Capitol  Buzz

ABORTION

• As many states move to outlaw abortion, Washington state Democrats look for ways to strengthen abortion protections (NW News Network)
• Is Washington ready to be an abortion ‘safe haven’ promised by lawmakers? (KING TV)
• Washington has protections in place for people seeking abortions, more could be coming (KNKX Radio)

AGRICULTURE & WATER

• Washington rolls out new program to improve ag work place environment (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)
• FBI warns of ransomware attacks targeting agricultural companies during critical seasons (KAPP/KVEW)
• Food distributor accuses ‘Big Four’ beef packers of price-fixing (Capital Press)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Regulation’s ‘deterrent effect’ hurting state’s new businesses, Lt. Gov. Heck warns (The Center Square)
• Washington’s efforts to rebrand as a tourist destination (Crosscut)
• Big Tech workers weren’t happy before downturn even started (Silicon Valley Business Journal/Puget Sound Business Journal)
• Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo jettisons COO, conservation exec and animal care director (The Seattle Times)
• High temperatures test new WA outdoor heat protections for workers (Yakima Herald-Republic)

CANNABIS

• COLUMN: Use cannabis in WA state, expect to spend more time in hospital (Dave Ettl/KIT Radio)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• ‘Never been this bad:’ Tri-Cities animal shelters in dire need of fosters as they reach capacity (KAPP/KVEW)

CONGRESS

• Trump painted in testimony as volatile, angry president (AP)
• U.S. Rep. Strickland to join Thurston County Commission chair for Thursday town hall (The Olympian)

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• ‘I haven’t stopped smiling once:’ Joe Kennedy reacts to Supreme Court decision in prayer case (Kitsap Sun)
• Justices limit 2020 ruling on tribal lands in Oklahoma (AP/The Seattle Times)
• Justices say vet who lost job as Texas trooper can sue state (AP)

COURTS (STATE)

• Appeals court rules family of slain Pierce deputy can’t sue county. ‘Shameful,’ wife says (The News Tribune)

CRIME

• Amid attacks and thefts, some retail workers want to fight back (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
• Bellevue resident arrested on suspicion of hate crime, assault against Catholic church (KOMO TV)

EDUCATION

• Washington has more teachers, in spite of a reported critical educator shortage (The Center Square)
• New survey finds that a third of Seattle public school teachers plan to leave in 5 years (KOMO TV)

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES

• Guide in fatal rafting incident on Nooksack said he thought victims swam to shore (The Bellingham Herald)
• Call volume up 18.5% in 2021 according to PFD annual performance report (KEPR)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Avista deal would raise electricity rates by 7.7% during next two years (The Spokesman-Review)

ENVIRONMENT

• Washington carbon exchange lets many big polluters off the hook (KUOW Radio)

HOMELESSNESS

• King County councilmember seeks to remove largest homeless encampment (The Center Square)
• Cowlitz County commissioners reject Community House proposal for homeless site (The Daily News)

HOUSING

• Vancouver mulls code changes to address housing shortage (The Columbian)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Medical examiner testifies in Charleena Lyles inquest: 3 shots came from behind (The Seattle Times)

LGBTQ

• Local Pride events signal a shift away from corporate support (Crosscut)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• King County voters to decide in November on moving elections to even-numbered years (The Seattle Times)
• City of Vancouver looking at regulating Airbnb, other short-term rentals (The Columbian)
• Bellingham visitors will see new banners downtown, part of the city’s ‘protected speech’ (The Bellingham Herald)

MENTAL HEALTH

• Can peer mental health programs bridge access gaps for youth? Experts say it’s complicated (The Seattle Times)
• Supporting students: What’s next for mental health (The Christian Science Monitor/The Seattle Times)

OTHER STATES

• Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler to declare emergency, form ceasefire team to stem summer shootings (The Oregonian)
• ODA awards Oregon meat processors $2 million to expand capacity (Capital Press)
• Idaho’s fight against the far right, then and now (KNKX Radio)

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority speeds up work for Microsoft’s Malaga site (The Wenatchee World)
• Moses Lake port buys more land for railroad project (Columbia Basin Herald)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• EDITORIAL: Tepid gun measures don’t safeguard students (The Columbian)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Gov Jay Inslee on abortion rights, the Jan. 6 hearings, and more (KUOW Radio)

TRANSPORTATION

• Staffing shortages spur fears about ferry service delays through July 4th holiday weekend (KOMO TV)
• Gov. Inslee issues emergency order after semi-truck damages I-405 overpass in mid-June (MyNorthwest)
• Everett set to add bridges, 75th Street bike project to $5 billion plan (The Everett Herald)

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• First big wildfire of the season ignites in Grant County (KING TV)
• Johns River Fire in Grays Harbor County burns 76 acres, is 77% contained (The Chronicle)
• Hundreds of acres burned in Soap Lake fire (KONA Radio)

WILDLIFE

• Invasive European green crabs are spreading. Here’s how WA is fighting back (The Seattle Times)

WOLVES

• Conservationists call for action on Northwest wolf poaching (AP)