KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
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Stories
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Where are you when it comes to masking?
The conversation around masking is once again bubbling to the surface as Washington state deals with the triple threat of Covid-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
This comes at a time when the health-care system is already under immense strain.
Hospitals are often running at, or over, capacity and hospital leaders said Tuesday that they continue to see large financial losses that are starting to lead to reductions and cuts to services in some areas.
State secretary of health, Dr. Umair Shah, said there are no plans to bring back a mask mandate in Washington.
But he, and other public health officials, are urging the public to wear high-quality, well-fitting masks in public indoor spaces like grocery stores, theaters, and airports.
Throughout the various surges and seasons during the pandemic, masking habits have changed.
KUOW reached out to community members in the Puget Sound region last week to ask about their masking habits and how, if at all, the current virus season is impacting them.
For some, masking has been a constant for the past couple of years and remains so now.
“I mask indoors as much as possible. I don't feel the need to mask outdoors away from crowds. Masking to protect others is a social responsibility! We should know this much after 3 years of the pandemic! It should be common sense by now.” – George, Queen Anne
“I have never stopped masking up when leaving my house. I wear an N95 mask any time I am around other people whose status I don't know. My whole household does the same and none of us has had covid, nor the flu since the pandemic began. We don't anticipate abandoning the strict masking protocol for many years.” – Shelley, Seattle
“I am at risk of severe infection if I catch COVID (which I have so far avoided), so I have continued to mask in public throughout this pandemic. In summer months with lower transmission rates, I have removed my mask to eat in outdoor spaces; otherwise, I have been masking since the beginning of the pandemic. However, I am more alert to the masking habits of OTHERS when assessing my own risks regarding the various respiratory illnesses circulating.” – Samuel, Tacoma
“My masking habits have not changed drastically. I still see value in wearing a mask in crowded, indoor public spaces. It's comforting to see others also wearing masks, but I respect the choice the others are making for their own lives. With a 3-year-old at home, we certainly get bombarded with our fair share of germs and viruses, so adapting to mask wearing culture has been a welcome adjustment to our everyday lives.” – Kelsey, Tacoma
On the other end of the spectrum, some people said they almost never mask anymore.
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Truth over party: Today So Far
- On Washington Republican exiting DC has some advice for her colleagues in Congress.
- Solutions to affordable housing are going to be heavily discussed around Washington state in the legislative session ahead.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for December 14, 2022.
Before she leaves office, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler is offering some advice to her colleagues at the nation's Capitol. In short: Put the truth over your party.
"...the truth is somewhat the last thing people want to hear, especially if it doesn't fit their narrative. But that doesn't make it any less true and we don't do Americans any favors if we deceive them, or if we stand by quietly as they deceive themselves. Hardcore partisans on both sides will tell you that their party is blameless and the other party is the only one that engages in deception. But the truth is, there are people in both parties who have made an industry of it."
Herrera Beutler represents Southwest Washington's 3rd Congressional District.
The advice is notable as she was among a handful of Republicans who voted in favor of impeaching former President Trump. It was a move that led to her defeat in August's primary election. She was knocked out of consideration by MAGA Republican Joe Kent (who ultimately lost the election in November, though he has asked for a recount).
Check out Herrera Beutler's full statement here.
Politicians in Olympia are looking forward to 2023, and many aim to fix Washington's housing woes. There are a few points that lawmakers seem to be on board with, and therefore we can expect them to be pushed in the upcoming session. They include: Spending $1 billion more on affordable housing annually; removing bans on denser forms of housing; eliminating design review boards statewide for residential projects. Read more about what to expect here.
That second point — nixing design review boards — has also been a move gaining momentum in Seattle. As of this week, Seattle is temporarily halting the design review requirement for affordable housing projects. The requirement will be put on hold for a year while the City Council develops a new policy for these builds.
Many folks might not be familiar with the design review process. It looks over plans and makes sure they are up to par with land use codes and local regulations. Part of this process is also a city's defense against "ugly." For example, when someone goes into a quaint, small town and plants a neon offense in the middle of Main Street. Same thing happens in cities like Seattle. Usually, a design review board considers aesthetics, landscaping, etc. The public gets to weigh in, too. But all this adds a layer of permits, processes, and extra time. It's a heavy layer for affordable housing projects on tight budgets. That has run afoul of folks who want to find ways to speed up affordable housing and make such projects less expensive to build.
If you're like me, you're scratching your head, worried about developers coming around and beating Seattle with the ugly stick. Now, I'm no expert architect, but I have walked around Seattle quite a bit and have admired Smith Tower, the Arctic Building, the brick glory spread throughout neighborhoods like Pioneer Square or Ballard. Even odd buildings that make it work, like Rainier Tower or the Seattle Public Library.
If you're worried about new, unappealing construction (like me), well, you're too late. There's already a range of oddly painted big boxes with mixed-panel siding scattered throughout the city. We've already been using a design review process, and we've still ended up with whatever that is across from the Fred Meyer, or what's popping up around the U-District. It all prompts passersby to ask, "Is that an apartment or public storage?"
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Woodinville man in court one day after standoff with police
A Woodinville man carried multiple firearms into a Snohomish County courthouse on Monday, prompting a temporary lockdown. He had his first court appearance the very next day, Tuesday. A judge has set bail at $1 million.
According to probable cause documents, the suspect, 32-year-old David Hsu, went into the courthouse armed, demanding to see two judges and the sheriff. Hsu was demanding that changes be made to his child custody arrangements. He surrendered to authorities after a standoff lasting several hours.
At an initial district court hearing Tuesday, a judge found probable cause for several charges including unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, and unlawful display of a weapon.
Judge Jennifer Rancourt set Hsu's $1 million bail because of the substantial risk the Snohomish County prosecutor believes he poses to himself and the public.
Prosecutors argue that Hsu came into the courthouse with at least five firearms, brass knuckles, body armor, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Hsu has no previous criminal history.
The prosecutor's office has two days to file charges in district court.
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Seattle streeteries are going to stick around town
The Seattle City Council unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that will allow restaurants and other owners to set up tables on sidewalks and in parking spaces, as long as they get a long-term permit.
Councilmember Dan Strauss says the move adds to the fabric of the city.
"Small businesses and their entrepreneurial skills make our neighborhoods more vibrant," Strauss said. "The other option for some of these spaces is a place for cars to park. What we found in Ballard is that we're able to have places for cars to park and these outdoor dining opportunities."
Business owners will pay up to $1,200 a year to use those outdoor spaces under the new permitting process.
More than 300 businesses set up street cafes and other street vending operations during the pandemic. During that time, the city waived any fees for street vending. Moving forward, city officials have been reworking regulations.
RELATED: The brave Seattle foodies who opened restaurants during Covid — and flourished
The city anticipates it could lose tens of thousands of dollars in parking meter fees, but does not yet know how much the street cafe permits will bring in.
The type of seating, dimensions, and ADA compliance are all regulated in the permit.
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Rep. Herrera Beutler's advice as she exits Congress
U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler took her last opportunity to address Congress this week to thank her family and her team for for their support over her past 12 years in office.
"To Southwest Washington, thank you for entrusting me six times with this awesome responsibility," Herrera Beutler said.
But it wasn't just gratitude that the Congress member from Washington's 3rd District had to convey. She offered some unsolicited advice to her colleagues at the Capitol. Herrera Beutler began by reminding members that they will leave office one day and will reflect on what they are proud of from their time in D.C., from bills they passed to standing for what is right.
"But let me tell you what you won't think of: That time you tweeted something that got 10,000 likes; or that time you thought of a really mean, clever thing to say about the other party, or the other team; or those times you told part of the truth, or not all of the truth, and hoped no one would ask you what you really meant. The people who elect us put their faith in us to represent them and we owe them the truth. And times, especially in the heat of the moment, the truth is somewhat the last thing people want to hear, especially if it doesn't fit their narrative. But that doesn't make it any less true and we don't do Americans any favors if we deceive them, or if we stand by quietly as they deceive themselves. Hardcore partisans on both sides will tell you that their party is blameless and the other party is the only one that engages in deception. But the truth is, there are people in both parties who have made an industry of it. I have faith in the American people to eventually put a stop to this, but we here in this body also have a responsibility to the truth. After all, it is the only thing that truly sets us free."
Herrera Beutler was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump. As a result, she faced challenges from her right in the past election. She lost the primary to MAGA Republican Joe Kent who took over the GOP spot on the November ballot. Kent ultimately lost the election to Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, but he has asked for a recount.
Herrera Beutler lives in Battle Ground, Washington. She was elected as a state representative for the 18th Legislative District in 2006. She was then elected to Congress in 2010 and became Washington state's first Hispanic representative in Congress.
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No design review for Seattle's affordable housing projects
The Seattle City Council has voted to extend a program aimed to make it easier to build affordable housing projects.
The City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to temporarily exempt affordable housing projects from the Design Review process.
RELATED: What Washington's housing legislation could look like in 2023
Architect Kate Smith, with SMR Architects, testified during Tuesday's Council meeting and argued that Seattle's permitting process makes it difficult to build affordable housing.
"By the time affordable housing projects go to the permitting process, there is little room for delays and cost increases," Smith said. "The last challenge these housing projects should face is a costly, inequitable and uncoordinated city permitting and review process. Housing is a human right."
The ordinance exempts low-income housing projects from certain requirements, such as landscaping, aesthetic, and other requirements for one year. During that year, the Council plans to rework the design review process for affordable housing.
Seattle's Design Review process includes a board of locals who largely weigh in on the aesthetics of new construction projects in the city.
RELATED: Amazon spending $150 million on affordable housing in Seattle
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Case against Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer goes to jury
Jurors are poised to deliberate in the trial of Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer, after hearing closing arguments from attorneys on Tuesday.
The prosecutor maintained that Troyer lied to a 911 dispatcher, well knowing the type of response his claim of being threatened would initiate. His defense lawyer Anne Bremner called the case a wrongful prosecution that was politically motivated by racial justice protests after the murder of George Floyd.
Troyer is charged with two misdemeanors for false reporting and making a false statement to a public servant, stemming from his encounter with Black newspaper carrier Sedrick Altheimer on Jan. 27, 2021. Prosecutor Melanie Tratnik said Troyer's description of Altheimer's lethal threats, and the fact that he downplayed them once police arrived, doesn't make sense, "because that’s not what happened. Troyer was never threatened. He was disrespected.”
“Sheriff Troyer weaponized the police force to settle a personal, petty score with a man who didn’t treat him with the deference and the respect he felt he deserved,” Tratnik said. She said Troyer’s comments calling Altheimer “homeless looking” and “anti-cop” give clues to his real motivation.
Troyer testified that he did fear for his life when Altheimer confronted him, but backed off when he learned Altheimer was doing his job.
In closing arguments Tuesday, Bremner called Troyer a “law-and-order sheriff” and said the idea that he would lie and waste law enforcement resources makes no sense.
“He’s a clear-eyed, plain-spoken sheriff. He called it as he saw it at the time, and he was truthful,” she said.
Bremner said Troyer’s actions were easily explained — he saw what he believed was Altheimer’s suspicious behavior, called 911 dispatchers when Altheimer angrily confronted him, and dropped his concerns once officers determined that Altheimer was simply delivering newspapers in the neighborhood.
Bremner said jurors should not accept Altheimer’s testimony as credible, given that he has sued Pierce County for $5 million over the encounter and had similar confrontations with others in the same neighborhood including neighbor Josh Harris, in which he returned to the person’s house later the same night as he did with Troyer.
Tacoma Detective Chad Lawless interviewed Troyer at the scene and wrote in a report the next day that Troyer told him Altheimer did not make any threats or display a weapon but clearly "wanted to fight." Bremner told jurors Lawless is also not credible since he didn’t take notes at the scene, did not have a body-worn camera, and repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to testify in the case.
In her rebuttal Tratnik said Troyer’s attorneys are trying to cast blame on everyone at the scene except him.
“Nobody’s saying you can’t be part of a neighborhood watch group,” Tratnik said. “He’s not on trial for that. He’s on trial for lying about what happened.”
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What Washington's housing legislation could look like in 2023
How to build more housing, quickly, will be on the agenda when the Washington State Legislature begins its session in January 2023.
RELATED: Why are condos in Seattle so rare and expensive?
Many lawmakers appear to agree on the need to make three big changes around the state, which will likely be discussed at the Capitol:
- removing bans on denser forms of housing, such as townhomes;
- eliminating “design review boards" statewide for residential projects; and
- spending at least $1 billion more each year on affordable housing.
These changes are just what the more cautious stakeholders brought to the table.
RELATED: Study finds townhomes are making Seattle more affordable
“It’s hard — you get focused on one shiny object, but one of the things we’re going to try to bring forward in this session is we need a package of things that collectively hang together and make sense, and move the needle," said Carl Schroeder with the Association of Washington Cities.
Disagreement between lawmakers centers around what the minimum allowable density should be (three units per lot or six?), and whether denser housing should be required on all residential land or only near parks and frequent transit.
Rep. Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia) favors a more aggressive approach.
“The cities have had the authority to zone as they wish for decades," Bateman said. "We’re in this situation because things have gotten progressively worse. We need to try something different.”
A less aggressive package could mean that Seattle and other cities that have already made modest reforms wouldn't need to add much density beyond what's currently allowed.
Seattle already allows diminutive backyard cottages and mother-in-law apartments on every lot in addition to a main residence.
Either way, cities that have not reformed zoning laws at all will likely have to catch up to Seattle.
RELATED: What to do about low Black homeownership in Washington state
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Amazon to give millions for affordable housing around Seattle
Amazon is planning to spend $150 million to build and preserve 1,700 units of affordable housing in and around Seattle.
Geekwire reports that the money will go to 10 nonprofit organizations so they can pay for low-rate loans and grants. The projects are slated to happen in Seattle's Beacon Hill and Brighton neighborhoods, along with the Central District.
Other places like Kirkland, Renton, Bothell, Federal Way, and Tacoma will also benefit from the funding, which is part of Amazon's larger $2 billion Housing Equity Fund.
RELATED: Experts say Amazon’s fund for Seattle-area affordable housing is huge, but not nearly enough
The Housing Equity Fund aims to create 20,000 affordable housing units around Amazon's "hometown communities."
In June 2022, Amazon announced it was spending $23 million to preserve 568 affordable homes. The company has announced a similar "commitment" to Bellevue and the Eastside.
As GeekWire reports, Microsoft has made similar financial investments around its Redmond HQ.
RELATED: Neighbors claim victory after Amazon abandons Rainier Valley warehouse plans
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Should Washington end these traffic stops?: Today So Far
- Lawmakers aim to consider bills to end certain traffic stops in Washington state.
- Debora Juarez won't seek reelection next year.
- Seattle student arrested for threatening a Bellevue school.
- Two coaches with Washington connections recently passed away.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for December 13, 2022.
We can now add Debora Juarez to the list of Seattle council members who are not running for reelection in 2023. It's a short list: Juarez, who recently noted 2023 will be her last year, and Lisa Herbold who also recently announced she is exiting City Hall after next year.
Technically, Juarez is the one who started the list, months ago. Her intentions to step down from the dais have been known. For example, she told the Puget Sound Business Journal as much in June 2022. But her passing comment at a council briefing Monday may have been the first time she has mentioned it in a public forum, and therefore, the internet is doing its thing and people are talking.
All seven of Seattle's district seats (not the at-large seats) will be up for election in 2023. Juarez has served as council president throughout 2022. She is the first Indigenous council member elected to be president. On the dais, she has been viewed as a moderate, or at times, on the more conservative end of the Council. Of course, in Seattle, a "moderate" or "conservative" is, technically speaking, still well within the left-of-center, hippy-dippy, "like, totally far out man" end of the political spectrum. It's probably more accurate to say, agree or disagree with her, that Juarez has not been a council member who engages in sensationalism and slogans. She's more likely to get down to the nuts and bolts of council business and move things along.
Still, with two members looking to step down, not facing any election pressure (and maybe more? It's still early), the Seattle City Council could be quite interesting to watch over the coming year. Read more here.
An 18-year-old student at Seattle's Ingraham High School has been arrested and charged with two counts of felony harassment. The Seattle student allegedly threatened, via social media, to shoot students at Bellevue's Sammamish High School. The threats prompted a lockdown in the Bellevue School District until the Seattle student was arrested.
The student has been on officials' radar for weeks now, after a psychologist reported that he was mentally preparing to carry out a school shooting. A judge issued an extreme risk protection order against the 18-year-old boy, which prohibited him from purchasing or possessing a gun. Charging documents state, however, the student recently posted on Snapchat a picture of guns on his bed, making threats to students in Bellevue. The photo is from more than a year ago, according to the boy's father. The father recently turned over his firearms to Seattle police for safekeeping, following the ERPO. KUOW's Amy Radil has the full story here.
As lawmakers meet in Olympia next year, one issue up for consideration will be police traffic stops. More specifically — which offenses are truly important enough to pull someone over? There is an effort to end low-level traffic stops in Washington state. What is a "low-level" traffic stop? Things like broken tail lights or expired tabs. It's such infractions that, proponents argue, disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income drivers.
A quick story. Once upon a time, I bought my first car while living in another state. I was young and was clueless about car ownership. Nobody told me about car tabs, etc., so I was surprised when I eventually got a bill for them. Now, younger me, barely making rent, only able to afford instant noodles while receiving food assistance, did some mental math. In the end, rent got paid, noodles were purchased, and the tabs went unpaid. The cop who eventually pulled me over didn't know any of this when they issued me a ticket. Now, if someone like me was unable to pay the tabs in the first place, how likely do you think it is that they will afford to pay the expensive fine? So that didn't go well either, which led to a suspended license, which led to more costs, yada yada yada. It was one thing after the other — all stemming from the fact that I couldn't afford the basics to begin with. The laws around all this may have been well intentioned, and there is a certain logic to them. But in practice, it just digs a bigger financial hole for folks who can't afford them, and it makes it much harder to engage in normal life (like getting to a job). It's funny. If you got the money, you can break all the traffic laws you want and get down the road with ease. Read more here.
Two sports deaths with Washington connections have made headlines. Basketball coach Paul Silas passed away over the weekend from cardiac arrest, and college football coach Mike Leach died yesterday, reportedly after suffering a heart attack.
Silas was an influential NBA coach, and was the first to usher Lebron James into professional basketball. As a player, Silas made a name for himself on the Boston Celtics, and as a SuperSonics champion in 1979.
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Seattle Councilmember Debora Juarez will not run for reelection in 2023
It was a quick, passing comment at the Seattle City Council's Dec. 12 briefing, but it affirmed that Councilmember Debora Juarez will not seek a third term in 2023, making this her last year on the dais.
Saying that there is a lot to accomplish ahead, Juarez noted, "This is my last year here, so I'm trying to get a lot done..."
Juarez's comment at the briefing was first reported by Crosscut.
RELATED: Seattle Councilmember Lisa Herbold will not run for reelection in 2023
Councilmember Juarez's plans to exit City Hall have been known for months. She told the Puget Sound Business Journal in June that she would not seek a third term. The meeting on Dec. 12 appears to be the first time the council member has spoken about her plans in a public forum.
Juarez's statement comes days after Councilmember Lisa Herbold also said she will not seek reelection in 2023.
Juarez is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation, and is the Council's first Indigenous president.
Leonard Forsman, president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, told KUOW that Juarez has been an important advocate for tribal issues from the dais. Still, he says, "she has other pathways in her career and her life that will need to be pursued."
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Former WSU coach Mike Leach has died
Former WSU football coach Mike Leach died Monday in Mississippi after reportedly suffering a heart attack.
Leach was rushed to a hospital Dec. 11 after suffering a serious medical issue. Some sources report that he experienced a heart attack. Leach was in critical condition at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He died on Dec. 12. He was 61.
In a statement, Leach's family said:
“Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather. He was able to participate in organ donation at UMMC as a final act of charity. We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father’s life.”
Michael Charles Leach was born in Susanville, Calif., and grew up in Cody, Wyoming. He played football in high school, but was unable to continue into college due to an ankle injury. He played rugby instead. After college, he began his coaching career with a job at Cal Poly in San Luis Obisbo, Calif. He coached for a range of colleges, and also for a brief stint in Finland.
His profile was raised significantly when he was hired as head coach for Texas Tech in 2000. He was fired from that job in 2009.
Leach was head coach for Washington State University from 2012–19. Under his leadership, the university's football team recorded the third most wins in its history. He was AFCA national coach of the year in 2018.
While at WSU, Leach was known for stirring controversy off of the field, such as the time he tweeted a fake video of President Barack Obama in 2018. The tweet prompted concerns among alumnus, fans, and donors. The tweet was deleted. Leach later admitted the "video was incomplete," but still argued that the video's points deserved discussion. He was also known to have friction with the media, once calling a Spokesman Review columnist a "sanctimonious troll."
In 2020, he went to coach for Mississippi State University.
Leach is survived by his wife Sharon and four children, Janeen, Kimberly, Cody, and Kiersten.
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