Washington News & Current Events | Public News Service

"Tulip Harvest" by Jesus Guillen was among the work displayed in a retrospective of the artist's life and work. (Kris Ekstrand)

Monday, September 20, 2021

Work of WA Artist Who Depicted Farmworkers' Lives Recognized

LA CONNER, Wash. - The exhibit of an artist who depicted the lives of farmworkers in northwest Washington has been recognized for its quality…

Puget Sound Agrarian Commons' property on Whidbey Island is about an hour north of Seattle. (Northwest Meadowscapes)

Monday, September 20, 2021

WA Project Aims to Reshape Access to Farmland

WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. - A farming project on a Puget Sound island is looking to reshape agriculture and access to land. The nonprofit Agrarian …

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has proposed $1 billion in culvert removal and restoration for salmon in the budget-reconciliation bill. (Bill Perry/Adobe Stock)

Outfitters, Guides Close Doors as Salmon, Steelhead Numbers Drop

SEATTLE -- Closed fisheries from imperiled fish runs in the Columbia River Basin are prompting calls for action before it's too late. Steelhead …

The Washington Federation of State Employees began bargaining with the state on the terms of the vaccine mandate on Aug. 16. (Damir Khabirov/Adobe Stock)

WA's Largest Public Union Reaches Pact on Vaccine Mandate

SEATTLE - Washington state's largest union of public workers has reached an agreement with the state on Gov. Jay Inslee's vaccine mandate. The deal …

In order to receive meals from the Feeding Our Communities program, about 120 cars line up every Thursday. (United Way of King County)

Breaking Cultural Barriers to Feed Communities

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - An organization in one Washington state city is bringing together diverse communities and breaking down barriers to food…

Congress is providing more than $400 million to current and former foster youths through a pandemic aid program. (elizabeth lara/EyeEm/Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Aid Available for Former Foster Youth in WA

SEATTLE - Foster care alumni in Washington state have one month left to apply for pandemic aid. As part of a large relief package in Congress last …

Nearly three-quarters of Washingtonians say they're at least somewhat concerned about a surprise medical bill. (Valeri Luzina/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Washingtonians Seek Quality Health Care at Affordable Price

SEATTLE - The COVID-19 pandemic has put into sharp focus the quality of health care for Washingtonians. According to a new poll, more than three …

Nearly 60% of Washingtonians have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

As Vaccine Misinformation Persists, Site Helps WA Union Members

SEATTLE -- Accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine can be elusive, prompting the Washington State Labor Council to set up a website to answer …

About 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will need long-term services in their lifetime. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Private Long-Term Insurance Costly Alternative to WA Cares Fund

SEATTLE - Washington state has established a long-term care fund for working people, but advocates of the program are concerned about predatory …

Gas stoves increase the risk of respiratory disease for children, research shows. (dglimages/Adobe Stock)

As Fires Rage Outside, Indoor Air Risks Could Also Be Lurking

SEATTLE -- Wildfire smoke is a hazard to many Washingtonians right now, but health experts say some might not get the relief they need inside their …

There are more than 2,000 people incarcerated in the Monroe Correctional Complex, located in a small southeast Washington town. (SounderBruce/Wikimedia Commons)

As Redistricting Begins, New WA Law Ends 'Prison Gerrymandering'

OLYMPIA, Wash. - The recent release of detailed Census data means states can begin drawing up new voting maps. In Washington state, a new law will …

About 13 million children may experience food insecurity in 2021, according to Feeding America. (Renee Jansoa/Adobe Stock)

Helping Communities Take Lead to Feed WA Children

SEATTLE - A growing number of Washington state kids are hungry because of the pandemic. Local programs are aiming to reverse this troubling trend…

More than a quarter of high school students reported worsening emotional and cognitive health since March 2020, according to Kaiser Family Foundation research. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Tips for Supporting Kids' Well-Being as School Year Approaches

SEATTLE -- Students are set to return to the classroom in Washington, fueling a mix of emotions. Health and education professionals have some tips …

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW represents more than 30,000 health-care workers across Washington state, including at Harborview Medical Center. (SoundersBruce/Flickr)

WA Workers Feel Disrespected After Challenging Year

SEATTLE -- Washington state workers who showed up throughout the pandemic are feeling disrespected by their employers as the state opens up. About 1,…

Western State Hospital opened a special ward to treat about ten of its most violent patients.(Washington Federation of State Employees)

WA Psychiatric Hospital Workers Call for Greater Protections

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Western State Hospital workers are continuing to call for changes to protect their safety. Assaults on staff are a major concern …

Washington state farmworker Honesto Silva Ibarra died in hot conditions in 2017. (Edgar Franks)

In Olympia, Calls for Greater Safeguards Against Heat for Farmworkers

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Farmworkers are in Olympia today, calling for stronger protections from extreme heat. The farmworkers union Familias Unidas por la …

Struggling salmon also are bad news for the orcas of the Northwest that rely on them. (Conrad Gowell/Columbia Riverkeeper)

NW Heat Boils Salmon, Drives Rallies Across Region

SEATTLE -- Rallies are taking place across the Northwest to support salmon, which face dire conditions in the Columbia River Basin. Saturday…

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

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 …

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