Gov. Inslee is using the recent wildfires burning across the state to sell his unpopular energy tax, and to display his rapier wit. While standing in front of a few prop children Inslee said, “They deserve better than a smoky future. They deserve lungs that breathe clean Washington air, not smoke from hundreds of forest fires.” (My Northwest)

Despite announcing his resignation last March, Governor Inslee let his cabinet official Dale Peinecke stay on for two months after that. Inslee let Peinecke run the agency remotely for those two months, then let his resigned cabinet member take paid leave until the end of June so he could retire at 65. (NW News Network)

Republican Rep. Matt Manweller is suing Central Washington University and the investigator it hired to look into allegations of inappropriate conduct. Manweller said he’s seeking at least $2 million and intends to voluntarily release the university’s investigation report this week. (Ellensburg Daily Record)

Public records show the Seattle Mayor’s office privately worked with the council leading up to the repeal of the jobs tax, working around the Open Public Meetings Act. Records show a conference call and a series of one-on-one phone calls between the Mayor’s top deputies and council members before Durkan publicly supported legislation to repeal the jobs tax. (Seattle-Times)

Seattle city councilmember Kshama Sawant leaked the times and locations of the city’s homelessness Navigation Teams’ work, ensuring protesters would be there to oppose the clean-up efforts. Public records requests by KIRO 7 showed Sawant was forwarding the cleanup lists to community activists, including those behind the protest at the cleanup in April. (KIRO 7)

A range of events in Spokane were canceled after officials declared that the city’s air quality was in the “very unhealthy” range. The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency said, “We currently have an air quality reading of ‘Very Unhealthy/Purple.’ This means that everyone should stay indoors, avoid all strenuous activity, close windows & doors.” (The Spokesman-Review)

The Yakima City Council is set to vote tomorrow on whether or not to ban pit bulls within city limits. The vote may have ramifications beyond allowance of the dogs, as the city looks to partner with Yakima Human Society’s for animal control services. “At this point, (the ban) remains diametrically opposed to our mission,” said Charles Stanton, Humane Society executive director. (Yakima Herald-Republic)

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