Listen Now

Innovative 'Land Bank' Could Bring More Affordable Housing to WA Washingtonians are feeling the squeeze from high housing prices, but a novel concept launching in Spokane could speed up the creation of affordable housing. The Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium (SLIHC) is creating a land bank to acquire land and set it aside for affordable housing. The land bank was launched in part with a $45,000 grant from the GoWest Foundation, which works with credit unions in the West. ...(Read More)

Senate Passage Brings Hope Bill Could Rein In Prescription Costs The U.S. Senate has passed a bill which could dramatically reduce prescription drug prices for older Americans. The Inflation Reduction Act includes investments of nearly $370 billion in programs to reduce the effects of climate change, as well as changes aimed at capping prescription drug costs. ...(Read More)

Call for Immigrant Resource Center on Anniversary of WA Farmworker Death People in northwest Washington are holding a vigil at Bellingham City Hall for an immigrant farmworker who died five years ago, and calling for a resource center to help other residents. Honesto Silva Ibarra died in 2017 while working in triple-digit heat. A state investigation of Ibarra's death found the farm where he worked violated requirements for regular breaks. ...(Read More)

So Far, Child-Care Industry Left Out of Senate Reconciliation Package Child care advocates say there is a big hole in the reconciliation package being considered by the U.S. Senate. Support for the child care industry is not yet part of negotiations on a bill known as the Inflation Reduction Act, which does include provisions to address climate change and the cost of health care. ...(Read More)

Report: University Faculty See Biggest Pay Decrease in 50 Years College faculty across the country saw the biggest decrease in their wages in nearly a half century, according to an annual report. The American Association of University Professors finds average pay for full-time faculty increased 2% in fall 2021, compared with 2020. However, when inflation is factored in, real wages actually decreased 5%. ...(Read More)

Groups Fill Food-Access Gaps in WA School District When school districts are not able to provide summer-school classes, it can have a big effect on how children get meals. Case in point: the Mount Adams School District in the Yakima Valley, where staffing shortages mean about 800 kids won't have breakfast and lunch meal options this summer. Groups like Yakima Valley Partners for Education and the Peacekeeper Society are stepping up to fill the gap, in communities like White Swan and Harrah. ...(Read More)

Training Provides Crucial Role for Thousands of WA Caregivers Caregivers provide critical support to people across Washington state. They also get support of their own. SEIU 775 Benefits Group has provided training to caregivers since 2010. ...(Read More)

With Pandemic Numbers Decreasing, Docs Urge Colon Cancer Screening Cancer screenings are important tools for health professionals, but some worry the pandemic could dampen numbers. In particular, screenings for colorectal cancers are key for people starting at age 45 - or younger for people with a family history of these cancers. Dr. ...(Read More)

Con la disminución de cifras de pandemia, médicos recomiendan pruebas de detección de cáncer de colon Las pruebas de detección de cáncer son herramientas importantes para los profesionales de la salud, pero a algunos les preocupa que la pandemia pueda disminuir los números. En particular, las pruebas de detección de cáncer colorrectal que son clave a partir de los 45 años de edad, o antes para las personas con antecedentes familiares. La doctora Maggie Chin es médica familiar en Kaiser Permanente en Lynnwood. ...(Read More)

Unions Warn of Potential Effect on Jobs from WA Timber, Schools Proposal Washington state's top education official is proposing a change to how timber revenue is used for schools. Unions are urging caution so the policy doesn't result in unintended consequences for workers. Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has proposed no longer using money from timber sales on state-owned lands for urban-area school construction. ...(Read More)

Demanda del mapa de votación en el valle de Yakima en WA no afectará elecciones de 2022 Está en curso una demanda que impugna el nuevo mapas de votación legislativa del estado de Washington, pero no afectará las elecciones primarias o de mitad de período de este año. La demanda alega que el mapa estatal de la Comisión de Redistribución de Distritos del Estado de Washington en el Valle de Yakima reduce los votos para la creciente población de habitantes de ascendencia latina en la región. Ernest Herrera es el abogado regional del Fondo Educativo y de Defensa Legal Mexicano-Estadounidense, que forma parte de la demanda. ...(Read More)

WA Voting Map Lawsuit in Yakima Valley Won't Affect 2022 Elections A lawsuit challenging Washington state's new legislative map is underway, but it will not affect this year's primary or midterm elections. The suit alleges the Washington State Redistricting Commission's state map in the Yakima Valley dilutes votes for the region's growing population of Washingtonians of Latin heritage. Ernest Herrera, western regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which is part of the lawsuit, explained the group's concern. ...(Read More)

Report: Toxic Waste from BC Mines Presents Urgent Threat to NW A new report released today details the potentially disastrous threats mines in British Columbia pose to Washington and other states in the Northwest. Toxic liquid waste from mines, known as tailings, is stored behind dozens of dams in British Columbia. The analysis estimates there are at least 2.5 billion cubic meters of tailings stored in the Canadian province, or enough to fill one million Olympic-sized pools. ...(Read More)

Report: 1 Million-Plus in WA Have Some College, No Credential The number of people with some higher education but no degree or other credential to show for it has increased in recent years, according to a new report. The number of Washingtonians with "some college" is especially stark. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found about 1.1 million Washington state students without a credential. ...(Read More)

Research Undermines Narrative of Youth-Led Crime Wave Crime rates among young people have dropped dramatically in recent decades - despite media coverage that points to a supposed "crime wave" led by youth. That's the finding in a recent report from The Sentencing Project, which shows the proportion of overall arrests of kids under 18 was cut in half between 2000 and 2019. Karen Pillar director of policy and advocacy at TeamChild, a legal advocacy group for youth in Washington state. ...(Read More)

Rivers Month: Calls to Protect Olympic Peninsula's Unique Waterways June is National Rivers Month, and supporters are calling for greater protections of the Olympic Peninsula's rivers and landscapes. The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in Congress would protect more than 126,000 acres as wilderness and designate 19 rivers and their tributaries as wild and scenic. The legislation has received support from local elected officials, tribes, businesses and conservation groups. ...(Read More)

New Tree Canopy Assessment Has Puget Sound Covered Trees in urban areas provide a number of benefits, from shade to cleaner air. Authors of a new assessment hope Puget Sound cities and towns will keep that in mind as the region sees rapid growth. The Urban Tree Canopy Assessment provides planning resources so forest managers can better prioritize where they plant trees in central Puget Sound. ...(Read More)

Election Experts Urge Vigilance Against Misinformation Ahead of WA Primary Washington state's primary election is coming up, and election officials are calling on voters to be vigilant about misinformation. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said misinformation at election time has become more prevalent. He said local election officials are being more proactive and encourages people who have questions about the voting process to reach out to their local county auditor. ...(Read More)

Pandemic Major Factor in Legal Cases of Medical Carelessness Medical negligence cases in Washington and elsewhere have taken on a new shape during the pandemic, as hospital resources have been strained and the potential usefulness of certain treatments has ebbed and flowed. Drugs like ivermectin, for instance, were touted online as a potential COVID-19 treatment but ultimately lacked scientific evidence to back up those claims. Elizabeth Calora is a Tacoma lawyer who specializes in medical negligence cases. ...(Read More)

WA Leaders Ask for Comment on Dam Removal Proposal A report from leaders in Washington state lays out how the services of four dams on the lower Snake River could be replaced in order to save ailing salmon species in the region. Now, the public has an opportunity to comment on it. The draft report comes from Washington Gov. ...(Read More)