Building at Western Washington University in Bellingham on Friday, Oct. 21, described a constitutional amendment and new laws that would be proposed if the Democratic Party keeps control of the Legislature. Continue reading at OutletName. (Rachel Showalter/The Bellingham Herald)

Winds and rain clear Seattle’s smoky air
Go ahead. Breathe a sigh of relief. Or, just breathe — in and out. With rainfall and winds moving through the Seattle area Friday morning, the wildfire smoke that has clouded air for the past few weeks will begin to subside. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Kylie Cooper/The Seattle Times)

The unseen toll of nonfatal police shootings
The way Kenneth Gilbert Jr. and his father tell the story, it had been a busy morning running errands in east Atlanta when their pickup was suddenly cut off by a dark truck and forced onto the curb. Once Gilbert Sr. got back on the road, he said, the truck swerved back into their lane. Gilbert Sr. said he hit the gas and sped around it, making a sweeping motion with his hand as he shouted at the driver to “move over.” Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Brian Howey/Washington Post)

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Associated Press
2 arrested after 2 killed, tribal officer shot in Washington

Bellevue Reporter
Mentors wanted for the Social Equity in Cannabis Technical Assistance Program

Everett Herald
County officially won’t require drug treatment at new hotel shelters

Kent Reporter
Kent City Council unanimously passes public camping ban

News Tribune
Gov. Inslee announces new measures to assure abortion access
Army special ops will bring nights of helicopters, planes and gunfire to JBLM
‘Thank you rain,’ and ‘I can breathe.’ Tacoma residents react to long-awaited rainfall

Olympian
Hiring bonuses for WA school staff part of new Reykdal proposal to attract employees
2 teens alert Lacey council to threat of violence, partial lock down at area schools
Olympia mayor criticizes Lacey for lack of support on housing; Lacey mayor defends city

Puget Sound Business Journal
Academia becomes economic catalyst for downtown Tacoma

Seattle Medium
Amazon Donates $3 Million To Seattle And Bellevue Colleges To Provide Greater Access To Computer Science Degrees

Seattle Times
Winds and rain clear Seattle’s smoky air
Hiring in WA may be at a tipping point
WA Supreme Court expands protections against racism in civil cases
WA’s HIV prevention program out of funding in 3 months, forced to close

Skagit Valley Herald
Federal grant could pay for study of rail crossings in Burlington
Aviation commission submits options to state Legislature

Spokesman Review
Spokane International Airport breaks ground on first phase of $150 million terminal expansion project
Knezovich asks state to audit ‘financing,’ ‘communication’ regarding Camp Hope

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Local experts roll out new risk assessment tool rolls out

Washington Post
Mar-a-Lago classified papers held U.S. secrets about Iran and China
The unseen toll of nonfatal police shootings
Steve Bannon sentenced to 4 months in prison for contempt of Congress in Jan. 6 probe
Federal deficit shrank by half in 2022, Biden administration says, but new battles over taxes and spending loom
EPA to further slash emissions from climate super-pollutants

Wenatchee World
Second Safe Park under construction for those living in RVs on Wenatchee Valley streets
COVID-19 cases slowly downtrending; two monkeypox cases identified

Yakima Herald-Republic
Northwest elections officials amp up defenses against fraud claims ahead of midterms
Editorial: The signs are all around us … and they’re wrong

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington paid family leave program could hit $8.7 million deficit
Wildfire smoke FAQ: When will the air quality improve?
Police association calls on Rep. Johnson to retract comment that police ‘go around killing people’

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Government invests $2.8 billion in bolstering EV battery supply chain
‘Like breathing underwater:’ Seattle residents hope Thursday is last day of terrible air
Seattle hospitals experience record volumes of pediatric patients
Washington’s paid family leave premiums to increase Jan. 1

KXLY (ABC)
$150 million expansion project underway at Spokane International Airport
Dangerous ‘PFAS’ chemicals found in Spokane River
WSU lifting COVID vaccine requirement for most employees, contractors and volunteers
Washington Superintendent proposes giving educators hiring bonuses to reduce turnover

Thursday, October 20

COVID-19 linked to increase in US pregnancy-related deaths
COVID-19 drove a dramatic increase in the number of women who died from pregnancy or childbirth complications in the U.S. last year, a crisis that has disproportionately claimed Black and Hispanic women as victims, according to a government report released Wednesday. The report lays out grim trends across the country for expectant mothers and their newborn babies. It finds that pregnancy-related deaths have spiked nearly 80% since 2018, with COVID-19 being a factor in a quarter of the 1,178 deaths reported last year. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Rogelio V. Solis)

EPA’s deputy administrator gives Spokane high marks on clean-up efforts in visit to discuss infrastructure funding
Spokane’s past use of federal dollars to clean up environmental blights earned high marks from a delegation of top state and federal Environmental Protection Agency officials during a visit Tuesday. [Deputy EPA Administrator Janet] McCabe urged city officials to continue that tradition and put in applications for money that has been set aside in Congress by the infrastructure bill and the spending plan called the Inflation Reduction Act that passed earlier this year . She specifically mentioned $5 billion in grants supporting electrification of school buses, more charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and the administration’s new emphasis on environmental justice grants, intended to help underserved populations build pollution-prevention practices. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Dan Pelle)

Seattle’s air quality among the worst in the world due to wildfire smoke
Seattle’s air quality Thursday morning is the worst of any place in the world, according to IQAir’s Air Quality and pollution city rankings. The air quality in the region was measured at 238 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 7 a.m. Thursday, putting Seattle ahead of Portland, Ore., Beijing, China, Delhi, India, and Lahore, Pakistan in the top five. Seattle measured above 250 on the AQI by 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. An Air Quality Alert is in effect through Thursday evening for Seattle, as multiple fires continue to burn in the Cascades. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency urges people to stay inside, and released a map Wednesday showing the areas most affected by the smoky conditions. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
Washington wildfire caused by pyrotechnic, police seek tips
Feds take legal action against e-cigarette manufacturers skirting regulations
COVID-19 linked to increase in US pregnancy-related deaths
Fewer Americans apply for jobless benefits last week

Aberdeen Daily World
Grays Harbor readies for tsunami drill

Bellingham Herald
Storms approaching Whatcom County carry several potential threats

Columbian
Air quality in Clark County remains unhealthy

Everett Herald
Housing authority pitches 1,500-unit ‘Park District’ in north Everett
‘Worst I’ve ever seen it’: As smoke floods region, Darrington AQI tops 450
Island County deputy accused of drugging, raping women
Comment: Race, class gender still shape how we view childhood

Kitsap Sun
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe transitional housing welcomes first tenants

News Tribune
Rain – a lot of it – will soon be washing away our smoky skies
Second health system in Tacoma hit with data breach, this one ensnaring employees

Olympian
Tired of smoky skies? Here’s how heavy rain this weekend will clear things up in Olympia

Peninsula Daily News
Friday rain expected to clear smoke

Puget Sound Business Journal
Banks, regulators start the dance to keep real estate off the books
More workers are looking for second jobs. Businesses can capitalize.
Group promotes new passenger ferry terminal for Seattle
Seattle saw greenhouse gas emissions drop, but it’s likely temporary

Renton Reporter
Government renames lake on Mount Rainier

Seattle Times
Medina Market, longtime Eastside grocery fixture, closes its doors
Seattle Councilmember Sawant says her property is being vandalized, criticizes police investigation
Few take respite in smoke shelter amid unhealthy Seattle air quality
Fewer drivers in Seattle’s Highway 99 tunnel could create need for bailout (Fey)

Skagit Valley Herald
Sedro-Woolley to keep yard waste facility open through November
Port of Skagit purchases two hangars at airport

Spokesman Review
Hundreds of jobs are coming to Moses Lake after two companies nab $200 million to develop materials for electric vehicle batteries
EPA’s deputy administrator gives Spokane high marks on clean-up efforts in visit to discuss infrastructure funding

Tri-City Herald
Highway 395 overpass is now open in Kennewick

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
A successful transition back to service for local prison reentry program the STAR Project

Washington Post
Liz Truss resigns as U.K. prime minister after six weeks in office
Former U.S. Navy leaders profited from overlapping interests on sub deal
Adderall shortage is so bad some patients can’t fill their prescriptions
Oceans are warming faster than ever. Here’s what could come next.

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee, Eastmont schools see higher-than-expected enrollment
DNR plans prescribed burn near Wenatchee, wildfires still active

Yakima Herald-Republic
EFSEC moves forward on two Yakima County solar farms
Yakima County Commissioners approve $2.8M contract for regional crime lab
EPA proposes new clean air rules on Yakama Reservation, other reservations in WA

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘The suffering here is egregious’: Massive backlog of mentally ill defendants waiting in jail for treatment
Preparations underway for flooding, landslides before rain returns to western Washington
Seattle’s air quality among the worst in the world due to wildfire smoke
Here’s what experts say are the impacts of exposure to unhealthy air quality
Orting School Board director resigns after being charged for involvement in Capitol riot

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle, Portland have world’s worst air quality again Thursday. When is rain expected?
Duck and cover: The Great Washington ShakeOut to take place Thursday
Much needed rain may cause landslides, road closures near Bolt Creek wildfire

KUOW Public Radio
Will blankets of wildfire smoke be our new seasonal normal?
Why haven’t firefighters ‘put out’ the Bolt Creek fire?

KXLY (ABC)
WA receives $200 million from DOE for battery manufacturing in Moses Lake

Q13 TV (FOX)
Seattle air quality: Some Puget Sound-area schools closed due to ‘unhealthy’ conditions
Seattle had the worst air quality in the world, but cleaner air is on the way
Great Washington ShakeOut is back Thursday

Web

Crosscut
The war in Ukraine has some WA residents living in prolonged fear

MyNorthwest
Customers, local grocers and experts weigh in on potential Kroger-Albertson’s merger

The Stranger
The County Canceled the SODO Shelter Expansion and No One Is Happy

West Seattle Blog
West Seattle Junction apartment building in deal to become ‘affordable housing,’ partly with public funding
SMOKE: Air-quality alert extended and other notes
VACCINATION: Monkeypox clinic in Admiral this Saturday

Wednesday, October 19

Inside the Bolt Creek fire — and the newly burning forests of the western Cascades
Spring this year in Washington was unusually cool and wet, while summer was hot and dry. Some seasonal weather events may be “flukes” but they build upon conditions destabilized by a warming planet, according to state climatologist Nicholas Bond. “Maybe it’s an early indication of climate change,” Bond said. Ongoing fires burning west of the Cascade crest could be a dress rehearsal for longer fire seasons, and longer periods of incessant smoke in urban or metropolitan areas, he said. “It’s not going to be every summer, by any means, but this is the sort of thing that’s going to be happening more.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Very unhealthy: Air quality in east Vancouver, Clark County deteriorates
As the Nakia Creek Fire continues to burn in east Clark County, the air in Southwest Washington continues to deteriorate, pushing into the very unhealthy range in most of east Clark County, according to airnow.gov. Air quality readings in Clark County ran the gamut from 48 in Barberton to as high as 492 in areas around Camas — a reading in the hazardous range, according to purpleair.com. Most of the Portland-metro area is in the unhealthy range. Wildfire smoke has affected much of western Oregon and Washington with unhealthy to hazardous air quality readings up and down the Interstate 5 corridor. The National Weather Service in Portland said that the air quality advisory will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

These four Whatcom County forest parcels considered for new state carbon project
Four parcels in Whatcom County are included in the state’s proposal for phase two of a plan to lease forest land for carbon offsets rather than logging. However, the Department of Natural Resources proposal includes 11,726 acres statewide, and needs to be narrowed down to 7,500 acres. To do so, DNR is asking for community input on which forests deserve protection. The carbon project is a way for DNR to protect forests while maintaining school construction funding. Instead of leasing forests for logging, it will lease the lands through a third party that will sell carbon credits to organizations as carbon offsets. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (WA Dept. of Natural Resources)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Whale killed by possible ship strike beaches near Ruby Beach

Auburn Reporter
Rain in the forecast for Western Washington

Bellingham Herald
Wildfire smoke blankets Whatcom, air quality plummets. How long will it last?
These four Whatcom County forest parcels considered for new state carbon project

Capital Press
Washington DNR to sell carbon credits rather than timber

Columbian
Better weather conditions aid Nakia Creek firefighting efforts
Very unhealthy: Air quality in east Vancouver, Clark County deteriorates

Everett Herald
Don’t be alarmed: Tsunami siren in Everett is part of Great ShakeOut
‘Language as an asset’: Multilingual students get credits for fluency

News Tribune
Pierce County e-cigarette chain made illicit vape juice in house, ignored FDA, DOJ says
Interim site picked for popular Pierce County library. When it will open remains unclear

Olympian
Wildfire east of Eatonville weakened by moister weather after dry weekend, officials say
Land in Thurston County may be up for conservation. You can help decide

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County eyes extending emergency
Great ShakeOut includes tests on MyShake App, tsunami sirens

Seattle Times
Inside the Bolt Creek fire — and the newly burning forests of the western Cascades
Seattle air quality among worst in world
In Seattle, Kroger-Albertsons merger raises fears of closures, ‘grocery deserts’
Sound Transit train derails, causing disruption in Tacoma

Skagit Valley Herald
State still to decide on PSE rate increase

Snoqualmie Valley Record
North Bend adds water restrictions alongside low-flows in Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie Tribe releases kokanee salmon, celebrates possible resurgence of threatened species

South Whidbey Record
Conversion of church to homeless shelter approved
Deputy accused of drugging, raping women

Spokesman Review
Spokane County Treasurer’s Office warns of tax scam by mail
Woman arrested while filming Spokane police settles lawsuit with city and county for $57,500

Tri-City Herald
Franklin County sheriff, school officials beg Pasco council to keep ban on cannabis stores

Washington Post
Putin declares martial law in four illegally annexed regions of Ukraine
Biden to announce release of more petroleum from strategic reserve
Bus-riding dog who took herself to park remembered as ‘Seattle icon’
Yes, that letter from the IRS is real. You could be owed $1,400.

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee passes tougher RV tow rules that take effect soon

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima clean air agency names new executive director
Editorial: Paid parking downtown isn’t the answer — not now

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle small businesses can apply for up to $2,000 to repair damaged storefronts
Tacoma motel set to be turned into affordable housing
New trial program asks ships coming into the Puget Sound to slow down for whales
Kent City Council votes unanimously to pass public camping ban

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Skykomish residents look forward to rain as terrible air quality persists from wildfires

KUOW Public Radio
With flu season looming, these tips will help boost your immune system
Seattle weather is set to ‘whipsaw’ after an unusual start to fall
North Bend activates water-saving measures amid ongoing drought

KXLY (ABC)
East Central Neighborhood Council votes to clear Camp Hope by Thanksgiving
‘A matter of weeks’: More services on their way to the Trent Resource Shelter
PNW elections officials amp up defenses against fraud claims ahead of midterms

Q13 TV (FOX)
US warned to prepare as COVID cases rise in Europe
Kent City Council passes ordinance to ban camping on public property

Web

MyNorthwest
UW Medicine nurses reach early contract agreement
Wildfire smoke again pollutes Pacific Northwest air
Bolt Creek Fire crews reach critical turning point

The Stranger
Seattle Could Cover Every Abortion in Town for $3.5 Million
City Leaders Fight over Policing Pirates

West Seattle Blog
VACCINATIONS: West Seattle flu and COVID pop-up clinics this weekend

Tuesday, October 18

Carbon auctions will bring WA more money than predicted. Transportation could benefit
Washington state is likely to collect more than twice as much money from a new carbon credit system over the next three years as originally estimated, possibly setting the Legislature up to spend more on carbon reductions in its transportation and building sectors next session. Although the exact dollar amount the state will reap is uncertain, the new projections have given environmental and transportation advocates reason to hope that more can be spent on reducing emissions from heavy-duty vehicles like freight and garbage trucks, as well as toward converting homes to more energy-efficient heating and cooling systems like heat pumps. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Amanda Snyder)

$275M verdict for toxic exposures at Monroe school, adding to swelling cost
Ten students and parents who say they suffered serious neurological injuries from chemical exposure at a Monroe school have been awarded $275 million by a King County jury. The lawsuit against Bayer Pharmaceuticals — which owns chemical giant Monsanto, the manufacturer of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs — is the fourth to result in a multimillion-dollar verdict. The first three resulted in jury verdicts of $268 million distributed to 14 plaintiffs. In all, more than 200 students, parents and teachers from the Sky Valley Education Center, an alternative school in Snohomish County, have sued Monsanto over environmental contamination at the school. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Steve Ringman)

‘It’s easy, it’s fast’: Millions applied for student loan relief during early beta launch
President Joe Biden on Monday officially kicked off the application process for his student debt cancellation program and announced that 8 million borrowers had already applied for loan relief during the federal government’s soft launch period over the weekend. He encouraged the tens of millions eligible for potential relief to visit studentaid.gov and touted the application form that the president said would take less than five minutes to complete. An early, “beta launch” version of the online form released late Friday handled the early stream of applications “without a glitch or any difficulty,” Biden said. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Susan Walsh)