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The ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio newsdesk brings you their top stories on the morning of Thursday, July 28.

The PM Newsdesk Minutes: Heatwave leads to bad air quality, Mariners seek revenge, WA doctor suspended

Senate passes bill to boost microchip production

The U.S. Senate passed a multi-billion-dollar bill that aims to bolster the tech industry, science education, and ease the shortage of semi-conductor chips on Wednesday.

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell says pandemic supply chain problems made it clear the U-S relies too heavily on importing the chips which are used in all kinds of products, including cars.

The Chips and Science Act still needs to pass the House.

Delivery fee cap proposed in Seattle City Council

Two Seattle City Council members proposed legislation that they say protects smaller local restaurants and diversity in small businesses.

The proposal makes permanent, a fifteen percent cap on delivery fees that third-party companies like Door Dash and Grubhub can charge to local restaurants.

A Council committee unanimously approved the proposal by District 4’s Alex Pedersen and Dan Strauss of District 6 on Wednesday.

It could be approved by the full council and Mayor Harrell as early as next week.

The legislation also gives restaurants the ability to opt-out of the cap voluntarily, if they want to receive additional support (such as marketing) from the delivery service.

Nationally, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco have made their fee caps permanent.

Japanese beetles outbreak destroying crops in Wapato

Washington’s State Department of Agriculture confirmed Monday afternoon detection of the Japanese beetle in Wapato.

That’s about thirty miles from the current infestation near Grandview.

A resident contacted WSDA when he found the beetle in his garden eating peas and grapes.

WSDA says this means the infestation is spreading quickly, and advises that if you see one of the beetles, to take a photo and submit it to the department.

Paul Allen sells $67 million in real estate on Mercer Island 

The Paul Allen Estate is making some moves that will have a big impact on Mercer Island.

The Estate is selling eight properties… six of them are homes on or near Lake Washington.

They are worth a total of $67 million.

Allen acquired the properties piece by piece starting in 1985.

Edmonds removes gun storage laws after WA supreme court ruling

After a state Supreme Court ruling, the city of Edmonds has officially repealed its gun storage ordinance.

Tuesday, Edmonds City Council voted to repeal that law along with several other gun-safety related laws, including definitions of proper locking, and reporting lost or stolen firearms.

The high court said state gun laws supercede any city ordinance.

Edmonds officials say they will now shift focus to voluntary measures, including training for the community on safe gun storage –and providing gun locks to local residents.

Heat illnesses close to average during 90 degree weather

Local paramedics are getting calls for heat-related health problems.

King County’s health department says 13 people went to emergency departments Tuesday because of the heat.

That is close to the average for a hot summer day.

The all time high was last summer, when 275 people sought help in King County emergency rooms in a single day because of extremely high temperatures.

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