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Thursday, May 16

Spokane Public Schools teaching kids to ride bikes in gym class through state program
A statewide pilot project to bring bicycle education to elementary school students has arrived in the Inland Northwest, with Spokane Public Schools one of six districts in Washington selected to host the new program. The Cascade Bicycle Club is leading the effort, based on its experience offering youth bike education to students in Seattle and Edmonds public schools since 2016, teaching more than 25,000 students about bike safety skills. Continue reading at The Spokesman Review. (Colin Mulvany)

Cash crunch persists for WA’s paid family leave program
Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program has a popularity problem. More people are applying for its benefits, but the state is running short of money to pay for them. The program, launched in 2020, allows people to take paid time off from work if they have a serious health condition, if they’re caring for family members, or if they have a new child. A tax that workers and employers each pay a share of covers the program’s cost. Continue reading at The WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

‘Take it with you wherever you go’: Gov. Inslee celebrates change to WA Cares
Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday celebrated the changes lawmakers made to the state’s new long-term care insurance program. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed a bill allowing residents to take their WA Cares savings with them if they leave the state, a longtime criticism of the original legislation. WA Cares now gives retirees access to the $36,500 benefit even if they move out of state. It also allows those who move out of state to continue participating in the long-term program if they continue paying into it. Continue reading at King 5.

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Associated Press
Community colleges offer clean energy training as climate-related jobs expand

Aberdeen Daily World
Health department adds mobile health van

Axios
King County raises minimum wage to $20.29
Microsoft highlights a growing AI data problem

Bellingham Herald
9 new bills filed to reverse Biden administration’s Snake River dams agreement
WWU Palestinian protest camp emerges after administration rejects students’ demands

Capital Press
Farm groups await China’s response to Biden tariffs
Grass for the future: Breeder keeps growers, consumers in mind
Editorial: The new era: Agriculture of Hope

Columbian
Tolls on existing I-5 bridge starting in 2026 will help pay for the new span linking Oregon and Washington

Everett Herald
Snohomish County bans fireworks sales where setting them off is illegal
Navy jet noise could mean long-term health impacts for Whidbey Island
‘A source of healing’: Archbishop Murphy unveils Coast Salish healing pole

The Inlander
The Inland Northwest is getting millions from opioid settlements; here’s how Spokane County plans to use the money
With state grant funding, Mujeres in Action will teach Spokane’s Spanish-speaking youth about domestic violence and sexual assault

News Tribune
Will a tenfold increase in jury pay mean better justice? Pierce County is going to see
Narrows Bridge emergency repairs are finished. Here’s when crews expect lanes to open
Washington is among the top ten states with the most billionaires in the U.S., Forbes says

Olympian
Evergreen has received 1,000 fewer federal student aid applications. Here’s why

Port Townsend Leader
Homeless population in King County climbs to over 16,000
Umpqua Bank parent cuts more than 230 jobs so far this year
Big changes afoot for Foss’ former yard on Seattle’s ship canal
Pay inflation remains a hiring hurdle – and it just took a big turn

Seattle Medium
Achievement Council Hopes To Boost Post-Pandemic Graduation Rates
Seattle Public School’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program Creates Pathways Into Construction Trades
Washington State Ferry System Faces Urgent Funding Crisis, Elected Leaders Seek Congressional Support

Seattle Times
Low-income Seattle households eligible for free AC units
Seattle tells Homelessness Authority to cut budget request
King County reports largest number of homeless people ever
Seattle drops out of Top 10 for growth among largest U.S. cities
UW president calls for cease-fire, criticizes protest encampment
Seattle Schools to hold community meetings before closure proposal
Congress passed its air travel overhaul. Here’s what that means for WA

Spokesman Review
Spokane Public Schools teaching kids to ride bikes in gym class through state program
Spokane prepares to build new affordable housing units with library access for both refugee and public

Tri-City Herald
‘A safe place.’ Refugees fleeing war, violence finding help at new Tri-Cities center

Washington Post
Supreme Court rejects broad challenge to consumer watchdog CFPB

WA State Standard
Cash crunch persists for WA’s paid family leave program (Keiser, Conway)

Wenatchee World
Pace, Stemilt Growers fined by state after 2023 worker death

Yakima Herald-Republic
Cottage Hill Place is one of several affordable housing projects on the horizon in Yakima

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
The murder trial of an Auburn police officer to begin Thursday
‘Take it with you wherever you go’: Gov. Inslee celebrates change to WA Cares
King County sees more kids and teens killed by gun violence compared to all of 2023
UW president calls for encampment to disband following ‘antisemitic and violent’ graffiti
SEA Airport undergoes major construction projects, potentially record-breaking summer nears

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
DOJ investigation could focus on Boeing’s Renton plant
Fentanyl seizures in the US have increased by over 1,700%
King County’s Point-in-Time Count shows homelessness up 23%
Yelm students stage walkout after 120 teachers get layoff notices
Tacoma neighborhood concerned with increasing frequency of drive-by shootings
Trial of Auburn officer accused of killing man outside store begins after nearly 5 years
Department of Health has launched the 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline campaign website

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
City of Seattle looks to protect nude beach at Denny Blaine Park
Marysville School District to release plan addressing budget deficit
Endangered squirrels at heart of debate over new Spanaway tiny home village

KNKX Public Radio
A teacher, her student and Bremerton’s Illahee Preserve (Chopp)
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard still defines Bremerton, but what about the future?

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle just got 150 psych unit beds. Is it enough to make a difference?
A power move: Northwest companies charge toward battery tech revolution
Microsoft’s carbon emissions surge despite goal of becoming ‘carbon negative’ by 2030

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Public Schools expanding Spanish immersion program
HUD announces $30 billion renewal funding for housing choice voucher program

NW Public Radio
CAFÉ highlights health care resources through cultural events
Elevated ‘forever chemicals’ found in Kennewick’s drinking water
Are ballot rejection rates going up in Mason County? Data says no.
Centralia, Wash.’s coal plant has to close next year. Can Pa. communities learn from Centralia’s transition?

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Gov. Inslee praises Climate Commitment Act’s impact on Lake Whatcom forests

MyNorthwest
King County deputies intercept Burien drug ring tied to Sinaloa cartel
Seattle requests KC Homelessness Authority to shrink budget by $21M
King County homelessness surges 23% as state releases plan to tackle housing

Normandy Park Blog
City fees, salary increases, legislative update & more discussed at Tuesday night’s Normandy Park City Council (Keiser)

Wednesday, May 15

Overdose deaths in 2023 fell for the first time since the pandemic
Deadly drug overdoses in the United States declined last year for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, new preliminary federal data show. But deaths from cocaine and stimulants like methamphetamine continued to tick up, as they are increasingly mixed with fentanyl, creating a new wave in the evolving drug epidemic. About 1 in 3 fatal overdoses last year involved stimulants, while just over 1 in 4 involved cocaine. Continue reading at Axios. (Getty Images)

Day care prices aren’t getting better; states step in
Across the country, the story for families is virtually the same: Child care is unaffordable for many, hard to find for those who can pay, and financially precarious for day care operators and their employees. The Biden administration and Congress tried to alleviate some of these problems when the pandemic crippled the child care industry. But as the record $52.5 billion in relief winds down, many states have stepped in with their own solutions. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Ellen Banner)

New 150-bed UW psychiatric hospital opens to serve hard-to-treat patients
After more than four years of planning and construction, the UW Medicine Center for Behavioral Health and Learning — a teaching hospital that will primarily serve people in need of inpatient psychiatric care — officially opened Wednesday. The project, like many new builds, faced construction delays due to a recent concrete workers strike; it was initially supposed to open last August. By Wednesday’s scheduled ribbon-cutting, finishing touches were still underway. Employee training continues, furniture is being delivered and hospital administrators are working feverishly to recruit dozens of people to fill psychiatrist, psychologist, social work and nursing positions. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ivy Ceballo)

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Associated Press
Day care prices aren’t getting better; states step in
Local governments struggle to distribute their share of billions from opioid settlements

Aberdeen Daily World
Hoquiam pellet plant approved for air quality permit

Axios
UW student protesters refuse to leave encampment
Overdose deaths in 2023 fell for the first time since the pandemic

Bellingham Herald
Could a WA volcano erupt again in our lifetime? What would happen and how you can prepare
A proposed port rail connection could bring new industry to the Bellingham Shipping Terminal
Whatcom County home prices hit highest mark in years; WA remains third most expensive state
Gov. Inslee touts benefits of Climate Commitment Act in visit to Lake Whatcom preservation site

Capital Press
Cheese prices continue to rise
Shortage of healthcare worker, physicians hits rural America hardest

Columbian
Washington road deaths jump 10%
Tacoma receives $4.95M for zero-emission trains

Everett Herald
Amazon to open new satellite internet manufacturing center in Everett
State: Marysville school plan ‘does not comply,’ must be fixed by Wednesday

The Inlander
Downtown Spokane’s Main Market is at risk of closing, increasing food insecurity in the city’s lowest income ZIP code

News Tribune
Will firefighters or fire stations disappear if these Pierce County agencies merge?
Tacoma ups penalties for littering. Some worry the law could hurt people already down
$18.9M project will close busy Pierce County thoroughfare for months. Here are details
Squirrels before the homeless? Opponents of micro village argue habitat might be at risk
Two studies ranked Washington among the top 10 best states for working moms, here’s why

Port Townsend Leader
Ferry system in crisis, officials say
Jefferson PUD to receive $4 million in broadband funds

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle emerging as a top climate tech funding hub
Seattle OKs new police contract with retroactive raises
Apartment project in downtown Redmond opens to residents
Amazon leases 2 warehouses on former Weyerhaeuser campus
Amazon confirms plans to open facility for satellite unit in Everett
Alaska Airlines and other carriers sue over federal fee-disclosure rules
Kaiser Permanente pulls plug on $500 million Yesler Terrace development
Greystar secures tax-exempt bond to acquire UW student housing buildings
How the symbiotic relationship between blue- and white-collar industries is making Seattle a top choice for businesses
Opinion: Regulatory barriers still block efforts to add affordable housing

Seattle Times
New 150-bed UW psychiatric hospital opens to serve hard-to-treat patients

Skagit Valley Herald
Preparations being made for wildfire season

Spokesman Review
Two weeks after strike, there is no contract between Providence and Sacred Heart technical workers
Some Mead parents, students frustrated with school district’s response to alleged football player assaults
Spokane considers $250,000 settlement with family of man killed by police while he held toddler, knife
Opinion: Even subsidized, Washington’s electric vehicle objectives won’t be met

Tri-City Herald
9 new bills filed to reverse Biden administration’s Snake River dams agreement
Opinion: Lives depend on keeping WA’ high-capacity magazine ban in place — like my sister’s

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Former Walla Walla farmer, state legislator celebrates 100th birthday
Walla Walla superintendent details how district avoided financial crisis
Openings on city committees include roles with sustainability, housing efforts

Washington Post
Inflation eased slightly in April, with timing for rate cuts still uncertain

WA State Standard
Environmentalists seek protections for marmots on Olympic Peninsula
Tolls on existing I-5 bridge will help pay for the new span linking Oregon and Washington (Liias)

Wenatchee World
City of Wenatchee sells former Wenatchee Police station
Wenatchee School Board votes to close Columbia Elementary
Chelan County PUD wraps up land deal, project funding; starts survey

Yakima Herald-Republic
In the Lower Yakima Valley, state agriculture department seeks to wipe out Japanese beetles

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle City Council approves new police contract in 8-1 vote
King County Council approves $20 per hour minimum wage for 2025
$11 million accounting error leads to 100 teacher layoffs in Moses Lake School District
Boeing violated deal made to avoid prosecution after deadly 737 Max crashes, DOJ says
‘I found out I had fewer options’: Work underway in Washington state to establish infertility insurance laws (Stonier)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Justice Department says Boeing violated deal that avoided prosecution after 737 Max crashes
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
King County Council votes to increase minimum wage starting in 2025
UW student employees strike for equal pay, set up city-wide picket lines
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators set up encampment at Western Washington University
Seattle police officer who hit, killed Jaahnavi Kandula misses deadline to pay infraction

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle is now an air conditioning town
Seattle cops get big raises in new union contract
King County Council raises minimum wage in unincorporated areas
University of Washington academic student employees strike for better pay
Yes, hiking. No, traffic. Trailhead Direct offers car-free travel from Seattle to the mountains

KXLY
Spokane moving to new shelter system
Moses Lake School District places superintendent on administrative leave
FBI has seen an ‘alarming increase’ in online predators: Tips to keep your kids safe
$11 million accounting error contributing to major cuts in Moses Lake School District

Web

Cascadia Daily News
WWU students set up pro-Palestine encampment

Crosscut
The carbon cost of return-to-office mandates
What is an attorney general? They’re more attorney than general (Dhingra)
Seattle Council approves police union contract with 23% pay bump

MyNorthwest
Bellevue PD is teaching women to fight back with self-defense
Seattle passes contract with SPD amid concerns over lack of public comment
Privacy vs. finding stolen cars: Seattle considers expanding license plate readers
13 Western WA residents indicted for major drug ring, 350 pounds of drugs recovered

The Urbanist
Seattle Police Contract Passes Despite Limited Accountability Measures, Budget Hit

Tuesday, May 14

Washington wins grant to acquire 9,700 acres of forestland in Central Cascades
Washington has secured a $15.3 million federal grant for the purchase of nearly 10,000 acres of forestland around the headwaters of the Yakima River, near Cle Elum. The Department of Natural Resources, which would manage the land once the sale is complete, announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture award on Monday and noted $5.7 million in state matching funds to carry out the acquisition. The Department of Natural Resources has indicated that the land will be used for a mix of recreation, conservation, and logging. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (The Nature Conservancy)

WA agency fails to reinspect a third of ‘severe violator’ employers
Following a trench collapse that killed a worker in 2022, Washington state workplace safety regulators classified AAA Contractors as a “severe violator” based on multiple serious safety hazards. The designation came with a warning: “Follow-up inspections of this company will continue at a heightened level until the Department is satisfied that the conditions no longer exist.” More than 600 days later, records showed safety officers from the state’s Department of Labor & Industries had yet to reinspect a worksite of the Kent-based general contractor. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Lizz Giordano)

One woman’s tragedy propels statewide campaign on water safety for kids
Washington will mark the state’s first annual Water Safety Day this year on May 15. The legislation that created it, House Bill 1750, is also called Yori’s Law. It was inspired by the personal tragedy of Chezik Tsunoda, whose 3-year-old son, Yori Tsunoda, drowned in a swimming pool. She said that Water Safety Day is a first step toward raising awareness and teaching simple skills to families and kids to prevent injuries and deaths. Continue reading at KNKX. (Sarah Sweetman)

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Associated Press
Feds OK rule for transmission of renewable energy

Aberdeen Daily World
County commissioners hear homeless shelter proposal

Axios
Road rage shootings are rising in Washington
DOJ: Democracy and those who protect it “under attack like never before”

Capital Press
Northwest cherry industry hopes for better year
Northwest blueberry industry hopes for rebound
Potato prices remain down, especially on the fresh side
Washington farmworker union sues over H-2A wage calculations

Columbian
Body cameras go up to bat: Several Clark County umpires wear bodycams to curb bad behavior
$50,000 grant from Clark County Opioid Abatement Council will support naloxone vending machines

Everett Herald
In goal to reduce garbage to ‘nothing,’ Everett recyclers try Ridwell
Now hiring: Agency to run county’s emergency housing in Everett, Edmonds

News Tribune
A Gig Harbor couple’s fight with the child welfare system
Emergency repairs on Narrows Bridge reduce one side to two lanes indefinitely
Like a Tesla Model S, but for trains. City receives $4.95M for zero-emission locomotives
Big win for Tacoma baseball: Cheney Stadium gets some love with $3 million state grant
Rules of the Road: What does Washington state law say about drinking in a parked car?
Opinion: Pierce County botched growth management — look at Tehaleh. The next Exec has 2 jobs

Northwest Asian Weekly
Day of Remembrance in Tacoma
Asian Art Exhibition opens at Bellevue City Hall

Puget Sound Business Journal
Pike Place Market wants to bring Seattle-area residents back
New coalition pushes for bolder updates to Harrell’s comp plan
What a higher-for-longer interest-rate environment means for commercial real estate

Seattle Times
WA road deaths jump 10%, reaching 33-year high. What are we doing wrong?

Spokesman Review
A new, longer pause on development may soon be coming to the Latah Valley
In teaching disability-inclusive engineering, Whitworth University professors hope to open lab creating inclusive toys for Spokane children
Opinion: Use the data to help address overdose epidemic
Opinion: American agriculture needs workforce modernization

Washington Post
Biden to hit Chinese EVs with tariffs topping 100 percent as election looms
An epic display of the northern lights just occurred. How long until another?
How sustainable fabrics can help the fashion industry rid itself of a waste problem
Home prices are falling in some parts of the U.S. — and rising in others. We’ve broken it down by Zip code.

WA State Standard
Washington wins grant to acquire 9,700 acres of forestland in Central Cascades

Wenatchee World
WA healthy youth survey shows decrease in depressive feelings

Yakima Herald-Republic
Roosters rescued from Yakima Valley cockfights as state cracks down on animal abuse

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle councilmember calls for a pause on police contract vote
Northwest beekeepers battle against leading killer of honeybees

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle opens its first protected sidewalks in South Lake Union
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators who blocked road near Sea-Tac airport plead not guilty

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Transit union pushes for more police after fatal stabbing at Seattle light rail station
Tacoma considers major charter changes including new mayor’s role, council setup
Boeing orders tumble as troubled aircraft maker struggles to overcome its latest crisis

KNKX Public Radio
One woman’s tragedy propels statewide campaign on water safety for kids

KUOW Public Radio
Despite state bans, abortions nationwide are up, driven by telehealth

Web

Crosscut
Political heavy hitters criticize Mayor Harrell’s housing plan (Bateman)
WA agency fails to reinspect a third of ‘severe’ violator’ employers

Monday, May 13

Washington’s neverending housing crisis
Washington is on track to hit some of its housing goals, but homeownership remains expensive, homelessness is growing, and the supply of affordable homes is still running short. That’s according to a new state report. The Department of Commerce Housing Advisory Plan outlines how Washington has fared with housing since 2015 and what must be done in the next five years to meet the growing need. Continue reading at The Columbian. (Taylor Balkom)

Where are Seattle’s first-time homebuyers? Some are leaving town
Seattle’s sky-high home prices may not be news, but since the pandemic, a combination of heavy demand, flagging supply and sharp interest rate hikes have fueled a market that frustrates even well-off buyers. And for many first-time buyers, that market has become virtually inaccessible — and a rising generational barrier that could accelerate deeper changes in the Seattle area’s demographics and character. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

With state policy stuck, a county charts its own path to allow more rural housing
While Washington lawmakers continue to fight over how to allow for more backyard cottages or in-law suites in rural areas, some counties are already moving in that direction. Whatcom County’s detached accessory dwelling units, like backyard cottages, particularly interested lawmakers, who in recent years have not been able to agree on how to allow more of this housing in rural areas. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Associated Press
Schools turn to artificial intelligence to spot guns
More U.S. parents than ever have paid leave this Mother’s Day – but most still don’t

Axios
Washington’s pets need more vets

Capital Press
WSDA sprays to suppress spongy moths

Columbian
Washington’s neverending housing crisis
Opinion: In Our View: Cheers & Jeers: Tackling homelessness; ID woes

Everett Herald
In goal to reduce garbage to ‘nothing,’ Everett recyclers try Ridwell
After traffic cameras went in, Everett saw 70% decrease in speeding
Opinion: Climate column should include role of nuclear energy

Islands’ Weekly
Inslee issues emergency proclamation for imminent danger of spongy moth infestation

News Tribune
White House uses Infrastructure Week to tout progress on thousands of projects
Gig Harbor baby’s injuries raised red flags. Did child-welfare system fail her parents?
Pierce County wants to open a new homeless shelter. Where to put it has become a problem

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle-based corporate foundation grants haven’t kept pace with revenues

Seattle Times
WA older adults fight isolation by rethinking senior housing
Where are Seattle’s first-time homebuyers? Some are leaving town
Four things to know about Seattle’s plan to explore closing schools
Can overcast Seattle be a solar-powered city? Is it even worth trying?
Ending homelessness in downtown Seattle may be harder than expected
Opinion: Seattle can be a national model for large-city climate action

Spokesman Review
Thousands of grocery workers in region approve union contract
Live Nation’s bid to avoid U.S. antitrust suit seen as likely to fail
Getting There: Most Washington IDs won’t fly in a year, state officials say, urging people to get their enhanced licenses for airplane travel

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla City Council approves tax increment area along Myra Road
Public meetings roundup: Sheriff’s Office staffing on agenda in Columbia County

Washington Post
Abortion bans are repelling the nation’s future doctors
How banning genetically modified foods could backfire
Federal judge halts new U.S. rules limiting credit card late fees
Ordered back to the office, top tech talent left instead, study finds
Biden and oil companies like this climate tech. Many Americans do not.

WA State Standard
With state policy stuck, a county charts its own path to allow more rural housing (Lovelett, Salomon)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Northwest beekeepers battle against leading killer of honeybees
Teen staying at relatives’ house in Spanaway dies in suspected overdose
‘The city has failed him’: Man stabbed to death at Capitol Hill light rail station
Seattle Children’s Hospital seeks to throw out lawsuit alleging health care racism

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Therapist demand grows amid increased awareness of mental health

KNKX Public Radio
Chinook Indian Nation is closer to securing ancestral winter village land

KUOW Public Radio
Washington state farmworkers sue U.S. Department of Labor over depressed wages

KXLY (ABC)
New program offers high school students college credit option
Traffic deaths in Washington the highest since 1990, according to new report
Riverside School District employee arrested on charges related to child pornography

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Start preparing for water rights legal battle, experts say
Hand Up for Health program offers non-traditional medical services and care

Crosscut
Volunteers power wildfire mitigation efforts in the Tri-Cities

Friday, May 10

Down payment on home out of reach as Clark County’s high rents challenge middle-income family
Much attention has focused on how Washington’s housing crisis has affected low-income families, but it also hurts middle-class families…Middle-class families find themselves in a pinch, said Mike Wilkerson, who teaches a real estate class at Portland State University and is the director of analytics at ECOnorthwest, a Portland-based economic consulting firm. “Those households aren’t able to save for down payments, particularly, let’s say, over the last several decades,” Wilkerson said. “The price of homes has increased, so the amount you need to save for a down payment just becomes larger and larger.” Continue reading at The Columbian. (Amanda Cowan)

Can’t keep up with Seattle-area rising food prices? You’re not alone
After four years of high food inflation, many Seattle residents are struggling to afford groceries. In a city where the well-offs have their pick of the best foods and produce at organic and specialty stores, food costs are among the highest in the country. At the other end, people living close to the poverty line are cutting back on meals, buying cheaper processed food or going to food banks. In between, many are feeling the squeeze at varying degrees. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ivy Ceballo)

Washington one step closer toward $1.2B to broaden internet reach
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Washington’s initial proposal for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The approval means Washington can request access to its allocation of BEAD funding — over $1.2 billion. The state can also start implementing the BEAD program, according to the NTIA. The BEAD program, as stated by the news release, is a $42.5 billion state grant program through President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law to provide everyone in the country access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Comcast)