Capitol  Buzz

AGRICULTURE & WATER

• Spring rains ‘not nearly enough’ to overcome Northwest drought, wildfire risk, experts say (The Seattle Times)
• Drought expected to impact Eastern Washington and much of Pacific Northwest in 2022 (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• Yakima Basin water supply bolstered by strong precipitation in past month (Daily Record)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Biden’s burdens grow: Sagging global economy adds to U.S. woes (AP/The Columbian)
• Lifted by Boeing hiring blitz, WA outpaces nation in job growth (The Seattle Times)

COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES

• Where can I get baby formula? Resources for Washington parents (KING TV)
• Can’t find infant formula? WA Department of Health offers tips to help struggling families (The Bellingham Herald)
• WA food banks test innovations as food insecurity grows (Crosscut)
• COLUMN: Demographics are not destiny in politics (Sue Lani Madsen/The Spokesman-Review)

CONGRESS

• Cantwell meets with Cowlitz leaders about future of sediment control (The Daily News)
• Newhouse concerned over Russian control of important uranium product (KPQ Radio)

CORONAVIRUS

• Gov. Inslee says he won’t re-implement mask mandate in Washington (KING TV)
• Biden health officials warn of substantial increase in virus cases (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)

CRIME

• Vancouver 15-year-old faces murder allegation in Orchards shooting (The Columbian)
• Stolen vehicle suspect flees when confronted by Royal City police chief (NCW Life Channel)

EARLY LEARNING

• 3 partners exploring $63 million early learning center north of Nisqually Middle School (The Olympian)

EDUCATION

• Cleveland High School students plan walkout to protest appointment of new principal (The Seattle Times)

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Chelan County PUD commissioners postpone cryptocurrency rate decision (The Wenatchee World)
• 3,000+ acre solar farm wants WA permit to build in Benton County (Tri-City Herald)

ENVIRONMENT

• EDITORIAL: All hands on deck for ‘green corridor’ for cruise ships from Seattle to Alaska (The Seattle Times)

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE

• Biden invokes Defense Production Act for formula shortage (AP/The Seattle Times)
• Baby formula shortage leads to congressional scrutiny of FDA (AP/The Seattle Times)
• Detainees at Northwest immigration detention center on hunger strike over COVID concerns (The Seattle Times)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• St. Joseph hospital ER use is up. Here’s when other care might be a better option (The Bellingham Herald)
• PeaceHealth tightens visitor policy in Skagit County facilities (Skagit Valley Herald)
• Record gas prices a financial burden for Yakima families seeking cancer treatment in Seattle (KAPP/KVEW)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• SPSCC closes campuses Wednesday after receiving violent threat (The Olympian)
• Students from Ukraine finish online WSU class despite war breaking out around them (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

HOMELESSNESS

• People living in tents along state highways cannot stay if offered shelter, Gov. Inslee says (FOX 13)
• Gov. Inslee’s plan to ease homelessness aims first to get campers off of state highways (KOMO TV)
• King County Regional Homelessness Authority is slow to ink contracts — nonprofits feel the pinch (The Seattle Times)
• COLUMN: Tacoma encampment sweeps are only creating more pain, suffering and changes of scenery (Matt Driscoll/The News Tribune)

HOUSING

• Clark County Council moves forward with affordable-housing plan (The Columbian)
• State to start buying hotels, apartment buildings (KNWN)

LAND USE & PROPERTY RIGHTS

• Camas residents contest 122-home subdivision proposal (The Columbian)

LEGISLATURE

• Braun calls for gas tax suspension; Southwest Washington colleagues voice agreement (The Chronicle)
• State leader renewing the call for state gas tax to be suspended (KEPR)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Mayor Bruce Harrell announces search committee for Seattle’s next police chief (The Seattle Times)
• Seattle weighs new tax hikes on big businesses like Amazon and other ‘progressive’ options (KUOW)
• Snohomish County asks residents how to spend $160M stimulus (The Center Square)
• Edmonds City Council defends law to fine those who refuse shelter despite new concerns (KOMO TV)
• Yakima City Council approves climate advisory board, walks back SAFE city commitment (Yakima Herald-Republic)

MILITARY & VETERANS

• Bremerton’s Armed Forces Day parade returns Saturday following pandemic pause (Kitsap Sun)

OTHER STATES

• Ballot counting issues delay results in OR House primary (AP/The Columbian)
• Oregon state revenues soar, $3 billion kicker predicted (KLCC/OPB)

PARKS

• Closure of Point Defiance’s Five Mile Drive a surprise? Here’s how we got to this point (The News Tribune)

SCHOOL SAFETY

• Teenager with gun on campus causes Klahowya Secondary School lockdown (Kitsap Sun)

SPORTS

• ‘It’s getting worse, it’s terrible’: Aggressive parents are causing a referee shortage in Washington (FOX 13)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Inslee appoints former King County judge to head new agency investigating police-involved shootings (The Spokesman-Review)
• WA’s first-of-its-kind independent investigations office has a former judge as its leader (The News Tribune)
• Washington state health insurance waiver could cost taxpayers $1B a year, expert says (The Center Square)
• New Washington Medicaid director will ‘redetermine’ eligibility after pandemic emergency (The Center Square)

TRANSPORTATION

• Free coffee returns to a rest area near you this weekend (MyNorthwest)
• EDITORIAL: Up to graduates to take us where we want to go (The Everett Herald)

TRIBAL ISSUES

• Federal lawsuit over new sports betting rule could jeopardize tribal sovereignty, critics say (KUOW)

WILDLIFE

• Want to check on the progress of Southern Resident orcas? A new website helps you do it (The Olympian)
• Thurston County confirms bird flu in a backyard flock (The Chronicle)