Your morning news digest from KUOW | Friday, Mar. 1
Inslee 2020 // Melania Trump // Measles update // National emergency // Transgender bill // Business responsibility // Bump stock buyback // Steel tariffs // Everett flights // Salmon returns // Bystander intervention
Inslee 2020
Gov. Inslee’s officially in the running for the 2020 presidential race. He’s calling his campaign effort “America's Climate Mission."
Melania Trump
The first lady of the United States will be in the Seattle area Monday. She plans to visit a local tech company to promote her "Be Best" initiative and learn more about programs aimed at teaching online safety to young people.
Be aware — her visit and motorcade could snarl traffic.
Measles update
After going several days without reports of any new cases, the measles outbreak could be growing again in Clark County. Health officials there are now investigating four new suspected cases.
There have been 65 confirmed measles cases in Clark County, four in the Portland area, and one in King County.
McMorris Rodgers' national emergency legislation
Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is co-sponsoring legislation to reform how presidents use national emergencies. She voted this week with Democrats to approve a House resolution to overturn Trump's national emergency action.
The Republican says she still backs President Trump's attempt to build a wall along the southern border, though she thinks Trump's declaration of a national emergency is the wrong way to get it done.
The new legislation on national emergencies would end a president's action unless Congress approved.
Transgender bill
A bill designed to protect transgender students in public schools is now heading to the state House of Representatives. It would require the superintendent of public instruction and the school administrators association to develop strategies that would eliminate gender-identity discrimination.
Democrats say the measure will help prevent certain cases from being overlooked but Republicans argue it takes authority away from local school districts.
Business responsibility
Does a company owe anything to its city? Microsoft president Brad Smith says yes. Smith spoke at Seattle University last night, where he was asked about Seattle's conflict with Amazon over a tax on jobs.
Earlier this year Microsoft pledged $500 million for affordable housing in the Seattle area. Smith said he was not trying to tell Amazon how to behave.
HQ2 take two?
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and a group of business owners, are trying to lure Amazon back to their state. In an ad in today's New York times they're promising to take personal responsibility to make sure Amazon's HQ2 gets approved if it tries for a second go-round.
Amazon decided not to build a second headquarters in Queens after some local unions and activists protested the two billion dollars in grants and tax breaks the state offered to Amazon.
The deal would have created up to 40-thousand jobs in the area. No word yet if Amazon will reconsider.
Bump stock buyback
The state Senate has approved $150,000 in funding for a 2019 bump stock buyback program. Lawmakers banned the devices last year but failed to set aside money to pay owners $150 for turning them in.
The measure now moves to the House for consideration.
Steel tariffs
Are tariffs on foreign steel pushing the renovation project at Colman Dock into the red?
Washington State Ferries officials say they've seen a 24 percent increase in their steel costs since the tariffs went into effect last fall. So now the department is asking lawmakers in Olympia for another 95 million dollars to complete the retrofit, which has been going on for about two years .
The total price tag is now expected to reach upwards of $468 million, which is significantly higher than the original estimates
Everett flights
People in the north Sound will have a new way get out of town come Monday morning. That's when Alaska Airlines will start offering flights out of Everett's Paine Field. United Airlines will begin its service March 31, 2019.
Salmon returns
Fewer than 30,000 wild Chinook are expected to return to the Puget Sound, which is bad news for fishermen and our local orcas, which rely on the fish for food.
The Seattle Times reports salmon returns throughout the state are predicted to be down by 14 percent this year (compared to last year) and half the 10-year average.
Bystander intervention
If you see someone being harassed, support the victim and ignore the perpetrator.
