DAILY NEWS
No deal at KapStone, Hobbs vs. cities, angry white primaries…
Monday, February 1, 2016
LOCAL
► In the Seattle Times — Group Health members meet to examine proposed buyout by Kaiser — Saturday’s meeting in downtown Seattle was a required step in the proposed acquisition, which would add Group Health to Kaiser’s 10.1 million members in eight states and Washington, D.C. All voting members of Group Health will receive ballots in early February.
► In the News Tribune — KPLU supporters say they’ve raised $1 million to save station from sale to UW — The effort to wrest radio station KPLU from a deal that would transfer it to the University of Washington has raised $1 million, a spokeswoman says.
STATE GOVERNMENT
► In today’s Olympian — If lawmakers ‘met every deadline’ on school funding, why is state in contempt of court? — Legislators from both parties have claimed in recent weeks that they “met every deadline” when it comes to fully funding public schools. So what about the 2014 date by which the Legislature was supposed to submit a plan for fixing school-funding problems by 2018? Lawmakers have yet to produce the plan. When asked last week about their claims, several lawmakers clarified their statements: They are referring only to deadlines the Legislature has set for itself.
► From KPLU — Still waiting for McCleary funding, school districts ask voters to pass levies — From the Methow Valley to Seattle and everywhere in between, school districts will be going directly to voters on February 9 to ask them to say “yes” to higher taxes so that schools can keep paying for teachers’ salaries, supplies and so that new buildings can be constructed to ease overcrowding.
► In today’s Spokesman-Review — $100 million software system for community colleges so flawed it will need millions more to fix — A $100 million computer software system for 34 community colleges is so far behind schedule and operating so poorly that it will likely cost another $10 million. Because students rather than taxpayers are responsible for the initial cost – and probably the overruns – the system and its problems have gone largely unnoticed by state lawmakers.
► In Sunday’s Seattle Times — With deadline looming, Washington insurance website down most of Saturday — Those trying to meet Sunday night’s deadline to sign up for health insurance on the state exchange found the system down most of Saturday. The site was back in action at 7:30 p.m.
► In the Oregonian — Minimum wage deal: Kate Brown now wants $14.50 for Portland — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown released a revised minimum wage plan Friday that scales back proposed increases but offers workers a raise as soon as this summer. The Portland area’s rate would go up to $14.50 and the statewide to $13.50 by 2022, rising with inflation after.
FREE TRADE
NATIONAL
► From The Atlantic — Most Americans aren’t ready to give up tipping — According to a poll by the ad-buying firm Horizon Media, 81 percent of American restaurant-goers aren’t interested in getting rid of tipping. According to the survey, diners are still attached to the idea of rewarding good service, and are concerned that losing the ability to tip would produce a rash of inattentive waiters and waitresses. The concept of being forced to pay a service charge — which is how most tipping-free restaurants implement their policy — doesn’t sit well with people.
► From Think Progress — Justice Ginsburg’s warning to the American worker — Justice Ginsburg warns against the common practice where companies refuse to do business with consumers — or threaten not to hire a worker — unless the worker or consumer agrees to sign away their right to bring any disputes against the company in a real court, and instead submit to a private arbitrator.
► In today’s NY Times — No more exposés in North Carolina (editorial) — A new state law aims to stop whistleblowers from exposing abusive practices not only at factory farms, but at businesses across the state.
► From Variety — ‘Spotlight,’ Idris Elba, diversity dominate SAG Awards — In a rebuke to the all-white Oscar nominations in the acting categories, Idris Elba won the supporting actor SAG Award for “Beasts of No Nation,” along with a second award for his role in “Luther” in the TV movie/miniseries category. Diversity continued to rule with Netflix’s multi-racial “Orange is the New Black” taking two awards and transgender-themed titles “Transparent” and “The Danish Girl” winning trophies.
TODAY’S MUST-READ
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.