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Friday, February 28

Gov. Ferguson addresses plans for WA’s budget shortfalls; proposes state employee furloughs
New Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) held a press conference on his 43rd day in office to address the state’s budget shortfalls. Ferguson’s office said the state is facing a multi-billion-dollar deficit, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are working to address ways to close the gap. Continue reading at OutletName. (KIRO 7)

Editorial: A chance to balance interests of homeless, cities
Following a reversal eight months ago by the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned its own past rulings on issues related to “camping” by homeless individuals in public places, cities and counties across the nation — and in Washington state — have responded with ordinances that strengthen anti-camping bans and in some cases make being homeless a crime. Continue reading at OutletName. (Ryan Berry)

WA bill would help coroners, correctional officers get PTSD coverage
After fatal car crashes, fires or other emergencies, coroners and medical examiners are among the first to respond. But unlike police, firefighters and other first responders, they’re limited in the types of workers’ compensation claims they can file when their mental health is affected. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Luke Johnson)

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Auburn Reporter
Measles detected in King County infant

Capital Press
Honey bee colony losses reach ‘crisis’ levels this year
Oregon considers independent fire-fighting action on federal land
Judge orders Trump personnel director to take back memos on probationary employees

Courier-Herald
USAID update: Confusion reigns, but there are reasons to hope

The Daily News
Amtrak Cascades aims to create faster routes with more tracks in Kelso (Valdez)

Everett Herald
Support state legislation for fair hospital pricing (Robinson)
Everett mayor to deliver state of the city address
Edmonds school board reverts to former Title IX policy
Everett staff share comprehensive plan info at open house
Editorial: A chance to balance interests of homeless, cities (Gregerson)
Letter: How would per-mile charge count out-of-state driving?

High Country News
How DOGE threatens the Forest Service and public lands

Kitsap Sun
Former Washington State Ferry vessel sign finds new home at Klahowya

News Tribune
Construction underway for Orting’s evacuation bridge
King County confirms measles case; public warned of possible exposure
Will telemedicine for seniors survive federal budget battle? Here’s what we’ve learned
Trump supports possibility of $5K stimulus checks. Will that money really come to WA?
This Tacoma-based group is fighting Trump Administration’s halt of refugee admissions
City of Tacoma affirms support for immigrants, LGBTQ+ people. Are resolutions enough?

New York Times
When It Comes to Tariffs, Trump Can’t Have It All
Far From Washington, Some Small Wins in the Fight to Protect Nature
Mass Layoffs Begin at NOAA, With Hundreds Said to Be Fired in One Day
More Than 70 Million Americans Are on Medicaid. This Is Where They Live.
U.S. Terminates Funding for Polio, H.I.V., Malaria and Nutrition Programs Around the World

Olympian
Gov. Bob Ferguson reveals plan to save $4 billion amid multibillion-dollar budget gap (Robinson, Fitzgibbon)
Opinion: Northwest Indigenous leaders recommit to alliance to bolster salmon recovery
Opinion: Washington has too few police officers. This proposal could help cut the crime rate

Puget Sound Business Journal
Starbucks corporate layoffs hit hundreds of Seattle workers
Boeing reportedly explores sale of WA drone subsidiary as part of streamlining efforts

Seattle Times
Federal NOAA cuts hit Seattle offices
Murray: Trump, Musk have made child care crisis worse
Medicaid spending is under scrutiny. Here’s what that means for WA
WA bill would help coroners, correctional officers get PTSD coverage (Dhingra)
Ferguson proposes $4B in cuts, furloughs in face of WA budget shortfall (Fitzgibbon)
WA Democratic lawmakers propose moving state reserves to general fund (Robinson, Pedersen)

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County committed to electric Guemes Island Ferry
Mount Vernon officials face backlash over councilmember’s remarks
Skagit County to consider Anacortes’ request to expand urban growth area

The Skanner
A Federal Judge in Seattle Blocks Trump’s Effort to Halt the Refugee Admissions System

Spokesman Review
Ferguson unveils budget cuts plan as lawmakers look to address deficit (Robinson, Fitzgibbon)
Washington AG files support in effort to block federal ban on transgender military service

Washington Post
Trump fires hundreds at NOAA, National Weather Service
Farmers sue USDA after agency deletes climate change data
Judge blocks Trump administration’s mass firings of federal workers
Five former defense secretaries denounce Trump’s ‘reckless’ Pentagon firings

WA State Standard
Ferguson proposes $4B in cuts to Washington state budget (Robinson, Fitzgibbon, Pedersen)
Infant in King County identified as first Washington measles case of the year
As bird flu spreads, feds might undercut states by firing scientists, removing data

Wenatchee World
Helion announces plans for world’s first fusion power facility in Malaga
Eastmont School District to reduce $2.6 million to maintain financial stability

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County plans community forum on homelessness Monday

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
New affordable housing community in Bellevue’s Spring District breaks ground
Safety concerns for Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood fuel well-attended meetings
First case of measles in WA this year identified, officials warn of King County exposure locations
Aquaculture nonprofit sues Washington Department of Natural Resources over ban on net pen fish farming

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Burien battles over minimum wage
Starbucks corporate lays off over 600 Seattle employees
Semi-automatic pistol banned from WA police training group for safety reasons
WA Senate approves measure to remove medical debt from credit score reporting (Riccelli)
Gov. Ferguson addresses plans for WA’s budget shortfalls; proposes state employee furloughs

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle park restrooms fail cleanliness audit, city pledges improvements
Gov. Ferguson proposes plan to save $4 billion amid historic budget shortfall
How to protect yourself from, measles as vaccination rates decline across the nation
King County infant diagnosed with measles; multiple public exposure sites identified
WSDOT efforts to clear 50K pounds of dog food from road face challenges, delays persist
Washington leaders unite against proposed Medicaid cuts, warning of dire health impacts

KNKX Public Radio
Seattle Lunar New Year celebration reveals the CID’s resilience

KUOW Public Radio
The governor’s honeymoon is over with Democrats (Reeves)
No new taxes, for now: WA Gov. Ferguson details plans for budget cuts (Robinson)

KXLY (ABC)
King County infant becomes first Washington state case of measles in 2025
SPS proposes four-year trades high school as part of ‘Together Spokane’ $200M school bond

NW Public Radio
Plans to produce sustainable aviation fuel at Wallula Gap get $1.5M boost
Many USDA researchers working in the Northwest are fired, worked on everything from hops to potatoes

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham aims for more ‘middle housing’ to increase supply
WWU: Governor’s proposed 3% cut would ‘significantly worsen’ institution’s financial woes

Cascade PBS
What’s next for Seattle’s social housing after big tax win? (Reed,
Friday deadline looms for WA’s free-school-meals-for-all bill (Berg)
Governor Ferguson recommends $4B in cuts to Washington budget (Robinson, Pedersen, Fitzgibbon)

MyNorthwest
Ferguson proposes furlough days as way to cut $4B from state budget
WA Republicans accuse Democrats of inflating budget deficit to justify more taxes (Pedersen)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Friday info

Thursday, February 27

State helps hundreds of homebuyers cross a racial barrier
A state program addressing the historic harms of racially restrictive real estate covenants has helped hundreds of Washington residents become homeowners since last summer. Why it matters: For decades, many deeds contained language barring the homes from being sold to Black, Asian, Native and Hispanic Washingtonians, fueling segregation and disparities in homeownership rates that persist to this day. Continue reading at Axios. (Maura Losch)

Trump and Musk take aim at the rural West
Trump’s erratic freezing of Infrastructure and Inflation Reduction acts funds is rippling across the region as well, in ways that reveal the arbitrary nature of the cuts. Western states each lost as much as $156 million that was earmarked to bring rooftop and community solar to their residents, though some of that funding was later restored, while elsewhere it remains in limbo. Continue reading at High Country News. (High Country News)

USA TODAY’s Women of the Year: Going further after moment as a pioneer for LGBTQ rights
A decade ago her name was in the national news, the face of a trail-blazing decision by her tribal government to recognize same-sex marriage at a time when the federal government, states and other tribal authorities did not. But Heather Purser learned from the spotlight, one that she tends to shy away from now, and put the lessons of advocacy learned then – when the Suquamish Tribe’s General Council affirmed same-sex marriages after her request in 2012 – to work in different ways today for her family and community. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Meegan M. Reid)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Foot ferry envisioned from Ocean Shores to Westport (Nance, Fey, Liias)
Possible cougar attack on livestock reported in South Bend
Bill would direct commercial fishing taxes to the city of Westport (Tharinger)

Axios
Global democracy score hits historic low: report
State helps hundreds of homebuyers cross a racial barrier (Taylor, Scott)

Bellingham Herald
At least 2 domestic cats confirmed to be infected with bird flu in Washington state
Newhouse backs US House GOP budget that could lead to Medicaid cuts for WA constituents

Capital Press
Farm group seeks clarity on Trump’s deportation
WSU study tracks CRP impact on dryland wheat farming
Trump official denies ordering mass firing of USDA scientists, others

The Daily News
Opinion: WA parents’ rights movement ignores guardians with ill intent

Everett Herald
“Purpose”: Lynnwood mayor delivers State of the City address
Letter: Cuts to Medicaid would endanger those we love
Letter: Legislation seeks health care that’s fair, affordable (Fosse, Cortes, Parshley, Hasegawa)
Editorial: A chance to balance interests of homeless, cities (Gregerson)

High Country News
Trump and Musk take aim at the rural West

The Inlander
Rural revitalization is happening across Eastern Washington. Will federal funding freezes kill the momentum?

Kitsap Sun
USA TODAY’s Women of the Year: Going further after moment as a pioneer for LGBTQ rights

News Tribune
This $9 million foot bridge will help residents evacuate if Mount Rainier erupts
Jamika Scott gives honest assessment on the limitations of city council resolutions

New York Times
Mass Federal Firings May Imperil Crops, Cattle and Pets
EPA tells White House to strike down landmark climate finding
What Can House Republicans Cut Instead of Medicaid? Not Much.
Trump Said E.P.A. Would Lose 65 Percent of Staff. Then, a Correction.
Trump Says Canada and Mexico Tariffs Will Go Into Effect Next Week
Trump’s Plan to Repeal Climate Policy Could Upend Shift to Electric Cars
U.S. Economy Shows Signs of Strain From Trump’s Tariffs and Spending Cuts
She Lobbied for a Carcinogen. Now She’s at the E.P.A., Approving New Chemicals.
As Trump’s deadline to eliminate DEI nears, few schools openly rush to make changes

Olympian
Gov. Bob Ferguson to discuss budget proposals to address WA’s multibillion-dollar deficit
What is the future of housing in Olympia? City updates to middle housing code will help decide

Puget Sound Business Journal
Companies cautiously navigate DEI landscape
Seattle shifting from ‘doom loop’ to ‘bloom loop,’ civic leader says

Renton Reporter
Letter: Support excluded undocumented workers receiving unemployment benefits

Seattle Medium
Washington State Sees Spike in Unemployment Applications Amid Federal Firings
House Bill 2015 Advances, Shifting Public Safety Investments Toward Accountability and Community Well-Being (Entenman)

Seattle Times
Second wave of seasonal flu hits WA hospitals, fills ERs
IRS to close more than 110 offices with taxpayer assistance centers
FDA cancels meeting of vaccine experts scheduled to advise on flu shots
Burien sues to halt adoption of voter-approved minimum wage initiative
In a reversal, plans for U.S. natural gas power grow, complicating progress on climate
DOGE access to US intelligence secrets poses a national security threat, Democrats say
Immigration officials say everyone living in the US illegally must register. What does that mean?
Trump plans tariffs on Mexico and Canada for Tuesday, while doubling existing 10% tariffs on China

Spokesman Review
Bipartisan secretaries of state object to election bill Republicans dub ‘initiative killer’ (Valdez)
Medicaid could be on chopping block after Northwest Republicans help pass House budget measure
‘Nothing new about backlash’: MLK Jr. scholar tells Whitworth students King’s legacy still relevant today
Spokane police chief tells Senate committee to invest in more technology to catch fentanyl being smuggled over the border
Despite strong performance reviews, Grand Coulee Dam workers fired in DOGE cuts told they ‘failed to demonstrate fitness or qualifications’
Opinion: State must boost Medicaid funding for assisted living

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Is a new mosquito fleet in the cards? (Nance, Fitzgibbon, Thomas)

Washington Post
This federal worker hoped Trump’s victory would change her life, but not like this

WA State Standard
The true cost of the huckleberry industry
Two Washington cats infected with bird flu
Washington could exempt medical debt from credit reports (Riccelli)
Fate of proposed free school meals expansion is in doubt in Washington Legislature (Pedersen, Fitzgibbon, Dhingra)

Wenatchee World
Warmer weather and rainfall leads to runoff and debris across Chelan County
Washington public schools struggle with student achievement despite increased funding
Goehner’s housing bill to expand middle housing in Washington advances with unanimous Senate support

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Successful Washington program reintegrating felons into society faces cuts
As Gov. Ferguson prepares suggested budget cuts, taxes remain ‘last resort’
Seattle man arrested for violent hate crime after punching, attacking woman
Washington veteran family says nationwide VA layoffs have already hurt their quality of care

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Violence on King County busses prompt calls for safety training
WA bill putting limits on rent increases advances in state Senate (Alvarado)
King County budget deficit solution may include cuts to public safety
Governor Ferguson to hold press conference on $4 billion budget savings plan

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
‘A devastating impact’: King County Sheriff’s office could face $30M budget cut
Child dies in measles outbreak in Texas as Washington officials urge vaccinations
WSDA warns pet owners after avian flu found in cats linked to contaminated raw food
New bill pushes for transparency in courtrooms, requiring judges to justify bail releases (Davis)

KUOW Public Radio
Successful dropout prevention program in Washington state faces uncertain future

KXLY (ABC)
Former WSU coach Rolovich appealing judge’s ruling on his dismissal
A look at what’s moving along, and what’s not, in the Washington legislature (Fitzgibbon)
Spokane Police Chief testifies before U.S. Senate for technology to help detect fentanyl smuggling

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom superintendents oppose proposed limits to Transition to Kindergarten program (Rule, Timmons, Shewmake, Santos)
Cramped classes, dwindling options: Mount Baker students implore Legislature to address funding crisis (Shewmake, Ramel, Timmons)

Cascade PBS
Two cats in King, Snohomish counties test positive for bird flu
Experts, WA reps question rationale for BPA and Hanford layoffs

MyNorthwest
Fired federal workers in Washington struggling to get unemployment, Sen. Murray says
Washington Medicaid funding on the chopping block: Federal cuts could worsen state deficit (Pedersen, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Dhingra)

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: SoDo Is for Industry, Seattle Should Reject Rushed Housing Push

Washington Observer
A high-octane road war with auto insurers (Peterson, Stanford)
House advances bill allowing higher property taxes for schools (Bergquist)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Thursday toplines
FOLLOWUP: Restroom report reviewed by City Council committee
FOLLOWUP: What’s next for Admiral Way Bridge project, plus photos
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Next milestone delayed again, on eve of another ‘early acquisition’ vote

Wednesday, February 26

Washington House Speaker lays out ‘devastating cuts’ in a possible ‘no-new-taxes’ budget
Washington is grappling with a significant budget shortfall — ranging from $6 billion to $14 billion, depending on which lawmaker you ask. The partisan arguments over how to fix the deficit have been predictable: Democrats argue that more tax revenue is needed to save critical programs, while Republicans push for reduced spending. House Democrats have launched a website aimed at illustrating what a zero-revenue budget for the next two years could look like and the cuts that could follow. The site is based on what’s known as a “Book One” budget, created by outgoing Washington Governor Jay Inslee. Continue reading at KIRO. (Karen Ducey)

Washington state may pause creation of specialized license plates
In a year when 10 new commemorative license plates have been proposed, another bill would pause the state’s implementation of specialty plates in the future. House Bill 1952 would establish a task force to re-examine the qualification process for new plates to be considered by legislators. The bill would prohibit the creation of any new specialty plates for four years. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

Forest Service layoffs dire for WA recreational lands
The Trump administration’s recent decision to cut thousands of staff from the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will have severe impacts on our public lands in Washington. The termination of about 3,400 Forest Service employees leaves our public lands less safe and under-resourced at a time when outdoor recreation continues to grow in popularity. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Marcus Yam)

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Axios
Universities feel ripple effects of DOGE cuts to health
College-educated Americans are still flocking to Seattle
Report: Historical redlining still impacts young cancer patients
Washington lawmakers debate changes to “parents’ bill of rights” (Wilson)

Bellingham Herald
Can ICE target employers? Legal experts weigh in after bakery owners arrested in Texas
Are border crossings in WA down amid US-Canada tensions? Early data shows sharp decline

Columbian
Forest Service cuts in Gifford Pinchot: ‘The impact is going to be huge’ to Southwest Washington

The Daily News
Longview installs 87 pedestrian signals
Longview schools revert Title IX changes after federal court case

Everett Herald
Letter: Congress’ tax legislation should help families, workers
Comment: No, Musk hasn’t uncovered fraud at Social Security
Comment: Welch: Local government needs rational leaders, not activists

Islands’ Weekly
Community Water Taxi sends letter to legislators

News Tribune
Tacoma’s crime plan has ended after nearly 3 years. Here’s what the data tells us
200+ new homes planned for JBLM. How will it impact the surrounding housing market?
Opinion: How excessive rent increases harm the physical and mental health of Washingtonians

Olympian
From housing to school safety, here are some high-profile WA bills that made first session cutoff (Alvarado, Berry, Gregerson, Saldaña, Bateman)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Online travel giant lays off more employees
Sounders bet on free tickets to grow fan base
SBA to overhaul operations under new leadership

Seattle Medium
Judge Delays Decision in Seattle Black Fire Fighters’ Property Battle
More Than A Museum: Delbert Richardson Brings Black History To Life
Seattle City Council Approves Bill For Police Use Of Less Lethal Weapons
Nick Brown: Making History As Washington’s First Black Attorney General
From William Grose To Alice Ball: Seattle’s Parks Tell A Story Of Black Excellence
Mayor Harrell Launches Executive Order To Accelerate Light Rail Expansion In Seattle
Washington Superintendent Defies Federal Directive On Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Programs

Seattle Times
Opinion: Forest Service layoffs dire for WA recreational lands
Editorial: King County’s hype on crisis care centers is premature

South Whidbey Record
Opinion: From Point No Point to Deception Pass: Decisions by Trump administration have local impacts

Spokesman Review
Democrats release details of what ‘all cuts’ budget could look like in Washington (Ormsby)
Plan to provide free lunch for all Washington students is falling out of favor amid budget shortfall
Schools have until Friday to cut race-conscious programming, per the federal government. The state says to disregard directive

Washington Post
Her claim of anti-straight bias could upend discrimination law
EPA tells White House to strike down landmark climate finding
House passes budget framework, setting up talks with Senate on how to enact Trump’s agenda
High-level power struggle between Musk and Trump-appointed Cabinet secretaries intensifies

WA State Standard
Federal judge in Seattle blocks Trump’s refugee ban
Washington legislators debate bills to boost recycling
Are Washington lawmakers about to tax storage unit rentals? (Peterson)
Federal judge blocks Trump funding freeze, saying it produced a ‘nationwide crisis’

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Snohomish County’s first crisis center faces financial hurdles
Seattle set for growth and global spotlight in 2025, leaders say
Washington state may pause creation of specialized license plates (Donaghy)
Seattle judge temporarily blocks Trump’s refugee executive order
Popular police gun permanently banned at Washington training academy
Kitsap County grapples with significant power outages following fierce windstorm
Hours after transit safety measure passes, man is shot at Renton Metro Transit Center

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
State Senate gives green light to cities to reduce speed limits to 10 mph (Alvarado)
Rep. Adam Smith: ‘Trump is moving in a fascist direction and we need to stop him’
A federal judge in Seattle blocks Trump’s effort to halt the refugee admissions system

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Grant to ‘climate action organization’ from Jeff Bezos-founded charity expires
Federal judge in Seattle blocks Trump’s effort to halt refugee admissions system
Seattle scientists protest Trump’s medical funding freeze, warn of research impacts
Bill to overhaul initiative system would make signature gatherers subject to jail, fine (Valdez)
King County leaders, transit union work to form safety task force after Metro bus violence

KNKX Public Radio
What climate change means for bird flu — and the soaring price of eggs

KUOW Public Radio
Does the Washington flag need a facelift? (Peterson)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Employees: Forest Service cuts will hurt trails, threaten public safety
Blaine considers merging primary, elementary schools due to financial squeeze

MyNorthwest
State Senate gives green light to cities to reduce speed limits to 10 mph (Alvarado)
Washington Senate approves memorial for trooper killed by burglary suspect
Washington House Speaker lays out ‘devastating cuts’ in a possible ‘no-new-taxes’ budget (Jinkins)

Tuesday, February 25

WA lawmakers consider bills to boost state’s recycling rate: ‘There’s opportunity to do more’
Truckloads of materials — aluminum cans, cardboard, old newspaper — are carted into Pioneer Recycling Services’ facility in Tacoma. These items are sorted with the help of workers and machines, then compacted into bales. The facility operates like a well-oiled machine. But confusion abounds among state residents about what can and can’t be recycled. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Steve Bloom)

March to remember Chinese expulsion in Seattle highlights immigrants
The weather—and everyone’s spirits—held for the 5th Annual Chinese Expulsion Remembrance March for the Future on Feb. 23. The event, which welcomed attendees in the morning with presentations at Hing Hay Park, was followed by a circular march to the waterfront and back. The event commemorated the 1886 expulsion of 350 of Seattle’s Chinese residents, who were forced to board a ship for San Francisco, where they were then deported to China. Continue reading at Northwest Asian Weekly. (Kai Curry)

Community connection helps women heal from trauma, addiction in Eastern WA
About 95% of people struggling with addiction have experienced trauma, according to NAOMI’s Development Director Barbara Comito. And in Spokane, this connection between trauma and substance abuse hits women particularly hard. Many end up homeless and isolated, lacking the support system needed to break the cycle. Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting. (NAOMI)

Print

Axios
Apple’s $500 billion investment touches Seattle
Washington weighs limits on Uber and Lyft surge pricing (Alvarado)

Capital Press
Wolf, methane, overtime bills fail in Washington (Parshley)

The Daily News
Upcoming citizen summit to focus on Longview’s strengths
Port of Longview awarded for silo demolition documentary
Native American schoolchildren are collateral damage of Capitol Hill funding war
‘Isolated’ Kelso virtual teachers collaborate to set student goals beyond classroom

Everett Herald
Marysville alternative high school opens online program
Everett homeless service facing closure finds possible new home
Bloomberg Comment: Social Security has dead people; very few get benefits

Federal Way Mirror
Food insecurity in King County is on the rise
WA lawmakers light up plan for cigarette tax hike (Reeves)

High Country News
The true cost of the huckleberry industry

The Inlander
Spokane Valley’s homeless outreach team helps direct people to services, even as city ramps up camping bans

News Tribune
Western Washington is home to the 10 wealthiest counties in the state. See the list
Should WA Legislature give more guidance to courts hearing high-conflict custody cases? (Taylor)

Northwest Asian Weekly
March to remember Chinese expulsion in Seattle highlights immigrants (Santos, Hasegawa, Gregerson, Zahn)

Olympian
Should WA Legislature give more guidance to courts hearing high-conflict custody cases? (Taylor)
WA lawmakers consider bills to boost state’s recycling rate: ‘There’s opportunity to do more’ (Fey)

Puget Sound Business Journal
Starbucks cutting more than 1,000 corporate jobs

Seattle Times
Gun safety, minimum wage and other WA bills die after first deadline (Reeves, Simmons, Mena, Parshley, Street, Peterson)
More than 230,000 Canadians sign petition to revoke Musk’s citizenship
US consumer confidence plummets in February, biggest monthly decline since 2021

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County commissioners deny appeal on Lake Erie gravel pit expansion

Spokesman Review
Plan to provide free lunch for all Washington students is falling out of favor amid budget shortfall (Riccelli, Wellman)
Two days after a woman was dragged from a Coeur d’Alene town hall, Sheriff Bob Norris and other parties will face investigation into conduct
Union representing Spokane VA workers accuses Trump administration of ‘psychological warfare’ after Musk asks workers to justify their jobs

Washington Post
The trans Americans turning to guns for protection
DOGE’s grab of personal data stokes privacy and security fears
277 million more harmful posts could flood Facebook and Instagram, study says

WA State Standard
Tesla to maintain exclusive hold on direct EV sales to WA consumers (Walen)
Plan to close facilities for people exiting Washington prisons draws backlash (Goodman)

Wenatchee World
No Clear Line: Navigating a path to US citizenship
Chelan County to draft letter in response to federal layoffs

Yakima Herald-Republic
Flu sickening more Yakima Valley residents later in the season than usual

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Trees collapse on cars as powerful winds hit western Washington
High winds pummel PNW as power agency job cuts worry local leaders

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington legislature’s first deadline claims hundreds of bills — But are they really dead?
Legislation to lower Blood Alcohol Content to .05 returns after two previous failed attempts

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Thousands without power after gusty winds, heavy rain sweep across western Washington
Port of Seattle opposes SODO housing proposal, citing impact on freight mobility and jobs

KUOW Public Radio
State schools chief pushes back on federal DEI directives
Tesla’s direct car sales loophole survives in Washington state — for now (Saldaña)
Lawsuit targeting Trump’s refugee ban to go before federal judge in Seattle
Wildfire experts in Washington state warn of fallout from Trump’s Forest Service cuts

KXLY (ABC)
Speeding driver crashes into Washington State Patrol vehicle
Washington signature verification bill faces opposition from initiative backers and secretary of state

NW Public Radio
Federal firings hit Washington’s park rangers
This ‘Ready to Rent’ course is preparing people to exit homelessness
Community connection helps women heal from trauma, addiction in Eastern WA

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Sedro-Woolley community reels after sudden, obscure departure of superintendent
Report: Many local college students face food insecurity, but the struggle meeting basic needs is statewide

Cascade PBS
New WA bill would support chronically absent high school students

MyNorthwest
Bill to open bus only lanes to employer shuttles sparks debate in Olympia
Round 2: Washington lawmakers reignite gun permit fight after failing last year
Washington legislature’s first deadline claims hundreds of bills — But are they really dead?

Washington Observer
The bills that got their torches snuffed at first cutoff (Taylor, Walen, Doglio, Saldaña, Mena, Nobles, Saloman)

West Seattle Blog
ROAD WORK: Here’s the plan for the 35th SW sinkhole
FOLLOWUP: Online ‘open house’ begins for Fauntleroy ferry-dock plan
WEATHER, POWER OUTAGES, TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/TREES: Stormy Tuesday morning updates

Monday, February 24

RIP: Bills that didn’t survive the WA Legislature’s first major deadline
Bills dealing with cow burps, the state flag, and changes to police traffic stop standards are among the first to land in the legislative graveyard this year in Olympia. This session, lawmakers in the state House and Senate have introduced nearly 1,800 bills. To stay alive, much of that legislation needed to get voted out of policy committees by Friday. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

‘Nobody wins’: Bellingham business owners discuss local impacts of Trump’s proposed tariffs
A recent nationwide survey found that 30% of small business owners believe President Trump’s tariffs will lower their revenue, and The Herald reached out to Bellingham business owners to hear their thoughts. President Trump has placed a 10% tariff on goods from China and has proposed a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, although the border-country tariffs have been postponed until March, according to recent reporting by McClatchy. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (Video Team)

‘They thought they were living the American dream’: ICE arrest of Othello woman rattles community as teen son is left to run family’s food truck
Eighteen-year-old Raul Gomez-Eudave woke up on a Saturday morning earlier this month to a flood of missed calls and text messages. When he unlocked his phone, his heart dropped. They were videos and photos of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents searching through his mother’s belongings. And then another video of his mother, Micaela Eudave, handcuffed and being led away on Feb. 8. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Monica Carrillo-Casas)