Tom Banse
Regional Correspondent
Stories
-
KUOW Newsroom
More Washington counties get the green light to slowly reopen
The county-by-county reopening of Washington state is picking up steam. The state Secretary of Health on Friday approved four additional places where...
-
Coronavirus In Seattle
Washington state loses hundreds of millions of dollars in unemployment scam
Unemployment scammers stole hundreds of millions of dollars from Washington state in recent weeks. That staggering amount was confirmed Thursday by the state employment office.
-
Summer camp cancellations multiply, but some hold out hope for late start
The coronavirus is spreading a pandemic of disappointment among Pacific Northwest families and camp counselors via the widespread cancellation of...
-
KUOW Newsroom
San Juan becomes first county in Pacific Northwest to mandate face masks in public
San Juan County in the northwest corner of Washington state is about to become the first in the Pacific Northwest to require wearing a face covering in public places. Elsewhere in the region, governments have highly recommended wearing masks, but it's not the law.
-
KUOW Newsroom
Eruption anniversary plans blown up and reborn, kinda like subject Mount St. Helens
There were once big plans for many public events to mark the 40th anniversary of the catastrophic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The coronavirus...
-
Coronavirus In Seattle
Pandemic gives Pacific Northwest whales a respite from din of underwater noise
American and Canadian marine scientists -- and one talented dog -- are seizing an unexpected opportunity presented by the coronavirus pandemic. They are...
-
Rural Washington counties seize opportunity to accelerate reopening
Given the opportunity to accelerate the restart of shuttered businesses and social activities, six counties in central and eastern Washington wasted no...
-
More than 100 Washington state parks on list to reopen, but Coast and Gorge excluded
More than 100 Washington state parks made the cut to reopen for day use beginning Tuesday, but aficionados of Pacific Coast and Columbia River Gorge getaways will have to wait a while longer.
-
Coronavirus In Seattle
Locals only, please. Reopening of some Washington state parks greeted by concern
Outdoor enthusiasts in Washington may be looking forward to the reopening of many shuttered state parks and public lands next week. But a few of Washington's most popular state parks could stay closed because the surrounding communities are worried about crowds and renewed disease spread.
-
Coronavirus In Seattle
Outdoor enthusiasts greet news of reopening in Washington state with cheers of victory
Last weekend should have seen thousands of anglers flock to Washington state lakes for the always-popular lowland lakes trout opener. Like so much else, opening day of fishing season was canceled due to the coronavirus. But freshwater fishing is coming back soon, along with significant additional elements of the outdoor recreation scene.