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Monday, August 22

WA wants to secure housing for youth exiting state care
“We kind of just said it — and hoped it would be true — and never came around to providing the tools,” said State Rep. Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island), of the shortcomings in [SB 6560]. Senn was lead sponsor of HB 1905, resulting in that second law. Implemented in June, it establishes a five-year budget of over $5 million to reduce homelessness among those aforementioned groups. Washington’s Office of Homeless Youth will be responsible for much of that budget, administering $1.6 million in flexible funding that lets people who are allotted those dollars determine how to spend them on transportation, telephone or other everyday expenses. It also will oversee the quadrupling to $2 million of the budget for system of care grants and a $625,000 expansion of the housing stability for justice-involved youth program. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families will convene a new state rapid response team, with a budget of $1 million. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Valerie Niemeyer)

Need for home care rising, but caregivers are hard to find in rural WA
Caregivers assist with daily activities like preparing meals, helping with dressing and managing medications. The job descriptions have a wide range; one person may need someone for two hours a week to assist with household chores, while another may require help around the clock. For people with age-related needs or disabilities, caregivers are a line of defense against a cascade of complications — a burnt-out lightbulb may seem innocuous, until someone trips because they couldn’t see at night, breaks a bone during the fall and has to be hospitalized. But in rural areas, where about 1 in 5 of Americans 65 and older live, these services are less likely to be available compared with those in urban areas. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Dean Rutz)

The remote work revolution is already reshaping America
The coronavirus pandemic set in motion a shift to remote and hybrid work that is quietly reshaping American economics and demographics. While the fine women and men at U.S. statistical agencies are still grappling with how to measure this astonishing transformation, a host of academics and other experts have rushed to fill the data gap. They’ve found that remote work has ebbed significantly since the height of pandemic shutdowns in 2020, when almost two-thirds of work was done remotely. But it has since stabilized at an extraordinarily high level: Around a third of work was done remotely in the United States in 2021 and 2022, according to economists José María Barrero (Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico), Nicholas Bloom (Stanford University) and Steven Davis (University of Chicago). Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Gabrielle Lurie)

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Associated Press
New coastal WA tsunami tower offers residents an escape
Prosecutor Asks for Probe Into Seattle Mayor’s Deleted Texts
Public health emergency declared over monkeypox in WA county

Columbian
Interstate Bridge: History of conflict, compromise

The Inlander
Spokane’s new land bank wants to obtain properties so nonprofits can build low-income housing

News Tribune
Ready or not, back-to-school season is coming. Here’s opening info about local districts

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County to consider OlyCAP lease for homeless encampment

Seattle Times
Grassroots effort to remove Highway 99 in South Park goes mainstream (Hackney)
Need for home care rising, but caregivers are hard to find in rural WA
UW professor outlines how states went from the laboratories of democracy to working against it
Column: Seattle’s Chinatown ID sees a ‘terrible beauty’ in the fight against a train station

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County COVID-19 case numbers lowest since April
Swinomish tribe building first modern clam garden in the U.S.

Spokesman Review
The Tri-Cities are among the fastest growing parts of Washington, according to 2020 Census data. Here’s how they’re dealing with explosive growth
‘People have gotten sucked into a lot of lies’: Experts say elections are secure, even as Republicans make baseless claims to the contrary
City of Spokane to host information sessions on temporary zoning change for multifamily housing options

Tri-City Herald
Debate on lifting Pasco pot shop ban gets heated. Already, the police were called once
CDC gives Tri-Cities new COVID rating and mask recommendations

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Walla Walla Community College gets federal COVID-19 relief dollars

Washington Post
Fauci plans to step down in December after half a century in government
The remote work revolution is already reshaping America
Alaska’s snow crabs have disappeared. Where they went is a mystery.
Cognitive rehab may help older adults clear covid-related brain fog

Yakima Herald-Republic
Central Washington family that owns Wautoma solar project site explains benefits of proposal
Benton County officials, some residents object to solar project near Yakima County line
Opinion: Coming to the U.S. shouldn’t be this hard

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Student loan pause: Latest update from Biden administration
New data shows downtown Seattle approaching pre-pandemic tourism levels

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Amid rising numbers of attacks on Seattle firefighters, union seeks better protections
LISTEN: Washington sues Idaho over abortion ban
Dorli Rainey, Seattle woman who became symbol of Occupy movement, dies at 95

KUOW Public Radio
Monkeypox in children is “exceedingly rare”, but families should be aware says UW pediatrics professor
Deepwater diesel cleanup stalls at San Juans shipwreck

KXLY (ABC)
City Council to vote on emergency ordinance regarding siting essential City facilities

Web

Crosscut
WA wants to secure housing for youth exiting state care (Senn)
Study finds Seattle’s controversial soda tax can improve equity

MyNorthwest
Coast Guard reports progress at sunken fishing boat off San Juan Island
Rare tick disease hospitalizes Whatcom County man in first case from WA

West Seattle Blog
CORONAVIRUS: This week’s look at local numbers
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Another milestone on the road to reopening

Friday, August 19

Doctor who sued Idaho says chaos reigns as abortion bans go into effect
Over the past week, the landscape around abortion in Idaho dramatically changed — and the rest of the country is watching, particularly in Washington, now receiving many abortion patients from its eastern neighbor. Idaho’s Legislature already had passed laws restricting, then almost totally banning, abortion. Due to an Idaho Supreme Court ruling on Aug. 12, medical professionals who provide an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically about six weeks into a pregnancy, now can be sued for a minimum of $20,000. At the same time, an Idaho law known as the “Total Abortion Ban” is scheduled to go into effect Aug. 25 unless a federal court grants a preliminary injunction. The state Supreme Court declined to do so. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Planned Parenthood)

Federal study: New climate law to slice carbon pollution 40%
Clean energy incentives in the new spending package signed this week by President Joe Biden will trim America’s emissions of heat-trapping gases by about 1.1 billion tons (1 billion metric tons) by 2030, a new Department of Energy analysis shows. The first official federal calculations, shared with The Associated Press before its release Thursday, say that between the bill just signed and last year’s infrastructure spending law, the U.S. by the end of the decade will be producing about 1.26 billion tons (1.15 billion metric tons) less carbon pollution than it would have without the laws. That saving is equivalent to about the annual greenhouse gas emissions of every home in the United States. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Eugene Garcia)

Biden Bill to Help Millions Escape Higher Health Care Costs
Millions of people in the United States will be spared from big increases in health care costs next year after President Joe Biden signed legislation extending generous subsidies for those who buy plans through federal and state marketplaces. The sweeping climate, tax and health care bill sets aside $70 billion over the next three years to keep out-of-pocket premium costs low for roughly 13 million people, just before the reduced prices were set to expire in a year beset by record-high inflation. The bill will extend subsidies temporarily offered last year when Congress and Biden signed off on a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill that significantly lowered premiums and out-of-pocket costs for customers purchasing plans through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace. It also continues reduced costs for more individuals and families who live well above the poverty line. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Alex Brandon)

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Associated Press
State resources called to wildfire in Eastern Washington
Federal study: New climate law to slice carbon pollution 40%
Biden Bill to Help Millions Escape Higher Health Care Costs

Auburn Reporter
School supplies and meals will be free for Auburn students
King County Council approves $5 million in funding for youth mental health

Bellingham Herald
Will federal climate legislation help reopen aluminum plant in Whatcom County?

The Daily News
Washington Senator Patty Murray tours Longview port after influx of federal grants for green projects

Everett Herald
As violent crime trends up, Everett looks at gun buyback, legal options

Kitsap Sun
Kitsap Transit gives the boot to many electric scooters on Bremerton fast ferry
Two spills discharge sewage into Dyes Inlet, Oyster Bay

Olympian
Olympia City Council unanimously OKs rental housing code changes that limit move-in costs
Editorial: We have an election system we can trust. Don’t believe us? You can see for yourself

Seattle Times
More delays for light rail to Bellevue, Redmond, Federal Way, Lynnwood
Doctor who sued Idaho says chaos reigns as abortion bans go into effect
New Native-run health clinic opens in Pioneer Square
Seattle city attorney making quicker filing decisions, prosecuting misdemeanors more often, report says

Spokesman Review
‘It’s not about the books’: Boundary County library director resigns over intimidation and ‘political atmosphere of extremism’
Spokane teachers approve new labor contract

Washington Post
Lawmakers demand data about online threats against law enforcement
Amazon’s health ambitions sometimes clashed with medical best practices, nurses say

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County sheriff’s deputies deploying body cameras to record interactions, interviews

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
As Indigenous overdose deaths spike, new clinic in Seattle offers treatment, hope
Washington senator proposes harsher penalties for jail guards who sexually abuse inmates
New tool explores heat, flood, fire risks by location

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Over-the-counter hearing aids could help lower cost, says doctor
Washington state confirms one pediatric monkeypox case
Prosecutor asks for probe into Seattle mayor’s deleted texts

KNKX Public Radio
Up, up and away. Forest Service looking at special balloons to monitor big wildfires
Washington nurses call for better pay as more colleagues turn to traveling work

KUOW Public Radio
Trans patients often travel out of state, pay more for gender-affirming care, study finds
Children in stolen vehicles account for most of 2022’s Amber Alerts, WA officials say
Seattle resolution condemns harassment against elected officials and political candidates
Seattle City Attorney says her office is filing more cases, more quickly

Web

The Stranger
One Easy Fix Could Shave Years Off Seattle’s Affordable Housing Developments

Thursday, August 18

Weather chaos in the West: High heat and concerns about fires and flood
Weather alerts blanket the West Coast, even as much of the rest of the country remains relatively quiet weather-wise. All across California and the Pacific Northwest, heat advisories and excessive heat warnings are in place, and temperatures are expected to top 100 degrees in spots. A few dry thunderstorms could bring fire concerns, too, and in the Desert Southwest there’s potential for flooding. More than 17 million Americans are under heat advisories on the West Coast, with another million or so included under excessive heat warnings. Advisories stretch through the entire San Joaquin Valley in California and blanket most of Washington state and the northern half of Oregon. Excessive heat warnings are in effect for central Washington state and include the city of Yakima. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Craig Mitchelldyer)

Ostrom Mushroom Farms faces civil rights lawsuit on gender, other discrimination
Ostrom Mushroom Farms, a major producer in the Pacific Northwest, systematically fired about 80% of its employees at its Sunnyside farm — the majority of whom were women — and replaced them with foreign workers, who were mostly men, under a visa that provides fewer labor rights, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the state attorney general. The lawsuit alleges Ostrom violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination by engaging in retaliation against employees who reported concerns over working conditions and refused to hire U.S.-based workers and women. Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Wednesday during a news conference held at the Centilia Cultural Center in Seattle that his office was seeking pay lost by workers who were unjustly fired, restitution and civil penalties for the company. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Daisy Zavala Magaña)

Red flag warnings spark concerns of wildfires in WA. This interactive fire map shows where
Despite being in the thick of wildfire season, Washington firefighters are enjoying a relatively peaceful August. But the National Weather Service in Seattle is warning people not to rest on their laurels, especially over the next couple of days, as dry, hot and unstable conditions have resulted in red flag warnings throughout the state. A red flag warning is issued when dry conditions, warm weather and high winds combine to create a potential fire danger. The Weather Service is also keeping an eye on the potential for isolated thunderstorms over the Cascades on Thursday, where a lightning strike could also ignite a wildfire. Continue reading at The Olympian.

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Auburn Reporter
Congressman introduces bill to discourage large investors from buying homes

Bloomberg
U.S. jobless claims unexpectedly dip for first time in three weeks

Capital Press
Groups petition Oregon to regulate dairy air emissions

Columbian
Clark Council OKs request for COVID funds to expand broadband to rural residents
Editorial: In Our View: Future Fund an investment in Washingtonians (Stonier)

The Daily News
Kelso council looks to fund road repairs, maintenance after staff estimate $1.5M needed

Everett Herald
‘Small step’ toward affordable housing is big debate in Snohomish
County OKs hotel-shelter purchases, won’t require drug treatment

News Tribune
Hazardous chemical bin in Lakewood Industrial Park at risk of exploding, firefighters say
Opinion: I was in prison. This year I’ll vote for the first time in 25 years. Here’s why it matters (Simmons)

Olympian
WA struggles to provide mental health care. Here’s how an archaic law makes it harder
Red flag warnings spark concerns of wildfires in WA. This interactive fire map shows where

Peninsula Daily News
State provides tourism relief grants

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle City Council approves police hiring incentives
Washington AG accuses Meta of trying to gut state campaign finance law
Gravity Payments CEO Dan Price resigns amid assault charges

Seattle Times
Seattle saw one of its warmest nights ever, and more heat is ahead
Ostrom Mushroom Farms faces civil rights lawsuit on gender, other discrimination
What happens if you get COVID again? Here’s what an infectious disease expert says

Tri-City Herald
Some Tri-Cities kids are already back in class. Here’s a look at a post-COVID classroom
Kennewick Council reaches split decision on public prayer. Would it be divisive?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Columbia County undersheriff OK to preach in uniform, sheriff, prosecutor say

Washington Post
Allen Weisselberg, longtime Trump executive, pleads guilty to tax scheme
Glaciers in Europe are experiencing the most severe melting on record
Weather chaos in the West: High heat and concerns about fires and flood

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima City Council signs on to letter welcoming refugees to the U.S.
WA attorney general files civil rights lawsuit against Ostrom Mushroom Farms in Sunnyside

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
South Seattle community bands together to save affordable housing
‘How do we diversify the teacher workforce?’: SPS program increasing representation in classrooms

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Snohomish County Council approves purchase of two hotels for homeless housing, wraparound services

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Snohomish County Council OKs plan to buy, convert 2 motels into housing for the homeless
Seattle, King County move forward with pilot program for RV safe lot

KNKX Public Radio
Massive new climate law could give Pacific Northwest green businesses a boost
‘Another kind of homophobia:’ Critics say King County’s monkeypox vaccine criteria are intrusive

KUOW Public Radio
Another heat wave arrives in the Northwest
The future of renewable energy may lie in organic waste

Q13 TV (FOX)
Firefighters prepare for increased threat of brush fires as excessive heat lingers

Web

The Stranger
Seattle Has Lost the Battle Against Air Conditioning

Wednesday, August 17

Federal climate and inflation bill to bolster wave of new laws in WA
The landmark climate change and health care bill signed by the president Tuesday will unlock a wave of federal funding just as Washington prepares to launch a number of pivotal state programs. The new law will begin to funnel billions of dollars into green technology and infrastructure, making 2023 a potentially monumental year in the state’s fight against climate change. Washington is preparing to roll out a spate of programs that will put a price on greenhouse gas emissions, require electric utilities to phase out coal and reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels. An influx of money could streamline and expedite state efforts to decarbonize. But the legislation’s success or failure will depend largely on how effectively federal funding complements state programs on the way. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Infectious disease expert suggests monkeypox prevention techniques for college students
At a time when thousands of college students prepare to flock back to local campuses, Edward Leonard, M.D., a board certified infectious disease specialist at Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, suggests college students take measures to protect themselves from the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease that can cause flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that can appear anywhere on the body. Leonard recommends that college students don’t share towels, bedding, or clothing since the virus can spread if a person’s skin comes into contact with a contaminated object. Additionally, Leonard suggests covering coughs and sneezes since respiratory droplets can transmit the monkeypox virus with direct and extended face-to-face exposure. Continue reading at Bellevue Reporter. (Black Press File Photo)

Student loan borrowers will know ‘soon’ about moratorium extension
Student loan borrowers will know “soon” about an extension of the pause on student loan payments and possible debt cancellation, the U.S. education secretary said in an interview Tuesday, but still no decisions have been made. The pause expires Aug. 31. With the deadline just over two weeks away, borrowers and student loan servicers are growing weary without any guidance. “We’re having conversations daily with the White House and borrowers will know directly and soon from us when a decision is made,” U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told CBS News. The White House has said Biden will make a decision by the end of August. Continue reading at KING 5.

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Associated Press
WA pays $2M to workers assaulted at psychiatric hospital

Auburn Reporter
King County releases first-ever Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy

Bellevue Reporter
Infectious disease expert suggests monkeypox prevention techniques for college students
Office of Law Enforcement Oversight director issues statement on behavioral health response

Bellingham Herald
Washington is at high risk of tsunamis and waves up to 42 feet tall, here’s how to prepare

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: Hanford offers potential, poses challenges

The Daily News
New $110M budget proposed for Kelso School District
Heat advisory set for Wednesday and Thursday for Cowlitz County

Everett Herald
State laws prompt changes in Everett city rules for shelters
Editorial: Electoral Count Act needs bipartisan reforms now

International Examiner
Velma Veloria honored with Lifetime Achievement Award from the Equity in Education Coalition

New York Times
Biden Signs Climate, Health Bill Into Law as Other Economic Goals Remain

Peninsula Daily News
Transgender proclamation draws hundreds to meeting
Observable sheen from oil spill shrinks

Puget Sound Business Journal
Child care workers in King County to receive one-time ‘retention’ bonus

Seattle Medium
Executive Constantine And Coalition Announces Behavioral Health And Crisis Response Priorities

Seattle Times
Truck drivers for Seattle sandwich maker Homegrown asked for a raise, then came the cameras
Federal climate and inflation bill to bolster wave of new laws in WA (Fitzgibbon)
How an old federal rule limits inpatient mental health beds in Washington
Washington attorney general enters fray in Idaho abortion lawsuit

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities largest school — the biggest high school in WA — must add more portable classes

Washington Post
U.S. officials clashed with the only maker of monkeypox vaccine as cases climbed
State climate action could be supercharged by the Inflation Reduction Act
How the Education Dept. plans to lift 7.5 million borrowers out of default
FDA moves to make over-the-counter hearing aids available to millions

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima continues to show support for Ukraine six months into war
Appeals court says penalties should be higher in Yakima School District public records case

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Student loan borrowers will know ‘soon’ about moratorium extension
King County pollution cleanup aims to restore habitat at a vital location for salmon

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Temperatures spike with record heat expected Thursday
Biden signs massive climate and health care legislation
Facebook parent Meta seeks to kill transparency requirements in Washington’s campaign finance law

KNKX Public Radio
Tribal scientists snorkel rivers to help save freshwater mussels

KUOW Public Radio
New 988 hotline is ‘the front door’ to help. But what’s next for Washingtonians in need?
Rep. Strickland on why the Dems’ massive healthcare and climate bill is a big deal for WA
One year later, Afghan refugees in WA still need support to put down roots

Q13 TV (FOX)
Snohomish County aims to turn motel to bridge housing in a city that banned outdoor overnight camping

Web

Crosscut
What the Nooksack River’s climate tailspin means for people and fish
WA state agencies fall short on federal relief reporting
Nine months later, Whatcom County flood survivors await FEMA aid

MyNorthwest
Amazon employees in Calif. walk out mid-shift in protest of low wages
Kitsap Transit gets nearly $1M to help address frequent ferry delays and cancellations
90% of child care workers applied to receive $500 bonus from King County
Washington attorney general joins coalition challenging Idaho’s near-total abortion ban

West Seattle Blog
FOLLOWUP: Here’s what more we found out about West Seattle’s big water-main break

Tuesday, August 16

Crews begin removing oil, fuel from sunken boat near San Juan Island
Commercial divers and salvage teams on Monday began removing remaining diesel and other potential pollutants on the Aleutian Isle, a 49-foot vessel that sunk Saturday west of San Juan Island. Crews will get to the vessel, which is in 100 feet of water, using two decompression chambers, according to Petty Officer Michael Clark of the U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest. A safety zone of 1,000 yards around the sunken vessel west of Sunset Point was put in place Monday as well as specialized marine mammal-deterrence teams staged in Snug Harbor by the Washington Department of Fish and Game, according to the Coast Guard. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Infrastructure money to almost double zero-emission buses on road
The infrastructure law is set to almost double the number of zero-emission buses on U.S. roads with a single year’s funding, the Federal Transit Administration announced Tuesday. The agency said it has awarded $1.6 billion through a pair of programs to transit operators across the country. The money will be used to purchase about 1,800 buses — including 1,100 that aren’t dependent on fossil fuels — and to construct maintenance and charging facilities while training workers. The funding is one of the most direct ways the $1 trillion infrastructure package promises to cut carbon emissions from transportation, the nation’s biggest source of greenhouse gases. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Bill O’Leary)

With student loan decision expected soon, US wipes out debt for 208,000 borrowers
Students who used federal loans to attend ITT Technical Institute as far back as 2005 will automatically get that debt canceled after authorities found “widespread and pervasive misrepresentations” at the defunct for-profit college chain, the Biden administration announced Tuesday. The action will cancel $3.9 billion in federal student debt for 208,000 borrowers, the Education Department said. The debt is being forgiven using a federal rule known as borrower defense, which is meant to protect students from colleges that make false advertising claims or otherwise commit fraud. Continue reading at The Associated Press.