BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
- Starbucks promises to reach labor agreements in 2024. Labor expert says fight to organize isn’t over (KNKX Radio)
- EDITORIAL: Kroger-Albertsons merger has broad implications (The Columbian)
CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM
CONGRESS
- Inside the border talks that could decide the fate of Ukraine aid (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
- House approves Biden impeachment inquiry as Northwest lawmakers split along party lines (The Spokesman-Review)
- Cantwell, Risch urge Biden, Trudeau to prioritize negotiations on critical Columbia River Treaty provisions (The Spokesman-Review)
- Jayapal, Wyden lead inquiry that finds pharmacies fail to protect privacy (Oregon Capital Chronicle/The Seattle Times)
CORRECTIONS & JAILS
- 800 people left prison without TB exposure being identified, officials say (KING TV)
- East Wenatchee renews 3-year contract with Wenatchee jail, 91% cost increase (The Wenatchee World)
COURTS (STATE)
- Why would officer risk ‘everything’ to attack Manuel Ellis, defense attorney asks jury (The News Tribune)
- Drama to the end, but case against officers charged in death of Manuel Ellis goes to jury (The News Tribune)
- Defense accuses state of withholding information in trial of 3 Tacoma officers charged in Manuel Ellis’ death (KING TV)
- Feds accuse Spokane company of false rental assistance claims (The Center Square)
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
CYBERSECURITY
DAMS
- NW House Republicans criticize secret talks about dam breaching (Spokane Public Radio)
- Irrigators support dam settlement (The Lewiston Tribune)
DRUG CRISIS
- As Pacific Northwest fentanyl crisis surges, officials grapple with how to curb it (AP/MyNorthwest)
- Drug cartels duping young people to buy fentanyl-laced pills, experts say (FOX 13)
EDUCATION
- State Superintendent praises Inslee’s supplemental education budget proposal for K-12 (FOX 13)
- New Seattle schools fiscal plan: No closures next year, but ‘nothing is off the table’ (KUOW Radio)
- COLUMN: Parents share safety concerns with school’s all-gender bathroom (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)
ELECTIONS
- Reforms coming to WA elections after 3 counties settle lawsuit (InvestigateWest/The Seattle Times)
- After powder threats, election offices look to Narcan and PPE (Axios – Seattle)
HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS
- Kitsap County, VMFH commit millions to Olympic College’s health care expansion (Kitsap Sun)
- OPINION: WA must take responsibility for nurses’ safety (Kathleen Bartholomew, substitute school nurse in Ellensburg and president of the nonprofit Nurses Transforming Health Care, specializing in health culture/The Seattle Times)
HIGHER EDUCATION
- Education Department investigating UW, Whitman College over discrimination complaints (The Seattle Times)
- UW says prosecutors will review charges for students occupied president’s office (KOMO TV)
- WA State Patrol, forensic engineers investigating death in Evergreen student housing (The Olympian)
- Evergreen students demand answers at emotional vigil for student who died Monday (The Olympian)
- Everything from physics to football is on the table for budget cuts at Eastern Washington University (The Inlander)
- Western Washington non-academic workers to be first in state to unionize (KING TV)
- EDITORIAL: Celebrate and promote Seattle Promise free tuition program (The Seattle Times)
HOMELESSNESS
HOUSING
- Mortgage rates, housing inventory expected to see slight improvement in 2024 (The Business Journals/Puget Sound Business Journal)
- King County Housing Authority, former leader settle discrimination lawsuit for $3.6 million (The Seattle Times)
- $130M plan for affordable housing approved by Snohomish County Council (The Everett Herald)
- Rent hikes pushing tenants out of homes in Clark County, around Washington (The Columbian)
- Multifamily construction: Occupancy rates in Clark County hit healthy level, rents remain steady, real estate company says (The Columbian)
- ‘Nightmare’ infestation leaves Everett family in debt, battling landlord (The Everett Herald)
- Shoreline City Council passes tenant protection law (MyNorthwest)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
LEGISLATURE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Winery operators not happy with Yakima County’s proposed agritourism rules (Yakima Herald-Republic)
- Lewis County commissioners declare legislative priorities (The Chronicle)
- Spokane Valley council okays $20 car tab fee to fund new transportation district (The Center Square)
MENTAL HEALTH
OPERATING BUDGET
- Inslee’s proposed supplemental budget adds $2 billion in spending (The Center Square)
- Inslee pitches budget plan with $2.5B in new spending (Washington State Standard)
- Inslee proposes $70.9 billion in spending in 2024 supplemental budget (The News Tribune)
- Housing, fighting fentanyl priorities in Inslee’s proposed budget (The Seattle Times)
- Governor’s spending proposal continues worrisome trends, says Republican budget chief (KLCK Radio)
OTHER STATES
- Portland’s clean energy fund expected to raise additional $540M over next 5 years (The Oregonian)
- Oregon’s Measure 110 drug treatment hotline has served only 577, gets new operator (The Oregonian)
- The meaning of Oregon’s anti-walkout measure will soon be clear (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
- Water diversions: Transfer battle has far-reaching implications for Oregon water law (Capital Press)
- Could California Forever be built in the Pacific Northwest? (Capital Press)
RURAL BROADBAND
STATE GOVERNMENT
TRANSPORTATION
- Proposal to increase I-405 and SR 167 tolling rates to $15 max takes step forward (KING TV)
- State wants to increase I-405 tolls to at least $1, up to $15 (The Everett Herald)
- Delays expected at all ferry booths due to ‘unplanned outage’ of electronic fare system (KIRO TV)
WILDLIFE
