*** TOP NEWS ***

NVN: Nisqually Valley News [and sister newspapers] Sold to New Owners

The Olympian: Capital Medical Center set to be acquired by Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System

Axios Scoop: Trump administration declassifies unconfirmed intel on Chinese bounties [Ed. note: Why is Trump silent, not defending our soldiers!]

*** REGIONAL, NATIONAL NEWS ***

The Olympian: Stories that defined the year 2020 in Thurston County

George Walter in The Olympian: Did Loren Culp play Little League? Lessons youth sports teach us about winning and losing

Thurston County: These new rules limiting vaping and smoking take effect Jan. 1 in Thurston County

KING-5 TV: Washington to unveil second phase of COVID-19 vaccine plan in early January

The Olympian via MSN: Thurston County reported 4,776 cases and 55 deaths due to COVID-19 from March 11 to the end of 2020.

KING-5 TV: Centralia coal-burning plant shutters unit nine years after Washington law passes to cut emissions

The Chronicle: GOP Leaders Wilcox, Braun Voice Frustration Over Governor’s Extension of COVID-19 Restrictions

KING-5 TV: Only a fraction of COVID-19 vaccine has been used in Washington state

JOLT News: American Indian Diplomat: Hank Adams, 1943-2020

WaPo: Alaska Airlines is the first airline to ban emotional support animals

Departures: NASA Just Shared Never-Before-Seen Space Images in Honor of Hubble’s 30th Anniversary

WaPo: World’s richest men added billions to their fortunes last year as others struggled – Bezos [Amazon] and Musk [Tesla] increased their net worth by a staggering $200 billion last year, a sum greater than the gross domestic products of 139 countries.

McClatchy News: Memorial for COVID victims to be held the night before Biden’s inauguration ceremony

*** CORONAVIRUS NEWS ***

ProPublica: Months of Chaos and Systemic Failure Are Wearing Down Health Care Workers

WaPo: Wisconsin health-care worker who ‘intentionally’ spoiled more than 500 coronavirus vaccine doses, is arrested

NY Daily News: ’Inexcusable’: Sen. Mitt Romney slams feds’ COVID vaccine rollout

*** TRUMP NEW YEARS CHAOS ***

WaPo: Meet the Trump saboteur in charge of undermining Biden — and America [scroll down to read the story’s text]

CNBC: Trump budget chief refuses to direct staff to help with Biden spending plans

CNBC: December was the deadliest month for America during the pandemic. Yet President Donald Trump barely uttered a word about Covid-19′s tragic toll in a New Year’s Eve video.

WaPo: Jan. 6 protests multiply as Trump continues to call supporters to Washington

WSJ: Senate Overrides Trump’s Veto of Defense Bill with many Republicans joining Democrats to deliver a rebuke to Mr. Trump in the final days of his presidency and for the first time pass into law legislation he had blocked.

CNN: Trump attacks No. 2 Senate Republican as the President turns on allies in his final days in office

NBC News: Fact-checking Trump’s claims on Covid and the election throughout the year

The Daily Kos: While Trump was President the Stock Market soared 54%. Under Obamas first four years? Only 65%