Washington News & Current Events | Public News Service

Nearly 70% of eligible Washingtonians have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. (AntonioDiaz/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Tips for Speaking to People Hesitant About COVID-19 Vaccine

SEATTLE - Speaking to folks who are hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine has gained a new sense of urgency as the Delta variant pushes cases up…

Electrifying heat pumps are key to lowering the carbon cost of buildings. (SkyLine/Adobe Stock)

NW Heat Wave Exposes Inequities, Need to Prioritize Low-Income Communities

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Last month's deadly heat wave in the Northwest underscored the need to reduce carbon emissions, but advocates want to ensure low-…

Pacific County is among the smallest in Washington. (Chetsford/Wikimedia Commons)

WA County an 'Innovator' in Criminal-Justice Reform

PACIFIC COUNTY, Wash. -- As parts of the country rethink criminal justice, a small county in Washington state is providing a model on how to better …

Experts expect another active wildfire season this year in the West. (Alex/Adobe Stock)

Tips for Staying Safe in WA's Hot, Smoky Summer

SEATTLE -- An unprecedented heat wave in Washington state has underscored the importance of staying safe when it's hot. Places such as Seattle …

Protesters demonstrated outside the German House in Seattle over the weekend. (Washington Fair Trade Coalition)

Demonstrators to German Leader: Release Vaccines for Global Production

SEATTLE -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is being met with demonstrations over global vaccine access as she visits the United States today…

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is helping plant life come back to areas near the former site of the Elwha River Dam. (Mike McHenry)

After Tribe's Century-Long Fight, WA River Dam Removal Helps Nature

By Lindsay VanSomeren for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News …

Construction crews will be at risk as events like the Northwest's heat wave become more frequent. (Marina Krasnovid/Adobe Stock)

How Climate Change Is a Workers' Rights Issue

SEATTLE -- A deadly heat wave in the Northwest is laying bare the link between climate change and the rights of workers. Summer Stinson, executive …

Finding ways to walk 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day is among the tips medical experts suggest for staying healthy. (Aleksei Potov/Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Disrupts Eating - Body Positivity is Key

SEATTLE -- COVID-19 affected nearly every facet of people's lives, including eating. American Psychological Association research found more than 60% …

Washington state produces 70% of the country's apples. (Michele Benoy Westmorland, Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

In Heat Wave's Wake, WA Advocates Call for Farmworker Protections

SEATTLE - Washington state farmworkers were among the most vulnerable during the Northwest's deadly heat wave. As the state feels more effects from …

Senate Bill 5194 turns 200 part-time faculty positions at community and technical colleges into full-time positions. (paulaphoto/Adobe Stock)

WA Law Aims to Make Comm, Technical Colleges More Inclusive

SEATTLE -- Washington state community and technical college staff members are excited about a measure aimed at improving the success of students of co…

A Homeland Security bulletin is warning of groups exploiting states' easing of COVID-19 restrictions going into the July 4th weekend. (knelson20/Adobe Stock)

Watchdogs Alarmed by Extremist Activity Ahead of July 4th

SEATTLE -- Far-right groups could be active over the Independence Day weekend. That's prompted the Department of Homeland Security to release a …

A new report looks eelgrass restoration projects on the West Coast, including 14 in Washington state. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Report: Vital Seagrass Restoration Needs Real Estate to Thrive

EVERETT, Wash. -- Eelgrass plays a vital role in marine habitats, but along the West Coast, it's disappearing at alarming rates. A new study found …

At least 11 states have introduced legislation guaranteeing the right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. (pixelrobot/Adobe Stock)

WA First to Guarantee Right to Counsel in Eviction Cases

SEATTLE - With the threats of evictions rising as the pandemic eases, Washington state took a major step this year to protect tenants. In the 2021 …

The $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit is available until funds run out, or the country is no longer in a pandemic. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Program Helps Washingtonians Afford Internet at Crucial Time

SEATTLE -- With the pandemic making internet access more crucial than ever, a federal program is helping people afford it. The Federal …

Nearly 200,000 Washington kids were living in poverty in 2019. (Seattle/Adobe Stock)

Kids in WA Doing Better Than Other States, But Disparities Remain

SEATTLE -- Washington state ranks high in a new report on child well-being, but the data hides some of the disparities that exist in the state…

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SEATTLE -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both the US …

Twenty sturdy food-storage lockers to keep bears away from campsites will be installed in the Colville National Forest by fall 2021. (U.S. Forest Service/Flickr)

WA Forest More "Bearable" with Food-Locker Protections

SEATTLE - With the addition of food-storage lockers to the Colville National Forest, campers will be able to deter grizzly bears - and in turn…

Financial experts say parents should start saving as early as possible for priorities such as a child's higher education. (anoushkatoronto/Adobe Stock)

New Dads Should Prepare Financially for New Additions to Family

SEATTLE - Father's Day is approaching and, for new dads, some financial tips can help set their families up for success. First, revising household …

Police use of force was a major focus during Washington state's legislative session. (adonis_abril/Adobe Stock)

DOC Officer: WA Police Reforms Good for Corrections Employees, Too

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state's police reform measures are receiving praise, including from Department of Corrections employees. It has been a …

By 2025, 77% of Snake River Chinook salmon could be on the brink of extinction, according to a report this year. (randimal/Adobe Stock)

Dry Summer Warnings Signal Trouble for NW Salmon

SEATTLE - There are signs this summer could be a bad one for the native salmon of the Northwest. Already, drought has gripped the region, causing …

The Freedom Foundation has filed lawsuits over mask rules in the Northwest. (cascoly2/Adobe Stock)

Group Known for Attacking Unions Tied to Far Right

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story mentioned a group in Idaho with a similar name to the Freedom Foundation. The two groups are unrelated…

People are advised not to eat non-migratory fish within a mile upstream of Bonneville Dam, because of contamination from PCBs. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

States, Tribe Call for Superfund Site on Columbia River

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Oregon, Washington and the Yakama Nation are asking the Biden administration to list one stretch of the Columbia River as a …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has loosened mask recommendations for vaccinated people, but face coverings still are required in airports. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

WA Health Secretary: Vaccines a Game Changer for Summer Travel

SEATTLE -- Travel is expected to pick up this summer as vaccination rates increase and COVID-19 cases trend downward, but health experts are …

Feelings of anxiety have persisted through the pandemic and continue as people stress about a return to normal. (pikselstock/Adobe Stock)

COVID-19: Getting Back to Normal Brings New Anxieties

SEATTLE -- May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as life returns to normal, many people are coming down from more than a year of anxiety…

Washington state lawmakers passed measures that move it closer to a clean energy future this session. (jpldesigns/Adobe Stock)

Cleaning Up Buildings Next Big Climate Push in WA

SEATTLE -- After a legislative session packed with measures to address climate change, clean-energy groups say Washington state leaders should …

The pandemic has put added stress on the child-care workforce across the country. In Washington state, it caught the attention of legislators, who've included more money for pay and health benefits in the new state budget. (ShunTerra/Adobe Stock)

WA Child-Care Workers Get Wage Boost, Health Coverage

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- This session, Washington state lawmakers approved a major investment in child care and its workers. The state budget provides $360 …

A measure passed in Olympia this session means the GEO Group-owned Northwest Detention Center will shut down when its contract expires. (Common Language Project/Flickr)

Caravan to Immigration Center Supports Detained Mothers

TACOMA, Wash. -- A Northwest car caravan is heading to an immigration detention center this weekend to support mothers who've been detained there…

Supporters of the seabed mining ban say the practice would hurt sensitive habitats on Washington's coast. (Ferrous B�ller/Flickr)

Seabed Mining Opponents Off WA Coast Find Win in Legislature

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Jay Inslee signed a seabed mining ban into law Monday. The measure prohibits mineral extraction within three miles of …

Under the Trump administration, 234 judges were appointed to the federal bench. (Joe Wolf/Flickr)

More Diverse Group of Federal Judges Expected Under Biden

SEATTLE -- The change from the Trump to Biden administrations means a different approach to appointing federal judges. President Donald Trump …

A vaccine clinic in Seattle is offering education and assistance in people's native language. (fotoduets/Adobe Stock)

Vaccine Clinic Offers 'Low-Pressure Environment' for WA Immigrants

SEATTLE - Unions are hosting a vaccine clinic for immigrant workers and their families this weekend. The Service Employees International Union …

Washington state's capital gains tax is expected to bring in about $415 million in 2023. (magele-picture/Adobe Stock)

Supporters of Capital Gains: 'First Step' Toward Balancing Tax Code

SEATTLE - Supporters of a tax on capital gains are celebrating a victory in the Washington state Legislature. The 7% tax applies to the sale of …

The families of people killed in police shootings have led the charge on reforms in Washington state. (Dimo Fedortchenko/Flickr)

Families Impacted by Police Shootings Praise WA Reforms

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Police reform has been a major theme of the Washington legislative session this year. Lawmakers passed bills that ban certain police …

Washington state expects to clear its backlog of sexual assault kits by mid-2022. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

WA Continues Improving Response to Sexual Assault

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state lawmakers are continuing their work from past sessions supporting survivors of sexual assault. House Bill 1109…

Washington state's Working Families Tax Credit is modeled after the Earned Income Tax Credit, which reached about 25 million taxpayers in 2020. (H_Ko/Adobe Stock)

WA Working Families to Get Boost from Tax-Credit Program

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington lawmakers have approved funding for the Working Families Tax Credit - more than a dozen years after it was initially …

Home caregivers want Washington state to raise their hazard pay to rates comparable with other essential workers. (toa555/Adobe Stock)

Essential During Pandemic, WA Home Caregivers Push for More Hazard Pay

SEATTLE - Home caregivers in Washington are urging the state to extend - and raise - hazard pay for their essential workforce. Caregivers have …

The Ice Harbor Dam in southeast Washington would be breached under a proposal from Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

WA Groups: Infrastructure Plan 'Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity' for NW

SEATTLE - Groups are urging Northwest leaders to act on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's infrastructure and Snake River dam proposal. It aims to restore what …

Culturally competent care can help improve health outcomes for Black mothers. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

Black Maternal Health Week Underscores Racial Health Disparities

SEATTLE, Wash -- This week is Black Maternal Health Week and medical professionals are highlighting disparities in health outcomes. Black women are …

The Long-Term Care Trust Act has a lifetime cap on benefits of $36,500. (verbaska/Adobe Stock)

WA Caregivers Lend Support to Long-Term Care Trust Act

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington state caregivers are boosting a bill that closes some loopholes in the Long-Term Care Trust Act as it nears the …

Washington credit unions provided financial education to 100,000 people in 2019. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Young People Encouraged to 'Pay Themselves,' Start Saving Early

SEATTLE -- In April, credit unions are highlighting the importance of starting financial education early. This month is Credit Union Youth Month…

Washington state has classified farm and agriculture workers as essential during the pandemic. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Farmworker Groups Concerned Citizenship Bill Favors Growers

SEATTLE -- The U.S. House has passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, setting up a path to citizenship for immigrant farmworkers, but some …

Head Start classes in the Olympia area are going back to face-to-face learning on April 20. (Mark/Adobe Stock)

Child-Care Needs Complicate Classroom Return for WA Head Start

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Head Start employees in the Washington state capital area want more flexibility as kids return to the classroom. Sophia Rychener…

About 17% of Washingtonians are fully vaccinated. (Zoran Zeremski/Adobe Stock)

WA Front-Line Workers Encouraged to Get Vaccine

SEATTLE -- Workers on the front lines stressed it's important for their colleagues in essential services to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Shanai Cole…

Washington state is expecting more wildfires as the effects from climate change get worse. (Chris/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill on Equitable Climate Response Nears Finish Line

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The impacts from climate change fall disproportionately on some people, but a bill in the Washington state Legislature aims to put …

Violence against Asian Americans has been increasing over the past year. (wachiwit/Adobe Stock)

WA Workers Speak Out Against Violence Toward Asian Americans

SEATTLE - In the wake of last week's killings in Atlanta, public service workers in Washington state are speaking out against hate aimed at Asian …

Farmworkers can work 80-hour weeks, but aren't eligible for overtime pay. (David/Adobe Stock)

Farmworkers Could Get Overtime Pay Under WA Bill

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington state farmworkers could be poised to receive overtime pay under a measure in the Legislature. Senate Bill 5172 would …

Twenty states and the District of Columbia automatically restore a person's right to vote once they're released from prison. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Restore Voting Rights for People After Prison Release

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington lawmakers could restore voting rights for people after they've been released from prison. House Bill 1078 would allow …

The Long-Term Care Trust Act will allow Washingtonians to claim up to $100 a day in care benefits. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Would Expand State's Long-Term Care Fund Eligibility

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A measure in the Washington Legislature would expand the state's innovative model for affordable long-term care. The Long-term …

On average, a working woman in Washington state makes about 78 cents for every dollar a man makes. (Monster Ztudio/Adobe Stock)

Equal Pay Day Obscures Struggles of Women of Color

SEATTLE -- Today is Equal Pay Day, which represents how long into 2021 a woman would have to work in order to earn what a man did, on average…

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