KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
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Stories
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Seattle sues Kia and Hyundai after rise in car thefts
The city of Seattle is suing Kia and Hyundai, arguing the company did not take adequate anti-theft measures to prevent its cars from being stolen.
“Kia and Hyundai chose to cut corners and cut costs at the expense of their customers and the public," Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison said in a statement. "As a result, our police force has had to tackle a huge rise in vehicle theft and related problems with already stretched resources. Now Seattle taxpayers must shoulder the burden of the increase in theft. Kia and Hyundai need to take responsibility for the public safety hazard that they created.”
RELATED: Seattle police warn Kia drivers after TikTok trend prompts spike in thefts
According to the City Attorney's Office, Seattle saw a 363% increase in the theft of Kias, and a 503% increase in the thefts of Hyundais between 2021 and 2022. KUOW previously reported that 80 cars were stolen each day, on average, throughout King and Pierce counties in November 2022.
Kia and Hyundai models are vulnerable to a specific type of car theft. Using a simple USB cable, a person can access the ignition and turn the cars on. Instructions on how to do this have spread far and wide on the internet, leading to a rise in thefts of such cars nationally. The Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force has noted that 2011 or newer Kias, or a 2015 or newer Hyundais are particularly at risk. Kia and Hyundai have said that models after 2022 have included a fix to this issue.
This is not the first lawsuit filed over this issue with Kia and Hyundai cars.
The City Attorney's Office notes that in some cases, the cars were stolen and used in other crimes. It points to a recent incident as an example. A group of teens reportedly used two stolen cars to rob a Ballard man and then drive to Federal Way. The office notes that such Kia and Hyundai auto thefts have hit Seattle's Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill, the Central District, and Northgate particularly hard.
“Now that people know how easy it is to steal Hyundais and Kias, the Seattle Police Department has noticed a huge increase in the theft of these models,” Chief Adrian Z. Diaz said in a statement. “From 48 reported thefts of Hyundais and Kias in August to 197 in December. Sixty-four percent of those vehicles were later recovered within city limits, which shows they’re most likely being taken for short periods of time, often in order to commit other crimes. To protect the hard-earned property of Seattle residents, car makers need to take this problem seriously and do all they can to prevent these thefts.”
The city of Seattle is seeking compensation for damages from the car companies, and to force them to include anti-theft technology in their vehicles.
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Should Washington use magic mushrooms for mental health?: Today So Far
Washington is, again, considering the legalization of magic mushrooms ... sort of.
The King County Medical Examiner says that our region is "now struggling with the issue of storing bodies because the fentanyl-related death toll continues to climb."
Another effort in Olympia aims to tackle a different kind of influence through lowering the state's blood alcohol levels in order to be considered for a DUI.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for January 25, 2023.
Washington is, again, considering the legalization of magic mushrooms ... sort of. More accurately, a bill in Olympia proposes to legalize psilocybin, which is the psychedelic drug that makes magic mushrooms so magical. For a while now, the potential for psilocybin to remedy certain mental health issues, such as depression, PTSD, or addiction, have been known. Tapping into that potential as Washington grapples with the fallout of such issues is the premise of Senate Bill 5263.
Cue the critics. This is the second time lawmakers have tried to legalize psilocybin. A similar bill failed last year. Concerns range from how the state would regulate it, and wariness over the reaction from federal authorities (psilocybin would still be illegal at the federal level). It should probably be noted that cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, yet, it has grown into a massive, multimillion dollar industry ever since Washington legalized it in 2012. Unlike cannabis, however, people would not be able to go buy psilocybin and take it at home. SB 5263 proposes the state license certain providers at outdoor locations, private residences, or even houses of worship. And while mental health is a core argument for the legalization, a person would not need a medical prescription to get the drug. Read the full story here.
As stated above, psilocybin is being looked at as a potential tool to fight addiction. The government is currently studying this potential for opioid addiction. Other recent studies seem to point to a possibility that psilocybin could counter such addictions.
I'm writing "potential" and "possibility" a lot here because there's always some nuance around such studies. One study, for example, looked at people who used a range of drugs, and found that those who also used magic mushrooms had lower odds of developing opioid use disorder. It's these sorts of studies and arguments that are the basis for SB 5263.
The reason folks are considering such a remedy is obvious — we have a really bad opioid problem. Recently, we got another reminder of just how bad it is. The King County Medical Examiner says that our region is "now struggling with the issue of storing bodies because the fentanyl-related death toll continues to climb." In other words, there are so many overdose deaths, officials are running out of places to store the bodies.
In 2022, King County recorded 690 fentanyl-related deaths (about 70% of all overdose deaths that year). In 2021, such deaths added up to 385. Read the full story here.
Another effort in Olympia aims to tackle a different kind of influence through lowering the state's blood alcohol levels in order to be considered for a DUI.
Currently, the number is .08 BAC (blood-alcohol concentration). It's been set at that number for years. That's the number a police officer is looking for when they have you blow into a breathalyzer. The proposal being considered by lawmakers would drop that to .05.
"Unfortunately, we are facing an epidemic of traffic safety challenges in Washington state. We are seeing the highest levels of traffic fatalities in decades. The latest data shows us that over 700 people died on our transportation system statewide in 2022," State Sen. Marco Liias told KUOW.
Liias is a sponsor of SB 5002, the bill that would drop the BAC level. He argues that Washington's traffic fatalities have trended up in recent years.
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Did You Know?: Teriyaki was, and wasn't, invented in Seattle
I have often heard it said that, "Teriyaki was invented in Seattle." In turn, I've spread this "fact" myself. But this is one of those things that has a lot of nuance around it. Teriyaki wasn't technically invented in Seattle — but it sort of was, at least when you consider our modern interpretation of this culinary delight.
Teriyaki evolved over many years, and Seattle played a major role in its modern development and rise onto menus far and wide. Modern teriyaki is the result of immigration, various cultures mingling, exchanging ingredients, and business savvy, all adding up to an obsession.
I'll point you to a great Seattle Weekly story on this which takes a much deeper dive. In short, teriyaki (teri: the shine on the food; and yaki: grilling) goes back a few hundred years in Japan, and was associated with a style of grilling fish with a sauce primarily made from soy sauce, sweet rice wine, and sake. As Japanese immigrants came to the United States, the sweet wine was switched out for sugar, likely around Hawaii. The fish was eventually exchanged for chicken and beef, which were more popular across the United States.
Teriyaki dishes have appeared on American menus since at least the 1940s. But Seattle's Toshihiro Kasahara is credited with spurring a teriyaki trend in the 1970s that kicked this evolution into high gear. He started Toshi's Teriyaki in Lower Queen Anne. His teriyaki was cooked on skewers and came with rice and salad. Chicken sold for $1.85 and chicken/beef combos went for $2.10. It was a hit. Others started similar operations, and Toshi opened more locations. But what he did next is likely why teriyaki became so associated with Seattle.
Toshi repeatedly opened new restaurants, and sold his existing locations. The new owners had local roots, as well as from India, Vietnam, China, and elsewhere — each, perhaps, throwing in their personal, culinary backgrounds into the mix. Korean immigrants are particularly credited with taking things to a new level. By the 1990s, hundreds of teriyaki shops had spread throughout Western Washington, and headlines were boasting of the region's obsession with the dish.
With all these different forces coming together over teriyaki, other entrepreneurs began taking it to other cities. This modern evolution of teriyaki is what you're most likely familiar with (a bit removed from the original three-ingredient grilled fish dish) as you pass through airports, pick up to-go orders in the U-District, or get a teriyaki burger.
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King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles will not run for re-election in 2023, plans to retire
After seven years on the King County Council, and many more as a state lawmaker, Jeanne Kohl-Welles is retiring.
“I’ve loved serving on the Council. I’ve absolutely loved it,” Kohl-Welles said in a statement. “But at some point, it’s time to pass the torch for others to get involved. My entire time in public office has been immensely gratifying; however, there’s a time for everything and I feel really good about this being the time to move on to something new.”
Kohl-Welles represents District 4, which covers much of northwest Seattle. She first came onto the county council in 2016. She entered politics in 1992 when she was elected to the state House. She went on to the state Senate in 1994.
The council member says she will finish her term through 2023, and then retire from the council. Kohl-Welles is currently pushing a ban on businesses going cashless in unincorporated King County. She argues the bill aims to help people "who do not have access to, or desire to use credit cards, debit cards, swiping their smartphones, who maybe they don't have them, are able to access needed food, consumer items and services."
In a letter to constituents, Kohl-Welles said that the decision to retire "did not come to me lightly," and that she is looking "forward to the next chapter of my life."
"It has been particularly important to me to work collaboratively in strengthening protections for the most vulnerable and marginalized in our communities, especially as income inequality, displacement, and homelessness have increased, as climate change has become increasingly threatening to us all, and as gun violence has become more frequent.
"As long as I have held elective office, I have worked to provide access to affordable, equitable and quality housing, child care, education, health care and a safe and secure life for all. And so important to me has been increasing access to arts, culture, heritage, and science programs and events, as well as an urgency in working on climate change and its effects on everything we all hold dear — our people, our environment, our natural resources, our society, and our planet!"
Her exit from the King County Council opens District 4 to a newcomer.
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Washington state lawmakers again consider legalizing 'shrooms'
For the second time, the Washington State Legislature is considering legalizing psilocybin, the psychedelic drug found in magic mushrooms.
State Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline) is the bill’s main sponsor. He said the primary case for legalizing the drug is that guided experiences with psilocybin have been found to help alleviate some mental health conditions, including depression, PTSD, and addiction.
“We are having a mental health crisis and we need all the tools we can have to deal with it,” Salomon said.
“It’s really safe to use,” said Tatiana Luz, co-director of the Psychedelic Medicine Alliance of Washington, which advocates for legalization. “Folks should have access to medicines that can help them heal.”
If passed, the bill would not require that people have a medical diagnosis or prescription.
Instead, people 21 or older could legally take psilocybin in a state-licensed service center, which could be a clinical setting or, for example, a house of worship, private residence, or outdoor space. The bill would not allow people to take psilocybin in their own homes.
Luz said the bill’s many requirements would make it very expensive to take psilocybin, so she hopes it would be followed by more expansive legalization.
The bill has provisions aimed at making psilocybin use economically accessible.
Oregon became the first state in the country to legalize medical psilocybin in 2020, and Washington’s latest bill is modeled off that experience.
A similar bill failed last year; opponents said they worried about “bad trips” and implementation of the drug's use, including whether the state’s health department has the bandwidth to build the required regulation and oversight, and whether the Department of Justice would crack down on a drug that’s still outlawed at the federal level. This year’s bill addresses some of those concerns, and has more co-sponsors, including at least a couple from each political party.
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Have you noticed eggs getting more expensive lately?: Today So Far
- Why vasectomies are trending up in Western Washington.
- A movement is growing against the proposed new airport in Pierce County.
- Have you noticed eggs getting more expensive lately?
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for January 24, 2023.
Ever since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in June 2022 knocked down Roe v Wade, there has been a trend of some states banning abortions, and others adding protections. Also since then, some doctors around Western Washington have noticed another trend — vasectomies.
"Rather than having like six vasectomies in one day, we’ll have eight or so now,” Dr. Grace Shih told KUOW.
Abortions are still legal and protected in Washington state. But as KUOW's Eilis O'Neill reports, vasectomies have shot up by 34% in Western Washington following the Dobbs decision. It's notable that much of the demand is coming from younger men aiming to avoid the risk of pregnancy. A big factor in the decision is the potential of long-term consequences of a vasectomy (they can be difficult to reverse), so it's a good thing that the wait times for the procedure in the Seattle area are now up to six months. Read more about that, as well as the frontier of male birth control, here.
We all know a new airport for the region is coming. We just don't know where it will ultimately be placed. Residents in Pierce County aren't taking any risks and an opposition movement has emerged.
"There are over 2,500 homes in the designated [central site], and there are over 3,000 homes in the Pierce County East location," Jake Pool told KUOW about two proposed airport sites in Pierce County.
The Pool family has become active in the opposition movement, and planned a town hall for the issue. About 500 people attended.
"Most of the public outrage is the homes of course, but then it's also the fact that this would be such an environmental disaster," Pool said. "We're sitting on the Pierce County central aquifer. It's a sole source aquifer."
Read the full story here.
You may have noticed that eggs have gotten quite expensive at the grocery store. And if you haven't noticed that, then you may have noticed all the headlines about how expensive eggs have gotten recently. Farmers are speaking up, saying, "Hey, don't blame us."
That's not verbatim, but it's the gist of the message from the American Egg Board. Emily Metz with the board told Northwest News Network's Anna King that, "We are seeing some very temporary, hyper-local isolated shortages, in some areas," and that is leading to higher prices. Inflation isn't helping either. But there are a few other factors at play, too. The holidays spike egg demand, so that egg surge is felt more considerably given the previously mentioned issues.
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Increasing overdose deaths stress King County morgue
King County is experiencing a grim indicator of how bad the opioid crisis has become.
Dr. Faisal Khan, director of Public Health – Seattle & King County, laid out one of the issues stemming from rising overdose deaths during a county Board of Health meeting last week.
"The Medical Examiner's office is now struggling with the issue of storing bodies because the fentanyl-related death toll continues to climb," Khan said.
He said the examiner's office has finite space in the coolers they use, and that space is being exceeded on a regular basis.
The number of overdose deaths in King County involving fentanyl have skyrocketed in the past few years.
County data shows 690 such deaths recorded last year, accounting for almost 70% of all overdose fatalities. In 2021, 385 fentanyl-related overdose deaths were recorded.
A spokesperson for the county’s public health department said via email that the increase in fatal overdoses is a driving factor of morgue capacity issues, but not the only source.
“Even prior to the recent rise in fatal overdoses, we were facing capacity issues due to the increased volume of deaths in conjunction with King County’s rapid population growth," the spokesperson said. "We have options for temporary morgue surge capacity when our census count gets high, including storing decedents on autopsy gurneys and partnerships with funeral homes. We’re exploring longer-term options for adding more capacity.”
Khan said the county has worked on overdose prevention for the past decade and it’s a key focus for his team this year, including work to increase access to treatment and reducing harm for people using drugs.
Substance use disorder is a treatable health issue.
There are multiple treatment options. Those looking for help can find resources through WA recovery helpline.
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Again, court refuses to hear case challenging WA's ban on conversion therapy for minors
A federal appeals court has denied the latest swipe at Washington state's ban on conversion therapy.
Tacoma-area therapist Brian Tingley asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to hear his complaint against the ban, but the court has refused to take up the case. A small panel of the Ninth Circuit ruled against Tingley last year.
"This is the absolute last word on this issue from the Ninth Circuit, and the court denying review is appropriate," said Attorney Shannon Minter with the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "I mean, that's what the court does when the majority of the judges believe that there's no important issue to be resolved here."
Minter worked to represent Washington state in the case.
About 20 states, including Washington, prohibit gender and sexuality conversion therapy for minors.
Tingley has argued the state's ban on conversion therapy for minors violates free speech. His attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom say they will assess their next steps.
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Seattle Catholic Archdiocese plans to consolidate parishes across Western Washington
The Seattle Catholic Archdiocese is working on a plan to consolidate parishes in the region.
"The very practical thing that we are doing is forming 'parish families,'" said Archbishop Paul D. Etienne in a video announcing the effort which they are branding "Partners in the Gospel."
"Parish families" means bringing two or more parishes together. The Archdiocese of Seattle says the reason for the consolidation is multifaceted and strategic and that officials are developing a plan to re-envision parish life due to the impact of the pandemic and a drop in parish giving.
The Covid-19 pandemic did have an impact on attendance, and numbers have recently rebounded, but not to pre-pandemic levels. On top of that, fewer people are going into the priesthood across the nation.
Caitlin Moulding, CEO for the archdiocese, says attendance at Seattle-area Catholic masses has been on the decline. Fewer people means less parish giving. That places a financial strain on the archdiocese's ability to operate and maintain its facilities. The Archdiocese of Seattle operates more than 150 parishes and other Catholic sites across Western Washington, from Bellingham down to Vancouver, and throughout the Olympic Peninsula.
"When you have a parish that's struggling, you can't invest in faith formation programs and social justice programs, things that really bring the community together," Moulding said.
In addition to a decline in parishioners, Moulding said there has also been a drop in available priests.
“So today we have 80, diocesan pastors, and in 2036, we project that we will have about 66," Moulding said.
That's an 18% decrease in priests.
Parishioners will be given multiple forums to provide feedback on the new proposals for consolidation this fall. The consolidation is expected to take effect in the summer of 2024.
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New tool connects survivors of sexual assault to resources
A new online tool designed to raise awareness and ease access to services for survivors of sexual assault was launched Tuesday by a group of five Washington state health and advocacy service providers.
The project is intended to consolidate and simplify information for survivors of sexual assault who may feel overwhelmed or be unaware of what resources are available to them.
The Seattle Sexual Assault Resource Connector Tool — available in English and Spanish — walks the user through a set of questions about the survivor’s background and needs, and generates a list of suggested service providers, including those offering therapy and legal services. The survey is anonymous.
Larraine Lynch is the chief program officer for the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, one of the agencies that spearheaded the new tool.
“Upon realizing that victims were not getting help in the immediate aftermath of sexual assault, it prompted us to come together as a collective to brainstorm ways to ensure that whatever was happening on the system side of things, that we were helping victims to recover,” Lynch said.
She said immediate response and support is crucial for a survivor and their recovery. She said that survivors will often share what happened in the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, and the response they receive to that disclosure impacts their willingness to disclose again.
“We want survivors to have a good experience when they disclose and feel supported, feel believed, and validated,” Lynch said.
In an effort to spread awareness of the new tool, a QR code leading to the portal will be featured on business-sized cards made available to police, medical providers, first responders and schools, to hand out to those seeking confidential sexual assault resources, Lynch said.
But anyone can send the website to a friend or loved one, and even navigate through the tool on their behalf.
The connector tool was created in a collaboration between the Seattle Indian Health Board, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, the University of Washington departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, and the Harborview Abuse and Trauma Center.
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King County Councilmember Joe McDermott will not run for re-election
Another local lawmaker has announced they won't be seeking re-election in 2023. King County Councilmember Joe McDermott will finish his term through the end of this year, but will leave it open for a newcomer to take over.
"After more than 22 years in public office, I will not be running for re-election this fall," McDermott said in a statement. "I remain humbled and honored by the trust granted to me by the people I’ve represented in the Washington State House of Representatives, State Senate, and for over 12 years now on the King County Council. To be able to serve the community I’ve called home my entire life has been a true joy and remains a deep responsibility I take seriously every day. Thank you, truly, to all my neighbors, from West Seattle to First Hill, Capitol Hill, Downtown Seattle, Chinatown International District, Little Saigon, Pioneer Square, SODO, White Center, Georgetown, South Park, Tukwila, Burien, and Vashon and Maury Island for this opportunity."
McDermott was first elected to the council in 2010 and served in the state House and state Senate prior to that. McDermott represents the county's 8th District.
In a statement, McDermott pointed to his history in public service, going back to 2001 when he was elected to the state Legislature. He notes that he was the first LGBTQ candidate elected to the county council. In his time in office, he pushed forward gun safety measures as well as a commercial fireworks ban in unincorporated parts of the county.
The council member said that he will pursue "professional opportunities yet to be identified" after leaving office in 2024.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to work for our communities," McDermott said. "I look forward to continuing doing so as a private citizen."
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Olympia Police all booked up for guns-for-gift-cards event
It didn't take long for the Olympia Police Department to run out of gift cards to exchange for firearms, and its first guns for gift cards event hasn't even happened yet.
OPD announced the event on Jan. 17 at 9 a.m. By 2:50 p.m., and all available appointments to turn in firearms were scheduled.
The department is exchanging VISA gift cards for eligible firearms between 9 a.m. and noon on Tuesday, Jan. 31.
Similar events have been hosted by police departments throughout Western Washington, but unlike previous guns-for-gift-cards promotions, Olympia opted to schedule appointments. Other police departments have experienced long lines of cars waiting to turn in guns, sometimes turning people away when the cards ran out.
Olympia's guns-for-gift-cards effort was spurred by its city council, with the aim of reducing gun violence and encouraging gun safety.
OPD is accepting the guns anonymously and will not make any record of participants. People turning in guns are asked to keep them, unloaded, in the trunk or a locked area of their truck bed. Officers will remove them from there.
The police department has not said exactly what qualifies as an "eligible" firearm, or the value of the gift cards, but it has stated that flare guns, starter pistols, BB guns, Airsoft guns, and other toy or replica firearms will not be accepted.
Federal Way guns for gift cards
The Federal Way Police Department is organizing its own guns-for-gift-cards event for Feb. 4, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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