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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

  • The cat community around you: Today So Far
    • How neighborhood cats could open up your local community. It already happened in Tacoma.
    • Drought advisory for Washington state.
    • Let's talk about fires.

    This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 6, 2023.

    Quick hits

    Whenever my wife Nina passes a cat on the street, she wants to take it home. As if cats on a stroll can be picked up like wild berries. I try to tell her, "That's somebody's cat. You can't just take it." But whether we are walking or driving, she insists the cats must be out walking in search of a home, specifically, our home.

    "Seattle Now's" recent episode has inspired me with a solution. Perhaps these neighborhood cats are actually a source of community, and can add to a broader sense of home, just by being right where they are.

    A year ago, Chris Watson went to Camp Bar in Tacoma with his partner Bob and a crowd of friends.

    "And I told Bob, 'You realize almost all of these people, we met through their cats," he told "Seattle Now." "So the cats are building community. Cats are the most uniting thing."

    These friendships started in 2020, when Watson took a neighborhood walk in South Tacoma. He noticed a lot of cats lounging in yards and on porches. Some even approached him. So he posted a video of his walk on TikTok, featuring all the friendly fur balls along the way.

    "It had like 1,000 views," Watson said. "I was like, 'Whoa, I've never got 1,000 views before.' So I was like, 'Alright, I'm just gonna keep posting the cat walks, because people seem to enjoy it, and the third video went viral."

    Three years later, Watson's cat walk videos on @Catluminati now receive hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok, just by simply showcasing Tacoma's cats.

    "It's almost like a spiritual thing where I can feel the love surrounding us," Watson said. "I'm sure it has a lot to do with the cats, but now it's the neighbors, too. And I'm sure that for people who live here, it's helped them see the neighborhood in a different way. We are dealing with a drug crisis right now, and pretty much the whole country has somewhat of an elevated crime rate. If that's all you focus on, then your like, 'Oh, that's a scary place to live.' But when you see the cat walk, you're like, 'Oh, it depends on your perspective. The things you choose to focus on.' And I think that we choose to focus on loving our neighbors, and the cats. I think that shines through."

    Continue reading »

  • Drought advisory issued for Washington state as summer temps rise

    Washington's Department of Ecology has issued a drought advisory for the entire state as the region experiences ongoing high temperatures, and very dry conditions.

    A drought advisory is an informal "early warning," according to the department. It doesn't kick in any emergency actions. It does, however, give residents a heads-up about a potential drought ahead. Water conservation, and responsible use, is recommended.

    RELATED: NW drinking water concerns could get worse as the climate changes

    “Our warm weather arrived a few weeks early this year and really kicked the runoff into overdrive,” said Jeff Marti, water resources planner for the Department of Ecology. “Now, as we head into the hottest weeks of the summer, we want people to use water wisely and to be aware of our water supply situation."

    Ecology says that large metropolitan areas, like Seattle and Tacoma, have a decent supply of water heading into the summer, "Thanks to robust storage facilities." Soil moisture isn't so good for agricultural areas, however.

    The month of May tied 1958 as the warmest May on record for the region. Washington only got 47% of it's usual rain between April 25 and Jun 23.

    During that time, the heat melted of a lot of snowpack in the mountains. That means, moving forward, stream flows are expected to be 75% of normal. That could potentially affect fish later in the summer.

    In short, use water responsibly and conserve when you can.

    El Niño and climate change are being blamed for hot temps across the globe.

    Continue reading »

  • Fireworks cause at least 2 building fires in Seattle, dozens of brush fires

    Despite the fact that fireworks are banned in Seattle and King County, they have caused at least two major building fires in the city since July 1.

    "Firefighters have responded to at least 67 brush fires throughout the city [since July 1] and the majority of them happened within the last 24 hours," said David Cuerpo with the Seattle Fire Department.

    RELATED: Western Washington air quality takes a dive

    In fact, Seattle fire crews responded to 53 brush fires on Tuesday, July 4, according to the department's real-time dispatch page.

    It's not clear exactly how many of those fires started due to fireworks.

    Fire officials say we're not out of the woods, yet. The fire department anticipates residents will continue to set off their unused fireworks throughout the week, despite the dry, hot conditions.

    Western Washington was suffering from poor air quality on July 5, ranging from "unhealthy for sensitive groups" to "very unhealthy."

    Local agencies blamed the poor air quality on the combination of smoke from wildfires and fireworks smoke from Fourth of July celebrations.

    Continue reading »

  • 2 things just happened that could affect your wallet: Today So Far
    • Air quality tanks in Western Washington on July 5.
    • Could Seattle rent control happen?
    • Changes happening at the Seattle Police Department.
    • A couple things just kicked in around Washington that could add some new costs.

    This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 5, 2023.

    Quick hits

    Happy July 5! Welcome back. I hope your holiday went swell and that you lit a BBQ, lit some fireworks (safely and if they are legal in your city), and didn't light anything else on fire. Frankly, a lot of stuff is on fire right now. You may have noticed the haze outside. It's from a mix of fireworks smoke and wildfire smoke, and it's tanking air quality throughout Western Washington. Most areas around have "unhealthy" or "very unhealthy" air right now. It doesn't look like things will improve until maybe tomorrow, or Friday. Read more here.

    Two things happened on July 1 that may affect your finances moving forward. First, tolls went up on the 520 bridge in and out of Seattle. So if you're commuting into the city (in other words, if you're an Amazon employee who has been forced back into the office and is now part of the horde of drivers clogging up our roadways), this could hit your commuting costs.

    Also, the tax for the Washington Cares Fund just kicked in. If you haven't opted out, this means that 58 cents for every $100 you earn will be diverted to this program, which aims to provide long-term care funding for older residents. This fund is slated to begin in 2026.

    In other financial news, Seattle is getting ready for rent control ... sort of, sort of not. Councilmember Kshama Sawant has introduced a bill that would cap how much a landlord could raise rents. In short, rent increases would be tied to local inflation.

    Of course, we've been here before. Rent control is not a new topic in town, so we all know that it's technically not allowed. There's a statewide ban on rent control. So if the Seattle City Council passes this bill, it would essentially be a trigger law. It would go into effect if and when the state ban gets knocked down. Read more here.

    In January, Adrian Diaz was officially sworn in as Seattle's police chief (after being interim chief for 29 months). Now, Chief Diaz is starting to make some changes around the Seattle Police Department. For starters, he's adding a deputy chief role, which will be filled by Eric Barden, a 35-year veteran of SPD. But these changes are not all promotions. There are actually two demotions. Read more here.

    AS SEEN ON KUOW

    Continue reading »

  • Western Washington air quality takes a dive

    Got air filters? Crank 'em if you got 'em in Western Washington this morning (July 5, 2023). Air quality throughout the region has taken a dive into unhealthy territory.

    The Washington State Department of Ecology says the air quality is hazardous in the south end of Tacoma. It's also unhealthy for everyone in parts of Marysville, Seattle, Tukwila, and Auburn.

    Sensitive groups should limit their time outdoors north of Seattle and around Olympia and Bremerton, where smoke from a wildfire burning near Shelton is clogging up the air.

    You can blame the poor air quality on smoke from all of last night's fireworks shows and smoke coming in from local and Canadian wildfires. Down along the Columbia River, near White Salmon, Washington, the Tunnel Five fire is also sending smoke throughout Skamania and Klickitat counties. The large fire near Shelton also is contributing to those conditions.

    According to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, "As long as there are fires near Shelton, poor air quality will persist in much of our region."

    The National Weather Service in Seattle expects winds from the coast will move through the region starting on Thursday and into Friday, which could blow some of the smoke away and improve conditions.

    Continue reading »

  • Keep a cold campfire this NW summer

    This July marks the start of wildfire season 2023. The west side of the North Cascades is getting drier and drier, so the Department of Natural Resources needs everyone’s help to prevent wildfires.

    After holiday weekends, the Department of Natural Resources says they tend to see an uptick in small fires at campgrounds, especially after popular holidays like the Fourth of July.

    “If anyone sees smoke, please call 911 right away, we really appreciate any help from the public," said Janet Pearce with Washington's Department of Natural Resources.

    Pearce said all it takes is a tiny spark to ignite a wildfire, so it’s important to be vigilant. If a fire is still smoldering, a little bit of wind can grab a spark and ignite a wildfire. If it’s a strong wind, a spark can travel more than a mile.

    "We really want people to be extremely cautious when lighting any campfire or fireworks [this time of year]," Pearce said.

    The fire season could be extended depending on the weather through September or October. If you plan to camp this summer, one pro tip is to try to put out campfires at night and make sure they are cold to the touch before leaving them unattended (especially while things are so dry). Doing so not only helps prevent wildfires, but also helps keep firefighters safe.

    Continue reading »

  • Shakeup of command staff at Seattle Police Department

    Command staff at the Seattle Police Department is undergoing dramatic changes, according to an email sent to the department on Monday morning.

    Chief Adrian Diaz has added a deputy chief role, which goes to Eric Barden, who has been with the department for 35 years. Barden previously oversaw harbor patrol, SWAT, and K9 (dogs) unit, among other units.

    Diaz is also adding a Relational Policing Innovation Team. “Everything we do is about Relationships,” he wrote.

    Two assistant chiefs were demoted to the rank of captain: Eric Greening and Deanna Nollette. They were the notably two assistant chiefs who threw their hat in the ring for chief, when Diaz was still interim.

    Nollette was previously assistant chief of the criminal investigations bureau and has been with the department for 27 years; Greening was assistant chief of the Collaborative Policing Bureau and has been with the department for 28 years.

    There is also the addition of a chief of staff position – new to the department. That role goes to Jamie Tompkins, a former TV news anchor at Q13 News in Seattle. Tompkins started at Seattle Police Department in late May as the head of communications.

    In the email, Diaz said he is also downsizing bureaus because so many officers have left the department.

    “With fewer sworn personnel, I have decided to downsize the number of bureaus from six to five,” Diaz wrote.

    Isolde Raftery can be reached at iraftery@kuow.org or via private direct message on Twitter @isolderaftery or Instagram @isoldedenise.

    Continue reading »

  • Where are the guns coming from? Today So Far
    • The gun used in the Ingraham High School shooting was a stolen firearm. KUOW traces it back to its owner.
    • Where are teens getting firearms?
    • Covid and summer 2023.
    • Dave Reichert has entered the race for Washington governor, even though he hasn't told anyone yet.

    This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 3, 2023.

    Quick hits

    It's been less than a year since the fatal and tragic shooting at Seattle's Ingraham High School. Police reports following the incident stated that the Glock 32 used in the shooting was a stolen firearm, from a home in nearby Lynnwood. That has left a lingering question as to where it originally came from.

    The short answer: The gun owner did not lock up the firearm, in a home where children were present.

    The long answer: The gun owner's teenage son was able to easily access the weapon, which he did to show his friends. One 14-year-old friend took the gun, after which it exchanged hands and was used in a crime before ending up at Ingraham High School.

    For the full story, KUOW's Ashley Hiruko and Isolde Raftery have that here.

    A total of 68 kids under the age of 18 died by a firearm in King County between 2017-2022, whether it was suicide or homicide. Among that number, 18 of the guns were stolen, six were ghost guns, three were made with a 3D printer, two were from family, and 26 have unknown origins.

    In April 2023, there were 54 open cases involving guns and teens ages 12-17. The majority were ages 14-16. And most of the cases are out of South Seattle and South King County. These are among the insights that KUOW uncovered while reporting on kids and firearms in the Seattle area.

    Over the past few summers, Washington saw spikes in Covid cases that prompted concern and distancing. Things are a bit different this summer. Covid hospitalizations and deaths are at the lowest levels since the start of the pandemic. Still, there were 15 Covid deaths per week in early June.

    Having three years of experience with the virus, local health officials are not easing up on Covid vigilance.

    Continue reading »

  • Puget Sound starts getting crabby with it for summer 2023

    The 2023 Puget Sound summer crab-fishing season is now underway. It started July 1.

    A crab biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife says the boat ramp in Everett on opening day was as busy as he's ever seen it.

    Just be aware some areas will have limited crabbing or will remain closed because Dungeness crab numbers are still low. And a reminder: Crabbing will be closed on the July 4 holiday.

    “The summer seasons being announced today are very similar to what was announced for summer 2022," said Don Velasquez, WDFW crustacean biologist. "Some areas with continued low abundance of Dungeness crab will see limited seasons or remain closed this year to continue to promote Dungeness population recovery.”

    Continue reading »

  • Washington Cares tax hits worker paychecks


    Workers throughout Washington will start noticing their upcoming paychecks will be a little lighter, now that the state has started collecting taxes for the new Washington Cares Fund.

    The new tax began on Saturday, July 1.

    RELATED: What you need to know about the WA Cares Fund

    The fund is the first of its kind in the United States. It aims to eventually provide funding for long-term care for aging residents.

    "States across the country of all stripes — red, purple, blue — are all looking at this because everybody has a growing aging population," said Ai-jen Poo with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, noting that states such as California and Michigan are now considering similar programs.

    Outside of some exemptions, Washington workers who don't have a long-term care policy will contribute 58 cents for every $100 they earn to the Washington Cares Fund.

    People eligible for exemptions include military spouses and out-of-state workers.

    More than $36,000 worth of benefits will be available starting in 2026. The money is for long-term care costs, including pay for homecare workers.

    The tax was initially slated to start in January 2022, but Gov. Jay Inslee paused it until July 2023 so state lawmakers could revise and modify the program.

    Continue reading »

  • Make that TWO orca calves spotted in Salish Sea

    Whale watchers delighted with news in late June of a new orca calf spotted in the Salish Sea. But that report wasn't entirely accurate — there are two calves.

    The Center for Whale Research has confirmed that that the southern resident orca L-pod now has two new calves swimming with it.

    Researchers were responding to a public tip in late June about a new calf, spotted off Tofino, British Columbia when they came upon a small group of whales with a little baby. They started taking pictures when they saw something was different.

    “We’re like, huh, it’s not with the same mom," recalled CWR research director Michael Weiss. "Its dorsal fin looks kind of different. And we finally got a picture of its eye patch, and yeah, that’s a different calf.”

    Weiss says they eventually found the the calf that was first reported

    The calves have been named L126 and L127. L126 is the first calf born to L119, and L127 is L94's third calf.

    Weiss says the mortality rate in their first year is high, given threats from lack of food, toxins, and noise pollution. All are inter-connected. Disturbance and noise pollution make it hard for them to find food. And when orcas are wasting away, that triggers another problem.

    Said Weiss, “A lot of these toxins bind to fats, so binds to their blubber and don’t become a huge problem in their bloodstream until they use that blubber for nutrition.”

    But for now they're setting aside those worries.

    “Any time there’s new calves it’s a moment for this kind of cautious optimism.”

    These are the first calves born to the L-pod since 2021. They are thought to be about two months old. Observers say they were both active and social.

    Continue reading »

  • 10 states plan to sue the EPA over standards for residential wood-burning stoves

    JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Attorneys general from 10 states plan to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying its failure to review and ensure emissions standards for residential wood-burning stoves has allowed the continued sale of appliances that could worsen pollution.

    That means programs that encourage people to trade in older stoves and other wood-burning appliances, such as forced-air furnaces, haven’t necessarily improved air quality, the states say.

    “If newer wood heaters do not meet cleaner standards, then programs to change out old wood heaters may provide little health benefits at significant public cost,” the states wrote Thursday in a 60-day notice of intent to sue.

    The states involved are Alaska, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, as well as the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

    They allege that the EPA’s current standards aren’t good enough and that even if they were, the agency’s testing and certification program is so ineffective that it has failed to ensure those standards.

    The EPA declined to comment on pending litigation.

    The states allege that the EPA’s current standards must be reviewed and that its testing and certification program is so ineffective, it has failed to ensure the existing standards.

    The EPA’s Office of Inspector General, in a report released in February, found the EPA’s 2015 performance standards for residential wood heaters was flawed and said the agency has “approved methods that lack clarity and allow too much flexibility.”

    “As a result, certification tests may not be accurate, do not reflect real-world conditions, and may result in some wood heaters being certified for sale that emit too much particulate-matter pollution,” the report said.

    The agency supports programs aimed at replacing older, dirtier wood heaters with newer, cleaner models and distributed about $82 million in grants for residential exchanges between fiscal years 2015 and 2021, the report said.

    Continue reading »