Health officials: State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
Washington state’s death toll from the coronavirus could be two to three times the current total because some people who died of virus-like symptoms early in the outbreak were never tested, health officials said Thursday. As of Thursday, at least 1,037 people in Washington state have died from the disease, but health officials have identified 3,000 deaths dating back to Jan. 1, 2020 that involved symptoms like pneumonia or acute respiratory syndrome, which are commonly associated with COVID-19, said Katie Hutchinson, health statistics manager. Continue reading at the Kitsap Sun. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

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Drug touted by Trump is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients
A study of 96,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients on six continents found that those who received an antimalarial drug promoted by President Donald Trump as a “game changer” in the fight against the virus had a significantly higher risk of death compared with those who did not. People treated with hydroxychloroquine, or the closely related drug chloroquine, were also more likely to develop a type of irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, that can lead to sudden cardiac death, it concluded. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (John Locher/AP)

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False jobless claims swarm city of Tacoma, CHI Franciscan in scheme costing state millions
The state’s Employment Security Department on Thursday said “hundreds of millions of dollars” in fraudulent claims may have been paid out with state and federal funds in a sophisticated imposter fraud scheme that targeted the state. Imposter fraud filings are defined as those where individual criminals use stolen personal information to fraudulently apply for benefits. Continue reading at the Tacoma News Tribune.

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Associated Press
‘Hundreds of millions’ in bogus jobless benefits paid out by state
Health officials: State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
EPA says federal dams raise water temperature in Snake River
GOP lawmakers are getting tired of Inslee’s pandemic powers
City seeks federal funding for West Seattle Bridge project
Snohomish County settles $1.95M lawsuit over park rape

Aberdeen Daily World
Quinault Beach Resort and Casino to begin phased re-opening Tuesday
Splash Festival, County Fair canceled

Auburn Reporter
Regional homelessness authority takes first step amid COVID-19
Tenants demand more relief from Eastside low-income housing provider

Bellingham Herald (subscription required)
Coronavirus updates: Washington cases pass 19K; false jobless claims costing state       
Bellingham names new fire chief, public works and communications directors       
Parks department to increase staff, parking barriers at popular Bellingham parks       
False jobless claims swarm city of Tacoma, CHI Franciscan in scheme costing state millions
For the second time in five days, Whatcom reports no new coronavirus cases or deaths
GOP state lawmakers call for a special legislative session       
Health officials: State COVID-19 death toll may be higher       
Coronavirus updates: State reaches 18,971 cases; contact tracing capacity expands       
Molestation, abuse and ‘riot’ being investigated at Christian boarding school near Tri-Cities
New Cordata Park trail opens. Pump track, playground, parkour coming this summer
Experts warn of second coronavirus wave. Trump says he won’t shut down US if it comes
Washington state reports 146 new COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths Thursday
Editorial: American presidents have too much power. Let’s install a king instead

Capital Press
Who USDA’s farm aid package leaves behind
Potato exports dragged by COVID-19
Labor complaint filed against Washington fruit packer

Everett Herald (subscription required)
Peter Zieve wants to keep low-income people out of Mukilteo
$25 million allotted for Snohomish County’s hard-hit economy
Everett-based USS Kidd scheduled to return home in August
Marysville leaders ask Inslee to open local stores, churches

Federal Way Mirror
Free COVID-19 testing offered at Sea Mar Federal Way Medical Clinic
Regional homelessness authority takes first step amid COVID-19
Nonprofit launches new online COVID-19 local resource hub for King County
Des Moines Police rescue ducklings from storm drain

Islands’ Weekly
Face covering signage for businesses and other organizations

Issaquah Reporter
Regional homelessness authority takes first step amid COVID-19
Nonprofit launches new online COVID-19 local resource hub for King County

Journal of the San Juan Islands
The 2020 Memorial Day Weekend in the San Juan Islands

Kitsap Sun (subscription required)
Ex-Bremerton detective charged with felony for theft caught on video
Kitsap Health Board to hold meeting on early reopening variance on Wednesday
False jobless claims swarm city of Tacoma, CHI Franciscan in scheme costing state millions
Washington state reports 146 new COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths Thursday

News Tribune (subscription required)
Coronavirus updates: Washington cases pass 19K; false jobless claims costing state
Slow down … please. Tacoma asks drivers to reduce speed during COVID-19 crisis
False jobless claims swarm city of Tacoma, CHI Franciscan in scheme costing state millions

Olympian (subscription required)
Fire burns Olympia hotel overnight, displacing homeless guests
Fasting for faith on the front lines. Tri-Cities doctors balance work and Ramadan

Peninsula Daily News
Jefferson County Board of Health approves variance plan
Lawsuit against Sequim looks to halt MAT clinic
Port Townsend streetscape changes to encourage social distancing
Rental relief demand prompts Port Angeles council action
Sequim School Board approves staff cuts
Clallam County bans overnight camping at rest areas

Puget Sound Business Journal
What to know about America’s newly unemployed
Goldman Sachs forecloses on over 10,000 homes for ‘consumer relief’
Remote learning taught Washington educators a hard lesson
How to learn if you’re a victim in state ESD’s massive unemployment insurance fraud scheme
Unemployment claims rose 28% last week, but tens of thousands were fraudulent
King County property owners would get tax relief under new proposal
ESD fraud scheme costs state and federal governments ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’

Seattle Times (subscription required)
Seattle researchers building ‘biobank’ of patients’ blood to unlock the mysteries of the new coronavirus
Drug touted by Trump is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients
When can you get a haircut, go to the gym or eat at restaurants, etc., in Washington?
Major encampment removal in Little Saigon draws protesters during coronavirus pandemic
Virus ‘does not spread easily’ from contaminated surfaces, revised CDC website says
Food assistance and restaurant sales | Coronavirus Economy daily chart
Washington state’s actual coronavirus death toll may be higher than current tallies, health officials say
Coronavirus upended everything. What will life in Seattle look like when we re-emerge?
Seattle police searching for man who attacked, blamed Asian couple for coronavirus pandemic
Washington GOP state lawmakers call for a special legislative session to address budget, coronavirus crisis (Billig)

Skagit Valley Herald
COVID-19 disrupts 30th year of Mountain School
Local agencies plan to trap hornets
Unemployment fraud surges during pandemic

Tri-City Herald
Tri-Cities COVID-19 cases increase. Health officials worry about Memorial Day
Fasting for faith on the front lines. Tri-Cities doctors balance work and Ramadan
Hanford workers to return to the nuclear site after 9 weeks at home

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (subscription required)
Spokane County health officer makes masks mandatory in public – but rule won’t be enforced
Walla Walla County requested early entry into Phase 2
Editorial: State Salary Commission tone deaf in raising officials’ pay

Washington Post
Antimalarial drug touted by President Trump is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients, study says
Trump’s signature effort to direct farm surplus to needy families abruptly withdraws large contract amid criticism of program’s rollout
As states begin to reopen, blood banks brace for surge in demand
More evidence emerges on why covid-19 is so much worse than the flu

Yakima Herald Republic
Worker complaint filed with NLRB alleges Allan Bros. retaliated against strikers during COVID-19 pandemic
Yakima School District leads state in youth meal distributions
Coronavirus update: 47 new cases in Yakima County; Kittitas County discourages tourists over holiday weekend
First-time unemployment filings increase again in Yakima County
COVID-19 pet study coming to Yakima
Editorial: Next stimulus package needs to help community health centers

Broadcast

KING5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma families struggling to access online learning tools
Washington vows to recover millions in stolen cash from fake unemployment claims
Arlington gym owner sued by state, files lawsuit against stay-at-home order
Bonney Lake and Sumner mayors ask Gov. Inslee to allow businesses in their cities to reopen

KIRO7 TV (CBS)
Man assaults Uwajimaya worker over face covering requirement, returns with hatchet
Snohomish barbershop owner calls for Gov. Inslee’s arrest
State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
State says it has ‘zeroed in’ on stopping fraudulent unemployment claims
Drones detecting body temperature being used in COVID-19 response
Will kids go back to school in the fall?
Young adults contracting COVID-linked inflammatory syndrome, doctors say
City clears homeless camp near Chinatown-International District
TSA announces new security screening procedures
Eyman backs new lawsuit to overturn Inslee orders

KOMO4 TV (ABC)
COVID-19: State approves 3 more counties to advance to phase 2 in effort to reopen
State epidemiologists: COVID-19-related deaths likely being undercounted in WA
Janitors, security officers hold vigil for coworkers with COVID-19
Study says mobility in Seattle increasing as Memorial Day weekend approaches
Employment Security Commissioner said delaying claims is helping catch impostor fraud
Rent payments due in 10 days while thousands struggle to pay rent in Seattle

KNKX FM
Why the eruption of Mount St. Helens dramatically altered temperatures, but not for long
Northwest Folklife Festival continues tradition of arts discovery, community online
Lots of changes and no fans: Major League Baseball players consider plan to start in July
‘Are Their Apples Worth More Than Our Lives?’ Yakima Valley Fruit Workers Strike For Protections
A special session of the Washington Legislature in June? Don’t bet on it, but don’t rule it out

KUOW FM
Washington state loses hundreds of millions of dollars in unemployment scam
Washington Republicans want to block pay raises and cut spending in June special session (Billig, Jinkins)
Denial is ‘the most dangerous thing of all’ when facing a virus

How tweetstorms of misinformation skew our handle on the facts during a pandemic

Mayor Durkan on clearing homeless encampments during the pandemic

Q13 TV (Fox)
‘Hundreds of millions’ in fraudulent jobless benefits paid
Cyber security expert says be proactive to prevent unemployment fraud
Health officials: State COVID-19 death toll may be higher
SPD investigating bias crime against Asian couple
Everett cuts jobs, programs as deficit drops $14 million 
Covid-19 vaccine trial participants weigh in on early results

Web

Slog
Washington’s COVID-19 Death Count Isn’t Exactly Accurate
What Your Gym, Dog Groomer, and Golf Course Have to Do Before They Can Re-Open
The Majority of Americans Do Not Want to Endanger Their Lives for the Economy
Washington’s Unemployment Payouts Are About to Get Even Slower

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