From the Governor's medium page
Education vaccine mandate does not impact students
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced a vaccination requirement for employees working in K-12, most childcare and early learning, and higher education, as well as an expansion of the statewide mask mandate to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. The governor was joined for the announcement by Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah.
Educator vaccine requirement
K -12 educators, school staff, coaches, bus drivers, school volunteers and others working in school facilities will have until October 18 to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. The requirement includes public, private and charter schools, and comes as schools across the state prepare to return for the 2021–2022 school year amid rapidly increasing case and hospitalization numbers. This does not impact students, regardless of age.
“It has been a long pandemic, and our students and teachers have borne their own unique burdens throughout,” Inslee said. “This virus is increasingly impacting young people, and those under the age of 12 still can’t get the vaccine for themselves. We won’t gamble with the health of our children, our educators and school staff, nor the health of the communities they serve.”
“As our school buildings reopen this fall for in-person learning, vaccination of our school employees will be a key mitigation measure to protect the health and safety of our students, staff, and families,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. “Our ability to maintain continued in-person learning without major COVID-related disruptions will depend on low virus transmission within our schools. I appreciate the governor’s leadership in taking this important step in the fight against the spread of this virus.”
As with state employees and private healthcare workers, there will be no test out option. Unions may bargain with school districts to negotiate time off to receive the vaccine or recover from symptoms of the vaccine. Just like the state worker mandate, there are limited exceptions under law which employees may apply for, including legitimate medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs. Individuals who refuse to get vaccinated will be subject to dismissal.
Higher education and childcare/early learning
Inslee also announced a vaccine requirement for employees in Washington’s higher education institutions, as well as for most childcare and early learning providers who serve children from multiple households.
Education staff, faculty and contractors are required to be fully vaccinated by October 18, consistent with the state worker vaccination requirement timeline.
Childcare providers affected by the requirement include the following groups
Licensed, certified and contracted early learning and childcare programs
License-exempt early learning, childcare and youth-development programs
Contractors (coaches, volunteers, trainers, etc.)
Not included in this mandate are providers delivering FFN (family, friends and neighbors) care.
Statewide mask mandate
The governor also announced that the existing statewide mask mandate will be expanded to once again include vaccinated individuals in indoor settings effective Monday, August 23.
The expansion comes after Washington recently broke the previous record for COVID hospitalizations set in December. Every county in the state currently falls within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) substantial or high transmission, and each of the state’s 35 local health officers recently recommended all individuals wear masks indoors.
“In Washington we continue to see an increase of cases, hospitalizations,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health. “Vaccines are safe and effective, but they take time to work. As our vaccination efforts continue, we are asking the public to take additional protections to help slow the spread of COVID in communities. Wearing a mask helps to protect yourself and each other.”
The mask mandate will apply to most all public places across the state, including restaurants, grocery stores, malls and public-facing offices, regardless of vaccination status.
There will be limited exceptions when face coverings won’t be required, such as office spaces not easily accessible to the public where individuals are vaccinated, and when working alone indoors or in a vehicle with no public face-to-face interaction. Small, private indoor gatherings where all attendees are vaccinated are also exempt.
“We have seen over the last year how widespread masking also saves lives by reducing infection,” Inslee said. “I know this will frustrate some vaccinated folks who thought they wouldn’t have to do this anymore. There are not enough people vaccinated. The result is the explosive growth of a much more infectious strain, the Delta variant, and its increasingly concerns impacts on people of all ages.”
While not required, the Department of Health strongly recommends individuals also wear masks in crowded outdoor settings, such as outdoor concerts, fairs and farmers markets.
Related news stories:
Mandate for health care workers sparks protest
Groups gather against measures that require vaccine--PDN
" Amy Pearson, who organized the protest, said she wanted to draw attention to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement that she and other health care employees must show proof of vaccination by Oct. 18 or lose their jobs.--PDN
‘Consider your neighbor’
Clallam commissioners support face masks against COVID-19--PDN
" Chairman Mark Ozias opened the weekly business meeting by expressing support for a countywide mask mandate for indoor public spaces that took effect Monday.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES THIS WEEK
FIRST ASIAN GIANT HORNET NEST OF 2021 LOCATED.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), and USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) found the first Asian giant hornet nest of 2021. The nest was in a rural area east of Blaine, Wash., about one-quarter mile from where a resident reported a sighting of a live Asian giant hornet on Aug. 11, the first of 2021.
* Editor's note: They found it, but won't kill the bugs nest until next week! Insane!
WSDA RECEIVES $500K SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT, WILL PARTNER WITH DOH AND WSU.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has received a $500,000 grant to work in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Washington State University Extension (WSU) on a project addressing stress and suicide prevention in the agriculture community.
Initial regular claims increased slightly the week of August 8, total claims continue to decrease
OLYMPIA – During the week of August 8 to 14, there were 5,528 initial regular unemployment claims, up 2.0 percent from the prior week. Total claims filed by Washingtonians for all unemployment benefit categories numbered 285,450, down 7.0 percent from the prior week.
Liberty Lake Access Area to close for improvements.
Chehalis Basin Board approves $70 million spending plan.
FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC
Senate-passed infrastructure package includes historic $2.855 billion investment in salmon recovery and ecosystem restoration.
Cantwell Statement On US Withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“The Biden administration must do all that it can to get Americans and our Afghan partners who helped our military and our diplomatic and development personnel out of the county. It must also speed up the evacuation of women, civil society activists, and other vulnerable groups from Afghanistan. I thank the troops who served in Afghanistan for their service as well as those currently on the ground helping with evacuations especially those from Washington state.
“President Biden must rally our allies and the international community to make sure the Taliban ends support for terrorism, respects women’s and human rights, and ends the narcotics trade. It must also press for increased humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people.
“I will be working with my Senate colleagues on oversight hearings on U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.”
Senator Murray: We Can’t Leave Our Allies Behind
“Right now, it’s clear we need to be doing everything we can to get U.S. citizens, civil service members, and our Afghan partners out of the country safely. But we must also support our Afghan allies who will be seeking safe refuge. We cannot leave our allies who have stood by us for more than 20 years—from the interpreters who supported our troops to the women who bravely stepped forward into civic society—behind.
(2) THIS WEEK'S TOP HEADLINE NEWS
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
‘No way out’ for imperiled Afghans, broader international response needed.
Afghanistan: Amid a deepening crisis, the UN is striving to assist people in need.
The conflict in Afghanistan has intensified in recent weeks, with Taliban fighters reaching Kabul over the weekend. More than 1,000 people have been killed or wounded in indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including in Helmand, Kandahar and Herat provinces.
Islamic State threat moves online, expands across Africa: Senior counter-terrorism expert
Two decades after the 11 September terrorist attacks in New York, terror networks Al-Qaida and Islamic State – also known as Da’esh – continue to pose a grave threat to peace and security, adapting to new technologies and moving into some of the world’s most fragile regions, the top UN counter-terrorism official told the Security Council on Thursday.
Amid growing fears that terrorists will again nest in Afghanistan and increase attacks in Africa, India’s foreign minister called today for the adoption of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.--UN PRESS RELEASE
Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Briefing on ISIL/Da’esh--USUN
Statement by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on World Humanitarian Day.
Joint Statement by The NATO Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan--US STATE DEPT.
More Than 2,000 Evacuated From Afghanistan in 24 Hours--DOD
NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES:
Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on World Humanitarian Day--WH
Joint Statement from HHS Public Health and Medical Experts on COVID-19 Booster Shots--CDC
HUD ANNOUNCES $2.7 BILLION FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is making $2.656 billion in FY 2021 Continuum of Care Program (CoC) competitive funding available to homeless services organizations across the country for supportive services and housing programs for people experiencing homelessness. Read HUD’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Interior Department Announces Next Steps for Idaho Onshore Wind Energy Project.
BUSINESS & FINANCE HEADLINES:
VP’s Visit to Southeast Asia Affirms Need to Enhance U.S. Trade Ties--US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, July 27-28, 2021--THE FED
Security Summit warns tax pros to watch for tell-tale signs of identity theft--IRS
(3) NEWS COMMENTARIES & LOCAL MEETINGS.
IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL WE COULD ALSO LOSE OR FREEDOMS, TO EXTREMIST LIKE THE TALIBAN, IN AFGHANISTAN.
But in our case it's political extremist, doing similar acts, just like the Taliban is now doing in Kabul, after they took over control Afghanistan this week.
Here in our country we have radical leftwing groups wanting to turn our nation into a Communist one.
Radical leftist like Antifa, and BLM.
If we allow radical leftist politicians in congress, and other places, have their way we could be hearing a knock on the door, demanding we vote for democratic candidates, denounce our faith to the government, give up our basic rights as Americans.
Attend meetings, sign petitions against over reaching polices, write letters to the editor, and so forth.
Meanwhile in Afghanistan...
News reports of these terrorist Taliban thugs are going door to door killing anyone to who supported the US, and Christians!
The following stories I collected is reflective of the events in Afghanistan this week, note the comparison of the same tactics used in Communist states like China where liberty is non existent. Some here in this nation want the same thing that's going on in other totalitarian states.---Peter Ripley
Related news stories:
Taliban Find a Way to Win Over the Left: Hunting Down Christians--PJ MEDIA
So Much For 'Amnesty': Taliban Going Door-to-Door Executing U.S. Allies--PJ MEDIA
Biden Gets Caught in His Lies
The Afghanistan debacle exposes Scranton Joe’s habit of shading the truth.--The Patriot Post
Stupefying Incompetence in Afghanistan
Is anyone in charge?--American Spectator
The sobering religious freedom lesson of Afghanistan--Washington Times
4,300 veterans back Biden, slam 'elites who pushed us into a 20-year war'
Desperate Afghans Fight Back Against Taliban, Resistance Scores Big Underdog Victory--WJ
The Steep Cost of Mishandling Our Withdrawal From Afghanistan--Daily Signal
LOCAL MEETINGS:
Clallam County meetings:
Clallam County Commission work session for 8.23.21
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1277
Clallam County Board meeting for 8.24.21
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=7279
Port of Port Angeles Commission meeting for 8.24.21
https://www.portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08242021-538
Clallam County PUD for 8.23.21
https://clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8-23-21-WEB-Packet-Part-1-Rev-2.pdf
part 2: https://clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8-23-21-WEB-Packet-Part-2.pdf
City of Sequim council meeting for 8.26.21
https://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2474
City of Forks Council meeting for 8.23.21
https://forkswashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Agenda_20210823.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 8.23.21
