The ex-Washington police officer who went on the lam Monday after allegedly killing his ex-wife and teenage girlfriend has shot himself while fleeing from law enforcement.
Elias Huizar, 40, was discovered near Eugene, Oregon, after the Oregon State Patrol located his vehicle driving southbound on I-5, the West Richland Police Department <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=747956870783789&amp;set=a.213965484182933" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Facebook. Police pursued the vehicle, and Huizar got into a minor crash, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elias-huizar-manhunt-two-women-dead-child-abduction-washington-state-police/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Huizar and police exchanged gunfire before he was able to drive away again, with no one hurt. Huizar then crashed into another vehicle several miles away and was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Oregon State Police Cpt. Kyle Kennedy announced Tuesday night, according to CBS.
After allegedly killing his ex-wife and teenage girlfriend, Huizar abducted his 1-year-old son, Roman, who was taken into custody by state troopers and is reportedly safe.
The murders and abduction occurred on the day that Huizar was due in court to face allegations that he raped a 16-year-old girl, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/04/23/us-news/armed-ex-cop-accused-of-killing-his-ex-wife-girlfriend-is-on-the-run-after-being-due-in-court-for-rape/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Huizar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-cop-on-the-run-after-allegedly-killing-ex-wife-girlfriend-and-abducting-son-on-day-he-faced-child-rape-charges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegedly</a> shot his ex-wife Amber Rodriquez at the William Wiley Elementary School, where she is listed as a paraeducator, on Monday afternoon. Last Friday, Rodriguez filed documents for a change in custody for the two sons she shares with Huizar, who are 5 and 9 years old, the Herald reported. It is unclear where those kids are at this time. The couple divorced in 2020.
The school went into lockdown. A resident who lives near the school told the Herald that he heard everything from his backyard, including 4-5 gunshots.
“I thought it was someone hitting something with a hammer. It didn’t sound like a gun. Then a woman came flying out here before the cops even got here and started screaming that someone was shot…” the resident told the outlet.
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The shooting occurred as school was being let out and students were getting onto buses or picked up by their parents. The Herald reported that parents abandoned their cars in the parking lot to flee as police officers began searching for Huizar.
Hours after the shooting, police searched Huizar’s home and found the body of another person, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=747439727502170&amp;set=a.213965484182933" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the West Richland Police Department. While the police declined to identify the second victim except to say they were an associate of Huizar, the Amber Alert released by police suggests that the second victim is Huizar’s teenage girlfriend.
Huizar was also being investigated for allegedly raping a teenage friend of his girlfriend. Police were also investigating the legality of his relationship with his girlfriend. The age of consent in Washington is 16, and Huizar’s girlfriend is alleged to have been 16.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or go to <a href="http://speakingofsuicide.com/resources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources</a> for a list of additional resources.

Elias Huizar

Ex-Cop Suspected Of Killing Ex-Wife, Girlfriend, And Abducting Son Shoots Himself After Police Chase

Crime

Murder

Oregon

Suicide

U.S.

Washington

An ex-police officer in Washington is on the run after he allegedly killed his ex-wife and teenage girlfriend before abducting his 1-year-old son.
The murders and abduction occurred on the day that 40-year-old Elias Huizar was due in court to face allegations that he raped a 16-year-old girl, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/04/23/us-news/armed-ex-cop-accused-of-killing-his-ex-wife-girlfriend-is-on-the-run-after-being-due-in-court-for-rape/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. An Amber alert has been issued for Huizar’s 1-year-old son, Roman.
The alert, <a href="https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article287920010.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published</a> by the Tri-City Herald, suggests that Huizar may be fleeing to Mexico and states that Huizar is suspected of killing his ex-wife and girlfriend.
Huizar is accused of shooting his ex-wife Amber Rodriquez at the William Wiley Elementary School, where she is listed as a paraeducator, on Monday afternoon. Last Friday, Rodriguez filed documents for a change in custody for the two sons she shares with Huizar, who are 5 and 9 years old, the Herald reported. It is unclear where those kids are at this time. The couple divorced in 2020.
The school went into lockdown. A resident who lives near the school told the Herald that he heard everything from his backyard, including 4-5 gunshots.
“I thought it was someone hitting something with a hammer. It didn’t sound like a gun. Then a woman came flying out here before the cops even got here and started screaming that someone was shot…” the resident told the outlet.
The shooting occurred as school was being let out and students were getting onto buses or picked up by their parents. The Herald reported that parents abandoned their cars in the parking lot to flee as police officers began searching for Huizar.
School was canceled for Tuesday and support and resources are being offered to anyone impacted by the tragedy.
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Hours after the shooting, police searched Huizar’s home and found the body of another person, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=747439727502170&amp;set=a.213965484182933" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the West Richland Police Department. While the police declined to identify the second victim except to say they were an associate of Huizar, the Amber Alert released by police suggests that the second victim is Huizar&#8217;s teenage girlfriend.
Huizar was also being investigated for allegedly raping a teenage friend of his girlfriend. Police were also investigating the legality of his relationship with his girlfriend. The age of consent in Washington is 16, and Huizar&#8217;s girlfriend is alleged to have been 16.
The WRPD said in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=747710864141723&amp;set=a.213965484182933">a Facebook post</a> that Huizar is likely “armed and dangerous” and suggested he is “likely to commit more crimes.” His last known vehicle was a 2009 Toyota Corolla with license plate CBZ4745.
On Tuesday, Portland police <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=747735287472614&amp;set=a.213965484182933">informed</a> the WRPD that Huizar was seen in the city driving a black sedan, but this has not been confirmed.

Ex-Cop On The Run After Allegedly Killing Ex-Wife, Girlfriend, And Abducting Son On Day He Faced Child Rape Charges

Ex-Cop On Run After Allegedly Killing Ex-Wife, Girlfriend, And Abducting Son On Day He Faced Child Rape Charges

Child Sex Abuse

One week after her elementary school permitted an LGBT Pride club to be formed at the school, an eleven-year-old girl in Washington state says she was refused permission to start an interfaith prayer group.
Laura, a student at Creekside Elementary School, told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/fifth-grade-girl-speaks-out-washington-school-denied-request-start-interfaith-prayer-club">Fox News</a>, “I wanted to start it because I felt kind of alone in the classroom and really just at school. And I realized, I have some friends and I knew some other people that felt the same way, and so I talked to them and I was just like, ‘You know what? It would be a great idea to make a club where people could come together and do good in the community.&#8217; That was kind of the idea of my interfaith peer club.”
First Liberty Institute (L.A.W.), which is representing Laura, <a href="https://firstliberty.org/cases/creekside-prayer-club/">reported</a> that Laura and her mom met in February with the school’s principal, Amy Allison, who informed them that all the funding for school clubs had been allocated in October, and Laura had missed the deadline, even though the Pride Club was formed one week before and the school allows a dozen other clubs, including the Green Team and the Toastmasters Club.
“In a follow-up meeting, the principal told L.A.W. that she could fill out an application to pay to use the school after hours. When L.A.W. asked why she would have to pay like an outside group when other student clubs don’t have to pay, Principal Allison responded, ‘I am sorry, [L.], I just can’t tell you what you want to hear,’ and ‘we can’t allow it,’” First Liberty added.
“The First Amendment is clear; the free speech clause and the free exercise clause both protect Laura’s ability to pray, to speak about her faith; to gather with other religious students,” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/fifth-grade-girl-speaks-out-washington-school-denied-request-start-interfaith-prayer-club">said</a> Kayla Toney, associate counsel at First Liberty Institute. “The law is clear: if the school allows at least one non-curricular club, no matter what the club is about, it has to allow a religious club. It’s actually viewpoint discrimination to deny a religious club just because it’s religious.”
“Denying the formation of a religious student club while allowing other clubs violates the Constitution,” Toney contended. “School officials at Creekside Elementary are engaged in religious discrimination against an eleven-year-old girl who simply wants to pray, feel support from other religious friends, and do community service.”
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“I think that this is something that I am very passionate about. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t really want to make this happen, if I didn’t think that it would be a great opportunity for everyone,” Laura concluded.

Children read the Bible

School Reportedly Denies 11-Year-Old Permission To Form Interfaith Prayer Group After It Okays LGBT Group

Christianity

Education

Elementary Schools

Prayer

A judge in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/washington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington</a> ruled that the state’s ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds is unconstitutional, but the state Supreme Court granted an emergency appeal to pause the judge’s decision, meaning the restriction stays in effect for now.
On Monday, Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24536660-state-of-washington-v-gators-custom-guns-inc-ruling-and-orders-23-2-00897-08" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> in favor of a Washington gun shop that sued the state after lawmakers banned magazines holding more than 10 rounds in 2022. Bashor rejected the state&#8217;s arguments that the magazines were not suitable for self-defense and that the legislation was common sense. 
“This Court must find there exists no set of facts where the Court can find such a generalized ban or restriction on an am (or an instrument that facilitates self-defense) as constitutional under the Washington Constitution,” Bashor <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24536660-state-of-washington-v-gators-custom-guns-inc-ruling-and-orders-23-2-00897-08">wrote</a> in his 55-page decision. “The United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights exist to define the outer limits of what Legislatures and Courts are allowed to do. Amending the Constitution and Bill of Rights cannot be done simply by enacting a law, or by a pronouncement from a Court.&#8221;
Bashor added that he found that large capacity magazines (LCMS) are classified as arms under the State Constitution and that members of the public commonly owned them for lawful purposes. 
“The State has not provided evidence that LCMs are NOT commonly and lawfully owned or possessed by civilians for lawful purposes, including self-defense. The State: instead chose to provide expert opinions concluding only that LCMs are not commonly ‘fired for self-defense purposes’, or are not the best choice for self-defense, neither of which are relevant metrics,” he wrote. 
Bashor, who has been a judge in the rural county since 2011, also pointed to the Founding Fathers in his decision. 
“There was no appetite to limit gun rights by the Founders. Though the specific technology available today may not have been envisioned, the Founders expected technological advancements,” Bashor wrote. “The result is few, if any, historical analogue laws by which a state can justify a modern firearms regulation.”
After Bashor&#8217;s ruling, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/was-ban-on-high-capacity-gun-magazines-ruled-unconstitutional/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed</a> an emergency appeal before the state’s high court, arguing magazine capacity limits are constitutional. 
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“Every court in Washington and across the country to consider challenges to a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines under the U.S. or Washington Constitution has either rejected that challenge or been overruled. This law is constitutional,” Ferguson said. 
Washington State Supreme Court Commissioner Michael Johnston sided with Ferguson, keeping the law in effect while the appeal continued. 
The magazine restriction was one of the many gun control policies adopted in recent years by Washington’s Democratic-controlled legislature and Democratic Governor Jay Inslee, including a ban on the sale of AR-15s and similar rifles.

State Of Illinois Passes Illinois  Assault Weapons Ban

Judge Says Washington’s Restrictions On Gun Magazine Capacity Are Unconstitutional

Constitution

Courts

Gun Control

Gun Laws

Gun Rights

Second Amendment

Seattle Public Schools is shutting down its program for gifted and talented students, where the majority are white or Asian, citing &#8220;equity&#8221; concerns.
The school board voted to scrap its Highly Capable Cohort program in 2020 after a 2018 survey <a href="https://www.parentmap.com/article/equity-teams-seattle-hcc-racial-disparity-gifted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> that only 3.7% of participating students were Hispanic and 1.6% were black. Meanwhile, 11.8% were Asian, and the majority were white.
“Numbers would suggest that within our city … predominantly white children are more gifted than other cultures and races, and we know that is absolutely not true,” Kari Hanson, the district’s director of student support services, <a href="https://www.parentmap.com/article/equity-teams-seattle-hcc-racial-disparity-gifted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Parent Map in 2018.
“Clearly we’re not identifying our children of color and we need to get down to why,” Hanson said.
The district began phasing out the gifted program in the 2021-22 school year, and it will be gone entirely by the 2027-28 school year.
Starting next year, every school will have a new &#8220;more inclusive&#8221; Highly Capable Neighborhood School Model.
&#8220;The program is not going away, it’s getting better,&#8221; the school district said in a <a href="https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/advanced-learning/services-and-programs/service-delivery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">release</a>. &#8221;It will be more inclusive, equitable, and culturally sensitive.
&#8220;In particular, students who have been historically excluded will now have the same opportunities for services as every other student and get the support and enrichment they need to grow,&#8221; the district said.
Currently, the district has three elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools for students in the Highly Capable Cohort program.
Under the new program, gifted students <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240331204001/https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/why-seattle-public-schools-is-closing-its-highly-capable-cohort-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will not be</a> separated from other students but will remain in the same classroom, and teachers will have to develop individualized education plans for each student.
Critics <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240331204001/https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/why-seattle-public-schools-is-closing-its-highly-capable-cohort-program/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argue</a> that the new model puts an unfair burden on teachers who do not have the time or resources to give 20 to 30 students an individualized plan, especially since the district is currently facing a $105 million deficit.
Some parents also worry that the new model will overlook more advanced students.
Minority representation in the Highly Capable Cohort program has improved since 2018. In the 2022-23 school year, 8.2% of gifted students were Hispanic, and 3.4% were black.
The school district is made up of about 14% Hispanic students and 15% black students.
Nevertheless, it is still replacing the program after years of attacks from critics.
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In 2021, Rita Green, the education chair of the Seattle Chapter of the NAACP, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-education-new-york-city-united-states-race-and-ethnicity-f8cbdb50edba9802fe9ad503cfe7d467" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for the elimination of Seattle&#8217;s gifted program.
“We want the program just abolished. Period. The Highly Capable Cohort program is fundamentally flawed, and it’s inherently racist,” Green said.
The district&#8217;s decision also comes amid broader <a href="https://www.edweek.org/leaders/leadership/a-formula-for-creating-more-equitable-gifted-and-talented-programs/2023/02" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticism</a> of gifted programs due to equity concerns.
In 2021, then-New York City Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio <a class="color-link" title="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/nyregion/gifted-talented-nyc-schools.html" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/nyregion/gifted-talented-nyc-schools.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/nyregion/gifted-talented-nyc-schools.html" aria-label="ordered">ordered</a> the city’s elementary schools to stop testing for giftedness.

Rear view of large group of students raising arms during a class at amphitheater.

Seattle Public Schools Cites ‘Equity’ In Shutting Down Gifted Program With Majority White And Asian Students

Seattle Public Schools Cites 'Equity' In Shutting Down Gifted Program With Majority White And Asian Students

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Equity

Politics

Public Schools

Seattle

A Christian couple is suing Washington state for allegedly refusing to renew their foster care license over their views on gender ideology.
Shane and Jennifer DeGross <a href="https://adflegal.org/press-release/washington-state-denies-foster-care-license-parents-unwilling-promote-states-gender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed</a> a federal lawsuit last week against state officials who they allege refused to renew their license after nearly a decade as foster parents.
&#8220;Washington revoked their foster-care license because of their religious beliefs about human sexuality — prioritizing an ideological agenda over children’s best interests by excluding capable parents who can care for children in need,&#8221; reads the <a href="https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/2024-03/DeGross-v-Hunter-2024-03-22-Complaint.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lawsuit</a>.
&#8220;That hurts the many children in foster care, discriminates against the DeGrosses, and violates the Constitution,&#8221; the <a href="https://dm1l19z832j5m.cloudfront.net/2024-03/DeGross-v-Hunter-2024-03-22-Complaint.pdf">suit</a> adds.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The State of Washington disqualified Shane and Jennifer DeGross from providing children with a loving home, simply because they disagree with the state&#39;s view on promoting an extreme gender ideology.
Our new case DeGross v. Hunter ⬇️ | <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/AOYiOeGmnh">pic.twitter.com/AOYiOeGmnh</a>
&mdash; Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ADFLegal/status/1773367765283332406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The couple has served as foster parents to four children.
The DeGrosses said they had been working with foster care licensing agency Olive Crest, which informed them that Washington&#8217;s Department of Children, Youth, and Families had implemented new guidelines requiring all foster parents to use a child&#8217;s new pronouns based on their gender identity.
The couple said they told the licensing agency that they would love and support any child placed in their home but could not lie to a child about their identity or encourage a child to reject their sex, citing their Christian faith.
State officials then denied the couple&#8217;s license renewal despite multiple attempts by the licensing agency to appeal the decision, according to the lawsuit.
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The couple is represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which filed the lawsuit on their behalf on March 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma south of Seattle.
&#8220;Washington is putting families like the DeGrosses to an impossible choice: speak against your faith and lie or give up the opportunity to care for hurting children. That is illegal and wrong,&#8221; <a href="https://adflegal.org/press-release/washington-state-denies-foster-care-license-parents-unwilling-promote-states-gender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> ADF legal counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse.
The attorney cited a 2020 federal case where another Washington couple was initially barred from fostering their one-year-old great granddaughter for the same reason — they opposed gender ideology.
The great grandparents in that case sued the Department of Child, Youth, and Families, and eventually, a federal judge decided in their favor.
A similar case is also <a href="https://adflegal.org/case/bates-v-pakseresht" target="_blank" rel="noopener">playing out</a> in neighboring Oregon. Jessica Bates, a mother of five, is suing Oregon for denying her application to be a foster parent because of her religious beliefs on gender ideology.
Washington state’s foster care system has a shortage of caregivers as of a 2022 <a href="https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/reports/FP-AdoptiveHomeRecruitmentReport2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>, which mentions they are looking specifically for foster parents who are &#8220;racially and culturally diverse&#8221; and &#8220;affirming of LGBTQIA+ youth.&#8221;

Young boy feeling girly and holding a trans flag. Gender confusion in adolescence.

Christian Couple Sues Washington State For Allegedly Denying Foster Care License Over Gender Ideology Views

Adoption

Gender

Transgender

An 82-year-old woman is demanding access to a local YMCA-operated pool after being banned from the facility for speaking out against a man using the women’s locker room, according to a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/20240319_Jaman_Demand_Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> obtained exclusively by The Daily Wire. 
Julie Jaman, represented by the Center for American Liberty, wants an apology from the city of Port Townsend and the YMCA after she was banned from the Mountain View Pool in July 2022 when she voiced her concerns. Jaman said that the city and the YMCA violated her First Amendment rights and her right to due process and that she might sue if the ban is not reversed. 
&#8220;I was showering in the women&#8217;s dressing room when I saw a man wearing a woman&#8217;s swimsuit watching little girls undress. I was obligated to speak up and ask for help,&#8221; Jaman told The Daily Wire. Since that moment, I have suffered mob-like attacks, public humiliation, and widespread mendacious reporting. If this had been the 17th century, I would have been burned at the stake. I have been active in this community for 40 years, and my hope is that my credibility is restored.&#8221;  
The letter says that the city and the YMCA made defamatory statements about her after she was banned from the facility. 
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&#8220;Since her banishment, the City, in concert with the YMCA, has engaged in a high-profile smear campaign that has caused her severe emotional distress and has painted her in a false light within the community,&#8221; the letter from Center for American Liberty CEO Harmeet Dhillon, first obtained by The Daily Wire, said. &#8220;The City and the YMCA have continued to ban Jaman from using the Pool.&#8221;
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According to the letter, Jaman said she was showering after swimming at the pool in July 2022 when she heard a male voice in the women&#8217;s locker room. 
&#8220;When she pulled back the shower curtain to see who was there, she saw a biological male wearing a female swimsuit,&#8221; the letter continued. &#8220;The individual &#8211; later identified to Jaman as &#8216;Clementine Adams&#8217; &#8211; was watching two young girls who appeared to be about four to six years old as they were preparing to use the toilet.&#8221;
Jaman asked Adams, &#8220;Do you have a penis?&#8221; to which Adams replied, &#8220;None of your business.&#8221;
After complaining about the presence of a male in the female locker room, Jaman was told by pool staff that her language was &#8220;discriminatory.&#8221; 
The man in the locker room was an employee of the YMCA who identifies as transgender. Jaman says she believed that she had witnessed a crime because of his presence in the women&#8217;s locker room near the two girls. 
The letter said that Jaman went to the police station to file a report after the confrontation and that police later followed up to investigate the YMCA&#8217;s accusations against her.
The Center for American Liberty added that the city and the YMCA inappropriately took sides against Jaman before investigating the incident.
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&#8220;When an 80-year-old woman reasonably believes she is witnessing a crime against minors in a women’s showering area, the government’s reaction should be to gather all of the facts and learn what happened, not take sides in an ideologically charged debate,&#8221; the letter says. &#8220;The City and the YMCA plainly have strong feelings regarding the presence of transgender individuals in private areas. So strong, in fact, that they support allowing adult biological males watch young girls while they undress in the Pool locker room.&#8221;
Dhillon&#8217;s letter says that the ban on Jaman must be reversed, the city and the YMCA must offer a formal apology, and she must be paid $350,000 for emotional distress caused by the incident. Port Townsend and the YMCA have until March 27 at 5:00 p.m. PST to respond to the letter, or they could face a lawsuit.
&#8220;Jaman simply wants to return to the Pool she has used for almost forty years,&#8221; the letter concluded. &#8220;She wants to continue recreating with her friends and fellow Pool patrons. She wants everyone at the Pool to feel safe and secure in sensitive places. And above all else, she wants her life back. The City’s refusal to allow Jaman to return to the Pool represents the sad reality of constitutional rights and public safety in Port Townsend. The City must make amends immediately to stop the ongoing harm to Jaman and to the community.&#8221;

MixCollage-18-Mar-2024-08-36-PM-8380

EXCLUSIVE: 82-Year-Old Woman Threatens Lawsuit After Trans Incident At YMCA Pool

First Amendment

YMCA

The bar exam will no longer be required for people who want to practice law in Washington state, the state Supreme Court ruled last week, prompted by equity concerns.
In a pair of orders Friday, the Washington Supreme Court approved &#8220;alternative pathways to lawyer licensure,&#8221; the court <a href="https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.pressdetail&amp;newsid=50389" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a press release.
The decision follows recommendations made by the state&#8217;s Bar Licensure Task Force, which was formed in 2020 to examine the issue. The task force recommended getting rid of the mandatory bar exam in order to &#8220;advance the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion.&#8221;
The task force found that the traditional bar exam &#8220;disproportionately and unnecessarily blocks historically marginalized groups from entering the practice of law.&#8221;
&#8220;In addition to the racism and classism written into the test itself the time and financial costs of the test reinforce historical inequities in our profession,&#8221; the task force <a href="https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicUpload/Supreme%20Court%20Orders/Orders%2025700B710%20and%2025700B711.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in its recommendations. &#8220;Despite these issues, data indicates that the bar exam is at best minimally effective for ensuring competent lawyers.&#8221;
Under the court&#8217;s new changes, Washington will create three &#8220;experiential-learning&#8221; alternatives to the bar exam.
Law school graduates will have to do a six-month apprenticeship under the guidance and supervision of a qualified attorney as well as take three more standardized courses.
Students still in law school must complete 12 qualifying skills credits and do 500 hours of work as a licensed legal intern. They must then submit a portfolio of this work to waive the bar exam.
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Law clerks who are not attending law school must also complete 500 hours of work as a licensed legal intern as well as meet certain benchmarks and complete standardized educational materials.
The state is also lowering the minimum score to pass the bar from 270 to 266, a lower threshold previously adopted during the pandemic. Those who do take the rigorous test will take a new, updated bar exam that &#8220;addresses many of the identified flaws in the current bar exam by focusing on real-world skills and practice&#8221; starting in summer, 2026.
The court is also calling for assessments and programs to help lawyers remain competent throughout their careers, not just when they are licensed. A timeline for all the changes is not yet set, but they will be implemented by the Washington State Bar Association.
Last week&#8217;s decision makes Washington the second state to nix the bar exam requirement after Oregon <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/careers/2023/11/09/oregon-approves-alternative-bar-exam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made</a> the same decision for similar reasons in November.

Setting the page on fire with some hard work

Mandatory Bar Exam Nixed In Washington State Over ‘Equity’ Concerns

Mandatory Bar Exam Nixed In Washington State Over 'Equity' Concerns

Lawsuit

Lawyer

Race

A Seattle comedy club abruptly canceled four comedians&#8217; shows, citing the neighborhood&#8217;s &#8220;progressive values.&#8221;
Capitol Hill Comedy Bar dropped shows from April to October for comedians Dave Smith, Luis Gomez, Jim Florentine, and Kurt Metzger.
Two of the comedians, Florentine and Metzger, shared the email they said they received from the comedy club informing them their shows were canceled.
The club called it a &#8220;challenging situation&#8221; and said it considered the matter with investors, local comedians, and neighborhood advocacy groups.
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I guess I need to clean up my act. My comedy shows in Seattle are cancelled along with <a href="https://twitter.com/luisjgomez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@luisjgomez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ComicDaveSmith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ComicDaveSmith</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/kurtmetzger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kurtmetzger</a>.
After careful consideration and discussions with our team, investors, local comedians, and neighborhood advocacy groups, we&#39;ve encountered a…
&mdash; Jim Florentine (@Mrjimflorentine) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mrjimflorentine/status/1761071406467473577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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I’m sorry, but this is too funny not to immediately put on blast! Also, am I mistaken that this club is in Seattle’s historic “CHAZ” district? (Kurt looks up toward heaven.) THANK U GEORGE FLOYD! For the fun Im about to have with this on Twitter after I take a quick shit! BRB! <a href="https://t.co/K4gGSGoPkW">pic.twitter.com/K4gGSGoPkW</a>
&mdash; Kurt Metzger (@kurtmetzger) <a href="https://twitter.com/kurtmetzger/status/1760824699624505541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Capitol Hill is known for its progressive values, and we&#8217;ve received significant feedback expressing concerns about the alignment of these upcoming shows with the neighborhood&#8217;s ethos. This feedback includes concerns from local advocacy groups that are deeply embedded in our community and work towards upholding its values,&#8221; the comedy club wrote in the email. &#8220;This decision was not made lightly, and we want to ensure it does not reflect on your talent and the quality of your work but is instead a reflection of our commitment to our community&#8217;s values.&#8221;
The club added that it would refund people&#8217;s tickets for these events and promised that &#8220;we truly value the art of comedy and the diverse perspectives it brings.&#8221;
&#8220;I guess I need to clean up my act,&#8221; Florentine posted Friday on X.
Metzger expressed how hilarious he found the decision.
&#8220;I’m sorry, but this is too funny not to immediately put on blast!&#8221; Metzger posted Thursday on X.
&#8220;Also, am I mistaken that this club is in Seattle’s historic “CHAZ” district? (Kurt looks up toward heaven.) THANK U GEORGE FLOYD! For the fun Im about to have with this on Twitter&#8230;,&#8221; the comedian added.
The comedy club is located in the former Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) area of Seattle, the six-block area leftist anti-police protesters barricaded and declared &#8220;autonomous&#8221; after George Floyd died in police custody in 2020.
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Gomez commented on his podcast that it is &#8220;the right of any business&#8221; not to book him but called the comedy club &#8220;super woke.&#8221;
“Are they idiots for booking us and then unbooking us? Yes, it’s a dumb move. Is my former agent an idiot for booking me at a super woke progressive venue that like the entire lineup is like f***ing blue-haired f***ing freaks?” Gomez <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Supg09fMTgI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
He added that another factor could be &#8220;young, jealous&#8221; local comics.
&#8220;This is what happens when comics don&#8217;t have anything going on. They just look for drama,&#8221; Gomez said.

Comedy show neon template. Comedy lettering and glowing neon microphone

Seattle Comedy Club Cancels 4 Comedians Over ‘Progressive Values’

Seattle Comedy Club Cancels 4 Comedians Over 'Progressive Values'

Business

Cancel Culture

canceled

Comedy

Social Issues

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/madonna">Madonna</a>, age 65, fell off her chair during a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/seattle">Seattle</a> concert on her &#8220;The Celebration Tour&#8221; on Sunday.
The Grammy Award-winning singer was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/music">performing</a> &#8220;Open Your Heart” at the Climate Pledge Arena when the incident occurred. As Madonna began singing, one of her backup dancers started dragging her chair across the stage. That’s when the male dancer tripped while wearing high heels, causing the “Like a Virgin” singer to tumble off the chair onto the floor.
Videos of the fall show Madonna laughing it off. She got up and sat back down on the chair, though she was facing the opposite way. The singer can be heard saying, &#8220;Sh**, I forgot the words,” while the song kept playing in the background. This led to accusations of lip-syncing.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NEW: 65-year-old Madonna falls out of her chair on stage during a performance at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Maybe having a man in high heels dragging you in a chair on stage wasn&#39;t a good idea? 
Madonna was singing &quot;Open Your Heart&quot; during the mishap. 
Someone is… <a href="https://t.co/Tu3pX4PyAv">pic.twitter.com/Tu3pX4PyAv</a>
&mdash; Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1759659850437698040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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When a backup dancer brought her another chair, Madonna got back to singing, and the show went on.
Though the fall was mostly the fault of the stiletto-wearing backup dancer, this incident led fans to question Madonna&#8217;s decision to keep doing such physically demanding performances at her age. 
Images of the singer dancing on a moving platform while gripping a support pole made the rounds on social media in January. While many fans argued the pole was for her safety, others believed the performance to be risky. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Leave it to Madonna to reinvent pole dancing <a href="https://t.co/Ch0gcbugaB">pic.twitter.com/Ch0gcbugaB</a>
&mdash; David (@armano) <a href="https://twitter.com/armano/status/1743382873019707750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Her “Celebration Tour” had to be rescheduled following a medical incident in 2023. Madonna was hospitalized in June with what her manager called a “serious bacterial infection,” and the tour was put on hold.
“Love from family and friends is the best Medicine,” the “Material Girl” singer captioned an Instagram post <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/madonna-praises-her-kids-says-shes-lucky-to-be-alive-after-hospitalization">reflecting</a> on the incident. “One month out of the hospital and I can reflect.”
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She went on to credit her friends and family for helping her pull through.
“But when the chips were down my children really showed up for me,” she continued. “I saw a side to them I had never seen before. It made all the difference. So did the love and support from my friends.”
Madonna said she was “lucky to be alive” and thanked all her “angels who protected” her.

Madonna

WATCH: Madonna, 65, Falls Off Chair During Seattle Concert

Madonna, 65, Falls Off Chair During Seattle Concert 

Entertainment

Music

pop music

All public high schools in the state of Washington will soon be receiving overdose kits, with state health officials citing the surge in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fentanyl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fentanyl</a> and other synthetic opioids.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Washington Department of Health (WDOH) <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/department-health-offers-naloxone-high-schools-combat-youth-opioid-overdoses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the deployment of overdose kits as a means to combat a dramatic rise in opioid-related youth overdose deaths. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, WDOH Chief Science Officer, called the kits a “commonsense strategy” in response to underage recreational drug use.
“Some kids experiment with substances, unaware that just one counterfeit pill can contain enough fentanyl to be fatal,” said Kwan-Gett. “Providing access to naloxone will not only save lives, but also send a powerful message that we care about the health of our youth.”
The kits will contain nasal spray devices filled with naloxone, known by the brand name “Narcan.”
Almost one year ago to date, state health officials <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/Pubs/150-127-StatewideStandingOrderToDispenseNaloxone.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a standing order to allow over the counter or pharmacy sales of up to five kits of injectable or nasal spray naloxone to anyone, including minors, with no limit on refills.
As of WDOH’s latest data for 2023, there were nearly 2,000 total overdose <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statistical-reports/washington-tracking-network-wtn/opioids/overdose-dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deaths</a> from synthetic opioids: well over twice the amount of deaths from 2020.
WDOH documented 91 synthetic opioid overdose deaths in 2016, 142 in 2017, 224 in 2018, 337 in 2019, 672 in 2020, 1,214 in 2021, and 1,803 in 2022. Out of those deaths, WDOH reported one minor death in 2019, two in 2020, two in 2021, and four in 2022.
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As for hospitalizations, WDOH translated those overdoses into a rate per 100,000 residents. The non-heroin opioid overdose hospitalization rate for minors between the ages of 10 and 17 increased from about three to about five per 100,000 from 2020 to 2022. The overdose hospitalization rate for minors under the age of 10 increased marginally from 2020 to 2021.
Fentanyl constitutes a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tuesday-afternoon-update-trump-tape-leaked-dojs-report-on-epsteins-death-fentanyl-driving-opioid-overdoses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority</a> of opioid overdoses.
The state of Washington follows closely behind other states enacting similar initiatives. Last month, Oregon began issuing overdose kits to both middle and high schools. Earlier this month, Arkansas put into effect a law requiring overdose kits in all public high schools and universities.
WDOH acknowledged that this initiative was a direct response to a Department of Education (ED) <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Letter-to-Schools.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosvitals&amp;stream=top" target="_blank" rel="noopener">request</a> to all schools last October to stock up on overdose kits. The letter followed a series of reports on schools experiencing an increase in drug-related incidents, including a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/school-district-serving-colony-ridge-experiences-surge-in-drug-overdoses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surge</a> in drug overdoses in one southeast Texas school district.
In the letter, ED Secretary Miguel Cardona and Office of National Drug Control Policy Rahul Gupta assured educators that naloxone usage wasn’t harmful, and that access to the overdose kits would only serve to reduce overdoses and not lead to an increase in youth drug use.
“In the midst of this fentanyl overdose epidemic, it is important to focus on measures to prevent youth drug use and ensure that every school has naloxone and has prepared its students and faculty to use it,” stated the letter.
Last November, President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-claims-hes-doing-everything-possible-to-stop-fentanyl-and-people-have-thoughts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assured</a> the public that his administration had a handle on the ever-worsening fentanyl crisis, a danger exacerbated by the ongoing border crisis.

Narcan

All Washington Public High Schools To Get Overdose Kits, Health Officials Cite Fentanyl Surge

Drugs

Fentanyl

The Seattle area notched a grim record for deaths that involved fentanyl last year, with more than a thousand fatal overdoses.
King County saw a total of 1,284 fatal overdoses from drugs and alcohol in 2023, and 1,060 of them involved fentanyl, <a href="https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/medical-examiner/reports-dashboards/overdose-deaths-dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to county data.
Another 72 suspected overdoses from last year are pending toxicology reports.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/portland-sees-biggest-fentanyl-bust-in-sheriffs-office-history">about</a> 50 times more potent than heroin, has been on the rise in the U.S. for years, but last year&#8217;s numbers are more than a 30% spike over 2022, which saw 717 fentanyl-related deaths in King County.
The deadly synthetic opioid is inexpensive to make, easily transported, and has been increasingly smuggled over the southern border by Mexican cartels.
In King County, fentanyl has <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/king-countys-2023-fentanyl-deaths-top-1050-surpassing-record/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shown up</a> in both powder and rock form and caused fatal overdoses involving the drug to skyrocket over the last few years.
Back in 2015, only three people in the county fatally overdosed involving fentanyl. In January 2019, about eight people were fatally overdosing per week. As of October, about 18 people fatally overdose every week.
Drug users in the area often combine fentanyl and methamphetamine. About half the county&#8217;s overdose deaths in 2023 involved that opioid and stimulant combination.
As little as two milligrams of fentanyl weighing the same as a few grains of salt can cause a fatal overdose, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/portland-sees-biggest-fentanyl-bust-in-sheriffs-office-history">according</a> to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Because it is often cut with other drugs, users may often be unaware that they are consuming the powerful substance, which can be deadly even in small doses. The DEA <a href="https://www.dea.gov/alert/dea-laboratory-testing-reveals-6-out-10-fentanyl-laced-fake-prescription-pills-now-contain#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20highly%20addictive,considered%20a%20potentially%20deadly%20dose." target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that six out of ten fentanyl pills the agency tests contain a potentially lethal dose.
In October, Seattle&#8217;s new ordinance against possessing and using drugs in public went into effect, and police started making more arrests. By the end of November, 47 arrests had been <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/is-seattle-s-new-drug-law-working" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made</a> under the new law, and most of those arrested were sent to case managers to help them with things like housing and addiction treatment.
Other West Coast cities are battling a similar deadly fentanyl crisis.
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San Francisco <a href="https://abc7news.com/san-francisco-record-overdose-deaths-fentanyl-wastewater-drug-testing/14186379/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saw</a> its deadliest year for drug overdoses last year with more than 750 deaths, more than 80% of which are believed to have involved fentanyl.
The City by the Bay is notorious for the open-air drug market plaguing downtown and other areas. In October, a homeless man was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/convicted-child-molester-who-set-up-free-fentanyl-sign-across-from-california-school-arrested" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> after he set up a &#8220;Free Fentanyl&#8221; sign across from a school that serves preschool children.
East Coast cities are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-city-saw-record-fatal-drug-overdoses-last-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">battling</a> fentanyl as well. In 2022, New York City <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-city-saw-record-fatal-drug-overdoses-last-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saw</a> a record more than 3,000 fatal overdoses, 81% of them involving fentanyl.
Overall, 31 states saw their fentanyl-related deaths increase last year compared to 2022. Those states included Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Maine, Georgia, Minnesota, and Colorado, among others.

Supervised consumption sites in the DTES give addicts who use fentanyl, opioids, crystal methamphetamine and other drugs a place to use

Seattle Area Saw Record Fentanyl-Related Deaths In 2023

Health Care

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