The Capitol Buzz is a weekday summary of online news stories from across the state, highlighting policies, politics and other issues that affect Washingtonians.
AGRICULTURE & WATER
- Washington farms struggle to protect crops from excessive heat (KING TV)
- Washington Ecology announces emergency drought grants (Pacific Northwest Ag Network)
BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
- Unions flex political muscle, secure wins under Democratic one-party rule in Olympia (NW News Network)
- Despite Washington’s labor shortage, thousands on long-term unemployment can’t find a job (The Seattle Times)
- These companies are requiring employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations (KCPQ TV)
- Many Seattle bars and restaurants now require proof of vaccination (KING TV)
- COLUMN: Let Seattle businesses fend for themselves? Privatizing some law enforcement is a way-out-there proposal (Derrick Nunnally/The Seattle Times)
- COLUMN: Income for Seattle’s Asian households soared in 2010s, eliminating gap with white households (Gene Balk/The Seattle Times)
- EDITORIAL: Opioid peddlers get a free pass, but the fight is not over (The Seattle Times)
CONGRESS
- Senate unveils $1T bipartisan infrastructure bill after weekend session (AP/KCPQ TV)
- COLUMN: Sen. Cantwell on local news and keeping Americans informed (Brier Dudley/The Seattle Times)
CORONAVIRUS
- What we know about breakthrough Covid in Washington state – and what we don’t (KUOW Radio)
- COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing in Washington as some hospitals struggle to transfer patients (The Spokesman-Review)
- ‘This is entirely avoidable.’ Tri-Cities hospital getting pounded with COVID patients (Tri-City Herald)
- Newhouse accuses Inslee of discouraging COVID-19 vaccinations (KPQ Radio)
- COLUMN: This COVID sequel is maddening. Time to flip the script and up the pressure on the unvaccinated. (Danny Westneat/The Seattle Times)
CRIME
- Catalytic converter thieves hit Peninsula school bus barn; six vans stripped (The News Tribune)
- Bellingham woman pleads guilty in terrorist attack against BNSF; another heads to trial (The Bellingham Herald)
- Rapper Gonzoe shot and killed in White Center (KCPQ TV)
- ‘It doesn’t seem real’: Local athlete shot and killed, community mourns his loss (KXLY TV)
DAMS
EDUCATION
- ‘Spineless.’ Many Tri-Cities parents upset with local schools over new WA mask mandate (Tri-City Herald)
- School board president goes on conservative radio to discuss ‘critical race theory’ (The News Tribune)
- Washington schools consult with tribes as Native mascot ban brings these changes (The Bellingham Herald)
- OPINION: To avoid a redo of the 2020-21 school year, listen to science (Robert Archer, English teacher at Shadle Park High School/The Spokesman-Review)
- COLUMN: School board president explains resolution to ban Critical Race Theory (Dori Monson/MyNorthwest)
- COLUMN: School diversity director out for memes calling Christians, Republicans racist (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES
- Spokane County to pause federal emergency alerts as location glitches persist (The Spokesman-Review)
ENVIRONMENT
- Tri-Cities air deteriorates to ‘very unhealthy.’ Excessive heat watch issued (Tri-City Herald)
- Air quality in Spokane becomes unhealthy for sensitive groups as wildfire smoke pours in (KREM TV)
- OPINION: A middle path to climate-smart forestry (Rachel Baker, forest program director at Washington Environmental Council, and Paula Swedeen, policy director for Conservation Northwest/The Seattle TImes)
- OPINION: Climate chaos – our present, our future? (Brian G. Henning, PhD, Director Gonzaga Center for Climate, Society, and the Environment, Amber Lenhart, MPH, Co-owner and Lead Consultant, CedarPlank LLC, and Bob Lutz, MD, MPH, Washington Department of Health Medical Advisor, COVID-19 Response/The Spokesman-Review)
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE
FISH
HEALTH CARE
HIGHER EDUCATION
HOMELESSNESS
HOUSING
- Expiration of eviction moratorium thrusts US into housing crisis (KCPQ TV)
- Confused about the eviction moratorium expiring? Here’s where Washington renters stand (AP/The Olympian)
- With federal eviction moratorium lifted, Washington tenants, landlords relying on state’s ‘bridge’ program (The Spokesman-Review)
- Spokane animal shelters see uptick in surrendered pets as housing emergency looms post-COVID-19 (The Spokesman-Review)
- COLUMN: When we say ‘affordable housing,’ we mean one of America’s biggest dilemmas (Jon Talton/The Seattle Times)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Police around Washington scrambling, and struggling, to adapt to massive reform package (AP/The Seattle Times)
- New laws add restrictions to policing, authorities look to adapt (The Wenatchee World)
- What happens when police don’t show up to 911 calls (The Olympian)
- They had probable cause after he made threats, but law prevented Bellingham police pursuit (The Bellingham Herald)
- Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett meeting with communities over new police legislation (KPQ Radio)
- Investigators: Clark County Detective Brown used force the night he died (The Columbian)
- An exit interview with departing Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett (MyNorthwest)
- BLOG: Democrats hate law enforcement and are willing to experiment with your safety (Shift)
- OPINION: Legislative Democrats’ attempt at police reform puts communities at risk (Sen. Perry Dozier/The Seattle Times)
- COLUMN: Honor fallen sergeant by listening to police (Ann Donnelly/The Columbian)
- EDITORIAL: Sheriffs’ letter raises concerns about intent (The Columbian)
- EDITORIAL: Washington state’s police reform is taking effect without alternatives in place (The Olympian)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Acting Mayor Burton will continue to lead Camas through election (The Columbian)
- Protestors seek answers after woman dies inside Lynnwood Jail (KING TV)
MENTAL HEALTH
MILITARY & VETERANS
OTHER STATES
- Gov. Kate Brown will veto bills on kratom and mental health services, citing federal conflicts (The Oregonian)
- Oregon school board politics have never been so polarized, partisan and hostile to racial equity (The Oregonian)
POLITICS
ELECTIONS
STATE
REDISTRICTING
SOCIAL MEDIA
STATE GOVERNMENT
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
- Deaths from this opioid drug are on the rise in Pierce County and Washington state (The News Tribune)
- State overdose deaths rose in the first quarter of 2021. How did Thurston fare? (The Olympian)
- 3 men overdosed on the same weekend. What’s fueling these Tri-Cities deaths? (Tri-City Herald)
- 32-bed substance abuse treatment center opens in Everett (The Everett Herald)
TAXES
TRANSPORTATION
- Steel shortage derailing plans to complete ‘Revive I-5′ project (MyNorthwest)
- Why building rail transit in U.S., Seattle costs so much and takes so long (The Seattle Times)
TRIBAL ISSUES
WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE
- Biden asks governors: How can we help with western wildfires? (NW News Network)
- Fires rage near Winthrop covering residents in smoke (The Wenatchee World)
- Clark County residents urged to prepare for wildfires (The Columbian)
- Why Puget Sound region’s air quality has been unaffected by arrival of smoke (MyNorthwest)
- PNNL researcher develops artificial intelligence system to help fight wildfires (KNDO/KNDU)
WILDLIFE
