News
The Chronicle - Centralia
|
Washington to fund more non-armed vehicle pursuit technology for law enforcement
As restrictions on law enforcement pursuing criminals are set to take effect on June 6 after passing in the Legislature, the state is offering police agencies a second funding opportunity to buy equipment capable of pursuing suspects without the use of firearms. A request for proposal put out by the Washington State Department of Commerce, Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention/Community Safety Unit is intended for a law enforcement agency to purchase ”specific vehicle pursuit technology” such as global positioning system tracking equipment, automated license plate reading technology, aircrafts, and drones. Commerce says it will award multiple agencies a total of $1.4 million to purchase the equipment, with the dollar amount dependent on the number of officers in the department. The grant funding was included in the Legislature’s 2023 operating budget, which also appropriated $1.5 million for the first round of grants last year. The agency to receive the most funding was the Spokane Sheriff’s Office, which was given $204,600 for a thermal imaging camera for the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit, which owns and operates four helicopters used to engage in vehicle pursuits. Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Executive Director Steve Strachan wrote in a statement to The Center Square that the association “appreciates funding for pursuit technology because pursuing suspects should not be the only option. But there is more to be done. While the legislature agreed to I-2113 they did not pass bipartisan supported legislation (SB 6200) to address fleeing suspects through other measures like tougher penalties, impounding vehicles, and increased use of technology. Law enforcement will continue to push for more of those tools and we hope the word gets out to criminals that the ‘get out of jail free’ days of driving away unchecked are over.” Created in 2020, the Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention/Community Safety Unit stated goal is a “better understanding and reducing firearm violence in communities across Washington.” The Q&A period for the RFP is April 16 – May 8. There is a pre-proposal conference on May 1 at 10:30 a.m. Proposals are due on May 28, with the first round of funding occurring between July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025. |
|
Activators Classic seeing one new twist
It has been 34 years since the inaugural Chehalis Activators Classic, one of the top meets in the Lewis County area. Since then, most of the core of the track and field meet has remained intact. There will be one change to this year’s gathering at W.F. West High School. For the first time in the history of the Activators Classic, there will be sponsors for the two-day meet that kicks off on Friday that will help benefit the Chehalis Activators, a nonprofit organization. “Source of revenue, so why don’t we do it?” Co-race director Ryan Robertson said. The main avenue of the organization is to help fund the athletic programs for Chehalis Middle School. The sponsors are as Robertson put it, “A direct benefit for the middle school.” It will have the same local flavor amongst the competing teams. Black Hills, Centralia, Napavine, Onalaska, Pe Ell, Rainier, Rochester, Tumwater and Winlock all will gather at the high school track along with the host Bearcats. There are 24 teams scheduled to be in the field. Friday will be an invitational where all competitors for every team will be able to compete in events starting at 4 p.m. It is the hallmark of what makes the Activators Classic different from any other weekend track meet. “That really is our strength,” Robertson said. “We take care of them all; we want them to have an amazing experience.” On Saturday, it will be the top-18 athletes and relays in every event based on season best marks. Field events start at noon on Saturday and running will kick off an hour later. Live results will be available at athletic.net. “It has kind of felt like an area championships,” Robertson stated. “It is fun for our smaller schools to come up and compete with the bigger schools. It is a good Lewis County connection.” |
Seattle Times Opinion
|
How to be pro-Palestinian, pro-Israeli and pro-Iranian
We are in a chaotic moment in the Middle East right now. An effective, credible, legitimate Palestinian Authority is the keystone for every decent outcome. |
Portland Business News
|
Historic Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood closed until further notice following fire
This story is available courtesy of Portland Business Journal media partner KGW-TV.
Timberline Lodge is closed until further notice as officials assess damage from a fire that broke out in the attic of the historic lodge in Government Camp on Thursday night. The ski area will be closed on Friday.
At around 11:10 p.m., John Burton, the marketing director at Timberline Lodge, said the fire was out. He told KGW that he thinks embers from the main chimney caused the fire. Employees tried to put out…
|
|
Measure 110 providers report steep growth in clients seeking substance use services
Newly released data show that more people are getting peer support and harm reduction.
|
NYT Politics
|
R.F.K. Jr.’s Environmental Colleagues Urge Him to Drop Presidential Bid
Nearly 50 leaders and activists who worked with Mr. Kennedy at an environmental nonprofit group will run ads calling on him to “Honor our planet, drop out.”
|
The Stand (Washington Labor News)
|
Assaults on staff at DSHS children’s hospitals must end
This Workers Memorial Day, WFSE urges DSHS management to listen to workers’ solutions to safety crisis The following is from AFSCME Council 28/WFSE: OLYMPIA (April 19, 2024) — Every year, the Department of Social and Health Services leadership attends the Washington Federation of State Employees Local 793’s Workers Memorial Day event, which honors workers […] The post Assaults on staff at DSHS children’s hospitals must end appeared first on The STAND. |
|
2024 Workers Memorial Day events April 24-29
Each year on Workers Memorial Day, April 28, working people throughout the world remember those who were hurt or killed on the job, and renew our struggle for safe workplaces. “The best way we can honor the people killed or injured at work is to recommit to fighting for safer workplaces,” said April Sims, President […] The post 2024 Workers Memorial Day events April 24-29 appeared first on The STAND. |
Seattle Times Politics
|
Two King County cities get $3 million to expand homeless shelters
Burien and Tukwila will use the one-time funding from the county to bolster their homelessness response. |
