A $160,000 state-funded study on I-405 toll lanes “is incomplete,” and the University of Minnesota team’s study “failed to complete key tasks listed in their [initial] proposal” to the Joint Transportation Committee. Alas, the Committee paid for a study from the University that focused “only on options that reinforce existing toll lanes” and omitted key analyses that were listed in the initial proposal. “The lack of completion in this case raises questions about the objectivity and integrity of the study.” (Washington Policy Center)

Cooke Aquaculture’s Atlantic salmon farm lease on Cypress Island was terminated. “Cooke has flagrantly violated the terms of its lease at Cypress Island. The company’s reckless disregard endangered the health of our waters and our people, and it will not be tolerated,” Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said. Franz has already called for the termination of the company’s operations off of Ediz Hook in Port Angeles. (The Seattle Times)

Evergreen (Clark) Public Schools paid its last Superintendent $433,800 through a combination of salary and benefits. “Superintendent Deeder’s salary was higher than the salary of the president of the United States, and the governor of the state of Washington…yet 20 of the 39 schools he oversaw earned ratings in the lowest categories of school performance, according to state officials.” Bloated administrations and stratospheric administrative salaries are a problem noted by many, but nothing seems to change. (Washington Policy Center)

Seattle school bus drivers are still on strike, but the district’s bus vendor said, “During this difficult time, we are doing everything we can to provide as much service as possible to Seattle Public Schools families. We know how important our work is, so any driver who wants to continue to work can certainly do so. First Student remains available and willing to take a call from the union at any time.” Some drivers have reported for work, only to be yelled at, harassed, and called scabs. (The Seattle Times)

Seattle is spending $150,000 to remove surveillance cameras the City installed in 2013. The cameras, over two dozen, were never actually used because of a “community outcry.” Just another example of the City of Seattle using its money wisely. (King 5)

15 tribes are asking Gov. Inslee to stop construction on a liquefied natural gas plant Puget Sound Energy is seeking to build on Tacoma’s Tideflats. The tribes are requesting construction be delayed for an environmental review and until “all permit requirements are satisfied.” They shouldn’t worry too much – denying permits to energy companies is one of Inslee’s favorite pastimes. (The Spokesman-Review)

Lewis County paid $350,000 to settle a sexual harassment suit after former Lewis County Drug Court Manager Jennifer Soper sued over “a hostile workplace, retaliation and sexual harassment” as well as wrongful termination. (Centralia Chronicle)

The Pilchuck River is flooding, with water pushing into the backyards of some Lake Stevens homes. “Trees falling everywhere. River wider than it has ever been!” Many of the region’s rivers are under flood watch. (King 5)

So many climbers want permits for Mount St. Helens that the website crashed. More than 10,500 people tried to buy one of the $22 permits required for people to climb higher than 4,500 feet on the mountain, resulting in a website crash last Thursday when the permits became available. (The Spokesman-Review)

WSU’s financial troubles may bring cuts to the student newspaper. The Daily Evergreen will cut its publishing schedule down to four days a week, but students will vote on a referendum to fund the fifth day. The referendum requests increasing the ASWSU fee by $5 a year to raise $200,000 annually for the Office of Student Media. (The Spokesman-Review)

Speaking of WSU, three administrators are being sued by a tenured WSU pharmacotherapy researcher. Tracy Skaer is suing the pharmacotherapy department chair, the dean of the College of Pharmacy and the university provost for, “discrimination, invasion of privacy [and] defamation.” (Daily Evergreen)

Controversial WSU professor Robert Wielgus wants “to be free from [WSU’s] tyranny.” Wielgus published contrarian research suggesting that killing alpha wolves that attack cattle actually leads to increases in cattle attacks. His research methodology was heavily questioned and WSU disavowed it. Wielgus filed a complaint against the university for damaging “his academic career through suppression, condemnation and reprisal” and saying “they’ll completely destroy a person’s life and his family’s life.” (The Spokesman-Review)

Colville National Forest is substantially increasing timber harvests and forest restoration projects. “According to recent forest management estimates, the forest is poised to be the No. 1 forest products producer in the Pacific Northwest…[and is] expected to yield 120 million board feet of forest products in 2018.” (The Spokesman-Review)

Rattlesnake Ridge evacuees have the green light to head home, a month after officials called for evacuations. The Dept. of Natural Resources changed its landslide predictions to reflect a drawn-out “creep” rather than a sudden slide, and estimates residents have more time before the slide becomes dangerous. (The News Tribune)

Reducing carbon pollution by moving to a clean energy economy | SB 6203 | in committee | “People don’t want this. Particularly when it does absolutely nothing,” Sen. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) said. “This isn’t going to make the wine grapes grow better in Walla Walla, get rid of forest fires, make the snow packs better. It has zero impact except on the pocket books of the people that get to spend the surplus slush fund that they’re going to generate off working families.” (MyNorthwest)

Concerning transparency in state and local taxation | SB 6590 | This bill would establish a tax transparency website, with an online database and a tax calculator, “to allow taxpayers to compare their tax burden based on the location of their residence or business.” (Washington Policy Center)

Improving the behavioral health of people in the agricultural industry | HB 2671 | in committee | “A great start [at addressing farmer suicides] at the state level. It establishes a pilot program in two agricultural counties. It provides a telephone support line and web portal service as a free and bilingual resource for farm workers. It also provides critical training in suicide risk reduction for those in agricultural management, farmworkers, and their family members.” (Indiana Public Media)

Removing the prohibition on planning for a nuclear attack in emergency management plans | SB 5936 & HB 2214 | in committee | “If it is the intent of the Legislature for emergency management to conduct planning in anticipation of a nuclear attack, we’re certainly not resourced for that, nor are we proposing the state divert valuable resources … But as Sen. [Mark] Miloscia was saying earlier, the changing international situation or changing threatscape could mean that, perhaps, sometime in the future we want to perhaps refocus our planning efforts if a threat becomes imminent,” said Robert Ezelle, Director of the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division. (MyNorthwest)

Mandatory testing for students with high intelligence | SB 6508 & HB 2927 | in committee | “Our job is to see potential and grow it,” Jen Benson of Northshore School District said. Northshore currently employs a screening system to root out gifted children and offer them an advanced education. (The Seattle Times)

Finance (House)

Establishing the working families’ child care access and affordability through regional employers act | SHB 2396

Making the business and occupation tax more progressive | HB 2940

Relieving burdens on small businesses by updating the tax return filing thresholds to reflect inflation.| HB 2350

Modifying the lodging excise tax to remove the exemption for premises with fewer than sixty lodging units | SHB 2015

Capital Budget (House)

Creating the buy clean Washington act | HB 2412

Concerning attorneys’ fees on public works contracts | HB 2852

Transportation (House)

Allowing federally recognized tribes to enter into agreements regarding fuel taxes | HB 1063

Concerning personal information privacy protections in government entities | HB 2278

Concerning the responsibilities for state routes in cities or towns | HB 2948

Appropriations (House)

Recertifying renewable energy systems eligible for a renewable energy system production incentive | SHB 2281

Concerning long-term care services and supports | SHB 2533

Concerning quality in assisted living facilities | HB 2750

Ways & Means (Senate)

Establishing a statewide policy supporting Washington state’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace | SSB 5689

Establishing a training course for campaign treasurers | SSB 6161

Adding part-time employees to state civil service | SB 6184

Creating the orca protection act | SSB 6268

Establishing the evergreen free college act | SSB 6101

Transportation (Senate)

Concerning vehicle taxation (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute) | SB 5564

Concerning reimbursement of the financing of the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project | SB 6378

Establishing an equitable debt service repayment plan for the Tacoma Narrows bridge (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute) | SB 6547

Concerning transportation network companies | SB 6043

Concerning population-based representation on the governing body of public transportation benefit areas | SB 6414

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