Liz Jones
Editor
About
Liz Jones is an editor for daily news, features and special projects. She started at KUOW in 2005 and worked primarily as a reporter until 2018. Her coverage largely focused on immigration and underrepresented communities.
Her work has also been heard on national shows including NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here & Now, PRI's The World, Latino USA, Snap Judgment, The Takeaway and BBC News Service.
She is a NW native who's also lived in Spain, Peru, NYC and Ritzville, WA.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, Spanish
Pronouns: she/her
Podcasts
Stories
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Mudslides Shut Down Amtrak And Sounder Trains
People who ride the train between Everett and Seattle got a familiar taste of winter this week. Due to mudslides, Amtrak and Sound Transit canceled service on that route until at least Wednesday.BNSF Railways reported nearly a dozen mudslides near Everett Monday afternoon, triggering its policy to automatically shut down passenger trains for 48 hours after a slide. So, Amtrak and Sound Transit are using buses to move riders around the slide north and as far north as Vancouver, BC.The Washington State Department of Transportation oversees Amtrak service. WSDOT spokeswoman Laura Kingman says the two-day wait time is a safety precaution.“Passenger safety is our number one priority,” Kingman says. “So if there is a mudslide then we know that there is enough soil saturation in the area that the soil underneath the tracks could potentially be unstable.”Freight trains typically start running soon after the tracks are cleared but passenger trains are required to wait longer. Kingman says BNSF, WSDOT, Sound Transit and Amtrak recently discussed shortening the wait time but they decided to keep the policy in place. She says BNSF clarified its policy guidelines, saying the 48-hour moratorium takes effect after major slides but not when the tracks are merely obstructed by small debris.According to Kingman, mudslides disrupted 162 of the 4,015 train trips in Washington in 2011. So far in 2012, 28 trips were impacted by slides before Monday’s cancelations.BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas has worked in the Northwest nearly 40 years. He says last year was one of the worst he’s seen for mudslides. Since then, he says the railway invested $100 million to improve the tracks in Washington and stabilize the adjacent slopes.“There’ve been areas where we’ve basically resloped the condition of some of the hills,” Melonas says. “We’ve ditched, we’ve enhanced the area for better water drainage and we’re constantly studying ways to make the operations smoother.”Melonas also says they’ve moved in extra crews and equipment to the Puget Sound area, as the mudslide season gets under way.
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At Stroke Of Midnight, Gay Couples To Get Marriage Licenses
King County plans to pull an all-nighter on the first day marriage licenses are available to same-sex couples under Washington state law. On Thursday, Dec. 6, at 12:01 a.m., the county is scheduled to open its licensing office in downtown Seattle.
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Immigrants Demand Reform From Newly Re-elected Obama
Immigrants and advocates rallied in Seattle today to highlight their priority for the President Obama’s second term: comprehensive immigration reform.Immigrant and Latino voters turned out in record numbers this election and overwhelmingly backed Obama. Now, immigrants appear ready to exercise their political clout.Latinos, Asians and other immigrants chanted and shared stories at the Seattle rally. Chinese-American college student Lummy Lin said all immigrants share the common dream of a better life for their children. “To me it’s important that our country go in a direction that is open and inclusive and tolerant,” Lin said.An undocumented student at Highline Community College said he’s eager to gain legal status and access to better job opportunities.Alicia Torres, a Latina mother, wants the US to stop deportation of undocumented immigrants. She says her husband currently faces deportation and their children’s lives are in limbo. Torres says she wants more immigrants have the chance to contribute to the country.As to prospects for immigration reform, President Obama has already called it a top priority. Republican House Speaker John Beohner has indicated compromise is possible. Boehner told ABC News he’s confident Republicans could agree to a comprehensive immigration bill.Opponents of progressive immigration reform have long argued for lower immigration numbers and no amnesty for people who’ve crossed the border illegally.
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Gay Marriage Supporters Declare Victory
Supporters of same-sex marriage in Washington are celebrating victory. The campaign to approve Referendum 74, Washington United for Marriage, says it's now confident their four-point lead will hold. On Wednesday, the crowd stood shoulder-to-shoulder as couples and families spilled out the door of the campaign's office in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood."How does it feel to make history?" Zach Silk, Washington United's campaign manager, asked the crowd.Supporters hoisted up rainbow and American flags. They passed boxes of Kleenex, crying together with joy and long-awaited relief.Caution to ConfidenceWhat a difference a day makes. When Silk addressed supporters on election night, he was cautious about the results. He said the race was too close to call with voter approval at just 52 percent.Now, he says they’ve crunched the numbers and are confident the measure will pass. The campaign's assurance is based, in part, on a 65 percent lead in King County and better-than-expected support in Eastern Washington. State Senator Ed Murray, a main sponsor of legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington, joined in the victory announcement Wednesday.“The state said to us, you are no longer going to wake up and feel different," Murray said. "You will be the same as everybody else. Your family will be treated the same as everybody else.”Even though more ballots need to be counted, opponents of gay marriage are already calling it a loss. The National Organization for Marriage, a main backer of the campaign to reject Referendum 74, released a statement Wednesday expressing disappointment that Washington and three other states voted in favor of gay marriage. This election marks the first time in US history that voters have said yes to marriage equality.
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Washington Voters Approve Initiative to Legalize Pot
Correction: In the original story Steve Sarich was referred to as an attorney. He is not an attorney but a medical marijuana consultant and an opponent of I-502.
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What Happens After Vote On Gay Marriage, Pot And Charter Schools?
Marijuana legalization and same-sex marriage are hot-button issues on the Washington ballot. Even after the measures are decided, the debate will likely continue and changes won't happen overnight.Same-Sex MarriageReferendum 74 asks voters to approve or reject a new state law that allows same-sex couples to marry. If the law is upheld, gay couples could start getting married December 9.Approval of R-74 would also affect nearly 10,000 couples who are registered as domestic partners. The partnerships would still be open to senior citizens but all other same-sex partners could decide to dissolve the partnership or convert it to marriage. If they take no action, the partnership would automatically convert to marriage in June 2014.If R-74 is rejected, the state law would be repealed. Campaigns on both sides say it’s unclear what their next move would be if they lose. Some gay marriage supporters expect the issue would land back in the legislature.MarijuanaInitiative 502 seeks to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. If passed, state-licensed “pot shops” could spring up in about a year. That would give the state time to set up a regulatory system for growers and sellers.The feds’ reaction to legalization is a lingering question. The US Attorney for Western Washington, Jenny Durkan, has made it clear marijuana would still be illegal under federal law and if a conflict arises between state and federal law, they would have to figure out how to resolve it.Durkan also told KUOW her office tends to focus on high-level cartel operations. She says it’s very rare for them to pursue cases that just deal with marijuana.Charter SchoolsInitiative 1240 would legalize up to 40 charter schools in Washington over five years. If it passes, the state will appoint a new commission to oversee charters. The first eight charters could be authorized next year.State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn opposes the charter school initiative. He’s predicted legal challenges if the measure passes.If I-1240 doesn’t pass, this would be the fourth time Washington voters turned down charter schools.KUOW asked the Yes on 1240 campaign what they’d do if the measure doesn’t pass.They said they’re confident it will.
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Ad Against Gay Marriage Only Tells Part Of The Story
The latest TV ad from same-sex marriage opponents in Washington focuses on school children, warning “schools could teach that boys could marry boys.”
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Boeing, SPEEA Contract Talks Take Positive Turn
After months of stalemate, Boeing and its engineering union say contract talks have taken a positive turn. In fact, both parties sent out identical
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High Turnout For Last-Minute Voter Registration
Procrastinators. That’s how a lot people described themselves while waiting in line Monday for voter registration. It was the final deadline for Washington residents to register for the Nov. 6 election. Hopeful voters had to fill out the paperwork in person since the deadline had already passed to register by mail or online.
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Obama Urges “Yes” On Ref. 74
President Obama is formally throwing his support to Referendum 74, which asks Washington voters to decide on same-sex marriage.The Washington state press secretary for the Obama campaign, Paul Bell, released a statement today saying “The President supports a vote approving Referendum 74.”Bell’s statement goes on to say say, “While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the president believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect.”This is Obama’s first explicit endorsement for Referendum 74 although his backing of gay marriage comes as little surprise. He voiced similar support during fundraising stop in Seattle in May.During his visit, Obama told an audience at Seattle’s Paramount Theater that “here in Washington you'll have the chance to make your voice heard on the issue of making sure that everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, is treated fairly.”Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney opposes gay marriage. His campaign website says he supports a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman.Recent polls suggest the race for Referendum 74 is getting tighter. An Elway poll released Wednesday shows the measure leading 49 percent to 45 percent. Last month’s Elway poll showed the measure ahead by a wider margin.The Washington Poll released October 18 gives another gauge of voter opinion. It indicates 53 percent voter approval for Referendum 74.