Washington judge rules state must return 43 men to juvenile detention within days; Lawsuit filed against Washington AG office for withholding public records

TAKE THE CAPITOL BUZZ SURVEY

• Take the Capitol Buzz Survey (Washington House Republicans)

AGRICULTURE

• Applications open for Compost Reimbursement Program (Columbia Basin Herald)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• On paid family leave, more states follow Washington’s lead (Axios – Seattle)
• Fort Vancouver Assisted Living might be turned into drug treatment center (The Columbian)

CORRECTIONS & JAILS

• Washington judge rules state must return 43 men to juvenile detention within days (The Seattle Times)
• Monroe prison guard sentenced to prison for killing roommate (The Everett Herald)
• Spokane County to join imminent lawsuit over shortage of space in state juvenile detention facilities (The Spokesman-Review)
• EDITORIAL: Stop bickering about jail issues and put public safety first (The Seattle Times)

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• Biden urges term limits for U.S. Supreme Court justices, new ethics rules (States Newsroom/Washington State Standard)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• Police chiefs respond to their city’s crime stats in 2023, discuss 2024 trends and patrol emphasis (The Reflector)
• Four hurt in apparent ambush shooting outside bus in Auburn, police say (The Seattle Times)
• Two more teens arrested in 13-year-old’s death while completing OfferUp sale in Kent (MyNorthwest)
• ‘Belltown Hellcat’ arrested at Seattle court hearing, banned from Instagram (FOX 13)
• A WA teen was trafficked by a man she met on Tinder, she says. She’s still waiting for justice. (InvestigateWest/Washington State Standard)

EDUCATION

• Thousands fewer Washington kids were evaluated for special ed during pandemic (The Seattle Times)

ELECTIONS

• Washington state launches campaign to highlight safety of mail-in-voting (KGMI Radio/My Bellingham Now)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Attention Washington college students: There’s still time to apply for federal aid (KUOW Radio)

HOMELESSNESS

• Is homelessness an ‘emergency’ in Pierce County? The county executive doesn’t think so (The News Tribune)
• ‘No place to go.’ Pasco shelter turns away moms, kids. Secret donor steps in to help (Tri-City Herald)
• Group sues to stop south Everett Pallet shelter on vacant city property (The Everett Herald)

HOUSING

• More Gen Zs are putting homeownership dreams on hold (Axios – Seattle)
• A $1 million starter home is the norm in over 200 cities, including some in Washington (FOX 13)
• Bremerton audit finds hundreds of unlicensed rentals, calling quality into question (Kitsap Sun)
• Washington prepares to roll out tax break for office-to-housing conversions (Washington State Standard)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

• Twelve arrested in NCW underage prostitution sting (The Wenatchee World)

LEGISLATURE

• Georgette Valle, who fought to ban indoor smoking in Washington, dies at 99 (The Seattle Times)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Former Seattle mayor Charley Royer dies at 84 (MyNorthwest)
• DoorDash threatens new fees if Seattle council doesn’t act on wages (The Seattle Times)

MEDIA

• The Stranger newspaper sold to former state legislator Brady Walkinshaw (KUOW Radio)
• After 33 years of feisty, 4-letter coverage, Seattle’s Stranger is sold (The Seattle Times)

MENTAL HEALTH

• Study finds wildfire smoke exposure increases dementia risk (The Spokesman-Review)

OTHER STATES

• Oregon wildfire season far outpaces last year’s (The Oregonian)
• Bill to promote online safety for kids splits Oregon’s Democratic senators (The Oregonian)

PARKS

• Starting this August, Washington State Parks is setting a stricter limit on how long you can camp (The Olympian)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Lawsuit filed against Washington AG office for withholding public records (Cascade PBS)

TRANSPORTATION

• Admiral Pete ferry catches fire on way to Annapolis, needs repairs (Kitsap Sun)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Search underway for remains at site of former Indian boarding school (KING TV)

WATER

• Yakima-Tieton district shuts down irrigation canal for three days to make wildfire damage repairs (Yakima Herald-Republic)

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• Firefighting costs reach $2 million for Retreat Fire burning through 24,600 acres near Naches (KAPP/KVEW)
• Some containment on Retreat Fire; Black Canyon nearly contained (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• ‘We’re not leaving:’ Evacuation orders increase for 51-day Pioneer fire, only 15% contained (MyNorthwest)
• Drone hinders wildfire response over the weekend in Mullen Hill Road fire (KREM TV)
• How firefighters are using aircraft to effectively fight wildfires (KXLY TV)
• EDITORIAL: Latest wildfires offer two key reminders (Yakima Herald-Republic)