OLYMPIA

Washington Opioid Settlement FILE - Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks March 23, 2022, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Months into a complex trial over their role in flooding Washington with highly addictive painkillers, the nation's three largest opioid distributors have agreed to pay the state $518 million. “We could have joined the overwhelming majority of states and settled with the the largest opioid distributors, but we chose to fight them in court instead,” Ferguson said. “That decision to take them to court will result in significant additional resources for Washington to combat the opioid epidemic." Further, the companies argued, Washington state itself played a large role in the epidemic.

Months into a complex trial over their role in flooding Washington with highly addictive painkillers, the nation’s three largest opioid distributors have agreed to pay the state $518 million.

A state appeals court Thursday said a family did not have a “legal right” to force Mayo Clinic Florida to administer the controversial drug ivermectin to try to keep alive a COVID-19 patient who was on a ventilator.

Election Lies Violence A Senate security worker walks near a video display outside the Senate chamber showing Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday urged state lawmakers to approve a bill that would make it a crime for elected officials or candidates to knowingly lie about election outcomes if those claims result in violence. In addition to the criminal penalties, elected officials who are convicted would also be removed from office. Opponents have argued the bill is not constitutional, but Inslee told the committee his staff worked with legal scholars to refine the bill and protect First Amendment rights to free speech. Frockt, who also has sponsored a bill making it a felony to harass election workers, said the election misinformation that has happened across the U.S. since the 2020 presidential election can't be dismissed.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is urging state lawmakers to approve a bill that would make it a crime for elected officials or candidates to knowingly lie about election outcomes if those claims result in violence.

Serena Williams' 4-year-old daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., practiced her backhand swing at tennis practice in a video posted to her Instagram.

Greece Microsoft Ancient Olympia School students use a mobile app at the ancient site of Olympia, southwestern Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Microsoft launched a digital restoration project at the ancient birthplace of the Olympic Games in southern Greece Wednesday to provide visitors an immersive recreation of temples and competition areas as they walk through the ruins. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) (Thanassis Stavrakis)OLYMPIA, Greece — (AP) — What would it be like to walk around the ancient religious sanctuary of Olympia when the Olympic Games were held? The program at ancient Olympia harnesses augmented reality technology that designers say has the potential to transform education, business and entertainment. At the Olympic Museum in Athens, they can use mixed-reality HoloLens headsets that overlay visual information on top of what the viewer sees.

Microsoft has launched a digital immersive tour at the ancient birthplace of the Olympic Games in southern Greece.

The protesters managed to enter the grounds and attempted to reach the Temple of Hera, where the ceremony was being held. They were thrown to the grou

The protesters managed to enter the grounds and attempted to reach the Temple of Hera, where the ceremony was being held. They were thrown to the grou

Amtrak Train Derails In this photo provided by Kimberly Fossen an ambulance is parked at the scene of an Amtrak train derailment on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in north-central Montana. Other recent Amtrak accidents:—- Dec. 18, 2017: Three people were killed and 10 seriously injured in a derailment near Olympia, Washington, in which part of the train landed on Interstate 5. The lead engine of the train derailed. — March 14, 2016: A train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago derailed in southwest Kansas, injuring at least 32 people. — May 12, 2015: A train traveling at twice the 50 mph speed limit derailed as it entered a sharp curve in Philadelphia.

The deadly Amtrak derailment in north-central Montana of the Empire Builder, traveling from Chicago to Seattle, is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Virus Outbreak Vaccine Mandate People gather outside the Capitol to protest Gov. Marlene Washington, an elementary school teachers in New York City, said as she protested de Blasio's order outside City Hall last week that she is considering retirement after two decades in the classroom. But there is a deep disagreement here,” said Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, the parent organization of the New York City teachers union. At least 72% of the 75,000 public school teachers in New York City have gotten at least one shot of a vaccine. A protest on Saturday attracted hundreds of state employees, from ferry workers to teachers, who rallied against the vaccine mandate.

Virus Outbreak Vaccine Mandate People gather outside the Capitol to protest Gov. While teachers unions including the United Federation of Teachers, which represents New York City teachers, have supported the no-opt out rules for vaccines, they also advocate on behalf of dissenting members in negotiations with the city. But there is a deep disagreement here,” said Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, the parent organization of the New York City teachers union. At least 72% of the 75,000 public school teachers in New York City have gotten at least one shot of a vaccine. The district will comply with the vaccine mandate as it fights to regain local control of decisions around mask-wearing and vaccines in schools, board members said.

Jay Inslee speaks Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said all teachers must be vaccinated and masks must be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status. Jay Inslee on Wednesday announced that all teachers and some child care providers must be vaccinated against COVID-19. There will be no option for regular COVID-19 tests instead of vaccination, Inslee said. Inslee just announced a vaccine mandate for all teachers K-12.

Greece Fires A burnt hotel during a wildfire in Lalas village, near Olympia town, western Greece, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. In neighboring Turkey, wildfires described as the worst in decades have swept through swaths of the southern coast for the past 10 days, killing eight people. More than 1,000 firefighters and nearly 20 aircraft are now battling major fires across Greece. In southern Greece, nearly 60 villages and settlements were evacuated Thursday and early Friday. Associated Press journalists Thanassis Stavrakis in Drosopigi, Greece, and Mehmet Guzel in Mugla, Turkey, contributed.

Greece Wildfires An aircraft drops water during a wildfire in ancient Olympia, western Greece, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. A heat wave that authorities have described as Greece's worst since 1987 has baked the country for more than a week and is forecast to last until at least Sunday. Greece saw more than 100 wildfires break out over 24 hours from late Tuesday to late Wednesday. France's civil protection agency said 40 French firefighters and eight tons of material had headed to Greece late Wednesday to assist in the Evia blaze. The causes of the Greek wildfires were unclear, but authorities say human error and carelessness are most frequently to blame.

Greece Wildfires An aircraft drops water during a wildfire in ancient Olympia, western Greece, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (Giannis Spyrounis/ilialive.gr via AP) (Giannis Spyrounis)LIMNI, Greece — (AP) — Forest fires fueled by a protracted heat wave raged overnight and into Thursday in Greece, threatening the archaeological site at the birthplace of the modern Olympics and forcing the evacuation of dozens of villages. One of the major fires was burning in the southern Greek region of the Peloponnese near ancient Olympia, where the Olympics were held every four years from 776 B.C. More than 100 wildfires broke out over 24 hours from late Tuesday to late Wednesday, authorities said. The causes of the Greek wildfires were unclear, but authorities say human error and carelessness are most frequently to blame.

A memorial for him on that same porch Friday drew more than 40 people, many from the Capitol campus. In the stream of comments on that initial social media post and others that followed, snippets of his life before and after homelessness emerged. Last week's heat wave was caused by what meteorologists described as a dome of high pressure over the Northwest that scientists said was a once-in-a-millennium event. There were so many people who wanted to help.”A majority of the deaths from the heat wave were in King and Pierce counties, and 19 of the state’s 39 counties have reported heat-related deaths, officials said. Thurston County, where Moss died, reported three official heat deaths so far.

A memorial for him on that same porch Friday drew more than 40 people, many from the Capitol campus. Last week's heat wave was caused by what meteorologists described as a dome of high pressure over the Northwest that scientists said was a once-in-a-millennium event. Seattle, Portland and many other cities broke all-time heat records, with temperatures in some places reaching above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius). There were so many people who wanted to help.”A majority of the deaths from the heat wave were in King and Pierce counties, and 19 of the state’s 39 counties have reported heat-related deaths, officials said. Thurston County, where Moss died, reported three official heat deaths so far.

During hot and humid temperatures, you must stay hydrated, the Vancouver Sun reported. But while you’re trying to increase your liquid intake, the Sun suggests staying away from alcohol and caffeine which can dehydrate you. Apartments in New York City can register at least 93 degrees during heat waves, according to Consumer Reports. Stop what you are doing if you have these symptoms and rest, rehydrate and cool yourself down. Check on friends and familyDuring heat waves, check on friends, family and neighbors and have them do the same, the CDC recommends.

A person walks through the snow on the Capitol campus, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Olympia, Wash. Winter weather is expected throughout the Seattle region through the weekend. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)SEATTLE – A rare winter storm that dumped a foot of snow on Seattle couldn’t keep a 90-year-old woman from her first appointment for the coronavirus vaccine. The Seattle Times reports that Fran Goldman walked six miles round trip to get her shot. Goldman dressed in fleece pants and a short-sleeved shirt so that the nurse could get to her arm easily. She then put on snow boots, took out her walking sticks and ventured onto the snowy streets.

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. – A winter storm blanketed the Pacific Northwest with ice and snow Saturday, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power and disrupting travel across the region. Freezing rain left roads, power lines and trees coated in ice in the Portland, Oregon, region, and by Saturday morning more than 270,000 people were without power. The “unsettled winter conditions” would likely continue throughout the week, the National Weather Service said Saturday morning. Rain falling on accumulated snow raised the possibility of urban flooding happening Sunday night or Monday in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. Idaho's neighbors to the east were blasted by brutally frigid weather, with the National Weather Service warning of dangerous wind chills in Montana and Wyoming.

AdAbout 100 taxpayers in the state have wealth in excess of $1 billion, according to the state Department of Revenue. The bill's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Noel Frame of Seattle, said the measure isn't an attack on the state's richest residents. The Washington state measure “would be the first of its kind if it passes,” he said. Frame said Washington — one of just a few states without an income tax — leans too heavily on its sales tax, disproportionately affecting those with less income. In a blog post in late 2019, Gates wrote about inequality and his push for changes in the tax code, including his support of an unsuccessful voter initiative that would have created a state income tax.

Olympia, Washington — Two Olympia police SWAT teams went door-to-door at the Red Lion Hotel Sunday night breaking up what police called a forcible occupation by homeless advocates. Other officers escorted out employees who were sheltering in the basement for more than six hours, feeling trapped, police said. Police outside Red Lion Hotel in Olympia, Washington on night of January 31, 2021. Police said they started receiving calls at about 11 a.m. from hotel employees who said people with batons, knives, hatchets, gas masks, helmets and goggles had entered the lobby, apparently prepared for a confrontation. Police said they were connecting the homeless who were in rooms with services.

A Michigan state Capitol commission voted this week to ban the open carrying of firearms inside the statehouse in Lansing. AdvertisementMichigan State Police increased their presence around the state Capitol, but Lansing’s mayor asked Whitmer to send in the National Guard. Arizona authorities have put up a temporary fence around their state Capitol, just as they did over the summer during Black Lives Matter protests. Troops and officers at the state Capitol building have far outnumbered demonstrators at protests this week. “It would literally take an army to get into the Capitol building now,” he said.

The social media company Twitter said Tuesday Jan. 12, 2021, it has suspended more than 70,000 accounts associated with the far right QAnon conspiracy theory following last week's U.S. Capitol insurrection. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)LONDON – Social media platforms are continuing to crack down on fringe groups and conspiracy theories following last week’s deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. Twitter’s sweeping purge of QAnon accounts, which began Friday, is part of a crackdown that also includes its decision to ban President Donald Trump from the service over worries about further incitement to violence. Twitter has been trying to rein in QAnon for months, removing more than 7,000 accounts in July. Twitter's suspensions followed a flurry of actions by tech giants that silenced rival social media platform Parler, a magnet for the far right.

The social media company Twitter said Tuesday Jan. 12, 2021, it has suspended more than 70,000 accounts associated with the far right QAnon conspiracy theory following last week's U.S. Capitol insurrection. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)LONDON – Twitter says it has suspended more than 70,000 accounts associated with the far right QAnon conspiracy theory following last week's U.S. Capitol riot. In many cases, a single individual operated numerous accounts, driving up the total number of affected accounts, the company said in a blog post. The QAnon conspiracy theory is centered on the baseless belief that Trump is waging a secret campaign against “deep state” enemies and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals. Twitter has previously tried to crack down on QAnon, removing more than 7,000 accounts in July.

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)State capitols across the nation stepped up security Monday, deploying National Guard units, SWAT teams and extra police officers while several legislatures convened amid heightened safety concerns following last week's violence at the U.S. Capitol. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee activated hundreds of National Guard troops to help state police keep order at the state Capitol. Oregon state police will conduct building security training for those who work at the state Capitol, including journalists, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Michigan lawmakers are to return to session Wednesday.

Jay Inslee talks to reporters at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. State lawmakers across the country will be convening in 2021 with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic rippling through much of their work and even affecting the way they work. — Coronavirus hospitalizations are stabilizing in parts of California, but patients are still overwhelming hospitals in a large swath of the state, leading Gov. 4 Notre Dame had to go a combined 37-2 on the field and keep the virus at bay. QUOTABLE: “COVID will frame everything,” Tim Storey, executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures, said about state legislatures across the country that will convene in 2021. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

Jay Inslee announced new restrictions on businesses and social gatherings Sunday for the next four weeks as the state continues to combat a rising number of coronavirus cases. The order also restricts indoor and outdoor residential gatherings, closes some entertainment facilities and bans gyms from hosting group exercise classes. The restrictions announced by Inslee, a Democrat, temporarily rolls back all counties and places them under the same guidelines. As of Sunday, Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus tracker has reached 11 million after topping 10 million cases Nov. 9 — with the most recent million coming in just six days. It took 300 days for the U.S. to hit the 11 million mark since the first case was diagnosed in Washington state Jan. 20.

Olympia is among the places facing unhealthy air quality due to wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. “The same population that is most vulnerable to the virus is also most vulnerable to the smoke,” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan noted during a news conference. San Francisco also continued to suffer from smoke pollution; those four cities topped the list of major cities with the worst air quality Friday, according to IQAir.com, which tracks air quality around the world. In San Francisco, the gray air smelled of burned wood and visibility was clouded by “very unhealthy” air, according to the Bay Area Air Quality District. Residents were also asked to avoid activities that could further degrade the air quality, including unnecessary driving, lawn mowing and barbecuing.

6 Cases of Covid-19 force Olympia High back home for virtual learningIf you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.

This photo shows a sign at the headquarters for Washington state's Employment Security Department Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Washington state's rush to get unemployment benefits to residents who lost jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak left it vulnerable to criminals who made off with hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)OLYMPIA, Wash. Washington has recovered $300 million paid to criminals who used stolen personal information to file fraudulent unemployment benefit claims amid the COVID-19 crisis, state officials said Thursday. This is a national attack by sophisticated criminals and isnt just happening to Washington state, LeVine said. Nearly 1.5 million claims for benefits with some of that number reflecting people who filed multiple claims were filed for the week of May 17-23, and more than $494.5 million was paid last week to 424,995 individual claims. Washingtons stay-at-home order has been in place since March 23 and the states unemployment rate jumped to a record 15.4% last month.

File photo: Washington state Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, fires a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at the annual "Legislative Shootout" at the Evergreen Sportsmen's Club in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Gunmaker Colt says it is suspending its production of rifles for the civilian market including the popular AR-15. Colt's chief executive officer, Dennis Veilleux, says it is not permanently ending production but believes there is already an adequate supply of sporting rifles on the market. He said in a statement Thursday the company will concentrate on fulfilling military and law enforcement contracts with its rifle manufacturing. The West Hartford, Connecticut-based company has received some criticism from gun rights advocates for moving away from the civilian market. Veilleux said in the statement the company remains committed to the Second Amendment and is adapting to consumer demand.

(CNN) - Bodybuilder, former Mr. Olympia and actor Franco Columbu, one of Arnold Schwarzeneggers closest friends, has died, TMZ.com and the New York Daily News reported. He was 78, the Daily News said. Columbu died while swimming off the cost of his native Sardinia, according to reports in Italian media, the paper said. I will always remember the joy you brought to my life, the advices you gave me, and the twinkle in your eye that never disappeared. Besides being a bodybuilder, weightlifter and boxer, Columbu also acted in TV and movies.

ORLANDO, Fla. – In a back-and-forth battle, Olympia emerged victorious, defeating Winter Park 27-24. [VIDEO: 6-Yard Line]With the score knotted at 10 in the third quarter, Titans' senior wide receiver Jeff James took matters into his own hands, hauling in a short pass, then shaking off a helmet to helmet hit to not only stay on his feet, but go almost 70 yards to the end zone in a thrilling touchdown play. Both Olympia and Winter Park finish the season with 5-5 records.