Operation Overdrive” targets areas with high violence, overdoses to combat crime
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that he urged U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to include three Washington cities in a federal initiative aimed at combating drug-related violence and overdoses.
In a letter to Garland, Ferguson urged the addition of Everett, Spokane and Yakima to a Drug Enforcement Administration initiative called “Operation Overdrive.” The federal agency uses national crime statistics and health data to identify hot spots of drug-related violence and overdose deaths across the country. It then devotes law enforcement resources to those communities, where criminal drug networks cause the most harm.
According to federal statistics, Washington state experienced the largest percentage increase in drug overdose deaths in the nation from February 2022 through February 2023. Snohomish, Spokane and Yakima counties experienced higher overdose death rates than the statewide average over a three-year period from 2019 through 2021. In Snohomish County, 156 people died from synthetic opioid overdoses in 2021 alone. Overdoses from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in Spokane County surged from fewer than 10 in 2019 to 101 in 2021. Fentanyl overdoses in Yakima County more than doubled during this period.
“We must foster strong partnerships and share intelligence among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to focus our tools where they can have the most impact,” Ferguson said. “My office has recovered more than $1 billion and counting to combat the fentanyl epidemic, but more work is needed to identify and dismantle criminal drug networks.”
In the letter, Ferguson wrote that designating Everett, Spokane or Yakima as Operation Overdrive sites could have ripple effects that benefit surrounding communities and areas. For instance, Everett’s position on the Interstate 5 corridor makes it a deadly hub for traffickers smuggling fentanyl from Mexico to British Columbia. Spokane’s position on Interstate 90 makes it attractive to traffickers smuggling fentanyl throughout eastern Washington and into neighboring states.
The increased flow of fentanyl has also caused a disproportionate number of overdose deaths in Tribal nations close to Spokane and Yakima.
Money already flowing to Washington
Ferguson's litigation against opioid companies has secured more than $1 billion for Washington state over the next 15 years.
In October 2022, all 125 eligible local governments signed onto the $518 million resolution stemming from Ferguson’s earlier lawsuits against opioid distributors. The state received its first two payments of $82 million from the three largest opioid distributors.
Local governments will determine how to spend their share, and the Legislature will determine how the state share is allocated in communities around the state. In the 2023 legislative session, the Legislature allocated $64.1 million from the opioid payments. Examples of legislative support included:
$18,168,000 for prevention, treatment and recovery support services to address and remediate the opioid epidemic.
$15,447,000 to tribes and urban Indian health programs for opioid and overdose response activities.
$5,000,000 for the Department of Health to expand the distribution of naloxone through overdose education and a distribution program.
$4,000,000 for the authority to provide short-term housing vouchers for individuals with substance use disorders.
All spending decisions must be consistent with the state Opioid Response Plan. Recoveries can be used to address the Fentanyl epidemic.
Approved strategies include:
Improving and expanding treatment for opioid use disorder.
Supporting individuals in treatment and recovery, including providing comprehensive wrap-around services to individuals with opioid use disorder, including housing, transportation, education, job placement, job training or childcare.
Addressing the needs of pregnant women and their families, including those with babies with neonatal disorder.
Preventing opioid misuse, overprescribing and overdoses through, among other strategies, school-based and youth-focused programs, public education campaigns, increased availability and distribution of naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses, additional training and enhancements to the prescription drug monitoring program.a
Supporting first responders.--WA AG
IN OTHER STATE NEWS:
Washington Supreme Court Justice G. Helen Whitener returns from medical leave for Court’s Fall Term
August 28, 2023
Washington Supreme Court Justice G. Helen Whitener announced she will return from medical leave and will participate in the Court’s Fall term cases remotely, as she continues to recover from reconstructive back surgery.--WA COURTS
Ecology awards $63 million to reduce flooding, protect communities and farms, restore habitat.
OLYMPIA –
The Washington Department of Ecology is awarding $63 million to 12 recipients including tribes, counties, and conservation group cross Washington as part of a program to designed to transform how floodplains in the state’s major river basins are managed.--DOE
Tackling Toxics: Ecology helps business save costs and reduce power use with air leak audit.
Many industrial processes, such as machining, painting, and extrusion, use compressed air. Generating and using compressed air can account for 10% to 30% of energy consumption at an industrial facility. Leaks in compressed air lines can significantly impact a facility’s energy use and utility costs. --DOE
State disciplines health care providers.
Jefferson County
In June 2023 the Veterinary Board of Governors reinstated the licensed veterinary technician license of Jennifer Anne Brinton (AT00002197).--DOH
MORE FAMILIES CAN ENJOY STATE PARKS WITH UPDATED FOSTER FAMILY PROGRAM AND PASS
OLYMPIA — Aug. 30, 2023 — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) has implemented changes to its Foster Family Program to provide more families with the opportunity to camp and enjoy parks.--Parks Dept.
2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
KILMER ANNOUNCES WHITE HOUSE FUNDING TO COMBAT YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN TACOMA
TACOMA, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has approved a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program Grant of $125,000 to the Prevent! Tacoma Drug-Free Coalition. This grant is part of a national investment of approximately $20.5 million in youth substance use prevention announced by the Biden Administration today.--PRESS RELEASE
Murray, Cantwell Announce Over $4.5 Million in USDA Grants and Loans to Strengthen Rural Infrastructure Across Washington State, Including Funding for New Child Care Facility in Columbia County--PRESS RELEASE
Senator Murray Statement on Department of Labor Proposal to Extend Overtime Protections to Millions of Workers.--PRESS RELEASE
3) WORLD, NATION & BUSINESS
WORLD:
Veto by Russian Federation Results in Security Council’s Failure to Renew Travel Ban, Asset Freeze against Those Obstructing Mali Peace Agreement
The Security Council today failed to renew the travel ban and asset freeze imposed through resolution 2374 (2017) against individuals and entities obstructing implementation of the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, unable to reach consensus on either of two resolutions that would have kept such measures in place amidst the drawdown of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).--UN PRESS RELEASE
Amid World of Deeply Linked Challenges, South-South Cooperation Vital in Shaping Brighter Future, Says Secretary-General, Marking International Day
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, observed on 12 September--UN PRESS RELEASE
Case Before International Court of Justice Will Expose Israel’s Prolonged Illegal Policies, Permanent Observer Tells Palestinian Rights Committee
Presenting Study on Legality of Israeli Occupation,
Former Special Rapporteur Stresses ‘These Are Powerful Findings’--UN PRESS RELEASE
Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the UN Security Council on the Conclusion of the U.S. Presidency of the UNSC--USUN
Conviction and Sentencing of Individuals Charged in Connection with the Killing of U.S. Citizen Stephen Troell in Baghdad, Iraq---US STATE DEPT.
NATION:
DOD Finance Chief Says Delayed Budgets Present a Challenge.
Last year, the Defense Department's financial management community demonstrated remarkable agility in developing four supplemental budgets — an unprecedented feat — in addition to DOD's regular, baseline budget. --DOD
Russian-German National Arrested for Illegally Exporting to Russia Sensitive U.S.-Sourced Microelectronics with Military Applications in Violation of U.S. Export Controls--DOJ
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Efforts to Support K-12 Education as Students go Back-to-School--DEPT. of Education
HUD Awards Over $24 Million to 57 Grantees to Fight Housing Discrimination
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the allocation of $24,195,749.33 from its $56 million FY 2023 budget to support 57 fair housing organizations across the nation through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). --HUD
CDC Awards $279M to 49 States, the District of Columbia, and 40 Local Health Departments to Help Prevent Drug Overdoses.--CDC
BUSINESS:
Preliminary Annual Report on U.S. Holdings of Foreign Securities at Year-End 2022.
WASHINGTON – Preliminary data from an annual survey of U.S. portfolio holdings of foreign securities at year-end 2022 were released today and posted on the Treasury website here. The final survey report, which will include additional detail as well as possible revisions to the data, will be released on October 31, 2023.--US TREASURY DEPT.
Federal Court Permanently Enjoins Tax Return Preparer in Texas and Orders Disgorgement of Tax Prep Fees--DOJ
Biden-Harris Administration Invests $266 Million to Help Rural Business Owners, Farmers and Ranchers Lower Energy Costs, Generate Income, and Expand Operations, as Part of Investing in America Agenda--USDA
IRS: Those impacted by Idalia qualify for tax relief; Oct. 16 deadline, other dates postponed to Feb. 15--IRS
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AWARDS $3M IN FUNDING TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN GEORGIA--DEPT. of LABOR
IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS FOR 9/2/23
