MLK Jr.’s dream not yet achieved, but still attainable, advocates say
Sixty years after Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, racial justice advocates say that dream has not been achieved. As Black Americans continue to face economic, social and systemic racism, those advocates point to social and policy changes that could push the country closer to King’s vision. Supporting communities, whether it be financially investing in predominantly Black public schools or improving health outcomes and access to health care, is the first step toward change. In order for King’s vision to be reached, ideological differences must be put aside. “We pretend that the dream was just that Black and white folks can hang out together or go to school together or that society allows interracial marriages and stuff like that,” said DaMareo Cooper, a political organizer. “But what he was really talking about is how do we create a society where everyone has economic opportunity … about being able to not only sit at the counter but to be able to pay for the food.” Continue reading at Bellingham Herald. (Jacquelyn Martin)

Incarcerated people in WA plead to limit use of solitary confinement
There are no state restrictions on the use of restrictive housing in adult facilities operated by the Department of Corrections, despite research showing that extended periods in solitary confinement, where an incarcerated person is alone for at least 20 hours per day, can lead to psychological deterioration and emotional breakdowns. A new bill working its way through the Legislature would restrict when prisons can use solitary confinement, but some prison staff say the use of solitary is necessary to protect their safety. House Bill 1087, sponsored by state Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Seattle, would restrict the use of solitary confinement to emergency use, medical isolation or for people who choose to go voluntarily (for protection, for example), with requirements for each of those situations. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Mike Siegel)

State must fully fund K-12 special education
Currently, the state’s funding model provides an average per-student baseline level of funds for school districts to serve their students. Districts have a federal obligation to identify and serve all children with disabilities within the district’s geographic boundaries. For students with disabilities, the state provides an additional amount of funds above the baseline, on an average basis, to recognize the costs of providing additional services. It’s because of the investments by the Legislature over the past few years that we have made such progress. To continue this trajectory, we must invest in the ongoing growth and transformation that is critical to improving student outcomes. It’s time for the state to fully fund special education services and eliminate the overreliance on local revenues — which districts do not have equal access to — to serve this population of students who are often furthest from educational justice. Continue reading at Everett Herald.

Aberdeen Daily World
Human service agencies partner to take on equity issues

Auburn Reporter
While many were found, work remains to protect Indigenous people  (Dhingra, Lekanoff)

Bellingham Herald
MLK Jr.’s dream not yet achieved, but still attainable, advocates say 

Columbian
Demand for electric vehicles continues to outpace supply in Clark County
Reducing, recycling easy in Clark County – but also tricky
Clark County hospital remain stressed

The Daily News
Longview splits from Cowlitz County homeless program to create its own

Everett Herald
They’re in an upbeat mood. We’ve got a definition of middle housing  (Jinkins)
Pickleball is the state sport; it may soon have a license plate (Lovick, Liias)
New law aims to break link between food waste, warming climate
Senate panel backs bill adding another judge in Snohomish County (Lovick)
Push begins for a pickleball license plate and a ban on octopus farming (Lovick, Peterson, Chapman)
Comment: State must fully fund K-12 special education
Comment: Don’t twist King’s words against what he fought for
Editorial: Funding, changes needed to deliver housing for all

Kitsap Sun
Poulsbo City Council approves new sales, use tax for transportation projects

News Tribune
She was having a massive stroke, but Puyallup cops jailed her for DUI. Now she is suing
Op-Ed: My wife had to die alone. Why WA’s ‘Death with Dignity’ law must change

Olympian
How should The Evergreen State College best retain its students? We asked them
Cheers at anti-airport town hall in Graham, but concerns persist over proposed facility

Peninsula Daily News
Bill would tighten DUI limit (Lovick, Chapman)

Port Townsend Leader
Seahawks score in Olympia

Puget Sound Business Journal
Here’s what cooling demand for air cargo may mean for Boeing

Seattle Times
More homeless people died in King County in 2022 than ever recorded before
Kirkland students push WA lawmakers to end gender-based pricing (Dhingra)
Incarcerated people in WA plead to limit use of solitary confinement (Peterson)

Skagit Valley Herald
La Conner suffers about $1.8 million in flood damage

Wenatchee World
Fatal car crashes spiked last year in Chelan and Douglas counties

Yakima Herald-Republic
Opinion: Why we must remember Martin Luther King Jr.

KING 5 TV (NBC)
In Session: Gov. Inslee’s housing referendum, fentanyl bill kickoff session  (Orwall)
Black-owned business marketplace draws community support during MLK holiday weekend
Washington State Ferries plans to add services for 2023

KNKX Public Radio
New state study fuels renewed efforts to ban toxic chemicals from cosmetics in Washington (Mena)

KUOW Public Radio
Week in Review: lawsuits, corporate changes, and the legislature
Hot take on Seattle schools social media lawsuit: ‘Moral panic’

Crosscut
Parasites are vanishing from WA waters. That should concern you.
‘The whole thing is broken’: Temp staffing costs strain WA hospitals

The Stranger
Washington’s Next Police Reform Battle – Ending Qualified Immunity Won’t Be Easy, but It’s Necessary
How Washington Plans to Fix the Behavioral Health Crisis – Crisis Care, Not Jail, Is the Answer (Macri)
Ambitious Housing Reform Has a Real Shot This Year (Bateman)

You just read:

Monday, January 16

Distribution channels:

EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content. As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire™, tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our Editorial Guidelines for more information.

Submit your press release