While liberals continue to look for new ways to advance their heroin injection sites legislation, a federal lawsuit against a Philadelphia group wanting to open up a drug consumption site could finally shut the door. KIRO Radio’s John Curley said of the case, “they might put up a wall at this point, since heroin is a different story, and look out, we’re not going to let you set up these safe injection sites.” Seattle liberals say they won’t let a federal judge stand in their way. “For me, I think we should continue to move forward,” said Seattle City Councilmember Rob Johnson. (MyNorthwest)

Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn) introduced a resolution that would call on Congress to make Puerto Rico the 51st U.S. state. “The 3.5 million American citizens living in Puerto Rico want to have equal status within our nation just like the residents of Washington,” Stokesbary wrote in a statement. If passed, Washington would join Florida, Tennessee and Illinois calling for congressional action. (WA State House Republicans)

Microsoft released a blog post outlining the priorities they hope Legislators will tackle this session. Beginning with affordable housing. “The bottom line: We believe the public and private sectors, working together, can eliminate the rural broadband gap in our state within the next four years.” Other issues included broadband access expansion and high-speed rail. (Microsoft)

Three projects are scheduled to add 150 units of supportive housing in Snohomish County. Supportive housing is coupled with services, including mental health and addiction treatment, medical care and job skill training. “If you just give someone a home without the wraparound services, we have found they won’t be as successful at breaking out of poverty,” said Sara Wilson with Housing Hope, one of the organizations set to open this year. (Everett Herald)

Despite their catastrophic failure of getting “big money” out of city politics, Seattle will once again mail out their democracy vouchers for residents to donate to candidates in this year’s races. Only two candidates so far have qualified to spend the voucher money, with Alex Pedersen and Logan Bowers submitting the needed 150 signatures and $10 contributions. The program is funded by a $30 million property-tax levy. (Seattle Times)

The Spokane Valley City Council is considering regulations that would bar commercial, political, and religious events from taking place at the new City Hall. Cary Driskell, city attorney, said, “so, from our point of view, this facility is administrative in primary nature, and I think it ought to be reserved for that.” Spokane Valley Councilman Ben Wick said it is unclear if the barring of political events would include protests. (Spokesman Review)

Some Yakima residents have been calling the city to complain about the painfully slow snow removal process. “We will be getting to your residential streets as soon as we can,” said City Manager Cliff Moore. The city had budgeted $500,000 for snow removal, a massive $300,000 increase from what was budgeted two years ago. (Yakima Herald)

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