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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Lummi chair commends federal drug bust connected to tribal deaths
Officials at the Lummi Nation say this week’s arrests in a drug ring linked to recent overdose deaths of tribal members could offer a measure of justice. The tribal nation near Bellingham put a national spotlight on the fentanyl epidemic last September, when four members died of drug overdoses in as many days and the tribe declared a state of emergency.
Tony Hillaire, chairman of the Lummi Indian Business Council, said this criminal case is forcing everyone to revisit the pain of the losses last fall and beyond.
“Now we’re remembering that time of the just overwhelming amount of overdose deaths that were happening at Lummi Nation, and to see articles and media saying that Lummi Nation was a target in these drug activities is hurtful to a lot of us,” Hillaire said.
But he said, “Nevertheless, in the midst of these adversities we’re thanking and finding strength in being there for each other, being there for the families."
Hillaire said he’s grateful for what he called a notable amount of collaboration between Lummi tribal police and federal officials and investigators to pursue this case and other remedies.
“It was just a lot of sorrow, a lot of grief, a lot of confusion and a lot of questions that our people wanted answers to. And I think we’re getting closer,” he said, “and this is what can be done when we partner together.”
The U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI and the DEA have indicted 14 people with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and launder money. Officials say the drug ring based in Renton extended to multiple states, and targeted tribal communities.
Hillaire said it was gratifying to see the tribal council spring into action, getting answers on criminal jurisdiction to block drug trafficking on tribal land, and expanding medication-assisted treatment and other support for people with substance use disorder, among other initiatives.
Federal investigators allege that the phone of one of the overdose victims had contact information linking them with the drug trafficking organization which they say was led by Marquis Jackson. Jackson’s parents Mandel and Matelita or “Marty” Jackson, have also been charged.
Marty Jackson has been the executive director of the SE Network SafetyNet initiative through Boys & Girls Clubs of King County that receives city and county contracts for violence prevention efforts in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of South Seattle, and sends teams into Seattle Public Schools. She’s accused of helping the trafficking organization launder their money.
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Machinists head back to bargaining table with Boeing amid strike
While machinists continue to strike, their union will head back at the bargaining table with Boeing on Monday, Oct. 7.
"This meeting is another critical opportunity to push for the priorities of our Membership. We will continue to fight relentlessly for the issues that matter most to you," International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 751 announced via X Friday.
RELATED: Striking Boeing workers in Washington state say they’re in it for the long haul
The machinists union went on strike Sept. 13. They've continued to picket ever since. Amid the strike, Boeing made what it called its "best and final" contract offer, which union leaders rejected. They argued that Boeing's offer bypassed the negotiating process and was therefore insulting.
The union also said the offer did not give it enough time to organize a vote. Boeing responded by giving more time, but the union still pressed for the company to come back to the negotiating table. It seems that is what is happening now.
Shortly before IAM 751's announcement, Congressmember Pramila Jayapal of Seattle joined workers on the picket line.
“We have seen in dramatic fashion this year how Boeing has increased pay outs for shareholders and CEOs while workers express concerns over safety," Jayapal said in a statement on Oct. 3. "Boeing’s latest offer to workers doesn’t meet the requested raises by the machinists who build their planes, even as their CEO was compensated more than $32 million in 2023. I hope to see Boeing and the machinists come back to the table to work in good faith to address the issues of fair wages and pensions.”
Jayapal is the latest politician to show support for the striking workers. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell has also stood on the picket line in Washington. Congressmembers Rick Larsen and Suzan DelBene recently did the same in Everett.
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In 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' the joke's on you
Did I just watch a courtroom drama about Arthur Fleck, aka Batman's arch nemesis Joker, or the trial of Ted Bundy?
With "Joker: Folie à Deux," general audiences will still get a story that does not at all feel like a comic book movie, while fans of the first film may be scratching their heads over what they are seeing. Maintaining the dark character study of "Joker," and an R rating, this sequel evolves into more of a courtroom drama that borders on a musical.
RELATED: 'Hasaan Hates Portland' humorously depicts the benevolent racism of the Pacific Northwest
There are frequent musical interludes, which are quite amusing — a major feature of this film that otherwise falls flat. Ultimately, it ends up being more minor compared to its predecessor and fails to fit the cadence of the first film. This sequel can drag on at a seemingly adagio pace, leaving viewers yearning for an accelerando. If you're a fan of 2019's "Joker," this sequel might not be your forte. While it might not get high praise from fans, it is possible for "Joker: Folie à Deux" to strike a chord with viewers if they expect something completely different.
In other words, if "Joker" was akin to Weezer's iconic blue album, then "Folie à Deux" may come across to fans like their sophomore release "Pinkerton." But it's worth noting that, over time, "Pinkerton" found its own audience. The album eventually became a bit of a phenomenon, amassed its own cult following, and is now considered to be one of the band's best. Could "Folie à Deux" be awaiting a similar fate?
What to expect with "Joker: Folie à Deux"
Once again, Todd Phillips directs and co-writes. Joaquin Phoenix returns as Arthur Fleck / Joker. Lady Gaga steps into the role of Harley Quinn. Just as in the comics and the Batman animated series, romance binds Harley Quinn and Joker together, creating the basis for the film's title "Joker: Folie à Deux" — a French term meaning a shared psychosis, madness, or delusion.
But this film comes with the subtitle, "The world is a stage," and this is what "Joker: Folie à Deux" truly leans into. We find Arthur Fleck imprisoned at Arkham Asylum, about two years after the first film. He is awaiting trial for everything that happened in "Joker."
The Joker persona has garnered a level of celebrity status during this time, as the public debates whether such evil deeds could have been carried out by psychologically damaged Arthur. Did he just snap and is mentally incapable of understanding what has happened, or is the Joker a very real villain? Arthur also struggles with this debate. Amid all this, he meets Lee Quinzel and sparks fly. As their romance blooms, she encourages one side of Arthur, while his lawyer encourages another.
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Endangered Northwest orca population drops as 3 males die
Three members of the Northwest’s population of endangered orcas died over the past year.
The Center for Whale Research says the southern resident killer whale population dropped down to 73 individuals as of July 1, the date of the group’s 49th annual orca census.
Two adult males, ages 22 and 32, died, and one male orca born in December lived only a few weeks.
RELATED: Endangered baby orca J60 missing, presumed dead
KUOW reported in December on the joy that beachgoers on Bainbridge Island expressed when they saw that newborn orca, later known as J60.
“They’re really close, huh? You don’t need binoculars for that!” one beachgoer said.
“Oh! The baby!” another said as the tiniest of black fins sliced through the water.
RELATED: Newborn orca spotted near Seattle off Bainbridge Island
Now, researchers say that baby probably died less than a month after his birth.
“It never put on weight, and it disappeared,” said researcher Deborah Giles with the nonprofit Wild Orca.
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Fastbacks, Karp, and Murder City Devils: Seattle serenaded KUOW with its indie roots
Do you remember the last time you sat in the dark and just listened to music for hours? I do.
It was last Friday night, cozy on my boyfriend's couch, listening to the indie jams y'all recommended until like 2 a.m. — a scene worthy of some of the moody bands you suggested.
I'm rebuilding my Spotify library, and dozens of you fine KUOW readers stepped up to help. (Scroll to the bottom of this post for a special playlist if you'd rather skip the preamble — I understand.)
RELATED: Serenade me, Seattle: Help KUOW web editor Katie Campbell rebuild her music library
Turns out, our readers are a bunch of indie scenesters — indie being the overall theme, with rock, punk, country, folk, and other genres represented in your submissions. The variety made for great listening, and went a long way toward restoring and improving my playlists.
Nathan all the way up in Anchorage recommended the Seattle punk band Fastbacks. I'm into the vibes, especially when coupled with the scenes in this music video.
My colleague Dyer Oxley was surprised to see a "deep NW cut" like Karp on the list, courtesy of an unnamed reader who only recommended Karp. You know, it's not for me, but I respect folks like one YouTube commenter who said of Karp, "There's some songs you just cannot play loud enough."
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FBI busts up Seattle drug ring. Arrests include prominent activist
Federal law enforcement officials in Seattle have announced the arrests of more than a dozen people charged with conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs and commit money laundering across multiple states. Those charged include a prominent voice in Seattle’s violence prevention efforts.
Representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI, and Seattle police said the arrests are the result of a two-year investigation into a fentanyl distribution ring that includes multiple members of one family.
The group’s activities are linked to the overdose deaths that killed four members of the Lummi Nation near Bellingham last September, according to Tessa Gorman, U.S. Attorney for Western Washington.
“This investigation revealed that the trafficking organization was a supplier to a community that was rocked by four fentanyl overdose deaths in just four days,” Gorman said in a statement. “Fentanyl continues to claim lives in our community — especially in our Tribal communities. We will do all we can to stop the flow of this deadly drug.”
RELATED: The grim reason fentanyl deaths are falling in King County
FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Collodi said the drug ring distributed more than 800,000 fentanyl pills throughout the U.S., including in Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Montana, and Georgia.
Officials allege that the trafficking ring was led by 31-year-old Marquis Jackson, who they said splits his time between Atlanta and the home of his parents in Renton. His parents, Mandel and Matelita or “Marty” Jackson, have also been charged.
Marty Jackson is executive director of the SE Network SafetyNet initiative through Boys & Girls Clubs of King County that receives city and county contracts for violence prevention efforts in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of South Seattle, and in Seattle Public Schools. King County awarded the initiative nearly $193,000 for the 100 Days of Peace initiative this summer.
Charging documents accuse Jackson of helping the trafficking organization launder their money. She’s been released on bond.
A charging memorandum said she “mainly assisted the Jackson [drug trafficking organization] by helping launder their money both through structured deposits and using her account as a ‘pass-through’ account between Marquis and Markell Jackson and other members.”
The document said “Matelita has lengthy ties in the community and no prior criminal history.”
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80 seniors scramble to find housing after Seattle assisted living facility announces closure
Kari Knudsen is 97 and was just starting to settle in at the Norse Home when she learned that she has to move, again. Sitting at a sunny table in her room across Phinney Avenue North from the Woodland Park Zoo, Knudsen said the only consolation is that they celebrated her good friend’s 103rd birthday before the news dropped Sept. 9.
“I’m so glad he had his birthday the day before we got the eviction notice," Knudsen said. "That sounds so awful to say, but that’s how it felt to us.”
Leadership at the Norse Home assisted living facility told residents it is ceasing operations by next June, to undergo a massive remodel. The closure has more than 80 residents scrambling for new places to live. Everyone is preoccupied, trying to figure out where to go. A few have departed already.
RELATED: The cost of senior care: Why aging farmers fear the nursing home
Knudsen said she’s worried about the staff as well. After the announcement, “the servers were crying as they served us breakfast,” she said. “It was really sad, because they were hit even harder than we are. Because they’re losing their jobs when we leave.”
Knudsen said there had been talk of the need to update the facility, which opened in 1957.
“We all knew that the Norse Home was going to have to be remodeled,” she said. But “none of us thought we were going to have to leave. We thought we were going to be shuffled around within the building.”
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Walz to waltz through Washington for fundraiser
A day after he appeared in a vice presidential debate on CBS, Washington Democrats announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will come to Western Washington on Oct. 8 for a "private event."
The Seattle Times reported he will be in Hunts Point for a morning fundraiser, and there will be no public events.
RELATED: NPR fact checked the Vance-Walz vice presidential debate. Here's what we found
"With ballots already being cast in some states, it is more important than ever that we explain our vision for an opportunity economy that doesn't just help families get by, but helps them get ahead," Washington state's Democratic Party wrote in a statement. "We look forward to helping Governor Walz make that case in the closing weeks of this election."
RELATED: On the VP debate stage, two visions for policing in America are laid out
Washington — with its rich tech executives — has been a regular stop for national political figures fundraising this election cycle, including President Biden in May and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in July.
Walz was speedily picked as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in August, after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Harris took his spot at the top of the ticket.
Gov. Walz was well-received then, but he appeared nervous Tuesday night as he went up against Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Donald Trump's running mate. As the debate progressed, Walz gained some confidence and, at the end, challenged Vance to say whether Trump won the 2020 election, which Vance didn't do.
RELATED: Who is the real JD Vance? And 4 other takeaways from the vice-presidential debate
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King County gives away lockboxes to keep guns from being stolen, accidentally fired
King County public health officials hope homes in the area will be a little safer after the county gave away thousands of firearm lockboxes.
Gun owners were invited to Lumen Field last week to get free lockboxes and learn more about safe gun storage.
One gun owner at the event, Dustin, said he has a rifle case at home, but he sometimes has a pistol out and unsecured. Now, he’ll store that in his new lockbox, safe from his 11- and 14-year-old daughters.
“Or maybe one of their friends that she might bring over that are up to no good — like one of the boys maybe,” Dustin said. “I’ve gotta worry about [that] now.”
RELATED: Seattle Police lost 23 guns and doesn’t know where they went
Dustin and other gun owners at the event declined to give their last names when discussing how they store their guns and who has access to them.
The goal of the event was not just to give away 3,000 lockboxes but also to start a conversation about safe storage. Public Health – Seattle and King County encouraged people who own guns to always lock up their weapons, so they don’t get accidentally discharged or stolen and misused.
The event was part of a three-month push in King County to address gun deaths, including homicides, suicides, and accidental deaths. This summer, the U.S. surgeon general declared gun violence a national public health crisis, and cited that it’s the leading cause of death for children and teens.
Another gun owner at the event, Terrence, said he stores his two guns in a safe, but he wanted the lockboxes, which are smaller, so he can keep his guns on-hand throughout the house.
“Ever since the pandemic hit and you heard all those incidents of people just coming through your houses, you just want to make sure you protect yourself and your family,” Terrence said.
Home invasions are actually decreasing over time, according to FBI data; they’re down since 2018. And the number of burglaries has dropped dramatically since the 90s and continues to decline.
Terrence has two kids who are 8 and 11. He said they’re the primary reason he stores his guns safely.
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Seattle's police horse program to trot into the sunset
The Seattle Police Department announced Monday that it plans to nix its mounted patrol unit. The department says the move is part of an effort to conserve "scarce resources" as it prioritizes responding to emergency calls and investigating serious crimes.
RELATED: How city leaders want to patch Seattle's $250 million budget deficit
"We recognize the deep and abiding relationships that so many inside and outside of SPD have developed over the years. We will be working to find a compassionate and meaningful transition for each of the animals," SPD said in a statement. "We hope that some of them might be used to serve the community in other ways, such as therapy horses. Former owners of the donated horses will be given the opportunity to take back ownership."
RELATED: Giving neglected horses a SAFE home
In its announcement, SPD noted the mounted patrol's "storied, 150-year legacy" in the city. The unit began in a time before the car came to city roads. In more recent years it has been deployed to patrol city parks or help with crowd control.
The department acknowledged that as it's downsized over the past decade, the horses have mostly been seen at memorial services or community events. With city budgets cutting funds for the mounted patrol unit in recent years, community efforts have emerged to help fund it. The Seattle Police Foundation has organized a program to sponsor a police horse and has held fundraisers to help keep the unit going.
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Gonzaga joins Pac-12, bringing powerhouse basketball but no football
The Gonzaga University Bulldogs will be joining the Pac-12 conference in 2026.
“We are delighted to welcome Gonzaga into the Pac-12 as they embark with us on this incredible path ahead," Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement Tuesday. “President McCulloh and Athletics Director Chris Standiford not only bring strategic expertise and forward thinking to the conference, but they are two incredible leaders who care deeply about student success and fortifying student-athlete academic and athletic experiences. Today represents an exciting milestone for the Pac-12 as we welcome another outstanding institution with a rich history of success into our league.”
RELATED: UW quits Pac-12 Conference alliance it co-founded in 1915
The Gonzaga Bulldogs will officially become part of the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026. Games will start in the 2026-27 academic year. Gonzaga does not have a football team. Its basketball teams will be joining the ranks of the Pac-12. For 25 years in a row, Gonzaga has made it to the NCAA's men's basketball tournament, while reaching the finals twice.
In addition to basketball, Gonzaga also has programs for baseball, cross country, golf, rowing, soccer, tennis, and track and field.
There have been major shakeups among college sports in the Pacific Northwest over the past year. In August 2023, the University of Washington announced its exit from the Pac-12, and entrance into the Big Ten conference. UW officially became part of the Big Ten in August 2024. The University of Oregon made the same move. Disagreements over broadcast rights partially led to the departures. Since then, the Pac-12 has endeavored to rebuild, adding Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, San Diego State University, and Utah State University. With the addition of Gonzaga, the Pac-12 still needs to get one more full-time member with a football team to meet the eight-team minimum required of the conference.
According to the Pac-12's announcement, with Gonzaga joining up, "the conference is poised to compete at the highest levels of women’s and men’s basketball." The conference noted that the university has a "286-44 (86.7 winning percentage) combined record in women’s and men’s basketball. Their women’s program has amassed a record of 138-23 (85.7 winning percentage) since the start of the 2019-20 season, and the men’s program is a national-best 148-21 (87.6 winning percentage)."
RELATED: What can the past tell us about the future of the PAC-12?
“Following discussions with Pac-12 member presidents, I believe membership will represent an opportunity to participate in building a conference that imagines new, forward-thinking ways to support student-athletes in a rapidly changing collegiate sports landscape,” Gonzaga University President Thayne McCulloh said.
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The grim reason fentanyl deaths are falling in King County
Fatal fentanyl overdoses may have reached a peak in Washington state, according to preliminary data. But that's not all good news.
At the end of 2023, the quarterly death toll statewide was down 9% after rising nearly every quarter since 2019. While synthetic opioid fatalities are still rising in some parts of the state, the rate in King County has fallen since July 2023, when nearly four people died each day, on average, from overdoses involving fentanyl.
Caleb Banta-Green, a research professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said the change seems primarily due to so many Seattle-area fentanyl users having already died.
"There are only so many people who are using a drug, and when it has that high of a lethality rate, it will eventually — in a really horrific way — start to self-extinguish itself like a forest fire," Banta-Green said. "So, it's literally burning out the fuel. The horrible thing in this instance is the fuel is people."
Banta-Green said that grim curve has also been observed on the East Coast where fentanyl took hold earlier.
"I hope we continue to have a decline, but I hope that the future decline isn't because people are dying, but because they're accessing the really wonderful life-saving interventions that we're really making great strides to make more widely available," he said.
That includes replacement drugs like buprenorphine and methadone, which help reduce opioid intake levels, and lower users' risk of fatal overdose.
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