AP Washington

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Employees at a troubled Tacoma psychiatric hospital have voted to unionize. The News Tribune reports that workers at Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital on Thursday decided to  join SEIU Healthcare 1199NW. According to a statement from the union the new bargaining unit includes nurses, mental health technicians, unit secretaries and housekeeping staff.

SUMAS, Wash. (AP) — Over a month has passed since flooding inundated northwest Washington’s Whatcom County that caused some $50 million in damage. KING-TV reports as Roger De Bruin returned to his flood-damaged home in Sumas Thursday, the word devastation came to his mind. De Bruin bought the modest rambler six years ago and completely

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — The Evergreen School Board in Vancouver, Washington has fired superintendent Mike Merlino after placing him on paid leave amid an investigation into misconduct earlier this month. The Columbian reports in a special meeting, school board members voted to fire Merlino immediately and without cause which entitles Merlino to receive about a

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer A white Christmas is going from reality to more of a dream for chunks of the United States. Analysis of 40 years worth of United States snow measurements shows less of the country now has snow on the ground on Christmas than it did in the 1980s. It’s especially

SELAH, Wash. (AP) — Selah police are investigating the deaths of three people from possible carbon monoxide poisoning at a Speyers Road home. Selah police were called around 1 p.m. Thursday. Chief Dan Christman says one of the teenagers in the house called a friend and said she was not feeling well, and the friend

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Spencer Haywood, the trailblazing forward who grew up picking cotton in Mississippi, wound up reshaping the league in a way that many take for granted today. With the help of the owner of the Seattle SuperSonics, Haywood sued the league, which had a rule that didn’t allow players to enter the

LYNNWOOD, Wash. (AP) — Police in the Seattle suburb of Lynnwood say a high school student was arrested Thursday after bringing a pistol and ammunition to the school. Police say the 15-year-old boy reportedly showed the gun to several students at from Meadowdale High School on Wednesday. Police say one of the students told their

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission has OK’d a new Climate Protection Plan for the state that targets a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels and natural gas by 2050. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports the commission’s 3-1 vote comes after years of unsuccessful attempts by state lawmakers to start

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer The NBA and its players finalized a deal Thursday night for additional protocols through the holidays, including daily testing resuming and increased use of face masks mandated again. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols Thursday, joining Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brooklyn’s James Harden as past

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A judge has dismissed Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s complaint against a Washington training commission and affirmed the commission’s decision to reject his proposal to run a new law enforcement training academy. The Spokesman-Review reports Knezovich said this week he’s looking to appeal. In 2020, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks tight end Gerald Everett missed his first chance to play against his former team when a positive COVID-19 test forced him out earlier in the season. He’ll get another chance when the Seahawks travel to LA on Sunday to face the Rams in

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — A man has been convicted of fatally stabbing his neighbor at a southeast Washington motel in a fight over barking dogs. The Tri-City Herald reports Earnace Beasley Jr. denied stabbing William Bepler during the May 9, 2020, confrontation. But jurors in Beasley’s Benton County Superior Court trial didn’t believe him, instead

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer The NFL has updated its protocols in reaction to an increase in COVID-19 cases around the league, and it is pushing booster shots as the most effective protection against the coronavirus. As part of its protocol changes, the NFL is requiring masks regardless of vaccination status, and remote

By RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has released a nearly $62 billion supplemental state budget plan that looks to increase spending on efforts related to homelessness, climate change and salmon recovery. The Democratic governor spent most of the week unveiling his priorities, which include a plan to

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has presented the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor in combat, to three soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. Two were recognized posthumously. Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee is a Special Forces soldier who fought off Taliban

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Seahawks will take every little edge they can get when they travel to SoFi Stadium on Sunday for an NFC West showdown with the Rams that could prove vital to both teams’ playoff hopes. Seattle is clinging to hope of a late-season surge back

By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Legislature has dedicated $25 million to combatting the proliferation of illegal marijuana farms in Oregon. They made the move after hearing testimony this week about the harm these sites are inflicting on the community. The farms have been accused of stealing water during a

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A fourth and fifth lawsuit have been filed with the Idaho Supreme Court against Idaho’s redistricting commission. A lawsuit filed Wednesday is the first to challenge the state’s new congressional district map. Another lawsuit filed Thursday is the fourth challenging the state’s new legislative district map.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A 19-year-old man admitted he threw a large firework at the federal courthouse in Portland during mass protests last year. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Gabriel Agard-Berryhill pleaded guilty Wednesday to willfully using an incendiary device in an attempt to damage the courthouse on July 28, 2020, causing more than $1,000 in damage.