Capitol  Buzz

AGRICULTURE & WATER

• Lawmakers want to know: Why are Washington ranchers split on checkoff hike? (Capital Press)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Kitsap County had 2nd highest wage growth in the U.S. (Axios – Seattle)

CANNABIS

• Those with drug arrests will get priority for cannabis retail licenses under LCB guidelines (KING TV)

CENSUS

• Why WA leaders say U.S. should change its race, ethnicity categories (The Seattle Times)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• Could a seaweed revolution help solve the hunger crisis? (Crosscut)

CONGRESS

• Senators threaten consequences after VA confirms 4 deaths tied to computer system tested in Spokane (The Spokesman-Review)
• Local farmers share current issues with Farm Bill with Rep. Newhouse (KNDO/KNDU)
• With support from families, Rep. Dan Newhouse unveils proposal to combat fentanyl (Yakima Herald-Republic)

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• Seattle court to Amazon: Time to improve safety at Kent warehouse (The Seattle Times)

CRIME

• Car theft uptick in Washington costing insured drivers more (KING TV)
• Trafficking survivors propose bill to create first-of-its-kind services for other survivors (KING TV)
• Convicted killer charged with attacking a third woman since getting out of prison (The Spokesman-Review)
• After teen’s alcohol deal soured in Tacoma, he put bullet in buyer’s door, charges say (The News Tribune)

EARLY LEARNING

• Proposed bill could put transitional kindergarten program in Walla Walla at risk (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)

EDUCATION

• Washington state teacher resignations at highest level in three decades (KING TV)
• WA only has two women in STEM chapters. How to start one at your high school, college (The News Tribune)
• Bellevue School Board to vote on school closures (KUOW Radio)
• Snoqualmie Valley School District anticipates large spending cuts next year, but no plans for layoffs (Snoqualmie Valley Record)
• Longview School District offers program for more special education after high school, with help from LCC (The Daily News)

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES

• COLUMN: A beloved Tacoma firefighter died from cancer he got on the job. He’s more than a stat (Matt Driscoll/The News Tribune)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Connors urges people to speak out on light pollution bill (KWHT Radio)
• Washington’s first carbon auction sold pollution for $300 million (Crosscut)
• Washington bill could help ease renewable energy development tensions (NW News Network)
• EDITORIAL: Carbon credit auction will increase energy costs soon (Capital Press)
• EDITORIAL: Wind turbine lights need an off switch. Here’s your chance to tell the WA Senate (Tri-City Herald)

ENVIRONMENT

• State report shows ‘problem areas’ for litter in northern Washington, but it needs context (KING TV)
• Port of Olympia’s Iyall asks commission to formally support Capitol Lake estuary plan (The Olympian)
• What happened to sunflower sea star? This lab is working to find out (The Seattle Times)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Safe staffing for hospitals bill makes its way through Legislature. Does it go far enough? (Tri-City Herald)
• Commissioners discuss funding, taxes during first hearing on Lower Valley hospital district (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• OPINION: Kitsap’s health care system: Time for a checkup! (Dr. Gib Morrow, Kitsap Public Health District/Kitsap Sun)

HOMELESSNESS

• Death at Seattle encampment raises questions about addressing homelessness in region (FOX 13)
• I-90 homeless camp shrinks to 65, WSDOT estimates (KREM TV)
• COLUMN: Homelessness agency offers ‘unlimited vacation’ after $11.8 billion budget ask (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)

HOUSING

• Gov. Jay Inslee urges bold action on affordable housing during Walla Walla visit (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
• Supporters tout bill adding climate change to Washington’s growth plan as way to reduce emissions (The Center Square)
• Understanding Washington’s real estate market (KIRO TV)
• Clark County’s small landlords: Pandemic has been tough on us, too (The Columbian)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Dem. Senator: Police pursuit bill a ‘big political win,’ despite own party disagreeing (MyNorthwest)
• ‘So few’: Police chase deaths pale against WA traffic safety crisis, per analyst (The Center Square)
• EDITORIAL: For community safety, state House must pass new police-pursuit law (The Seattle Times)

LEGISLATURE

• Late 49th District legislators Jim Moeller, Robert Schaefer honored at state Capitol service (The Columbian)
• Lawmakers consider new regulations aimed at protecting adult entertainers statewide (KIRO TV)
• 20th Legislative District delegation to hold virtual town hall on March 20 (The Chronicle)
• State Sen. Jeff Wilson testifies before committee on catalytic converter bill (The Chronicle)
• COLUMN: A forecast for spending, a new maximum for campaign contributions (Jerry Cornfield/Everett Herald)
• COLUMN: Single-party domination of Legislature denies good ideas a hearing (Sue Lani Madsen/The Spokesman-Review)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Seattle city prosecutor salary increase ordinance passed by city council (The Center Square)
• Pierce Co. Exec addresses crime and homelessness in State of the County address (FOX 13)
• Local ordinance making public drug use an arrestable offense a success in Marysville, police say (KING TV)

MEDIA

• COLUMN: Free Press roundup: Gannett declines an opportunity; Twitter challenge (Brier Dudley/The Seattle Times)

OPEN GOVERNMENT

• OPINION: The Legislature’s Sunshine Committee has fallen into darkness (Katherine George, board member of the Washington Coalition for Open Government and practices public records law/The Seattle Times)

OTHER STATES

• Oregon House sends major housing legislation to state Senate (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Oregon doesn’t have enough treatment or housing for people with mental illness (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Oregon to suspend electric vehicle rebates as money runs out (The Oregonian)
• Idaho search warrants show Moscow homicides police work before Bryan Kohberger’s arrest (Idaho Statesman/The Seattle Times)

PARKS

• Mount Rainier to stop taking cash at entrance, campgrounds (The Seattle Times)

POLITICS

NATIONAL

• Experts say attacks on free speech are rising across the U.S. (AP)

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Critics question grant request to restart Usk papermill (The Spokesman-Review)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Deaf family sues Northshore over repeated restraint, isolation of child (The Everett Herald)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• U.S. pushes for TikTok sale to resolve national security concerns (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)

SPORTS

• Bremerton coach Joe Kennedy standing up by taking a knee (MyNorthwest)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Washington second least federally dependent state in the nation (The Center Square)
• New law would make sexual misconduct by corrections staff a felony (KUOW Radio)
• Can’t understand why your car insurance went up? That may change (The Everett Herald)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• New statistics show overdose deaths this year in King County set to outpace 2022 record (FOX 13)
• King County overdose dashboard shows snowballing fentanyl deaths (MyNorthwest)
• Suits: ‘People dying with no identity’ from fentanyl epidemic (MyNorthwest)
• One man dies amid series of fentanyl overdoses in Thurston jail, Sheriff’s Office says (The Olympian)
• EDITORIAL: Legalize fentanyl test strips, then distribute them (The Everett Herald)

TRANSPORTATION

• BNSF train derails on Swinomish Reservation in Anacortes area (The Seattle Times)
• Your old workweek is extinct, Commute Seattle data shows (The Seattle Times)
• Hood River bridge replacement rate up to $5.50 toll per trip, study says (The Center Square)

WILDLIFE

• New orca legislation demands boaters keep their distance: 1,000 yards, to be exact (KNWN Radio)
• Judge wants plan to protect humpback whales from fishery (AP)