Capitol Buzz: Still trying to get an unemployment check in Washington state? You are far from alone; Inslee announces phased plan to allow visits at Washington long-term care facilities amid COVID-19

Washington House Republicans sent this bulletin at 08/07/2020 10:33 AM PDT

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Capitol Buzz: August 7, 2020

08/07/2020 10:33 AM PDT

CORONAVIRUS

CASE COUNTS & COUNTY UPDATES

August 7: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the world (The Seattle Times)

Washington state reports 833 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths on Thursday (The News Tribune)

Spokane sets new daily COVID-19 case record with 175 positive tests, 5 deaths (The Spokesman-Review)

Pierce County hits single-day high for new COVID-19 cases and adds five new deaths (The News Tribune)

35 new COVID-19 cases reported in Thurston County, a new single-day record (The Olympian)

New Tri-Cities COVID cases trending down, but too many for schools to open (Tri-City Herald)

Whatcom sees eight new COVID-19 cases, no deaths, state reports on Thursday (The Bellingham Herald)

Grant County adds 58 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday (iFiberOne)

Pacific County COVID-19 case count rises by 11 in one week to 43 (The Daily World)

Since May, two patients at Wenatchee long-term care facility have died from COVID-19, case numbers climbing (iFiberOne)

AGRICULTURE & WATER

Northwest reports 70% uptick in farm bankruptcies (Washington Ag Network/KONA Radio)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

Still trying to get an unemployment check in Washington state? You are far from alone (KUOW Radio)

New business starts in Washington state have slowed | Coronavirus Economy daily chart (The Seattle Times)

$125M in revenue lost with cancellation of Spokane’s biggest events (KREM TV)

When Covid-19 forced tasting rooms across Washington to close, winemakers had to adapt or get crushed (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Initial jobless claims in Clark County fall by 16% (The Columbian)

Anytime Fitness feels the weight of state scrutiny (KIT Radio)

CONGRESS & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Virus stimulus talks on brink of collapse, sides still ‘far apart’ (AP/iFiberOne)

EDUCATION & SCHOOL SAFETY

Gov. Inslee says distance learning strongly recommended, but not mandated, for schools (The Olympian)

Mead parents will have in-person, distance options for their students (The Spokesman-Review)

With one week to decide fall remote learning plans, Seattle School Board members criticize district proposal and push for outdoor option (The Seattle Times)

South Kitsap school district moving forward with in-person start after split decision by school board (Kitsap Sun)

Yakima. Selah and Grandview schools to start with remote learning (KIT Radio)

Walla Walla Public Schools’ fall plans include ‘robust’ online learning (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)

EDITORIAL: Students can teach us a lot about Zoom school. These Peninsula teens are doing that (The News Tribune)

GENERAL NEWS

Coronavirus FAQ Friday: How are younger people affected, and which social activities are most risky? (The Seattle Times)

UW model: Washington risks return to shutdowns by October without more mask-wearing (MyNorthwest)

Nearly 66,000 lives may be saved if most in US wear masks, COVID-19 model predicts (The Bellingham Herald)

‘Triple-digit days’: A day in the life of a contact tracer as COVID cases surge in Pierce County (KNKX Radio)

Hand sanitizer poisoning calls up 70% (KIT Radio)

2019 Puyallup High School grad hospitalized with ‘COVID complications’ has died (The News Tribune)

HEALTH CARE

Inslee announces phased plan to allow visits at Washington long-term care facilities amid COVID-19 (The Seattle Times)

As Spokane care facilities struggle with outbreaks, state announces phased plan for easing visitor restrictions (The Spokesman-Review)

States announce coordination on telehealth; fitness centers cited (The News Tribune)

HIGHER EDUCATION

UW to hold more than 90% of fall quarter classes online (KIRO TV)

Evergreen closes campus building until Aug. 10 after health-related incident this week (The Olympian)

HOUSING

Inslee extends COVID-19 moratorium on utility late fees, shutoffs (The Bellingham Herald)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Franklin County to distribute $3 million to local businesses, non-profits (KONA Radio)

Thurston Commissioners vote 2-1 for across-the-board cuts, including Sheriff’s Office (The Olympian)

OTHER STATES

Gov. Little announces $85 million directive to reopen schools this fall (KHQ TV)

Idaho is directing millions of dollars to the safe reopening of schools (KCLK Radio)

STATE GOVERNMENT

COLUMN: Inslee makes government by proclamation the new normal (Sue Lani Madsen/The Spokesman-Review)

TAXES

Assessor: Yes, you still have to pay property taxes even though kids won’t be returning to the classroom (KHQ TV)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

COLUMN: We must distinguish between vandals and protesters, and focus on the change needed (Priscilla Terry, Olympian Board of Contributors/The Olympian)

CONGRESS & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Herrera Beutler presses administration for river study funds (The Daily News)

COURTS, CRIME & LAW ENFORCEMENT

ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

FISH

You won’t see much local salmon in Whatcom grocery stores. It’s not just COVID’s fault (The Bellingham Herald)

GUN RIGHTS

New York attorney general seeks to dissolve NRA (AP/KHQ TV)

HANFORD

Transition to new $6B Hanford contract to start. DOE says COVID protections working (Tri-City Herald)

HOUSING

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Seattle City Council votes to cut Seattle police staffing and salaries (KUOW Radio)

MEDIA

OPERATING BUDGET

A cash deficit in the GFS is expected this month; could mean double-digit across-the-board cuts (Washington State Wire)

OTHER STATES

POLITICS

CONGRESS

Two women, both Democrats, will face off in 10th Congressional District (AP/The News Tribune)

ELECTIONS

Whatcom Thursday vote count shows who’s likely on the November ballot (The Bellingham Herald)

LEGISLATURE

Nobles leads O’Ban in Lakewood-area Senate race. Could longtime GOP seat turn blue? (The News Tribune)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

More than 3 pounds of heroin seized in Grant County drug bust (NCW Life Channel)

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

WILDLIFE

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