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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Have you gotten your omicron booster yet?: Today So Far
- Only about 10% of folks eligible for a shot have gotten the omicron booster in King County.
- Hospitals worried about capacity when Washington's pandemic emergency orders end.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 6, 2022.
Be honest: Have you gotten your Covid booster shot yet?
I'll be honest, I haven't. But I'm aiming to soon. I try to get the shot before I have an open day. Given the last couple experiences, I know that the shot will catch up with me the following day and I'll spend a few hours with bad movies, vitamin C, and crackers.
The latest Covid booster is upgraded for the omicron variant, which is a big deal as we head into fall and winter (seasons of sick). It seems like a lot of folks are like me, either planning for the right time, or perhaps are just putting it off entirely. KUOW's Eilis O'Neill reports that only about 10% of folks eligible for a shot have gotten the omicron booster in King County. Statewide rates are even lower.
If you need to find a place to get the booster shot, check here. There's some pretty good reasons why folks should get the shot (along with flu shots), starting with hospital capacity.
Life is not really going to be the same after Covid, for many reasons, but if you take a visit to your local market, bar, restaurant, or friend's BBQ, daily life has pretty much ramped back up. I know I have been playing more pinball these days. Step through the doors of a hospital, however, and it's a different story.
Washington state's emergency orders for Covid-19 are going to come to an end later this month. Of course, a lot of these measures have already ended, like mask mandates. But there are some orders that most of us don't see, like how the state has waived rules around hospital capacity during the pandemic. Seattle's Harborview Medical Center has remained severely full in recent months, and has even turned some patients away. There are concerns about what will happen when state capacity rules kick back in.
"In some ways, the end of the emergency orders is going to be smooth in other ways, it will be continuing to be bumpy, particularly on the topic of hospital capacity," Taya Briley with the Washington State Hospital Association told KUOW's Soundside.
"We are honestly worried about the ability to care for patients right now, being able to access the emergency department care, being able to access in-patient care is going to continue to be a challenge until we get in-patient opened up," she said.
We already know omicron spreads harsher than previous strains. Flu season is expected to hit hard this season, leading some to worry about a "twindemic." That all adds up to more hospital visits at medical facilities that are already strained. What can you do? Be extra careful when deep-frying that turkey, or putting up that massive X-mas light display. And get a booster shot.
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Kirkland is the 3rd best city to live in the USA (and Sammamish ain't too shabby either)
Money Magazine says Kirkland is the third best place to live in the United States.
The personal finance magazine looked at nine factors to come up with its list of the nation's top 50 cities, including things like the cost of living, education, and economic opportunities along with the local housing market and quality of life.
Atlanta came in first place on the list, followed by Tempe, Arizona. Some Northwest neighbors also made the list: Boise, Idaho is 11th; Hillsboro, Oregon is 23rd; and Camas, Washington is 32nd.
For 2022, Money Magazine says it attempted to take a more equitable look at U.S. communities. As The Seattle Times notes, the magazine acknowledged its past rankings have showcased "quaint, affordable — and unintentionally yet overwhelmingly white” cities. This time around, the magazine says it factored for "national heritage, languages spoken at home and religious diversity — in addition to the metrics we already gather on racial diversity."
To make the grade, cities on the list had to have a population of at least 20,000 people, be as least 85% as racially diverse as its state, and have a median household income of 85% of the state's median. Add all that up and Kirkland comes in third.
Money Magazine states: "Kirkland is easy on the eyes, to put it mildly. Sitting on the edge of sparkling Lake Washington, residents enjoy views of both Mount Rainier and the Seattle skyline. But it’s not just looks that give locals bragging rights. They describe the Seattle suburb as a family-friendly, community-focused town with great schools and employment opportunities."
The magazine does concede that Kirkland is considerably lacking in one category — affordability. Though, as the magazine puts it, Kirkland residents "pay a premium" to live there. By that, it means that it costs about $2,000 to rent an apartment, and about $1 million to buy a home. But this affordability issue is offset by the very high wages in the area.
Not to be outshined, Kirkland's neighbor down the road, Sammamish, just ranked in the 99th percentile of best small U.S. cities (top of the list), according to WalletHub.
Sammamish technically comes in 12th on WalletHub's list, which took into account cities with between 25,000 and 100,000 people, and aspects like affordability, economy, and safety, as well as quality of life, which breaks down to things like coffee shops per capita.
Redmond, Issaquah, and Mercer Island also rank high, but only make it into the 98th, 97th, and 96th percentiles respectively. Kirkland is in the 95th percentile on WalletHub's list.
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Rash of fires under investigation in Seattle's Pioneer Square and CID
Seattle police and fire officials are investigating a rash of recent arsons set around Pioneer Square and the Chinatown/International District.
Investigators say seven fires were intentionally set on Sunday, Oct. 2. Most were lit in dumpsters and trash bins around King Street, First Avenue, Jackson Street, and Alaskan Way.
The Seattle Fire Department calls this an "uptick in intentionally set fires" in these neighborhoods. They are mostly being lit between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.
On Oct. 2, aside from dumpsters and trash cans, one fire was set in a building undergoing a remodel. An electric scooter was also set ablaze.
Authorities implore people to call 911 if they see someone lighting a fire.
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More Seattle police in U-District following recent gun violence
Police will increase their presence in Seattle's University District through emphasis patrols, in response to last Sunday’s shooting, and other recent incidents of gun violence.
The Seattle Police Department says the increase in officers around the U-District is to "address gun violence and ensure the safety of the University District community."
Emphasis patrols are assigned when there’s a spike in crime in a neighborhood. It’s happening as students return to campus for the start of the school year.
Don Blakeney is executive director of U District Partnership, a nonprofit serving neighborhood businesses.
RELATED: Fight leads to shooting outside U District bar
“There’s a sense of excitement for the campus being back open and people being back for the fall,” Blakeney said. “But you know, these safety issues are serious, and we have to take them seriously.”
Blakeney says his organization is meeting with businesses to gather feedback and to develop long-term strategies to improve safety in the neighborhood.
“We’re hoping to better understand what they’re seeing from their perspective as business owners and then we want to see what we can do to help,” he said.
One possibility would be to expand the safety ambassador program that was created last year, Blakeney said.
UW officials are urging students to use the safety escort services and other resources available to them.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Police Department continues to investigate Sunday’s shooting that started after two men got into a fight outside a bar on University Way. One man pulled out a gun and fired shots before fleeing the scene. Four students were injured.
SPD notes four significant violent crimes that have occurred in the U-District over the past 28 days, all involving firearms.
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Crime is focus in race for Washington's 8th District
Crime is a top issue in one of the most competitive congressional elections this year — the race for Washington’s 8th District.
Incumbent Democrat Kim Schrier recently co-sponsored a bill that provides $60 million in annual funding for smaller police departments. The funding is aimed at helping departments with hiring and buying equipment like body cameras.
Despite objections from some of her progressive colleagues, the Democrat's bill passed with bipartisan support last week.
“I am an independent rep for the 8th district. My vote reflects what is good for my district," Schrier told KUOW. "And you'll have to ask other members why they chose not to vote for such a commonsense, bipartisan, very necessary bill.”
Schrier's opponent, Republican Matt Larkin, has made crime his top issue in the race for the 8th District. His campaign slogan is: “Make crime illegal again.” While commenting to KUOW, Larkin indicated he’d likely support Schrier’s crime bill.
“I would want to know all the details, but if that means more funding for federal law enforcement, I'm all in for that,” Larkin said.
The battle for Washington's 8th is one of the most competitive and could determine which major party controls Congress.
Washington’s vote by mail election begins Oct. 21.
Read KUOW's ongoing election coverage here.
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On the rise in Washington state: Today So Far
- Minimum wage is set to go up in Seattle, and Washington state.
- Also on the rise are gas prices, and soon, utility bills.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 5, 2022.
Things are on the rise around Washington state these days. Fair warning: I'm going to throw a lot of numbers at you today. That is sort of a news no-no. But I have faith in TSF readers.
For starters, Seattle's minimum wage will go up in 2023. How much it goes up depends on where you work. Large employers (more than 500 employees), and other businesses that don't contribute toward medical benefits, will start paying at least $18.69 per hour on Jan. 1. Small businesses that do contribute to health insurance will have a minimum rate of $16.50 per hour. Depending on where someone falls in that range, this adds up to a 75 cent or a $1.42 raise.
At the same time, Washington state's minimum wage will rise to $15.74 per hour. That's a $1.25 raise (an increase of 8.66%), which is tied to inflation. This makes Washington state's minimum wage the highest in the United States.
Also on the rise are utility bills. Seattle City Light raised rates 6% a couple weeks ago (5.6% for businesses). Now Puget Sound Energy aims to raise its rates, too. The utility, that covers much of Western Washington, is asking permission from the state's Utilities and Transportation Commission to hike rates. If the state approves, the average PSE customer can expect a rate increase of $8 in 2023, and about $2 in 2024. Gas customers would see a rate increase of $5 in 2023, and $1 in 2024. PSE says it needs to raise rates because of "rising natural gas prices, state policy objectives for clean energy, and continued investments in system reliability and safety." Read more here.
And once again, gas prices are heading higher. Gas prices were on a 14-week decline before prices began rebounding in late September.
The current average for a gallon of regular gas in Washington state is $5.35, according to AAA. That's 2 cents up from yesterday, and 25 cents up from a week ago. A month ago, it was $4.68. Some of the highest prices are in King County where the average is $5.56.
In short, this all adds up to rising prices at the pump by a few cents each day. All the usual suspects are behind this trend: production snafus, hurricanes, and overseas conflicts. GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan says that gas prices are more or less severe in different parts of the USA.
“Some West Coast states saw prices rise 35 to 55 cents per gallon in the last week as refinery issues continued to impact gasoline supply, which fell to its lowest level in a decade in the region, causing prices to skyrocket," De Haan said. "While I’m hopeful there will eventually be relief, prices could go a bit higher before cooling off. In addition, OPEC could decide to cut oil production by a million barrels as the global economy slows down, potentially creating a catalyst that could push gas prices up further.”
De Haan made that statement in an Oct. 3 blog post. NPR reported this morning that the OPEC+ alliance will cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day. That move is expected to cause gas prices to tick up even further.
AS SEEN ON KUOW
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Gas prices continue to rise in Washington state
Gas prices have continued to rise in Washington state over the past week, following a 14-week decline.
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Washington state is $5.35, as of Wednesday, according to AAA. That's 2 cents up from Tuesday, and 25 cents up from a week ago. A month ago, it was $4.68. Some of the highest prices are in King County where the average is $5.56.
RELATED: Pain at the pump drives debate in Washington’s closest congressional race
In short, this all adds up to rising prices at the pump by a few cents each day. All the usual suspects are behind this trend: production snafus, hurricanes, and overseas conflicts.
GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan says that gas prices are more or less severe in different parts of the country.
“Some West Coast states saw prices rise 35 to 55 cents per gallon in the last week as refinery issues continued to impact gasoline supply, which fell to its lowest level in a decade in the region, causing prices to skyrocket," De Haan said. "While I’m hopeful there will eventually be relief, prices could go a bit higher before cooling off. In addition, OPEC could decide to cut oil production by a million barrels as the global economy slows down, potentially creating a catalyst that could push gas prices up further.”
De Haan made that statement in an Oct. 3 blog post. NPR reported this morning that the OPEC+ alliance will cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day. That move is expected to cause gas prices to tick up even further.
This segment on gas prices in Washington state was originally published in the Oct. 5 edition of the Today So Far newsletter.
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Seattle launches program to help small businesses deal with rash of vandalism
Small businesses in Seattle that have experienced repeated vandalism and break-ins can now apply for some financial relief.
The city of Seattle has launched the Storefront Repair Fund, a program to help businesses with property damage.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell introduced the program in the U-District, where four students were injured near campus this past weekend. Harrell says the program is just one part of addressing public safety. Fixing broken windows may not directly deter crime, but it’s a way to create a welcoming space.
“We believe in a comprehensive approach to public safety, where economic revitalization and beautification and creating welcoming activated spaces becomes part of our critical strategy,” Harrell said.
Storefront repairs are often costly. Some owners are reluctant to file insurance claims for fear of increased premiums.
Thanks to $2 million in federal funding, small businesses may apply for grants up to $2,000 for property damage repairs. The Office of Economic Development will start accepting applications for those federal funds beginning Oct. 18. It will continue until the money runs out.
Don Blakeney, executive director of U District Partnership, notes the U District is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the city with new residential units under construction, and the recent opening of new light rail stations.
About a year ago, the neighborhood saw a rash of vandalism that resulted in around 30 small businesses having their windows broken or bashed.
“This vibrancy and prosperity is fragile,” Blakeney said. “And can’t be taken for granted.”
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Cody Easterday sentenced to 11 years in prison for cattle fraud scam
The sentence that came down for Cody Easterday Tuesday concludes one of the biggest cattle rustling cases in the history of the West.
Easterday was sentenced to 11 years in prison for wire fraud.
Easterday’s family and friends were boisterous as they waited in the hall outside of Federal Courtroom 203 in Yakima.
Almost two years ago, Easterday confessed to swindling meat companies of hundreds of millions of dollars for the care and feeding of nonexistent cattle. After he came clean, Easterday worked with the bankruptcy court to sell off most of his family’s massive farm and ranch empire.
“It’s all come to a collapse," Judge Stanley Bastian said in the courtroom Tuesday before sentencing Easterday to 11 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref said the $244 million Easterday stole was the largest amount in a criminal fraud case in the district of Eastern Washington.
“It’s very critical that we send a message to the community that this type of fraud — almost a quarter of a billion dollars — is taken seriously," Waldref said.
Easterday’s lawyer Carl Oreskovich had argued for a lighter sentence, saying Easterday had been a community stalwart to the local 4-H kids, his workers and his family.
“He’s somebody that has helped everybody. And this is something that he’ll take hard," Oreskovich said.
After the sentencing, Easterday’s supporters filed out of the courtroom silently.
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First Lady Jill Biden to visit Western Washington Friday
First Lady Jill Biden will spend a couple days visiting the Seattle-Tacoma area Friday and Saturday.
The first lady's schedule states she will arrive Friday afternoon in King County.
She's making stops to discuss community colleges, celebrate the children of military and veterans, and attend a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.
Biden will first stop at Bates Technical College in Tacoma on Friday afternoon to discuss workforce development programs in technical careers.
On Saturday, the First Lady will attend an undisclosed fundraising event for Sen. Murray at noon.
She will then head to the Pacific Science Center to meet military families — the stop is for the Hidden Helpers Coalition (Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project), which benefits military children and families.
She'll be joined Saturday by Sen. Murray, who is up for election, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough.
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Seattle minimum wage will rise in 2023
The minimum wage in Seattle will go up in 2023, but how much depends on the employer.
Seattle's Office of Labor Standards has set the city's new minimum wage for small and large employers to between $16.50 and $18.69. The new wages start on Jan. 1.
The new $16.50 rate is for small employers who pay medical benefits or allow tips for employees. This is a 75 cent raise from the current $15.75 per hour rate.
The minimum for small employers who don't pay for insurance, and for all large employers, is $18.69 per hour. This is a $1.42 raise from the current $17.27 rate.
The city defines a small employer as a business with fewer than 500 employees.
Washington state's minimum wage was also recently revised and is slated for a raise in 2023. Washington's 8.66% increase (tied to the cost of inflation) will raise the state's minimum wage to the highest in the nation (though Washington, D.C., still has a higher minimum wage).
Washington state's minimum wage will go up $1.25 to $15.74 in 2023.
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Washington's GOP is reaching out for more votes: Today So Far
- Washington's GOP hopes to gain more Latino votes.
- Washington's winemakers are adapting to the smoky summers we've had over the past few years.
- Closing the homeownership gap in Washington state.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 4, 2022.
We can't avoid this anymore. It's October. It's time to start talking about elections.
With about a month to go, we won't be able to escape sensational campaign ads from our mailbox to our TVs, or the online bickering, or the last-minute "surprises" planned just in time to swing a few votes. Beyond all that, the issues are real and so are the candidates, which sounds odd since conspiracy theories are still driving a lot of voters — particularly election fraud and anything that sows doubt. In the Northwest, you'll hear candidates promote "election integrity" as an extension of this.
Another story that has come through KUOW's newsroom is the concerted effort by Democrats and Republicans in Washington to gain Latino votes. After every election, Democrats always seem so surprised that every single vote in the Latino demographic did not go their way. While it's true that, statistically, Latino votes generally favor Democrats, locally and nationally, there are communities that lean right. With the economy not doing so well, and a few other points, Republicans are looking to open up more votes in their favor.
“Religiously, economically, they fit, I think in my opinion, much better on the Republican side of the political spectrum,” said Republican Congressmember Dan Newhouse who is running for re-election in Washington's Fourth District.
“This is a big voting bloc that is very much open to considering voting for Republican candidates,” state GOP Chair Caleb Heimlich said.
This is not just GOP campaign rhetoric. There are political analysts in Washington who have noticed a slight sway to the right in recent elections. Republicans have noticed too. That's why state Republicans have opened an office in Wenatchee, and have hired a full-time employee with the purpose of reaching out to Latino communities in Yakima and the Tri-Cities. Read more here.
Washington's winemakers are adapting to the smoky summers we've had over the past few years. While smoke is great for sunsets, it's not so great for wine grapes which soak it up. That smoky taint stays with the grapes throughout the winemaking process and gives an ashy flavor. Many winemakers have a mission to mitigate this taint. Some have blended the 2020 crush with other wines to get past the smoky flavor. But there is another effort to get technology to help out. Some new work out of Washington State University has uncovered the undesirable smoky compounds that are causing the problem. The goal now is to develop a way to remove them. Read more here.
The homeownership gap between white and Black residents in Washington is worse than it was in the 1960s. That's one finding of a new study from the state's Department of Commerce, which was initially ordered up by the Legislature. Black, Indigenous and people of color would have to purchase more than 140,000 houses to achieve parity with white homeowners. The study is meant to inform future policies to help bridge the gap.
Michael Brown with the Seattle Foundation's Black Home Initiative tells KUOW that its "focus on home ownership isn’t just a nice thing – it’s meant to be transformative.” That's because homeownership can feed into other benefits, like financial and community stability. Brown promotes subsidies to help low-income people buy homes. He argues that the market will not come up with such housing on its own, so it has to be intentional. Read more here.
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