Changes in curbside recycling likely to mean higher costs for Clark County residents; Under a new WA law, littering fines to double this summer

Changes in curbside recycling likely to mean higher costs for Clark County residents

The Columbian — Most Clark County residents have curbside recycling available. A new bill passed by the Washington Legislature this session could spell changes, and higher costs, for local residents. Senate Bill 5284 — sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett, D-Anacortes — creates a statewide plan for recycling. $

Under a new WA law, littering fines to double this summer

FOX 13 — Big picture view: This marks the first adjustment to the state’s littering penalties since 1993. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla), aims to address the escalating litter problem in Washington. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, the state experiences 42% more litter than the national average, with approximately 73,000 pieces of litter per mile on interstates, equating to nearly 1,600 pounds per mile. ​

OUR NEWS RELEASES FROM THIS WEEK

• House Republican budget leader Rep. Travis Couture issues statement after majority Democrats shove through $78 billion budget
• Rep. Andrew Barkis issues statement on passage of 2025-27 transportation budget
• Rep. Mike Steele underscores bipartisan teamwork in securing $7.6 billion capital budget passage
• Washington State Legislature passes two bills by Rep. Mark Klicker on littering and housing costs
• Stokesbary, Penner help secure last-minute deal to save Rainier School in Buckley
• Governor signs Rep. Tom Dent’s wildfire safety bill into law

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• WA ports await sharp drop in cargo as Trump’s tariff battle with China drags on (Washington State Standard)

CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM

• Where is your CO2 tax really going? Policy expert slams state’s ‘ineffective’ spending (MyNorthwest)

CONGRESS

• OPINION: Time to thank WA Rep. Newhouse for standing up for energy (Climate scientist Steve Ghan leads the Tri-Cities chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby/Tri-City Herald) $

CORRECTIONS & JAILS

• Franklin County releases plan for jail takeover as legal battles with sheriff escalate (Tri-City Herald) $

COURTS (STATE)

• 200 WA attorneys retake oath to uphold the Constitution (The Seattle Times) $
• Yakima attorneys renew oaths to support rule of law on Law Day (Yakima Herald-Republic) $

DRUG CRISIS

• Will Trump cut Naloxone access? $56M federal program under threat (MyNorthwest)
• Narcan vending machine has long path to installation, cancelation (Columbia Basin Herald) $
• Seattle drug users could duck charges – if they play by new rules (The Center Square)

EDUCATION

• Gender-inclusive policies spark federal investigation of Washington schools agency (KUOW Radio)
• Title IX fight escalates as WA districts push back on gender identity policies (The Center Square)
• Kennewick school district reacts to state Title IX investigation (KNDO/KNDU)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Commerce awards more than $36 million for clean energy community grants (The Wenatchee World) $

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

• Governor Ferguson signs tourism funding bill into law in Washington (KHQ TV)

HANFORD

• Eastern WA nuclear project that could save billions. Here’s what the test showed (Tri-City Herald) $
• U.S. Department of Energy treats and ships nearly 2,000 gallons of Hanford tank waste for disposal (KAPP/KVEW)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Fred Hutch lays off staff in IT, HIV research (KUOW Radio)
• OPINION: Add whooping cough to the list of preventable diseases that are back (Donna A. Gaffney, California-based nurse, psychotherapist, educator and author, and Teri Mills, retired adult nurse practitioner and Oregon Nurse of the Year in 2019/The Seattle Times) $
• EDITORIAL: Seattle/King County Clinic marks 10 years of health and dignity (The Seattle Times) $

HIGHER EDUCATION

• New state budget brings more budgets cuts to WWU (KGMI Radio/My Bellingham Now)

HOMELESSNESS

• Should WA expand ‘cost-effective’ program to mitigate youth homelessness? (The News Tribune) $
• Mayor Lisa Brown unveils replacement to anti-homeless camping law struck down by state Supreme Court (The Spokesman-Review) $

HOUSING

• Here’s how much Americans need to earn to afford the median-priced home (FOX 13)

IMMIGRATION

• Pierce County doubles down on immigration limits; sheriff says it defies law (The Center Square)
• Bellingham roofing company knew in advance about ICE raid that arrested dozens (KUOW Radio)
• ‘Standing up and fighting back’: Hundreds march to ICE facility as part of May Day rally (KING TV)

LAND USE & PROPERTY RIGHTS

• Residents losing homes for new Renton school complain about how district is handling process (KIRO TV)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Jamie Tompkins claims Seattle police scandal was a setup. Here’s why (FOX 13)
• Ex-Seattle police chief of staff says she endured pervasive harassment (The Seattle Times) $
• Cowlitz Tribe police chief suspected of sexually abusing minor (oregonlive.com/The Seattle Times) $
• COLUMN: Sheriff Swank says it’s safe for anyone to call 911. How he undercut his message (Laura Hautala/The News Tribune) $

LEGISLATURE

• WA Legislature preserves pharmacy benefit, protecting millions for Kitsap-based provider (Kitsap Sun) $
• New state law protects people who save babies or pets from hot cars (KONP Radio)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Seattle City Council to consider changing ethics code for votes (The Seattle Times) $
• WA tax hikes won’t save Spokane as county braces for $20M budget hole (The Center Square)

LONG-TERM CARE

• New Washington law adds certification requirement for dementia care (Washington State Standard)

MEDIA

• Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR (AP)

MENTAL HEALTH

• Child’s death follows closure of Spokane youth psychiatric center (InvestigateWest/CascadePBS)
• ‘Falling through the cracks’: Becca program for at risk teens bracing for severe budget cuts (KHQ TV)

OPERATING BUDGET

• Ready for some good WA budget news? Local school leaders happy with spending plan (The News Tribune) $
• OPINION: The Washington State 2025-27 Budget proposal is out and legislators are still spending money the state doesn’t have (Mark Harmsworth, Washington Policy Center, Clark County Today)

OTHER STATES

• Eviction of homeless camp in Oregon said to be ‘largest in recent history’ (The New York Times/The Seattle Times) $
• Portland mayor and Oregon governor propose suspending development fees to boost housing construction (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

PARKS

• How is this permanent bridge closure going to affect Mount Rainier visitors? (The Olympian) $
• ‘Collapse is imminent’: Fire destroys Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad trestle bridge between Mineral and Morton (The Chronicle)

POLITICS

BALLOT MEASURES

• Decision on investing WA Cares tax dollars in stock market goes to ballot (Washington State Standard)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Dangers of ‘kidfluencing’: Child protection advocate shares ways to protect kids online (KOMO TV)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Columbia River Gorge Commission sees most funding restored (The Columbian) $

TAXES

• Washington’s spirits and craft beer industries at loggerheads over proposal to revamp alcohol taxes (The Columbian) $
• Report: End of Trump tax cuts would add an average of $4.5K per filer in WA (The Center Square)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Tulalip Tribes signs agreement with Washington State Department of Commerce (The Everett Herald) $

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• Washington state prepares for above-average wildfire season (KNDO/KNDU)

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