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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

  • Seattle's Wing Luke Museum to move and reopen exhibit that sparked staff walkout

    Seattle's Wing Luke Museum will relaunch its controversial exhibit "Confronting Hate Together" following pushback from some of its employees. The exhibit won't be at the museum, however.

    "Our plan is to identify a new venue," said Steve McLean with the Wing Luke Museum. "Once we know that venue, we will announce it. But at this point, we know that our museum wouldn't have the capacity to house this ... kind of relaunched exhibit."

    RELATED: Wing Luke exhibit shows how Black, Asian, and Jewish Seattleites confront hate together

    The museum posted a statement on its website. Read the full statement below. McLean told KUOW that the "Confronting Hate Together" exhibit will open later in summer 2024.

    The exhibit "Confronting Hate Together" is the result of a partnership between the Wing Luke Museum, the Black Heritage Society of Washington State, and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society. It is aimed at exploring the different ways such communities have experienced hate and prejudice in the past, as well as more modern incidents of hate crimes.

    Shortly after the exhibit opened in May, a portion of the museum's staff walked out in protest, arguing that the way Jewish hate was displayed did not take into account Palestinian perspectives.

    “In a nutshell, there was a panel in particular that one of our partners had created and we had several staff who had concerns with some of the content, even though it was not intended to come across in a certain way," McLean said. "Staff had some strong beliefs about it and walked out in protest of that content … the museum doesn't censor content. We believe everyone has their truths and they have a right to tell their story. That is the goal of this exhibit, to allow these three communities that had been historically redlined together in this community to share their stories on how they confronted racism, hate, and antisemitism, and the strategies that they deployed to do so."

    McLean added that the hope is that, as the exhibit travels to other museums, other communities would be inspired to add their own stories and perspectives, and therefore "it would have been more or less a beginning of having that community dialogue, and that dialogue just happened to take place within our own museum.”

    The exhibit has since been revised with updates addressing staff concerns. It also prompted trainings for all of Wing Luke's staff.

    "We saw this as an opportunity to explore some of the missing perspectives that were part of the the rationale for the walkout, both amongst the Palestinian and Muslim communities, also some further education about Zionism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism."

    RELATED: Wing Luke Museum Executive Director Joël Barraquiel Tan discusses the staff walkout

    Continue reading »

  • With school closures looming, Seattle Public Schools passes belt-tightening budget

    Seattle Public Schools' newly-passed budget closes a nearly $105 million budget gap — and tees up probable school closures in the fall of 2025.

    The school board unanimously approved the budget Tuesday, despite concerns from some that it doesn't adequately address the issues at the root of the district's ongoing deficit spending.

    Officials say they've aimed to keep cuts as far away from students and teachers as possible. But students and families may still notice some belt-tightening next year.

    For example, class sizes will increase slightly at middle and high schools to 31 students per teacher. The move means the district will save about $7 million on school staffing.

    And students will once again pay athletic fees of $200 per sport, unless they can't afford it. If a student participates in more than one sport, the fee is capped at $400 for the year. The district eliminated the fees during the 2015-16 school year, but officials are bringing it back to raise about $1 million in revenue.

    RELATED: How will Seattle Public Schools leaders decide which elementary schools should close?

    Outside of classrooms and school buildings, the district also is making about $8 million in cuts to staffing and other expenses in the central office to cover the deficit.

    The district will also borrow $27.5 million from its capital fund for building construction and maintenance. That's part of the reason former board member Vivian Song called on the board to reject the latest budget.

    At last week's board meeting, she said it's too risky to assume the district can repay the loan — with interest, by June of 2026 — by closing schools.

    Instead, Song said the board should put the district into state financial oversight, something the Marysville school district recently did.

    "SPS has exhausted all they can do. It's time for state intervention," said Song, who represented Seattle schools District 4 from 2021 to earlier this year, when she resigned amid concerns she was violating state residency requirements.

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  • Get ready, Seattle. Summer '24 is about to bring the heat

    Western Washington is bracing for potentially record-breaking heat over the first weekend in July, with high temperatures expected to top 90 degrees Sunday.

    While the hot temperatures might be welcome news for beachgoers, they also pose hazards for swimmers, not to mention those who work outdoors.

    RELATED: Not-so-fresh water. How to avoid getting poop-sick from Seattle lakes

    With the coming heat wave, King County officials are urging everyone to take precautions when they swim in open water. More people have drowned in the county in the past five years than historically — about 30 people every year.

    The air will be hot this weekend, but many lakes and rivers will still be dangerously cold, and even strong swimmers can go into shock and go under — so officials say to wear a life jacket when going into open water.

    Also, they say, don’t consume drugs or alcohol before swimming. Seventy percent of drowning deaths in the county involve drugs or alcohol.

    Their other advice is to supervise children closely and to be especially careful around rivers, which are cold and strong this time of year.

    Washington state's rules for hot weather and outdoor workers

    Washington's new heat rules for outdoor workers, including people who work in construction, on farms, or in food trucks, are expected to kick in when the heat wave arrives on Friday. The state updated its heat protection rules in 2023 and made them effective year-round. Starting at 80 degrees, employers have to provide cool drinking water and shade for rest breaks.

    This weekend, temperatures will reach into the 90s throughout much of Western Washington, so the rules go up a notch. Employers will also be required to give workers 10 minutes of paid rest every two hours.

    RELATED: Seattle is now an air conditioning town

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  • Woodland Park Zoo has a new baby boy gorilla

    It has yet to be named, but Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo is abuzz with excitement over its new baby gorilla resident.

    “The average weight for a gorilla at birth is 4 pounds, and we’re pleased to report our new boy weighs 4.4 pounds," said Dr. Yousuf Jafarey, Associate Veterinarian at Woodland Park Zoo. "His vital signs are good, and he is healthy and physically normal."

    RELATED: Coveted zoo poop makes Seattle gardens bloom. It's the most 'poopular' compost around

    The mother, Akenji, was pregnant for about nine months before giving birth on June 28. According to the zoo, an animal care team intervened shortly after the birth because "Akenji did not show appropriate maternal behaviors despite the months-long maternal skills training the gorilla care team provided." For now, humans will take care of the baby with bottle feeding. The team has placed the baby in Akenji's presence for periods of time with the hope that she will eventually bond with it.

    “Although we have been encouraging maternal behaviors, Akenji still hasn’t shown any promising signs of interest to bond with her baby," said Interim Animal Care Manager Rachel Vass. "Because she demonstrated capable maternal behaviors throughout her training program, we’re disappointed and a little surprised those instincts haven’t kicked in. As we continue to hand-rear her baby for the short term, the positive news is that he remains healthy, he has a great appetite and strong grip, and he is getting bigger every day.”

    This is the 16th baby gorilla born at the zoo. A zoo official noted that their gorilla team has plenty of experience uniting moms with infants, or bringing in other gorillas "to step in as moms."

    In fact, a similar situation happened in 2015 when baby girl Yola was born to mother Nadiri. The zoo's team stepped in to help that baby get started, too. It took a few months, but the zoo reported that Yola was eventually reunited with her mom and gorilla family. The same thing happened with Nadiri's second daughter Zuna in 2021; however, this time the two were able to bond within a couple weeks.

    This is Akenji's first pregnancy and experience with her own baby. It's the third baby for father Kwame, who had a son in 2020 and a daughter in 2021. Both live at the zoo and are often seen playing with their dad.

    RELATED: ‘That’s not nice!’ Brown bear eats entire family of ducks in front of kids at Seattle zoo

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  • Most of western Washington will see a rise in 2024 property values, but not everywhere

    Home values across Western Washington are generally up for 2024, but how much depends on the community. Meanwhile, many office spaces and condos are showing a decline in value.

    "After dramatic fluctuations in the residential market during the Covid years, values have returned to a steady level of increase," King County Assessor John Wilson said in a statement. "The volatility now is in the commercial sector and among condominiums."

    RELATED: Seattle's surprising place for housing bargains — downtown

    Western Washington property owners will soon learn how much their values have gone up or down over the past year, as county assessors begin mailing out notices. This updated information is sent over each summer to determine upcoming taxes — 2024's property values will be used for 2025's tax bills (there are more than 720,000 property owners in King County alone).

    As Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan noted in a statement, any rise in values won't necessarily result in higher property taxes next year. He pointed out that state law limits taxing districts to a 1% increase annually (unless voters say otherwise).

    "Your property tax in 2025 will be the new 2024 value multiplied by the combined tax rates of your school district, city, fire district and other local districts, plus the statewide school levy that everyone pays," Lonergan said. "So, a lot depends on public votes such as levy lid lifts and bond issues."

    King County property values

    In King County, most residential communities can expect to see an average value increase of about 10%. Condos stand out, however, with an overall decline in value following fewer sales in 2023. It's a mixed bag for commercial properties, especially in downtown Seattle where values are most dramatically down.

    According to the Assessor's Office:

    • Seattle home values mostly increased in "the single digits."
    • Some east King County areas saw residential values increase by about 20%.
    • Countywide condo values have declined by single digits after fewer sales in 2023. Downtown Seattle condos saw the largest drop in value.
    • Industrial property values are up 10%.
    • Larger offices are down 30-35%. The Assessor's Office noted that many long term leases are up and offices are renewing leases for shorter time periods, and for less space. Also, the office vacancy rate has gone up.
    • Downtown Seattle, Pioneer Square, and Lake Union commercial values are down 35% to 40%.
    Continue reading »

  • Undocumented Washingtonians can now work as doctors, teachers under new professional licensing law

    Starting Monday, undocumented people in Washington can apply for professional state licenses and certifications, such as those held by doctors, teachers, and engineers. That’s because of a bill passed earlier this year.

    “Immigration status is really a federal matter,” said State House Rep. Amy Walen (D-Kirkland), who sponsored the bill. “It's not relevant to whether you can do a job that you need a license for in the state of Washington. So why would we put that up as a barrier to work?”

    The new law opens the door to dozens of new career options for undocumented people. But some state agencies have already been issuing professional licenses to that demographic.

    Last year, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry began allowing people to apply for contractor licenses using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, federal tax processing numbers commonly used by people who don’t have federal work authorization or Social Security numbers. The State Department of Health said in an email that the agency already doesn’t collect immigration or citizenship status from applicants.

    The new law formalizes this practice, Walen said.

    “A bill clarifies what our values are around this: that all the members of our communities are welcome to participate in the economy and to bring their skills,” she said.

    RELATED: 'In deep': Seattle area man sentenced for stealing $70K-plus in green card scam

    At the national level, the Biden Administration announced last month that people protected under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which shields undocumented people who came to the U.S. as children from deportation, could receive work visas more quickly if they have a college degree and related job offer.

    Walen said the new state law applies to all undocumented people, regardless of their federal immigration status.

    "[People] may have visas to work, but may think that they cannot work here because [they think] their certification at home doesn't apply,” she said. “This bill just says your certification at home does apply if you can just pass the tests in the state of Washington.”

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  • Before you spark up, know where fireworks are banned in western Washington

    The Fourth of July means fireworks for many people across Western Washington. That translates to a lot of anxiety for the region's fire departments and emergency rooms, which is why many cities and counties have banned them, such as Seattle, Tacoma, and unincorporated King County.

    RELATED: Where to see 4th of July fireworks shows around Western Washington 2023

    See a larger list of places where fireworks have been banned below.

    Fireworks sales began in Washington state on June 28 and will continue through July 5. While consumer sales are allowed during this time, rules for discharging fireworks vary around the state.

    Fireworks bans in western Washington

    Many cities may have restrictions on fireworks, such as limited times when fireworks are allowed. Check with your local city, county, or fire department.

    Below are cities in Western Washington where setting off fireworks has been banned entirely. Selling fireworks could also be banned in cities that have nixed them.

    Continue reading »

  • Home Depot fined $1.6M for selling banned super-pollutant in Washington

    Washington state has fined The Home Depot $1.6 million for selling canisters of a banned substance that harms the climate.

    The big-box retailer sold a refrigerant for do-it-yourself car air-conditioner repairs for two years after the state had prohibited sales of the super-pollutant in 2021, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.

    The refrigerant, a gas called R-134a or Freon 134a, traps heat in the atmosphere at 1,430 times the rate of carbon dioxide.

    It’s part of a family of heat-trapping chemicals known as hydrofluorocarbons that are being largely phased out worldwide due to their steep climate impacts.

    For nearly 20 years, R-134a was the primary refrigerant used in American automobiles and is today the most common hydrofluorocarbon in the atmosphere, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    The Washington Department of Ecology says Home Depot sold roughly half a ton of the do-it-yourself coolant after the state banned its sale in 2021.

    If all that R-134a leaked out, it would damage the climate as much as burning 70,000 gallons of gasoline.

    “Leading states like Washington, New York, and California have rulemakings in place to ensure that we are not causing global warming when trying to cool ourselves,” said Avipsa Mahapatra with the Environmental Investigation Agency, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that investigates environmental crimes, including sales of banned substances.

    “Robust enforcement is as important as setting regulations,” Mahapatra said.

    Home Depot officials did not respond to KUOW’s interview requests.

    Home Depot’s website says the company tries to introduce customers to greener products to reduce their environmental impact. A webpage dedicated to the retailer’s efforts to protect the climate says Home Depot is committed to reducing its climate impact —and that of the products it sells — 42% by 2030.

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  • Does the US Supreme Court ruling on public camping bans criminalize homelessness?

    The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that cities can ban camping and sleeping in public, even if there is no shelter to send them to, overturning a previous ruling that has guided cities' approaches to homelessness for years.

    Seattle was among the cities seeking the Supreme Court's decision this week.

    "Today’s ruling makes it clear that determining policy to address homelessness is a task for locally elected leaders,” Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison said in a statement. “This decision emphasizes the importance of local authority."

    In recent years, local policies around whether public sleeping or camping can be banned have centered on the Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment. A 2018 U.S. Court of Appeals ruling stated that cities could not oust people sleeping in public if there is no shelter space available for them. That decision stemmed from a case in Boise, Idaho.

    RELATED: Judge rules some of Seattle’s encampment removal rules are unconstitutional

    Seattle and other cities across the West have long argued that the previous ruling hampered their response to the homelessness crisis and their ability to keep streets clean and lawful. As Seattle City Attorney, Davison previously wrote an amicus brief for the current case, which was also signed by Spokane, Tacoma, and other cities spanning the country.

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  • Seattle plans to send more mental health specialists to 911 calls

    Seattle is expanding its program that sends behavioral health specialists to some 911 calls.

    Mayor Bruce Harrell’s “vision was to set up and legislate a third public safety department,” said Amy Smith, who oversees the program: police, the fire department, and her team.

    RELATED: North King County cities broaden mental-health response to 911 calls

    Since October 2023, the city has been piloting the program in downtown Seattle. The six behavioral health specialists respond to calls alongside police officers. So far, they've joined in on 539 calls.

    Now, the city plans to put a bigger team in place to respond citywide by the end of 2024. The goal is to add 18 more responders, and three more supervisors. The program will also expand to operate daily, from noon to 10 p.m.

    The behavioral health team currently responds to about a dozen calls each week. Most of those calls involve people who are lost or evicted, in distress, or who need clothes or shoes. Police officers also come to the scene; however, the behavioral health team can stay longer — sometimes for hours — which frees up officers for other needs.

    Smith said she would like her team to respond to a lot more than a dozen calls per week.

    "We get almost 900,000 calls for service (to 911)," Smith said. "If you just looked at the calls ... about 40-50% of the time, they just don’t require fire or police."

    RELATED: Many 911 call centers are understaffed, and the job has gotten harder

    The city’s agreement with the police union limits how many calls the behavioral health team gets. This is a point that Mayor Harrell said he plans to revisit during upcoming union negotiations.

    Continue reading »

  • Anti-police protesters awarded $680,000 after SPD arrests labeled 'retaliatory'

    A federal jury has awarded four protesters $680,000 and concluded that Seattle police “acted with malice, reckless disregard, or oppression” when they arrested them for writing anti-police graffiti in chalk outside of the East Precinct in 2021.

    After the officers arrested and booked the protesters, they were held overnight in jail despite a ban on booking suspects of misdemeanor offenses during the pandemic.

    RELATED: Seattle Police must report what it’s doing to hire women, according to City Council resolution

    “We hope this verdict will be a warning and a lesson to police officers and other government officials across the country who violate the First Amendment — that they are and will be held accountable when they arrest and jail people for protected speech,” lawyers for the protesters said in a statement.

    The four protesters — Monsieree de Castro, Erik Moya-Delgado, Robin Snyder, and Derek Tuscon — were arrested Jan. 1, 2021, for writing anti-police statements in chalk on portable concrete barriers outside the police department’s East Precinct on Capitol Hill.

    Six months earlier, the precinct building was the center of Seattle protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police. The Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP, was a self-declared autonomous zone that centered around the East Precinct building, which was abandoned by police during the protests during the summer of 2020.

    Lawyers for the protesters in the graffiti case said they hoped Friday's verdict would lead to other decisions in favor of people who protest police violence.

    "This is one step toward victory not just for us but for everyone who has fought and is still fighting to end police violence against marginalized communities, for Black Lives, and to return the lands of Indigenous Peoples," the lawyers said.

    The arrested protesters were booked into King County Jail for violating Seattle’s graffiti law under what officers called a “protester exception” to the pandemic-era booking ban. But the protesters' attorneys said the jury's findings show the police decision to book the protesters and hold them in jail was based on what they wrote, and therefore violated their free speech.

    “The jury found for all plaintiffs and against all defendants on all claims, including that both the initial arrest decision, and the booking decision, were retaliatory,” the statement from the protesters’ lawyers said. “The jury also found the defendants acted with malice, oppression, or reckless disregard for the plaintiffs' rights, and awarded punitive damages.”

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  • Seattle Art Museum has a new leader after 8-month CEO search

    After an eight-month search, the Seattle Art Museum has chosen a new CEO to lead the arts organization.

    Scott Stulen will step into the role of CEO and museum director on August 26. The museum announced its selection Tuesday morning, after an "extensive international search." In his role, he will oversee the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and the Olympic Sculpture Park.

    RELATED: Is Seattle's arts infrastructure crumbling?

    "I am incredibly honored to be selected as the next CEO of the Seattle Art Museum," Stulen said in a statement. "Seattle has always been a city I deeply admire, and the opportunity to lead such a renowned institution is beyond my wildest dreams. SAM's three dynamic sites, talented and dedicated staff, and engaged board provide incredible opportunities to deepen our connections with the diverse communities we serve."

    SAM has experienced several leadership changes in recent years. In June 2022, it welcomed José Carlos Diaz as its new deputy director of art. The museum has been without an official director since October 2023, when Amada Cruz stepped down. Former SAM director Kimerly Rorschach, and current COO Jeff Draeger, have stepped in as interim directors since then.

    Stulen has an MFA in painting and drawing from the University of Minnesota, and a BFA in sculpture from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He has worked for a variety of other arts organizations, most recently, the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Okla., where he was also president and CEO. Previously, he was curator of audience experiences and performances at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

    "Museums are vital to our lives, creating spaces where everyone feels they belong, learn, have fun, and connect," Stulen said. "As an artist, I approach things a bit differently, and I'm eager to bring this perspective to SAM along with my experience developing innovative and inclusive programs. I am thrilled to embark on this journey and look forward to collaborating with the community to shape SAM's future."

    The Seattle Art Museum has more than 300 staff members and provides a range of educational programs.

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