Lawmakers in Washington state are advancing measures to protect patients who travel here for abortions, and to stop other states from obtaining people's health data from period-tracking apps.

Why it matters: As other states pass laws that criminalize and restrict abortion, legislators and the state attorney general fear doctors and patients in Washington could become vulnerable to lawsuits or prosecution.

What they're saying: "We will use every tool we have to protect abortion rights in Washington state from the reach of anti-abortion laws in Texas and elsewhere," state Rep. Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island) said during a House floor debate last week.

Details: A bill of Hansen's that passed the state House last week would block out-of-state subpoenas for information about abortions performed in Washington.

• That legislation would also prevent law enforcement officers in Washington from aiding other states' investigations into abortion care provided in Washington.

The other side: On the House floor, state Rep. Jim Walsh (R-Aberdeen) said he's concerned that if Hansen's bill passes, other states might engage in "tit for tat," in which they don't respond to subpoenas or requests to aid in police investigations in Washington state.

• Walsh added he thinks that Hansen's proposal would be needlessly divisive, given that abortion rights are already protected in Washington through a voter-approved law.

A separate bill would prevent third-party health apps — such as those that track periods and ovulation — from sharing their information without users' consent.

• State Attorney General Bob Ferguson's office said the goal is to prevent that data from being used to prosecute women who have an abortion or miscarriage.
• In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, state Rep. Vandana Slatter (D-Bellevue) said the protections are badly needed.

Full story

Think of how irritating dust in a home can be. Now imagine how much worse it could be if it were moon dust — electrostatically charged, clingy as packing peanuts, and abrasive as ground fiberglass.

Driving the news: Washington State University researchers discovered that a liquid nitrogen spray could remove more than 98% of the lunar dust from space suits.

• The research published last month in Acta Astronautica was supported by a grant earned by researchers whose idea took top prize at NASA's Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge.

Why it matters: Not only does lunar dust pose a danger to astronaut health, it's "like running coarse sandpaper over billion-dollar instrumentation and equipment," said NASA. WSU researchers explained further:

• During the Apollo missions in the 1960s and early 1970s, astronauts tried unsuccessfully to remove the dust from their spacesuits with a brush.
• The tiny particles got into engines, electronics and spacesuits where they destroyed seals.
• Astronauts also suffered from "lunar hay fever," and researchers think longer exposure to the dust could cause lung damage similar to that of black lung disease.

What they're saying: "It posed a lot of problems that affected the missions as well as the astronauts once they returned home," said Ian Wells, the paper's first author and a senior in WSU's School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

What's next: The researchers are now working to fully understand and model the complex interactions between the dust particles and liquid nitrogen that allows the cleaning process to work. They are also applying for another grant to test the technology in conditions that more closely approximate outer space.

Tell a friend

🎟 Auburn resident Becky Bell, who's worked for Boeing for 36 years, has been identified as the winner of the recent $754.6 million Powerball jackpot, the fifth-largest prize in the game's history. (KING 5)

😷 Washington will lift the requirement for people to wear face coverings in health care and correctional facilities on April 3, ending the state’s last indoor masking mandates. (Seattle Times)

Amtrak is restarting service between Portland and Vancouver, B.C., on its popular Cascades route today.

Driving the news: This marks the first restoration of direct service on that route since the pandemic halted cross-border travel. It also raises the number of daily round trips between Seattle and Canada to four, fully restoring service.

Why it matters: The Amtrak Cascades corridor is one of the company's most popular and scenic lines, running along the coast and featuring spectacular water and mountain views.

• It's been called a bucket-list trip by Sunset Magazine.

What they're saying: "These tracks were once lumber routes, requiring them to be close to the shoreline making for some spectacular landscapes," MaryRose Denton wrote in Seattle Refined.

Details: Prices for round-trip tickets on coach start at roughly $60 to $70.

🖐🏼 Clarridge here: If you have never ridden a train, do it! It takes more time than driving or flying, but it's by far my favorite way to travel. I love being able to wander around, eat in the dining car, and read or knit or whatever. It's kid-friendly and feels like an indulgence but is actually pretty affordable.

Tell a traveler

💼 Check out who's hiring around the city.

1. Vice President - Senior Project Manager - Transportation at Huitt-Zollars.
2. CRM Strategy Director at Danaher.
3. Communications Manager at BlueHawk.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a Job.

🚲 Melissa here. I got my kid a bike for his third birthday. It's magnificent!

Yes, but: We're surrounded by steep hills and busy roads in just about every direction in our Seattle neighborhood.

• Given that he has no clue yet how to ride, I'm not inclined to set him loose on the 45-degree incline next to our house and see what happens.

So, tell me: What are your picks for the best spots for kids to practice bike riding, scootering or other kinds of wheeled activity in Seattle?

• Any zone that is semi-flat and doesn't have cars and Amazon delivery trucks bearing down will do!

Hit "reply" to share your suggestions.

• I'm hoping to compile these into a helpful list for the other parents out there!