WA auditor worried by growing ‘boldness’ with $900K misappropriation; Wave of new laws take effect in Washington state

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• $1.6 million in scholarships awarded to trades students in Washington (The Spokesman-Review)
• Washington allows undocumented immigrants to apply for professional licenses (KING TV)
• Undocumented Washingtonians can now work as doctors, teachers under new professional licensing law (KUOW Radio)
• King County janitors ratify new contract, averting strike (The Seattle Times)
• Butter jumps to record price on tight supplies ahead (Bloomberg/The Seattle Times)

CANNABIS

• Cannabis shop proposal could force debate over Richland pot ban. Here’s where it stands (Tri-City Herald)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• New website reveals license plates of Aurora Avenue visitors (FOX 13)

DAMS

• Breaching Snake River dams could drop reservoirs, groundwater levels by 100 feet (The Center Square)

EDUCATION

• Moses Lake School District to sell two properties amid financial crisis (The Center Square)

ELECTIONS

• How the Washington state voter guide became a 110-year Democratic tradition (Washington State Standard)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Whitman County Commissioners won’t block wind farm (The Lewiston Tribune)
• OPINION: Hydrogen is key to fighting climate change, but we must get it right (Heather Reams, president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, and Rebecca Lorenzen, senior policy manager for CRES Forum/The Seattle Times)

ENVIRONMENT

• Inside Sea-Tac’s efforts to clean up PFAS firefighting foams (The Seattle Times)

FISH

• It’s a challenging drive to WA’s ocean beaches as state spends billions to help fish (The News Tribune)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Doctors struggle to afford Medicaid patients. How can WA solve the problem? (The Washington Observer)
• Seattle plastic surgeon must pay $5M after allegedly faking reviews (The Seattle Times)

HOMELESSNESS

• King County Sheriff still won’t arrest Burien homeless despite SCOTUS ruling (The Center Square)
• OPINION: Supreme Court’s homelessness ruling punishes the most vulnerable (Anita Khandelwal, director of the King County Department of Public Defense/The Seattle Times)
• COLUMN: Sheriffs Constantine and Cole-Tindall dangerously usurping power on homelessness policy (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)
• EDITORIAL: Key question skipped in ruling on homelessness (The Columbian)

HOUSING

• WA program to help first-time homebuyers with history of discrimination (The Seattle Times)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Milton police officer run over by suspect’s vehicle will be in rehab for at least six months (KIRO TV)
• Mabton Police Chief transitions to public safety director role due to new state law (KAPP/KVEW)

LEGISLATURE

• Wave of new laws take effect in Washington state (KOMO TV)
• WA becomes third state to allow punishment for ‘stealthing’ (KOMO TV)
• Civil penalties for ‘stealthing’ now in effect in Washington state (The Center Square)

OTHER STATES

• Religious hate fueled jump in calls to Oregon’s bias hotline (The Oregonian)
• 3 things to know about Portland’s spat with Multnomah County over tents and tarps (The Oregonian)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• WA auditor worried by growing ‘boldness’ with $900K misappropriation (The Seattle Times)
• Washington auditor sees biggest state employee fraud case in 15 years (MyNorthwest)
• Washington State Women’s Commission launches effort to close gender pay gap (The Center Square)

TRANSPORTATION

• WA gas prices consistently higher most of U.S., CCA causes jump (Columbia Basin Herald)
• 500,000 ferry passengers expected 4th of July week (FOX 13)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs expands 55th annual Pi-Ume-Sha celebration (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

WATER

• Stakeholders split on transparency at water supply study virtual meetings (Capital Press)

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• Hillman fire in Yakima’s West Valley destroys 2 homes; evacuation levels lowered (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• White Swan community receives overwhelming support, donations following Slide Ranch fire (KNDO/KNDU)

WILDLIFE

• PNW orcas won’t get separate species designation (The Seattle Times)