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Thursday, June 26

WA lawmakers condemn political violence as attack on democratic process
A bipartisan panel of Washington state lawmakers devoted to increasing civility in politics is formally denouncing the murder of a Minnesota state lawmaker and attempted assassination of Donald Trump as violent attempts to “undermine our democratic process.”The Washington state panel is made up of a dozen members, three from each of the Democratic and Republican caucuses in the House and Senate. It is chaired by Democratic Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, who has championed bringing greater civility to politics. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Steven Garcia)

New forecast shows uptick in Washington transportation revenue as gas tax set to increase
Washington will have $6.8 billion more to spend on roads and other transportation projects over the next four years, thanks to a gas tax increase and other fees. The new projection, released Wednesday by the Washington State Transportation Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, takes into account $6.5 billion in additional funding resulting from new legislation, account transfers and revenues from the Climate Commitment Act, which are now allocated to transportation purposes. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Dan Pelle)

Supreme Court says states can block Medicaid money for health care at Planned Parenthood
States can block the country’s biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid money for health services such as contraception and cancer screenings without facing lawsuits from patients, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The 6-3 opinion by Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by the rest of the court’s conservatives was not directly about abortion, but it comes as Republicans back a wider push across the country to defund the organization. It closes off Planned Parenthood’s primary court path to keeping Medicaid funding in place: patient lawsuits. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Darron Cummings)

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Aberdeen Daily World
GGHI presents State of Grays Harbor

Axios
Seattle council greenlights digital kiosks on city streets
Supreme Court ruling on patients rights’ could devastate Planned Parenthood

Bainbridge Island Review
BI students campaign for menstrual products on ferries

Bellingham Herald
Senate ruling casts doubt on controversial federal land sale. How it affects WA

Capital Press
Farm advocates negotiate revisions to Oregon labor lawsuit bill
Senators hear market concentration causes ranchers to drop ‘like flies’
Plant breeder, growers look for new cherries to extend season, replace Bing

Columbian
Friends of the Columbia Gorge say fight to protect public lands goes on even after proposed sale nixed

Everett Herald
Judge rules against Everett Community College in public meetings case

The Inlander
Opinion: Public ownership of vasts swaths of the nation’s lands is an American innovation and a foundation of our freedom

Kitsap Sun
WA hospitals to begin tracking staffing levels in July under new law

News Tribune
Isolated Pierce County residents grapple with major bridge closure’s effects
Noticed rising gas prices? Here’s how much gas costs at the pump in Washington
Opinion: Forests by Mount Rainier no longer slated for sale. That’s not good enough

New York Times
Hegseth and Caine Delve Into Details but Not Results of Iranian Strikes
Republicans Propose a New Way to Scrap Fuel Economy Rules: No Fines
Trump’s Bill Slashes the Safety Net That Many Republican Voters Rely on
Trump Administration Live Updates: Parts of Trump’s Major Bill Must Be Reworked or Dropped, Senate Official Says

Olympian
More budget woes for WA. Revenue forecast down $720M through 2029 (Berg, Robinson)
WA Sen. Patty Murray: GOP pushing for ‘backdoor nationwide abortion ban’

Puget Sound Business Journal
New mixed-use development opens in Woodinville
WA town files for bankruptcy after dispute with developer
Major setback for UW project in planned innovation district
Seattle launches effort to cut red tape for housing, businesses

Seattle Times
Oregon Legislature repeals contested wildfire hazard map
Kennedy says US is pulling funding from global vaccine group Gavi
Supreme Court has 6 cases to decide, including birthright citizenship
Scenic Mount Baker’s Artist Point outside Bellingham to reopen Friday
Everett child care center closes even as judge says college must observe open meetings law
Key Medicaid provision in Trump’s tax cut and spending bill is found to violate Senate rules
Supreme Court says states can block Medicaid money for health care at Planned Parenthood
Opinion: Restore abruptly canceled public safety grants in WA, across U.S.

Spokesman Review
Public land sales provision would violate Senate rule, but its backer pledges to try again
New forecast shows uptick in Washington transportation revenue as gas tax set to increase (Fey)
West Valley School Board rules Spanish teacher overstepped when he read aloud the ‘N-Word’ in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, does not reinstate teacher

WA State Standard
Trump looks to ‘consolidate’ wildland fire agencies
Seattle judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze EV charger funding
WA lawmakers condemn political violence as attack on democratic process (Bronoske, Stearns, Jinkins, Pedersen)
Opinion: Washington can’t solve the housing crisis by missing the bigger picture

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Reflecting on 10 years of federal same-sex marriage legalization
Judge delays hearing for Iranian green card holder in ICE custody
Light rail expansion could force demolition of historic building in Tacoma
Protestors urge WA governor to pardon Vietnamese man deported to Africa
Issaquah ecosystem harmed by homeowners cutting 140 trees to improve view, expert says
Pierce County extends opioid detox program as overdoses remain leading cause of accidental death

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington’s first black mayor passes away at 86
Thieves steal copper wire along Sound Transit tracks, delaying commuters
Two new cases of measles confirmed in King County, ten total cases in WA so far this year

KUOW Public Radio
It takes a lot of work to maintain WA’s trails. You can help
What are your rights as a renter in Washington state? Here are the basics
WA encouraged lower income people to buy electric vehicles, results were mixed
Paycheck to paycheck on $200k? What it really costs to live comfortably in Seattle
Washingtonians defrauded over $7 million by scammers posing as federal agencies
Washington state looks to strengthen safety net for children whose parents are deported
KUOW – A ‘perfect’ season for Washington’s sweet cherries turns sour because of deportation fears

KXLY (ABC)
Washington revises classroom discipline rules after post-pandemic challenges
SREC terminates contract with Spokane Fire, city now has six months for new 911 service

Web

Cascade PBS
Cle Elum files for bankruptcy to settle $22 million judgment
How new visa restrictions have hit Seattle arts organizations
Despite federal ruling, trans Seattleites can’t update passports

InvestigateWest
WA’s workers’ compensation system ensnarls some hurt on the job

MyNorthwest
ICE Seattle director breaks silence on protests
Seattle federal building employees picket ICE arrests
Washington revenue forecast shows $720 million shortfall
Authorities shift part of Travis Decker manhunt to recovery effort
DOJ challenges WA clergy reporting law, citing First Amendment violation

Wednesday, June 25

Seattle-area elected leaders react with alarm after U.S. bombs Iran
State Rep. Darya Farivar, the first Iranian American woman elected to the state Legislature, said she and other Iranian Americans are “bracing for impact” from a U.S.-Iran conflict. She’s also heartbroken and afraid for everyday people in Iran caught up in the conflict, she said. “I feel called to act quickly and uplift my community’s voice,” said Farivar, D-Seattle, who recalled being bullied as a child after 9/11, when some Americans directed prejudice at their neighbors with roots in the Middle East. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Tax collections tumble again in latest Washington budget forecast
Washington lawmakers and the governor Tuesday got the grim state revenue news they’ve been expecting. Estimates show tax collections for the two-year operating budget that begins July 1 will be hundreds of millions of dollars less than what they assumed when they passed the budget that Gov. Bob Ferguson signed last month. Revenues are lagging as consumers grow cautious and businesses retrench in response to the Trump Administration’s shifting approach on tariffs and trade. Many people are also tightening their spending while Congress ponders cuts to federal programs like Medicaid and food stamps. The decline in receipts will force the state to draw down savings, but Ferguson isn’t summoning the Legislature into a special session to respond. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)

Washington says Trump’s Hanford cleanup budget falls $1.5B short
President Trump’s proposed first federal budget for cleaning up the Hanford nuclear reservation falls far short of what the state says is needed. Hanford’s fiscal 2024 budget, which ended last September, was $3.035 billion. The feds budgeted $3.070 billion for fiscal 2025, which ends Sept. 30. Trump’s fiscal 2026 proposal calls for $3.070 billion. However, the Washington Department of Ecology estimated that $3.79 billion would have been necessary in fiscal 2024 to meet Hanford’s legal cleanup schedules and standards. The department says that $4.56 billion is needed in fiscal 2025 to meet Hanford’s legal obligations, and $4.56 billion will be needed in fiscal 2026. Continue reading at Cascade PBS. (Amanda Snyder)

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Axios
Seattle home prices dip as listings pile up

Capital Press
Oregon governor declares emergency for Rowena Fire
PNW hasn’t been targeted for raids, but workers are scared
Washington farm disputes discrimination claims by attorney general

Everett Herald
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law
Lynnwood City Council adopts unified development code
Senate ruling could save U.S. Forest Service land from being sold
Tulalip Tribes and DNR team up on salmon restoration project along the Pilchuck River
Comment: Assault on abortion access quieter; just as dangerous
Comment: Cuts to Medicaid will hurt nearly half of U.S. kids

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Recycling Reform Act passes, with big impacts on San Juan County

New York Times
How People Are Coping With the East Coast Heat Spike
Promise of Victory Over H.I.V. Fades as U.S. Withdraws Support
Trump Says He May Send Additional Patriot Systems to Ukraine
Inside the Global Deal-Making Behind Trump’s Mass Deportations
Trump hails NATO leaders’ spending commitment, but lashes out at Spain
Kennedy Withdraws U.S. Funding Pledge to International Vaccine Agency

Northwest Asian Weekly
The White House defends its massive bombing campaign against Iran

Peninsula Daily News
Elwha River bridge set to be demolished
Reforecasting budget helps Port Angeles port, staff says

Puget Sound Business Journal
Homeownership slips out of reach nationwide
Comment: Everett is trending up

Seattle Times
Seattle Council signs off on towering digital billboards
Washington faces major lag in state inspections of hospitals
FEMA again rejects WA request for bomb cyclone disaster aid
The WA warnings on health care offer a view of the bad ol’ days
Reports of coming layoffs swirl at Microsoft as workers worry they’re next
Seattle-area elected leaders react with alarm after U.S. bombs Iran (Farivar)
Editorial: Seattle City Council, hurry up already, fix affordable housing market
Opinion: WA must step up to make sure we get recommended vaccines

Skagit Valley Herald
Concrete seeks new Town Council member
Skagit County adopts updated comprehensive plan
Two seats set to open on Skagit County Planning Commission

Spokesman Review
Gov. Ferguson does not expect special session after budget forecast shows revenue decline (Ormsby)
Spokane council to consider stronger labor requirements for city projects of $5 million or above
Baumgartner, Northwest Republicans ask RFK Jr. to reopen NIOSH worker safety office in Spokane
Federal delays and Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ jeopardize college program for students from migrant families

Tri-City Herald
Pelicans are being shot and killed along Yakima River near Tri-Cities

WA State Standard
Tax collections tumble again in latest Washington budget forecast (Robinson, Ormsby)
Public land sale plan covering millions of acres in WA derails in US Senate
Seattle judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze EV charger funding
‘None of us are tired’: Democratic AGs pledge extended court fight against Trump

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Seattle moves to ban algorithmic rent-setting
Cle Elum files for bankruptcy over $26 million development dispute
NTSB chair says systemic failures led to door plug flying off Boeing 737 Max plane mid flight
Scammers impersonate federal agencies and banks, stealing millions from Washington residents

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)

Seattle residents to vote on billion-dollar education levy
NTSB: Boeing’s inadequate oversight, training led to door plug blowout
‘Disappointing’: Washington revenue forecast shows $720 million shortfall
King County suing for millions after homeowners allegedly damage 140+ public trees
Whatcom County approves fare hike for Lummi Island Ferry amid rising operating costs

KXLY (ABC)
Voters to decide on $220 million bond for East Valley School District
12 brush fires set intentionally along popular Spokane recreation area

Web

Cascade PBS
Washington says Trump’s Hanford cleanup budget falls $1.5B short

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Wednesday notes
Interactive kiosks for business districts get City Council OK. Will you see them in West Seattle?

Tuesday, June 24

Feds seek to block WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse
The Trump Administration moved Monday to join a legal fight to overturn a new Washington law requiring religious leaders to report child abuse or neglect even when it is disclosed in confession. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

What the SCOTUS Decision on Trans Care Means for Washington
The Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery for anyone under 18. What does that mean? The impact of this case, US v. Skrmetti, will have a tremendous impact on trans kids and their families living in the 27 states that have banned trans care in some way. Continue reading at The Stranger. (Anna Moneymaker)

WA budget cuts could eliminate education services for some foster youth
A statewide org that helps roughly 6,400 kids access sports, driver’s ed, graduation programs and more, will lose about a third of its funding in July. The cuts could be devastating for youth who rely on those services and would result in longer wait times. Continue reading at Cascade PBS. (Grant Hindsley)

Print

Axios
Supreme Court allows Trump to restart deportations to non-origin countries

Bellingham Herald
Rep. Larsen visits detained Whatcom County labor activist at ICE facility
Whatcom County youth suicide prevention program earns national recognition

Capital Press
Trump rescinds Forest Service 2001 ‘Roadless Rule’
Low potential for spring wheat damage from stripe rust
Labor Department dumps Biden farmworker union rule

Everett Herald
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax
Edmonds appoints liaison to South County Fire Board of Commissioners
Commentary: Immigration crackdown has economic fallout for all
Editorial: Congress must act on Social Security’s solvency

Journal of the San Juan Islands
How the new state budget impacts San Juan County funding and programs

Kitsap Sun
Washington has one of the ‘best global’ universities in 2025, US News finds

News Tribune
Mount Rainier faces glacier loss: Insights from Nisqually Vista
Paying rent by credit card in WA: Do you have to pay a processing fee, too?

New York Times
What to Know About the Cease-Fire Between Israel and Iran
Tuesday Is Expected to Be One of the Hottest in a String of Hot Days
A Show of Unity May Be the Best NATO Can Hope for at Its Summit
Extreme Heat Is Exacerbating Air Pollution, a ‘Double Whammy’ for Health

Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula College to continue without budget

Puget Sound Business Journal
Dealmaking stalls amid policy uncertainty
Pet insurance becomes a more popular job perk
AI could prompt local business to hire more, survey finds

Seattle Times
As pushback grows to WA immigration court arrests, ICE changes tactics
On Dobbs anniversary, Senate Democrats aim to restart abortion conversation
Royal upgrade: Trump will stay at the Dutch king’s palace during his NATO visit

Spokesman Review
Meet the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office newest recruit: O’Malley the Labrador retriever
Washington joins growing list of states to tax increasingly popular nicotine pouches like ZYN (Berg)
‘It’s going to escalate’: Iranian retaliation sparks fear for some Spokane County residents, while others seek to ignore escalating global tension

Tri-City Herald
WA state OKs 4-day school week for a Tri-Cities district with $1M budget gap
DOJ sues WA over new ‘anti-Catholic’ law making clergy mandatory reporters of abuse (Frame)

WA State Standard
Washington faces major lag in state inspections of hospitals
Feds seek to block WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse
WA board to consider parole for ‘Hillside Strangler’ convicted of 1970s murders

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County sues homeowners after 140 trees cut down
Former student sues Seattle school for antisemitism amid Gaza tensions
‘No certain evidence’ Travis Decker is alive or in Washington, sheriff’s office says
Trump’s federal land sell-off proposal includes 5M acres in Washington

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Whatcom County confirms first measles case of 2025
Kroger announces 60 stores will shut down nation-wide
Firefighters warning of wildfire conditions and firework danger
Mukilteo/Clinton ferry services ending early today for repairs
Former WA governor says attack on Iran likely raises threat for Americans
DOJ challenges WA clergy reporting law, citing First Amendment violation (Hill)
How Seattle’s mayor hopes to increase housing, welcome more small businesses
Happening now: NTSB to determine probable cause of Boeing in-flight door blowout
South Seattle neighbors on Rainier Avenue South urging city to make street safer

KNKX Public Radio
Your favorite campgrounds, hiking trails, and forests could soon be up for auction

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Valley Mayor steps down for medical leave for health recovery
Mead School Board continues to delay action on transgender student policy
“A possibility that increases every day”: Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office shifts search for Travis Decker; considers possible death in wilderness

Web

Cascade PBS
U.S. strikes 3 Iran nuclear sites with mixed reactions from Congress
WA budget cuts could eliminate education services for some foster youth

The Stranger
What the SCOTUS Decision on Trans Care Means for Washington
Slog AM: Trump Bombed Iran, the DOJ Sues WA for Going After Sex Pests, CM Saka’s Still Yelling About Curbs

Monday, June 23

Washington joins growing list of states to tax increasingly popular nicotine pouches like ZYN
While it may be hard to see, especially when tucked under your bottom lip, nicotine pouches have become hard to ignore in recent years. They’ve grown so much, in fact, that state lawmakers across the country, including in Washington, have sought to change their tobacco taxes to apply to the expanding market. In the recently completed legislative session, Washington lawmakers approved a tax on products that contain tobacco or nicotine, “whether derived from tobacco or created synthetically.” The products will now be subject to a 95% tax of the sale price, which will take effect on Jan. 1. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Amanda Sullunder)

Washington updates student discipline rules for public schools
New discipline guidelines for public school students will go into effect across Washington state next month. While educators say the changes are necessary to address disruptive post-pandemic classroom behavior, the policies are drawing criticism from some student and family advocates. The Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction adopted the updated discipline rules on June 10. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Dan Forer)

Sleepless nights, conflicting emotions for Iranian Americans in WA
The latest escalation in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel has stirred a broad spectrum of reactions from Iranian Americans. As small antiwar protests sprouted in Seattle and across the country, local Iranian Americans expressed wide-ranging frustrations — toward the United States, Iran’s theocratic government, Israel or Trump. Beneath that anger lies a steady undercurrent of fear for the safety of family members abroad and concern that tensions will escalate. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

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Bellingham Herald
Health officials confirm Whatcom County’s first measles case of 2025
Free Narcan availability expands in Bellingham with a pair of new locations
‘Significant step’: DNR opens 7-mile trail in wilderness above Lake Whatcom

Capital Press
Land sale proposal in federal budget bill generates concern
Oregon lawmakers invest in expanded water recycling for irrigation

Everett Herald
Cascade High School students walk out to speak up
‘I feel safe here’: Community celebrates third-annual Everett Pride
Snohomish County PUD to change its contract with Bonneville this fall
Court docs: Everett Community College decided on ELC closure in March
Edmonds Municipal Court focuses on Blake cases ahead of state funding cuts
Editorial: A loss for Northwest tribes, salmon and energy
Comment: Signing on to a bright future in STEM careers
Comment:Building WSU Everett as it grows our local workforce
Comment: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ hides ugly consequences for families
Comment: ‘Lone wolf’ myth makes it harder to confront extremism

The Inlander
Hemp and cannabis are the same plant, but federal rules for each differ widely

Kitsap Sun
Restoration of WSF service arrives, with fare increases likely coming soon
Nearly 10% of shipyard buildings fail to meet seismic safety standards, Navy announces
Bremerton boat manufacturer resumes government contracts, though tariff prices loom
A Bremerton-Bainbridge ferry? Advocates explore interest in connecting Kitsap communities

News Tribune
Rules of the Road: When is it OK to ride in the back of a pickup truck?
Mount Rainier’s glaciers are disappearing. What happens when they’re gone?
Tacoma spending related to ex-police chief topped $6M. Here’s what drove costs

New York Times
The Global A.I. Divide
What Is the Strait of Hormuz, and Why Is It Important?
White House Faces Risk of Economic Fallout From Iran Strike

Northwest Asian Weekly
WA’s Conrad wins DNC leadership post

Puget Sound Business Journal
AI is reshaping Seattle’s job market
QFC, Fred Meyer owner to close 60 stores
AI is creating a growing problem for Gen Z at work

Seattle Times
What the U.S. strikes on Iran could mean for world oil prices
Seattle residents tire of unsafe Rainier Avenue, slow city response
Wildfire conditions in WA could lead to power shut-offs, PSE says
Sleepless nights, conflicting emotions for Iranian Americans in WA
Supreme Court will hear case of Rastafarian whose dreadlocks were shaved by Louisiana prison guards

Spokesman Review
Protesters rally at Red Wagon against Iran War
Chewelah City Council members appoint interim mayor
Washington joins growing list of states to tax increasingly popular nicotine pouches like ZYN (Berg)
Wellesley Road improvements aimed at smoother rides, improved EVHS access and pedestrian safety

Tri-City Herald
Nuclear power plant near Richland WA being shut down to fix a problem
Tri-Cities school is one of ‘lowest achievers’ in WA. What’s being done about it?

WA State Standard
Washington updates student discipline rules for public schools
Washington state agency that oversees Medicaid will get a new director
Judge halts Trump order tying state transportation grants to immigration actions
Trump administration move to restore gun rights to some convicts protested by Democrats
Minnesota assassination prompts many lawmakers to wonder: Is service worth the danger

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Economists warn of recession as Seattle exports tumble

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Thurston County announces marriage license price hike
No boarding pass, no ID: Facial recognition coming to Sea-Tac
Iranians in WA worry about family as they react to U.S. bombing of Iran
Lawsuit claims Washington farm replaced local employees with foreign workers
Study claims this PNW city made the biggest strides in driving safety in the nation
SPD releases body cam video of shooting between police, domestic violence suspect

KXLY (ABC)
City of Spokane to host open house on Division Street bus rapid transit project
“Just really disheartened”: Protesters gather in Riverfront Park to oppose Trump’s bombing of Iran nuclear facilities

Web

The Urbanist
Issaquah Eyes New I-90 Bridge to Connect to Future Light Rail Station
Central Puget Sound’s Transportation Funding Gap Tops $78 Billion Through 2050
Opinion: Restoring Seattle’s Community Court Is Good, Pre-Filing Diversion Even Better

Washington Observer
For whom the state tolls
Public-records misbehavior in Longview
Meet Washington’s #1 Medicaid giant: Amazon

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Summer’s first Monday
WEEK AHEAD: How to get your minute @ City Council’s next all-day rezoning/Comp Plan hearing on Monday

Friday, June 20

Washington’s elusive out-of-state homeowners
Gaze down at our fair state from cyberspace and the numbers begin to paint a curious picture of who owns Washington real estate. Fewer of them may vote here than you might think. A bill written up this session to fence off your neighborhood from Wall Street begged the expensive question of just how many people live in what they own. That bill in question from Sen. Emily Alvarado aimed to cap the number of houses private equity firms could put under their belts. Continue reading at The Washington Observer. (WA Observer)

WA looks to strengthen safety net for children whose parents are deported
Detained immigrant parents worried who will pick their children up from school. Mothers who’ve been deported with infants while their older kids are left behind in the U.S. A new Washington state task force aims to assess those systems. It was created a week after President Donald Trump reclaimed office and embarked upon a campaign of mass deportation. In its first report, issued publicly this month, the task force found Washington faces multiple gaps in supports for separated immigrant families. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Grace Deng)

Seattle-area costly child care strains family budgets during summer break
The price to send a school-age child to summer programs, often called day or overnight camps, has escalated since COVID, putting the squeeze on working parents. Scheduling is also a problem in the Seattle area as the more affordable programs fill up in minutes, and parents struggle with commutes and pick-up/drop-off times that don’t align with traditional office hours. The higher costs to run camps are also stretching the programs thin, making it harder to expand and give tuition assistance for lower-income families. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)