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Thursday, August 10

The latest flare-up over Washington’s heat pump rules
Washington is aiming to reduce energy use in buildings by 70% compared to the levels envisioned with the 2006 edition of the state building code. And the building code council has a mandate to get it done by early next decade. Washington regulators derailed earlier this year when they tried to mandate electric heat pumps, rather than natural gas, be used to warm newly built homes and apartments. But now a path is emerging for them to offer builders incentives to choose heat pumps instead of gas. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

WA foster parents say the state still hasn’t fixed its investigative system
The state has been aware for years that fears of retaliation and frustration around investigations have driven away some otherwise willing foster parents. CPS investigations of abuse or neglect allegations are high-stakes, often difficult processes — mishandling one could also leave a child in a dangerous household. But Silvia Zarate’s experience aligns with a pattern advocates describe of overly punitive treatment of foster parents by the Department of Children, Youth and Families when those caregivers face accusations of abuse, neglect or even lower-level licensing violations. In a 2018 report to the Legislature on the topic of foster parent complaints, the department said it would undertake “enhanced systemic monitoring of foster parent supports” to tackle the problem. DCYF did not respond to a question asking what specifically the department has done since then to address concerns about investigations. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jake Parrish)

VP Kamala Harris to visit Seattle to speak on inflation and climate crisis
Vice President Kamala Harris will speak in Seattle on President Joe Biden’s administration’s efforts to combat inflation and the climate crisis on Aug. 15. The vice president’s visit comes ahead of the one-year anniversary of Biden signing his landmark Inflation Reduction Act. Harris plans to discuss her administration’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis with what she believes is the urgency it demands while building a clean energy economy that creates good-paying jobs. Continue reading at KOMO4.

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Axios
Sexual misconduct on airplanes is increasing, prosecutors warn
What it takes to be in the top 1% in Washington state

Bellingham Herald
Unpleasant reality: Whatcom County’s child abuse rates far exceed the statewide average
North Cascades Highway reopens as wildfire continues to advance in rural Whatcom County
Meridian School District shares plans to address child-care deserts in Whatcom County

Capital Press
Labor recruiter WAFLA offers money management classes for farmworkers

Columbian
Clark County projects it will add 73,500 jobs from 2025-2045
Vancouver eyes climate-adaptive trees for future

Everett Herald
Everett Transit seeks feds’ advice after Proterra bankruptcy
In Everett, ‘instead of helping us, they just want to put us in jail’
Editorial: Supreme Court left abortion decision to the people

The Inlander
A developer wants to build on one of the last untouched parts of Liberty Lake, raising environmental concerns

News Tribune
Farmers’ Almanac predicting an ‘unusually snowy’ winter in WA. Here’s the full forecast
Pierce County Executive vetoes council decision on controversial homeless village zoning
Report: More than a third of WA drivers canceled summer travel plans over high gas prices

Olympian
Olympic National Park reopens two trails after cougar attack, but others remain closed

Puget Sound Business Journal
Port of Seattle approves $33M for Maritime Innovation Center
WA agency acquires shuttered behavioral health hospital in Tukwila
Billions of SBA dollars in crosshairs after Supreme Court decision

Seattle Times
Early signs suggest WA could see a late-summer COVID wave
‘Disturbing uptick’ in sexual assaults on aircraft, officials say
Proposed San Juan Island trail divides farmers, recreation advocates
Port of Seattle approves $33 million Fishermen’s Terminal building renovation
Seattle City Council clears way for completion of $160 million aquarium expansion
Editorial: Free books for WA kids from a country music legend and literacy fairy godmother
Opinion: Modernize Columbia River Treaty to meet challenges ahead

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit County facility helping to turn used oil, beef fat into diesel fuel

Spokesman Review
2023 Washington apple harvest starts strong
Washington buys upgraded devices to help prevent wolf-livestock conflict

Tri-City Herald
2 Amazon centers have yet to open in Pasco. Is a safety dispute in Western WA to blame?

WA State Standard
The latest flare-up over Washington’s heat pump rules
Nearly 300,000 fentanyl pills seized in one of King County’s largest drug busts

Wenatchee World
Confluence Health CEO talks staffing, finances and future of Wenatchee’s hospital system

Yakima Herald-Republic
Retirement town hall meeting planned in Yakima on Aug. 17

Broadcast

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Vice President Kamala Harris returning to Seattle to discuss climate crisis

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
WSP warns of ‘rat-running’ trend in which drivers cut through lots to avoid backups
Seattle to save historic cedar tree in Wedgwood neighborhood
Overdose calls in King County have increased by 65% this year
North Cascades Highway reopens after closing due to 1,700-acre Sourdough Fire
Sexual abuse cases onboard flights rise; one woman’s fight for a conviction
VP Kamala Harris to visit Seattle to speak on inflation and climate crisis

KNKX Public Radio
Inflation got a little higher in July as prices for rent and gas spiked

KUOW Public Radio
New deal saves Seattle’s celebrity tree, ‘Luma’
Seattle lays out plan to uphold treaties and consider Indigenous concerns
Seattle strikes down its fee on arcade games, pinball, pool, and more fun

KXLY (ABC)
Paramedics ask for better solutions as fentanyl overdoses skyrocket

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington AG cracks down on criminals who fail to submit DNA
Seattle City Council passes bill to protect app-based workers from ‘unreasonable deactivation’

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Family Care Network to drop insurer, could strand PeaceHealth employees

Crosscut
WA foster parents say the state still hasn’t fixed its investigative system

MyNorthwest
Frustration about upcoming Seattle Police contract emerges at city council meeting

Wednesday, August 9

U.S. Sen. Murray visits Whatcom County to hear about efforts to fill child-care gaps
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a vocal advocate for addressing a shortage of child care options in Washington, visited the site of a proposed early learning center on Monday in Whatcom County. Plans are underway to create the Whatcom Early Learning Center in the Meridian School District, which will use the site to offer a solution to child care deserts in the rural parts of the county, according to the Whatcom County Early Learning Center information guide. The center plans to have space for up to 120 children who are infants through 5 years old. There would be extended hours and days of operation as a way to support working families. Continue reading at Olympian. (Meridian School District)

Supreme Court reinstates federal ‘ghost gun’ rule backed by Washington state
A Biden administration effort to clamp down on untraceable firearms made from kits can continue for now, after the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in Tuesday. It’s a small victory for states, including Washington, who say federal inaction has led to more of the “ghost guns” crossing their borders and getting used in crimes. Attorney General Bob Ferguson joined 21 other attorneys general last month in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the rule, which was issued last year. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty)

After 20+ years radioactive waste melting plant in Eastern WA takes key step forward
Glass has been melted inside the world’s largest radioactive waste melter at the Hanford nuclear reservation site for the first time, more than 20 years after construction on the vitrification plant began. “This is a proud time for our Hanford team as we have established a molten glass pool in our first melter,” said Brian Vance, the Department of Energy Hanford manager. Four melters are at the heart of the planned operations of the Waste Treatment Plant, or vitrification plant, to turn radioactive and chemical waste into a stable glass form for disposal. Continue reading at Tri-City Herald. (Bechtel National)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Sous chef’s heroism highlights drug problem in Aberdeen

Axios
Sinking tracks cause shutdowns to Seattle light rail service

Bellingham Herald
Highway remains closed as Sourdough Fire creeps toward town, power-generating plant

Capital Press
Washington slams EPA pesticide pilot project

Columbian
Battle Ground urges state to keep Larch Corrections Center operating
Battle Ground OKs eight-year multifamily tax break for West Main Commons project
NorthStar Clinic opens in central Vancouver to provide addiction treatment (Cleveland, Stonier)
Traffic fatalities jump in Clark County and Washington – driven by speed, alcohol, drugs, distraction
Editorial: On road to improving traffic safety with program

News Tribune
Washington state to shut down online benefits portals, statewide call centers for IT upgrade
WA state household bills $2.5k more than national average. Which counties cost the most?
Tacoma’s main library to close soon for $6M renovation. Here’s what that money will buy
Heard of ‘rat-running?’ Some WA cities ban it. What to know about this driving shortcut

Olympian
U.S. Sen. Murray visits Whatcom County to hear about efforts to fill child-care gaps

Seattle Times
Seattle settles lawsuit by 911 manager who cited dispatch concerns
Seattle City Council adds more protections for app-based workers
Student Voices: Grief lingers after the pandemic. Kids need more support
Opinion: Congress must modernize access to methadone to save lives

Skagit Valley Herald
Olympia oysters flourishing in Fidalgo Bay

Spokesman Review
Washington’s high gas prices make it the best state in the nation to go electric, study says
I-90 closed in western Spokane County due to chemical spill in crash

Tri-City Herald
After 20+ years radioactive waste melting plant in Eastern WA takes key step forward

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
College Place receives $427K loan to help design new water storage tank

WA State Standard
Supreme Court reinstates federal ‘ghost gun’ rule backed by Washington state
WA Sen. Patty Murray proposes new grants to help prevent youth homelessness
State ferry system may face budget gap even with fare hike

Wenatchee World
Wenatchee School District joins lawsuit against social media companies

Yakima Herald-Republic
‘Near-perfect growing conditions’ help boost WA apple crop
Yakima received roughly same amount of precipitation this weekend as past three months combined

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma police shoot, kill man at home where neighbors say there was frequent gunfire
Over half of Seattle residents live in ‘urban heat islands,’ new climate study finds
Aberdeen man who was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor laid to rest decades later

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Expansion of drug treatment services to Pioneer Square approved by Seattle City Council
Seattle residents to voice opinions on police labor negotiations at City Council meeting
Sen. Murray introduces legislation aimed at preventing youth homelessness

KUOW Public Radio
Seattle becomes first in U.S. to protect gig workers from sudden ‘deactivation’
Seattle lays out plan to uphold treaties and consider Indigenous concerns
Sourdough Fire takes bite out of Seattle’s electricity supplies
How a Seattle-area school district ignored repeated warnings of ‘grooming-like behavior’

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane School Board to work on $200 million bond plan
Northwest Autism Center expanding services to reach all regardless of ability
EB I-90 closed near Tyler due to hazardous materials leak

Q13 TV (FOX)
Burien continues to ignore $1M offer from King County to address homelessness crisis

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Opinion: State’s ‘Death With Dignity’ law is flawed for some patients

MyNorthwest
Funds, partnership with Cinerama passes Seattle City Council
Boeing delays Starliner’s crewed launch until March 2024, at the earliest
Cyclists file claims against Seattle, seek improvements on ‘Missing Link’ of Burke-Gilman Trail

Tuesday, August 8

Climate change is making PNW hydropower less reliable
As drought settled in over the Pacific Northwest this year, some electric utility managers did something unusual: They looked to California for hydropower. While the Golden State’s reservoirs retained an abundant supply of water after an abnormally wet winter, in Washington, the nation’s leading producer of hydropower, some systems saw less water than expected. The hydropower variability this year represents one example of some of the changes the country can expect in a warming world, according to a new report from Stanford researchers. The report challenges the notion that hydropower will carry the Northwest into its clean energy future, suggesting that without meaningful modeling for climate change in energy resource planning, the West will be ill-prepared to meet demand and its ambitious clean-energy goals. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

Earth recorded its hottest-ever month in July. But how hot did it get in Western WA?
The World Meteorological Organization has declared that July 2023 was officially the hottest month on record. Interestingly, Western Washington was one of the only regions in the country that didn’t get blasted by heat throughout July. The Puget Sound area stayed at an average high of about 80 degrees during the mid-July “heat dome” that cooked most of the U.S. west of the Rocky Mountains. Western Washington escaped the heat thanks in part to a low-pressure system sitting off the coast providing the region with cooler air, National Weather Service meteorologist Carly Kovacik told McClatchy News. After a month of going against the grain when compared with the rest of the county, August will finally be Puget Sound’s turn to warm up. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Steve Bloom)

Washington cities, counties now required to plan for climate change
Planning for severe storms, flooding, wildfires and poor air quality will soon be required for Washington cities and counties. A law passed by the Legislature this year requires local governments to consider climate change in their 20-year comprehensive plans beginning in 2025. The Department of Commerce released early guidance last month on how to do that. The guidance focuses on two new sections that must be included in long-range plans: lowering greenhouse-gas emissions and raising defenses against climate-related threats. With the law, the state isn’t mandating that localities meet specific emissions targets, just that they commit to strategies that can help with reductions. Sarah Fox, climate program manager for the Department of Commerce, said the guidance helps cities and counties reduce their impact on the planet as well as improve their ability to withstand the harsher effects of climate change. Continue reading at Crosscut. (Jovelle Tamayo)

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Associated Press
Oregon extends crab fishing restrictions to protect whales
After helping prevent extinctions for 50 years, the Endangered Species Act itself may be in peril
Attacks at US medical centers show why health care is one of the nation’s most violent fields
Artificial intelligence is gaining state lawmakers’ attention, and they have a lot of questions (Wellman)
FAA warns of safety hazard from overheating engine housing on Boeing Max jets during anti-icing

Aberdeen Daily World
Crews establishing containment of Moclips wildfire

Axios
Everett clocks worst pollen levels on West Coast
Potential heat wave approaches Seattle
More than half of Seattle lives on “heat islands”

Bellingham Herald
Earth recorded its hottest-ever month in July. But how hot did it get in Western WA?
Whatcom County wildfire closes major highway, grows overnight to nearly 3K acres
Whatcom County selected by the state to be a Health Equity Zone. Here’s what that means

Capital Press
Washington farm couple loses suit against PUD
Worried states hurry to comment on EPA pesticide controls

Columbian
Would rent control solve affordable housing crisis?
Clark County studies environmental public health fees
Letter to support I-5 bridge grant a challenge for county council
Murray addresses climate concerns at roundtable event
Clark County Veterans Assistance Center haven for homeless veterans
Editorial: Increase supply in housing to address issue

The Daily News
Cowlitz County maps potential flood risks in new plan
Kelso housing development shifts to two building design, still looking for land
Phishing scam hits Kalama School District

Everett Herald
Snohomish County absent from study concluding jurors tend to be white
In Sky Valley, embedded social worker is a ‘department of one’
Marysville schools to ask state for help in solving $18M shortfall
Snohomish County moves forward with BIPOC Chamber of Commerce
Editorial: Help proposed to stem growth of U.S. ‘news deserts’
Editorial: Paine Field’s biggest news wasn’t name change
Comment: Eco-nomics: Climate change’s impacts arrive in Snohomish County
Comment: State lawmakers acted on housing; now it’s our turn

High Country News
People are starting a lot of fires in the Pacific Northwest

News Tribune
It’s important to observe construction zone speed limits. Here’s why
Washington has some of the most expensive house prices in the nation. Here’s where we rank
Opinion: The Northwest is choking on wildfire smoke. Residents deserve better national coverage

Olympian
3 WA doctors, Idaho pathologist accused of improper COVID treatments. Patients died
Port of Olympia commission places executive director Gibboney on paid leave
Olympia nonprofit that helped house people closes after ‘critical financial crisis’

Peninsula Daily News
Dabob Bay area could expand

Port Townsend Leader
Help for inmates upon release

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA doubles loan limits, defers interest on popular loan program

Seattle Times
SPD illegally searched trunk after driver says he was stopped due to race, judge rules
Climate change is making PNW hydropower less reliable
UW study finds racial bias in rideshare driver deactivations
Families fall deep in debt for mental health care. Why is insurance so spotty?
Severe shutdown ahead for Seattle light rail due to sinking tracks
School bus stop-sign violators skirt consequences in King County
Washington buys closed Tukwila psychiatric hospital for nearly $30 million
Editorial: WA to Idaho: The fight for abortion rights has no borders

Skagit Valley Herald
Members of U.S. House visit Skagit Regional Airport

Spokesman Review
Getting There: Latah Bridge inspection could lead to federal rehabilitation grant
Seniors and disabled people in Spokane County will get a tax break
A year after Spokane relaxed its rules to allow more duplexes, the city is looking to go further

Tri-City Herald
Does your rent keep going up? Tri-Cities workers say 40% rent surge is crushing them

Vancouver Business Journal
Clark College receives $1 million to Develop Center for Clean Energy

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
New union approved for Walla Walla Community College professional salaried workers

Washington Post
‘12 years of hell’: Indian boarding school survivors share their stories
What to know about EG.5, the most prevalent covid subvariant in the U.S.

WA State Standard
High prices trigger special auction of emission allowances
What do Washington’s rest stops need most? The state is trying to figure it out.
Billions spent on hatcheries, habitat fails to help native Columbia River salmon, study finds
Less than a third of WA police certified in new deescalation and mental health training
Oil spill fines aid restoration projects in Washington

Yakima Herald-Republic
Editorial: County’s solar farm moratorium creates needless drama

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Orca Network commemorates orca captures near Whidbey Island in the ’60s and ’70s
Doug’s Defenders: Community activists rally to save Douglas Fir in Maple Leaf Neighborhood
Pacific County sheriff says agency will no longer do interviews with Long Beach newspaper
Sourdough Fire burns near important power generators for Seattle
Those displaced by Lakewood mobile home park receiving donations after devastating fire
Proposed light rail line could bulldoze Hispanic market at the heart of Everett’s Casino Road community

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle fire union warns of escalating ‘violence and disorder’ after recent attacks on firefighters
Repeat crashes at dangerous Tacoma intersection spark calls for safety measures

KUOW Public Radio
Acting U.S. Attorney in Seattle turns focus to gun crimes, mental health solutions
Colman Dock is back! Ferry riders delight in Seattle’s upgraded terminal
Understaffing leads to safety problems at King County juvenile detention, draft report finds

KXLY (ABC)
Looking at the laws: How Thursday’s high-speed pursuit fell under new regulations
Surveillance footage shows patrol car hitting pedestrian during Spokane chase
WSDOT crews to begin restoring Camp Hope to original state
Protestors gather outside Spokane County Courthouse to raise awareness on police brutality

NW Public Radio
Cosmic Crisp boasts big sales for Washington, with new apple varieties on the way
En Yakima, clínica legal le ayuda con su solicitud de ciudadanía
Forecasted rain expected to dampen Eagle Bluff Fire in Okanogan County

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Climate summit brings local high school students together
Patty Murray tours Bellingham businesses, future Whatcom child care site
Post Point upgrades move ahead with lower price tag

Crosscut
Washington cities, counties now required to plan for climate change (Duerr, Lovelett)

MyNorthwest
Seattle City Council to hold public hearing ahead of police contract negotiations
Community fights Sound Transit’s plan to remove hundreds of trees
Homeowners face $32,000 lawsuit from Pierce County over homeless camps on their properties

Friday, August 4

Opinion: Don’t let the oil industry gaslight us about high prices at the pump
Climate policies are a familiar punching bag for the oil industry, which has spent many millions of dollars blocking progress at every turn. For decades, they’ve avoided accountability for their impact on our health, lands, waters, communities, and wallets. Last year, while Washingtonians dealt with exorbitant fuel prices, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and others brought in record profits. In Washington, they are starting to be held accountable with the recently implemented Climate Commitment Act. With oil companies finally being required to pay their fair share of the climate crisis, it’s little surprise that they are trying to stop this transition to a sustainable future — these investments are our pathway away from fossil fuel dependence, and are a direct threat to their profits. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

$142K salary needed to afford a ‘starter’ home in Seattle, Redfin reports
A “starter” home in Seattle looks a lot different than elsewhere in the United States — it’s a lot more expensive and you need to earn a lot more to afford it. According to recent data published by Redfin, a first-time homebuyer needs to earn about $64,000 annually to afford a “typical” starter home in the United States. The national numbers pale in comparison to Seattle where the median sale price of a starter home is around $535,000. Redfin reports that a person needs to earn $141,794 a year to afford this type of property, with a median mortgage payment of $3,545. That’s 4.4% higher than a year ago. For a non-starter home, Redfin reported last November that a person needs to earn $205,000 annually to afford one in Seattle. Continue reading at KUOW. (Tierra Mallorca)

Connecting with non-English speakers is still a challenge during emergencies
When Fabiola Cortez received text messages asking how the fire was going, she drove quickly to her home in Underwood where her husband was waiting for her. Cortez’s family evacuated during the Tunnel 5 wildfire that destroyed ten homes and close to 600 acres in Skamania County in mid-July. Cortez speaks Spanish, but the information came in English. “I understood a little bit, but my daughter was with me,” Cortez said. Some adults rely on the translation their bilingual children can often provide. Cortez went to community meetings but those were in English, too. While Washington requires local organizations to develop emergency communication plans for Limited English Proficiency populations, officials say providing fast and accurate information for these communities during wildfire emergencies is challenging. Raul Martinez, external affairs manager at the Washington Department of Natural Resources says the agency tries to serve all non-English speaking communities, but “this isn’t something that we can do by ourselves.” Continue reading at Northwest Public Broadcasting.

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Bellingham Herald
Sourdough fire could burn all summer as firefighters defend town, hydroelectric plant
Homeless and a lack of resources: Why this Bellingham family of 8 is living in their car
‘All means all’: Sehome High School models a new standard of inclusive learning

Columbian
Vancouver Housing Authority makes air conditioning a priority in facilities housing low-income seniors

Everett Herald
State launches refund portal for legal fees from vacated drug cases
Fire levies fail in Mukilteo, Arlington area; pass elsewhere

News Tribune
‘Reckless, negligent and wrongful.’ Mother of man killed by Pierce County deputy sues
Comment: Feds should spark prescribed burns on federal lands to mitigate extreme fire seasons

Olympian
You’ll never guess the stories behind these six uniquely-named places in Washington State

Peninsula Daily News
Department of Natural Resources seeks to buy 82 acres southeast of Forks to replace trust lands

Puget Sound Business Journal
Amazon posts highest quarterly profit since 2021
Microsoft’s Bellevue workforce dwindles as leases lapse, records show
Washington ranks as one of the worst states for retirees. Here’s why.

Seattle Medium
Refunds Going To Residents Of Washington State Drug Cases
Electric Vehicles On The Rise In Washington State
Wash. Supreme Court: Authorities ‘Plainly Breached’ State Statute Governing Mental Care

Seattle Times
WA starts new system for hit-and-run alerts
Plans for long-delayed Seattle streetcar line hit City Hall snag
Seattle-area child care is scarce, costly and out of reach. Here’s why
Family of woman killed by Redmond police appeals to new state agency for fresh investigation
On San Juan Island, tension over red foxes and photographers’ access to them
Opinion: Don’t let the oil industry gaslight us about high prices at the pump

Spokesman Review
Snake River sockeye run sputters
Rosauers to pay employees over $350,000 for labor violations

Washington Post
Economy adds 187,000 jobs in July, showing strong but moderating growth

WA State Standard
‘Severe violator’: Dollar Tree fined again for breaking worker safety rules

Wenatchee World
Sen. Patty Murray provides update on state’s wildfire response

Yakima Herald-Republic
Grant will address health equity for Yakima County’s Latino population
Editorial: EV charging stations in the Yakima Valley foretell changes to come
Editorial: Refunding drug-possession fines is only fair

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
I-90 bridge to stay open during Seafair, heavy traffic expected this weekend
‘Suspicious materials’ found inside envelopes mailed to King, Okanogan County election officials
Seattle firefighters ask for more protections as violent attacks continue

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Traces of fentanyl found inside envelope sent to King County Elections office
Seafair security plan includes SPD, federal partners as influx of visitors expected
Rise in drownings along Snoqualmie River sparks call for increased safety measures
Congresswoman tours Issaquah Target, touts organized retail theft legislation

KNKX Public Radio
New, community-driven performing arts venue in Port Angeles has its grand opening

KUOW Public Radio
Tribes call for national ban on salmon-killing chemical in car tires
Dolly Parton to visit WA in celebration of children’s book program
$142K salary needed to afford a ‘starter’ home in Seattle, Redfin reports
They once faced housing insecurity themselves. Now they help other Seattleites find stability
A wheelchair ramp, respite care: What WA’s long-term care tax could realistically get you

NW Public Radio
Connecting with non-English speakers is still a challenge during emergencies

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Ross Lake Resort evacuated due to Sourdough fire

Thursday, August 3

National parks, including 3 in WA, will be free to enter Friday
In honor of the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, national parks will offer free admission Friday. That includes Washington’s three big ones: North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park. There are two more free entrance days at national parks this year: National Public Lands Day on Sept. 23 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Jennifer Buchanan)

A vending machine in Seattle that dispenses the morning-after pill
Starting in 2024, public colleges and universities statewide will be able to get funding to install vending machines selling emergency contraception. Washington will become the first state to have set aside money to do so. State representative Gerry Pollet, who represents northeast Seattle, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore, helped get the vending machine funding into the state budget. Schools can apply for up to $10,000 to install a machine, and the total fund is $200,000. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Transformed Colman Dock opens to ferry riders in Seattle
Just after 5 a.m. Thursday, commuters got off the ferry from Bainbridge Island and walked through the newly-designed Colman Dock for the first time. Washington State Ferries said about 50,000 square feet of new space is created with the concourse and other new features. The $467 million project also included foundational work on the pier. Continue reading at KING5.