There were 1,656 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 413,673 in the last 365 days.

Friday, June 2

“It will make an impact. But the impact will be more muted than I hoped,” says the bill’s lead sponsor.

Domestic violence law’s supporters see upsides and unfinished work
In the waning hours of their 2023 session, lawmakers pushed through a 43-page bill to strengthen Washington’s safety net for victims in domestic violence cases. The legislation takes steps to expand training for cops and judges, toughen requirements on suspects to surrender weapons and deploy special teams to identify and intercede in cases with a high risk of resulting in homicide. The legislation will also deliver a model policy for the use of electronic monitoring, with victim notification technology, and establish a research center at the University of Washington to suss out the most effective strategies for preventing violence among intimate partners. Supporters were glad to see the bill pass. But it’s also narrower than some had hoped for. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Getty Images)


Henry Cagey, a member of the Lummi Nation Business Council, stands next to the Lummi Bay Market near the Silver Reef Casino Resort on the Lummi Reservation last month. Gov. Jay Inslee doesn’t think Washington should exempt tribal gas stations from climate laws.

Inslee rebuffs tribes seeking relief after WA climate laws boost gas prices
Gov. Jay Inslee doesn’t think Washington should exempt tribal gas stations from climate laws that have driven up fuel prices across the state since taking effect at the start of this year, he told tribal leaders this week. Having made no inroads with Inslee, tribal leaders may now turn to the Legislature, Tom Wooten, chair of the Samish Nation, said Thursday. In a written statement, Tony Hillaire, chair of the Lummi Nation, said that “this issue is about our sacred and inherent responsibility to take care of our home, ourselves and each other. We are not the ones who have created the crisis caused by development and fossil fuel extraction. But we certainly pay the highest price,” he added, citing habitat loss and degradation for salmon and shellfish. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)


Family of WSU hazing victim working with UW students on national database to track incidents
Sam Martinez, a freshman at Washington State University, died in 2019 from alcohol poisoning. In 2022, Martinez’s parents helped convince legislators to pass a law requiring all clubs and organizations at Washington colleges report incidents of hazing. In 2023, lawmakers increased penalties for hazing, by passing the “Sam Martinez Stop Hazing Law.” They’re now preparing to take their anti-hazing message nationwide, thanks to help from University of Washington students. They also want Congress to pass federal laws requiring colleges list hazing incidents as part of annual campus safety reports along with crimes like bike thefts, harassment, and sexual assault. Continue reading at KING5.


Axios
‘Shrooms go mainstream with Washington state medical trial

Capital Press
Washington Grain Commission in ‘strong position,’ approves $8.6 million budget

Everett Herald
At panel, mental health experts brainstorm answers to staff shortages
‘We’ve at least come a little ways’: Snohomish to host first Pride event

News Tribune
‘Riot’ at Tacoma juvenile detention center causes $35,000 in damages, police report says       

Olympian
Former Days Inn motel set to welcome area homeless June 19, Lacey official says       

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle council member has backed away from police defunding
Seattle tops nation in spending on parks, survey finds

Seattle Medium
Ferries Cancel Trips Due To Shortage Of Workers
WA Passes Historical Bathroom Access Law For Truckers (Berry, Santos, Reed, Fosse)
Huge Shortage Projected In School Camera Funds

Seattle Times
Skagit County pays $250,000 to settle lawsuit alleging ex-deputy falsified an arrest report
Inslee rebuffs tribes seeking relief after WA climate laws boost gas prices
King County issues debris burn ban as region sees warmer weather
Emergency repairs underway at Skagit River jetty after hundreds of dead baby salmon were found

Washington Post
Senate passes debt ceiling bill, sending it to Biden to sign into law

WA State Standard
Domestic violence law’s supporters see upsides and unfinished work (Davis, Dhingra)

Yakima Herald-Republic
ACLU warns Yakima County commissioners about proposed homeless encampment policy
Comment: Get guns out of domestic abusers’ hands

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma woman with tuberculosis detained after refusing treatment
Family of WSU hazing victim working with UW students on national database to track incidents
King County Regional Homelessness Authority unanimously approves 5-year plan

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington State Ferries staff discuss service restoration, proposed fare increase
Fentanyl crisis clashes with eviction regulations for Seattle landlord
Frustrations grow as Burien encampment is swept and no new plan emerges

KNKX Public Radio
The U.S. added 339,000 jobs in May. It’s a stunningly strong number

KUOW Public Radio
Community court is ending in Seattle. What does that mean for defendants?
Amazon must pay over $30 million over claims it invaded privacy with Ring and Alexa

Crosscut
SCOTUS rules WA company can sue union over strike-related damage
King County home values drop for the first time in a decade
Climate hazards are the Duwamish Valley’s top concern, survey finds