The City of Seattle released numbers on discrimination settlements – but sexual-harassment data is missing. “Seattle departments have paid about $4.4 million in the last decade to settle allegations of discrimination, including sexual harassment…(but) the City Attorney’s Office hasn’t been tracking sexual-harassment settlements as a discrete category, so it couldn’t readily say how much those have cost taxpayers.” (The Seattle Times)

Schools in Bremerton were closed last Friday after a threat was lodged against a school in New Mexico. “The threat, made on social media, contained the abbreviation ‘BHS.’ It caused concern in Bremerton, and many other schools across the nation with the initials.” A separate (and more direct) threat against Blaine School District has yet to be resolved. (MyNorthwest)

After staffers at The Evergreen State College received an email blaming future cuts on falling enrollment, the college’s president made matters worse. Dr. Jennifer Drake, provost and vice president for academic affairs, emailed the staff and “warned that the total student enrollment may drop significantly and, consequently, they will experience layoffs and a strict adherence to hours with part-time faculty members.” President George Bridges fretted to Drake and accidentally to others, “given the sensitivity of some of the language — losses of students instead of projected losses; losses of faculty position instead of possible budget reductions — might end up appearing elsewhere in ways that will be used against us. While I realize that the scope of our challenge is becoming known, I would have preferred that such detail not gone out in an email without review.” (MyNorthwest)

Yakima’s hearing examiner approved construction of a new permanent homeless shelter, under the condition that staff members be trained and ready to respond to potential complaints from neighbors and the shelter’s “good neighbor police.” A coalition of business owners and neighbors intend to appeal the approval over concerns that the shelter will draw in more homeless people to the neighborhood. (Spokesman-Review)

Concerning records disclosure obligations of the legislative branch | ESB 6617 | 41-7-1-0 Senate vote (2/23), 83-14-0-1 House vote (2/23) | “With breathtaking speed, Washington lawmakers passed a bill Friday that removed themselves from the state’s voter-approved Public Records Act — keeping years of emails and other documents off-limits and making the Legislature its own gatekeeper when it comes to secrecy.” (The Seattle Times)

Permitting the voluntary waiver of firearm rights | SSB 5553 | 49-0-0-0 Senate vote (1/24), 77-20-0-1 House vote (2/23)

Concerning trigger modification devices | ESB 5992 | 29-20-0-0 Senate vote (1/25), 56-41-0-1 House vote (2/23)

Making supplemental operating appropriations | SB 6032 | 25-23-0-1 Senate vote (2/23) | sent to House

Concerning the capital budget | SB 6095 | 44-4-0-1 Senate vote (2/23) | sent to House

Supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium | SB 6106 | 47-1-0-1 Senate vote (2/23) | sent to House

Finance (House)

Encouraging investment in and reducing the costs of transitioning to the clean energy future | SHB 2283

Concerning Washington’s clean, affordable, and reliable energy future | HB 2995

Increasing tax exemption transparency and accountability | ESSB 5513

Capital Budget (House)

Addressing compliance with apprenticeship utilization requirements | 3SSB 5576

Promoting the efficient and effective management of state-managed lands | ESB 6140

Concerning publicly owned industrial wastewater treatment facilities | SB 6367

Ways & Means (Senate)

Concerning the state building code council | E2SHB 1622

Creating an office of the corrections ombuds | E2SHB 1889

Expanding opportunities for higher education students | E2SHB 2143

Appropriations (House)

Funding the business license account created in RCW 19.02.210 through a charge imposed by the secretary of state on annual report filings by certain legal entities | HB 2989

Requiring teacher preparation programs to integrate Native American curriculum developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction into existing Pacific Northwest history and government requirements | SB 5028

Requiring coverage for hearing instruments under public employee and medicaid programs | E2SSB 5179

Developing information concerning racial disproportionality | ESSB 5588

Concerning health care for Pacific Islanders residing in Washington under a compact of free association | SSB 5683

Concerning expansion of extended foster care eligibility | SSB 6222

Concerning the January 1, 2020, implementation of the school employees’ benefits board program | ESSB 6241

Modifying basic education funding provisions | E2SSB 6362

Transportation (Senate)

Collecting youth voter registration sign up information | 2SHB 1513

Concerning tow truck operators | SHB 2612

Concerning vehicle dealer licensing | EHB 2808

Concerning the use of child passenger restraint systems | SHB 1188

Transportation (House)

Concerning requirements for the issuance of a driver’s license that includes a veteran designation | SSB 6012

Facilitating transportation projects of statewide significance | SSB 6195

Bringing the state into compliance with the federal FAST act | SB 6218

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

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