Ecology nears decision on linking WA’s cap-and-trade program to CA-Quebec market; Washington’s dwindling ferry fleet reduced even further: ‘This is a tough position to be in’

AGRICULTURE & WATER

• Watch: Is the water safe to drink? Residents east of Spokane face PFAS contamination (The Seattle Times)
• Slower exports help depress U.S. milk prices (Capital Press)
• OPINION: New federal rule seeks to use farmworkers to benefit unions at expense of privacy rights (Pam Lewison, Washington Policy Center’s Center for Agriculture Director/The Spokesman-Review)

CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM

• Ecology nears decision on linking WA’s cap-and-trade program to CA-Quebec market (The Center Square)
• Will Washington link its carbon auction market with California and Quebec? (KONA Radio)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• OPINION: Beyond the skyline: Bellevue’s silent struggle with poverty (Rep. Tana Senn and Tim Motts, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue/The Seattle Times)

CONGRESS

• Democratic rifts over Israel burst to the forefront in Congress (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
• Ukraine and Israel aid must be combined, two Cabinet secretaries tell U.S. Senate (States Newsroom/Washington State Standard)

COURTS (STATE)

• Judge in trial of 3 Washington police officers allows a breathing expert to testify over objections (AP)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• Centralia rape suspect arrested after 17-year state crime lab delay (The Chronicle)
• Officials to SMN: Gangs, social media to blame for rising PNW teen crime (MyNorthwest)
• Daniel Perez was 15 when he killed a rival gang member in Yakima. Now he seeks a shot at redemption (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• Benton County will allocate over $2 million in funding for gang and crime prevention programs (KNDO/KNDU)

DAMS

• Court case on fate of Snake River dams postponed at least 45 more days (Oregon Capital Chronicle/Washington State Standard)
• Lower Snake River dam removal still possible as talks continue (The Seattle Times)
• Salmon vs. dams suit stays on pause until Dec. 15 (The Lewiston Tribune)
• New secret plan proposed in Snake River dam lawsuit (Capital Press)

ELECTIONS

• For the second year in a row, three WA counties reportedly go against state election security suggestion (The Spokesman-Review)

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES

• Thefts targeting first responders have become ‘cost of doing business’ in Seattle (KOMO TV)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Northwest hydrogen hub backers highlight project’s expected economic benefits (Washington State Standard)
• Seattle is emerging as Fusiontown, U.S.A. (Axios – Seattle)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE

• FBI says Israel-Hamas war raises potential for attack against Americans (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)

HANFORD

• After 20+ years, success at Hanford’s huge nuclear waste treatment plant (Tri-City Herald)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Aging Boomers can’t find caregivers in rural WA. Who can fill the gap? (KUOW Radio)
• Washington immigrants, refugees eligible for health insurance in November (KNDO/KNDU)
• Kaiser Permanente and Washington workers reach deal to avoid strike (Washington State Standard)
• PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s penalized for violating dangerous waste laws (The Bellingham Herald)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Colleges braced for antisemitism and violence. It’s happening. (The Washington Post/The Seattle Times)
• COLUMN: UW ‘inclusion’ staff sends shockingly anti-Semitic email to students (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)

HOMELESSNESS

• Overnight camping ban going into effect in Burien (KIRO/MyNorthwest)
• EDITORIAL: Answers to homelessness are simple, but not easy (Yakima Herald-Republic)

HOUSING

• Home sellers win $1.8B after jury finds conspiracy among Realtors (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
• EDITORIAL: Rent-to-own program should be one promise to tribes that WA keeps (The Seattle Times)

INSURANCE

• Want to insure a Kia or Hyundai? Here’s what the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner suggests (KING TV)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Seattle Police Department implements new ruse policy to improve public trust (The Center Square)
• 19-year-old who died after police pursuit was suspect in Walla Walla Circle K shooting (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Spokane may reinstate permit fees for solar energy systems, EV chargers (The Center Square)
• Pierce County Council considers security aid grant program for small businesses (The Center Square)

MILITARY & VETERANS

• Washington State National Guard members deployed to Middle East (KIRO TV)
• ArtsWA adds three new ‘Creative Districts,’ funds arts for veterans (KNKX Radio)

OTHER STATES

• Kotek plans to ask Legislature for money for Portland revitalization (Oregon Capital Chronicle/The Columbian)
• Irrigators caught between conflicting Oregon housing, groundwater policies (Capital Press)
• Portland teachers go on strike for first time in district history (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

PARKS

• Five-year strategic plan for year-round tourism on the Peninsula in the works (KONP Radio)

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Biden launches ‘Investing in Rural America’ push (States Newsroom/Washington State Standard)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Students in Bethel School District say their walk to school is too dark and dangerous (KOMO TV)
• ‘I wasn’t there to protect him’: Video shows North Thurston bus driver appear to hit student (KIRO TV)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Ex-medical director at WA island for sex predators sexually harassed worker, suit says (The News Tribune)
• Ecology proposes rule to reduce landfill methane emissions (The Center Square)

TRANSPORTATION

• Washington’s dwindling ferry fleet reduced even further: ‘This is a tough position to be in’ (FOX 13)
• ‘It’s ferry Tetris’: Washington ferry issues leave passengers stranded overnight (KIRO/MyNorthwest)
• How the country’s largest ferry system is going green (Axios – Seattle)
• Light rail trains begin testing between Bellevue and Redmond (KIRO/MyNorthwest)
• Sound Transit to resume citations for passengers as it enforces fares (The Seattle Times)
• Port outlines priorities for Sea-Tac Airport in proposed spending plan (Puget Sound Business Journal)
• EDITORIAL: Keep up electric vehicle infrastructure progress (The Columbian)

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• EPA grants $1M to Chelan County for NCW wildfire, smoke resiliency program (The Wenatchee World)

WILDLIFE

• ‘No’: Newhouse says pushback continues for proposal to bring grizzlies to North Cascades (KAPP/KVEW)