Capitol Buzz: Washington launches law enforcement hiring initiative; Legislative Republicans warn low-carbon fuel standard mandate would increase gas prices, have little effect on climate change
Washington House Republicans sent this bulletin at 01/30/2020 09:39 AM PST|
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01/30/2020 09:31 AM PST
AGRICULTURE & WATER
- President signs USMCA, Yakima Valley farm workers talk working conditions with Mexican senators (Northwest Public Broadcasting)
- Grant and Adams county congressional leader joins President Trump at signing of US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (iFiberOne TV)
- EPA announces $2.2 million grant for drinking water program (AP/The Seattle Times)
BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
- Boeing reports worst full-year loss in its history, but CEO Calhoun vows ‘we’ll get through it’ (The Seattle Times)
- Boeing reveals another Dreamliner jet production cut (Puget Sound Business Journal)
- Could it be a 737 replacement? Boeing is rethinking the 797 (The Everett Herald)
- December ‘another good month for job creation’ in Clark County (The Columbian)
- Melinda Gates’ Pivotal Ventures launches $50M initiative to advance women in emerging tech hubs (Puget Sound Business Journal)
- Microsoft plows ahead in cloud business growth (AP/The Everett Herald)
- High volume of applicants delays Washington’s new paid family leave program (KXLY)
COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES
- Washington sees surge of foster kids placed in hotels while they wait for treatment (Crosscut)
- Robyn Nance testifies in support of foster family relocation bill (KXLY)
- Milk or water? WA state lawmakers consider banning sugary drinks from kids menus (KUOW Radio)
CONGRESS & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
COURTS, CRIME & LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Washington launches law enforcement hiring initiative after departments struggle with recruitment (Seattle P-I)
- Judge who suffered from depression has gun rights restored after Tri-Cities hearing (Tri-City Herald)
- County awarded grant to preserve courthouse (The Chronicle)
- Bill would ban private prisons in Washington (The Spokesman-Review)
DAMS
EDUCATION & SCHOOL SAFETY
- Burlington-Edison School District joins timber suit (Skagit Valley Herald)
- Lynden School District bans sex offenders from campuses (Lynden Tribune)
- Moses Lake School District investigating after elementary student dragged into office following ‘extreme student misbehavior’ (iFiberOne TV)
- COLUMN: Parents shut down in Legislature while speaking against school health centers (Dori Monson/MyNorthwest)
- EDITORIAL: School case test of separation of church, state (The Columbian)
- EDITORIAL: Budget cuts a public concern (Daily Record)
- EDITORIAL Allow kids accurate information on sexual health (The Everett Herald)
- EDITORIAL: Schools don’t have to track youth head injuries in Washington. Two Pierce County legislators want to change that (The News tribune)
ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS
- Everett might declare a climate emergency, adopt action plan (The Everett Herald)
- Lawmakers back timber industry as a way to reduce state’s carbon emissions (WNPA/The Daily World)
- State accepting grant applications for parks, trails, preservation, and other outdoor projects (KBKW Radio)
FISH
- Lawmakers introduce bill for a pilot hatchery project (AP/Seattle P-I)
- States OK commercial smelt fishery, but Cowlitz sport dipping uncertain (The Daily News)
- New fee on commercial fishing guides causing a kerfuffle on Lake Roosevelt (The Spokesman-Review)
GUN RIGHTS
- Gun safety advocates urge lawmakers to consider new bills (KCPQ TV)
- Sheriff Hatcher talks defending the U.S. Constitution, urging vigilance (KEPR-TV)
HEALTH CARE
- Inslee asks CDC for airport screenings to include temperature readings (The Seattle Times)
- Boeing joins battle to protect Chinese from fast-spreading coronavirus (Puget Sound Business Journal)
- Whatcom County patient tests negative for coronavirus (KGMI Radio)
- Even with strike ending Friday, not all Swedish Medical Center workers can return to work (The Seattle Times)
- Postponed surgeries, long waits linked to Swedish Medical Center strike (KOMO TV)
- EDITORIAL: Provide relief from the high cost of insulin (The Seattle Times)
HIGHER EDUCATION
- Central Washington University students pass resolution to support APOYO (Daily Record)
- WCC English program earns national award (KGMI Radio)
- WWU donors involved in 2004 tax evasion case (KGMI Radio)
HOMELESSNESS
- People’s Park to reopen Thursday following clean up of homeless encampment (The News Tribune)
- ‘New Hope’ for some former residents of cleared Fourth Avenue bridge camp (The Olympian)
HOUSING
- Spokane’s housing market remains competitive, but homebuyers may have an easier time closing in 2020 (The Spokesman-Review)
- Housing Kitsap moves ahead with projects in Mason County (Kitsap Sun)
IMMIGRATION
LEGISLATURE
- Lots and lots of talk about carbon fuels and financial aid (The Everett Herald)
- Rude seeks study of Death with Dignity Act (My Columbia Basin)
- Washington state senators introduce ‘basic income’ pilot program (KXLY)
- ‘Our hair is literally a crown.’ WA Lawmakers consider ban on race-based hair discrimination (KNKX Radio)
- COLUMN: What lawmakers want to do isn’t always what needs to be done (Jerry Cornfield/The Everett Herald)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Snohomish County property taxes spike, including 32% hike in Marysville (KING TV)
- Pierce County homeowners will see double-digit increase in property taxes (KING TV)
- Downtown Seattle businesses clamor for additional security in the wake of shootings (Puget Sound Business Journal)
- Chelan, Douglas and Grant counties offer cheaper cost-of-living but report says you’re likely being taxed too much (iFiberOne TV)
MENTAL HEALTH
- Western State Hospital to open special wards to reduce violence and assaults (The Seattle Times)
- After attacks, Western State Hospital to open new ward for its 10 most violent patients (NW News Network)
- Washington school leaders are worried about students’ mental health. Now lawmakers are proposing fixes (The Seattle Times)
MILITARY & VETERANS
- Navy settles lawsuit, won’t scrape ship hulls in Puget Sound (AP/The Seattle Times)
- Navy, Suquamish reach settlement over aircraft carrier hull-scraping in Sinclair Inlet (Kitsap Sun)
OTHER STATES
- Portland’s ban on homeless camping survives appeal, but appellate judges question its constitutionality (The Oregonian)
- Oregon Democrats seek to change quorum rules to end walkouts (AP/The Columbian)
- Oregon Gov. Kate Brown wants to ask voters to approve affordable housing tax (AP/The Columbian)
- Idaho Fish and Game moves to expand wolf hunting, trapping season (The Idaho Statesman/The Spokesman-Review)
- Bill to end daylight saving time in Idaho goes to House (KHQ TV)
- What time is it here? That question could resurface in border counties thanks to Idaho Legislature (NW News Network)
RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TAXES
- Washington state bill would allow King County to tax big businesses with highly paid employees (The Seattle Times)
- State proposal would let King County tax large businesses to pay for homelessness and housing (Crosscut)
- New ‘head tax’? Proposed law would let King County tax large businesses to tackle homelessness (KUOW Radio)
TRANSPORTATION
- Legislative Republicans warn low carbon fuel standard mandate would increase gas prices, have little effect on climate change (KLCK Radio)
- House passes bill to cut vehicle pollution, increase number of electric cars (The Spokesman-Review)
- State regulators put cap on popular Lake Chelan ferry tourism company’s rate increase, services improved (iFiberOne TV)
- Traffic camera expansion in Seattle back on the table (MyNorthwest)
- SR 109 reopened, US 101 down to one lane (The Daily World)