Washington state continues search for housing affordability solutions; Rents in Washington show signs of stabilizing

AGRICULTURE & WATER

• Yakima Health District looks at changes to give it more control over Group B water systems (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• EDITORIAL: EPA’s rush leaves stakeholders in the lurch (Capital Press)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• COLUMN: AI’s challenge and opportunity for news (Brier Dudley/The Seattle Times)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• U.S. job openings rise slightly to 9.6 million, sign of continued strength in the job market (AP)
• SBA expands 7(a) loan program to new lenders for first time in more than 40 years (The Business Journals/Puget Sound Business Journal)
• Report: Demand for Seattle office space only 21% of normal (Puget Sound Business Journal)
• Uber, Lyft agree to pay combined $328 million for withholding money from drivers (KNWN Radio)
• PCC to close its downtown Seattle store due to poor sales (The Seattle Times)
• HoneyHole employees unpaid after owner disappears, but not for the first time (MyNorthwest)

CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM

• Hawkins: Cap and trade will be discussed in next session (KOZI Radio)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• Daylight saving time sends Seattle into the dark (Axios – Seattle)
• This Seattle ‘auntie’ went to Gaza to make prosthetics for children. After being trapped in the war, she finally escaped (KUOW Radio)

CONGRESS

• Republicans confront Tuberville over military holds in extraordinary showdown on Senate floor (AP)
• Sen. Cantwell: First of its kind program to clean up space junk (KPQ Radio)

COURTS (STATE)

• Tacoma police trial grinds to halt after judge disallows testimony from police instructors (The News Tribune)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• King County bus murder case may have been unprovoked attack (MyNorthwest)
• North Seattle residents, crime prevention groups work towards a solution to rising crime (KOMO TV)
• Gang members allegedly went to Benton City grad party looking for trouble. 1 ended up dead (Tri-City Herald)

DRUG CRISIS

• WA’s new drug law could help needle exchanges — or restrict them (Crosscut)
• Waiting on numbers after drug possession law goes into effect (FOX 13)
• Quinault Indian Nation finds success with Aberdeen drug treatment facility (KING TV)

EDUCATION

• A milk carton shortage might be coming to Washington schools. Here’s why (KING TV)
• Centralia High School pilots green energy career and technical education program (The Chronicle)
• OPINION: Why isn’t Seattle Public Schools fighting for our kids? (Sarah Nau MSW, a parent of two children in Seattle public schools/The Seattle Times)

ELECTIONS

• EDITORIAL: Local elections secure and conducted fairly (The Columbian)

ENVIRONMENT

• Ozone hole is about average size, despite undersea volcano eruption that was expected to worsen it (AP)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Washington health care exchange including non-US citizens opens for 2024 (The Center Square)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Guaranteed education tuition program now open (KEPR TV)

HOMELESSNESS

• WSDOT continues environmental cleanup of former Camp Hope site (Spokane Public Radio)
• Burien’s camping ban is now in effect (KUOW Radio)

HOUSING

• Washington state continues search for housing affordability solutions (The Center Square)
• Rents in Washington show signs of stabilizing (Washington State Standard)
• Rent hike displaces residents after a $7 million mobile home park sale near Puyallup (The News Tribune)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Courts take action as police reform stalls (Axios – Seattle)
• Charges dismissed for man accused in Bothell police officer’s death (The Seattle Times)
• Tacoma Police official cites racial bias in resignation amid ethics probe (KNKX Radio)
• Thurston County Sheriff’s Office facing budget cuts (KIRO TV)

LEGISLATURE

• WA Legislature expected to reconsider campaign finance voucher program in 2024 (The Center Square)
• Attention WA teens. Apply now to serve as a page during 2024 legislative session (The Olympian)
• Application window to serve as legislative page in upcoming session now open (The Chronicle)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Seattle debates gunfire detection technology — again (Axios – Seattle)
• After weeks of absences, Clark County Council mum on chair Bowerman’s return (The Columbian)
• Survey asks: Should Port of Everett expand its boundaries? (The Everett Herald)
• Port of Kennewick honored with Governor’s Smart Communities Award for Clover Island restoration (KEPR TV)

MENTAL HEALTH

• Risk a $250K fine or months without pay? Pilots have few reasons to get mental health help (The Seattle Times)
• COLUMN: Young adults on medication for depression, anxiety surge in Seattle area (Gene Balk/The Seattle Times)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Mother says North Thurston bus driver hit her son with his hand. And there’s video (The Olympian)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Washington State agrees to nearly $17 million settlement with a dozen former J Bar D Boys Ranch residents (The Spokesman-Review)

TAXES

• Abbarno wants Legislature to renew and expand tax incentive program for businesses that hire veterans (The Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

• Delays, vessel shortages affecting Kitsap ferry routes Tuesday (Kitsap Sun)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• ‘Like an open wound’: Washington task force holds event to highlight missing and slain Indigenous women (The Spokesman-Review)
• Washington governor, tribes talk business, fish and fentanyl (The Chronicle)

WEATHER & CLIMATE

• Species die-offs and extreme weather. How WA marine heatwave ‘blobs’ are wreaking havoc (The Olympian)

WILDLIFE

• Many people in Okanogan County say ‘don’t bring in’ grizzlies (NW News Network)
• U.S. Rep. Newhouse among those opposing feds’ grizzly bear proposal (The Center Square)
• Plans to restore grizzly bears in Washington has people drawing a line in the sand (FOX 13)
• Some Inland Northwest bird species to be renamed in light of racism from historic namesakes (The Spokesman-Review)