Lawmaker says Ariel Garcia’s death shows gap in Washington law to protect kids; What if … A look at the fallout if the lower Snake River dams are demolished

AGRICULTURE & WATER

• Krainick Dairy, Rep. Schrier stump for whole fat, 2% milk to go back in schools (Snoqualmie Valley Record)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• King County judge blocks AI-enhanced video as evidence in 2021 shooting trial (MyNorthwest)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Pfizer to lay off 119 workers with closure of south Everett plant (The Everett Herald)
• OPINION: Amazon must do better with its packaging for our oceans’ sake (Matt Littlejohn, senior vice president of strategic initiatives for Oceana/The Seattle Times)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• COLUMN: Radicals using migrants to hold city hostage, threatening another CHOP Seattle (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)

CONGRESS

• Marysville teens represent Washington in Senate program back-to-back — a first (The Everett Herald)

CORRECTIONS & JAILS

• As Washington’s prison population shrank, the cost of incarceration went up (NW News Network)

COURTS (STATE)

• Lawsuit: Police brushed off 911 calls before stabbing at Tulalip hotel (The Everett Herald)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• ‘We’re going to track you down’: Federal Way mayor sends warning to criminals (KOMO TV)

DAMS

• What if … A look at the fallout if the lower Snake River dams are demolished (Capital Press)

DRUG CRISIS

• Lawmaker says Ariel Garcia’s death shows gap in Washington law to protect kids (KOMO TV)
• Rep. Travis Couture joins Brandi Kruse to reiterate need for stronger laws to protect kids from drug-addicted parents (KLCK Radio/Gorge Country Media)

EDUCATION

• Seattle Public Schools cancels gifted program ‘cohorts’ for equity reasons (FOX 13)

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES

• Some Mercer Island residents asked to evacuate their homes due to unstable soil conditions (KING TV)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Puget Sound Energy requests to adjust electricity and natural gas rates (The Chronicle)
• Site council drafts report to Inslee on Horse Heaven power project (Capital Press)
• Washington utility offers an alternative maritime fuel, but gets pushback (The Seattle Times)
• EDITORIAL: Don’t rule out nuclear power in warming climate (The Columbian)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE

• White House pushes for extension of internet program aiding many Washingtonians (MyNorthwest)

GUN RIGHTS

• Upcoming court ruling could open short window for purchase of high-capacity mags (The Center Square)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Sen. Cantwell announces federal funds to help expand Okanogan County dental care (NCW Life Channel)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• New Clark College campus at Boschma Farms designed for advanced manufacturing, renewable energy programs (The Columbian)
• Peninsula College gets federal infusion to start dental hygiene program (KONP Radio)
• WSU officer who fired at student identified (KNDO/KNDU)
• EDITORIAL: Gates Foundation grant aims to steer more Washington students into higher ed (The Seattle Times)

HOMELESSNESS

• Youth homelessness in Washington dropped 40% in 6 years, report says (Axios – Seattle)
• An Olympia motel will become permanent supportive housing by the summer. Here’s why (The Olympian)
• OPINION: Cities like Burien need help with homelessness measures, not barriers (Kevin Schilling, mayor of Burien/The Seattle Times)

HOUSING

• Spring housing market brings more picks for buyers, yet little relief (The Seattle Times)
• Seattle’s social housing developer struggles to take shape (The Seattle Times)

IMMIGRATION

• Immigrant who died in ICE custody spent 13 years in solitary — many in Washington prisons (The Seattle Times)

LAND USE & PROPERTY RIGHTS

• Yakima River Canyon property moves into public ownership (The Spokesman-Review)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Officer hired as sheriff’s deputy despite involvement in fatal Manuel Ellis arrest resigns (AP)
• COLUMN: Seattle Police Department has under 425 patrol officers, 280 eligible for retirement (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)

LEGISLATURE

• Longtime Spokane Valley state Sen. Mike Padden says he won’t run for re-election (The Spokesman-Review)
• Another veteran Washington state lawmaker won’t return in 2025 (Washington State Standard)
• April Chamber forum to feature state Rep. Peter Abbarno (The Chronicle)
• EDITORIAL: Necessary study of violent extremism gets reprieve (The Everett Herald)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Camp Bonneville concerns may delay contract between Clark County, FBI (The Columbian)
• Whatcom County city debates removing fluoride from its water (Crosscut)
• Benton Co. sets animal control workshop in response to outcry over deputies killing dogs (Tri-City Herald)

MEDIA

• COLUMN: Washington state’s first journalism fellows hired (Brier Dudley/The Seattle Times)

MENTAL HEALTH

• How do wildfires affect mental health? A new UW study examines the connection (The Seattle Times)

OTHER STATES

• Oregon just re-criminalized drug possession and use. Why didn’t legalization work? (KUOW Radio)
• Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek will seek ethics guidance on first lady’s increased role in administration (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Grants Pass v. Johnson: Here’s what led to key homelessness case before high court (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

REDISTRICTING

• U.S. Supreme Court refuses to block Washington maps ousting Central WA’s first Latina senator (Tri-City Herald)
• Here’s how Washington’s legislative districts will change for this year’s elections (Washington State Standard)
• Supreme Court declines to stay new legislative maps (The Chronicle)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Former student sues Seattle Schools after teacher punched him in the face (KUOW Radio)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Elon Musk’s X restores blue checks to influential accounts (The Washington Post/The Seattle Times)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• DOH revokes medical licenses for Kennewick man charged with murdering girlfriend (KAPP/KVEW)

TRANSPORTATION

• Traffic deaths are up in Washington state (Axios – Seattle)
• Washington begging drivers to slow down in work zones to avoid crashes (MyNorthwest)
• Would speed-limiting devices in cars work in Washington? (KIRO TV)
• Washington gas prices hit 2024 high, up 28% over national average (MyNorthwest)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Makah Tribe gets federal grants for ocean mapping project (KONP Radio)

WILDLIFE

• Gray whale season has arrived in Puget Sound. Here’s where you can find ‘Sounders’ in WA (The Bellingham Herald)