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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Western Washington prepares for heat wave this week
The Northwest is slated for a heat wave this week, with temperatures reaching the 90s and potentially breaking records.
High temperatures are expected to hit the low 90s Tuesday, and potentially stay that high through Thursday or Friday (depending on the forecast you are looking at), lowering into the 80s through the weekend.
RELATED: The 2021 heat wave 'was a wake-up call.' But Seattle's still unprepared for high temps
The National Weather Service in Seattle has a heat advisory in effect starting at noon Tuesday through Friday for most of Western Washington.
It’s going to be especially hot this week for the majority of people in the Seattle area who have no air conditioning. Seattle is opening recreation centers, senior centers, and libraries along with pools and spray parks to give people a place to cool down.
But Kate Hutton, with Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management, says they’re hoping to go beyond that.
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Amazon backs off plan for warehouse in Seattle's Rainier Valley
Amazon announced late Friday that it is not pursuing the construction of a warehouse in Seattle's Rainier Valley.
Neighborhood advocates had been fighting the warehouse development proposed at the site of a Lowe’s home improvement store for more than a year.
At a rally over this weekend, Travonna Thompson-Wiley declared victory, but demanded more assurances from Amazon.
“Even though they stay that the warehouse is not gonna happen anymore … I’m about that action and I want action behind those words and I want them to pull the permit," Thompson-Wiley said. "Because the permit is still active. We want that permit pulled, that’s what the community is asking for.”
The warehouse site is just two blocks from the Mount Baker light rail station. Advocates say what the community really needs there is affordable housing.
The city of Seattle has zoned the property for denser development.
Read the full story here.
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USFWS seeks public input for barred owl management plan
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is developing a plan to manage the invasive barred owl population on the West Coast. The barred owl is more aggressive than native spotted owl species, and is contributing to their decline.
The invasive owl has already spread throughout the northern spotted owl range in the Pacific Northwest, and is slowly making its way south into Central California.
“So our intent in the California spotted owl range, however, because there are so few Barred owls, is to limit the extent of invasion into that area," said Fish and Wildlife’s Robin Bown, who is helping develop the plan.
Bown says the plan will have to be extensive, to cover the entire range of both spotted owl species.
The agency is seeking input from the public as they develop the plan, including areas they might include or exclude, and alternative population control methods that could be effective.
A virtual public meeting will be held Thursday night, July 28, to answer questions. Bown expects the plan to be completed by the end of next year.
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What's in a name? (maybe some uncomfortable history): Today So Far
- The Seattle Audubon Society is dropping "Audubon" from its name.
- Kirkland police have taken in 151 guns in exchange for more than $18,000 in gift cards this summer.
- Overall crime in Washington is down ... but violent crime is up.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 22, 2022.
The Seattle Audubon Society is changing its name. What it will eventually be called ... that's still to be determined. What is known is that "Audubon" will be dropped. The Seattle birding group voted to change its name this month after considering the history of the name it honors. John James Audubon is known for his work in ornithology and for spurring a love of nature in 1800s America. He also owned, sold, and bought enslaved African Americans through his general store in Kentucky. It was part of his business. And he was very anti-abolition.
This character doesn't align with the values of the modern birding organization, so the Seattle chapter is nixing the name. No word yet on what it will eventually be called. While they are brainstorming a new title, I have a few recommendations:
- "The Seattle Awesome Society." I'm a bird nerd, but let's be honest, some folks don't see the appeal of bird watching and conservation. This kicks things up a notch, plus they can keep the same SAS acronym.
- "Seattle Bird Nerds." Nerds rule the world now. Lean into it.
- "Birds and brews." The Northwest has lots of birds and lots of beers. Why not put them together?
- "The Murie Society." Margaret Murie may have made a mark in Alaska and spent a lot of time in Wyoming, but she was born in Seattle. Murie was an important figure in the work for the Wilderness Act and establishing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She was given awards from the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club, and also received the Medal of Freedom. Murie reportedly spent her honeymoon bird watching. And members could be called "Mardys," which is the name she went by.
So far this summer, the Kirkland Police Department has paid out more than $18,000 in gift cards, in exchange for guns. KPD's Gift Cards for Guns program has held two events — one in June and one this week. Between the two events, Kirkland police have taken in 151 firearms that are now slated for destruction. Depending on the type of gun that was turned in, residents received a Visa gift card worth between $25 and $250. KPD plans to hold a third event in September.
These events come after crime rates have risen in Washington state. Actually, it's more accurate to stay that violent crime has spiked in our state. Overall crime rates (everything added up) have actually declined, mostly due to drops in fraud, property crimes, and others. There was a 12.3% increase in violent crime over 2021, however, and a record number of murders (325). Hate crimes also went up.
This issue can be easily witnessed via the recent weekend of shootings we just had. The King County Prosecutor's Office noticed a rise in such crimes over 2020 and 2021. Though more recently, it has also noticed a change in the age demographic of suspects, which has shifted to older populations. The prosecutor's office also reports that guns are becoming more common among domestic violence incidents.
“They’ve nearly doubled every year," KCPO Analyst Rafael Serrano said. "Last year was a record for us in terms of our total domestic violence related gun violence incidents and this year is on pace to pass that so far.”
AS SEEN ON KUOW
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Kirkland paid $18K for turned-in guns this summer
Kirkland Police Department has paid out a total of $18, 350 in gift cards in exchange for residents' firearms.
KPD held its second Guns for Gift Cards exchange Wednesday, July 20. It took in 60 firearms from 21 people (two AR/AK style weapons; 34 handguns; 22 rifles/shotguns; two non-functioning guns or pellet guns). Those firearms are now slated for destruction. Added up, they were worth a total of $6,975 in Visa gift cards.
At the first event of this kind that Kirkland organized on June 24, a total of 45 residents handed over 91 guns. Kirkland paid out $11,375 in Visa gift cards for that exchange.
At that first Guns for Gift Cards event, Kirkland took in: three AR/AK style weapons; 32 handguns; 47 rifles/shotguns; and nine nonfunctioning guns or pellet guns.
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Why the Seattle Audubon Society will drop 'Audubon' from its name
A Seattle Audubon Society by any other name, would be just as birdy.
That's partly the idea behind why the Seattle Audubon Society is dropping "Audubon" from its name, citing an uncomfortable history behind the man the organization is named after.
“Knowing what we now know and hearing from community members how the Audubon name is harmful to our cause, there is no other choice but to change," said Seattle Audubon Society's Executive Director Claire Catania in a statement on the chapter's website.
According to the statement, the Board of Directors voted to drop the "Audubon" from the name on July 14. They have not chosen a new name, and no timeline has been determined for the ultimate title change. According to the statement, the chapter wants to have a "thoughtful and inclusive process" before making the change.
The roots of the Audubon Society go back to the late 1800s, but it was officially incorporated in 1905. It was named after John James Audubon, who died decades before in 1851. Audubon came to North America with a passion to document the region's bird species, and further the science around them. His work was influential, and spurred conservation efforts to save bird populations as they were declining. His name has since been commemorated in street names, parks, counties, cities, and more.
But John James Audubon wasn't just an artistic ornithologist. He also made money buying and selling enslaved African Americans at this general store in Kentucky. He enslaved people himself throughout his life, sold them, and was against abolition. That history is not sitting well with the society that uses his name.
“The shameful legacy of the real John James Audubon, not the mythologized version, is antithetical to the mission of this organization and its values,” Catania said. “Our members, volunteers, and staff are focused on a future where the perspectives and contributions of all people are valued—especially those who have been systemically excluded. The challenges facing humans and birds alike demand that we build a radically inclusive coalition to address them."
Other Audubon groups have also chosen to change their names, such as the Audubon Naturalist Society in the Washington DC area. It has been going by "ANS" until its new name is chosen. The Seattle chapter says it is "the first large chapter in the National Audubon Society network to publicly declare its intention to remove 'Audubon' from the organization’s name." The Seattle chapter also notes that ANS is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society.
According to a statement from Andrew Schepers, president of the Seattle Audubon Society's board of directors, the name is not what the organization stands for. It's about birds.
“We are here for the birds, for the people, and for nature, not to defend a harmful legacy. We’ve got too much good work to do to let this continue to stand in our way. Our organization has a bold history of over a century of activism and impactful conservation. Our work will require all hands and voices to more fully serve our communities today and into the future. Complacency towards antiracism is not an option if we are to fulfill our mission.”
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Violent crime rose in WA in 2021 – yet crime fell overall
Washington state’s latest crime statistics show a 12.3% increase in violent crime in 2021 over the previous year, and a record number of murders at 325. Hate crimes and other offenses also increased.
But law enforcement agencies reported a surprising decrease in offenses overall.
Steven Strachan, who heads the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, said at a press conference this week that the decrease was driven by some singular events in the past two years.
“Interestingly, total crime statistically went down slightly,” he said. “And that was due in part to an almost 79% decrease in identity theft and fraud. And that was related specifically to the tremendous spike in 2020 that we saw in unemployment fraud cases related to the pandemic.”
The state also had a 60% reduction in drug offenses last year. That was the result of the Washington Supreme Court’s “Blake” ruling in February 2021, which for a time put an end to arrests for simple drug possession.
While property crime decreased very slightly overall (1.8%), car thefts were up 27% in 2020 and theft of automobile parts increased 100%. Strachan said those incidents were concentrated in certain parts of the state.
“The trends we’re seeing — and we’re seeing this both in data and I’m also hearing this from chiefs and sheriffs — is that certain regions, Yakima, Tri-Cities, Pierce County, Seattle, parts of Snohomish, Clark… are really seeing a more intense rise in motor vehicle theft.”
But Strachan said those harder-hit communities could see more resources to address the trend. He said state lawmakers approved funding for those regions to do more aggressive investigation, and launch more prevention efforts.
The crime report also highlights the departure of 495 sworn law enforcement officers statewide, for a decline of 4.4% in a state that Strachan said was already the lowest-staffed in the nation.
Strachan said the informal feedback he’s getting indicates some departures stem from normal retirements. Other officers cite frustration with new state laws, a lack of facilities to accept people in behavioral health crisis, and a feeling that they can’t satisfy the expectations of crime victims.
“They don’t have the ability to provide justice for victims when they charge somebody with a crime and prosecutors too frequently don’t charge that crime, or they charge it with something lesser and they plea it out. That’s a real frustration across our state for many of our jurisdictions,” Strachan said.
He said staffing shortages seem to be a bit less acute in Eastern Washington compared to Western Washington, but noted that it’s a “gross generalization.”
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The PNW's reemerging geekonomy: Today So Far
We're living in a different pandemic era than before. Events and social activities are reemerging. How are you navigating public and social interactions?
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 21, 2022.
We're gonna have some decisions to make. And it's going to come down to you and me. The pandemic isn't quite the same as before. But it's still a pandemic, and while some folks can return to "normal," others cannot. Which is basically what Dr. Anthony Fauci recently said at a White House briefing.
"We should not let it disrupt our lives. But we cannot deny that it is a reality that we need to deal with ... the good news is that we have the tools to do this," he said.
That remark sticks in my mind as I think about the re-emerging geekonomy.
The "geekonomy" is my word for our region's somewhat under-the-radar scene of fans, pop culture aficionados, and other nerds who gather at conventions, trade, sell, cosplay, and more. And it's a big deal. It's a community. Though, considerations for such events are akin to all other activities folks are looking forward to, from summer BBQs to concerts, and state fairs.
“We’re excited to dip our toes back in and get the geekonomy back up and going," Mike Seibert said of CybFest NW that is happening this Saturday at the Kent Commons Community Center.
“It is a Transformers convention by the fans, for the fans, with a Northwest twist," he said, listing the indie artists who draw robots in disguise, and vendors selling hard-to-find toys. There are also panels and guests. Mike not only volunteers for CybFest NW, he also produces the Mike Seibert Radio Show Podcast, which talks a lot about Transformers. As such, he also has a panel at the event.
This local Transformers community has been active since the 1990s, so when the pandemic first struck in 2020, it was a bit of a blow. Mike says that CybFest NW was one of the first conventions to "roll with the punches." It went virtual in 2020 and organized online toy sales. CybFest NW is back this year and is following King County guidelines, which do not require proof-of-vaccination or masking. Still, Mike notes that it won't be at full capacity. The tables will be more spread out. One guest this year will participate virtually. Masks will be available. Loading-dock doors will be open for airflow.
“Fans are excited. I think we are excited for ... somewhat of a return to normalcy. It’s still not at 100% full capacity,” he said. “But the vibe is good. The feeling is good. The response on social media has been really good … there are folks who will be attending this for the first time.”
Mike tells me that, for him, CybFest NW is the right size for nerding out. The upcoming Emerald City Comic Con in August, however, is still too big of an event for his comfort level. ECCC's most recent health guidelines do not require proof-of-vaccination or a negative Covid test. Masks are optional. The other big convention in our region, Portland's Rose City Comic Con in September, won't be requiring proof-of-vaccination, but it will be requiring CDC-approved masks.
Dr. Pavitra Roychoudhury with the UW Virology Lab tells KUOW's Seattle Now that she is participating in some activities, like traveling, but still maintains precautions such as wearing a mask in crowded, poorly ventilated areas. She's avoiding indoor dining right now as Covid case levels are high. She understands that a lot of people have pandemic fatigue after two years and are eager to get out and about.
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Thanks 'Junuary': No more drought for Washington state
Washington's Department of Ecology has canceled a drought declaration for Central and Eastern Washington.
Officials say that this year had the second-wettest stretch of May-through-June weather since 1895. That has left water supplies and conditions in much better shape than expected. That's good news considering that spring 2021 was the second driest on record.
“Conditions have improved," said Jeff Marti, Ecology’s statewide drought coordinator. "All areas of the state, including the five watersheds specified in the drought declaration, have received significantly above-normal precipitation. The outlook is much better than forecast back in May.”
“Conditions have been anything but drought-like,” he said. “We’ve experienced one of the wettest, coldest springs in recent memory. While the ‘Juneuary’ put a damper on gardening and outdoor activities, it provided a dramatic recovery for water supplies.”
The U.S. Drought Monitor said as of July 12, some sections of Douglas, Grant, Okanogan, Kittitas, and Yakima counties were the only ones dealing with a "moderate drought." The rest of the state was either listed as "abnormally dry" or not dealing with any form of drought.
DOE notes that a drought is declared when water supply levels are below 75% of normal in an area. That's what is written in state law. The Colville River, for example, is 86% of normal right now.
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Bellevue lawmaker says housing will be big focus of next session
Rising home prices and inflation are making it difficult for people to find – or keep – a home in Washington state. That's why one state legislator believes housing will be a big focus of the next legislative session.
Democratic Senator Patty Kuderer from Bellevue chairs the Senate Housing Committee. She says while the Legislature works with local governments to push incentives, it’s also up to the state to create policies that incentivize affordable housing.
“In other words, let's see densification, large multi-unit developments near mass transit centers," Kuderer said. "For example, let's eliminate exclusionary zoning to allow for the development of accessory dwelling units and detached accessory dwelling units. I think that that is something that we're definitely taking a look at.”
Kuderer says the state Legislature is looking into streamlining the building permit process, and giving a homestead exemption to keep seniors and disabled people housed.
Homestead protection laws are intended to prevent homeowners from becoming homeless in the event of extreme financial hardship.
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Wildfire smoke injures Eddie Vedder's throat; Pearl Jam cancels Vienna show
Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder came away from a performance in Europe with a damaged throat, due to wildfire smoke and dust that was lingering in the air.
The band had performed at an outdoor venue near Paris. According to a statement from the band, the heat, dust, and smoke prompted Vedder to see a doctor after the show.
"He has seen doctors and had treatment but as of yet, his vocal cords have not recovered," the band said in a statement.
"This is brutal news and horrible timing…for everyone involved."
Pearl Jam is cancelling a show in Vienna this week. Fans will get ticket refunds.
"As a band, we are deeply sorry and have tried to find options to still play. And Ed wants to play. There’s just no throat available at this time," the statement reads. "So very, very deeply sorry."
France, and other parts of Europe, have been experiencing massive wildfires and heat waves. More heat waves are expected.
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Don't bring fried chicken into a newsroom: Today So Far
- The Everett Herald staff has formed a union.
- Nobody wants to come into work on Fridays. Why?
- Some Covid news, and some good vaccine news.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 20, 2022.
I am not a superstitious person, but I do have one journalism superstition: You should never bring fried chicken into a newsroom. Bad things will happen. Rotisserie is OK. Tandoori is great. But never fried.
This stems from a fried chicken incident at a newspaper I worked at years ago. The company had staved off employee concerns about economic downturns, and industry woes, until a big staff meeting. Management provided big buckets of fried chicken and cups of juice, spread across big tables. And it was during this fried feast that they informed everybody that there would be layoffs. Midbite into a leg with grease running down their hands was when people learned that staff was being trimmed.
Now, I was not personally there for this incident — I worked with those who were — but I was for the trimmed down aftermath. I was there when an HR manager came through our office to tell us that while our insurance coverage would be going down, we'd be paying more out of our paychecks for it. However, they brought in a private, supplemental insurance representative, in case we wanted to pay even more to make up the difference. For that meeting, they only brought in bagels and juice. I figured that while the news was bad, it wasn't fried-chicken-losing-your-job bad. So among a handful of us in the newsroom, we figured fried chicken was an omen of sorts. It was like bringing a banana on a boat — don't do it.
I was also there for the many nights I worked so late, racing toward a morning deadline, that I slept under the conference room table (eventually, somebody got me a cot). I was there when I reported on a local food bank, only to go back inside for myself once the interview was done. I could go on. But the main point: it was a lot of work, on top of more work, at well below a living wage.
This all came to mind yesterday when I read that the staff at the Everett Herald has decided to form a union, demanding "fair working conditions, comprehensive benefits and a livable wage." Employees are asking the company to voluntarily recognize their union.
The Herald is owned by the same company I once worked for (so I'm not entirely without bias here). It owns most local newspapers throughout Washington, and there are a lot of us former employees, in this region, who have traded similar stories. I haven't spoken too publicly about my experience back then, because it's a little bittersweet. I am grateful for that job, despite the gripes. It offered me an entrance into a career that I am passionate about and I am proud of the work I did there. I love the communities I reported in. And I love the people I worked with, and I don't want to burn those who are working there now.
I don't know the up-close situation at the Herald. But I do know that there is an immense (often overlooked) value of local, community journalism. Which is why it is important to support it, and the people working so hard to keep it going. You shouldn't have to sleep under the conference table to get the job done, and earn so little. Read more on the Today So Far Blog.
Nobody wants to be in the office on Fridays. That's the conclusion of Abha Bhattarai, economics correspondent for The Washington Post, who recently took a deep dive into the hybrid worklife that has become more and more popular these days. Folks are still working. They just don't want to be in the office to do it. This is especially true for employees who only need an internet connection to do the job.
"Once people settle in to their hybrid work schedules it turns out that there is a universal truth out there, which is that everybody wants to work from home on Fridays," Bhattarai told KUOW's Soundside. "We're seeing that play out in office buildings around the country and it's really changing they way employers think about Fridays, and it's also changing larger patterns in the community. Lunch spots are finding they are empty on Fridays. Parking garages are emptier."
She also looked at one corporation as a case study and found that about 30% of employees were swiping their badges on Friday, compared to about 50% midweek. Mondays are also commonly used as at-home days, but Friday is the big one. Hear Bhattarai's full conversation with Soundside here.
If you look at the map of Washington state on the Department of Health's Covid dashboard, it's just a big blob of red, meaning that cases are "high" right now in just about every county. In King County, cases are still high but have been on the decline over the past week, by 4%. On average, King County is reporting 893 new cases each day.
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