Mystery orcas from afar thrill Seattle-area whale watchers Three mystery whales have been surprising whale watchers from Canada to Olympia. John Ryan
From dry January to March madness: Seattle's worst ski season in years While the calendar says spring is near, it’s finally the peak of snow season in Western Washington. Mercifully for skiers and snowboarders, Seattle’s nearest ski resorts are now running most of their lifts. But this milestone should have happened months ago. Paige Browning
Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them Utilities are convincing lawmakers around the U.S. to delay bills that would allow people to buy solar panels, plug them into an outlet and begin generating electricity. Jeff Brady
2025 saw relatively fewer natural disasters. Will you get a break on home insurance? Disaster costs fell in the U.S. in 2025. Still, it was the fourth time in five years that extreme weather inflicted more than $100 billion in annual losses. Industry experts say the growing financial toll will make insurers wary of rushing to cut rates. Michael Copley
Major snow dump buoys Northwest skiers, can’t undo snow drought What is expected to be the snowiest week of the year following an otherwise dismal winter is lifting spirits of those who love or rely on snow in the Pacific Northwest. John Ryan
Guam objects to Trump administration plan to allow deep-sea mining in western Pacific The Trump administration wants to allow deep-sea mining for critical minerals near the American territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Residents are worried about environmental impacts. Dana Williams
The effort to restore California's Russian River For a century, California's Russian River has been a haven for the LGBTQ+ community. But the health of the river and the surrounding area is suffering the effects of climate change.
It’s lights out for Washington Legislature’s effort to regulate data centers Big technology companies scored a win in Olympia on Monday, as a sweeping bill to regulate data centers lapsed in the Washington state Legislature. Aspen Ford/Washington State Standard
Urban tree funding axed in WA House budget proposal Funding that helps Washington communities plant and sustain trees is on the chopping block in the state Legislature. Aspen Ford/Washington State Standard
Judge orders protective measures for Columbia River salmon after Trump canceled historic deal A federal judge in Oregon has ordered dams that operate on the Columbia and Snake rivers to generate less hydropower and allow more water to pass in an effort to keep salmon populations from dying out. Tony Schick
