State Dems must embrace sound fiscal policies; Washington could rely on other states for almost half its energy by 2050

EDITORIAL: State Dems must embrace sound fiscal policies $

The Columbian — Democrats in Washington expanded their majorities in the Legislature and won all statewide elections in last month’s elections. They also saw voters reject conservative proposals to overturn the state’s Climate Commitment Act and capital gains tax. Democrats have tightened their grip in Olympia, but with great power comes great responsibility. With the state government facing a projected budget shortfall of $12 billion over the next four years, the majority party must embrace sound fiscal policies rather than reflexively expanding the rampant spending that has marked recent years.

Washington could rely on other states for almost half its energy by 2050

The Center Square — Washington currently exports excess energy it produces to other states, but the tables could turn and have it dependent on other states for almost half of its electricity by 2050 due to a combination of clean energy mandates and higher costs for those projects compared to other parts of the country. Under the 2019 Clean Energy Transformation Act, Washington’s utilities must gradually shift away from natural gas and carbon-generating electricity sources toward clean energy such as wind and solar. The ultimate goal is for utilities to generate 100% carbon free energy by 2045.

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Washington’s Amazon trial at core of Senate’s warehouse safety report (The Seattle Times) $
• Starbucks expands parental leave benefits for hourly part-time employees (MyNorthwest)
• A nuclear fuel company promising $4.5B project and 1,000 jobs is wooing an Eastern WA city (Tri-City Herald) $

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• Data shows Washington food insecurity rising as food bank visits exceed 13 million (MyNorthwest)

CONGRESS

• Bipartisan bill to avert government shutdown appears to hit snags (The Washington Post/The Seattle Times)
• Washington awarded $44 million for forest conservation projects, senators announce (The Chronicle)
• Family of WSU student named in Washington’s anti-hazing law helped push for national version (KUOW Radio)

CORRECTIONS & JAILS

• Spokane County may part ways with controversial medical services provider in Spokane County Jail next year (The Spokesman-Review) $

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• King County Metro cites safety in closing Little Saigon bus stops (The Seattle Times) $

DAMS

• Stopgap Columbia River Treaty update leaves US flush with electricity, in trickier flood management position (The Wenatchee World) $

DRUG CRISIS

• Lockboxes: A controversial solution to child safety in Washington homes with fentanyl use (KING TV)

EDUCATION

• Are phone bans working in Tri-Cities schools? What some teachers, students have to say (Tri-City Herald) $
• Declining student numbers mean less funding, budget cuts for Washougal and Camas districts (The Columbian) $

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES

• Waiting for federal aid one month since bomb cyclone (FOX 13)

ENVIRONMENT

• New Washington legislature will require residents to separate yard waste in 2027 (KXLY TV)
• 40K acres of Washington timberland acquired for carboncapture (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

FISH

• Skagit Delta farmers ask judge to overturn fed fish finding (Capital Press) $

GUN RIGHTS

• Seattle nixed a gunshot detection system but increased surveillance (Cascade PBS)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• What if we made prenatal and maternity care free? (The Washington Observer) $
• More doctors a great development for Walla Walla (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin) $

HOMELESSNESS

• Homeless camp’s return in Ballard sparks renewed safety concerns among residents (KOMO TV)
• Olympia mayor says cities need to take care of their own amid influx of camping downtown (The Olympian) $

HOUSING

• US home sales expected to increase in ‘bumpy’ 2025 housing market (FOX 13)
• This land handout will bring apartments to Lynnwood light rail station (The Everett Herald) $

IMMIGRATION

• Washington immigrants, rights activists prep for Trump’s promised ICE raids (KUOW Radio)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Seattle Police Department announces leadership changes, including deputy chief (MyNorthwest)
• Spokane County Sheriff’s Office receives grant for ‘guardian angel’ device (KREM TV)
• Spokane moving forward with $500,000 settlement with fiancée of man killed by police (The Spokesman-Review) $
• Thurston County deputies will have new tool meant to end chases (KING TV)
• Man killed by Vancouver police was taking items from dumpster when cops approached, asked about plateless truck (The Oregonian) $

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Thurston County resident files recall petition against Commissioner Emily Clouse (The Chronicle)
• Yakima County coroner faces recall after missing response deadline (KNDO/KNDU)

LONG-TERM CARE

• EDITORIAL: Voters saved WA Cares. Now lawmakers must improve it (The Seattle Times) $

MENTAL HEALTH

• Spokane eyes mental health ER to act as ‘third place’ between jail and hospital (The Center Square)

OPERATING BUDGET

• Governor Inslee to unveil final budget amid criticism over state spending habits (KOMO TV)
• And here comes the budget (The Washington Observer) $
• OPINION: Washington state’s budget nightmare is its own fault (Chris Cargill, Mountain States Policy Center/The Center Square)
• OPINION: New legislators face significant choices with funding shortfall (Rep.-elect John Ley/The Reflector)

OTHER STATES

• Lawmakers float bills to build more homes, limit rent increases (The Oregonian) $
• Deaths from drug overdoses surged nearly 33% in Oregon last year (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Idaho leads nation in household income growth, new census data shows (KHQ TV)
• Madison, Wisconsin school shooting: 3 dead, shooter was 15-year-old girl (FOX 13)

PRIVACY

• If you’re still overwhelmed by scam emails and texts, join the growing club (The Seattle Times) $

SOCIAL MEDIA

• TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it’s sold (KING TV)

SPORTS

• WA school districts propose banning transgender athletes from girls sports (The Seattle Times) $

STATE GOVERNMENT

• After 12 years as Washington governor, Jay Inslee is looking for his next adventure (KING TV)
• State unveils updated training for mandatory reporters (The Chronicle)
• Washington officials weigh where to relocate 9,000-pound Marcus Whitman statue (Washington State Standard)

TAXES

• Slumping returns for apartment tax breaks (The Washington Observer) $

TECHNOLOGY

• Struggling with internet? Washington receives federal funding to help locals get online (KIRO TV)

TRANSPORTATION

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge commuters likely to pay toll through at least 2033 (The Center Square)
• Rep. Jim Walsh introduces legislation to block additional tire regulations (The Chronicle)

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