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
BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
- ‘Totally avoidable’: state faults, fines companies in collapse of Seattle tower crane in April (The Seattle Times)
- Washington reaches 1,000 winery licenses (AP/The Bellingham Herald)
CONGRESS & FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
- Fear of a new nuclear arms race revives hotbed of anti-nuclear action (Crosscut)
- Statement about Trump, Ukraine raises ‘additional questions’ for Herrera Beutler (The Columbian)
- Sen. Murray calls for thorough impeachment inquiry into President Trump (KNKX Radio)
COURTS, CRIME & LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Police seize guns from man thought to be leader of neo-Nazi chapter in Washington state (The New York Times/The Seattle Times)
- Aging Northwest jails endanger lives, but replacing them is costly and controversial (NW News Network)
- Washington Supreme Court strikes down mandatory car impounds on DUI arrests (The Spokesman-Review)
- U.S. judge refuses to dismiss PNNL whistleblower case in fraud investigation at PNNL (Tri-City Herald)
- State court overturns Hailey’s Law, named after Whatcom woman injured by a DUI driver (The Bellingham Herald)
- Denied entry to Canada as KKK members, that was only the beginning of pair’s trouble (The Bellingham Herald)
EDUCATION & SCHOOL SAFETY
- Edmonds leads charge to recruit teachers of color (KIRO TV)
- Lewis & Clark’s dual-language program catches state eye (The Wenatchee World)
- Are Pierce County school kids ready for the ‘Big One?’ Drill helps them prepare (The News Tribune)
- Northern Heights parent says sex offender at school is ‘a call to action’ for leaders (The Bellingham Herald)
- Local schools not aware of any toxic PCBs in buildings (The Daily News)
- Monte, Aberdeen students win state ShakeOut video awards (The Daily World)
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & SERVICES
- Washington dam managers say their big concrete structures are earthquake ready (NW News Network)
- New tsunami evacuation maps show the fastest way to escape the Big One on foot (Crosscut)
- Wildfire lessons teach counties how to communicate with Spanish speakers in other disasters (Northwest Public Broadcasting)
- OPINION: Fining first responders (Rep. Joe Schmick/The Spokesman-Review)
ENERGY & UTILITIES
ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS
- PNNL develops research model to help predict effects of climate change in Washington waterways (KNDO-KNDU TV)
- Seattle, King County to stop taking plastic bags in recycling (The Seattle Times)
- Stop recycling plastic bags, Seattle. Also could you do us a favor… (KUOW Radio)
- Recycling surcharge still headed to Tacoma, but at lower rate in new proposal (The News Tribune)
- White Salmon City Council overturns mayoral veto of plastic bag ban ordinance (KIHR Radio)
FISH
- Comment period extended for proposed steelhead farms (Skagit Valley Herald)
- Judge: Federal shellfish permit doesn’t protect environment (AP/The News Tribune)
- Entirety of Upper Chehalis Basin opens to fishing (The Vidette)
HEALTH CARE
- Rolling clinic linked to WSU medical school comes to Everett (The Everett Herald)
- Community-based workforce emerges in Clark County health care (The Columbian)
- Klickitat County’s Skyline Hospital asking for levy lid lift (KIHR Radio)
HIGHER EDUCATION
- CWU president lays out new five-year goals in state of the university address (Daily Record)
- Eating these mushrooms on University of Washington campus could kill you, school warns (The Bellingham Herald)
HOMELESSNESS
- Seattle City Council again attempts to rein in team that clears homeless encampments (The Seattle Times)
- Seattle Beer Company owner fears for future of city tourism (MyNorthwest)
- Catholic Charities adds security team with arrest authority to enhance safety around properties (The Spokesman-Review)
HOUSING
IMMIGRATION
MARIJUANA
MILITARY & VETERANS
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard settles lawsuit with worker who alleged retaliation for reporting harassment (Kitsap Sun)
- Naval shipyard employee claims racial discrimination, retaliation (KCPQ TV)
OTHER STATES
- Oregon appeals court halts governor’s vaping ban on flavored tobacco products (The Oregonian)
- Prepping for The Big One: Oregon coastal hospitals get creative with disaster planning (NW News Network)
POLITICS
BALLOT MEASURES
ELECTIONS
SOCIAL MEDIA
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
- Yakima Health District needle exchange combats disease, provides help (Yakima Herald)
- Pierce County drug court celebrates 25 years of making recovery, change ‘possible for anyone’ (KNKX Radio)
TRANSPORTATION
TRIBAL ISSUES
VAPING
- King County sues e-cigarette company Juul, claiming it targeted young people (The Seattle Times)
- Everett vape shop sees massive drop in sales after flavor ban (KCPQ TV)
WILDLIFE
