End of COVID-19 emergency order, Whidbey Island plane crash, Nordic trade mission, WSDOT highway project



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Inslee announces end of COVID-19 state of emergency by Oct. 31

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that all remaining COVID-19 emergency proclamations and the COVID-19 state of emergency will end by Oct. 31 [ [link removed] ].

Though the state?s emergency orders are ending, public health leaders continue to emphasize the importance of vaccines and masks in keeping communities safe. Vaccines and therapeutic treatments are available to prevent hospitalizations and death. However, COVID-19 remains a threat, killing 300 Americans every day and more than 10 people a day in Washington state. In his announcement, the governor reiterated the importance of vaccinations and booster shots.

?We?ve come a long way the past two years in developing the tools that allow us to adapt and live with COVID-19,? Inslee said. ?Ending this order does not mean we take it less seriously or will lose focus on how this virus has changed the way we live. We will continue our commitments to the public?s well-being, but simply through different tools that are now more appropriate for the era we?ve entered.?

Washington was the first state in the U.S. with a reported case of COVID-19. Inslee was swift to enact protective measures that have since resulted in one of the lowest per capita death rates in the nation.

?I can?t express enough how grateful I am for all the health care workers, public health teams, and other frontline workers who have helped save thousands of lives during the past two years and will continue to support our communities in staying safe and healthy,? Inslee said.

Washington had the fifth-lowest death rate from COVID-19 in the nation, per CDC data.

Washington had the fifth-lowest death rate from COVID-19 in the nation, per CDC data. A decisive state response to COVID-19 saved thousands of Washingtonian lives.

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Floatplane crash near Whidbey Island generates outpouring of condolences

Gov. Jay Inslee expressed his condolences to the families of the 10 lost following a plane crash [ [link removed] ] near Whidbey Island last Saturday.

?My heart and Trudi?s heart are with the families of the ten victims of the plane crash near Whidbey Island over the weekend. Reading about the personal stories of each person on board is a heart-wrenching reminder of what really matters in this world.?

Among the victims of the crash was Spokane civil rights activist Sandy Williams. The Spokane Spokesman-Review gathered condolences [ [link removed] ] from local leaders and community members that knew or worked with Sandy over the years. Her loss is felt deeply statewide.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are still investigating the scene of the crash.

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Inslee to visit Finland, Sweden, Norway during energy and industry trade mission

Washington state representatives from business, education, and government, including Gov. Jay Inslee, will participate in a trade mission to the Nordic countries [ [link removed] ] of Finland, Sweden and Norway from Sept. 13 to Sept. 23.

The visit will nurture business partnerships between the three countries and Washington state and allow state leaders to observe how Nordic countries are disposing of nuclear waste, reforming criminal justice, advancing education, recycling heat from data centers, improving 5G and 6G telecommunications, building affordable housing, and conducting ocean research.

?Ever since the familiar terrain of the Pacific Northwest drew countless immigrants from the Nordic countries over a century ago, our regions have enjoyed strong economic and cultural ties that persist to this day,? Gov. Jay Inslee said. ?We?re innovating together to find the next great advances in technology, science, and fighting climate change. Our delegation is bringing new ideas and new jobs to Washington.?

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WSDOT breaks ground on SR-18 / I-90 interchange improvement
Gov. Jay Inslee and local representatives celebrate breaking ground on improvements to the SR-18 / I-90 interchange

The SR-18 / I-90 interchange near North Bend has seen traffic delays as the local population has boomed, and more than its share of deadly accidents along a narrow, pitched, high-speed, turning section of SR-18. A new project by the Washington State Department of Transportation will replace the interchange and widen the nearby section of SR-18. Gov. Jay Inslee was present on Thursday to break ground.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has broken ground on improvements to the SR-18 / I-90 interchange [ [link removed] ] that will speed up commutes and improve safety. The project will widen SR-18 and replace the interchange with a "diverging diamond" design that should halve the number of injury accidents, which have increased along with bottlenecks at the interchange. Gov. Jay Inslee and local leaders?gathered Thursday [ [link removed] ] to celebrate the beginning of the important project.

The project is funded by the 2015 Connecting Washington transportation package and state gas tax. In addition to improving safety, the project will open fish barriers and install new crossings to restore access to more than 24 miles of stream habitat for migrating salmon and steelhead.

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News you might have missed:

*Booster vaccines available to defend against COVID-19 Omicron strains*

The state Department of Health (DOH) has begun distributing new bivalent booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines following authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The bivalent boosters protect against common Omicron strains of COVID-19. People ages 12 and up may receive the bivalent boosters, but younger people are subject to different recommendations.

Visit the state Department of Health website for more information about vaccine booster doses [ [link removed] ].

*State Commerce department provides $4.2 million for new crisis stabilization facility, $21 million to house vulnerable people*

A new 16-bed crisis stabilization facility [ [link removed] ] will be built in King County, supported by a $4.2 million grant from the state Department of Commerce. The facility is expected to help around 2,000 individuals per year and connect them to community support resources for ongoing assistance. Commerce also announced nearly $21 million in new grants [ [link removed] ] to build housing units and services for people with disabilities.

*Mount Vernon to break ground on new library, climate-friendly community hub*

An extraordinary new community hub [ [link removed] ] will soon break ground in Mount Vernon, supported in part by funds from the legislature and the state?s Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT). The $53 million development will feature an expansive municipal library, a parking garage, 75 electric vehicle charging stations, energy-efficient construction, and solar power generation.

*Washington recognized as one of the best states for workers*

Washington ranked third in OxFam?s assessment of the ?Best and Worst States to Work in America 2022 [ [link removed] ]? thanks to leading wage policy, protections for workers, and freedom of workers to organize. Washington was ranked the fourth-best state for working women [ [link removed] ] ? OxFam cited policies related to tipped wages and protections for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as factors.

Washington sets path to phase out gas vehicles by 2035

The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing rules requiring all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in Washington to meet zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) standards by 2035 [ [link removed] ]. Several states are adopting similar rules. The department is accepting public comments on the proposed regulations through Oct. 19.

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