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Murder hornets, fireballs and cocktails this week

caption: DJ Wilson, Erica C Barnett, Bill Radke and David Kroman ready to review the week's news
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DJ Wilson, Erica C Barnett, Bill Radke and David Kroman ready to review the week's news
KUOw photo/sarah leibovitz

Bill Radke reviews the week's news with Erica C Barnett of The C is For Crank, David Kroman of Crosscut, and DJ Wilson of the Washington State Wire.



This week saw multiple Seattle based businesses making some tough decisions. Nordstrom closed 16 of their stores, Alaska Airlines might be shrinking, Sur La Table is facing bankruptcy. What does the future look like for Seattle businesses?

And it's not just Seattle businesses that are facing money problems, Washington state, and it's cities and counties, are facing major budget deficits. Is this when the income tax will finally get its time to shine?

But there is one financial positive that restaurants can turn to. They can now legally sell cocktails to-go. But how much of a boon will that actually be for the restaurant industry?

Also, Monday saw a homeless encampment being removed from the Ballard Commons park. Why was this encampment swept during a pandemic? And why do Renton officials want homeless people currently placed in shelter at the Red Lion Hotel removed by July?

Additionally, Yakima County currently has the highest Coronavirus infection rate on the West Coast. Why is that? How is the rest of rural Washington doing?

Plus, the United State Postal Service is in trouble. Why have Amazon and other online retailers stepped up to the plate to help them out?

Finally, if there's one non-coronavirus story we have to talk about this week, it's the murder hornets. Whatcom county is the site of the first known US case of the large hornet native to east Asia. But it's not where people spotted a fireball as it shot through the sky on Wednesday night. That was right here in Seattle. So keep an eye out for a variety of flying objects in Washington's skies this week.

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