Did you catch Jay Inslee’s incredibly scripted grandstanding moment with Donald Trump yesterday? Challenging Trump’s idea for arming more school employees, Inslee told him, “I have listened to the first-grade teachers that don’t want to be pistol-packing first-grade teachers.” He added: “I just think this is a circumstance where we need to listen that educators should educate and not be foisted upon this responsibility of packing heat in first-grade classes,” as if teachers would be required to do this (nobody is saying that).

While Inslee claimed to be listening to voices back in the ol’ home state, he ignored the fact (or didn’t know) that the Toppenish School District does allow administrators to be trained and keep firearms at school to respond to emergencies (see below). Think it wasn’t planned and scripted? Inslee’s campaign operation sent an email on the topic to supporters almost immediately. In case you didn’t know: Jay Inslee is running for Vice President (because c’mon, let’s be realistic here, this man will not be heading a national ticket). (MyNorthwest)

Law-enforcement agencies across the nation can sell guns that have been seized, and the Washington State Patrol is “required by law to auction or trade most of its confiscated guns.” Yakima Police Captain Jeff Schneider disagrees with the practice, calling it “absolutely insane.” Schneider is more worried about retribution against police than anything else, calling that “a real threat.” (The Seattle Times)

Seattle landlords are challenging a new law requiring them to rent to the first qualified tenant. KIRO 97.3 host Tom Tangney paraphrased their position: “We should not be prevented from using our gut; a gut instinct to rent to this person and not that person.” (MyNorthwest)

Oak View Group released the latest renderings of its $600 million Key Arena renovation. Fancy digs are in the works for Seattle’s possible NHL and NBA teams and the current Seattle Storm team, including views of the Space Needle. Oak View Group says the renovation will “preserve the historic nature of the site.” (The Seattle Times)

The Tacoma Police Department arrested a 15-year-old for threatening students at Truman Middle School through social media. “Police say they received several tips after seeing photos on social media and were concerned for the safety of students. The teen was eventually located on Sunday, interviewed, and booked into Remann Hall for intimidation and threats.” (MyNorthwest)

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is dropping 1,500 misdemeanor charges, citing a lack of prosecuting attorneys and saying it will “focus resources on prosecuting more serious violations, like driving under the influence and misdemeanor assault.” It was a Reddit post that led to public awareness of the decision. The poster, a police officer, wrote, “Imagine being a cop who works their was [sic] off to actually combat the rampant property crime we have here, only to see all of your cases get dumped. You want non-proactive policing, this is how you get it.” (The Seattle Times)

Toppenish School District now has one administrator in each building who carries a gun. “Everybody carries a 9mm. There’s rationale behind that. All the bullets we use …they mushroom, so they really shouldn’t go through a person. Because we don’t want that bullet to go through somebody and hit a child or something like that,” said Superintendent John Cerna. (MyNorthwest)

Three Grandview High students were arrested yesterday after shooting threats were overheard by other students – who reported the conversation to a school resource officer, who then relayed the message to the Yakima County Sheriff’s Department. (Tri-City Herald)

Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle, a Richland surgeon, was awarded a medal by the Dept. of Defense for his Distinguished Public Service. The award is the highest that can be presented by the Secretary of Defense to a private citizen. (Tri-City Herald)

Allowing public schools to administer Narcan for student drug overdoses | HB 2390 | passed House 79-19-0-0 (2/12), in Senate Health & Long Term Care committee | “We are not supporting this legislation,” said a union spokesperson for the Washington Education Association. Bill sponsor Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-Seattle) insists the legislation is necessary, saying, “This bill may not do the most to prevent or treat addiction. But if it saves one life, it’s important. And it probably will.” (The Seattle Times)

Updating application requirements for the academic acceleration incentive program | SB 6135 | passed Senate 47-0-0-2 (2/13), in House Education committee | “Would encourage individual schools and districts to enroll more students in advanced courses by expanding an existing grant program that covers the cost of training teachers and student exam fees…Would offer districts some flexibility in using money meant to support low-income students to create new data systems that would detect which students are at risk for dropping out.” (The Seattle Times)

Health Care & Wellness (House)

Requiring the submission of a waiver to the federal government to create the Washington health security trust | HB 1026

Ways & Means (Senate)

Improving security in schools and the safety of students | SB 6620

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