The Daily Chronicle

FILE PHOTO — Moderna COVID-19 vaccine dosages sit on a table as medical professionals work to distribute them to vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those in multi-generational households at the Cooks Hill Community Church in Centralia.

Small Number of Fully Vaccinated People in Washington Test Positive for COVID

Among the more than 1 million Washingtonians who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 102 people have tested positive for COVID-19 more than two weeks after their vaccinations, the state … more

Sara Jean Green / The Seattle Times | 3/31/21

Washington Legislature Passes Bill That Will Close Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma

The Washington state Legislature took action Tuesday to shut down the Northwest detention center in Tacoma, one of the largest facilities in the country holding people the government is seeking to … more

Nina Shapiro / The Seattle Times | 3/31/21

Syringes are prepped inside the Community Event Building in the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds during a vaccine distribution event last January.

Two Million More Washingtonians Are Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccines

For months, Janelle Pfeifer has felt a tinge of fear whenever a customer comes into the busy Pike Place Market restaurant where she works. Sometimes she feels more like a babysitter than a restaurant … more

Paige Cornwell / The Seattle Times | 3/31/21

Investigation Finds More Deadly Delays in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment at Washington State Prisons

The cracked, bleeding lesion on Michael Boswell's back started out the size of the end of a Q-tip, his sister recalls, but rapidly grew to the size of a half dollar, and then a silver dollar … more

Jim Brunner / The Seattle Times | 3/30/21

Woman Injured After Jumping Out of Moving Patrol Vehicle on I-5

A woman was seriously injured Monday afternoon when she reportedly jumped out of a moving Clark County deputy's patrol vehicle on Interstate 5 near Ridgefield. The woman's identity was not … more

Jessica Prokop / The Columbian | 3/30/21

Small Businesses Strained by Pandemic Can Apply for Grants of Up to $25,000 in Washington State

Starting Monday, many small businesses in Washington that have been financially hurt by COVID-19 restrictions can apply for grants of up to $25,000 from the state Department of Commerce. The … more

Paul Roberts / The Seattle Times | 3/30/21

Is Washington State Taking Too Many Children From Their Parents? Movement Seeks to Overhaul Foster Care

Esther Taylor remembers everyone tensing up. She was 8, and didn't understand everything going on. But she knew a social worker had confronted her mom about the way Taylor and her siblings were … more

Nina Shapiro / The Seattle Times | 3/30/21

Bail Set at $150,000 for JBLM Soldiers Accused of Kidnapping Domino’s Driver

A Thurston County Superior Court commissioner set bail at $150,000 each for two active-duty soldiers accused of robbing and kidnapping a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver last weekend. On … more

By Martin Bilbao / The Olympian | 3/30/21

Navy Battles Bedbug Infestation on Washington-Based Submarine

This month, the Navy has been hard at work fighting a war against an infestation of bedbugs aboard a nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S.S. Connecticut, at its homeport in Bremerton. Navy … more

Abbie Shull / The News Tribune | 3/30/21

Governor Jay Inslee talks during a press conference at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis in 2019.

Gov. Inslee Urges Action on Climate Change Bills

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee promoted two bills advancing through the Legislature that would address the increasing effects of climate change while adding family-wage jobs. In a speech at a … more

Robert Mittendorf / The Bellingham Herald | 3/30/21

Domino’s Delivery Driver Kidnapped at Gunpoint Over the Weekend, Olympia Police Say

A 19-year-old Domino’s Pizza delivery driver was kidnapped at gunpoint over the weekend, according to Olympia police. The two male suspects, 19 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of … more

By Rolf Boone / The Olympian | 3/29/21

Students sport masks as they walk to their classes during their first week back in school at Centralia High School.

Washington State Seeks Federal Waiver to Do Much Less K-12 Standardized Testing This Spring

Washington state education officials are seeking a waiver from federal requirements to conduct wide-scale standardized testing of public school students this spring, proposing instead to test a … more

Dahlia Bazzaz / The Seattle Times | 3/29/21

Washington State Finds More Than 600 COVID-19 Cases Caused by Closely Watched Variants

Laboratories in Washington state have identified more than 600 cases of COVID-19 caused by coronavirus variants that state and federal officials are tracking closely, according to a report released … more

Evan Bush and Sandi Doughton / The Seattle Times | 3/29/21

Kidnapping Suspect Arrested at Mexico Border 12 Years After Taking Washington Girl

KENNEWICK — A man was arrested at the Mexico border this month, more than 12 years after kidnapping a Kennewick girl. Police have hunted for Enrique Diaz since July 2008 when he took off … more

Cameron Probert / Tri-City Herald | 3/28/21

FILE PHOTO — Senator Patty Murray attends a meeting with members of the community and school district at Toledo High School in 2018.

Sen. Patty Murray Backs Creating Exemption to Filibuster Rule to Pass Democrats' Sweeping Voting Reform Package

WASHINGTON — Amid mounting frustration among congressional Democrats over a rule that requires a 60-vote majority to pass most Senate legislation, Sen. Patty Murray said Friday she is open to … more

Orion Donovan-Smith / The Spokesman-Review | 3/28/21 | 1 comment

A bag of fentanyl pills, as seen on July 2, 2018. (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration)

The 'Scourge' of Fentanyl Is Rising in Washington, and Experts Say the Pandemic Is Likely to Blame

The illicit opioid called "a scourge" by local law enforcement became more available and abused in Washington state during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent reports from the Drug Enforcement … more

Kip Hill / The Spokesman-Review | 3/28/21 | 1 comment

Former Washington Employment Security Commissioner Suzi LeVine speaks at a news conference in April 2020.

'We're in for the Long Haul Here': Recalling the First Tsunami of Jobless Claims

This week marks a traumatic anniversary for many Washingtonians: One year ago, the state reported the first big wave of jobless claims as the economy shut down under COVID-19. The report showed … more

Paul Roberts / The Seattle Times | 3/27/21

Herrera Beutler Repeats Themes of Bipartisanship During Telephone Town Hall

In a telephone town hall with constituents, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, repeatedly swung the conversation around to bipartisanship. In response to questions about a wide range of … more

Calley Hair / The Columbian | 3/27/21

The Washington State Capitol building is seen in Olympia.

House Democrats Release $58 Billion Two-Year Budget Proposal They Say 'Makes Investments in People'

OLYMPIA — After a year of uncertainty, state lawmakers have released their plans to fund the state's COVID-19 fight and economic recovery for the next two years, using state money, federal … more

Laurel Demkovich / The Spokesman-Review | 3/27/21 | 1 comment

FILE PHOTO — U.S. Army National Guardsmen and members of the Washington State Patrol stand within a fence as protests continue outside of the Washington State Capitol building in January.

Mysterious Mailer Slams Lawmakers for Trying to Change Washington State's Estate Tax

The mystery mailer hitting Seattle-area mailboxes has all the elements of a tawdry campaign piece. There's a generic picture of a bearded man in a suit in the top corner of the mailer, with a … more

Joseph O'Sullivan / The Seattle Times | 3/27/21