The challenge in mandating electric heating in Washington state; ‘Unexpected’ deaths are up in Washington’s prisons

AGRICULTURE & WATER

• Are state rules enough to protect against the heavy metals in farm fertilizers? (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• Selected WA and OR farmers receive millions in grants from USDA (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)
• Walla Walla area wheat farmers reap uncertainty in 2023 harvest (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• Teen girls are being victimized by deepfake nudes. One family is pushing for more protections (AP)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Economists predict inflation will keep cooling and the economy can avoid a recession (AP/The Oregonian)
• Department of Labor & Industries increase average workers’ compensation premium rate for 2024 (KHQ TV)
• Have Tri-Cities small retailers ‘turned a corner’ and bounced back after Covid pandemic? (Tri-City Herald)
• Alaska Air to buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal with debt (MyNorthwest)
• EDITORIAL: U.S.-China cooperation good for Washington (The Columbian)

CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM

• Washington Farm Bureau: Cap-and-trade costs farmers over $153 million (Capital Press)

CENSUS

• Washington state population tops 8 million and it’s not getting any younger (KUOW Radio)
• COLUMN: ‘Escape liberal hell’: Republicans really are fleeing WA (Danny Westneat/The Seattle Times)

CHILD CARE

• Looking for child care in Washington? A new online marketplace aims to help (Washington State Standard)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• Hundreds march along I-90 in Mercer Island in support of Israel (KING TV)
• Born out of struggle, West African Center flourishes in Lynnwood (The Everett Herald)
• COLUMN: A sweet reunion with Santa confirms he’s the real deal (Kate Riley/The Seattle Times)

CONGRESS

• Pacific Northwest lawmakers press Biden administration on leaked salmon plan (The Center Square)
• U.S. Rep. Adam Smith’s Bellevue home spray-painted with demands for Gaza cease-fire (The Seattle Times)
• Breaking down who voted to keep, oust George Santos (The Washington Post/The Seattle Times)
• Schrier, Newhouse say ‘yea’ to ousting Santos (NCW Life Channel)
• OPINION: NATO must continue to stand with Ukraine (U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen/The Seattle Times)

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• Fate of billions for opioid victims from Sacklers rests with Supreme Court (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
• ‘Ghost cattle’ fraudster Easterday asks 9th circuit to reopen his lawsuit against Tyson (Tri-City Herald)

COURTS (STATE)

• Trial in death of Manuel Ellis: A closer look at testimony and possible outcomes (KING TV)
• EDITORIAL: Restore balance to juvenile legal system in King County (The Seattle Times)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• Shooting at home in Washington state kills 5 including the suspected shooter, report says (MyNorthwest)
• Bodies found on Joint Base Lewis-McChord identified as missing Lacey couple, sheriff says (KING TV)
• As family grieves slain teen, Jackson Park neighbors fear more violence (The Everett Herald)
• Anti-Asian hate is underreported in King County. New community gatherings aim to change that (KUOW Radio)
• Body scanners are failing, allowing drugs and other contraband into Whatcom County Jail (The Bellingham Herald)

CYBERSECURITY

• Thanksgiving week cyberattack detected at Fred Hutch Cancer Center (The Seattle Times)

DAMS

• Biden admin’s draft plan called the ‘greatest single threat’ yet to Snake River dams (Tri-City Herald)
• Feds consider removing Snake River dams in leaked agreement with plaintiffs in lawsuit (Oregon Capital Chronicle/The Spokesman-Review)
• Despite rumors, ‘confidential’ Snake River mediation draft doesn’t call for dam breach (KAPP/KVEW)
• Northwest Republicans object to leaked draft of Snake River dams agreement (The Spokesman-Review)
• Chelan PUD touts fish survival rate through Rocky Reach Dam (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)

EDUCATION

• Evergreen, Vancouver public schools brace for staff cuts in 2024 (The Columbian)

ELECTIONS

• Index, smallest town in Snohomish County, is No. 1 in voter turnout (The Everett Herald)
• Thurston County candidate who didn’t vote loses election by one vote (The Seattle Times)

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES

• A lahar on Mount Adams would put thousands at risk but monitoring stations would warn of dangerous flows (The Columbian)
• Strategy in review: Chehalis Basin Flood Warning System wins National Operational Excellence Award (The Chronicle)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• The challenge in mandating electric heating in Washington state (Axios – Seattle)
• West Coast leaders urge feds to reverse decision allowing natural gasline expansion (Capital Press)
• WDFW: Horse Heaven windmills would imperil hawks, other birds (Capital Press)
• Sunnyside residents express concerns about proposed biomethane plant (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• COLUMN: The answer, my friend, is not blowing in the wind (Bob Hassoldt/The Lewiston Tribune)
• EDITORIAL: How deep is WA Gov. Inslee’s new appreciation for local perspectives? (Tri-City Herald)

FISH

• Okanagan River salmon eyed for endangered-species protection (KUOW Radio)
• OPINION: Washington’s salmon recovery plan is stronger than ever, despite what some may say (Gov. Jay Inslee/Tri-City Herald)

HANFORD

• Hanford managers and watchdogs hold first in-person cleanup dialogue meeting since before pandemic (NW News Network)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• What you need to know about Washington Health Benefit Exchange (KING TV)
• Amazon once inspired fear in the health care industry. No longer (Bloomberg/The Seattle Times)
• UW Medicine administers new Alzheimer’s drug for the first time (The Seattle Times)
• Free STI clinic opens in Everett after 14-year hiatus — and as rates spike (The Everett Herald)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Facing a $6.2 million budget shortfall, Saint Martin’s rolls back raises. Faculty aren’t happy (The Olympian)

HOMELESSNESS

• East Pierce County city considers safe parking site for those experiencing homelessness (The News Tribune)

HOUSING

• Tumwater mobile home tenants lobby against rent hikes (Crosscut)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• King County pays $12M to settle lawsuit over deadly eviction (The Seattle Times)
• Spokane County Commission votes against property tax increase (The Spokesman-Review)
• Franklin sheriff threatens to sue county for $500k over auditor’s spending ‘harassment’ (Tri-City Herald)
• Downtown Pullman project flops with zero bidders willing to take it on; the city is determined to revitalize anyway (The Spokesman-Review)
• Civil lawsuit alleges public records, free speech violations by Dayton council member (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)

MILITARY & VETERANS

• COLUMN: The nursing crisis is ravaging U.S. hospitals — including a local military facility (Matt Driscoll/The News Tribune)

OPEN GOVERNMENT

• EDITORIAL: WA lawmakers double down on cynical ‘legislative privilege’ (The Seattle Times)

OTHER STATES

• Oregon joins Washington in having a full time tribal affairs director on governor’s staff (NW News Network)
• Paid Leave Oregon targeted by scammers, including new dad hoping to take time off for newborn daughter (KING TV)
• Oregon’s legal psilocybin clinics draw hundreds – mostly from out of state (Oregon Capital Chronicle/The Columbian)

POLITICS

NATIONAL

• In and out of the courtroom, O’Connor inspired a generation of women (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)

SPORTS

• Fans irate over flight costs to see UW Huskies in Sugar Bowl (MyNorthwest)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• ‘Unexpected’ deaths are up in Washington’s prisons (Washington State Standard)
• Former state economist alleges pressure to lie about carbon auction effect on gas prices (The Center Square)
• Ex-WSDOT accountant blames Inslee’s policies for high gas prices, preps lawsuit (FOX 13)
• State employee speaks out about cap-and-trade fuel costs (FOX 13)
• Former WSDOT economist files claim against state over gas price forecast (MyNorthwest)
• Accusation that economist was told to lie about projected gas price increase ‘very disturbing,’ says Braun (KLCK Radio)
• WA GOP files ethics complaint against SoS Hobbs over social media monitoring (The Center Square)

TRANSPORTATION

• Report: Nearly all Washington rest areas in ‘critical condition’ (KGMI Radio)
• Washington EV Council adopts transportation electrification strategy (The Center Square)
• Studded tires are unnecessary and destructive, WA officials say (The Spokesman-Review)
• The North Cascades Highway goes wild for the winter (KUOW Radio)
• Blue Bridge in Tri-Cities to be repainted in 2024, expect traffic delays (KNDO/KNDU)
• 2-ferry service restored on Edmonds-Kingston route — for a weekend (The Everett Herald)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Family members talk about fight to find missing and murdered Indigenous people in Washington (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• EDITORIAL: Historic boarding school photos speak timeless truths (Yakima Herald-Republic)

WEATHER & CLIMATE

• Atmospheric river returns to Western Washington, bringing heavy rains (MyNorthwest)
• Latest forecast: Snohomish County could see ‘moderate to major flooding’ (The Everett Herald)

WILDLIFE

• Tokitae’s death surfaced orcas’ complicated history in the PNW (Crosscut)