The Capitol Buzz is a daily summary of online news clips from across the state, discussing policies and politics affecting Washington state.
AGRICULTURE & WATER
- Canola fields are expanding fast in Eastern Washington (The Spokesman-Review)
- Break at John Day Dam slows down Columbia River grain shipments (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
- Metaverse job postings plunge 81% as tech world ponders reality of recession (Silicon Valley Business Journal/Puget Sound Business Journal)
- Mayor Harrell expands effort to fill empty Seattle storefronts (Puget Sound Business Journal)
- NLRB dismisses Starbucks charge against union organizers (AP)
- Concrete truck drivers a no-show to work after failed negotiations with concrete companies (KIRO TV)
- Spokane-based Global, Alaska USA become one in credit union merger (The Spokesman-Review)
CONGRESS
CORONAVIRUS
- Extreme heat can exacerbate long Covid symptoms (KUOW Radio)
- EDITORIAL: Learning to live out in the world as COVID continues to rise (The Olympian)
COURTS (FEDERAL)
COURTS (STATE)
CRIME
- Tacoma homicides up more than 50% over same period in 2021 (FOX 13)
- Spokane Police want license plate reading cameras to track local crime (KXLY)
EDUCATION
- To help WA kids get ahead, schools must spend more pandemic aid now, experts say (The Seattle Times)
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES
ENERGY & UTILITIES
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE
- Biden: Killing of al-Qaida leader is long-sought ‘justice’ (AP)
- State reps demand answers after reports of ‘mountain’ of undelivered packages, mail in North Sound (KIRO TV)
FISH
HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS
- State expands telehealth options to improve access to COVID-19 treatment (The Daily News)
- Washington state’s health care system ranked No. 28 in the nation (The Center Square)
- Inslee announces upcoming rescission of twelve COVID-19 proclamations for healthcare (KXRO Radio)
- 1st West Nile virus of 2022 in WA found in Tri-Cities. What it means for you (The News Tribune)
HOMELESSNESS
- WSDOT may face fines of $500 per day if Camp Hope cooling tent remains; no citations given yet (KHQ TV)
- Law firm: Spokane can legally enforce homeless laws (The Center Square)
- Community demands action for growing Tacoma homeless camp (KOMO TV)
HOUSING
- This is how much you need to make to afford rent in Washington and Bellingham (The Bellingham Herald)
- EDITORIAL: Keep Seattle’s progress toward affordable housing to end homelessness transparent (The Seattle Times)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Upcoming Seattle City Council votes signal end of COVID emergency measures (The Seattle Times)
- Seattle Deputy Mayor of External Relations Kendee Yamaguchi resigns (The Seattle Times)
LONG-TERM CARE
MEDIA
OTHER STATES
- Draft rules to govern police conduct in Oregon leave lots of wiggle room (OPB)
- Oregon reaches at least 15 suspected heat-related deaths during lengthy heatwave (The Oregonian)
- California declares monkeypox state of emergency, 2nd state to do so (AP/The Oregonian)
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TRANSPORTATION
- Ferry captain resigns after ‘hard landing’ that damaged vessel at West Seattle dock (KING TV)
- Verdict is still out on Sound Transit’s Chinatown route (The Center Square)
TRIBAL ISSUES
WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE
- Vantage wildfire 10% contained; Level 2 evacuation orders issued (FOX 13)
- Evacuation notice issued, 40 structures threatened due to Vantage Highway fire (The Spokesman-Review)
WILDLIFE
