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Wednesday, April 2

Tax the rich? UW economist calls WA a ‘tax haven like the Cayman Islands’
Vigdor is a professor at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance with a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard. He said if he were designing a tax system from scratch, he might not choose a 5% payroll tax on pay packages above $176,000, as legislative Democrats are proposing. (The tax is paid by the company and would apply only to larger firms, with payrolls topping $7 million per year.) Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

Washington sues over RFK Jr.’s canceled health funding
Washington was among 23 states that sued the Trump administration Tuesday over the cancellation of $12 billion in federal funding to address infectious diseases, substance abuse and mental illness, including about $160 million for Washington. The lawsuit comes on the heels of the abrupt termination last week of grants related to disease tracking, vaccination efforts and other work that officials said could cost thousands of jobs in public health departments nationwide. This pot of money makes up $11 billion of the $12 billion cut last week. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (George Frey)

Eid moves one step closer to becoming a Washington state holiday
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, two holidays celebrated by nearly 100,000 Muslims in Washington state, is one step closer to state recognition. On Monday, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that adds Eid to a list of holidays that are unpaid but have cultural or historical significance. The Senate passed a similar bill, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) in February. Continue reading at KUOW. (LSS)

Print

Associated Press
Tesla sales tumble 13% as Musk backlash, competition and aging lineup turn off buyers

Axios
Trump tariffs would hit lower-income Americans hardest
Washington’s recycling system could get a major makeover
HHS sees day of chaos as layoffs hit scientists, policy experts

Bellingham Herald
WA lawmakers unveil capital budget ideas. Here’s some of the major project proposals (Trudeau)

Capital Press
Onion association, Texas produce groups support Mexico water denial
Boise irrigation deliveries expected April 10

Columbian
‘What’s happening now is unprecedented’: Political activism, protests in Vancouver accelerate
Columbia River Gorge Commission facing funding cuts as Legislature grapples with state’s budget deficit

Everett Herald
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location
Letter: SAVE Act would hamper voting for many Americans

High Country News
Forest Service pauses commercial huckleberry picking in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Kitsap Sun
Where is my Social Security check? See SSI payment schedule for 2025
Washington REAL ID basics: What flyers need to know before May deadline

News Tribune
Is Trump doing better or worse than expected? Poll finds sizable shift from last month
Gov. Ferguson rejects ‘untested’ wealth tax, sends state budget writers back to drawing board (Robinson)

New York Times
Trump Is Set to Unveil Expansive Global Tariffs
Federal Judge Orders Legal Funds for Solo Migrant Children to Be Restored
Supreme Court Rules Against Makers of Flavored Vapes Popular With Teens

Northwest Asian Weekly
Nonprofit executive Chin hired as interim director at the Pike Place Market Foundation

Olympian
WA co-leads lawsuit against DHHS, RFK Jr. to reverse cuts to public-health grants
Gov. Ferguson rejects ‘untested’ wealth tax, sends state budget writers back to drawing board (Robinson)

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA abruptly ends loan-relief program
Industrial real estate braces for impact as tariffs cloud landscape

Seattle Medium
Seattle Opens First-of-Its-Kind AI Hub To Drive Equity And Innovation
Washington State Senate Approves Gas Tax Increase Amid Budget Shortfall
Newly Appointed City Councilmember Mark Solomon Steps Into Role With Bold Vision And Clear Priorities

Seattle Times
WA Head Start staff locked out and let go due to Trump cuts
Gov. Ferguson says he won’t sign a WA budget with a new ‘wealth tax’
Seattle man charged with hate crime, assault in attack on trans woman
Will WA see $100M in police hiring grants promised by Gov. Ferguson?
WA’s Democratic majority joins a Republican trend — make initiatives harder
Westneat: Tax the rich? UW economist calls WA a ‘tax haven like the Cayman Islands’
Editorial: Lawmakers, heed the warnings of Puget Sound-area mayors on taxes

Spokesman Review
WSU medical school celebrates 10th birthday, marking nearly 250 medical doctors graduated
Spokane County set to vote on housing, climate policies in line with state law but at odds with feds
Spokane mining safety lab loses staff as part of 10,000 federal health job cuts: ‘I don’t believe the administration understands the work being done at these sites’
Opinion: Living with fire in the 21st century

Tri-City Herald
Feds ask more workers overseeing Eastern WA nuclear cleanup, others to sign up for layoffs

Washington Post
Supreme Court rules FDA properly rejected fruit-flavored vape liquids popular with teens
Supreme Court takes up Planned Parenthood funding and patient rights

WA State Standard
Washington sues over RFK Jr.’s canceled health funding
Washington governor rejects use of wealth tax to balance budget (Frame)
Consumers and business owners await more details on Trump tariffs
Washington House passes budget, clearing way for talks with Senate
Climate disasters are on the rise. These states want to make oil companies pay.
State’s hasty swap of 200-acre Thorpe Property in Spokane should be reexamined

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Kennewick school board seeks federal help on trans athletes policy
Microsoft president cautions against Washington’s proposed ‘wealth tax’
Abrupt cancellations of federal grants causing ‘chaos’ at WA health agencies
Mother questions school training after incident on bus involving son who has autism
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson rejects state budget proposals citing concern over wealth tax, federal cuts (Hill, Riccelli)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Debate over taxes to balance budget
New Redmond light rail stations set to open soon
Limited train service to resume for Amtrak Cascades
Boeing CEO to testify in front of U.S. Senate over safety issues

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Seattle dealership brace for potential tariff on imported cars
24 states sue Trump administration for cutting $11 billion in public health grants
Ferguson says a wealth tax will be vetoed, urges new discussions to clost $16B deficit
Tacoma deputy police chief separates from department after external agency investigation
Amazon, Alaska, Costco, Microsoft, Nordstrom asking Washington to skip payroll, wealth tax

KNKX Public Radio
How Seattle’s record-high minimum wage has — and hasn’t — paid off
Green card holders, travelers caught in Trump’s immigration crackdown

KUOW Public Radio
Federal health office in Seattle closing, WA lawmakers say
Eid moves one step closer to becoming a Washington state holiday (Salahuddin)
Looming taxes on E-Bike sales threaten to put a damper on local bike shops (Liias)
‘No budget gimmicks’: WA Gov. Ferguson won’t support legislative Democrats’ wealth tax plans
Washington joins multi-state lawsuit against Trump administration for cutting billions in public health funding

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Valley City Council passes resolution declaring it is not a ‘Sanctuary City’
Spokane research facility laying off all employees, shutting doors completely by end of June

NW Public Radio
Whitman County reports first flu-related death of the season

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Amtrak brings in replacement cars as stopgap measure on Cascades route
Port eyes business growth at Bellingham International Airport, surrounding areas

Cascade PBS
Gov. Ferguson rejects Democrats’ budget proposals with new taxes (Robinson)

MyNorthwest
Citing high taxes, Governor Bob Ferguson rejects Democratic budgets from Senate and House
‘A budget that relied only on cuts would set us backward’: WA Democrat defends tax increases (Robinson)

The Urbanist
Op-Ed: Don’t Believe Corporate Elite Claiming to Fight for ‘Affordable Washington’

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday watch
FOLLOWUP: King County Executive position moves from one West Seattleite to another – for now

Tuesday, April 1

‘We affirm you.’ Transgender pride flag flies over Tacoma Dome for first time
In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, for the first time a blue, pink and white trans pride flag was flown over the Tacoma Dome on Monday. Similar flags were raised above the Tacoma Municipal Building, Tacoma Police Department headquarters and the Tacoma Fire Department, according to the city. Continue reading at The News Tribune. (Brian Hayes)

Washington House passes budget, clearing way for talks with Senate
The Washington state House passed its budget just after midnight on Tuesday, setting the stage for negotiations with the Senate and the governor on a spending blueprint to address a looming multi-billion dollar shortfall. The House approved the two-year $77.8 billion operating budget on a 54-44 vote in which five Democrats joined all Republicans in opposition. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Bill Lucia)

Senate passes Transportation budget that increases gas tax, funds major projects
The Washington State Senate adopted a bipartisan transportation package on Saturday that would raise billions of dollars through higher gas taxes and some car registration fees, close a deficit in the transportation budget and fund the completion of the North Spokane Corridor. “Washington faces some serious transportation problems, from unsafe roads that contribute to a high number of traffic fatalities, to highway projects that are far from being completed, to a failing ferry system,” said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, the ranking Republican on the Transportation Committee. “The transportation budget passed by the Senate today reflects the collaboration and compromises from both sides as we try to fix our state’s transportation problems.” Continue reading at Spokesman-Review. (WSDOT)

Print

Axios
King County’s health wins come with affordability tradeoffs

Bellingham Herald
As Trump squeezes the immigrant workforce, employers seek relief
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state

Capital Press
USDA scientist asks bigger weed questions
Meat sales hit record high in 2024

Columbian
Washougal School District needs to make up to $1.5M in additional cuts as enrollment continues to drop

The Daily News
RiverCities mulls bus service in Rainier
Pause in Columbia River Treaty talks stokes worry for flood control
Children’s Justice and Advocacy Center hosts child abuse awareness events
Columbia Theatre plans for another century in Longview with $3.5M donation campaign

High Country News
Is a nuclear renaissance coming?
Bird flu finds its way into Western wildlife

Islands’ Weekly
Debate continues on fund to aid journalism (Kaiser)

Journal of the San Juan Islands
Rent cap law continues to move despite objections

Kitsap Sun
Poulsbo announces new municipal court judge following previous judge’s 31-year tenure

News Tribune
‘We affirm you.’ Transgender pride flag flies over Tacoma Dome for first time
Tacoma deputy police chief Paul Junger fired following workplace investigation
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state
Opinion: Rainier School is a home, not just a facility. WA lawmakers’ proposed closure cruel

New York Times
Millions of Women Will Lose Access to Contraception as a Result of Trump Aid Cuts

Northwest Asian Weekly
Bellevue student participates in state page program (Walen)

Olympian
WA mayors urge state leaders to avoid more taxes for businesses: ‘Crisis is existential’
‘Remove, Reverse, Reclaim’ protest on Saturday could bring thousands to Capitol Campus
March 31 was Transgender Day of Visibility: About the history and celebration in WA state

Puget Sound Business Journal
SBA issues new fees on popular lending programs

Seattle Medium
How Inflation Of 10 Items In Seattle Compares To The Rest Of The Us
Trump And DOGE Target 14 Federal Buildings In Washington State For Lease Termination
A Good Care Team Makes A Significant Difference On The Road From Kidney Dialysis To Transplant

Seattle Times
WA may be getting new highways — for cyclists (Liias)
House Judiciary Committee investigating WA sanctuary policy
School district files federal complaint over WA policy on trans athletes
$5B proposal for salmon restoration aimed at addressing tribal lawsuit (Trudeau, Tharinger)
WA schools served food from local farms. Then Trump cut the program
Supreme Court seems likely to side with Catholic Charities in religious-rights case
Supreme Court weighs whether states can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood
Layoffs begin at US health agencies responsible for research, tracking disease and regulating food
Opinion: Rep. Frank Chopp was a champion of housing equality (Lovick)
Editorial: Cutting aid now for struggling students will cost a lot more later

Spokesman Review
Winter sea ice in the Arctic just hit a record low
Gov. Ferguson visits Spokane Veterans Home as state plans replacement project
Senate passes Transportation budget that increases gas tax, funds major projects (Liias, Fey)
Baumgartner and House Judiciary Committee investigating Washington AG, state’s sanctuary policies
Spokane Valley City Council considering reiterating it’s ‘not a sanctuary city’; resolution would carry no practical weight
Opinion: Spokane is not represented for 911 (Ormsby, Hill)

Washington Post
Massive layoffs, purge of leadership underway at U.S. health agencies
Where days of flooding rains, tornadoes and heavy snow will hit hardest
Trump aides draft universal tariff plans as some experts warn of economic havoc

WA State Standard
Washington Democrats divided on school funding plans
Washington House passes budget, clearing way for talks with Senate (Ormsby, Gregerson)

Wenatchee World
‘A humanitarian crisis’: Legal aid for unaccompanied minors slashed in Washington state

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima City Council could approve $1 million fund to help bring in new flights at airport

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tesla drivers in King County are seeking other EV options
Transgender hate crime in Seattle sparks outrage, calls for justice

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
KIRO 7 Investigates: License plate readers going in on SR-167
Social Security Administration implementing in-person ID checks
Docs: Man accused of impersonating ICE says he did it for a YouTube video
Teamsters not ‘giving up:’ Why Seattle school bus drivers may strike this week
WA sees uptick in opioid-related deaths, while nation sees first overall decline since 2018

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington hospitals brace for financial strain as Medicaid cuts could bring layoffs
New Seattle legislation reinforces protection for gender-affirming, reproductive care
Highway dangers escalate as road crew incidents rise sharply in western Washington
Auditor urges King County to reassess waste projects to curb rising trash service costs
Community urges tighter security for late-night venues following Rainier Beach tragedy

KUOW Public Radio
As Utah bans fluoride, two Washington cities consider the same
Tax the rich? Not so fast, say Microsoft, other Washington state businesses (Frame)
A stop-work notice for lawyers aiding unaccompanied minors hits close to home
Proposal to limit transgender athletes’ participation in sports blocked in Washington state

KXLY (ABC)
Concerns rise around proposed funding cuts for homeless services
Washington state lawmakers consider tax increases that could raise costs at the gas pump (Liias)
City Council votes to send letter to WA lawmakers urging them not to pause funding for North Spokane Corridor

NW Public Radio
United Farms Workers call for boycott of Windmill Farms products at Tacoma rally

Web

Cascadia Daily News
NWYS Skagit facility closed abruptly for safety and health concerns
Bellingham Public Library seeks donations to upgrade children’s department

Cascade PBS
Canada, U.S. Columbia River Treaty negotiations in jeopardy
WA lawmakers’ capital budgets boost housing, school & environment (Trudeau)

MyNorthwest
WA State Senate passes bill to hike gas tax (Liias)
Feds v. WA: Lawmakers challenge state’s sanctuary law thwarting immigration enforcement

The Urbanist
Seattle Police Department Is “Increasingly Unstable,” Email from Top Official Claims

Washington Observer
Senate boosts, inflation-proofs gas-tax (Krishnadasan, Cortes)
Transit-oriented housing takes a dicey turn (Reed, Liias, Bateman)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Welcome to April
TUESDAY: City Council’s Transportation Committee focuses on existing traffic-safety cameras

Monday, March 31

‘The feeling was of friendship’: Blaine border rallies meant to ease U.S.-Canada tensions
For the past few weeks, hundreds of Canadian and U.S. residents have participated in a weekly border rally in hopes of easing tensions from a trade war between the two governments, who have enjoyed friendship for decades as “children of a common mother,” according to a slogan etched on one side of the Peace Arch. Continue reading at The Olympian. (Jeffrey Smith)

Who’s stockpiling abortion pills amid bans
A growing number of people are requesting abortion medications before they’re pregnant, a shift driven in part by fears of future abortion bans, a study led by a University of Washington researcher suggests.Why it matters: The number of states enforcing near-total abortion bans since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022 has varied, but as of this month, 41 states have either restrictions on abortions after a certain point in pregnancy or near total bans, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Continue reading at Axios. (Shoshana Gordon)

Vaccine clinics canceled, health jobs cut as feds rescind grants to Washington state
Federal cuts are beginning to be felt in Washington state clinics, hospitals, and public health departments. The Centers for Disease Control immediately ended $130 million in “pandemic-related” grants this week, terminating jobs for over 200 employees at the state Department of Health, and potentially more at local health authorities, tribal clinics and community organizations. It’s part of a plan by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to overhaul the federal health department and gut its spending to make it more efficient. Just on the federal level, some 10,000 jobs are on the chopping block – at the CDC, FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and more. Continue reading at KUOW. (Getty)

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Axios
Who’s stockpiling abortion pills amid bans
Washington state seeks oversight of Tacoma ICE center

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County bracing for 30% population growth over 20 years; here’s each city’s outlook

Capital Press
Kotek stays out of fight over Oregon ag labor standards board

Columbian
Clark County Food Bank funding sources totaling $900K paused or canceled in USDA cuts
Vancouver fire officials fear for region’s readiness with hazmat trainings canceled in federal funding freeze

Everett Herald
Sound Transit picks Dow Constantine as new CEO
Everett mayor focuses on public safety in keynote address
Skimming devices reported in Everett at gas stations, ATMs
Editorial: The state of Everett amid the state of play
Comment: What’s most critical to ‘critical thinking’? History
Comment: State Senate Democrats’ tax plan built on fantasy
Comment: Here’s the good USAID did and what it won’t do now

Indian Country Today
Youth gun deaths in the US have surged 50 percent since 2019

Kitsap Sun
Bremerton School District reveals 3 superintendent finalists
Kitsap Sheriff’s Office replacing handguns recently banned for state training
Opinion: Affordable housing: A necessity for Kitsap’s essential workers

News Tribune
$40 million Pierce County bridge replacement project underway after 30-year wait
$42 million project promising nearly 100 units of affordable housing breaks ground
6 articles about the Rainier School’s history and the debate about closing the facility
These Pierce County schools vowed to teach more comprehensive Native American history
Opinion: It’s Transgender Day of Visibility. Tacoma will celebrate it in historic fashion

Olympian
‘The feeling was of friendship’: Blaine border rallies meant to ease U.S.-Canada tensions

Peninsula Daily News
2024 timber revenue shows Jefferson below average, Clallam on par

Puget Sound Business Journal
Dow Constantine named Sound Transit CEO at ‘success or failure moment’

Seattle Times
Seattle-area hospital loses 101 staffers after Medicaid payment pause
Seattle pilot program expands access to private substance use treatment
Push for WA jail oversight dies in Legislature, disappointing grieving families (Saldaña)
Opinion: Gov. Ferguson, stand up to legislative overreach
Opinion: The fate of the men sent to El Salvador means everything for your rights
Editorial: New Sound Transit CEO Constantine must prove board made right choice

South Whidbey Record
Future of AI bills uncertain (Shavers)

Spokesman Review
We the People: The Constitution spells out how the government works. Is it in crisis?
Two Spokane City Council members among city officials calling for state to adopt new revenue (Jinkins, Pedersen)
Spin Control: Bill to ban weapons in more public areas moves on without most of the many amendments suggested
Opinion: Board of Natural Resources needs to revisit Spokane land exchange

Washington Post
Americans are spending less as they brace for new tariffs
States rush to hire federal workers out of work after DOGE cuts
Trump says he ‘couldn’t care less’ if auto prices rise because of his tariffs
Tech companies are telling immigrant employees on visas not to leave U.S., out of concern for their return

WA State Standard
Domestic workers would gain new protections under Washington bill (Saldaña)
WA state Senate OKs gas tax hike and budget built on billions of new taxes (Liias, Chapman, Krishnadasan, Robinson)
WA families are using ‘Joel’s Law’ for involuntary commitments more than ever
Tribes, long shut out from their own health data, fight for access and sovereignty

Yakima Herald-Republic
Sales tax measure on April ballot would improve radio system for first responders

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tesla drivers in King County are seeking other EV options
In Session: Washington state may charge car owners based on gas mileage (Fey)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
King County Metro fare enforcement goes into effect today
WA State Senate passes bill to hike gas tax by 6 cents per gallon (Liias)
Retired Washington Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens passes away
Two dead, four injured in mass shooting outside Pierce County house party

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
King County Metro resumes public transit fare enforcement Monday

KUOW Public Radio
Remember when affordable housing used to just happen here?
Vaccine clinics canceled, health jobs cut as feds rescind grants to WA
Seattle lawyers sue DHS to stop deportation of detained immigrants to ‘third countries’

KXLY (ABC)
‘It’s getting unaffordable to have fun in this state;’ Washington senate passes bill to raise hunting, fishing licenses (Liias)

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Nurses reject PeaceHealth contract
Mobile clinic tightens the gap in dental health care in East Whatcom
CDN town hall on immigration, border focuses on ways to help your neighbor
Opinion: Bellingham’s rules really do contribute to city housing crisis

Cascade PBS
King County Exec Dow Constantine picked as new Sound Transit CEO

MyNorthwest
Washington hospitals grappling with financial crisis, job cuts
‘It’s ridiculous’: Washington drivers frustrated gas taxes may be going up yet again (Liias)
Washington Republicans push back against gun bill AG Brown believes will save lives
Seattle lawmaker concerned over the ICE arrest of prominent farmworker labor rights advocate (Saldaña)
Proposed WA bill could allow police to hire non-U.S. citizens, Pierce County sheriff says he refuses (Lovick)
‘Violent’ transgender hate crime happens in Seattle, Mayor Harrell to strengthen LGBTQ+ protections

Washington Observer
Hospitals warn Senate Democrats’ recommended cuts would gut their bottom line (Robinson, Macri)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Last day of March
WEEK AHEAD: Hearing in Olympia on Monday for proposal to allow vehicle-noise enforcement cameras (Fitzgibbon, Alvarado)

Friday, March 28

$160M in WA health funding axed by Trump administration
Washington state is losing about $160 million in public health funding as part of the Trump administration’s latest purge of federal grants. The money is part of $12 billion in cuts nationwide this week to funding for infectious disease tracking, mental health services and drug addiction treatment that could cost thousands of jobs in public health departments nationwide, according to news reports. Continue reading at The Washington State Standard. (National Institutes of Health)

WA Sen. Patty Murray slams ‘Measles President’ Trump’s cuts to Department of Health
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said Thursday that her office is “getting panicked calls” from state health agencies following the news of massive job cuts at the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Earlier that day, DHHS announced plans to “Make America Healthy Again” through a dramatic restructuring. This, DHHS said, aligns with an executive order from President Donald Trump related to his administration’s Department of Government Efficiency campaign. Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)

WA families are using ‘Joel’s Law’ for involuntary commitments more than ever. Is it working?
Joel’s Law, which passed the state Legislature with overwhelming support in 2015, was designed to provide a lifeline for parents like Leone who wished to directly petition the judicial system to get their loved one into treatment. Typically, designated crisis responders — mental health professionals who act as a bridge between the medical system and the courts — are the ones to recommend involuntary detainment if they believe someone’s behavioral health conditions meet the state’s legal criteria. Continue reading at InvestigateNorthwest. (Meegan M. Reid)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Letters (Rent Stability)
Hospital price transparency bill gets reworked (Riccelli)
Grays Harbor mayors discuss initiatives, challenges
WA state parks camping reservation system is changing

Axios
Washington state targets rent-pricing algorithms (Salomon)

Bainbridge Island Review
Popular BISD programs could be key to more state funding (Hansen, Simmons, Nance)

Capital Press
Sued by the EPA, Central Washington dairy hangs on
Legal disagreement arises over Oregon farm labor housing standards

Everett Herald
Amtrak suspends most train service on Cascades route
Sheriff, council member elected to lead Snohomish justice council
‘It’s going to lead to more hungry people’: Cuts hit SnoCo food banks

Federal Way Mirror
FWEA members fight for students and school funding

Kitsap Sun
When do new Social Security identity verification rules start? What to know in Washington
Bremerton mom among growing group using Joel’s Law to help loved one with mental illness

News Tribune
How are immigration enforcement policies impacting Pierce County?
Proposed Social Security staffing cuts, service reductions raise alarms in WA state
Pierce County police chief who ‘built lasting trust within the community’ set to retire
Are city efforts to treat toxic algae at this Pierce County lake working? What we know
WA Sen. Patty Murray slams ‘Measles President’ Trump’s cuts to Department of Health (Jinkins)
Detained population at Tacoma ICE center nearing capacity as immigration arrests increase
Sound Transit board just voted on Dow Constantine’s CEO nomination. Here’s what happened

New York Times
E.P.A. Offers a Way to Avoid Clean-Air Rules: Send an Email
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Let Him Cancel Grants to Teachers
States Will Be Able to Bar Federal Food Benefit Recipients From Buying Soft Drinks, Kennedy Says

Olympian
WA bill targeting excessive speeding advances: ‘Risking our lives for the fun of it’ (Goodman)
WA Sen. Patty Murray slams ‘Measles President’ Trump’s cuts to Department of Health (Jinkins)
Tri-Cities school board wants ‘urgent’ federal intervention over WA athlete gender laws
WA treats most manufactured homes like cars and trucks. A Tri-Cities Republican has a fix

Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles sends letter to governor; Requests a progressive tax code

Puget Sound Business Journal
HHS job cuts, restructuring could impact Seattle
Lawsuit claims Seattle biotech firm withheld financial risks
Tariffs, political tensions throw tourism economy into question
Dow Constantine named Sound Transit CEO at ‘success or failure moment’

Seattle Times
ICE arrests spark protest at Tacoma immigration detention center
Olympia is leading WA’s housing policy. That isn’t sitting right in Seattle (Bateman)
Editorial: Rep. Frank Chopp’s legacy of service will live on, to WA’s benefit (Stonier)
NY Times: Top Senate Republican protests Trump bid to withhold spending

Skagit Valley Herald
Residents urge Mount Vernon council to strengthen commitment to immigrant protections

Spokesman Review
Led by state Supreme Court justice, Gonzaga panel calls for support to public health
House passes Baumgartner-led bill to require universities to disclose foreign financing
North Spokane Corridor construction could face delays without new revenue, legislators say (Liias, Fey)
Conservationists make another last ditch effort to halt transfer of Thorpe Road woodland to developer
Washington’s senators raise alarm over Trump administration’s changes to Social Security Administration
Spokane police to get eight pole-mounted surveillance cameras, including four ‘covert’ ones, for nearly $78,000
Republicans accuse Democrats of being killjoys with proposed taxes; Democrats say revenue needed for preserve ‘prosperity’ (Berg, Liias)

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
ADU, permitting reform pitched at housing forum

Washington Post
Affordable compact cars could be first to see rising prices from tariffs
The Trump administration says it’s revoking hundreds of visas. What rights do noncitizens have?

WA State Standard
$160M in WA health funding axed by Trump administration
Washington AG backs gun permit bill as it advances in state Senate
Corrosion problem knocks most Amtrak Cascades trains out of service
Oregon looks to expand per-mile charges for electric cars as gas tax sputters
Democrats in WA Legislature shift approach to parental and students’ rights bills (Wilson, Stonier)
Commentary: It’s time to balance access with conservation on public lands and waters
Commentary: Will making clergy mandated reporters curb child abuse? It doesn’t have a prayer

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Business owners calling for budget do-over in Olympia (Berg)
Washington police urge lawmakers to save Recovery Navigator Program
‘Free them all’: Protestors cry for release of detainees at ICE center in Tacoma
Vancouver could become the second-largest city in Washington through annexation

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Man arrested for allegedly impersonating ICE, targeting Fife Ukrainian store
Proposed WA bill could allow police to hire non-U.S. citizens, Pierce County sheriff says he refuses (Lovick)
KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington state vaccination clinic canceled after CDC funding cut
Federal judge in Tacoma blocks Trump policy banning transgender troops in the military

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Public Library wants to hear your thoughts on library services

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Hundreds rally in support of immigration activist detained inside Tacoma ICE facility
Roundup: What school districts did this week to address multi-million-dollar deficits

Cascade PBS
How would you fix Washington’s $15 billion budget crisis?

InvestigateWest
WA families are using ‘Joel’s Law’ for involuntary commitments more than ever. Is it working?

The Stranger
ICE Detained Activist Farmworker Alfredo Juarez Zeferino

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Friday notes
Here’s when Seattle Parks wants to close Alki Beach, Don Armeni Boat Ramp this summer. One more West Seattle park proposed for changes too

Thursday, March 27

ICE apprehends two men in Skagit County
U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents apprehended two men in Skagit County on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. One of the men was farmworker and community activist Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez Zeferino. Juarez Zeferino, who was taken into custody in Sedro-Woolley, has organized for farmworkers with organizations such as Familias Unidas Para La Justicia. Continue reading at Skagit Valley Herald. (U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector)

Department of Health and Human Services will cut 10,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring plan
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will eliminate 10,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring plan, it announced Thursday. Overall, the agency, which is responsible for monitoring infectious diseases, inspecting foods and hospitals and overseeing health insurance programs for nearly half the country, says it will decrease its workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 positions. That includes 10,000 in layoffs as well as another 10,000 workers who are taking early retirements or buyout offers that were given to nearly all federal employees by the Trump administration. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

Washington bill to cap rent increases clears first Senate hurdle
A new cap on rent hikes in Washington got one step closer to becoming law Wednesday. On a party-line vote, the Senate Housing Committee passed House Bill 1217, which would set a 7% limit on annual residential rent increases, with some exceptions. The bill, one of the most controversial moving through Olympia this legislative session, would also prohibit rent increases during the first year of a tenancy. The rules wouldn’t apply to buildings under 12 years old or those owned by nonprofits or public housing authorities. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Photo by Jason Finn/Getty Images)