Capitol Buzz: Washington state lawmakers on both sides condemn violence at U.S. Capitol; GOP Leaders: Inslee needs to hold state agencies accountable amid COVID-19 recovery Washington House Republicans sent this bulletin at 01/07/2021 10:58 AM PST Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Capitol Buzz: January 7, 2021 01/07/2021 10:51 AM PST BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR Spiffy’s decides on temporary closure (KELA Radio) OPINION: Gov. Inslee, please reopen gyms to keep Washingtonians healthy (Chris Odum, franchise owner of seven Planet Fitness gyms, including locations in Renton, Des Moines and Kent/Puget Sound Business Journal) CONGRESS Biden win confirmed after pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol (AP/The Seattle Times) Washington lawmakers join calls to remove President Trump from office (MyNorthwest) Herrera Beutler requests flexibility in emergency funding to boost learning for disadvantaged students (The Daily Chronicle) In reversal after pro-Trump mob storms Capitol, McMorris Rodgers votes to certify election results; Pence declares Biden winner (The Spokesman-Review) OPINION: We must have a peaceful transfer of power (U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is the representative for Washington’s 5th congressional district/The Spokesman-Review) OPINION: Reports of chaos were not exaggerated (Jaime Herrera Beutler, U.S. Representative, 3rd District/The Columbian) CORONAVIRUS Washington state releases COVID-19 vaccination tiers, timeline through April (The Seattle Times) UW specialist backs single-dose COVID-19 vaccine strategy (KGMI Radio) U.S. is blind to contagious new virus variant, scientists warn (The New York Times/The Seattle Times) CRIME & LAW ENFORCEMENT Okanogan inmates escaped through ventilation ducts, sheriff says (KCPQ TV) Pierce County cops prepared but not expecting local violence after U.S. Capitol breach (The News Tribune) City approves funding for EPD body cameras (Daily Record) EDUCATION & SCHOOL SAFETY WIAA reorganizes sports calendar, decides football season will start in February (The Seattle Times) ENERGY & UTILITIES GE’s monster wind turbine is upending an industry (The New York Times/The Seattle Times) ENVIRONMENT Rainforest in Washington is the wettest in the continental US, officials say (The Olympian) FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE Trump promises ‘orderly transition’ after Congress certifies Biden’s 2020 election (KCPQ TV) EDITORIAL: Pacific Northwest historical archives must remain in Seattle (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin) HANFORD Major construction done at Hanford waste treatment plant (AP/KNKX Radio) ‘Engineering feat.’ World’s largest plant for nuclear waste cleanup at Hanford ready for startup (Tri-City Herald) HEALTH CARE Local health officials ponder next moves amid reopening plan (The Daily World) HOMELESSNESS Seattle won’t be counting its unsheltered homeless population this year, a number that could be higher than ever (The Seattle Times) LEGISLATURE GOP Leaders: Inslee needs to hold state agencies accountable amid COVID-19 recovery (The Daily Chronicle) Mosbrucker named deputy caucus chair (KIHR Radio) LOCAL GOVERNMENT Mark Westley appointed to vacant Centralia Council position; In 10 months, voters will elect someone to finish Peter Abbarno’s term (The Daily Chronicle) EDITORIAL: DeBolt well positioned to help lead post-COVID recovery (The Daily Chronicle) MILITARY & VETERANS Some residents and staff at veterans homes refuse vaccine (KNKX Radio) OTHER STATES As COVID-19 unit nears capacity, Oregon State Hospital suspends admissions again (The Oregonian) POLITICS STATE Organizer cancels planned protests of lack of access to Washington state’s shuttered Capitol (The Seattle Times) Armed protesters in Olympia occupy Capitol steps, governor’s mansion lawn (Crosscut) NATIONAL Washington state lawmakers on both sides condemn violence at U.S. Capitol (The Spokesman-Review) Washington state elected officials react to Capitol riots (Washington State Wire) COLUMN: WA House Republican Leader JT Wilcox condemns pro-Trump mob in D.C. ‘This chaos will destroy all of us’ (Matt Driscoll/The News Tribune) EDITORIAL: Washingtonians mustn’t tolerate US Capitol coup. And don’t think it can’t happen here (The News Tribune) EDITORIAL: Trump incited attack on nation, but our GOP lawmakers are also to blame (Tri-City Herald) EDITORIAL: Restore order after a shameful day in American history (The Seattle Times) EDITORIAL: Capitol Hill riot: We will remember, Mr. President (Yakima Herald-Republic) RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ‘A lifeline, a Band-Aid’: Nearly $5.5M of grants help county businesses (The Daily News) SECURITY U.S. Capitol breach prompts urgent questions about security failures (The Washington Post/The Seattle Times) STATE GOVERNMENT 218 inmates positive for COVID-19 at prison near Vancouver (KOMO TV)
