Week in Review: protests, harassment allegations, and zebras

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with Washington Policy Center’s David Boze, The Needling’s Lex Vaughn, and Seattle Times reporter Patrick Malone.

This week, the University of Washington joined other college campuses with tents and loudspeakers and signs that say, "Divest from Israel," and "Free Palestine," references to Israel's response to the Hamas killings and kidnappings last October. At some campuses, protesters have damaged buildings. Classes have been canceled because enough students and teachers said it was unsafe, too loud, or both. Some campuses have had police drag out and arrest protestors. What do you think will happen next?

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has hired an outside investigator to assess claims of sexual discrimination and harassment inside the Seattle Police Department. Four women within SPD filed a tort claim last week, accusing the police chief of engaging in "predatory and discriminatory behavior" and "punishing women who did not submit to male supervisors bullying and harassing behavior." SPD leaders deny the allegations and call them hearsay. Should we wait until the results of this new outside investigation to conclude that there's a sexist culture problem at SPD?

We've been telling you the story of hundreds of asylum-seekers, mostly from South America and Africa, trying to get work and housing in the Seattle area. A Tukwila church has welcomed many of them, but the church is nearing its capacity. Private donors and governments, including King County, have been paying for hotel rooms and short-term rentals, but every time that money runs out, the migrants end up in tents again. There are 300 people, including dozens of children, now in Powell Barnett Park in Seattle's Central District. Why are governments not spending taxpayer money to get these folks inside while they await work permits?

This week, a new report predicted Pacific Northwest demand for electricity will rise by more than 30% over the next decade. And despite all our hydropower, demand may outstrip supply. Why such an increase in demand?

A new Puget Sound Energy rate increase took effect this week. PSE says a typical residential electric customer will see an average monthly bill increase of $4.11. A typical residential natural gas customer will see an average monthly increase of $7.68. The utility says this rate increase is not related to the state's carbon cap auction system. What is it related to?

This week, someone was driving a trailer with four zebras down I-5 in North Bend to a Montana petting zoo. The trailer door wasn't latched well, and, when the driver got out to check it, all four zebras ran out. People managed to round up three of them. One is still on the loose. What kind of impact has this had on North Bend?