King County mailed 1.4 million ballots to voters this week. The ballots should arrive at homes by Monday.
King County Elections Director Julie Wise told reporters Wednesday that the county is boosting its security measures with plainclothes security officers protecting ballot drop boxes, keeping the ballot count away from internet-connected servers, and the adoption of other security measures for this election cycle.
A KING 5 poll recently showed that respondents were concerned over the security of national elections. Read more
They won't be debating face-to-face as originally planned, but President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will be on the national airwaves at the same time Thursday night.
NBC News announced Wednesday it will hold a town hall in Miami with Trump at 5 p.m. Pacific Time Thursday. That event will start at the same time as Biden's previously announced town hall with ABC News in Philadelphia.
The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates originally proposed changing the planned debate into a virtual event after Trump's positive COVID-19 diagnosis. But Trump refused, and the head-to-head debate was scrapped.
An Oct. 22 debate between the candidates is still on the books. Read more
Washington State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy, who has been instrumental in leading the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, will resign later this year.
Lofy, who has served as the state's health officer for six and a half years, announced her decision Wednesday. Lofy cited personal reasons for resigning her post.
Lofy is leaving just as Secretary of Health John Wiesman leaves his position as well. Before the pandemic, Wiesman had accepted a faculty position at the University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health. Read more
COVID-19 transmission is increasing in western Washington but has recently plateaued in some areas of eastern Washington, according to data released Wednesday by the Washington Department of Health Wednesday.
The recent increase in western Washington could be due to the changing weather conditions, according to the report. The data analyzed COVID-19 tests and cases through Oct. 2. Read more
The advocacy group Housing Hope wants to build 44 units for homeless students and their families on an empty playfield in Everett's Port Gardner neighborhood. About 1,300 students who are homeless attend the Everett Public Schools.
The land was donated by the school district and provides an opportunity for the nonprofit to create housing at a much lower cost.
But neighbors have been putting up signs, saying that the housing would take away needed open space in the neighborhood and would cause additional traffic and trouble. The city council is slated to decide on the matter later this month. Read more
Also see: Seattle local forecast
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