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Washington unemployment benefit requests up 28% last week as state bombarded by fraudulent claims
The state of Washington received 138,733 new requests for jobless benefits last week, bringing the total number of claims filed to more than 1.6 million since the beginning of March, the state Employment Security Department reported Thursday.
Burundi holds crucial presidential election amid pandemic
A crucial election appeared peaceful Wednesday in the East African nation of Burundi, where President Pierre Nkurunziza is stepping aside after a divisive 15-year rule but will remain “paramount leader” in the country that often rejects outside scrutiny.
Gregoire: Business leaders shifted focus to fight COVID-19 as the outbreak began to take hold
When COVID-19 began to establish an early foothold in America’s Northwest corner, a group of Seattle-area business executives shifted from its efforts to expand the regional economy to find a way to fight the virus.
Rural hospitals reopen with extra safety precautions in place
Rural counties in the Inland Northwest avoided COVID-19 outbreaks this spring, and now, rural hospitals are finally reopening, bringing back furloughed employees and ready to welcome back patients.
Fresh misconduct claims surface in student’s shooting death
The parents of a University of Utah student killed on campus by an ex-boyfriend said Monday they feel a fresh sense of betrayal after new allegations surfaced that a police officer investigating her report kept explicit photos that were intended as evidence.
Fed shipment of Q-tip-style coronavirus swabs puzzles Washington state officials, latest wrinkle in supply woes
Earlier this week, workers at a state health department warehouse in Tumwater, Thurston County, expected to receive a large shipment of 68,000 nasal swabs to help expand coronavirus testing in Washington. Instead, they received a surprise substitution: Dozens of boxes marked “Comforts For Baby Cotton Swabs” packed with what appeared to be thousands of Q-tips.
Washington governor retracts restaurant contact requirement
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says the state will not require restaurants to get customers’ contact information as initially planned as part of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Kroger offers Fred Meyer workers extra pay after outcry
The parent company of grocer Fred Meyer has announced it will provide “thank you” payments to hourly employees after a union outcry over the company ending a $2 per hour pay bump it implemented amid the coronavirus pandemic
Whitman County joins 8 others in move to Phase 2 of reopening
Whitman County got clearance to move to Phase 2 of the governor’s reopening plan on Friday, bringing the total to nine counties, including all of Spokane County’s neighbors.
‘It’s going to be a learning curve’: Lincoln County businesses prep to reopen ahead of most of state
Sherry Bakken was in her salon in Davenport on Thursday, cleaning, moving furniture to allow for a safe separation between future customers and otherwise preparing her business for reopening – a reopening that is coming much earlier than it is to most businesses in Washington.
‘Everybody sticks together’ in Garfield County, but they’ve stayed apart enough to reopen without a virus case
The residents of Garfield County are sticking together and limiting their exposure. Their commitment is paying off: no one has been infected with the coronavirus and their economy is set to reopen early.
Newport begins to return to ‘normalcy’ as rural counties cautiously reopen for business
Businesses in small towns like Newport are the first to be allowed to open in the state. While a few had the guidance and supplies they needed to open earlier this week, most opened didn’t have the chance to serve customers until Thursday.
University of Washington Medicine staff rally for better protections
Unionized University of Washington Medicine staff and labor organizers rallied at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Thursday, calling for better protections from the novel coronavirus and protesting planned furloughs and layoffs in the face of $500 million in losses during the current pandemic.
3 dead including suspected gunman at home near Sequim
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office says three people were found dead early Thursday in a shooting on the Olympic Peninsula near Sequim
Some ag workers walk off job in Yakima County over COVID-19
The Yakima Herald-Republic reported that on Wednesday more than 100 employees walked out of the Monson Fruit Co. in Selah.
Seattle sees 1st case of childhood disease tied to virus
Seattle has had its first confirmed case of a rare inflammatory disease in children closely tied to COVID-19.
Social distancing changes DNR’s firefighter tests
Prospective firefighters for the state Department of Natural Resources must complete a 3-mile course in 45 minutes – while wearing a 45-pound pack. But there’s good news for those who passed last year’s test: They don’t have to do it again.
Aircraft to spray invasive moths in northwest Washington
An aerial drop of insecticide to stop an invasive moth and to prevent forest foliage damage is scheduled Friday in parts of Washington state, officials said.
State agencies told to find almost $2 billion in savings, freeze hiring
Washington agencies will look for some $1.9 billion in budget cuts to accompany a freeze on hiring and equipment purchases ordered Wednesday by Gov. Jay Inslee.
Weathercatch: Anatomy of a 1-day cold front
Do you remember May 5, just nine days ago?