How Washington’s local governments have moved to allow for denser housing; The uncertain future of natural gas in Washington state

AGRICULTURE & WATER

• National limit for PFAS in drinking water affects all public wells in WA (The Seattle Times)
• EPA announces first national standard limiting ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water (KNWN Radio)
• Water supply outlook exceptionally dry throughout Washington (KGMI Radio/My Bellingham Now)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• New Boeing whistleblower alleges serious structural flaws on 787 and 777 jets (The Seattle Times)
• Boeing whistleblower reports dangerous ‘shortcuts’ at Everett plant (The Everett Herald)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• COLUMN: Dance team told American flag shirt made some feel ‘triggered and unsafe’ in Seattle (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)

CONGRESS

• How data privacy united a Washington Democrat and Republican (KUOW Radio)

COURTS (STATE)

• Driver tried to get WA troopers to shoot him on I-82. ‘You were selfish,’ says judge (Tri-City Herald)

EDUCATION

• New WA state law mandates K-5 recess for physical, mental health benefits (KOMO TV)
• State imposes corrective action against Why Not You charter school (The Seattle Times)
• Seattle schools nixing gifted program in favor of a focus on equity (The Center Square)
• Vancouver Public Schools students protest budget cuts (The Columbian)
• Judge grants Port Angeles schools an injunction request in strike (KONP Radio)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• The uncertain future of natural gas in Washington state (The Center Square)
• Malaga site offered for possible first ever fusion power plant (KPQ Radio)

ENVIRONMENT

• Forestry leaders talk 50 years of forest practices (Axios – Seattle)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE

• More Republican states sue to block Biden’s student loan repayment plan (AP)

GAMBLING

• 1st tribal casino planned for Tri-Cities. What new documents reveal about the project (Tri-City Herald)

GUN RIGHTS

• Both sides of gun debate ready for high-capacity magazine battle in Washington state (KING TV)
• Judge rules Washington’s ban on high-capacity magazines unconstitutional, case now heads to state Supreme Court (The Spokesman-Review)
• Judge rules Washington high-capacity magazine law unconstitutional (Crosscut)
• Washington firearm background checks plummet in 2024 (FOX 13)
• COLUMN: WA gun ruling is another warning we’re headed back in a time warp (Danny Westneat/The Seattle Times)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Not “geriatric” anymore: Pregnancy at 35 has its pluses (Axios – Seattle)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• NAIA ruling to ban transgender women from competing in sports will affect Inland Northwest colleges (The Spokesman-Review)
• What we know about UW football’s Tylin Rogers charges on rape allegations (The Seattle Times)

HOMELESSNESS

• Tacoma Public Schools to expand housing for homeless students (FOX 13)
• Hope Village Safe Stay get a lifeline: Vancouver will provide wage increases, case manager (The Columbian)
• Multi-million St. Vincent de Paul redevelopment to add housing, services in Bremerton (Kitsap Sun)
• Bellingham City Council approves purchase of new site for tiny home transition-living villages (The Bellingham Herald)

HOUSING

• How Washington’s local governments have moved to allow for denser housing (Washington State Standard)
• $88,000 and counting taxpayer dollars go to Bellevue squatter (The Center Square)
• Two low-income apartment complexes in Spokane will each get nearly $1 million from state for renovations (The Spokesman-Review)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• SPD reports significant decrease in use of force from 2021 to 2023 (KOMO TV)
• ‘It’s just an instinct.’ Tacoma police officer recounts how he saved drowning teenager (The News Tribune)
• Tacoma officers save drowning teenage girl, body camera shows (KOMO TV)
• Newly released 911 call retraces days before Ariel Garcia disappeared (The Everett Herald)
• EDITORIAL: New Seattle police contract must include stronger accountability (The Seattle Times)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• After shooting of 2-year-old, Federal Way mayor vows to make city safer (MyNorthwest)
• Uproar over Rottweiler shootings prompts Benton County changes. Here’s their plan (Tri-City Herald)

OTHER STATES

• As Grants Pass case looms, Oregon advocates urge U.S. Supreme Court to protect homeless (Oregon Capital Chronicle/The Columbian)
• COLUMN: Natural forest management is forest mismanagement (Bob Hassoldt/The Lewiston Tribune)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Gun found in student’s backpack at Shahala Middle School; no one injured (The Columbian)
• Mother claims her young, autistic son was abused by teacher at a school near Puyallup (The News Tribune)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• TikTok planning Instagram rival – Here’s what to know (FOX 13)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Why are these WA industry leaders heading to Japan to play games? (Washington State Standard)

TRANSPORTATION

• Short on staff and ships, can Washington’s new ferry chief navigate out of troubled waters? (KUOW Radio)
• New Washington State Ferries leader addresses staffing crisis, aging vessels (KOMO TV)
• WSDOT warns drivers to expect ‘significant congestion’ near Nisqually bridge this weekend (The Olympian)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Samish Nation has cleaned 500 tons of ocean trash since 2014 (Axios – Seattle)

WEATHER & CLIMATE

• UW experiment to cool Earth could have “dangerous” implications (KVI Radio)
• EDITORIAL: Central Washington braces for another hot, dry summer (Yakima Herald-Republic)

WILDLIFE

• Chelan County Commissioners resigned to reality of grizzly bears coming (KPQ Radio)

WOLVES

• Lawsuit seeks to force feds to relist gray wolves in Northern Rockies (The Center Square)