National Review,
by
Todd Myers
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/17/2020 11:24:11 AM
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Just about every day, someone claims that the air is cleaner. That, we are told, is a small benefit of the coronavirus-induced economic lockdowns. By reducing traffic on our roads, we are polluting the air less, providing a visible example of the supposed benefits of imposing more environmental regulation.
(snip) The air-quality data tell a different story. According to the EPA’s air-quality monitors, levels of particulate matter — known as PM 2.5 — are not lower now and have, in fact, been higher recently than the median level of the last five years. (snip) The key factor, however, is that in most places, human-caused pollution is small relative to natural sources.
Washington Policy Center,
by
Todd Meyers
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/15/2020 11:24:26 AM
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On April 29, Governor Inslee released a series of dials called the “COVID-19 Risk assessment dashboard,” reflecting the data he claims to be using to make decisions about reopening the state economy. He told the reporters that he was doing this “so we can be completely transparent with Washingtonians about how we are making these decisions,” which he promised he is doing “based on data and science.”
Analysis of that dashboard and the dials, however, shows this is simply not true and there are several problems. The dial settings do not match the underlying data trends. The dials are extremely imprecise, and some of the metrics the governor uses are meaningless.
Washington Examiner,
by
Quinn Hillyer
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/15/2020 12:43:54 AM
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A judge on a Washington state court has a chance May 21 to quash a dangerous, outlandish lawsuit against Fox News that would eviscerate First Amendment media freedoms.(snip)
The suit is brought by a 3-year-old group of leftist provocateurs called WASHLITE, (snip) They are suing Fox News for alleged violations of the state’s Consumer Protection Act, which outlaws deceptive practices in the course of commerce. WASHLITE says Fox should be punished because some of its on-air personnel, (snip) spent weeks downplaying “the danger of the international proliferation of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19.” The result, says the group, was that its members’ health and livelihoods were put at risk,
Washington Policy Center,
by
Staff
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/14/2020 11:30:01 AM
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An unofficial state revenue forecast is projecting a $7 billion deficit for the next 4 years. (snip) As of today, however, state employees are scheduled to receive a 3% pay raise on July 1. A 3% pay raise also took effect last July. With the state facing a massive budget deficit, the Governor should immediately reopen the state employee contracts to cancel the new 3% pay raise before it takes effect. (snip) On May 13 he signed a directive to freeze state hiring, personal service contracts and equipment purchases.
Spokane Spokesman-Review,
by
Jim Allen
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/12/2020 11:34:52 AM
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Education is continuing, more or less, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic – more for families with resources, less for those without.
And for an alarmingly high number of students in Spokane and the rest of the nation, genuine learning isn’t happening at all. Despite the efforts of Spokane Public Schools and other districts, many families have simply given up.
The reasons include a lack of internet connections and online expertise as well as poverty, pandemic-related unemployment and homelessness. (snip) Several teachers said last week they suspect as few as 10% of their students are fully engaged in distance learning.
KREM-TV [Spokane, WA],
by
Staff
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/9/2020 10:56:17 AM
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Walla Walla County leaders are responding on Thursday after health officials walked back their claims that people in the county were holding "coronavirus parties" in an attempt to contract the disease.
County health officials had previously said they knew of multiple instances of people hosting these parties, thinking they would be infected with the disease then develop immunity.
The story got widespread attention and was picked up by local media outlets (snip) After the story ran on KREM on Wednesday, a Walla Walla County Health Department spokesperson reached out to "recall" their comments and explained that the parties weren't intended to infect people.
KTTH Radio [Seattle],
by
Jason Rantz
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/8/2020 10:41:08 AM
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As we grow desperate over the lagging coronavirus economy, rather than respond with compassion, Governor Jay Inslee deflects with a sleazy strategy of shaming people into submission. This is not the move of a competent leader.
(snip) Republican lawmakers (snip) contend the stay-at-home order is too restrictive and that we can safely and responsibly reopen parts of the economy faster.
Rather than tell us why he thinks public health data makes a stronger case to keep the economy shut down, Inslee attacks his critics as heartless. (snip) Instead of providing data, Inslee merely says “data” and “science” hoping we’ll confuse the words for actual data and science.
Seattle Times,
by
Evan Bush
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/7/2020 10:41:19 AM
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Jennifer Kreidler-Moss has no shortage of concerns to occupy her.
When schools hosting Peninsula Community Health Services sites shut down, her organization lost touch points to schoolchildren, including some struggling with mental health or at risk of suicide.
“I’m beside myself with worry,” said Kreidler-Moss, the nonprofit’s CEO.
And since COVID-19 began, 17% of the staff has been laid off or furloughed and March revenues fell $884,000 short of expectations. (snip) But now, as rates of new COVID-19 cases and deaths trend lower, some experts and health administrators say the measures that helped avoid the pandemic’s deluge are barreling health systems toward a second crisis: a flood of red ink.
Seattle Times,
by
Jim Brunner
Original Article
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5/6/2020 11:11:31 AM
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In the latest in an escalating series of legal challenges by Republicans, four Washington state legislators sued Gov. Jay Inslee in federal court on Tuesday, seeking to strike down his stay-home order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
A 28-page complaint, filed by the lawmakers and others in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, contends “the emergency has been contained” and that continuing restrictions for workers, businesses and residents are not legally justified.
Seattle Times,
by
Hal Bernton
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/5/2020 11:22:37 AM
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ELTOPIA, Franklin County – For farmer Mike Pink, spring is supposed to be a time of hope, when he can survey a green field of young potato plants and anticipate the bounty to be pulled from the sandy soils of the Columbia Basin.
This year, this is a season when dreams die. Due to an epic potato glut that imploded his market, he has decided to do what was once unthinkable — destroy part of his crop rather than sink more dollars into cultivation.
That grim task unfolded Friday as a diesel tractor began discing under 240 acres of Ranger Russets, (snip) 14 million pounds of tubers.
Seattle Times,
by
Paul Roberts
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/4/2020 10:34:41 AM
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Amazon’s decision to let engineers and other office staff keep working from home through at least Oct. 2 was another blow for struggling merchants in downtown Seattle and Bellevue, which have been virtual ghost towns since the coronavirus crisis emptied the cubicle farms in March.
The decision, which the Seattle-based online retailer shared with employees Thursday, also could signal a broader trend toward extending work-from-home practices. Other white-collar employers are realizing that returning to the workplaces is likely to require extensive precautions — and pose heightened health risks — even after business gets the all-clear from Gov. Jay Inslee. (snip) On Friday, Inslee extended the stay-at-home order through May 31
Seattle Times,
by
Benjamin Romano
Original Article
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Ron_lfp
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5/2/2020 11:44:00 AM
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Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos warned the company’s stockholders that Amazon may incur a second-quarter operating loss as it spends at least $4 billion from April through June on its coronavirus pandemic response, including some $300 million to develop its own testing capabilities. (snip) Olsavsky said the majority of the $4 billion in second-quarter spending is related to wage increases — the company has boosted hourly wage floors by $2 through mid-May and increased overtime pay — and productivity losses. The company is also continuing to spend more on personal protective equipment and enhanced facility cleaning
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Todd is a local hero; enviro director for Washington Policy Institute