The PM Newsdesk Minutes: Murray introduces pro-abortion legislation ahead of election, Vantage wildfire grows
Aug 2, 2022, 4:47 PM
The KIRO Newsradio newsdesk brings you their top stories on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 2.
The AM Newsdesk Minutes: Three officially dead due to heat, mass shooting trial continues
Missing Murdered Indigenous People Task Force releases first report
The state’s Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force is out with its first report.
KIRO Newsradio’s Hanna Scott said the report came with 10 recommendations to begin addressing the crisis. Among those recommendations, State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said many Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and People cases in Washington are decades old.
Other recommendations include expanding the task force’s data and research focus to include all genders while also extending the task force, which is currently set to expire next year through 2025.
Murray authors pro-abortion legislation moments before primary
Today, Washington U.S. Senator Patty Murray introduced legislation to provide legal protection for doctors who perform abortions in states where the procedure is allowed.
This comes as several states have moved to significantly restrict or ban abortions, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Providers — in states where abortion is legal — expect to see an increase of patients coming in from other states.
Murray is running for re-election against anti-abortion candidate Tiffany Smiley.
Stanwood Chamber of Commerce closes after 45 years
The Stanwood Chamber of Commerce is shutting down at the end of the month, citing financial difficulties.
Bob Green, CEO of the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives, said while the pandemic has been tough on chambers of commerce, especially small ones, the Stanwood case isn’t typical. Green explained that chambers draw much of their revenue from holding events — and that funding source dried up when everything got canceled.
Monkeypox cases continue to climb
New numbers just in show monkeypox is still on the rise:
President Biden named veteran FEMA and CDC leaders to manage the U.S. response to the monkeypox outbreak as governors of California, New York, and Illinois announced states of emergency.
The Washington State Health Department says at least 154 people have tested positive for monkeypox.
Public Health Doctor Matthew Golden said most are in King County. Monkeypox is generally spread by skin-on-skin contact. It’s rarely deadly in the U.S., but it is painful.
Wildfire in Vantage covers 13 square miles
The power is back on in the central Washington town of Vantage, but the wildfire just outside of town is still burning.
People in the area are being told they need to be ready to leave on short notice. Some residents were evacuated for a short time last night.
Firefighters in Kittitas County said the fast-moving flames have burned approximately 13 square miles.
Deputy State Fire Marshal John Wable said help is arriving.
The Vantage highway is closed, but I-90 remains open.
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