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State Supreme Court: Inslee, Washington must protect inmates from virus
The Washington Supreme Court has told Gov. Jay Inslee to protect the health of inmates in the state during the coronavirus outbreak.
Lives Lost: At 97, World War II vet takes a final road
In his final months, Bill Chambers couldn’t walk, but he found peace in motion. Three times a week, his oldest daughter, Patty Cooper, would meet him at the adult family home where he lived with four other World War II veterans. The caretakers would load him into her Volvo SUV, and she would drive him through the forests, farmlands and suburbs east of Seattle. He knew the roads well. In about 30 years working for the county, he helped build most of them. Chambers, 97, died March 14 at the home in Kirkland. He wasn’t obviously ill, but tested positive for COVID-19 after he passed.
WSU ‘vulnerability index’ highlights communities most at risk of dying from COVID-19
Washington State University researchers have mapped which parts of the state may be most vulnerable to COVID-19 – down to individual census tracts – using mortality data for chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.
Monroe prison back under control after inmates protest COVID-19 moves
Order was restored at Monroe Corrections Center after an estimated 50 inmates protested an effort to move some prisoners to new living units as part of efforts to control a COVID-19 outbreak, state officials said Thursday.
Field hospital at CenturyLink center not needed, headed elsewhere
A military field hospital set up in recent weeks at the CenturyLink exhibition center will be sent elsewhere because Washington apparently won’t need it.
DOC evaluates ‘release options’ after employees test positive for COVID-19 at prisons, including Airway Heights
Washington’s Department of Corrections now has a dozen employees who have tested positive for COVID-19, including a staffer at the Airway Heights Corrections Center, fueling concerns about the potential for a severe outbreak in the state prison system.
Report: Healthy water supply available for irrigation season in Yakima Basin
A report has shown that the Yakima Basin water reservoir is about 102% of normal for this time of year, meaning farmers and fish in Washington state are expected to receive a healthy supply of water this year.
Pullman Regional Hospital faces financial hardships amid preparations to treat coronavirus patients
PRH announced Thursday it would cut all hourly and salary employees’ pay by 25% over the next 60 days in an effort to maintain the necessary cash to keep the doors open. With elective surgeries and outpatient procedures all but canceled, the health care center must rely on donations and dwindling options for state and federal assistance to keep the lights on.
Boeing’s production halt due to coronavirus extended past Wednesday
The company in an email to Washington employees said it is extending the planned two-week shutdown rather than reopening Wednesday. The decision affects about 30,000 of Boeing’s 70,000 employees in the state.
As state settles on guidelines about who would get care in worst-case scenario, disability advocates raise flags
Who gets to live – and who doesn’t? It’s a decision no physician ever wants to make. In the midst of a global pandemic, however, such unwelcome decisions may have to be made. To prepare, Washington, like, states across the country, is adopting standards to guide such life-and-death decisions.
Washington nonprofit files lawsuit saying Fox News misled viewers about coronavirus
The suit, filed on behalf of the Washington League for Increased Transparency and Ethics (WASHLITE), alleges Fox News engaged in unfair or deceptive acts by representing the coronavirus as a hoax in broadcasts that aired in February and March. Those broadcasts caused viewers to fail to adequately protect themselves or mitigate the virus’ spread, and therefore contributed to the public-health crisis and preventable mass death, the lawsuit says.
Chewelah teacher starts YouTube channel to reach students
“I wondered how I could reach kids as a music teacher and as a gifted program teacher,” longtime Gess Elementary teacher Jeff Kersey said. “The obvious answer was email until I considered all the rural families without high speed access. YouTube streams well on phones as well as computers, and most people have cell phone access.”
High demand for apples keeps production workers on the line with new safeguards
Production workers in apple industry face new safeguards to keep COVID-19 at bay while meeting high demand.
Life Care Center of Kirkland, epicenter of Seattle-area coronavirus outbreak, faces $611,000 fine
Federal inspectors have found that a Kirkland nursing home failed to provide adequate care to residents during a novel coronavirus outbreak that claimed 37 lives, and that staff members continued to admit new residents well after they knew a respiratory illness was spreading at the facility.
Inslee to talk about Washington’s ongoing COVID-19 efforts at 5 p.m.
With the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order due to expire next week and COVID-19 cases climbing, Gov. Jay Inslee will address the state’s continuing response to coronavirus at 5 p.m. this evening.
Jobless benefit claims in state skyrocket; 12,000 file for unemployment in Spokane County in 1 week
Unemployment claims continued to skyrocket last week as Washington’s stay-home order took a further toll on construction, retail and manufacturing jobs around the state.
Bellevue dentist arrested on arson charges after office fire
A Bellevue dentist was accused of using lighter fluid and accelerant to set fires in his exam and X-ray rooms after being evicted from his office for failing to pay rent, King County prosecutors said.
Metaline Falls border station to implement reduced hours of operation
The Metaline Falls, Washington, port of entry at the U.S.-Canada border, closed to nonessential travel, announced plans on Wednesday to implement reduced hours of operation.
Another company billing itself as offering faith-based health coverage ordered to stop selling in state
OneShare Health is the latest firm targeted by Mike Kreidler, who argues several companies selling health coverage policies don’t fit state and federal definitions for “health care sharing ministries.”
‘We’re deeply impacted’: Closure of U.S.-Canadian border disrupts life in towns that straddle it
Small towns close to the U.S.-Canada border are feeling the effects of shelter-in-place orders, in some cases separating families on opposite sides of the border.