*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

+ KOMO-TV 4: Gov. Inslee deciding whether to end indoor mask mandate in Washington

+ KOMO-TV 4: King County to end vaccine verification requirement for restaurants, bars on March 1

+ The Charlotte Observer via MSN: Monstrous ‘eye’ seen staring out of northern Pacific Ocean in satellite image, scientists say – Scientists likened it to the eye of a whale.

+ McClatchy Newspapers: Senate Democrats pass legislation to limit Gov. Inslee’s emergency powers – The legislation will give lawmakers more authority over emergency proclamations.

+ The Olympian: Olympia State Rep. Laurie Dolan will not seek re-election – The 22nd District Democrat will retire from the legislature at the end of this year.

+ McClatchy Newspapers: Canada is loosening its border requirements, which should make crossing easier – It could lead to an increase in cross-border traffic into Whatcom County.

+ The Spokesman Review (Spokane): Washington House OKs banning guns at ballot counts, school boards

+ Business Insider: Alaska is the first major US airline to offer a ‘flight pass’ subscription for discounted travel between 16 cities for as low as $49 a month

*** NATIONAL NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

McClatchy Newspapers: Companies revert to more normal operations as COVID wanes – For the first time in two years for many people, the American workplace is transforming into something that resembles pre-pandemic days.

McClatchy Newspapers: No bats, no balls, no fans: Pitchers, catchers don’t report – Pitchers and catchers are not starting spring training workouts as scheduled Wednesday.

McClatchy Newspapers: Is an ‘unwanted’ Apple AirTag tracking you? Here’s how to tell — and what you can do

CNBC: The Arctic could see ice-free summers by 2035, reshaping global shipping routes

The Washington Post: Canadian truck drivers distance themselves from ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests

The New York Times: What if the U.S. did stop serving as the world’s cop? Less military spending, greater investment at home, a world that takes care of its own problems — all too good to be true. 

MarketWatch: Department of Education to cancel $415 million in student loan debt

*** VIRUS NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

Tri-City Herald: COVID virus may be airborne longer and spread by ventilation, shows Tri-Cities research – It may help explain why someone gets COVID when they weren’t near an infected person.

The Defender: Federal Judge Blocks Air Force From Punishing Officer Who Refused COVID Vaccine for Religious Reasons​​​​​​​

MSNBC’s Morning Joe: Djokovic ready to forgo being greatest tennis player ever to avoid safe, effective vaccine

*** TRUMP NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY ***

Truthout: Biden Rejects Trump’s Executive Privilege Claims on White House Visitor Logs – tells National Archives to hand over Trump White House visitor logs to Jan. 6 committee

Tim O’Brien Tweet: Trump has more than $590 million of debt due within the next four years – and Mazars, his outside accountant, just walked. His in-house accountant, Weisselberg, has been indicted. So who will keep the Trump Org’s books and which banks will deal with it?

Bloomberg Opinion: Trump’s Accountants Just Quit. What Took So Long? It’s going to be increasingly difficult for the family business to continue if banks become unwilling to lend.

Daily Kos: David Cay Johnston: Mazars is Helping NYC Prosecutors Compile Racketeering Case Against TFG

Business Insider: Trump’s Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke misused his position and lied to an ethics official, inspector general finds

Reuters: NY attorney general fires back at Trump’s defense of financial statements

Insider via Yahoo! News: Eric Trump s via Yahoo! Newsays he’ll prove New York attorney general Letitia James is ‘blatantly unethical’ in court showdown Thursday [Ed. note: Oh sure. NOT!]