“Panic:” Local Families Feeling The Pinch Of High Inflation
“The panic, the high anxiety is what we hear and what we see; they are very afraid,” Christian said. The steep rise in inflation is straining households’ ability to keep families fed and forcing area food banks to keep up with increased demand as prices of food surge without an end in sight. Low-income families and racial minorities are particularly vulnerable to the highest inflation rate in 40 years because they spend a larger portion of their income on necessities like food. The end of the Biden administration’s Child Tax Credit that was part of the American Rescue Plan helped families cope with the pandemic’s economic downturn, but the measure expired at the end of 2021. Continue reading at The Seattle Medium. (Cesar Canizales)

15 Washington counties have high Covid levels
A total of 15 counties in Washington state are experiencing high Covid community levels. According to the CDC, six of those are in Western Washington, including: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Lewis, Pierce, and Thurston counties. The remaining nine counties in Eastern Washington include: Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Spokane, Ferry, Lincoln, Walla Walla, Columbia, and Asotin. Community Covid levels in King and Snohomish counties are medium. The CDC recommends that people in areas with high community levels mask up again while indoors and on public transportation. Continue reading at KUOW. (CDC)

Lawmakers seek protections for abortion access in Washington state
In Washington state, where abortion remains legal, more people are seeking help, according to Jennifer Allen, the Chief Executive Officer at Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. “We are seeing patients from all over the country already,” said Allen. Allen said that began right after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and a number of states started banning or blocking abortions. The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is concerned it will eventually overwhelm clinics here. “We don’t know what it will mean to our system… when abortion becomes illegal in Idaho and when many, many more patients start crossing the border for care,” said Allen. Continue reading at KING 5.

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MyNorthwest
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