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Monday, August 1

How the climate bill could save you money and change what you buy
Dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the deal includes a slew of incentives, such as tax credits for electric vehicles, or EVs, and sustainable home improvement efforts, that aim to change the way households consume and use energy, and could help individuals wanting to make greener choices. If households invest in climate-friendly and energy-efficient technologies, with financial support from the bill, it could help the average household save $1,800 on its annual energy bill, according to an analysis by Rewiring America, a nonprofit dedicated to electrification. Another analysis from RMI, a clean-energy think tank, found that the tax incentives for clean energy sources, which would ramp up the use of wind and solar over the next decade, could save American households as much as $5 billion within two years. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Brian Snyder)

Our support makes sure lifeline is there in crises
Earlier this month, the existing national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system, which was available by calling a 1-800 number, shortened the number to 988. The old number — 1-800-273-TALK — still works, but the new number — just as 911 simplified calls for medical, fire and other emergencies — is intended to greatly improve access to behavioral and mental health services and supports. As well, help also is available through text and chat services now. Inslee and state Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, who sponsored the legislation with state Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, that established funding, programs and expectations for the 988 service in the state, praised the leadership that the state has shown nationwide. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ryan Berry)

Washington judge overturns insurance rate credit scoring ban
A judge on Friday overturned a Washington state rule prohibiting insurers from using credit scoring to set rates for auto, homeowner and renter insurance. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler adopted the rule in February, immediately drawing a legal challenge from insurer groups. The rule, which was set to take effect March 4, was paused while the legal proceedings continued. In her oral ruling invalidating the rule, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Indu Thomas said that Kreidler exceeded his statutory authority, according to Kreidler’s office. In a statement, Kreidler said that while he was disappointed in the decision, the ruling “confirms that the best place to permanently address this issue is in the legislature.”
Continue reading at The Associated Press.

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Associated Press
Washington judge overturns insurance rate credit scoring ban
Wildfires in West explode in size amid hot, windy conditions

Aberdeen Daily World
Rep. Kilmer: We’ve got to lower costs for Washingtonians

Bellingham Herald
There are more Whatcom homes on the market, but closing the deal may be tougher

Capital Press
Japanese beetle found in Richland, Wash.
Washington orchard fined, barred from H-2A program

The Daily News
Cowlitz County commissioners aim to spend $21.5 million in COVID-relief funds on parks, roads, technology upgrades and more
Rainier plans to use $440K in federal American Rescue Act funds
Longview receives grants for mental health crisis teams in schools

Everett Herald
Tulalip lawyer: Native rights at risk in pending SCOTUS decision
As hundreds of Ukrainian refugees arrive, locals open their doors
With rivers running high, Arlington-area fire crews see record rescues
Monroe chooses ex-Mukilteo schools chief as interim leader
Comment: 988 crisis line will help, but care needed after call
Editorial: Our support makes sure lifeline is there in crises (Orwall, Dhingra)

Indian Country Today
Gambling on a climate deal

The Inlander
As temps reach 104, Spokane orders WSDOT to remove cooling tent at state’s largest homeless camp

News Tribune
A $2.5 million Fox Island deal would mean more shoreline access. Here’s how PenMet voted

Olympian
Sweet relief! Cooler weather is coming to South Sound, forecaster says
Turnover at Port of Olympia has cost nearly $150,000 in separation agreement pay
Thurston officials weigh replacing this road and culvert for better fish passage by 2024
Dangerous weeds and toxic algae blooms plague Pattison Lake, residents say

Puget Sound Business Journal
Is job growth still a reliable indicator for office demand?
Tech headcounts on the Eastside expand as real estate footprints stall

Seattle Times
Seattle was a millennial magnet, new study shows
Seattle Pacific University sues WA attorney general, saying probe into LGBTQ+ policies violates religious freedom
Relief from Seattle’s heat wave is almost here
I was diagnosed with autism at 34. We need more research for adults
Illegally placed concrete blocks have taken over public parking in Seattle. Why are they there?
WA task force urges faster action on sexual misconduct in health care
Opinion: WA must act to help struggling hospitals

Skagit Valley Herald
Town of Concrete establishes salary commission

Washington Post
When you have covid, here’s how you know you are no longer contagious
Major legal fights loom over abortion pills, travel out of state
How the climate bill could save you money and change what you buy
Veterans call rejection of toxic-exposure bill ‘a slap in the face’

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima breaks another heat record Saturday; excessive heat warning still in effect through Monday
State appeals court overturns Sunnyside man’s conviction because juror was biased against Latinos

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Des Moines launching new ‘fast ferry’ to and from Seattle
Seattle-area housing market cooling down, but buyers still face concerns
‘This is unacceptable:’ Shoreline family pushes for renters protections in extreme heat

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Seattle, Portland set heat duration records during hot snap
17,000 employees commute to this part of Pierce County. There’s no public transit
Starbucks union workers: Concessions won following store closures, negotiations

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Some Starbucks employees believe crime, safety concerns aren’t real reason for closures

KNKX Public Radio
King County OKs creation of gun, ammunition drop off program

Northwest Public Radio
Stakeholders React To State Supreme Court Decision On Trust Lands

Q13 TV (FOX)
‘In plain sight every single day:’ Feds crackdown on human trafficking in King County

Friday, July 29

Seattle mayor orders plan for stalled sexual assault investigations as advocates demand deadline
As frustrated advocates demanded a deadline for the city to fix stalled sexual assault investigations at the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell on Thursday ordered that all felony cases with enough evidence for follow-up be assigned to detectives by the end of next month. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert/The Seattle Times)

Jan. 6 texts missing for Trump Homeland Security’s Wolf and Cuccinelli
Text messages for President Donald Trump’s acting homeland security secretary Chad Wolf and acting deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli are missing for a key period leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to four people briefed on the matter and internal emails. This discovery of missing records for the senior-most Homeland Security officials, which has not been previously reported, increases the volume of potential evidence that has vanished regarding the time around the Capitol attack. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Al Drago/Bloomberg News)

Watch out as WA hits triple digits. Some of these heat-related illnesses can be fatal
Washington state has been experiencing high temperatures across the state, as the National Weather Service currently has eight active heat warnings in place. Every year, between 25 to 113 people are hospitalized for heat-related illness between the months of May and September in Washington state, according to the Washington Department of Health, and about 50% of cases involve those ages 65 years and above. Continue reading at Tacoma News Tribune. (Paul Conrad/Bellingham Herald)

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Bellingham Herald
Unanswered calls to USPS, undelivered mail and ballots concern WA residents
Here’s why Whatcom County’s border crossings might be extra busy this weekend
As heat bakes Whatcom, here’s how wildfire smoke could become an issue

Capital Press
Federal grant will help ranchers develop non-lethal wolf deterrents
BLM seeks contractors to help reduce fuels in Oregon, Washington
Damage to John Day Dam navigation lock gate slows river traffic
Western Innovator: Irrigation district manager promotes alternative to water wars

The Daily News
Omicron has shattered what we know about COVID reinfections. Here’s why you may be vulnerable.
Staff shortages at nursing homes, hospices prevent hospitals, like St. John in Longview, from discharging patients
Two cougar sightings confirmed in Cowlitz County in last 30 days

Everett Herald
‘One call for all’: 988 mental health hotline quadruples Everett staff
Swedish Edmonds abandons plan to move reproductive care to Providence
Comment: Ruling may limit care for pregnant cancer patients
Comment: Government has long limited financial aid to students

High Country News
The West’s forever fire season

News Tribune
Watch out as WA hits triple digits. Some of these heat-related illnesses can be fatal
Op-Ed: Millions of people have rare diseases, including my son. Here’s how Congress can help

Olympian
NW heat wave to drag on through the weekend, forecasters warn
What does it mean to be found mentally incompetent to stand trial in Washington state?
What’s this muck? LOTT offers cash reward to solve mystery affecting wastewater plant
Thurston County COVID-19 cases continue to climb as transmission remains high

Peninsula Daily News
Hospital gives up its bond effort

Puget Sound Business Journal
Strong dollar opens door to hoard foreign goods and services
Burnout is rising, but a disconnect over vacation remains
Are we in a recession? Here’s why it’s — once again — complicated.

Seattle Medium
Crown Act – Protects Natural Hair In The Workplace
Biden-Harris Administration Announce New Actions To Address Mental Health In Schools
Inflation Slamming Black America Hard As Families Struggle With Necessities
Testing Is Crucial To Getting Monkeypox Under Control, But There’s A Lack Of Demand

Seattle Times
Seattle’s heat wave may drag into record-breaking six days
As monkeypox cases rise, King County has only about 6% of vaccines needed
Seattle mayor orders plan for stalled sexual assault investigations as advocates demand deadline
Murder trial begins in downtown Seattle gang shooting that killed 1, wounded 6
Heat wave serves WA a lesson in climate adaptation, mitigation

Skagit Valley Herald
Firefighter shortages stress Skagit County’s city departments
Report on Sedro-Woolley police shooting handed over to county prosecutor

Washington Post
Jan. 6 texts missing for Trump Homeland Security’s Wolf and Cuccinelli
What’s in the Charles Schumer-Joe Manchin Inflation Reduction Act
Ukraine could be turning the tide of war again as Russian advances stall
Federal office focused on climate change and health has zero funding

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘It was super scary’: First Washington resident diagnosed with monkeypox talks about his experience
US reaches deal with Moderna for omicron COVID-19 vaccine
Washington farmers say extreme heat, heavy rainfall present challenges for crops
Fauntleroy service resumes after ferry makes ‘hard landing’ at West Seattle dock

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Mayor issues order to assess SPD’s investigations bureau, deal with backlog of sexual assault cases
SPU policy against hiring staff in same-sex relationships sparks discrimination investigation by AG
End of police chase slows traffic on eastbound SR 520

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
AG Ferguson’s office confirms civil rights investigation into Seattle Pacific University
Bill aimed at helping computer chip firms combat China heads to Biden’s desk
Fauntleroy ferry terminal reopens after boat crashes into W. Seattle dock, causing damage
Ferry crash causes chaos for passengers on board and prompts long waits for others

KNKX Public Radio
King County OKs creation of gun, ammunition drop off program

KUOW Public Radio
SEATTLE MAYOR ORDERS PLAN FOR STALLED SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATIONS AS ADVOCATES DEMAND DEADLINE
Ferry crashes into West Seattle dock, disrupting service to Vashon Island
Is this week’s heat wave fueling your climate anxiety? Yeah, us too.

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane coalition asks city to increase cooling center services

Q13 TV (FOX)
Attorney General opens civil rights investigation into Seattle Pacific University

Web

The Stranger
For Some, Traveling to Canada for Monkeypox Vaccines Is “Reasonable,” Says King County Health Official

Thursday, July 28

Should you still be wearing a mask? As COVID rates climb, health experts say the answer is yes
About four months have passed since Washington’s statewide indoor mask mandate ended, but some local infectious disease experts and state epidemiologists are hoping recent increasing case rates will remind residents not to relax measures too much. Statewide COVID levels had been rising since mid-March and began to show signs of leveling off in mid- to late-May, according to the state Department of Health’s COVID data dashboard. As of early July, the state recorded a seven-day case rate of about 225 infections per 100,000 people, compared to about 42 per 100,000 in March. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Alan Berner)

Is this week’s heat wave fueling your climate anxiety? Yeah, us too.
We’re experiencing record temperatures in the Pacific Northwest this week. In Europe, unprecedented heat is fueling wildfires in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, France, and Germany. The new climate reality is here. For many of us, that reality is leading to feelings of hopelessness, stress, and late night doom-scrolling. Researchers have terms for these feelings — “eco-grief” and “climate anxiety.” Soundside spoke to Dr. Kate Hoerster, a psychologist and public health researcher with the VA Puget Sound Health Care System about how we grapple with these emotions. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

Struggle to protect gay, bisexual men from monkeypox exposes inequities
The struggle for limited resources as tens of thousands of at-risk gay and bisexual men try to get vaccinated, tested and treated during the growing monkeypox outbreak has exposed deep disparities in the gay community. While urban professionals scramble to protect themselves from a disease that can cause searing symptoms and force weeks of isolation, people of color, lower-income individuals and those living outside large cities face even greater challenges accessing care for the latest viral threat hanging over gay life. And as the country awaits millions of vaccine doses the federal government expects to arrive in coming months, there are not enough shots to protect all sexually active gay and bisexual men with the Jynneos vaccine, believed to work before and after exposure to the virus. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (Jeenah Moon)

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Associated Press
Scorching heat wave in US Northwest forecast to last longer
Temperatures could hit triple digits again in Northwest

Bellingham Herald
Lighthouse Mission Ministries: What to know as Bellingham homeless shelter plans expansion

Capital Press
Washington dairy rep rips Ecology’s embrace of buffers
Japanese beetles pop up elsewhere in Washington

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: More officers needed to address rising crime

The Daily News
Cowlitz County calls for affordable housing proposals
Longview ups income limits for reduced utility payments, as inflation increases

Everett Herald
In new approach, Edmonds adds mental health worker to social services
Edmonds repeals gun safety ordinance after state Supreme Court ruling

High Country News
Protecting neighborhoods from future flames

The Inlander
How the “Yes In My Back Yard” movement won an out-of-nowhere unanimous victory in Spokane

News Tribune
Her son died in a Parkland crosswalk. Now she’s on a mission to increase bike safety

Olympian
Port of Olympia commission approves plan to expand. Now, what will voters do?
Credit cards, mortgages and jobs: How the Fed’s latest rate hike will affect you

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle City Council weighs permanent cap on food delivery fees
This SBA Covid-19 relief program still has money left

Seattle Medium
Harrell Selects Gino Betts To Lead Office Of Police Accountability
Union Cries Foul As Starbucks Announces The Closing Of 16 Locations

Seattle Times
Seattle heat wave daily news updates, July 28
WA landlords sue over eviction protection (Kuderer)
Should you still be wearing a mask? As COVID rates climb, health experts say the answer is yes
Ferry crashes into West Seattle dock, sustaining heavy damage
Seattle man charged with felony stalking for targeting U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, prosecutors say

Skagit Valley Herald
County close to settling lawsuit against state Department of Natural Resources
Skagit County commissioners hear about COVID recovery funding proposals

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Interim Dayton schools head wants to aid in healing community

Washington Post
Manchin says he ‘never walked away’ as Democrats push spending deal
What causes a recession?
What is reconciliation, and what are Democrats going to get done with it?
Struggle to protect gay, bisexual men from monkeypox exposes inequities

Yakima Herald-Republic
Bureau of Land Management to purchase land in Yakima Canyon, securing recreation access
Japanese beetles found in Wapato, 30 miles from Grandview infestation area
Excessive heat warning extended for Yakima Valley

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle man charged with felony stalking after yelling expletives outside US Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s home
Emergency protections in place for Washington farm workers amid hot temperatures
Vancouver clears homeless camps at risk of spreading fire
Point Ruston now allowing Tacoma Farmers Market to sell ‘Mexican style food’

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Fauntleroy ferry crashes into dock structure causing significant damage
After controversy over ban, Point Ruston will allow Mexican food vendors at Tacoma Farmers Market
Heat wave breaks records, hot temperatures continue through Friday
Lawmakers question CEOs of gun manufacturers in wake of mass shootings

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Man accused of threatening to kill Rep. Pramila Jayapal charged with felony stalking

KUOW Public Radio
Excessive Heat Warning Remains in Effect Through Saturday
Low tides go out a bit earlier amid heat wave, endangering fewer shellfish
High temp records broken on first day of Western Washington heat wave
Covid-19 testing company hampers public health response and frustrates consumers for more than a year
Is this week’s heat wave fueling your climate anxiety? Yeah, us too.

KXLY (ABC)
Washington is having the slowest start to fire season in six years
Washington hospitals are facing a financial crisis and it’s impacting patient care

Web

MyNorthwest
Seattle Schools strives to modernize student transportation with new bus company
WA workers receive extra breaks to keep cool in the extreme heat
High temperature records fall Tuesday – will there be more?

West Seattle Blog
UPDATE: Ferry hits Fauntleroy dock
THURSDAY: Sound Transit Board expected to vote on West Seattle light rail ‘preferred alternative’

Wednesday, July 27

King County approves free transit for youths
Beginning Sept. 1, people 18 and under will ride King County buses, water taxis and streetcars for free. The new policy comes as the result of a nearly $17 billion transportation funding package passed by state lawmakers in Washington’s 2022 legislative session, with almost exclusively Democratic votes. While much of the measure will be rolled out over the next 16 years, elected officials wanted a component with an immediate impact. Enter free transit for youths. The state transportation package includes $3 billion for transit, about half of which will only flow to local transit agencies through grants if they adopt policies to make rides free for youths. This includes local buses, as well as Amtrak trains and Washington State Ferries. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert)

Seattle and Portland are sizzling in hottest weather of the summer
Nearly 40 million Americans are under heat alerts Tuesday as two zones of excessively high temperatures roast portions of the Lower 48. But for the Pacific Northwest, the arrival of this sweltering heat is more of a shock after a relatively cool summer thus far. In Seattle and Portland, this heat wave could approach records for longevity. Both cities are under excessive heat warnings until Thursday evening. Seattle may see the mercury hit 90 on four consecutive days through Friday, while Portland may get afternoon temperatures hovering near 100. The heat wave in the Pacific Northwest comes a little over a year after all-time records were smashed in Seattle and Portland, with high temperatures of 108 and 116 degrees, respectively. Continue reading at The Washington Post. (WeatherBell)

Assault Weapons Makers Pulled In Over $1 Billion as Violence Surged, Report Says
The leading manufacturers of assault rifles used to perpetrate the deadliest mass shootings in the United States have collected more than $1 billion in revenue over the past decade as gun violence across the country has surged, according to a House investigation set to be presented on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. The findings, released before a congressional hearing on Wednesday on the marketing of assault rifles, indicate that the gun industry has thrived by selling and marketing military-grade weapons to civilians, specifically targeting and playing to the insecurities of young men, while some have made thinly veiled references to white supremacist groups. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Matthew Busch)

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Associated Press
King County OKs free transit for youth starting Sept. 1
Idaho sued over law banning abortion after 6 weeks pregnancy
Northwestern US set for its hottest day in long heat wave
Lawsuit: Providence failed to provide ASL interpreters
Records fall as Northwest swelters under multiday heat wave
Seattle to be sanctuary for abortion providers, patients

Auburn Reporter
All King County residents under the age of 19 to ride for free on ORCA transit.
Washington cracks down on invasive European Green Crabs

Bellingham Herald
Bellingham, Whatcom councils get first looks at possible racial equity commission
Public asked for help in finding missing Indigenous woman last seen in Whatcom
Here’s where you can keep cool as heat wave bakes Whatcom County
This is how Bellingham will change hiring standards amid ongoing police staffing shortage

Columbian
Editorial: In Our View: Room for agreement, dissent on I-5 Bridge

Everett Herald
Scientists: Gray whale spotted at Mukilteo waterfront was a newcomer
3 deaf patients from Snohomish County sue Providence over indignities
28 cooling centers open in Snohomish County amid weeklong heat wave

Indian Country Today
Pope honors grandparents after Indigenous apology

International Examiner
ICHS: COVID-19 vaccines now authorized for young children under the age of 5
Eight story workforce housing project, ‘Blossom,’ approved on 5th and Main Street
Opinion: Seattle residents have a unique, once a decade opportunity to shape our political destinies through redistricting

News Tribune
Restaurant at center of Point Ruston controversy says farmers market vendors can stay

New York Times
Assault Weapons Makers Pulled In Over $1 Billion as Violence Surged, Report Says
Interstate Abortion Travel Is Already Straining Parts of the System
The Housing Shortage Isn’t Just a Coastal Crisis Anymore
How the Government Is Failing Americans Uprooted by Calamity

Olympian
Whew! Olympia sets new heat record on Tuesday
What does the Lacey police department do with surrendered and seized guns?
With Supreme Court mandate issued, Idaho’s abortion ban will start in 30 days

Peninsula Daily News
North Olympic Peninsula sizzles in summer sun

Puget Sound Business Journal
Interest rates, project costs dampen Seattle-area industrial demand
Small-business owners are already burned out. Many see trouble ahead.
Port program aims to expand contracting for underrepresented groups

Seattle Times
Seattle removes homeless encampment in Sodo during heat wave
Seattle heat wave likely to be longer, hotter than expected
The rise in Seattle’s 90 degree days, charted all the way back to 1945
King County approves free transit for youths
King County isn’t prepared for wildfire, executive says, but needs to be
Seattle police won’t make arrests on abortion-related charges, after City Council establishes ‘sanctuary city’
King County Council approves voluntary gun dropoff program
Opinion: $7.25 per hour: The federal minimum wage peaked in purchasing power in 1968

Skagit Valley Herald
Investigation into Sedro-Woolley police shooting wrapping up

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Cooling centers to open as record-breaking heat hits the Walla Walla Valley

Washington Post
Justice Dept. investigating Trump’s actions in Jan. 6 criminal probe
Biden says he’s ‘feeling great’ after testing negative for the coronavirus
Seattle and Portland are sizzling in hottest weather of the summer
Scientists hone argument that coronavirus came from Wuhan market
Longtime HIV patient is effectively cured after stem cell transplant

Yakima Herald-Republic
Plaintiffs allege more than 100 public meeting violations in lawsuit against Yakima County Commissioners

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County preparing for increased risk of wildfires due to hotter, drier summers
Seattle residents drive to Canada for monkeypox vaccine doses

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
L&I rules help outdoor workers deal with the heat
King County Council passes plan allowing youth to ride public transit for free year-round
Seattle City Council delays vote to end hazard pay for grocery store workers
Gun, ammo return program approved in King County
Over 100 people diagnosed with monkeypox in Washington
King County officials unveil region’s first wildfire risk reduction plan
Study shows AG’s no-poach initiative increased wages for low-income franchise workers
Microsoft blames economic woes for missing profit targets

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle City Councilmember calls SODO sweep a ‘continued failure’ of city’s homeless plan

KUOW Public Radio
Wildfire smoke drifting into Western Washington from Canada amid heat wave
How is the rollout of 988 going in Washington state?

KXLY (ABC)
Critical staffing levels in Kootenai County’s 911 Center force changes to response
We now know the day abortion becomes illegal in Idaho

Q13 TV (FOX)
Washington committee hears proposals to change derogatory names of geographic features
King County launches strategy to combat wildfire risk in the region

Web

Crosscut
‘Full of injustice’: Burden of court fines vary by race, county in WA

MyNorthwest
Missing Indigenous Person Alert issues first notification to look for Angela Maguire
Payroll tax on Seattle’s biggest earners funds $97 million in affordable housing

The Stranger
Everything You Need to Know About Monkeypox
Seattle Turns Cops Into Abortion Protectors

West Seattle Blog
Mayor to announce new SDOT director Wednesday

Tuesday, July 26

The 2021 heat wave ‘was a wake-up call.’ But Seattle’s still unprepared for high temps
Last June’s triple-digit heat wave was the deadliest weather event in King County’s history. More than 30 people died here, and a KUOW analysis indicates that, statewide, about 400 people died. Now, Seattle is bracing for another stretch of record-breaking temperatures, with highs hovering around 90. On the heels of last summer’s heat wave, local officials are implementing extra precautions to keep people safe from the heat but broader solutions are slow to roll out. “Last year’s extreme weather was a wake-up call,” King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay said. Preparing for extreme heat “is a growing priority because every year our region is just going to get hotter and hotter.” Continue reading at KUOW. (Genna Martin)

King County Council considering year-round gun return program
King County Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal establishing a year-round voluntary safe firearm and ammunition return program within the King County Sheriff’s Office. The proposal requests King County Executive Dow Constantine look at several options and “assess their feasibility.” “I think it can save lives by reducing the number of guns that are out there because we know that guns in homes dramatically increases the risk to folks living in those homes,” said council member Rod Dembowski at the full council meeting last Wednesday. Buy-back events have seen a high turnout. This summer Kirkland has hosted two buy-back events where police collected 151 firearms. They distributed $18,350 in gift cards for the weapons. The city plans to hold a third event sometime in September. Continue reading at KING 5.

Spokane City Council passes resolution reaffirming abortion access
Spokane City council passed a resolution protecting abortion rights in Spokane. City Council members voted 4-2 in favor of the resolution. The resolution put forward by Council President Breean Briggs, which reaffirms and supports abortion laws in place. It also limits City employees, which includes police officers, from participating in out-of-state abortion investigations or investigating the outcome of a pregnancy. “This resolution also establishes that City policy is that city staff, resources, and law enforcement should not assist with any investigatory requests related to abortion that come from agencies in other states,” part of [City Councilmember Zack] Zappone’s statement read. “This is not a what-if scenario. It is a reality individuals face today.” Continue reading at KXLY.