Drought in the West has cost hydropower industry billions in losses, analysis finds; Washington’s EV rebate program not working as advertised, prospective Clark County car buyers say

AGRICULTURE

• Idaho is losing a farm a day. How will we feed a growing population? (The Idaho Statesman/The Seattle Times)
• Apple industry expects good year, but down from last season (Capital Press)
• OPINION: Three days to anarchy: The urgent need to support local food production (Rich Appel, Whatcom County dairy farmer/The Center Square)
• EDITORIAL: Congress must make farm bill renewal a priority (The Columbian)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• AI is already fueling layoffs, but there’s a silver lining for some workers (Puget Sound Business Journal)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Boeing Machinist leader draws a hard line as contract talks heat up (The Seattle Times)
• Alaska Air clears a very big hurdle in its proposed merger with Hawaiian Airlines (The Seattle Times)
• Boeing discovers engine part defect and grounds its 777X test airplanes (The Seattle Times)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• Survey finds nearly 40% of WA parents quit work or got fired after having kids (Washington State Standard)
• EDITORIAL: Congratulations to Granger, the land time won’t forget (Yakima Herald-Republic)

CONGRESS

• OPINION: Monumental energy permitting reform advances in Congress (Sam Cardwell, policy analyst, Mountain States Policy Center/Capital Press)

CORRECTIONS & JAILS

• Exclusive: WA DCYF head responds to calls to step down after Green Hill School failures (FOX 13)
• Snohomish County corrections deputies get new contract (The Everett Herald)

COURTS (STATE)

• Legacy Forest Defense Coalition set on halting timber sale near Arlington (The Everett Herald)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• Several children part of alleged shoplifting scheme seen in Seattle (MyNorthwest)
• New information released in Grant County Fair shooting, sheriff’s office looking to improve safety (KAPP/KVEW)

DAMS

• OPINION: Progress on Columbia River Treaty is good news for Washington (Kris Johnson, Association of Washington Business president/The Reflector)

DRUG CRISIS

• Cities collaborating on potential North Kitsap shelter for addiction recovery (Kitsap Sun)

EDUCATION

• Quincy School District to restrict use of cell phones (Columbia Basin Herald)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Drought in the West has cost hydropower industry billions in losses, analysis finds (American Public Media/Washington State Standard)

FISH

• New limit set for tire chemical that kills coho salmon (The Everett Herald)

HANFORD

• 350 acres burn near massive Hanford nuclear waste plant in Eastern WA, diverting workers (Tri-City Herald)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Alfalfa in space: Inside a WSU professor’s experiment on the International Space Station (The Spokesman-Review)
• WSU Tri-Cities students get warm and fuzzy welcome on 1st day of fall classes (Tri-City Herald)
• Monday marks first day of classes for WSU Vancouver’s fall term (The Columbian)

HOMELESSNESS

• Asotin County grapples with homeless issue (The Lewiston Tribune)
• King County spends nearly $300,000 per unit of sales tax for homeless housing (The Center Square)

HOUSING

• Walla Walla County commissioners opt to put affordable housing tax decision to voters (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)

INVASIVE SPECIES

• Invasive crab species detected in new area of Washington coast (KING TV)
• Invasive crab species found at La Push (KONP Radio)
• Invasive mussels hitch rides to Washington via aquarium moss balls (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Group calls on DOJ to investigate Tacoma police for excessive force and discrimination (The News Tribune)
• King County Sheriff to boost security in high-crime downtown Seattle areas (The Center Square)
• Snohomish County struggles to fill open sheriff’s deputy jobs (The Everett Herald)
• Fired Seattle cop claims accountability agencies targeted him over union role (FOX 13)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• ‘A precautionary step.’ Thurston commissioners explain decision to suspend seatmate Clouse (The Olympian)
• Spokane considers climate resilience board for policy, funding decisions (The Center Square)
• Everett City Council mulls revival of city’s chamber of commerce (The Everett Herald)
• Woodland City Council approves partnership with Washington state Department of Corrections (The Reflector)
• Clark County faces millions in lost funds due to law noncompliance (The Reflector)
• Chelan County getting federal funds for climate action plan (KPQ Radio)

OTHER STATES

• ODOT faces $354 million budget shortfall, potential cuts to services and jobs across Oregon (KWHT/KTEL/KWVN – Elkhorn Media)

PARKS

• Have thoughts on Mount Rainier’s new timed entry system? The park wants your feedback (The News Tribune)

RURAL BROADBAND

• WiFi is on but the internet is not: A common problem in rural America (The Reflector)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Former coach charged with child rape has been attending Seattle school sporting events, judge finds (KUOW Radio)
• Battle Ground Public Schools tightens security at high school entrances (The Reflector)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• State Department of Labor & Industries uncovers safety violations in Fish and Wildlife incidents (The Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

• Washington’s EV rebate program not working as advertised, prospective Clark County car buyers say (The Columbian)
• To restore WA ferries, ensure wages are competitive (The Seattle Times)
• Eastern WA site may become largest trucking services complex for hundreds of miles (Tri-City Herald)
• Dredging the Columbia River is a complex process needed to keep navigation channels open (The Columbian)
• All northbound lanes on I-5 Bridge will be closed Saturday night (The Columbian)
• WSDOT report shows 49 Lewis County bridges need repairs or corrective action (The Chronicle)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• For Native Americans in Washington, stark health care disparities and preventable deaths endure (InvestigateWest/KUOW Radio)
• New proposal would return Elwha River lands to Tribe (KONP Radio)
• Report lays bare stark disparities in health care outcomes for Native Americans in Washington (InvestigateWest/Washington State Standard)

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• Inland Power denies it caused last summer’s Gray Fire as trial date approaches (KHQ TV)
• Evacuation levels lowered in Pioneer Fire; visitors to Stehekin not allowed (The Wenatchee World)
• Crews continue looking for potential wildfire hotspots in Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest (KONP Radio)
• Fire Report: Two fires blaze up in Grant County over the weekend (Columbia Basin Herald)
• Here’s how one county in Washington is trying to become fireproof (KING TV)

WILDLIFE

• It’s seal pup season in WA. You could be fined over $30k if you harass or approach them (The Bellingham Herald)
• One year after Tokitae’s death, Lummi Nation and community honor the orca’s life (KING TV)