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Friday, September 8

WA Supreme Court sides with state in suit over school building costs
Out of options to fund repairs to its decaying buildings, a 400-student school district in one of Washington’s poorest counties launched a legal challenge against the state two years ago. On Thursday, the Wahkiakum School District lost in a unanimous ruling from the Washington Supreme Court. Local taxpayers are still expected to share in the costs of maintaining and constructing school buildings, even if, like Wahkiakum, they haven’t approved a bond in 20-plus years. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Lawmakers react to southwest Washington teacher strikes
About 2,000 teachers across Vancouver-area school districts began the school year on strike. State lawmakers wish this wasn’t the case. But what separates Democratic and Republican lawmakers on the issue is simple: Republicans like Wilson and Hawkins believe teachers should never go on strike. Democrats like Wellman and Stonier see strikes as one of the few options teachers have to make their voices heard. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Camas Education Association)

Lands commissioner: State will install 21 fire detection cameras around Washington
When a wildfire sparks, swift response times by first responders can mean the difference between a small brush fire and a deadly inferno. State officials say new artificial intelligence cameras installed in fire danger zones around Washington will improve wildfire response times by alerting dispatch centers at the first signs of smoke from flames. The lands commissioner said it is her goal to install at least 60 of the wildfire cameras around Washington in the next few years. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (WA DNR)

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Associated Press
A Black Man Imprisoned Since 1998 Walks Free And His Attorneys Raise Concerns About Police Racism

Axios
Rigid return-to-office mandates may backfire, experts say
Traces of fentanyl and meth linger on Seattle public transit, study finds

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham cracking down on campers and RVs parked around the city by unhoused dwellers
Bellingham Police seeking federal grant for ‘civil-disturbance’ unit and crime-alert software

Capital Press
Ag program critics offer suggestions for farm bill reform
Washington wolf advocates reset clock for rule decision

Everett Herald
Traces of meth, fentanyl exposure common on Puget Sound, Everett buses
Snohomish County man, 38, dies at jail in Everett

Indian Country Today
‘We must take care of the water’

Issaquah Reporter
Issaquah City Council expected to approve sales tax increase

News Tribune
Praying football coach who won Supreme Court case resigns

Olympian
In blow to small school districts, WA Supreme Court rules for state in building costs case

Peninsula Daily News
Memorial services set this weekend for Tokitae
Firefighters sent to interior park

Puget Sound Business Journal
Pickleball complex eyed for Seattle’s first planned RV safe parking site

Seattle Medium
Washington State’s Office Of Independent Investigations To Reopen Deadly Force Cases
Strike At Downtown Seattle Starbucks Over ‘Unsafe’ Conditions

Seattle Times
WA Supreme Court sides with state in suit over school building costs (Mullet)
First of three WA ferries pulled for hybrid-electric conversion
Drug smoke wafts through transit but not at toxic levels, UW study says
What will it take for Seattle to end remaining federal oversight of SPD?
Editorial: Congress, what could be more important than feeding mothers and children?
Opinion: One overlooked way to fight opioid deaths: Give people something to do

Spokesman Review
WSU study: Pandemic led to surge in multigenerational homes
Lands commissioner: State will install 21 fire detection cameras around Washington

Tri-City Herald
WA opioid settlement with Wal-Mart means more than $1 million coming to Tri-Cities
Bateman Island will remain closed after wild fire scorches about 6 acres

Washington Post
Dangerous heat is spreading. See what it will be like where you live in 2030 and 2050.
Covid worries linger on college campuses as fall semester begins

WA State Standard
Lawmakers react to southwest Washington teacher strikes (Wellman, Stonier)
WA Supreme Court says state isn’t responsible for 100% of school construction costs (Mullet)
Millions more workers would receive overtime pay under proposed Biden administration rule

Yakima Herald-Republic
More electric vehicle chargers are just around the corner in Yakima
Eastern Washington residents sought for new aviation work group
Editorial: Fish biologists’ work is saving salmon, preserving culture

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Federal judge ending most oversight of Seattle police from consent decree
Washington Supreme Court rules against lawsuit demanding state pay more for school construction

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Federal Way restaurant owner suing Tacoma for millions over alleged police negligence

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle-Bainbridge ferry route halts vehicle traffic for a week due to major terminal renovation
Weekend memorials planned to honor the late southern resident orca Tokitae

KNKX Public Radio
Climate advocates push to amend Seattle’s new tree ordinance
New minimum wage is on the table for unincorporated King County

KUOW Public Radio
Trust issues: Amazon could be fractured by impending FTC lawsuit, reports suggest
There’s meth on that: Study finds drug traces on Seattle transit rides
WA State Supreme Court rules against school district that sued for construction funding

KXLY (ABC)
Organizations offering fire assistance for Oregon Road Fire victims
Progress being made on housing development in northeast Spokane

Q13 TV (FOX)
UW study finds meth, fentanyl in air and on surfaces of public transit

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham police seek funding for bicycle team

Crosscut
Federal judge lifts most judicial oversight of Seattle police
Federal affirmative action ruling may impact WA cap-and-trade (Lekanoff)

The Stranger
Slog AM: A Higher Minimum Wage for Unincorporated King County, Cops Joke about Pedestrian Killed by Cop, Mexico Overturns Federal Abortion Ban

Thursday, September 7

Out of the smokestack, into the state budget
Washington’s cap-and-trade auctions are pulling in money faster than expected, spurring new ideas for spending, along with calls to rework the program to ease costs for consumers. Amid talk of what to do with all of the money, others are raising alarm about how companies are passing the cost to consumers, including with higher gasoline and energy prices. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

EPA scientists deployed as toxic algae persists in Columbia River
The Environmental Protection Agency will begin sampling the Columbia River near the Tri-Cities, Washington next week to sort out why toxic algae keeps popping up there. Toxic algae has been found in the Columbia River for the third week in a row in the Tri-Cities with the latest results showing the neurotoxin anatoxin-a is present at a level much higher than the Washington state standard for safe recreational use. Continue reading at KUOW. (Anna King)

Editorial: Invest in internet infrastructure expansion
Like running water or electricity, we should expect governments to construct and support infrastructure that delivers fast, reliable service to all American households. In May, the Washington State Broadband Office announced $121 million in grants for 19 broadband construction projects. Those efforts have been enhanced by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021. Such investments are essential for expanding the economy and improving the lives of all Americans, with internet infrastructure serving as one of the few areas in which urban and rural residents can find common ground. Continue reading at Columbian.

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Axios
Hate crimes fell in Seattle last year, while rising elsewhere

Bainbridge Island Review
Ferry spans set to go into place on BI

Capital Press
Washington cap-and-trade costs shoot past $1 billion (Mullet)

Columbian
Camas and Evergreen teacher strikes continue
Once homeless, Vancouver couple find comfort, stability in tiny-home community
Hockinson school showcases sustainability as Gov. Inslee visits
Editorial: Invest in internet infrastructure expansion

The Daily News
Employment growth in Cowlitz County drives business, report shows

The Inlander
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe wants to bring salmon back to the entire Inland Northwest — and it’s starting with Hangman Creek

Journal of the San Juan Islands
San Juan County Parks and Fair Department to Break Ground on Capital Projects

News Tribune
Are 2 bosses better than 1? Local health board thinks so. Here’s why, what it will cost

Olympian
Capital High School is locked out Wednesday morning after police find student with gun
Body camera video shows Thurston County deputy shooting man near Lacey July 4

Peninsula Daily News
Bainbridge terminal open for passengers only

Seattle Medium
Washington To Receive And Allocate $60 Million To Tackle Ongoing Opioid Crisis
Ferguson Thwarts Third Attempt To Block Washington’s Assault Weapons Ban
Washington’s Low Teacher-To-Student Ratios Stated In New Report
Man Killed by Police After Revived With Naloxone

Seattle Times
WA’s carbon-pricing auctions collect nearly $1.5 billion as allowances reach record price (Mullet)
Editorial: A big thanks to Seattle waterfront greenway visionaries
Opinion: Students like us must lead the charge when it comes to teen mental health

South Whidbey Record
Judge orders new Growler study, but no immediate change in operations

Spokesman Review
Woodward administration calls for pause on choosing new Trent shelter operator
Kim Wyman, Washington’s former top election official, shares what keeps her up at night and why she still has faith in U.S. democracy

Washington Post
SBA program upended in wake of Supreme Court affirmative action ruling

WA State Standard
Out of the smokestack, into the state budget (Mullet)
India’s tariffs on U.S. apples come to an end, a plus for Washington growers

Yakima Herald-Republic
Grants available to restore historic cemeteries, barns and theaters across WA
Federal judge dismisses Yakima Union Gospel Mission’s lawsuit against state

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Rural Washington fire stations struggling to recruit new volunteers
Salmon begin to return home to Issaquah hatchery for spawning season
Joe Kennedy, football coach once fired for prayers, resigns after one game back at Bremerton
New collaborative program aims to help district grads address Tacoma’s teacher shortage

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle City Council greenlights over 70 new speed cameras to curb illegal street racing
Washington Sen. Cantwell says end of Indian tariffs to be big boon for state growers
Federal spending on homelessness increases along with unhoused population

KNKX Public Radio
Washington may upgrade Western gray squirrel to ‘endangered’ status

KUOW Public Radio
Federal judge salutes ‘the end of the beginning’ of Seattle’s police reform efforts
EPA scientists deployed as toxic algae persists in Columbia River
Bremerton’s praying football coach resigns after brief return

KXLY (ABC)
City of Medical Lake helping residents begin rebuilding process
DNR, Spokane Conservation District holding post-fire assistance meeting for Gray Fire victims
Spokane leaders promoting fentanyl awareness, education to address crisis

NW Public Radio
Toxic algae found in Columbia River for third week, EPA scientists on the way and new OSU study “sniffs” for toxins

Q13 TV (FOX)
SPD consent decree: Judge lifts most federal oversight of Seattle Police Department

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Neighbors, county leadership spar over potential metal shredder

Crosscut
King County Council considers increasing minimum wage to $19/hour

The Stranger
After 11 Years of Federal Oversight, Judge Rules SPD Mostly Compliant but Declines to End Entire Consent Decree

Wednesday, September 6

State will keep fiscal tabs on three cash-starved Washington school districts
As students return to Washington classrooms, state education officials are closely monitoring how three cash-strapped public school districts are spending money. Marysville, La Conner and Mount Baker districts, all located in western Washington and part of Northwest Educational Service District 189, are in this position because they are beginning the school year without a balanced budget as the state requires. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (LaConner School District)

Idahoans by the hundreds are seeking abortions in neighboring states. What we know
Idaho’s abortion ban has driven scores of women across three different borders to seek care in the year since it went into effect. The shift has public health implications beyond abortion, experts said. Many patients are able to travel out of state for the procedure, but the added distance imposes extra obstacles. Those barriers prevent some from traveling at all. And the harsh penalties doctors face under Idaho’s ban have caused some fear about treating complicated pregnancies. Continue reading at Olympian.

Washington sees 77% increase in traffic deaths as young drivers head back to school
New numbers show a dramatic increase in the number of high school and college-age students dying in traffic crashes during back-to-school time. Washington state is seeing the second highest increase nationwide. A new report from USA Today Blueprint details a dramatic increase in the number of young drivers between 16 and 24 years old who are killed in traffic crashes in August and September. Washington state saw a 77% increase between 2018 and 2021, the most recent year data is available. Continue reading at KOMO 4 TV.

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Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen school, police respond to shooting threat

Axios
School vaccine exemptions are declining in Washington state
Washington had some of the nation’s worst power outages in 2021
Telehealth abortions are up in Washington state

Columbian
Crews focus on preservation of Clark County roads
Evergreen, Camas teachers’ strikes enter week two (Stonier)

The Daily News
Kelso airport sees growth in business, partly due to skilled workers, officials say

Everett Herald
52 Everett Public Schools employees become teachers through new program
Mother sues Snohomish County over son’s 2020 jail death
Seeing triple? 3 ferries on Edmonds-Kingston route for six days
Grant aids apprenticeship program in Mukilteo and elsewhere

News Tribune
WA state needs public’s help to monitor for three invasive species and one plant partner

Olympian
Idahoans by the hundreds are seeking abortions in neighboring states. What we know
Tri-Cities advocates already seeing homelessness surge as federal aid dries up
Which Washington state counties have the highest rate of sexually-transmitted infections?

Peninsula Daily News
COVID is on rise; few seen in hospitals

Puget Sound Business Journal
FTC antitrust suit against Amazon likely coming this month, reports say
Polyclinic, Everett Clinic parent company lays off WA employees

Seattle Medium
Nicole Bascomb-Green Named Chair Of The Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Seattle Human Services Department Allocates Over $3.8 Million To Support Local Families
Innovative Public–Private Partnership For Elliott Bay Waterfront Park Revitalization

Seattle Times
Down-to-the-wire deal clears way for school to start Wednesday in Seattle
Editorial: Help all of WA aggressively disrupt the scourge of fentanyl
Opinion: Praying coach’s actions do not alter the Constitution

Skagit Valley Herald
Blood donations needed throughout the region

The Skanner
Fatal Police Shooting of Pregnant Ohio Woman Raises Concerns Over Firing at Moving Vehicles
As People Live Longer Should There be an Age-Limit for Politicians

Spokesman Review
All evacuations lifted for the Gray and Oregon Road fires

Tri-City Herald
New step taken to turn Tri-Cities into national model for a clean energy center

Washington Post
Poor families could see cuts to food aid as Congress battles over budget

WA State Standard
State will keep fiscal tabs on three cash-starved Washington school districts
Bird flu outbreak in Washington possibly spreading to seals
Death rates for people under 40 have skyrocketed. Blame fentanyl.

Wenatchee World
Opinion: ESD and WSD Superintendent: ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Overdose reversal drug Narcan now available at some major stores
Seattle Public Schools, workers union reach tentative agreement
Bellevue School District students return after controversial consolidation

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle-Bainbridge ferry route will close for vehicles during walkway construction

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Endangered northern leopard frogs hop back into the wild
Council member sees more challenges in Seattle’s yet-to-be adopted drug possession law
Washington sees 77% increase in traffic deaths as young drivers head back to school
High-speed chase leads to fiery crash on I-5 near Mountlake Terrace, suspected felon still at large

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle Council gives I-5 lid idea first official thumbs up
Wheelless in Seattle: Bainbridge ferry nixes cars, bikes for a week
Seattle police chief’s alleged relationship with employee prompts inquiries, roils department

KXLY (ABC)
All evacuations lifted for Gray Fire in Medical Lake
Riverside School District students return to class following Oregon Road Fire

NW Public Radio
What will happen to employees at WestRock Paper Mill when it closes?
Scientists discover ‘turtle power’ could help monitor radioactive materials
Wildfires can impact your mental health

Q13 TV (FOX)
Bellevue teens win Technovation Award for innovative abortion support app
Seattle Public Schools reaches tentative agreement with unionized janitors, cafeteria staff

Web

Cascadia Daily News
In first veto, county executive rejects new ferry fare rules
Cooler temperatures, rain slow Sourdough Fire

The Stranger
Seattle City Council Considers Resolution to Lid I-5 (Pedersen, Liias, Fey)
Seattle Nonprofit Launches First Indigenous Guaranteed Income Program in the US

Tuesday, September 5

A road map for lowering insulin costs in Washington
Washington should make insulin more widely available at cheaper prices and offer a free 30-day supply at least once a year for people who are short on the drug and can’t afford it. That’s the message delivered to state lawmakers from a workgroup assigned to chart a course to increase insulin access and affordability. Hundreds of thousands of Washington residents with diabetes depend on insulin every day. To lower costs, members recommend a long-term strategy for the state to expand a drug rebate program and contract directly with manufacturers to sell insulin at lower prices. In the short term, they want Washington to follow other states and require manufacturers to cover the cost of a 30-day supply of insulin for people who need it urgently. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

State’s ban on assault weapons will remain in place for now, Thurston County judge rules
A Thurston County judge ruled Friday that a ban on the sale of assault weapons in Washington state should remain in place as a lawsuit challenging the ban works its way through the court system. “My legal team remains undefeated against the gun lobby in court,” Ferguson said in the press statement. “This common-sense gun reform will save lives by restricting access to the preferred weapon of mass shooters.” Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee requested legislation to ban assault weapons during the 2023 legislative session. The law immediately went into effect when Inslee signed the bill on April 25, making Washington the 10th state to have bans on assault weapons in place. Continue reading at Olympian.

Sen. Lovick: Living up to King’s ‘Dream’ requires an honest history
This week we recognized the anniversary of one of the most pivotal points of the civil rights era. On Aug. 28, 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place. As is the case with all major moments in history, it is so critical for us to understand the context of an event to truly know its complexity and importance. I’ve watched in sadness as other states have stopped teaching our shared history. In our state we’ve gone the other direction. We’ve passed laws in our Legislature to ensure Washington educators have the tools needed to best teach ethnic studies in their coursework. We must face our past. The good and the bad. We must tell the whole story so that we can learn and not repeat the mistakes and violence that came before. Continue reading at Everett Herald.

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Associated Press
Congress returns to avoid government shutdown while Republicans weigh an impeachment inquiry

Capital Press
Washington Ecology not flooded by applications for drought-relief grants

Columbian
Clark Asks: Where are the affordable housing projects for Clark County?
Fighting fire with Firewise: Columbia River Gorge towns push for more wildfire safety practices
Vancouver’s Fortside Brewing, other Washington breweries prevail in lawsuit against Oregon

Everett Herald
Ambitious high-speed rail project could have stop in Everett (Liias)
So far, where has Snohomish County’s ARPA money gone?
Road to Boardman Lake to reopen after $500K repair project
Mobile opioid treatment among Snohomish County goals to fight epidemic
State awards $10 million to Snohomish County for floodplain projects
Sen. Lovick: Living up to King’s ‘Dream’ requires an honest history
Editorial: Honoring the memory of the last captive orca

News Tribune
State agency that manages forest lands wants to auction off parcels in Pierce County

Olympian
Election security costs may put Thurston County in a financial bind. Here’s why
Washington is losing its volunteer firefighting force. The consequences could be devastating
State’s ban on assault weapons will remain in place for now, Thurston County judge rules
Eastern WA chemical company fined $480K after worker exposed to toxic gas falls 12 feet
Opinion: Labor Day celebrates American workers’ victories. WA unions are fighting for more

Peninsula Daily News
Tribes consider how to combat climate change
Ridge fire 75 percent contained, park says

Seattle Times
King County oversight chief wants radical reforms in American policing
Why King County mental health facilities reject 1 in 4 patients
How new federal staffing requirements affect WA nursing homes
Fall is on its way: What to know about back-to-school vaccines in WA
Emergency cash available for WA residents affected by wildfires
Video appears to show jet skis close to orcas; here are the WA rules
Editorial: A step closer to tech equity through broadband expansion
Editorial: While Seattle fumbles, other King County cities take decisive action on drug legislation
Opinion: Don’t leave women out of workforce investments
Opinion: Why moms and babies do better in a refugee camp than in the PNW

Skagit Valley Herald
State gives update on 2023 climate resilience plan

Spokesman Review
Will they be made whole? Fire cleanup full of complications as federal aid remains far off
A french-fry boomtown emerges as a climate winner – as long as it has water

Vancouver Business Journal
Opinion: Employers crave stability and predictability

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla program to reduce snow berms for residents with disabilities

Washington Post
A new era of climate-linked disease threatens humanity
Child care is about to get more expensive, as federal funds dry up

WA State Standard
A road map for lowering insulin costs in Washington (Keiser)
Union sues to stop state purchase of psychiatric hospital until labor dispute is resolved
One of the educators on strike in southwest Washington is a state lawmaker (Stonier)

Yakima Herald-Republic
One-of-a-kind helix fish passage nears completion at Cle Elum Dam

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Washington truckers taking Dept. of Ecology to court over fuel surcharges
Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry route closed to cars between Sept. 7-13
26 DUI arrests, 114 collisions reported over Labor Day weekend in King County alone

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Labor Day travel chaos: Record breaking crowds at Sea-Tac, ferry delays, and I-5 shutdowns in western Washington
Removal orders posted after 80% of people at Myers Way encampment accept housing

KUOW Public Radio
Bremerton’s praying coach returns to the sidelines, for now
Rocketing boulders, dwindling streams: signs of WA’s shriveling glaciers
Washington may upgrade Western gray squirrel to ‘endangered’ status
WA farmworkers fight for union recognition at mushroom farm that was sued over discrimination, retaliation

KXLY (ABC)
Labor Day looking different for Medical Lake community following Gray Fire

Q13 TV (FOX)
Snohomish County to use $10M in funds to mitigate flooding in Sultan, Monroe

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Lake Whatcom Fire 90% contained; outside resources to step away
Recent Wobbly protests and union efforts in Whatcom, Skagit Counties
PeaceHealth to restore palliative care in early 2024

Crosscut
Readers sound off on Washington’s high gas prices
The Lummi Nation sees ‘parallels’ with orca Tokitae’s story

MyNorthwest
Seattle-Bainbridge ferry route closed to vehicles for bridge construction
King and Snohomish Counties struggle as opioid deaths increase
Another judge sides with AG Ferguson Wash. ban of assault weapon sales
WA Supreme Court: Unions can no longer block release of state workers’ contact info

Friday, September 1

Indigenous nations say their forests are federally underfunded
Forests managed by Indigenous nations are severely underfunded. To reach per-acre parity with forests managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, the federal government would need to increase funding by nearly $96 million every year. The lack of funding has created limited staffing and issues around workforce capacity that have impacted tribal forest management. Climate change, wildfires and catastrophic natural events are causing unprecedented destruction at a massive scale, making the need for forest protection and conservation even more dire. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Lindsey Wasson)

Wildfires And Their Impact On Recreation In Washington State
The state has been grappling with an escalating wildfire crisis that has had far-reaching consequences, particularly on outdoor recreational activities. The tourism industry, a significant contributor to Washington’s economy, relies heavily on outdoor recreational activities. When wildfires disrupt these activities, tourism revenue takes a hit, affecting local businesses, guides, and outfitters that rely on outdoor enthusiasts for business. Continue reading at Seattle Medium.

Washington on track for ‘historically deadly year’ with traffic crashes
Last year was the deadliest on Washington roadways in over three decades. Figures released this week show this year could be worse. Crashes claimed the lives of 417 people through July 31, according to initial data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. During the same time frame last year, 413 people died in vehicle collisions. The agencies point to four factors that they say contribute to a significant number of deadly crashes: driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, distraction, speeding and not wearing seatbelts. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Bill Lucia)