Week in Review: Ukraine, Wheat, and Masks

Bill Radke discusses the weeks news with Publicola’s Erica Barnett, Northwest News Network’s Anna King, and former CEO of Washington State Wire DJ Wilson.

Northwest officials are preparing in case a radiological event should occur anywhere in the world because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. How are local Russian and Ukrainian communities reacting? We have a lot of nukes here. What is our danger potential? A few hours before Russian tanks began rolling into Ukraine, alarms went off inside Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence Center, warning of malware that appeared aimed at the country’s government ministries and financial institutions. What is the role of Big Tech in this?

King County ended the vaccine verification requirement this week. State indoor mask mandate is ending sooner than originally planned. Washington is one of only 8 states with any sort of mask mandate in place. There are still protests planned in Olympia. Why is Inslee handling it this way he is?

Despite a midwinter blast, Northwest mountains haven’t gotten enough snow. The current atmospheric river of rain has brought a bit of snow to higher elevations – but lower down, it’s melting the snow. Jeff Marti is the drought coordinator with Washington’s Department of Ecology. He says low snowpack this year and lingering drought from last year could add up to problems for fish and farmers - especially east of the Cascades. Apples are being pruned, apple buds are starting to swell. What sort of impact will the drought have? Winter wheat is starting to break dormancy and to green up. Farmers are waiting for the magic 42-degrees in the soil where wheat wakes up at planting depth. If they plant too quickly and it’s too cold the wheat seed will rot. Farmers are working up the ground, doing some fumigation for potatoes, and working in fertilizers for other crops. How is this year shaping up for farmers?

Capital gains tax loses a round. Washington dropped its export tax on gas and diesel. Is this the end of the capital gains tax? Why did Democrats bring up an export fuel tax only to drop it?

In Seattle, there were two fatal shootings there this week. What will SPD do? And the city and county prosecutors?