A bill to permanently keep Washington state in Daylight Saving Time was passed by the House yesterday and is now headed to Governor Inslee’s desk. “I came to it from a health perspective. When the clocks get switched we see an increase in traffic collisions, we see an increase in strokes, heart attacks and other adverse health effects,” Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) said. If Inslee signs the bill, it will then be up to Congress to approve it before Washington’s clock no longer falls back or springs forward. (MyNorthwest)

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Carol Murphy said, “the loss or destruction of the missing pipe pieces and boulders is not innocent or accidental.”  This is related to the 2013 breakdown and two-year repair of Seattle waterfront tunnel-boring machine Bertha. Seattle Tunnel Partners blamed a buried steel pipe for the breakdown. The judge later added that, “STP did not intentionally destroy or hide the missing pipe pieces and boulders.” (Seattle Times)

Abel Pacheco Jr. will serve as a Seattle City Council member for the next seven months to fill the council seat vacated by Rob Johnson. Following the appointment, Pacheco said he would support upzoning the street known as The Ave while working to alleviate concerns held by small-business owners. Currently Pacheco is the director of strategic engagement for a STEM program at the University of Washington. (Seattle Times)

Enumclaw councilwoman Kimberly Lauk announced she will be resigning from her seat, effective immediately. “Serving the city of Enumclaw and all who call this wonderful town home has been a tremendous honor. I will carry the knowledge I have gained and relationships I have built during my service here for the rest of my life,” she wrote. (The Courier Herald)

Mayor Jenny Durkan withdrew her nominee for director of the Seattle Human Services Department, giving in to the demands of Councilmember Kshama Sawant. Jason Johnson will continue in his role as interim director through next year. “The Council’s failure to follow its own procedures or give Jason a fair confirmation process has been harmful to the work of the Human Services Department,” Durkan said in a statement. (Seattle Times)

Spokane City Council backed out of a land deal with the Union Gospel Mission after the public and council members said they were concerned the city had made an unfair deal. Community members criticized the deal, saying the city should not do business with an organization that will not hire members of the LGBTQ community. City Council President Ben Stuckart, who has criticized the deal, said the council would like staff to find another way to build the stormwater treatment project. (Spokesman-Review)

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