Legislators are proposing to strike language from a 1984 state law that would prohibit emergency planners from developing a plan to address a nuclear attack. The bill proposed would allow emergency planning for an attack as it is currently illegal.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray officially says he won’t seek re-election, giving a speech yesterday at the Alki Beach Bathhouse. “It tears me to pieces to step away… but I believe it is in the best interest of this city that I love,” citing the allegations surrounding him as distractions from the issues, “the mayor’s race must be focused on.”

High earners in Port Townsend may soon face a 1.4% income tax, if a small group in the town has its way. Tobi McEarney, who leads the group, says the tax, “comes down to good-old fashioned fairness.”

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole has accepted the position as chair of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. O’Toole intends to continue her work in Seattle, saying, “While I have not yet had the opportunity to discuss this nomination more fully with the Irish government, it in no way lessens my commitment to the Seattle Police Department and the city of Seattle.”

Silver pods planted throughout the University District of Seattle are reportedly for “providing health services for injection drug users.” Despite a public debate still underway about whether or not Seattle should allow for safe-injection sites, the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance is moving forward in opening more care centers, saying the locations will eventually be, “a place where drug users can come and get basic medical care,” according to Shilo Murphy, their executive director.

Hanford nuclear waste site had a tunnel used to store contaminated radioactive materials collapse yesterday. Energy Department officials activated emergency operations, but have reported there is, “no indication of a release of contamination at this point.” You can get the latest information about the cave-in here.

Spokane County is potentially facing over $3 million in penalties from overuse of the Eastern State Hospital, a penalty enacted after Spokane County used more beds in state mental hospitals than they were allocated.

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