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Tuesday, July 18

What’s happened since Washington’s 988 crisis line launched last year?
Last Sunday marks one year since the creation of the new nationwide mental health crisis lifeline. Washington is among a handful of states on the forefront of funding the rollout of 988 — so, how is it going so far? The number of calls has surged, new data suggests. The three nonprofit call centers that host the 988 line in Washington have hired dozens of new crisis counselors to meet demand. Heading into year two, though, state and local officials point to big concerns. A vast majority of Americans still aren’t aware of 988 or why it exists, new research shows, and much of the behavioral health system is still fragmented. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Dean Rutz)

Why Washington gas prices are the nation’s highest
Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii also had most of the nation’s highest gasoline prices before Washington’s cap-and-invest program went into effect in January. The cap-and-invest program is designed to decrease carbon emissions in the state to meet 2035 and 2050 decarbonization goals. Oil companies that buy emissions from the new carbon cap program are passing the cost to consumers at the pump. But are the increases a bug or a feature? Gov. Jay Inslee’s office disputes linking higher gasoline prices entirely to carbon pricing, saying the analysis is more complicated. “While critics of our climate policy will try to pin any and all price increase on the [2021 Climate Change Act], they conveniently ignore that fossil fuel suppliers have always had some of their highest profit margins in the Northwest,” wrote a spokeswoman for Inslee. “Recent numbers from the industry indicate their profit margin in Washington ranges between 60-80 cents per gallon.” Continue reading at Crosscut. (David Zalubowski)

Washington’s abortion pill stockpile untapped as court fights continue
Washington’s three-year-supply of mifepristone isn’t going anywhere — at least until dueling court cases on access to the widely-used abortion pill are decided.Gov. Jay Inslee directed the state Department of Corrections, which has a pharmacy license, to purchase the medication in March, and the full shipment arrived March 31. The state planned to distribute mifepristone to any medical providers in need of the medication and unable to access it due to the ruling. That was until a federal judge in Washington state prevented U.S. authorities from restricting access to mifepristone in Washington and 16 other Democratic-led states. Amid the legal wrangling, the U.S. Supreme Court in April stepped in and preserved access to the medication while appeals unfold. State officials said the supply of mifepristone, which is used in a two-drug regimen for medication abortions, will not be distributed unless the courts limit access. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)

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Axios
Why Seattle can’t enact local rent control (Macri)
Seattle’s still big on car travel

Bellingham Herald
Affordable housing residents concerned about safety 2 years after Bellingham heat wave death

Capital Press
Fire season ramps up across Pacific Northwest
Drought returns to 51% of Washington state

Columbian
Ferry facilitates Columbia River crossings amid Lewis and Clark Bridge closure
Editorial: In Our View: Plans to close corrections center shortsighted
Comment: Sacrifice now to slow climate change

Everett Herald
20-acre wildfire burns in state forest near Granite Falls

News Tribune
Pierce County intensifies focus on homelessness. ‘We got to have a 100 ways out.’

Olympian
There are enough spot shrimp in WA waters for extended fishing. These areas will re-open

Peninsula Daily News
Counties to file joint application for federal grant

Puget Sound Business Journal
Health care costs have soared for Seattleites, study finds
New supply outpaces demand for Seattle-area industrial space
Feds top small-business contracting spending record

Seattle Times
What’s happened since Washington’s 988 crisis line launched last year? (Orwall)
WA loses $2.5 million in federal money for vaccine programs
King County to distribute bleeding control kits, starting with schools
Feds remove rare PNW prairie flower from threatened species list after 26 years
Nearly 300 people were moved out of collapsed homeless shelter hotel program
Editorial: Keep guns away from people charged with domestic violence (Davis)
Opinion: Tax reform, not a ‘Band-Aid’ approach, can help fund Seattle Public Schools

Spokesman Review
Getting There: Purple City Line buses ready to roll after Saturday celebrations (Billig)
Opinion: For healthier communities, we need to fix our tax code

Tri-City Herald
Stopping the Tri-Cities fentanyl crisis takes these priorities, leaders tell Cantwell

WA State Standard
Washington’s abortion pill stockpile untapped as court fights continue
West Coast states seek millions to create zero-emission truck fueling network

Wenatchee World
Tierra Village grows, opens new building to serve adults with developmental disabilities

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima coalition marks two years of work aimed at stopping domestic violence
Yakima Valley orchard owners settle lawsuit and will pay $500,000 in back wages
Editorial: Like them or not, landfill should respect health and safety rules

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
‘Drugstore desert’ appears in Snohomish County
WSDOT to meet with residents to update them on encampment clean up plans near Seattle/White Center border

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Record drop in math proficiency among Washington students sparks concerns
Father’s personal crusade against fentanyl: Loss of 2 sons prompts action in Washington
Seattle tree activist gains community support to save cedar as work halts on housing development

KUOW Public Radio
Free clinics aim to bolster childhood vaccination rates in King County

KXLY (ABC)
Monday marks one-year anniversary of 988 crisis lifeline
Lori Kinnear becomes newest Spokane City Council President

Q13 TV (FOX)
West Nile virus in Washington detected in Yakima County

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Restored gravel mine on Lummi Mountain now open to public
Opinion: Physician: We have contributed in varying degrees to opioid crisis

Crosscut
Why Washington gas prices are the nation’s highest (Fitzgibbon, Mullet, Nguyen)
Snoqualmie Tribe starts land protection sales tax at Salish Lodge

Monday, July 17

Pill presses become illegal in Washington state on July 23. Here’s why
Tyler Yates’ father, Greg Yates, remembers his son as being a well-liked and very active guy. But a significant motorcycle accident, and the subsequent opioid prescription from the hospital, are what first introduced Tyler to narcotics. That introduction led to an addiction, and later, by mistake, his tragic death. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Roseville Police Department)

Operator of Tacoma ICE detention facility sues governor, AG
GEO Group, the operator of an ICE detention center in Tacoma that has been the site of hunger strikes and the subject of prior court cases, sued Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in federal court Thursday over a new state law meant to boost oversight of the facility. The Northwest ICE Processing Center, also known as the Northwest Detention Center, is the state’s only private, for-profit prison. It has capacity for about 1,500 people. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Greg Gilbert / The Seattle Times)

Remember ‘murder hornets’? So far so good in Whatcom County, state ag department says
The Northern giant hornets, commonly referred to as ‘murder hornets,’ appears to have been eradicated in Washington state. Locally, there have been no confirmed sightings since late summer 2021, when four Northern giant hornet nests were found and eradicated in Whatcom County. Continue reading at The Bellingham Herald. (The Bellingham Herald)

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Associated Press
Federal Judge rules Oregon’s tough new gun law is constitutional

Aberdeen Daily World
Railroad carrying out projects to ease congestion, increase reliability

Bellingham Herald
Remember ‘murder hornets’? So far so good in Whatcom County, state ag department says
Whatcom County wants to build a new jail. Here’s what’s proposed and what it will cost

Columbian
Multifamily tax exemption affordability option hasn’t been effective in Vancouver
Gov. Inslee visits Vancouver’s tiny-home affordable housing community
Editorial: In Our View: Public health initiatives worthy investments
Editorial: In Our View: Forest plan update must be sensible, effective

Everett Herald
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor resigns amid criminal investigation
Snohomish PUD crews help Guam restore power after massive typhoon
Burn ban limits campfires in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

News Tribune
Inflation rates are dropping nationally. What about in the Puget Sound region?
Are forced medications next for Tacoma TB patient arrested after she flouted treatment?

Olympian
Pill presses become illegal in Washington state on July 23. Here’s why (Leavitt)
Thurston County man shot by deputy July 4 reportedly had fake gun. How did it happen?
Olympia, Lacey and Yelm officials join tribe in ‘historic’ environmental stewardship step
Op-Ed: David vs. Goliath: the battle between mobile home residents and out-of-state investors

Peninsula Daily News
Sequim eases rules on mobile food vendors
Sequim sets policy for private street ownership transfer
EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Counties plan joint meeting next week

Puget Sound Business Journal
Where the workforce’s four generations differ — and where they align
The ‘Great Migration’ isn’t dead, but it’s evolving
Downtown Seattle visits near 3M in June as worker foot traffic rises
What the return of cruise season means for Seattle

Seattle Medium
The Hidden Cost Of Gasoline
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell Unveils City Initiative To Help Families Save Money
Feds Hit Washington DSHS With $100 Million Fine

Seattle Times
Operator of Tacoma ICE detention facility sues governor, AG (Ortiz-Self)
Plan to protect industrial Seattle nears vote after 16 years of trying
Eastside’s first permanent supportive housing opens in Bellevue
Councilmember Sawant stirs rent control debate in Seattle
The lost patients of WA’s abandoned psychiatric hospital
Northern State Hospital death records have never been publicly available — until now
Hopeful signs for declining population of gray whales along West Coast

Tri-City Herald
Bacteria causing Legionnaires’ disease sickens people staying at E. WA hotel this month

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
The Health Center set to expand into Garrison Middle School in Walla Walla

Washington Post
Americans are still better off, with more in the bank than before the pandemic

WA State Standard
WA senator didn’t have a guide to legislating. So she wrote one (Keiser)
Harm of anti-LGBTQ laws includes economic pain for communities, families
Federal judge to decide if Yakima Valley legislative district is redrawn

Wenatchee World
Homeless to Hopeful | Advocates seek housing solutions for displaced residents
‘We used to live that lifestyle’ | Former homeless addicts use experience to help others

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Amid an alarming increase in traffic fatalities, King County forms new Felony Traffic Unit
WA gas prices continue to top nation; lawmakers proposing action to lower costs at the pump (Nguyen)
Environmental activist goes to new heights to save 80-foot tree in Seattle neighborhood

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington still has the highest average gas price in the US
King County urges families to vaccinate children ahead of school year, offering free vaccinations for all

KNKX Public Radio
Biologists prepare for another potential threat to Columbia River salmon: invasive northern pike
Yakima family to pay $500,000 in back wages to over 400 orchard workers

KUOW Public Radio
Changing your legal name or gender in King County could get a little easier
Road trip! Kicking the tires on electric travel in the Northwest
Seattle’s popular restaurant Canlis sued for wage theft
Far-right extremist group set to be at Lakewood summer festival

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Transit’s 10 years of work pays off with City Line
City of Spokane activates cooling centers with high temperatures looming

NW Public Radio
Light headed: Stressed Northwest wheat may yield disappointing harvest
Biologists prepare for possible northern pike invasion beyond Grand Coulee Dam
Yakima family to pay $500,000 in back wages to 400+ orchard workers

Web

Cascadia Daily News
PeaceHealth providers file for union status
Residents of a Bellingham tiny home village apprehensive of move

MyNorthwest
SR 520, Montlake Boulevard closures start this weekend
Microsoft moves closer to completing $69 billion Activision takeover after court rebuffs regulators
King County declares official ‘Taylor Swift Week’ ahead of popstar’s Seattle stop
Warning issued after West Nile virus detected in Yakima County mosquitos
Healthcare crisis declared in Kitsap County over costs, access
Seattle Councilmember Sawant stresses passage of rent control bills before her final term ends
13 arrests made, 75 pounds of drugs seized at Gorge Amphitheatre show

Friday, July 14

Biden administration announces $39 billion in student loan forgiveness
The Biden administration announced Friday that it will forgive the student loans of more than 800,000 borrowers who enrolled in income-driven repayment plans. The plan will forgive $39 billion in federal student loans, according to the Education Department, through “fixes” to the count of monthly payments borrowers have made. Continue reading at Washington Post. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

Abortions rise in WA as Idaho travel ban challenged
Over the past year, Washington and Oregon have witnessed a flood of patients seeking abortion care while neighboring Idaho has criminalized some abortion-related travel. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Sarah A. Miller / Idaho Statesman via AP, 2022)

House GOP approves Defense bill that restricts abortion access, halts diversity initiatives
The U.S. House on Friday approved a sweeping annual defense bill that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with political add-ons from Republicans to block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and transgender issues that deeply divided the chamber. Continue reading at Associated Press. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

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Associated Press
House GOP approves Defense bill that restricts abortion access, halts diversity initiatives
The US sets a grim milestone with a new record for the deadliest six months of mass killings
Senators call for Supreme Court to follow ethics code like other branches of government
Biden making $20 billion available from ‘green bank’ for clean energy projects
FTC investigating ChatGPT creator OpenAI over consumer protection issues

Aberdeen Daily World
Aberdeen adopts mobile home rent rule

Everett Herald
Mukilteo Police Department hosts youth academy

The Hill
Dialing into Mental Health: One Year of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Orwall)

News Tribune
The telegram that forever put Tacoma on the map arrived 150 years ago Friday
More controversy over big Pierce County homeless village as zoning decision challenged
Rapid bus line on Pacific Ave. to start later, deliver less, cost a lot more. Here’s why

New York Times
Racism and Sexism Underlie Higher Maternal Death Rates for Black Women, U.N. Says

Olympian
Lacey held its LGBTQ forum on Wednesday. Here’s what residents had to say
Construction under way on phase 2 of Martin Way affordable housing. Here’s when it’ll be done
Opinion: Washington state needs to OK an agreement to co-manage fish hatcheries with the Tribes

Peninsula Daily News
Strong fish counts seen in Elwha

Puget Sound Business Journal
Sound Transit eyes late summer start for Hilltop light rail service
Banks are pulling back on loans. Businesses are looking elsewhere
Seattle council committee hears pleas of small business groups

Seattle Times
WA gas prices top nation as lawmakers take aim at oil industry profits (Nguyen, Liias)
Abortions rise in WA as Idaho travel ban challenged
Opinion: WA’s long-term care plan is a national first and a win for residents

Spokesman Review
Spokane Police conclude multi-year project to test sexual assault kit backlog
Johnnie Perkins resigns as Spokane City Administrator amid sexual harassment investigation
They opposed the infrastructure law. Now, some in the GOP court its cash.

Washington Post
Forcing people to work in deadly heat is mostly legal in the U.S.
Biden administration announces $39 billion in student loan forgiveness

WA State Standard
High gas prices fuel talk of anti-gouging measures, cap-and-trade tweaks (Nguyen, Ramel, Fitzgibbon, Mullet)
New Yorkers look to Washington for advice on cap-and-trade (Fitzgibbon)
FDA approves first over-the-counter oral contraceptive

Wenatchee World
Quincy School District files lawsuit against social media companies
Indigenous Roots and Reparations Foundation celebrates first Indigenous language class

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Western State Hospital renovations have an unlikely resident in mind: bats
Tacoma ranked one of top 5 best places to live
Disabled passengers still waiting for Alaska Airlines to allow motorized wheelchairs
Lake Forest Park residents rally against Sound Transit plans

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Biden administration to forgive $39 billion in student debt for over 800,000 borrowers
Escalating student violence in schools sparks concern, demand for action across Washington state
Oregon set to become the first state to collect race, ethnicity data from tax filers

KNKX Public Radio
You could still be eligible for student loan forgiveness under this plan

KUOW Public Radio
Fake tombstone and Trump flag renew questions about Seattle police culture
Inner tubes are out with ban to save Nooksack River salmon
Numbing the pain: Opioid crisis on the Olympic Peninsula

Web

Crosscut
Podcast | Solving the world’s plastics problem
WA auditors flag $1.2B in federal aid over incomplete records

Thursday, July 13

New agency now accepting requests to review cases of police deadly forceThe Washington State Office of Independent Investigations is now accepting requests to review prior cases where law enforcement officers used deadly force – the latest step in setting up the state’s newest agency. Charged with conducting transparent and unbiased investigations into fatal incidents involving police, the agency has launched an online submission form for members of the public to submit cases for review. It will only dig into cases if there is new evidence presented. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

F.D.A. Approves First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription for the first time in the United States, a milestone that could significantly expand access to contraception. The medication, called Opill, will become the most effective birth control method available over the counter — more effective at preventing pregnancy than condoms, spermicides and other nonprescription methods. Experts in reproductive health said its availability could be especially useful for young women, teenagers and those who have difficulty dealing with the time, costs or logistical hurdles involved in visiting a doctor to obtain a prescription. Continue reading at The New York Times. (Perrigo, via Associated Press)

Estate of anti-fascist shot and killed by police in WA files wrongful death lawsuit
A federal lawsuit alleges police in Washington state had no plan other than to use deadly force against a fugitive who was on the run in 2020 after shooting a supporter of a far-right group during clashes between supporters of then-President Donald Trump and Black Lives Matter in the streets of Portland, Oregon. “The actions of the officers, before, during, and after the shooting, show that they either had no plan to arrest the man without injury, made no effort to follow such a plan, or planned to use deadly force from the start,” said the lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma by the estate of Michael Forest Reinoehl, who identified as an anti-fascist. Continue reading at The Olympian.

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Capital Press
Where the rhubarb grows: Washington farmers grow traditional niche crop
Elk overrun northeast Washington fields

Columbian
Bonneville Power Administration’s Ross Complex celebrates new addition
Vancouver-based United Grain Corp. optimistic despite low wheat yields forecast
State’s affordable housing fund could boost Clark County developments
Comment: WA Cares is worthwhile

Everett Herald
Arlington Proud Boy ‘Milkshake’ given 5 years in prison for Capitol siege
Comment: The real culprit for income gap for working mothers?

The Inlander
STA’s new transit line begins operating this weekend, the Inland Northwest’s first bus rapid transit system
Unionization efforts are underway to support workers’ rights in Washington’s cannabis industry
Opinion: In turning environmental policy back nearly 50 years, the Supreme Court has created more questions than answers for America’s wetlands

News Tribune
Tacoma paper mill agrees to monetary penalty, new rules after air pollution violation
Op-Ed: Thinking about boycotting salmon to help save the Orcas? Here’s a much better idea

New York Times
F.D.A. Approves First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill
Democrats Try a Novel Tactic to Revive the Equal Rights Amendment
F.T.C. Opens Investigation Into ChatGPT Maker Over Technology’s Potential Harms
E.P.A. Proposes Tighter Limits on Lead Dust in Homes and Child Care Facilities

Olympian
Yakima orchard owners pay $500,000 in back wages to 400+ workers to settle lawsuit
Estate of anti-fascist shot and killed by police in WA files wrongful death lawsuit
Washington Lottery surpasses $1 billion in sales for first time in history

Puget Sound Business Journal
International travel on the rebound as Sea-Tac welcomes new routes
Small businesses back off price increases as inflation eases

Seattle Times
Plan for ‘monster’ road closures in and around Seattle
Investigation opened into mock tombstone, Trump flag at Seattle police precinct
Developer could be key at Seattle transit station south of Chinatown International District
Regional Homelessness Authority delays shakeup of funds to nonprofits
Opinion: Sustainable aviation fuels aren’t the answer; flying less is

Washington Post
FDA approves first over-the-counter birth control pill in U.S.
Floods, fires and deadly heat are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink

WA State Standard
New agency now accepting requests to review cases of police deadly force (Goodman)
Lyft shortchanged thousands of drivers on pay, state investigators find
Despite pandemic pay boost, low-wage workers still can’t afford basic needs

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
2021 video shows Trump flag, mock tombstone of teen killed in police shootout in SPD break room
First over-the-counter birth control pill gets FDA approval
Washington State Ferries work to keep up with mounting staffing issues
Tacoma ranked one of top 5 best places to live

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Councilmember Kshama Sawant proposes rent control law for Seattle tenants
Seattle committee deliberates increased protections for app-based workers facing deactivation
Kent school librarian rallies against rising book censorship based on race, sexuality
‘This is ludicrous’: Swimming pool installed at Seattle encampment angers neighbors

KNKX Public Radio
Frustration mounts as Makah tribe waits for word on the whale hunt
Could Seattle be the key to legalizing rent control statewide?
Part of the pipeline: Allegations of abusive culture at youth soccer club mirror problems at pro level

KUOW Public Radio
Many things got Amanda Schroeder into addiction. Her kids got her out
Numbing the pain: Opioid crisis on the Olympic Peninsula
Washington’s GOP isn’t finished battling against the WA Cares Fund

KXLY (ABC)
Avista doing more to reduce fire risks in the community
US 2 near Coulee City t9o remain closed following mudslide

Q13 TV (FOX)
Opill, first over-the-counter birth control pill, approved by FDA

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Floating ban coming to South Fork Nooksack River
Opinion: County council member: Climate change calls for balanced policies

MyNorthwest
Footage captured within Seattle Police precinct shows ‘appalling’ tombstone for Black man killed
Through CiviForm, Harrell optimizes access to Seattle’s discount programs
Estate of anti-fascist shot and killed by police in WA state files wrongful death lawsuit
MLB All-Star Week brings $50M, 100,000 visitors to Seattle
‘Astonishing’ discovery as 200-pound bluefin tuna turns up in Salish Sea for first time ever
Tacoma tenants compete with City Council for renters bill of rights
Battle for Holy Rosary Church’s survival stretches from Tacoma to the Vatican
Amazon union sued by former members seeking a new election

Wednesday, July 12

WA’s high cost of child care hits single moms hardest
A new report finds the average annual cost to send a toddler to a child care center in Washington state has risen to more than $14,000. Only five other states — Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York — and Washington, D.C., had a higher average annual cost for child care. And it’s especially burdensome for single mothers. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “KIDS COUNT” report, based on 2022 census data, found that the average single mom in Washington spends nearly 40% of her income on child care. For married couples, meanwhile, it’s about 12%. Stephan Blanford is the executive director of Children’s Alliance, a statewide advocacy group. He says the soaring cost for child care pushes women out of the workforce. The study found about 12% of Washington families were forced to switch jobs last year because of child care problems. Continue reading at KUOW. (Megan Farmer)

WA auditors flag $1.2B in federal aid over incomplete records
Insufficient documentation and tracking of federal dollars — mostly pandemic aid — resulted in nearly $1.2 billion in spending across Washington state agencies that fell short of federal rules in fiscal year 2022, according to a new state auditors’ report. The Office of the Washington State Auditor recently outlined 70 “findings” against 14 different state-level agencies over their handling of federal grants or COVID-19 relief money between July 2021 and June 2022. Auditors did not identify any fraud, but concluded some agencies spent money outside of allowed uses or did not comply with federal fraud-prevention policies such as background checks. Sadie Armijo, director of state audit and special investigations, said many findings resulted from missing or incomplete records of how state agencies spent federal money. “All of these federal programs, they’re really important,” she said. “You can see that these programs are for the most vulnerable people. We’re doing what we can to hold governments accountable.” Continue reading at Crosscut. (Lindsey Wasson)

Dangerous beauty: Cosmetics marketed to minorities come with cancer risk
The State of Washington is cracking down on what’s called “dangerous beauty” – the use of harmful hair chemicals targeting women of color. For many black women the pressure to “fit in” is increasing their risk of cancer. New product testing conducted earlier this year in state labs confirmed the presence of cancer-causing chemicals in many cosmetic products marketed and sold to women of color in Washington including lipsticks, foundation, lotions and chemical hair relaxers. “We detected formaldehyde in 26 out of 30 of those products,” said Marissa Smith, a senior regulatory toxicologist with the State of Washington. “We found lead in three out of 20 of the products that we tested. During development, our brains are so sensitive to lead exposure that there is no known safe dose according to the CDC. Washington’s “Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act” will ban PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents by 2025. It will also provide incentives for small businesses to make safer cosmetics. Continue reading at KING5.