Week in Review: Mask mandates, city density, and libraries

Bill Radke reviews the week's news with PubliCola's Erica Barnett, the Everett Daily Herald's Isabella Breda, and the Tacoma News Tribune's Matt Driscoll.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced Thursday that the state will be lifting its Covid-19 mask mandate for schools, grocery stores, bars, gyms, and other indoor venues on March 21.

In additional Covid news, the Washington Senate approved a measure authorizing the legislature to end a governor's state of emergency after 90 days. Plus, school closures in Richland. Is this the beginning of the end of pandemic restrictions? How has the governor walked the line between the public goals of protecting health and preserving freedoms?

Also in this week's news: A plan for Seattle corporations and philanthropists to give $10 million toward addressing downtown homelessness. The subject was also a point of focus in Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's first State of the City Address on Tuesday. What will this money go toward, and why is it happening now?

Plus, an update on statewide housing density legislation and what we've heard from the two finalists for Seattle Public Library's Chief Librarian. Why did legislation fail, and can we expect a return in the future?