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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Washington health officials urge families to keep kids safe from Covid this summer
Public health officials in Washington state are reminding parents to keep their children safe from Covid-19 as they hang out with their friends over the summer. Covid levels are still high in several communities across Washington state.
Reported Covid cases appear to be decreasing among kids and teens in Washington, according to the latest state report. However, most cases in the community go unreported these days, with a high prevalence of home testing making it hard to determine short-term trends.
In the last couple of weeks of June, kids three and under had the highest case rates in the state, according to the report. And hospitalizations for children and teens are increasing.
People who have previously been infected with Covid, and have recovered, seem to have less protection against the newest variants of the coronavirus. Currently, the BA.5 variant of omicron is the most common in the United States and is driving up case counts throughout the country. With the latest variants, people are becoming sick with Covid multiple times. And there is evidence that suggests the more times a person is infected, the more likely they will suffer from long Covid.
Public health officials recommend all kids stay up to date with vaccines. Covid vaccines are available for everyone six months and older.
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Did you know?: The Burr conspiracy after the infamous duel with Hamilton
This Did You Know segment originally appeared in the Today So far newsletter on July 11, 2022.
Get news updates and more in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
On this day in history, July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr fatally shot Alexander Hamilton in their now famous duel. Burr was charged with murder after Hamilton died from his wound. But since he was vice president at the time, the charge never went too far.
Most of us know that story, either because of "Hamilton" the musical or because of "Drunk History." But what some people don't know is that Burr went on to create even more controversy. He faced multiple charges of treason, but was never ultimately convicted. This all stemmed from allegations that Burr was brewing up an international conspiracy. It's a long story, but the short version is that he allegedly kept attempting to seize land, create a new country, and make himself the monarch. Such plans included stealing land that the United States recently got through the Louisiana Purchase, and also getting into a fight with Spanish Mexico to seize land there. None of these alleged plans worked out. I say "alleged" because he kept dodging convictions due to lack of evidence.
Despite no charges ever sticking, Burr was not popular in the United States after all this. He went to Europe to hide from his bad reputation and debts. He eventually returned to the U.S. where he passed away. And history has since leaned more toward Hamilton's perspective that Burr was a bit of an opportunist who could not be trusted.
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Be like water: Today So Far
- New Bruce Lee exhibit opens in Seattle, exploring his life and philosophy.
- Monkeypox spreads further in Western Washington as vaccines arrive.
- Lori Matsukawa awarded with the Order of the Rising Sun.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 11, 2022.
Have you ever watched "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story?" If you're like me, you had ample opportunity to watch it on cable TV throughout the 1990s (it felt like it was always on some channel). And also, if you're like me, you loved it and got sucked in every time.
As an adult, however, I was a little disappointed to find out that a lot of Lee's story was, let's say "stretched" for dramatic effect by the director. And some was left out, like Seattle. Watching the film, you wouldn't know that Lee came to Seattle, lived here, worked at Ruby Chow's restaurant, went to school here, and met his wife here. And he was laid to rest here.
I still love "Dragon." But if you want to dive deeper into who Bruce Lee was, and his philosophy, you can find it at the Wing Luke Museum.
A new interactive exhibit, "Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee," just opened in Seattle. Part of this exhibit is more than 1,200 books he studied. “We're trying to express through his book collection, his sentiments on his philosophical idea around being like water," Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee's daughter, told KUOW. "So, this exhibit explores that idea, tells you the origin story of his philosophy on water, and how it came to be.”
KUOW's Mike Davis has the full story here.
The monkeypox situation continues to grow in Western Washington. Last week, the Today So Far Blog reported that monkeypox was spreading throughout the King County community. In other words, it wasn't just showing up because someone travelled into town from a place with an outbreak. It's now spreading from person-to-person (nine people in King County as of last week). That spread has now reached Pierce County where health officials are reporting that a man in his 30s has a presumptive case of monkeypox. The CDC still has to confirm it. The man reportedly doesn't have a severe case and is recovering at home. Just like the situation in King County, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is reporting that the new case is not related to travel, meaning the man got the infection from someone else in the community.
Some good monkeypox news is that the Washington state Department of Health just received a shipment of monkeypox vaccine — enough to inoculate 398 people. The vaccine comes in two doses. Nationally, health officials want to get one million doses distributed.
“The risk to the public is low at this time," said state epidemiologist Dr. Scott Lindquist. "Transmission generally requires close, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has symptoms of the disease. For people who have had recent contact with someone who tested positive for monkeypox, the vaccine can reduce the chance of developing a monkeypox infection.”
Personally, I'm hoping that the monkeypox story fades away soon — mainly because KUOW only has one file photo for monkeypox from the Associated Press, and it's pretty boring. We can't keep that up for too long on KUOW.org. So fingers crossed.
I love stories like this next one — Lori Matsukawa has been honored with the Order of the Rising Sun. Within three generations, her family went from coming to the United States to becoming one of the most influential figures in Seattle media, and being awarded one of Japan's highest honors.
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K-pod has a new baby orca for the Salish Sea
The first calf born to the K-pod in more than a decade has been spotted on the west side of Vancouver Island.
Video taken Saturday showed the baby orca, named K45, swimming with its mother K20 and the rest of the family.
And while we still don't know the calf's sex, the Center for Whale Research says it looks to be in good physical condition and has good coloring. The center also says the baby and the K-pod haven't been seen since last November.
Rumors of a new calf with K-pod began swirling around in April and June, but it was not confirmed until July.
The last time this pod saw a new baby was in 2011. There are approximately 74 of the endangered southern resident orcas left.
Get news updates and more in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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Can whiskey be a solution to the NW's green crab problem?
Green crabs have slowly been invading Northwest waters and are moving further and further into Puget Sound, leading many to search for solutions that will knock down their numbers. Now, a far away distillery may have one solution to get them out of the water — whiskey.
"People are going to hear crab whiskey, and I'd venture to say three-quarters of them are going to go, 'No, absolutely not,'" said Will Robinsons, product developer at Tamworth Distilling in New Hampshire. "But if you can get them to taste it, they totally change their tune for the most part."
RELATED: Think 85,000 invasive crabs is a lot? Wait 'til you see Vancouver Island
New Hampshire has been dealing with the European green crabs for much longer than the Northwest. Now Tamworth Distilling is using the invasive crabs to make a crab-flavored whiskey called "Crab Trapper." It takes about a pound of green crabs to make each bottle.
While Robinson admits that the whiskey won't get rid of all the invasive crabs, the distillery hopes the effort will at least bring more awareness, and possible solutions, to the problem. Read more about green crab whiskey here.
Solutions are what the Pacific Northwest needs. Green crabs are among the most successful invasive species in North America. They damage native shellfish populations and salmon habitat. That has local tribes and fisheries worried.
More more than 60,000 have been captured in Washington waters so far in 2022, which is far more than this same time last year. Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared an emergency over the invasion back in January and authorized the use of $8 million to kill the crabs.
RELATED: Lummi Nation combats massive outbreak of invasive European crabs
Like other crabs, the green variety are edible, however, capturing them to dish them up probably isn't the most likely solution. Diners prefer the red rock and Dungeness crabs far more. Also, the green crabs are not nearly as large as their Northwest counterparts, which means a lot more would have to be captured. You'd think that would be easy given their exploding numbers, but there are many other factors at work, too.
Get news updates and more in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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After tough times, Washington's wheat harvest is looking good this year
Washington's state's winter wheat harvest is now underway, and growers are expecting a good crop this year.
The historic drought of 2021 dealt a severe blow to Washington’s winter wheat crops. The state’s output fell from 133 million bushels in 2020, to less than 71 million.
But this year, a mild winter and persistently wet spring have produced the opposite effect. The latest estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture predict Washington’s wheat crops will rebound to nearly the 2020 level.
On top of that, USDA’s Dave Losh says there’s more good news.
“A large amount of production and the quality will be good as well," Losh said, adding that the wheat grown in Washington usually ends up being purchased overseas – typically in Asia.
The harvest itself is already underway, and will last through September in some parts of Eastern Washington.
By Brandon Hollingsworth, Spokane Public Radio
Get news updates and more in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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Rep. Kim Schrier focuses on supply chain issues amid 8th District race
Democratic Congresswoman Kim Schrier is asking President Biden to lower certain tariffs on items that keep supply chains moving smoothly. She says the cuts would help tackle inflation.
It's also about politics.
Schrier's facing a tough re-election fight this year to represent Washington's 8th Congressional District. And her Republican opponents all claim they'd do a better job fighting inflation.
The district is one of around a dozen races that will likely determine which party controls Congress next year.
Schrier hopes to see lower taxes on logistical items, like the frames that secure shipping containers to trucks. There's currently a shortage of these truck chassis.
Shortages lead to shipping delays and that ultimately means higher prices for consumers. Schrier says slashing taxes on truck chassis would help bring down prices.
It's the latest in a handful of actions Rep. Schrier has touted in an effort to address supply chain issues. She has also worked on the recent Ocean Shipping Reform Act and the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act.
“The goal here is to make life a little easier for the people we represent. To help you fill up your tank and feed your family. To help farmers spend less on inputs without lowering crop yields,” Rep. Schrier said in June. “As the only member on the House Agriculture Committee from the Northwest, I will continue to do all I can to support farmers and lower costs for families.”
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Seattle's new approach to help those experiencing homelessness: Today So Far
- People who have previously experienced homelessness in Seattle are helping reach out to others still on the street. It's a homelessness response that is slated to expand further into King County.
- The inquest into the killing of Charleena Lyles concluded this week and found that Seattle officers were justified.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 8, 2022.
It's takes one to help one. That's the idea behind a new effort in Seattle. People who have been homeless themselves are being dispatched to the streets to help people going through what they once did. People like Kirk Rodriguez.
"People who have experienced homelessness know the most about it,” Rodriguez told KUOW. "And just how to approach systems, how to navigate them, issues people interact with not just at face value, not just that like understanding from reading or hearing about it but having actually lived it."
As Casey Martin reports, this new effort is up and running in Seattle right now. This summer, it will expand through King County with about 30 peer counselors. Read the full story here.
The inquest into the fatal shooting of Charleena Lyles by Seattle police concluded this week that officers' actions were justified. It's a conclusion that Lyles' family disagrees with. You can read more about that here. Ever since the incident in 2017, and through this inquest process, there has been one part of this story that has stuck with me — what happens when police respond to people with mental illness.
In 2010, Douglas Ostling called 911 amid a mental crisis at his family's home on Bainbridge Island. When police arrived, they found Ostling with an axe in his studio apartment above the family's garage. They shot and killed him. In the wake of the shooting, the family contested the police's initial version of events. Turns out, officers shot Ostling through his door, then withheld medical aid for more than an hour as he bled to death. Two years later, a jury determined that Bainbridge Island did not adequately train its officers to handle calls involving mentally illness. The family was awarded $1 million. A federal judge concluded that police should not have withheld medical aid. In 2015, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the Douglas M. Ostling Act which requires law enforcement to take training on how to de-escalate situations involving people suffering from mental illness. As for the shooting itself, officers were justified.
In 2020, Redmond police officers shot and killed Andrea Churna. Churna called 911 while suffering from a mental crisis. She had a firearm during the police encounter, however, it was not in her possession when she was fatally shot by police. Redmond paid $7.5 million for "serious errors" in that incident.
And in 2017, officers knew that Charleena Lyles had a history of mental illness when she called 911 and asked them to respond to a burglary. They spoke about it while they were walking up to her apartment, discussing previous encounters with Lyles.
"So this gal, she was the one making all these weird statements about how her and her daughter were going to turn into wolves ... it just took a turn," one officer said on recorded dash cam video of the incident.
During the inquest, officers spoke about an "officer safety caution" that was noted in SPD's system at the time, due to a previous encounter with Lyles just two weeks before. They knew mental illness was a potential factor, and they didn't plan for any non-lethal responses, such as a stun gun.
Following the inquest's conclusion this week, the Lyles' family lawyer stated: "SPD’s policies, practices and procedures are designed specifically to allow an officer to shoot and kill a person in mental crisis with a paring knife. In those circumstances officers are not trained to disarm. They are not trained to wound. They are trained to shoot to kill."
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Monkeypox vaccines are on the way to Washington state
Washington state is slated to receive a shipment of monkeypox vaccines from the federal government as community spread of the disease increases.
So far, 15 confirmed and probable cases of monkeypox have been discovered in Washington state.
The state Department of Health says it has been alloted enough of the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine to immunize 398 Washingtonians. Enough doses for 272 people have already been designated for jurisdictions with known cases and close contacts, the Department of Health said in a statement Friday.
The vaccine allotment is part of a federal, multiphase effort to distribute more than one million doses across the U.S. in the coming months.
In May, a case of monkeypox was discovered in a King County patient who recently traveled to an area where the virus was spreading. But several new cases have popped up across the state among people with no recent travel history, indicating that monkeypox is spreading within the community. All but one of the 15 known cases in Washington are among King County residents.
Despite the increasing spread, health officials say there’s no need to panic.
“The risk to the public is low at this time. Transmission generally requires close, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has symptoms of the disease,” Dr. Scott Lindquist, a state epidemiologist, said in a statement. “For people who have had recent contact with someone who tested positive for monkeypox, the vaccine can reduce the chance of developing a monkeypox infection.”
Signs of a monkeypox infection include flu-like symptoms, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes. An infected person may also find sores on or around their genitals, or experience rectal pain.
While monkeypox can spread through respiratory secretions, transmission this way usually requires sustained, face-to-face contact or kissing. Anyone can contract monkeypox, but health officials say that men who have sex with other men are at an increased risk of infection. Contact with items, such as clothing, that have touched the bodily secretions or rashes of an infected person can also spread the virus. Additionally, monkeypox can be contracted through contact with an infected animal or animal products.
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Look who just got the Presidential Medal of Freedom: Today So Far
- A Seattle star was honored by the White House and received the Presidential Medal of Honor, the highest honor for civilians.
- Monkeypox is no longer an isolated incident in King County; it's spreading through the community.
- The AHL just appointed its first female coach, and they are tied to the Seattle Kraken.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 7, 2022.
Seattle soccer star Megan Rapinoe's name is going up alongside the likes of Denzel Washington, Steve Jobs, Simone Biles, and John McCain. Today, Rapinoe officially receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This is the highest honor a U.S. civilian can receive. It's given by presidents for contributions to prosperity, values or security, or for world peace and other notable acts as an American. Rapinoe not only earned the honor for her status as an Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, but also for her advocacy work for gender pay equality, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ rights. The ceremony presenting the medals is today at the White House.
I wrote in late May that monkeypox had arrived in King County. It seemed pretty isolated at the time. But things have changed.
When the first local case showed up in May, it involved a person who travelled through an area where monkeypox was already spreading. That was the general story for many cases that arrived in the United States. But now, cases are showing up in King County in people who have not been traveling. That means they got it from interacting with others in the area. And therefore, health officials are warning that monkeypox is spreading in the community.
King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin said, "We expect to see additional cases locally as the outbreak grows in the US and globally."
The virus is not generally threatening to healthy people, but can be pretty bad for those with other health concerns. If you have symptoms (flu-like symptoms with a rash), contact your doctor.
Another sports headline popped up recently with a local angle. Jessica Campbell was hired as an assistant coach with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, making her the first female to take on such a role in the American Hockey League.
The Firebirds are the Seattle Kraken’s AHL affiliate in California. So this means Campbell will be developing players who could have a shot at moving up the NHL's Seattle team.
"I'm really looking forward to my role, knowing that I can make an impact on these players and help them get to the goals that they're aspiring to," Campbell told KUOW.
"Playing the female game or the men's game, we speak the same language, I've lived the same feelings and experiences, and I've been at the highs and the lows."
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Scientists begin keeping a closer eye on Glacier Peak
Glacier Peak is just one of five active volcanoes in Washington state, and it’s classified as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the entire United States.
Scientists are now stepping up their monitoring of the mountain.
Located about 25 miles outside of Darrington, Glacier Peak hasn’t erupted in about 13,000 years, but scientists say it could wake up anytime and they want to be prepared.
Seth Moran is a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory. He says, the more early warning sensors on an active volcano the better.
Glacier Peak is slated to have four new seismic network stations installed, each with a seismometer and GPS. That will give scientists a heads up if magma starts to move.
Mount Adams is another peak in Washington with only one monitoring station but is not considered a top threat like Glacier Peak. Mount Baker has three, and Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier have around 20 stations each.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog
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Seattle soccer star Megan Rapinoe receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
OL Reign's Megan Rapinoe turned 37 this week and received a great birthday present from the White House — the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rapinoe was one of 17 people who received the nation's highest civilian honor at a White House ceremony Thursday, July 7.
The medal is given by the president to those who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant endeavors.
According to the White House, Rapinoe earned the honor as an "Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women’s World Cup champion. She also captains OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League. She is a prominent advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ rights."
Rapinoe said she she was in between practices when she got the good news from the White House.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog
Other recipients this year include:
Simone Biles: Most decorated American gymnast in history, and an advocate for mental health, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault.
Sister Simone Campbell: A member of the Sisters of Social Service and former Executive Director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice organization.
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