Week in Review: The Legislature, the Film Commission, and tiny shampoo bottles

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with KUOW’s Mike Davis, Seattle Channel’s Brian Callanan, and Seattle Times David Kroman.

On Tuesday, The Washington Senate passed a bill that would allow an increase in housing density, ordering cities to build duplexes and fourplexes. The goal is to combat housing shortages in the state, which has resulted in rising rent and home ownership prices. The bill now heads back to the House.

On Friday, a U.S. District Court Judge in Texas suspended the FDA approval of mifepristone, a commonly used abortion medication. Shortly after that ruling, a U.S. District Court Judge in Washington state ruled that the FDA should not alter the status quo as it relates to the drug. On Monday, the FDA appealed the Texas ruling with the U.S. Court of Appeals, and the Justice Department asked for an expedited decision in case they need to “seek relief” in the Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, the House narrowly passed a bill that will loosen restrictions for chasing criminals if they have “reasonable suspicion” that a crime has been committed. Reasonable suspicion is defined as “present when the officer has an objective belief, based on specific and articulable facts.”

Additionally, officers could chase a suspect as long as the suspect poses a serious risk of harm to others. The House version now heads back to the Senate. In other legislative news, the Washington Senate passed a ban on assault-style rifles, the House passed a bill to make drug possession a misdemeanor, and the Washington Legislature vote to permanently repeal the death penalty.

In an effort to attract more film-related projects to Seattle, the Seattle City Council created a new film commission last year. Last week, submissions began being accepted for the eleven seats on the commission. Five members will be selected by City Council, five members by the Mayor, and one will be seated by the Film Commission once assembled.