PULLMAN - Community specialists with WSU Extension are partnering with the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) to enhance capacity by Washington communities, especially those in rural and remote areas, to provide better and more equitable access to reliable, high-speed internet.

Funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the one-year, $8 million statewide Broadband Action Team (BAT) Implementation and Support project aids county and community efforts with training, planning support, and resources coordinated through Extension offices to enhance internet access in underserved, primarily rural communities.

"As Washington state moves to ensure that all of our residents have reliable and equitable access to broadband service, community input is essential," said Lisa Brown, Washington Commerce Director. "Identifying local needs and gaps will help guide us to highest impact broadband infrastructure investments. WSU Extension is uniquely positioned to assist communities in this grass-roots effort to define what they need, and we're very pleased to partner in this important work to expand broadband access across the state."

Small business grants available through pandemic relief funds

Another round of state pandemic relief grants is on the way, with a focus on - but not limited to - the arts, heritage and science sectors, and businesses relying on Washington Convention Center events, such as theaters and live entertainment venues.

Applications for the Working Washington Grants: Round 5 and new Convention Center Grants programs open Wednesday Aug. 17. Together, these programs will distribute $75 million in pandemic relief grants to eligible small businesses and nonprofits across Washington.

The online commercegrants.com portal has guidelines and information to help applicants get ready to submit applications.

The Department of Revenue has launched the new website portal for the state's Working Families Tax Credit.

DOR estimates about 420,000 Washingtonians will be eligible to receive a check or direct deposit of up to $1,200. The credit will be available in the upcoming tax return season, and Washingtonians can check now to see whether they might be eligible for the credit at workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov.

Gov. Jay Inslee signed HB 1297 and approved funding for the program in 2021. This is an ongoing program that will allow lower-income families to apply for a rebate every year. DOR will begin an outreach campaign later this year to make sure people are aware of the program and know how to apply.

Partisan Activists Post

Ballot "surveillance" Signs

in Attempt to Intimidate Voters

King County officials discovered and removed hostile signs placed near ballot boxes in the Seattle area, warning voters that the site was "under surveillance." The King County elections office immediately called for an investigation by the Sheriff's office. Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Attorney Nick Brown swiftly admonished the illegal tactic to intimidate voters.

Invasive Asian giant hornets pose a very real threat to people and pollinators if they propagate. Teams from the state Department of Agriculture continue to catch, track, and eradicate them. Local residents are helping the cause by reporting sightings.

Gov. Jay Inslee visited two helpful residents last Tuesday (July 12) who alerted WSDA after spotting the hornets near their homes. After a sighting, WSDA crews visit to trap a hornet, sedate it, tie a tiny transmitter to it, then release it. Later, crews trek through thick brush to locate the nest, then don sting-proof suits to vacuum the hornets from within the hive.

"Murder hornets" are one of many invasive species trying to establish a foothold in Washington state. European green crabs and other prolific non-native creatures threaten natural ecosystems. Residents should report sightings of invasive species to the proper authority.

Gov. Jay Inslee began a Thursday visit to Grays Harbor County at the Coastal Community Action Program in Aberdeen. The organization helps low-income residents with housing, health, employment, nutrition, and emergency services. The program benefitted from a Commerce Solar Deployment Grant to build a solar installation that now powers their buildings.

Inslee then broke ground at the Fry Creek Pump Station in Aberdeen, which will reduce flood risk for local homes and businesses. The pump station is just one part of a larger Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project that will protect more than 5,100 properties and 1,354 businesses. The project was funded by $8.75 million from the 2021-2023 state capital budget.

Gov. Jay Inslee visited Washington State Department of Natural Resources hand crews completing a practical exam last Tuesday (June 28). The exam brought the crews one step closer to attaining their "Red Cards" certifying them as wildlands firefighters.

"Don't be the spark," said DNR's Wildfire Communications Manager Thomas Kyle-Milward. "Roughly 90 percent of wildfires are human-caused. Take care when you're out recreating in natural spaces."

Once the weather heats up and fuels dry out, so begins another wildfire season. DNR provides wildfire prevention reminders including checking for burn restrictions before starting campfires, not parking hot vehicles in dry grassy areas, and using nylon or plastic weed whackers instead of metal ones.

California, Oregon and Washington will continue to be a safe haven for all people seeking abortions and other reproductive health care services in these states.

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup Sunday completed its review of the federal process and has unanimously concluded that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old. The Workgroup provided its confirmation to the governors of Washington, California, Nevada and Oregon this afternoon.

The Moderna two-dose vaccine series and the Pfizer three-dose vaccine series are now available to children as young as 6 months old. The Washington State Department of Health last week said once vaccines were approved they will begin supplying healthcare providers with vaccines for children ages 6 months to 4 years.

On Friday, June 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of the vaccines in children as young as 6 months old, and the CDC affirmed that decision on Saturday. The Workgroup reviewed the federal decisions on Saturday and affirmed them today.

The Workgroup thoroughly reviewed safety and efficacy data for the vaccines. The Workgroup found that completion of either vaccine series produced antibody levels similar to those achieved in individuals aged 16-25 years. Observed vaccine reactions among infants aged 6-12 months and children aged 1 through 5 years were consistent with reactions to other vaccines routinely recommended for these age groups.

The Workgroup concluded that the benefits of completing either vaccine series substantially outweigh any known or likely risks. Immunization can be expected to reduce the numbers of COVID-19-related serious illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in young children while facilitating their participation in normal educational, social and recreational activities.

Booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are now available for children ages 5-11.

The expansion of booster eligibility comes as COVID-19 cases are continuing to steadily rise across the county. The myth that COVID-19 is always a mild disease in children is untrue. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 4.8 million children ages 5-11 have been diagnosed with COVID-19, with 15,000 hospitalized and 180 deceased.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends children ages 5-11 should receive a booster dose five months after completing their primary vaccine series of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Immunocompromised children should receive their booster at least three months after their primary series.

More Policies Needed
to Stop Gun Violence

The violent tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, once again highlights the overwhelming need for policies to reduce gun violence. As the Associated Press reports, it also highlights how state leaders in Washington stand in contrast to Congress and Republican leaders.

During the past several years, Washington voters and the Legislature have passed policies to reduce and prevent gun violence related to domestic violence, suicide, community violence and mass shootings. Policies include universal background checks, an increase in the purchasing age for semi-automatic weapons, liability for people who don't secure their firearms, and extreme risk protection orders - sometimes called "red flag laws."