TVW Coverage - January 8, 2024

9:30am WA State Board of Health: Dept of Health update; government health system partner 2025 legislative priorities; petition for rulemaking—drinking water additives; Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities update; Health Impact Review resources; 2025 legislative statement; PFAS emergency re-file; more.

1:30pm WA State Liquor and Cannabis Board: Executive management team report outs.

6pm Citizen Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials: Meeting in Ocean Shores to take public testimony on proposed salary changes.

Two of the state’s three Courts of Appeals hear cases today…

9am Division 2 Court of Appeals: Ingrid Hunter v MultiCare Health System, Steven Johnson v Duane Thompson.

9:30am Division 1 Court of Appeals:

Sandeep Arugonda v Keerthi Ananthula: Ananthula appeals various determinations of the trial court after a dissolution proceeding, including characterization and distribution of assets, child support, and travel conditions.

Personal Restraint Petition of Tedgy Carnell Wright: In 2019, a jury convicted Tedgy Wright of rape in the first degree, rape in the second degree, robbery in the first degree, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm based on two separate incidents. This court affirmed the convictions on appeal. In December 2022, Wright filed this personal restraint petition asserting that the court should have severed the two trials, that the court improperly charged the firearm enhancements, that it should have granted his motion to suppress evidence, and that he was subject to ineffective assistance of counsel.

State of Washington v John H. Scannell: Scannell appeals his convictions for first degree child molestation and first degree rape of a child. Scannell argues (1) his constitutional rights were violated during jury selection, (2) the trial court erred by admitting certain evidence, and (3) the State committed prosecutorial misconduct. Scannell also asserts several errors in a statement of additional grounds and seeks remand to strike a legal financial obligation. 

Akberet Tekle v Washington Department of Social and Health Services: Akberet Tekle was the owner and operator of an adult family home. In November 2019, one of Tekle's residents left the home when the temperature was below freezing and he was partially undressed, while unsupervised. DSHS cited Tekle for failing to support resident safety and failing to report the resident missing. Tekle requested an administrative proceeding, where the ALJ affirmed DSHS’s decision. Tekle then filed a petition for review with the Board of Appeal, which affirmed the ALJ’s findings. Tekle now petitions for judicial review of the Board’s decision. 

 State of Washington v Patrick Leon Nicholas: Nicholas appeals his conviction of two counts of felony murder. 

State of Washington v Daniel Joseph Widders Sr.: Widders appeals his conviction of escape in the first degree.