The Capitol Buzz is a daily summary of online news clips from across the state, discussing policies and politics affecting Washington state.
AGRICULTURE & WATER
BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
- Homebuyers in Seattle, Spokane are losing purchasing power, living space (The Center Square)
- Amid tech industry layoffs, TikTok is hiring more than ever in Seattle (Puget Sound Business Journal)
- Inspectify is latest Seattle real estate tech company to face layoffs (Puget Sound Business Journal)
- EDITORIAL: Railroad vital to rural needs, development balance (The Columbian)
CORONAVIRUS
- Washington to decommission COVID response site this week (MyNorthwest)
- Still time to get free COVID tests from state (KNWN Radio)
COURTS (FEDERAL)
- High court to hear arguments over Biden’s deportation policy (AP)
- Supreme Court defends Alito after breach allegation (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
COURTS (STATE)
- Workers’ rights case appealed to Supreme Court by Washington think tank (The Center Square)
- Cherry Point tax decision could be worth millions to Whatcom County (The Bellingham Herald)
CRIME
- Washington AG Bob Ferguson wants $1.5M a year for organized retail crime unit (The Center Square)
- Tri-Cities woman guilty of fraud after taking taxpayer money for sham business (Tri-City Herald)
- Friends of Aron Christensen protest in Chehalis. Ask for justice, after another month passes without charges filed in the case (The Chronicle)
- OPINION: Sen. Lynda Wilson calls for reversal of 2021 change in Washington’s ‘three strikes’ law (Sen. Lynda Wilson/The Reflector)
EARLY LEARNING
ELECTIONS
EMERGENCY POWERS
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE
HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS
HOUSING
INVASIVE SPECIES
- WDFW: Nearly 250,000 invasive European green crabs removed from Washington waters (FOX 13)
- Invasive crab population keeps booming in Washington (KUOW Radio)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Fewer pursuit-related deaths since a state ‘anti-chase’ law kicked in (KNWN Radio)
- Opening statements in Pierce Sheriff Troyer’s trial pushed again. Here’s what’s next (The News Tribune)
LEGISLATURE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- King County to spend $1.7B on public safety after mayors protest (The Center Square)
- Spokane property taxes to increase in 2023 after City Council overrides mayor’s veto (The Spokesman-Review)
- Thurston sets public hearing on new district map as measure to expand commission passes (The Olympian)
MENTAL HEALTH
OTHER STATES
- Oregon Legislature will have record number of people of color in 2023 (The Oregonian)
- Oregon lawmakers lift security measure imposed on senator (AP)
- Moscow PD rules out connection between NW stabbings and murders of UI students (KQQQ Radio)
PARKS
- Staffing shortages to bring changes for Mt. Rainier National Park visitors this winter (FOX 13)
- Washington’s newest national park near Tri-Cities honored with tourist passport stamp (Tri-City Herald)
SCHOOL SAFETY
STATE GOVERNMENT
- Records: WA hired ID thief, heroin dealer to treat mental patients. He stole their money (The News Tribune)
- Snoopy reporter finds thousands in missing money. You likely can get some of that $1.8B (Tri-City Herald)
- EDITORIAL: Press on with delayed WA office to investigate police deadly force (The Seattle Times)
TRANSPORTATION
- Gov. Inslee plans to ban gas-powered cars by 2035. Is it doable? (Crosscut)
- Washington has 4th most expensive gas nationwide, despite seven-week decline (The Center Square)
- Demolition of cracking 520 project column to begin soon (MyNorthwest)
- EDITORIAL: What are we willing to sacrifice for a second airport? Would we accept a clogged Sea-Tac? (The Olympian)
TRIBAL ISSUES
- A new crisis line for Native people in Washington state (KUOW Radio)
- Douglas County PUD enters contract with Colville Tribes for summer Chinook rearing and transfer of surplus adult fish (The Wenatchee World)
WILDLIFE
