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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)

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Associated Press
2 bodies found in creeks as atmospheric river drops record-breaking rain in Pacific Northwest

Aberdeen Daily World
Recounts: Cosmopolis race holds, Aberdeen, Ocean Shores pushed to Thursday

Bellingham Herald
Equipment breakdowns left two Bellingham fire stations without an engine to deploy
Ferndale company fined nearly $1 million for environmental violations at Cherry Point
About 400,000 state households will receive checks resulting from a lawsuit. Is one yours?
Bellingham school administrators accused of failing to report student assaults resolve cases
“Get out!” – Hundreds show up in opposition to proposed Whatcom County metal shredder

Capital Press
THE ECONOMIST: Randy Fortenbery helps farmers navigate volatility, uncertainty

Columbian
Clark County Council approves 2024 budget after public hearings
Vancouver’s plan to remove lanes from McGillivray Boulevard has residents concerned about safety, congestion
Atmospheric river pushes through Clark County, causing flooding, road closures, record temperatures

The Daily News
Public leaning toward traffic light changes in Allen Street redesign
As public opinion of police wanes nationally, Shop with a Cop more vital than ever, Cowlitz County leaders say

Everett Herald
New science, math facility opens in January at UW Bothell
County Council members launch bipartisan ‘Building Bridges’ nonprofit
Comment: Ranked-choice voting the big winner on election day
Editorial: Fosse shouldn’t have to choose between elected roles (Fosse, Peterson, Berg)

Islands’ Weekly
Ferries to receive $4.8M to extend lifespan of six aging vessels by up to a decade

News Tribune
Three major changes to Tacoma’s rental code are going into effect Friday
Tacoma voters passed a sweeping renters’ rights initiative. But who will enforce it?
Callers spewing racism, defending Nazis hijack council meetings across Pierce County
PNW’s primary blood supplier eases restrictions on gay and bisexual men being donors
Opinion: Critiques of WA gas prices are misguided. Stop whining. Drive a fuel-efficient car

Olympian
Providence, MultiCare again require people to wear masks in patient areas
Fall enrollment in Washington public schools increased by nearly 2,000 students over last year

Puget Sound Business Journal
What to know about the ERC’s tax-credit deadline
Sellers are cutting home prices at a record level. What’s causing it?

Seattle Times
In tiny Silvana, flooding is a way of life. It’s getting worse
Fewer people are moving to WA, driver’s license data shows
WA proposes ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in clothes, other products (Doglio)
Private timberland from WA to CA lost billions in value due to wildfires
King County allocates $3 million to fund 100 hotel rooms for asylum-seekers
Editorial: Seattle building emissions policy will bring more than climate benefits

South Whidbey Record
Smaller boat indicative of ferry system’s struggles

Tri-City Herald
Pasco is running out of water for new development. City fee climbs 140%
1st case of mystery dog respiratory illness confirmed in Washington state
A WA nuclear site 1st. Hanford workers prepare to treat waste from aging tanks
Feds move to give tribes more say on access to Rattlesnake Mountain in Eastern WA

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Community Q&A: Abby Muro advocates for Walla Walla immigrants

WA State Standard
Here’s how WA spent first sliver of cap-and-trade dollars
Patients stuck in Washington hospitals pose quandary for state lawmakers
Biden meets with leaders of tribal nations, signs order easing access to federal funds

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Troopers investigating 3 highway shootings in south King County
Landslide risk in Western Washington high following heavy storm
‘No confidence’ vote against Washington child welfare leader fails to pass
‘It’s someone’s worst day’: 5 people trapped near Grays River in Washington due to flood, rescued by Coast Guard

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Mt. Vernon plans infrastructure improvements as Skagit River flood recedes
Small town of Silvana escapes major damage from Stillaguamish River flooding
‘Staggering’ amount of drugs seized as 10 members of Pierce County drug ring indicted

KNKX Public Radio
Volunteers in Issaquah say their free meal program is under threat

KUOW Public Radio
Is Seattle’s new drug law working?
Bloodworks NW removes barriers for gay, bisexual donors
Few and far between, endangered wolverines are difficult to track
Seattle nonprofit brings back in-person foot patrols to Central District
Heavy rain relents in Western Washington, but floodwater, damage remains along swollen rivers

KXLY (ABC)
23,000+ Washington students will qualify for maximum amount in Pell Grants under new FAFSA reforms

NW Public Radio
Nonprofit for exotic animals in Anacortes could be forced to close
Thousands of Northwest jobs could come from new Forest Service plan
Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant churns out first container of clean test glass

Q13 TV (FOX)
Tacoma becomes first city in Washington to ban declawing
Port Orchard food bank loses 20,000 lbs of food in floor waters
Washingtonians to get $40 million back after state wins lawsuits over chicken, fish price fixing

Web

Cascadia Daily News
One overdose death reported at Civic Field winter shelter Monday
Whatcom industrial site owners fined nearly $1M for dangerous waste violations

Crosscut
Can Washington bridge its political divide? Some want to try

MyNorthwest
Checks are out to 400,000 Wash. households from $40M price-fixing settlement

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: SDOT releases data on West Marginal Way, half-year after adding protected bike lane
FERRY ALERT: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth down to 1 boat, replacement on the way

Wednesday, December 6

Abortions jump 23% in WA as visiting patients reverse decade-long decline
The number of abortions provided in Washington rose 23% last year, to the highest level in a decade, as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, recently released data shows. Over 20,000 abortions were performed in the state in 2022, according to new data from the Washington State Department of Health provided to The Seattle Times. That is nearly 3,800 more than the number of abortions recorded the previous year, and a reversal of a long-term decline in the number of abortions performed in the state. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Why are grades up and test scores down in Washington state? UW study examines grade inflation
A study from the University of Washington’s Center for Education Data and Research released last month reveals that average grades in math, English, and science for middle and high school students improved during the pandemic. At that time, state education officials recommended schools not fail students while schools were closed. Now, even though schools have returned to normal, the study finds average grades are still up. At the same time, standardized test scores remain far below where they were before the pandemic. Continue reading at KUOW. (Elaine Thompson)

Washington lawmakers begin to drop bills ahead of upcoming session
Legislators on Monday could begin pre-filing bills for introduction on the session’s first day, Jan. 8. To succeed, legislators will have to push their ideas through the process pretty quickly because the coming session is scheduled to last just 60 days. Here’s a look at a few bills that are now in the hopper. Continue reading at Everett Herald