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WA sees deadliest flu season in years

WA sees deadliest flu season in years

Yahoo18-04-2025

At least 388 people have died from the flu in Washington this season—making it the deadliest one the state has seen in years.
The number surpasses the 2017-2018 season by 92 deaths.
According to the weekly flu report from the Washington State Department of Health, most people who have died were older adults or had pre-existing conditions.
Currently, the health department says flu cases are low in the state.
Why is there such an uptick?
The King County Health Department told the Seattle Times that the problem is twofold:
First, this year's strain of the flu is stronger than usual.
Second, flu vaccination rates were down about 3% last year.
About 30% of Washingtonians got the shot this year.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests everyone six months and older get a flu shot every year.

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Thousands in WA at risk of losing food benefits under GOP bill in Congress
Thousands in WA at risk of losing food benefits under GOP bill in Congress

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Thousands in WA at risk of losing food benefits under GOP bill in Congress

(Getty Images) Tens of thousands of low-income Washingtonians could lose federal food assistance if Republicans move ahead with plans in a bill the U.S. House passed last month. That's according to estimates from the state and researchers at a left-leaning think tank. The cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, stem from a tax cut and spending package Republicans call their 'big, beautiful bill.' This legislation passed the U.S. House on May 22 and still needs approval from the Senate before it can reach President Donald Trump's desk. If more stringent work requirements in the bill take effect, about 79,000 people in Washington would be at risk of losing their benefits entirely, and 149,000 would be at risk of losing some SNAP benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank. The majority of those people live in eastern Washington or the Olympic Peninsula. The state's Department of Social and Health Services estimates more than 900,000 people in Washington could see benefits reduced or eliminated if the bill is approved as written. '​​The expanded work requirements provision alone would risk more than 198,000 Washingtonians losing access to critical food benefits statewide,' said Adolfo Capestany, a spokesperson for the department. Around 10% of the state's population receives SNAP benefits according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The majority of people affected by the cuts would be children, older adults, and people with disabilities. 'The bill would decrease the average monthly SNAP benefit for households by $55.95, from $331.58 per month to $275.63,' said Capestany. What's proposed in the Republican bill is the largest cut in the program's history, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Nationwide, the program would see a $300 billion, or roughly 30%, reduction. Since SNAP was introduced, the federal government has fully funded the cost of the food benefits, while states are responsible for screening for eligibility and issuing benefits. States have paid roughly half the cost of administering the program. The bill would require additional work requirement screening and would try to shift more costs to states. Studies have shown that work requirements do not boost employment, but do pose challenges for people trying to access benefits. At minimum under the Republican proposal, states would be required to pay 5% of SNAP benefits starting in 2028. States that exceed certain thresholds in making errors distributing SNAP payments would have to pay more. 'Washington would be required to backfill hundreds of millions of dollars in reduced federal funding annually,' Capestany said. State error rates vary from year to year, which could create challenges in the state's annual budget process. The addition of the work requirement would increase states' administrative burden and increase the risk of errors, according to the report. Capestany noted that the SNAP cuts Republicans are considering would trickle down to the economy and could decrease the amount flowing to Washington businesses, like grocers and retailers, by an estimated $360 million a year.

Watch: Trans mob clashes with Christian protesters
Watch: Trans mob clashes with Christian protesters

Yahoo

time29-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Watch: Trans mob clashes with Christian protesters

Eight people were arrested after pro-transgender demonstrators clashed with Christian protesters. Christian activists with Mayday USA organised a demonstration outside Seattle City Hall on Tuesday that descended into aggressive scenes after it was swarmed by pro-transgender counter-protesters. Footage of the incident shows a woman and three children surrounded by counter-protesters who heckled and pointed at her. The woman, dressed in a blue vest and a hat, is holding a baby in her arms and appears to be with her partner who is holding the hands of two children, one of whom is crying. As police officers rush in to diffuse the situation, demonstrators can be heard shouting 'get the kids out of here' and accuse the woman of 'instigating' the situation. The clashes on Tuesday followed a similar incident over the weekend which saw 23 people arrested when counter-protesters clashed with the same Christian group. Footage from the weekend's demonstration shows police attempting to restore calm in the Seattle park as pro-trans protesters descended on the Christian group. Dan Bongino, the FBI deputy director, responded to the scenes from the two protests, warning: 'Freedom of religion isn't a suggestion,' and pledged to investigate those accused of acts of violence against the Christian group. Mayday USA launched Tuesday's protest after Bruce Harrell, the Seattle mayor, called the Christian group 'extreme Right-wing' antagonists in the wake of the weekend's demonstrations. Around 500 protesters gathered in central Seattle to call on the mayor to step down over his comments, bearing signs saying 'Jesus loves Seattle', 'apologise or resign' and 'free speech for all', according to the Seattle Times. 'This is a unified response to the Seattle mayor's false accusations and attempts to limit the freedom of Christian worship,' the group wrote on social media. 'We are calling on the mayor to retract his statement, apologise or resign. This isn't a game.' Police attempted to separate the group from around 250 counter-protesters, but footage circulating online shows a number of tussles breaking out. In one incident, a man can be seen attempting to ram his bike into a de-transitioned activist who was allegedly attempting to attend the rally. A group of at least a dozen officers rushed in to ward off pro-trans demonstrators who hurled abuse as they attempted to surround the activist. Seattle police arrested eight people for assault, MailOnline reported. The White House condemned the actions of the counter-protesters for violating the Christian group's right to freedom of expression. Pastor Paula White-Cain, the White House adviser, said: 'We affirm the fundamental rights to free speech and religious freedom for all Americans, as protected by federal law.' 'Public officials must protect the inalienable rights of all citizens, regardless of their faith or religious beliefs. 'We urge the City of Seattle to uphold these rights at all faith-based events, safeguarding the ability of people of faith to gather and express their beliefs without fear of harassment or violence.' Mr Bongino said: 'We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. 'Freedom of religion isn't a suggestion.' It comes as Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, warned against offering transgender treatment to minors. Mr Kennedy wrote a letter to healthcare providers on Wednesday instructing them to no longer prescribe children suffering from gender dysphoria with puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and transgender surgery, warning that the treatments 'carry risk of significant harm'. 'Providers should no longer rely on discredited guidelines that promote these dangerous interventions for children and adolescents based on ideology, not evidence,' Mr Kennedy wrote. Dr Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), added that he was concerned about the 'profits related to these harmful procedures'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

WA governor calls on Reps. Newhouse, Baumgartner to explain ‘dire' cuts to Medicaid
WA governor calls on Reps. Newhouse, Baumgartner to explain ‘dire' cuts to Medicaid

Yahoo

time23-05-2025

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WA governor calls on Reps. Newhouse, Baumgartner to explain ‘dire' cuts to Medicaid

Gov. Bob Ferguson called on the state's Republican congressional coalition to 'explain their votes' on a massive federal spending bill that could result in 200,000 Washingtonians losing Medicaid coverage. 'The impacts in rural Washington and Central Washington — look, it's profound across our state, but it's especially acute there,' the Democratic governor said at a Thursday news conference with health care workers at Harborview Medical Center. 'And I would encourage individuals who live in those communities, in particular, to perhaps contact their member of Congress and ask them what the heck they're doing,' Ferguson continued. The Republican-controlled U.S. House early Thursday morning passed H.R. 1 — President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' Among other large spending provisions, the bill makes changes to Medicaid enrollment and eligibility and could lead to more than 7 million people losing coverage as it cuts $700 billion from the program over a decade. Medicaid is the joint state-federal government program that provides health insurance coverage to nearly 80 million Americans. That includes low-income residents, veterans, seniors and kids with disabilities. The Washington Medicaid program, called Apple Health, provides coverage for nearly 2 million, or about one in five residents. About 800,000 of those are children. The program covers about three-in-five nursing home residents and three-in-eight people with disabilities. The state spends about $21 billion on the program, Ferguson said, with $13 billion coming from the federal government. Under House Republicans' plans, Washington would lose out on about $2 billion in federal funds over the next four years, which Ferguson and health care workers say could lead to closing crucial hospital services in rural areas. 'It's dire,' Ferguson said. 'Hospitals will close, nursing homes will close. That will impact, as you heard, not just people who are on Medicaid, but Washingtonians all across our state. Right now, it is a four-alarm fire. It's all hands on deck.' Ferguson said Washington's budget wouldn't be able to cover the funding gap created by House Republicans' resolution. The House approved the resolution with 215 members in favor and 214 against. Washington's delegation voted on party lines, with Eastern Washington's two Republican lawmakers — Reps. Dan Newhouse, of Sunnyside, and Michael Baumgartner, of Spokane — voting for the bill and the eight Western Washington Democrats voting against it. The bill heads to the Senate for consideration. If it passes there, it would head to Trump's desk for final approval. 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It's time for every elected representative to stand up for patients and providers in their districts, protect Medicaid and stop raising health care costs on all of us,' Cantwell continued.

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