Drug deaths decline across the country, but not in Spokane or Washington state. What could be behind the change?; WA ferry’s diesel-to-hybrid transformation delayed by engineering woes

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• Inslee says opposition to wind and solar projects could slow use of AI (Washington State Standard)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Department of Justice sues Visa, alleges the card issuer monopolizes debit card markets (AP)
• Inslee and governors of 23 states launch ‘climate-ready workforce’ initiative (KNKX Radio)
• Boeing gives striking Machinists union more time to vote on latest offer (The Seattle Times)
• FAA boss: Boeing faces yearslong safety culture change (The Seattle Times)
• Boeing factory workers pressured to prioritize speed over quality: report (KOMO TV)

CONGRESS

• Secret Service failures before Trump rally shooting were ‘preventable,’ Senate panel finds (AP)
• GOP senator blocks resolution stating the right to emergency care includes abortion (Washington State Standard)

COURTS (STATE)

• Underage and under arrest: Inside the King County juvenile justice system (KING TV)
• Clark County District Court grapples with defense attorney shortage, ‘unprecedented’ case filings (The Columbian)
• Judge dismisses case against man accused of shooting at JBLM helicopters. Here’s why (The News Tribune)
• Bail increased for man accused of threatening to kill Yakima County judge (Yakima Herald-Republic)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• King County deputy chase, arrest ends with capture of Detroit’s ‘most wanted’ (FOX 13)
• ‘We’re being hit on so many levels’: Vancouver residents raise concerns about taxes, crime, streets (The Columbian)
• OPINION: Seeking a way to ‘disagree better,’ and respect public safety (Jackson Pincus, Assistant Director of American Jewish Committee PNW/Kitsap Sun)

DAMS

• New Department of Energy study to weigh energy challenges, dam breaching (Capital Press)

DRUG CRISIS

• Drug deaths decline across the country, but not in Spokane or Washington state. What could be behind the change? (The Spokesman-Review)

EDUCATION

• Seattle school-closure plans are changing, but district offers few details (The Seattle Times)
• Seattle Public Schools retreat from school closure plans after community backlash (The Center Square)
• WSU program helps schools identify student risks (KNDO/KNDU)

ELECTIONS

• Several states are making late changes to election rules, even as voting is set to begin (AP)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Planned Lithium-ion battery storage facility causes concern for some Sumner residents (KING TV)
• PSE announces first solar project and battery storage system (The Seattle Times)
• Avista officials provide additional details about Washington natural gas and electricity rate hikes (The Lewiston Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT

• Ecology fines paper mill for hazardous waste violations in Cosmopolis (KIRO TV)
• Strange burning smell permeates SW Washington; officials so far don’t know cause (The Oregonian)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE

• Sandpoint man arrested for threatening to kill Donald Trump over loss of tribal land (The Spokesman-Review)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Severe obesity is on the rise in the U.S. (AP)
• Patients at Washington dental clinic told to get tested for HIV, hepatitis (MyNorthwest)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Top Washington universities decline in annual rankings of best U.S. schools. Here’s why (The Olympian)

HOMELESSNESS

• ‘There are souls out here:’ Refugee encampment cleared from Kent without solution (MyNorthwest)
• Why is the ‘Jungle’ encampment getting cleaned up now? Details emerge for future housing (The Olympian)

IMMIGRATION

• Spokane organization receives $1 million to help refugees and immigrants (KXLY TV)

LAND USE & PROPERTY RIGHTS

• Should neighbors buy a public access point on this Pierce County lake? City weighs in (The News Tribune)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Seattle Police: Officers won’t respond to burglary alarm calls without video evidence (FOX 13)
• Calls intensify for charges against Seattle officer who fatally struck Jaahnavi Kandula (KOMO TV)
• 3 Pierce County deputies fired at a Buckley man armed with a rifle. They have been named (The News Tribune)
• COLUMN: ‘Sneaky’ and dangerous Seattle Police burglary alarm policy is a gift to criminals (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• King County still faces future cuts despite new proposed taxes in 2025 (The Center Square)
• Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell unveils 2025 budget plan at City Hall (The Seattle Times)
• Spokane’s structural deficit may continue growing due to tax-revenue shortfalls (The Center Square)
• Report released by Whatcom County Council following months-long investigation into sexual harassment allegations (KGMI Radio/My Bellingham Now)
• Franklin Co. auditor sues former administrator for secret recording. He wants $5 million (Tri-City Herald)

MEDIA

• News outlets brace for chaos on election night (and perhaps beyond) (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
• TNT columnist Matt Driscoll died from hypertensive heart disease, medical examiner says (The News Tribune)

OTHER STATES

• Idaho State Department of Agriculture detects quagga mussels in Twin Falls area of Snake River (KREM TV)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reviews ‘Safer Schools Strategy’ (KOMO TV)

SPORTS

• Seattle Mariners join backlash against Macklemore after controversial remarks (KOMO TV)
• Pac-12 files federal lawsuit against Mountain West over $43M in ‘poaching’ penalties (KOMO TV)
• Eastmont WIAA amendment that proposes third division for transgender athletes gains support (NCW Life Channel)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Backlog to change the way Washington state makes license plates (KING TV)

TRANSPORTATION

• WA ferry’s diesel-to-hybrid transformation delayed by engineering woes (FOX 13)
• WSDOT said this is the biggest weekend for road closures. Here’s what roads will be closed (KING TV)

VAPING

• Health Care Washington advocates push for state ban on flavored vapes (Washington State Standard)

WILDLIFE

• Sheriffs, ranchers meet to address concerns about predatory animals (KWHT/KTEL/KWVN – Elkhorn Media)

WOLVES

• State approves lethal action against wolf pack near Anaton (The Lewiston Tribune)