Error by state budget writers could cost WA community colleges a bundle; Push in King County to add fentanyl to state’s child endangerment law amid increase in fatalities

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• Will AI be a bust? A Wall Street skeptic rings the alarm (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
• Learning tool or BS machine? How AI is shaking up higher ed (KUOW Radio)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• With Kroger-Albertsons merger on the line, CEOs grilled in Seattle court (The Seattle Times)
• Report: Washington among best states for hourly workers (Axios – Seattle)
• Boeing makes a ‘best and final offer’ to striking union workers (AP)
• Striking Machinists find little to like in new Boeing offer, won’t vote on it (The Seattle Times)
• The Port of Olympia is exploring a second marine terminal warehouse again. Here’s why (The Olympian)
• COLUMN: Income inequality grew in Seattle since the pandemic, new data shows (Gene Balk/The Seattle Times)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• Rich Gen Z-ers are leaving Washington faster than all but one state, a new study finds (The Olympian)

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• Gunman who allegedly targeted Trump offered $150K to anyone who could ‘finish the job’ (States Newsroom/Washington State Standard)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• FBI finds violent crime declined in 2023. Here’s what to know about the report (AP)
• New data shows scale of anti-Asian violence, harassment in Seattle (The Seattle Times)
• EDITORIAL: Coordinate enforcement between Seattle, state to stem nightlife violence (The Seattle Times)

CYBERSECURITY

• Microsoft CEO to cyber team: Don’t tell me how great everything is (Bloomberg/The Seattle Times)

DRUG CRISIS

• Push in King County to add fentanyl to state’s child endangerment law amid increase in fatalities (KING TV)

EDUCATION

• Seattle Public Schools retreats from school closure proposals (The Seattle Times)
• Seattle Public Schools cancels closure meetings, is revisiting plan (KUOW Radio)
• Stanwood, Oak Harbor schools investigating ‘hateful words’ at football game (The Everett Herald)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• FundHubWA launched as all-in-one site for climate and clean energy funding (KIRO TV)
• Seattleites would have to purchase Mitsubishi brand heat pump for rebate program (The Center Square)
• Skagit County pauses proposed energy storage facility after backlash (KING TV)
• How a $32M solar grant to the Yakama Nation got tied up in bureaucracy (Oregon Public Broadcasting/ProPublica/The Seattle Times)

ENVIRONMENT

• OPINION: U.S. Forest Service needs to turn over a new leaf when it comes to old growth (Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club/The Seattle Times)

GAMBLING

• OPINION: Elder abuse in Washington state often has a gambling connection (Bryce Mack, special agent supervisor for the Washington State Gambling Commission/The Chronicle)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• OPINION: Primary care crisis in WA is already hurting Tri-Cities. What can be done? (Dr. Mack Hinson, president of Kinwell Medical Group/Tri-City Herald)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Error by state budget writers could cost WA community colleges a bundle (Washington State Standard)
• The U.S. News college rankings are out. Cue the rage and obsession. (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
• EWU sees record-breaking enrollment post Pandemic (KREM TV)

HOMELESSNESS

• Encampments cleared from Seattle street, but end up outside senior apartments (KOMO TV)
• Bellingham takes property owner to court over homeless camp (KING TV)

HOUSING

• Are new mortgage rates moving the needle when it comes to Seattle real estate? (MyNorthwest)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Seattle may boost police hiring bonuses up to $50K (The Seattle Times)
• Permanent Seattle police hiring incentive program faces final city council vote (The Center Square)
• Seattle police will no longer respond to alarm calls without ‘supporting evidence’ (KOMO TV)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Constantine property tax proposal for public health meets early resistance (The Center Square)
• Spokane County Commissioner alleges ‘setup’ against him over PFAS discussion (The Center Square)

MENTAL HEALTH

• Who will run King County’s new crisis care centers? Applications now open (The Seattle Times)
• COLUMN: What parents should know about starting mental health conversations (Taanvi Arekapudi/The Seattle Times)

OTHER STATES

• Updated findings show nearly 1,260 possible noncitizens were registered to vote in Oregon since 2021 (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Oregon releases rent-control cap for 2025, restricting increases for many houses, apartments (The Oregonian)
• Oregon officials concerned about federal proposal to move liquid nuclear waste through state (Oregon Capital Chronicle/Washington State Standard)
• California becomes latest state to restrict student smartphone use at school (AP/Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Alaska natural gas crunch is increasing demand for a traditional fuel — coal (Alaska Beacon/Washington State Standard)

POLITICS

STATE

• Remembering popular progressive WA Republican Gov. Dan Evans (Cascade PBS)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• LinkedIn is training AI on you — unless you opt out with this setting (The Washington Post/The Seattle Times)

SPORTS

• Seattle sports teams evaluate ties with Macklemore after controversial concert remarks (KOMO TV)
• Gonzaga, Pac-12 report on agreement ‘not accurate,’ athletic director says (The Seattle Times)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Sex offender panel reexamines recommendation ending lifetime community custody (The Center Square)
• WA reviews Wallingford house fire, deaths of a mom and two kids (The Seattle Times)

TRANSPORTATION

• Conversion of Washington ferry to hybrid-electric power is delayed (Washington State Standard)
• ‘Ticket sent’? Sign on Highway 14 off-ramp in Vancouver was a mistake (The Columbian)
• Arlington community members take matters into their own hands regarding SR 530 speeding danger (KIRO TV)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Indian Health Service aims to avoid VA’s pitfalls while adopting computer system that has hampered Northwest veterans’ care (The Spokesman-Review)

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• Swauk Creek Fire approaching full containment (NCW Life Channel)

WILDLIFE

• Grizzly plan outreach yields pushback in Chelan County (NCW Life Channel)

WOLVES

• Local sheriffs left frustrated after gray wolves stay endangered species following WDFW commission meeting (KREM TV)