KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
Have any leads or feedback for the KUOW Blog? Contact Dyer Oxley at dyer@kuow.org.
Stories
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Report finds King County corrections officers used excessive force, submitted faulty investigation
A report from the King County Ombuds finds the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention “more likely than not” used excessive force when officers punched and Tased a man during a jail booking on Nov. 10, 2024.
The report concludes that the corrections officers violated their agency’s use-of-force policies, and that the department's reporting about the incident contained “concerning deficiencies and errors.”
The Ombuds report was issued Nov. 18, 2025, just over a year after the incident.
When he was given an opportunity to respond to the findings, DAJD Director Allen Nance initially defended the officers’ actions as reasonable and necessary.
But after King County Councilmember Jorge Barón raised concerns about the findings, Nance submitted an updated response this week (included below), with an 11-point plan to address use of force and related oversight. In that letter Nance wrote, "we should have done a better job on multiple fronts related to the handling the matter that prompted your attention."
RELATED: CBP has a history of excessive force. Critics say they were unprepared for Minnesota
Barón told KUOW his concerns go beyond the specific use-of-force incident, to the fact that the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention’s Force Review Committee failed to flag and refer the incident for any further inquiry, prior to the Ombuds bringing it to light.
“This incident — people can argue about whether it meets the criteria for excessive force or not — but I think most people would agree that this was a possible staff misconduct situation that should have triggered that additional more intensive review,” Barón said. “And that did not occur in this situation.”
Barón sent a letter to King County Executive Girmay Zahilay on Feb. 10 in which he said the department’s failure to trigger an internal investigation on its own was “deeply problematic.” He called Nance's initial response to the Ombuds report “dismissive and internally inconsistent.”
In Nance’s updated response March 2, he said his Internal Investigations Unit will look into the case. The agency will hire a national expert to review the policies and practices of its Force Review Committee (which did not refer the case for an internal investigation).
Nance also said he's already implemented a policy change for “a cool down period instead of immediate use of force, when individuals are uncooperative during the booking processes.”
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In Seattle, 9th Circuit judges consider Trump policy of mandatory immigrant detentions
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Wednesday in Seattle on the legality of the Trump administration’s expanded mandatory detention for immigrants who in the past have been able to seek release while awaiting the outcomes of their cases.
The class-action lawsuit led by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Rodriguez Vazquez v. Bostock et al., is one of a number of challenges to the detention policy making their way through federal courts across the country.
RELATED: U.S. has a quarter fewer immigration judges than it did a year ago. Here's why
Plaintiffs say the Trump administration’s reading of the law means more people are being detained during their removal proceedings, despite having U.S. citizen family members and other community ties, and no criminal record.
Attorneys on both sides asked the Ninth Circuit's three-judge panel to issue a decision as quickly as possible.
Seattle’s First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd, a former immigration judge, is helping defend the government’s approach. Following Wednesday’s hearing, Floyd told KUOW the case is about fairness between people who enter the U.S. at a port of entry versus those who enter illegally.
“If you come to a port of entry and you knock on the door and say, ‘Can I come to the United States?’ it has been the law of the land forever that you are subject to mandatory detention,” he said.
RELATED: King County bans immigration detention facilities, joining other Western Washington cities
In comparison he said plaintiffs argue that “once you make it in and you’re here for a certain amount of time — nobody knows what that time is — that the rules shouldn’t apply to you anymore, and you shouldn’t be subject to mandatory detention.”
Floyd called the current legal landscape “very confused” and said conflicting rulings on this question are playing out across the U.S.
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Controversial bill spelling out removal for decertified sheriffs advances in Washington legislature
When the bill requiring new eligibility standards for sheriffs and police chiefs passed the Washington state Senate on Feb. 12, Sen. Jeff Wilson (R-Longview) said Pacific County may be the bill’s potential “first victim.” The bill's requirement for five years’ law enforcement experience would disqualify their current sheriff, Daniel Garcia, a naval veteran who won office without prior law enforcement experience.
Now, Democrats in the House have defused that particular issue by exempting incumbents like Garcia from the new requirements.
RELATED: Stricter standards for Washington sheriffs approved in state Senate
Sen. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek), the bill’s prime sponsor and the former sheriff in Snohomish County, told KUOW that the change “has lowered the temperature on a lot of things.” He noted that some sheriffs — like Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell Tanksley — have signaled support for the new eligibility and background check requirements, while opposing the provision to automatically remove sheriffs who are decertified.
Lovick said existing state law only allows law enforcement officers, including sheriffs, to be decertified for “serious misconduct” and he said the fears that sheriffs will be targeted for decertification based on their political beliefs are misplaced.
“Out of the 39 sheriffs, I doubt if there’s a single sheriff that’s going to have to deal with this,” Lovick said. “But they’ll know that they will be held accountable.”
However, the elected sheriffs appear largely unified against a key aspect of Lovick’s proposal, SB 5974, which specifies that if a sitting sheriff is decertified by the state’s Criminal Justice Training Commission, the position will be declared vacant to ensure that decertified sheriffs don’t remain on the job. In that event, county officials would appoint their replacement. The sheriffs promoted a different bill in which decertification would trigger a recall vote.
King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall, currently the state’s only appointed sheriff, said she would let her colleagues weigh in on the bill's implications for elected sheriffs.
“I can understand and appreciate the premise behind this proposed legislation and why it was drafted,” Cole-Tindall said in a statement. “I agree that minimum qualifications and basic standards be put in place.”
For herself, she pledged to abide by the eligibility requirements and decertification provisions in the bill.
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No ORCA card? No problem. Credit cards now accepted to ride Seattle transit
Seattle has officially launched the tap-to-pay feature for public transportation, an alternative to the ORCA card.
With tap-to-pay, Seattle joins other major cities that already allow riders to use credit cards or digital wallet for public transit fees.
Tap-to-pay can be used at all Sound Transit services, as well as King County Metro, Community Transit, and Pierce Transit. Eventually, the program will be expanded to Kitsap Fast Ferries, and the King County Water Taxi.
Sarthak Rijal, a rider waiting for the 1 Line on Capitol Hill Monday, welcomed the addition. He relies on his ORCA card to get around town and said the tap-to-pay option will be handy for tourists or anyone who wants to skip the hassle of buying an ORCA card. Tap-to-pay launched as Seattle prepares to welcome visitors this summer for FIFA World Cup matches.
RELATED: How Seattle is getting ready to host the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup
“I really appreciate it when I was in New York,” Rijal said, referring to that city's tap-to-pay option. “I can just go to the subway without having to wait.”
Sound Transit spokesperson David Jackson said it took time to coordinate with different agencies and technology platforms to integrate the new system.
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Supreme Court ruling against Trump tariffs gets bipartisan support among WA lawmakers
In Washington state, Democrats and some Republicans are welcoming the U.S. Supreme Court decision restricting the president's ability to impose sweeping tariffs.
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that President Trump could not invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to set tariffs on imports. The court said Trump exceeded his authority when he used the act to impose tariffs on U.S. trading partners. Trump responded promptly that his administration has “other alternatives” to replace the tariffs struck down by the court.
RELATED: Supreme Court strikes down Trump's tariffs
NPR reports that tariffs affected by the ruling represent about half of all the import taxes the government is collecting each month. Other tariffs were issued under different statutes which are not being challenged.
The federal government collected more than $200 billion in tariffs in 2025 driven by Trump’s executive orders, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Washington state Democrats hailed the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, issued a statement headlined “Good Riddance.”
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Fresh off their Super Bowl victory, the Seattle Seahawks are officially for sale
The Seattle Seahawks are officially for sale.
A statement announcing the sale of Seattle's NFL team Wednesday was brief, but noted that the process "is estimated to continue through the 2026 off-season."
RELATED: Paul Allen's big-money legacy haunts the Seattle arts scene
The Estate of Paul G. Allen, which owns the team, "has commenced a formal sale process for the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise, consistent with Allen's directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all Estate proceeds to philanthropy."
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen amassed a range of prized possessions before he passed away in 2018, leaving it all in a trust managed by his sister Jody Allen. The trust has been winding down operations and selling off holdings ever since, such as Seattle's Cinerama movie theater that was recently taken over by SIFF. The Living Computer Museum closed in 2020, and its trove of technological history was auctioned off. The trust also owns the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team, which is currently in the process of being sold.
RELATED: Paul Allen treasures go up for sale: Art, outer space, and computer history
Rumors that Seahawks ownership was preparing to sell the team, after the Super Bowl, began swirling around Seattle in January. At the time, Seahawks management insisted that there was no news to share.
The announcement Wednesday makes it official that the process to sell the team has begun. According to the statement, "The Estate has selected investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins to lead the sale process, which is estimated to continue through the 2026 off-season. NFL owners must then ratify a final purchase agreement."
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'Black lives do matter. People do matter. Everybody is somebody': Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson's visit to KUOW
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson died Tuesday.
In a statement reported by NPR, Jackson's family said, "Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world. We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family."
Read NPR's full obituary here.
In 2015, before a speech at an event for Microsoft, Jackson stopped by KUOW to speak with Bill Radke.
"There are those who were for abolition and those who were for slavery. The abolitionists won," Jackson told Radke. "There were those who were for racial segregation for law and culture. We won that battle. There were those who denied women, people of color, the youth the right to vote. We won that battle. When we fight, we win. We've never lost a battle we've fought. Never won a battle, unless we fought. So. there is a tug of war. There are those who simply profit from fear. We must get the joy of hope."
RELATED: Longtime civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84
They discussed a range of headlines of the day, including historical statues where the figures were slave owners. One such statue of George Washington was being discussed at the University of Washington.
"When you have the statue, on the lettering, the writing extols upon him great virtue. It does not mention slave master, it does not mention support for a crime against humanity," Jackson said. "That's a big piece of it, too. At least educate as to who this guy was."
RELATED: Remembering the night Jesse Jackson read 'Green Eggs and Ham' on 'Saturday Night Live'
They also discussed an incident at Western Washington University where a white student made threats against students of color. The threats prompted campus protests.
"Black lives do matter. People do matter. Everybody is somebody," Jackson said at the time.
Below is the 2015 article published by KUOW about Jackson's visit. Listen to the full audio below.
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Seattle Public Library intercepts Boston readers after Super Bowl bet
The real winners of Super Bowl LX are the Boston readers who will now be exposed to some Seattle culture.
The Boston Public Library unwisely entered into a wager with the Seattle Public Library ahead of the big game Sunday. The stakes: Loser hosts a list of books curated by the winner, directed at the losing region's readers.
The Seattle Seahawks, of course, dismantled the New England Patriots 29-13. The team celebrated the win with the city on Wednesday, somehow neglecting the literary victory.
RELATED: Seattle's 12s celebrate Super Bowl champion Seahawks
Seattle Librarian Eric Grob helped coordinate the list, which was built by him and his colleagues to highlight the region while also making a gentle jab at bummed Bostonians.
"Specifically, we asked for books that highlight and/or boast about Seattle and the PNW, the Seahawks, and Seattle sports more generally," Grob said in an email. "While some were clearly chosen to elicit laughter, it was also a chance to highlight some thoughtful and critical works."
The resulting list, dubbed "Seattle Picks for Patriots Fans," includes 35 books, movies, and music to show Boston why Seattle is great on and off the field.
It includes "Comeuppance Served Cold" by Marion Deeds, a historical fantasy novel set in Seattle. The selection is a nod to the retribution the Seahawks brought upon the Patriots, who beat Seattle in the 2015 Super Bowl after a game-ending interception at the goal line.
Seahawks fans — and reluctant admirers in Boston — may also recognize at least one author on the list. Former defensive end Michael Bennett's book "Things That Make White People Uncomfortable" is featured. The book discusses racism and police violence, Black athletes' relationship to institutions like the NFL, and athletes' responsibility to be role models.
Local sports journalism fans will also know the name Michael-Shawn Dugar, who covers the Seahawks for The Athletic. No list celebrating the Hawks' victory would be complete without Dugar's "The Franchise: Seattle Seahawks : a Curated History of the Legion of Boom Era."
The list also includes nods to the city's musical history, like "Broken Horses" by Seattle superstar Brandi Carlile, who performed "America the Beautiful" at Sunday's Super Bowl, and "Loser" by Clark Humphrey.
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Seattle Police escalated conflicts during anti-trans rally in 2025, report says
A new review from Seattle’s Office of Inspector General – which scrutinizes police practices -- cites dozens of contributing factors to the “poor outcomes” and clashes between police and counter-protesters around a conservative Christian rally last May in Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill.
The review found that police were in dialogue with the rally organizers but lacked similar dialogue with counter-protesters that could have achieved more peaceful outcomes.
The 10-person panel of police and community members assembled by the inspector general found that SPD’s lack of communication and aggressive police response likely escalated the confrontations with counter-protesters, which resulted in 23 arrests that day and 16 reported uses of force by police. The charges included property destruction and assault, most of which were ultimately dropped, according to the review.
The inspector general used this “sentinel event review” process to reach consensus findings between police and community members about the policing of 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. But this time the review states that the panel dissolved prematurely without consensus findings, because a community member violated the confidentiality agreement and leaked details of the discussions.
"The violation undermined the shared commitment to accountability and trust building,” the review said.
RELATED: Seattle City Council approves new police contract, boosting pay and expanding crisis response
Inspector General Lisa Judge said despite that setback, these reviews bringing together police and community members are “incredibly valuable and we hope to do it again.” But she said after this outcome the reviews “will involve repair work and scrutiny of our planning processes.”
Police said they did not receive sufficient notice when Seattle Parks and Recreation approved a permit last April for MayDay USA, a Christian fundamentalist movement, to hold a rally dubbed “#DontMesswithOurKids” May 24, 2025, in Cal Anderson Park. The rally was part of a five-city tour promoting anti-LGBTQ+, anti-abortion viewpoints and advocating for “the sanctity of human life [and] the sacrality of biological gender,” according to the review.
“Many in the community expressed concerns leading up to the event, questioning why the City would grant a permit for this rally in the historic heart of the LGBTQ+ community,” the review states.
Community members said the rally also took place in the context of the Trump administration’s hostile rhetoric and executive orders meant to restrict the rights of transgender people.
Meanwhile the review found that the “historic lack of trust between SPD and the LGBTQ+ community” meant that “the significant community concern regarding the rally was not understood by SPD. “
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Seahawks super fans scoop up Super Bowl victory merch
Seattle Seahawks fans are gearing up for the team's Super Bowl LX victory parade on Wednesday, and many are grabbing some new merch to celebrate the occasion.
Leftover green and blue confetti from Sunday night's victory celebrations floated into the Seahawks Pro Shop at Lumen Field the next morning, as devoted 12s waited in line.
RELATED: Seahawks dominate Patriots in 29-13 Super Bowl win
Randy Yim, a lifelong Seahawks fan, interrupted his regular morning commute to swing by the shop and add another championship hat to his collection.
"Having that merch is just good memories," Yim said. "I got to spend the Super Bowl this year with my family, so it was a good experience to remember and just cherish."
When the Seahawks won their first Super Bowl in 2014, Yim was working at the Pro Shop and had to miss the parade for work. But this year, Yim will get to wear his new hat at the celebration.
AJ Venkatesh and Venkat Raj purchased a black and silver Nike shirt emblazoned with the words "CHAMPIONS" and "SEAHAWKS" around an image of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Giddy with excitement, the couple said grabbing some team gear is just another way of supporting the team.
Venkatesh became a Seahawks fan after moving to Seattle from Melbourne, and said she learned about American football by watching the team compete.
"We have been living here for the past five years, and we've been following the team so closely," Venkatesh said. "We've been waiting to be a part of the amazing celebration and big community over here."
Venkatesh said their early morning shopping trip was the result of a disappointing discovery: After the Seahawks' Super Bowl win, the pair immediately turned to the online sports apparel store Fanatics.com.
"The delivery date was too late, and the party is happening Wednesday, so we want to get our hands on our merch before that," Venkatesh said.
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Bellevue becomes destination for AI companies
Bellevue, Wash., is becoming an artificial intelligence hub as OpenAI and xAI look to establish outposts on the Eastside.
The San Francisco company behind ChatGPT is opening a second home in Bellevue. OpenAI plans to lease 10 new floors of office space in Bellevue’s City Center Plaza, according to GeekWire.
RELATED: The human coders hired to mop up AI slop
And it’s not the only AI company planting a flag on the Eastside. Elon Musks’s xAI is planning to set up camp in the Lincoln Square South building, according to permit filings with the City of Bellevue.
Neither company responded to questions about their new outposts.
The moves bring both companies closer to Microsoft in Redmond and Amazon in Seattle, important cloud partners underpinning the AI boom.
They also come amid thousands of layoffs in the tech industry.
RELATED: Amazon lays off 16,000 employees in major reduction of force
Although many tech companies are freezing hiring and shedding employees, AI remains a key growth area in the industry. The growing footprints of xAI and OpenAI in Bellevue indicate they will be adding jobs in the area.
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Despite success, family reading program in Washington state faces deep funding cuts
For kids across Washington state who are struggling readers, a type of book club for families is showing promising results. But state and federal budget cuts have shrunk the program by 85%. Supporters hope for a turnaround this year.
As with many book clubs, the Prime Time Family Reading Program involves eating as well as reading.
“We start off with a really simple meal, pizza or burritos," said Julie Ziegler, CEO and executive director of Humanities Washington, which oversees the program. "A lot of families are coming from school or work and hungry tummies don’t learn well.”
RELATED: In reading, the nation's students are still stuck in a pandemic slump
These meetings often take place in libraries or through after-school programs. The book clubs are intended for reluctant readers in third or fourth grade, who are referred through their schools.
“They’ve either decided reading is not for them — not good at it, don’t like it — for whatever reason school interventions haven’t helped,” Ziegler said.
At the weekly meetings, storytellers read books out loud to the group and lead meaningful conversations about them. They try to help parents with any hesitation they might feel about reading out loud to their own kids. And facilitators send books home with families to read for the coming week.
“Teachers tell us that kids who participate in the program often jump three reading levels or more just over that six-week period of time,” Ziegler said.
RELATED: Kids who use social media score lower on reading and memory tests, a study shows
Ziegler said the program got an infusion of $1 million in one-time federal funding in 2022, which allowed it to expand. But then the Trump administration and state lawmakers cut the program’s funding completely last year.
There’s demand for 92 locations statewide, but right now they can only offer 20 that obtained funding from private foundations. Ziegler said the goal is to serve communities that don’t have any private funders available.
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