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
-
Scammer gets 5 years after targeting Washington's unemployment relief in early days of Covid
A Nigerian citizen has been sentenced to five years in prison for his efforts to steal identities and scam hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic disaster relief. This includes more than $350,000 that was fraudulently obtained from Washington's Unemployment Security Department in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Abidemi Rufai, 45, pleaded guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in the spring. He was arrested in 2021 as he attempted to fly out of the country at New York’s JFK Airport. At the time, he was serving as a special assistant to the governor of Nigeria's Ogun state.
But according to the Department of Justice, Rufai also made a living scamming U.S. agencies using stolen identities. He specialized in disaster relief. In 2017, he submitted 49 disaster relief claims in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, ultimately receiving $6,500. His most successful scam was against Washington’s Unemployment Security Department amid the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. More than $350,000 was paid to the fake accounts.
“Mr. Rufai was relentless in his scheme to use the stolen identities of Americans for fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown in a statement. “He orchestrated ‘mystery shopper’ scams, business email compromise attempts, and filed fake tax returns to financially harm individuals and businesses. But when disaster struck, so did Mr. Rufai. Whether it was hurricane disaster relief, small business loans, or Covid unemployment benefits, he stole aid that should have gone to disaster victims in the United States.”
Rufai attempted to scam $2.4 million from the U.S. government over the past few years, which includes about $500,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits. He used more than 20,000 stolen American identities in his attempts. He also used the identities to submit fraudulent applications with the Small Business Administration in order to obtain Economic Injury Disaster loans. The SBA paid out $10,000 to those applications. He also submitted unemployment claims in 17 other states.
“The Employment Security Department deeply appreciates the tireless efforts of the Department of Justice, federal agencies and law enforcement in this matter,” said Cami Feek, Washington's commissioner for the Employment Security Department. “We always stand ready to hold those accountable who steal public funds and we appreciate the partnership in catching and prosecuting this individual.”
Continue reading » -
Why more stink bugs could be coming to the PNW
Another consequence of climate change for Northwest growers could really stink.
According to a new study from Washington State University, the changing climate could increase suitable habitat for the brown marmorated stink bug in the United States by 70%.
The bugs like hotter temperatures, but they also like it on the dry side. That's why the study, published in Pest Management Science, found that the mid-Atlantic areas near the Great Lakes, and West Coast valleys, like the Sacramento Valley and Treasure Valley in Idaho, will likely see more of these stinkers.
“Every system will change with climate change, so the fact that you can grow garbanzo beans, lentils or wheat without these pests now, doesn’t mean that you will not have them in a few years,” the study's lead author Javier Gutierrez Illan said in a statement. “There are mitigating things that we can do, but it is wise to prepare for change.”
RELATED: Trying to stop a stink bug invasion
This particular invasive stink bug is known to eat nearly 170 different kinds of plants and crops, including those in the Northwest. It originated in Asia and made its way to the United States about 20 years ago. They are found in over 46 states today.
Researchers in Washington state have looked to other insects to keep the stink bugs in check, such as the samurai wasp. This particular wasp lays its eggs inside stink bug eggs, destroying them.
Gutierres Illan, an entomologist with WSU, says awareness of this pest could be beneficial for Northwest farmers as the climate changes.
“Most growers learn from their parents or from the previous generation, but the information that they had is probably no longer as useful because the climate is changing, so they need these types of tools,” Gutierrez Illan said.
Note: This story has been updated with the correct title for Guiterres Illan. A previous version stated he was a etymologist. He is an entomologist.
Continue reading » -
The PNW weather ahead: Today So Far
- With a third consecutive La Niña ahead, and a very dry summer behind, what weather should the Northwest expect?
- Love it or hate it, a new airport is coming to Western Washington. But where?
- Can seaweed farms help the Northwest?
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for September 26, 2022.
Take a moment to think about this past year we just had. You could be seeing a lot more of it. Last fall was the second La Niña in a row. We ended up having a wet fall, then a dry-ish winter, then a really wet end-of-winter that led to an extended cold, wet spring. The summer was the driest on record. Despite the recent smoky air, wildfire season was more mild than in previous years (though that could be because it's been pushed further out). You have to admit, it's been a unique trip around the sun. KUOW Climatologist Nick Bond says this could be a sort of "dress rehearsal" for how climate change will affect our region.
“What the climate models are indicating that we are going to have even more of a Mediterranean climate, which is wetter winters and drier summers," Bond said, adding that there are a lot of variables and we shouldn’t expect every year to be like this.
Currently, we are headed into a third consecutive La Niña season (which is rare). What does this mean for the Northwest this fall/winter? Some things we can't know just yet, like exact temperatures. But Bond says that he is expecting a few things: decent snow pack in the mountains; and October through December will bring plenty of rain.
I'm not a meteorologist, or a climatologist, or any title with "ologist" attached to the end of it. But I'm going to bet that winter will be colder than summer (I know, I'm being quite bold). I'm not too good at predicting snowy seasons, but around this time of year, I just think it's good advice to make sure your car has chains and a decent emergency kit with blankets, water, food, a tablet with plenty of Star Trek loaded onto it — you know, the essentials.
Check out KUOW's Angela King's full conversation with Nick Bond here.
One other thing that Bond brought up is that the climate outlook right now, in regard to oceans, is favorable for our Northwest salmon. Personally, I feel our region's waters are an often overlooked resource. They're good for much more than boozing it up on summer flotillas. We could get energy from them, for example. Or the shoreline could offer housing.
Our region's waters could also offer snacks. I'm talking about seaweed. There are aspiring local seaweed farmers aiming to grow sugar kelp. Sure, sugar kelp can be packaged for animal feed or even fertilizer. And there could be positive strides toward addressing methane pollution and ocean acidification. But it can also be cooked up into snacks, healthy snacks at that. Read more here.
You're either going to love the new location for a major airport in Western Washington ... or not. That depends on where the airport is ultimately located. A state commission is charged with finding the location and a decision is expected by June 2023. What we know so far is that it could be one of three options — two sites in Pierce County, and one in Thurston County.
Aside from the air traffic, a new airport is likely to bring major infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the increased traffic on the ground. That means bigger roads, highways, and more mass transit in areas that are currently more rural. That is making some folks wary. Concerns were addressed at a recent virtual meeting about the three options. However you view it, a new airport is coming. The region is growing. Change is inevitable. Read more here.
AS SEEN ON KUOW
Continue reading » -
After 2-year pandemic pause, Seattle-BC train service returns
Amtrak service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., is back up and running as of Monday, Sept. 26. The service, which crosses the U.S.-Canada border, was shut down for two years by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first trip embarked out of Seattle at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning. It was slated to make five stops before arriving in Vancouver at 11:45 a.m. The train is scheduled to return at 5:45 p.m.
Just one daily round trip will be offered, at first, while Amtrak gets its staffing and equipment levels back up to par.
To commemorate the occasion, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen was aboard the train from Everett to Stanwood. Larsen is a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Passengers on the border-crossing train will be required to wear face masks in Canadian train stations as they are traveling through Canada. Also, non-Canadian passengers must be fully vaccinated against Covid and will have to upload their vaccination information to the ArriveCAN app.
There is still no official word, yet, if Canada plans to drop the ArrivCAN app requirement by the end of the month, but they will be getting rid of the Covid-19 vaccine requirement by Sept. 30 if it's not renewed in the meantime.
Continue reading » -
UW lauds incoming class as most diverse ever
College students are returning to class this week at the University of Washington.
The fall quarter starts Wednesday, Sept. 28.
UW is touting the incoming class of 7,250 students as its most diverse ever. According to a statement from the university, "nearly 15% from underrepresented minorities and 23% first generation, or the first in the family to achieve a four-year degree."
On Sunday, for the first time since 2019, incoming students were able to participate in UW's convocation in person.
Of the new students, 4,450 are from Washington state, and 1,150 are transferring to UW (80% of transfers are from Washington state's community colleges).
UW Bothell and UW Tacoma are also welcoming incoming students this week. Bothell is getting 980 freshmen, and Tacoma is getting 600.
Continue reading » -
Bellevue demonstrators protest Iranian woman's death
Peaceful demonstrations were held in downtown Bellevue over the weekend to protest the death of an Iranian woman who died after being arrested by the country's morality police.
RELATED: Protests in Iran reach 10th night
"Say her name: 'Masha Amini.' Say her name: 'Masha Amini,'" the crowd chanted.
Read more about the Bellevue protest here.
Masha Amini was 22 when she died days after she was arrested in early September for not wearing her hijab properly. Police say she died of a heart attack, but supporters, and her family, allege police beat her to death.
Continue reading » -
Skykomish residents told to be prepared for evacuation as Bolt Creek Fire continues to burn
Evacuation orders have been raised once again for some people affected by the Bolt Creek Fire burning in Snohomish and King counties.
Those in Skykomish, and in some communities along the Old Cascade Highway west and east of town, are now under level two evacuation orders. That means "be ready to leave."
Incident commander Kevin Griffey says there's also a potential for increased fire activity Monday.
"We're going to be into a fire weather watch, which means increased fire activity throughout the next 72 hours," Griffey said. "We've brought in extra resources to deal with that increased activity for days and nights, we've got helicopters on standby ... ready to come in. If the activity increases enough, we'll order that up."
Continue reading » -
Pierce, Thurston counties in running for new NW airport
A state commission Friday narrowed its list of sites for a new two-runway airport to three locations in rural Thurston and Pierce counties.
All three sites under consideration by the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission would require major new highway expansions – or mass transit lines – to reach population centers.
A representative from Futurewise expressed concern over the carbon emissions such expansions could create.
But WSDOT Aviation Planner Robert Hodgman said his team is already thinking about ways to mediate the potential environmental impact.
"We've talked with our colleagues in the rail and freight and port's division about how we could accommodate rail and eliminate a lot of those vehicle miles traveled," Hodgman said.
The three potential airport sites are well outside the urban growth boundary that constrains urban sprawl to protect farms, forests, and the health of Puget Sound.
(Update: A WSDOT spokesperson says Thurston County’s site could potentially fall partly in Lacey’s urban growth area).
Continue reading » -
Seattle is ... thirsty? Yep, I said it.
The word "thirsty" generally means "feeling thirst" or being "deficient in moisture," like "parched." As in "Seattle is very thirsty right now," which is headline I wrote about how the Seattle-Tacoma area just experienced the driest summer on record. But it can also mean other things.
The New York Times states that thirsty means a "graceless need for approval, affection or attention, one so raw that it creeps people out." But to online communities, or the Urban Dictionary, it basically means desperate for sex. No matter the decade, up-and-coming generations are usually just different versions of Joey Tribbiani, making generic concepts dirty. Therefore, when I wrote that Seattle is "thirsty," there were some giggles.
I'm ashamed. I knew the double thirsty meaning. I'm the immature friend who makes poorly punned jokes about this kind of stuff. So when KUOW's Digital Community Outreach Coordinator Alex Rochester pointed out that "thirsty" has multiple meanings in our modern parlance ... I was so disappointed I didn't realize it sooner.
But you know what? I stand by it! Seattle is thirsty — for rain and for dates. I've dated in this region. I have horror stories.
The local dating scene has always had a bit of a negative reputation, whether it's women drink because Seattle men are boring or Amazon is killing sex lives.
More recently, my favorite pop study producers, WalletHub, ranked Seattle as the second best city for singles. I'm going to flip that to mean that Seattle has a lot of singles. Whether or not it's considered "best" is relative. Part of WalletHub's analysis was mobile dating opportunities, aka smartphones and dating apps. I admit, I used a few them, like one app called Happn that put you in touch with singles you may have crossed paths with. That one quickly went from, "Hey, I think we saw each other at the grocery store," to "Hey ... I think I know where you live?" Full disclosure: I met my wife on Bumble.
Porch ranked Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue as 14th best for single Millennials, considering percentage of singles, income levels, and entertainment options. And Seattle Met recently boiled down Seattle's dating personas to nine options (I was probably number five). And personally, none of these options seem worthy of swiping right on.
So Seattle perpetually has a lot of singles around. Add a multi-year, socially isolating pandemic on top of all of this, along with the driest summer on record ... yeah, Seattle is probably pretty thirsty.
This Did You Know segment originally appeared as part of KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for Sept. 23, 2022.
Continue reading » -
The 'soft cop' argument in Seattle: Today So Far
- Activists groups behind police defunding in Seattle are speaking up about new budget proposals and they don't want any soft cops.
- Sea-Tac Airport adapts after weekend of long lines.
- Fourth man pleads guilty for 2018 racist assault at a Lynnwood bar.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for September 23, 2022.
No "soft cops." That's the message from the Solidarity Budget coalition to Seattle officials crafting the city's budget, which has a proposal to hire more park rangers to enforce city park rules.
You may recall the Solidarity Budget coalition from the 2020 effort to cut funding for Seattle police. They are continuing that effort by supporting a series of issues and policies, and opposing others. Currently, they are asking for more safe lots for people living in vehicles, and are demanding more safe bike lanes in Seattle. They oppose more funding for police, or park rangers in this case.
Another voice in this opposition is Decriminalize Seattle, which is arguing the real public safety problems in Seattle stem from its jail. It argues that while park rangers aren't armed, they "will also act to funnel people into jail or into other coercive settings." Read the the full story here.
In somewhat related news, Seattle is moving forward with a new 911 response unit. This new unit is apart from police and medical responders. It will be aimed at wellness checks or mental health crises. Seattle is currently looking to upgrade its 911 software to accommodate the new unit, which will form over this fall.
If you're aiming to travel through Sea-Tac Airport this weekend, it's best to be there extra early to make sure you get through the checkpoints. The airport was so busy last weekend that lines extended out the door and into the parking lot. People waited hours and some missed flights.
The extreme lines prompted the Port of Seattle to look into things. It reports that there has been a shift in traveler trends. Summer airport volumes usually end after Labor Day, but that didn't happen this year. The airport had already sent home extra staff brought in for the summer season, however, the travelers kept coming. On top of that, construction put a couple checkpoints out of service. Sea-Tac says it has changed course and has brought back additional staff. Read more here.
An Idaho man has pleaded guilty to a hate crime charge stemming from a 2018 assault at a Lynnwood Bar. Jason Stanley, 46, was part of a group that attacked a Black DJ at the bar on Dec. 8, 2018. Four men have now pleaded guilty to the violent hate crime (they have also pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI after they were arrested). Read more here.
This story has lingered since 2018, but it actually goes back much further in time. I've reported this. Others have reported this. Yet I still find a lot of folks unaware of why those four men, three of whom were from out of state, were in Western Washington on that day (early reports state as many as eight were present at the bar).
December 8 is a holiday for many white supremacist groups, and it is often celebrated on Whidbey Island (physically on the island, not necessarily by the actual islanders). It was there in 1984 that Robert J. Mathews was killed while facing off with FBI agents. Mathews was major player a white supremacist group that roamed the Northwest in the 1980s. We're not talking about online trolls looking to get folks riled up. This was more antigovernment gangster/terrorist stuff. They plotted murder, set off bombs, committed armed robbery, and got in shoot outs with law enforcement — the sort of things that put police on your trail. It all led to a stand off at a house on Whidbey Island. Mathews was inside the house as it burned down with police outside on December 8, a day that is now known as "Martyrs Day" to certain groups. Such groups have been known to make pilgrimages to the island in December, which is what brought the assailants to the area on that day in 2018.
This is a corner of Washington history that doesn't often get spoken about. And this hate crime is now a chapter in it.
Continue reading » -
$6.5 million slated for Seattle Green New Deal
The city of Seattle is funding its Green New Deal for the first time.
On Thursday, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed into law $6.5 million worth of investments that will put the 2019 deal into effect.
The signing happened in the South Park neighborhood, which has been dealing with industrial traffic and pollution for decades.
RELATED: Big shippers promise zero carbon by 2040. Too late, say climate activists
Councilmember Theresa Mosqueda said much of the money will go to help those most affected by climate change.
"So here we are in a front-line community, standing with front-line workers, who've been on the front line calling for action, and today we follow through with yet another step to address a global crisis by acting locally," Mosqueda said.
About a third of the new funding will go toward new housing. Another third will help middle and low-income households get rid of oil furnaces and switch to cleaner electric heat pumps.
The city also committed to getting all city buildings off of fossil fuels by 2035.
The Mayor's Office says the Green New Deal Opportunity Fund that Harrell signed Thursday will "accelerate the City’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build community resilience to climate change, and increase net zero affordable housing."
“For the past few days Seattle has been blanketed with smoke-filled skies and choking air quality, with areas of the city like here in the Duwamish Valley, where the life expectancy is eight years shorter than the Seattle average, especially hard hit,” Harrell said in a statement. “During times of increasingly severe climate events like these, it’s critical that everyone have access to clean, filtered air and cooling. I am proud to sign today $6.5 million in the Green New Deal Opportunity Fund and look forward to advancing further action in our 2023 proposed budget.”
Continue reading » -
Washington State trooper recovering in Seattle after Walla Walla shooting
A state trooper from Walla Walla who drove himself to the hospital after he was shot in the face is recovering in Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.
The Washington State Patrol says someone rammed into Trooper Dean Atkinson's car Thursday, then opened fire. Reports state that the trooper was shot in the face.
Atkinson was able to drive himself to a local hospital. He was then flown to Seattle. WSP reports he is in stable condition.
The suspected shooter was later spotted by police in Oregon. WSP says the suspect was pursued back over the state line and was arrested in Washington.
Following the incident, WSP Chief John R. Batiste issued this statement:
“This evening we were once again reminded of how dangerous the profession of law enforcement can be when one of our troopers was involved in a critical incident while on duty in Walla Walla. We were also reminded of how strong and resolute our people can be when Trooper Dean Atkinson though seriously injured, found the strength to drive himself to the hospital. Trooper Atkinson is a five year veteran of the Washington State Patrol and I am both relieved and happy to announce he is now in stable condition. Let me say thank you to the outpouring of support from the public. I am sure it is and will be appreciated by Trooper Atkinson and his loved ones and indeed all of the men and women in law enforcement in our state. Though there is certainly danger and cruelty in our world, there is also courage and grace, and for that we are thankful just as we are thankful for this fine young trooper's service and survival.”
Continue reading »