Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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OLYMPIA—Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation this week providing relief for businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. SB 5061 will increase minimum unemployment benefits for workers and provide significant tax relief for businesses over the next five years, to support recovery from the economic impacts of COVID shutdowns. The legislation, which the governor requested, is a critical piece of the state’s COVID-19 recovery plan. It passed with strong bipartisan support in both chambers. COVID-19 has caused deep economic hardship for...
OLYMPIA—Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg, passed his first bill off the Senate floor Wednesday night—a measure that allows mortgage loan originators to work from home. The occasion prompted much teasing from Dozier’s colleagues, per Senate tradition, as they denounced the bill and urged the full Senate to vote no. Yet when it came time for the roll call, the bill passed 49-0. “It’s a tradition around here, and I’m glad to be part of it,” said Dozier, who took office at the start of this year’s legislative session. “It was as if the entire Senate...
OLYMPIA—As part of a new plan to increase the number of Washington residents vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, Governor Inslee Monday announced changes to state infrastructure for increased vaccinations. To assist with the administration of vaccine doses currently on hand, the Department of Health (DOH) will coordinate volunteer vaccinators in Spokane, Kennewick, and Bellevue. It will connect all vaccine administrators across the state to assess where additional assistance is needed to reach the new goal of 45,000 Washingtonians v...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with the COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received its first Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application from a COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer on November 20. This is encouraging news about the potential for vaccines as a prevention tool to control the pandemic. An EUA allows the FDA to make a product available during a declared state of emergency before it has a full license. The FDA’s Vaccines and Rel...
OLYMPIA—Governor Jay Inslee recently announced a $135 million assistance package to target the hard-hit small businesses and families. The relief package breakdown includes $50 million in emergency relief grants, allocated for businesses most impacted by the current public health measures with annual revenue of $5 million or less in 2019. Application for the Round Three Working Washington Small Business Grants opened early this week/ This grant prioritizes restaurants, fitness centers, bowling alleys, and music and event venues. Round Three i...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) asks the state’s laboratories that conduct the largest volume of tests to temporarily stop sending individual negative COVID-19 test results and instead send the department the aggregate number of negative test results per day. During this time, DOH dashboards will report positive cases each day, but not the total number of daily tests or percent positive. The DOH disease reporting system can receive and process approximately 33,000 total test results per day but is currently rec...
OLYMPIA—Governor Jay Inslee issued a travel advisory for international and interstate travelers, asking that they self-quarantine for 14 days upon entering the state of Washington. Governor Inslee asks Washington residents to stay close to home to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “COVID-19 cases have doubled in Washington over the past two weeks. This puts our state in as dangerous a position today as we were in March,” Inslee said. “Limiting and reducing travel is one way to reduce further spread of the disease. I am happy to partner wit...
OLYMPIA—Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will offer its two final free days of 2020 in November. On these free days, day-use visitors will not need a Discover Pass for vehicle access. The last two free days of 2020 are Wednesday, Nov. 11, and Friday, Nov. 27. Since free days were first established in 2011 by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, designated Nov. 11, Veterans Day as one of its free days to honor those who served in the armed forces. In 2017, the agency set aside the Friday after Thanksgiving as a...
OLYMPIA—The Department of Health is collaborating with Safeway Inc. and Albertsons Companies LLC to offer no-cost influenza (flu) vaccination for uninsured adults over the age of 18 to help prevent flu illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health officials are concerned that the presence of both viruses could put more people in the hospital and strain Washington’s health care system. Twenty-three Albertsons and Safeway pharmacies across the state will offer the flu vaccine free of charge through June 2021 to uninsured adults. The pha...
Most recreation opportunities offered by WDFW have reopened, and license sales have rebounded and even exceeded the previous year sales to date. (WDFW offices, hatcheries, and some campgrounds remain closed, though staff is to assist the public by telephone.) Still, COVID-19 re-emergence remains a serious threat. The department asks you to continue physical distancing, stay close to home until communities enter Phase 3, wash hands frequently, bring along a face covering, and only head out when you are well. The WDFW would like to thank our part...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. We are working with the federal government and local partners within Washington to plan for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available. DOH staff has been diligently working on an initial guidebook-style plan for the past few weeks, and we are on track to turn it in to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by the October 16 due date. The plan itself outlines specific a...
Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extensions of the eviction moratorium and public utility proclamations as COVID-19 continues to impact the finances of Washingtonians statewide. Both proclamations were extended to December 31. Moratorium on Evictions (20-19.4) This extension makes modifications to the prior moratorium, including: Clarifying that tenant behavior which is imminently hazardous to the physical safety of other persons on the premises is included among the existing permissible reasons for seeking to evict a tenant. Authorizing...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report on COVID-19 transmission. Report findings include: Transmission is increasing in western Washington and recently plateauing in eastern Washington. The best estimates of the reproductive number (how many new people each COVID-19 patient will infect) were 1.12 in western Washington and 0.94 in eastern Washington as of September 27. The goal is a number well below one, which would mean COVID-19 transmission is declining. The situation in eastern...
On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that Washington is setting new requirements for commercial airports and recommendations for airlines. “The steps we’re taking will help protect those who need to fly,” Inslee said. “This guidance isn’t just about SeaTac—these requirements apply to airports across the state—Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Everett too”. In addition to the new state requirements, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, and the Port of Seattle announced additional steps to protect airline passengers and staff’s health and safety...
OLYMPIA—While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our daily lives, autumn brings with it another unwanted visitor – the flu. The presence of both viruses could put more people in the hospital and strain Washington’s health care system. While we don’t yet have a vaccine to prevent COVID-19, we do have one to prevent flu. Everyone 6 months and older needs a flu vaccine. Young children, pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions, and those aged 65 and older are at high risk of complications from flu illness. Flu is a highly...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health provided an update on progress being made toward a COVID-19 vaccine: Five federal regions (four states and a city) have been chosen to be pilot states in the CDC’s planning. Washington is not one of the pilot states. However, we will develop our plans based on lessons learned from the pilot project. Yesterday we received, from the federal government, the interim playbook. We are now reviewing it and are on a 30-day clock to return our plans by October 16th. We want to remind people that whe...
OLYMPIA—Washington state voters may soon receive a postcard from the U.S. Postal Service encouraging voters to “plan ahead” for the Nov. 3 General Election. Among the recommendations is to request a mail-in or absentee ballot at least 15 days before Election Day. The following is a statement by the Office of the Secretary of State in response to the “If you plan to vote by mail, plan ahead.” postcard. “Voters in Washington do not need to request a ballot, as ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters at least 18 days prior to El...
OLYMPIA – More than 629,000 acres have been consumed by wildfire in Washington state since Monday. Washington, along with Oregon and California, is experiencing some of the largest fires in their states' respective histories in just the last week. Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation Thursday in response to damage from several wildfires across the state. The proclamation will help families and individuals impacted by wildfires with cash assistance for immediate needs. The assistance provided t...
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced updated guidance for indoor fitness and training facilities as part of Washington’s Safe Start phased reopening plan. Effective today, indoor fitness and training facilities are allowed to operate in Modified Phase 1 counties under Phase 2 guidance. This means that facilities like gyms, yoga studios, and indoor sports facilities can open for personal fitness and training, group fitness classes, and practice for certain low-and medium-contact sports. Occupancy is limited to ensure proper physical distancing, a...
Several Washington State Parks remaining open until Nov. 1 Washington State Parks is extending the camping season at select parks throughout the state through November 1. The extension is in response to a higher than normal demand for camping at parks across the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic since most parks booked up quickly this summer. There were less available slots to accommodate time for cleaning between visitors. This extended reservation season offer is for 2020 only. Extended...
Pumpkin spice and almost everything nice will happen this Fall, as Governor Inslee continues to update COVID-19 agritourism guidelines. Activities including hayrides, animal viewing, and bonfires are permitted in counties that have reached Phases 2 and 3 of the Safe Start Washington plan. Agritourism is defined as a commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining and educating the visitors and generating...
WASHINGTON—FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Washington for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA’s grant funding will allow Washington to provide $300 per week—on top of their regular unemployment benefit—to those unemployed due to COVID-19. FEMA will work with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to implement a system to make this funding available to Washington residents. On Aug. 8, 2020, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have...
OLYMPIA-As summer heats up, the Washington State Parks Boating Program urges boaters and paddlers to adhere to safe practices on the water, including wearing a life jacket at all times. In the last 30 days, 25 recreational boating accidents and five fatalities have occurred across the state. "We are asking all boat and paddle-craft owners and operators to help reduce fatalities and injuries on the water," said Rob Sendak. "Boaters need to take personal responsibility for their safety as well as...
Find detailed, accurate COVID-19 activity levels in our counties and our state here: Walla Walla County Health Department lists new, confirmed, recovered, and active cases in isolation daily at 5 p.m. at this link: https://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us/government/health_department/index.php The site also lists confirmed cases by community, gender, and age. Columbia County lists positive cases in-county and out of county (for those who contracted the virus in the county but live in another county), recovered cases in county and out, as well as...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Coronavirus Response Joint Information Center reported on a new Center for Disease Control (CDC) report that emphasizes that COVID-19 can cause prolonged illness, including in younger people. The CDC released on Friday, July 24, findings from a telephone survey that indicates more than one-third of people diagnosed with COVID-19 who did not need hospitalization, had not returned to their usual state of health within two to three weeks of being tested. Among those b...
