KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
Have any leads or feedback for the KUOW Blog? Contact Dyer Oxley at dyer@kuow.org.
Stories
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West Coast gray whale population declining, according to latest count
NOAA Fisheries has released its latest census of North Pacific gray whales along the West Coast and has found that their numbers continue to decline following an unusual mortality event that started two years ago.
“We can't pinpoint a specific cause, and we think there's probably multiple factors involved," said Aimee Lang, a research biologist with NOAA Fisheries. "But we do think it's probably related to ecological changes up in the Arctic. A number of the whales that have stranded have been emaciated, indicating that they weren't able to find enough food. And we know that the distribution, and in some areas the abundance, of their prey up in the Arctic has shifted.”
Lang says the population is now down 38% after reaching peak levels in 2015 and 2016. She says most scientists who know these whales are cautiously optimistic about their future. A similar population drop of roughly 40% happened between the late 1980s and early 1990s, but their numbers rebounded to a new high level.
NOAA Fisheries has extended its current count into a third year, and will continue monitoring the population this winter.
Read the full story from KNKX here.
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The flu is slated for a 2022-23 comeback. Are you ready?
Public health officials in Washington state continue to urge people to get vaccinated as they brace for another possible resurgence of Covid-19 and the flu this fall and winter.
Covid hospitalizations and deaths have been trending down in King County and throughout Washington, but health officials worry cases could tick back up as people head indoors in the colder, wetter months ahead.
In preparation, they want people to get up to date with Covid vaccines and boosters. Similarly, they're urging people to get their flu shots — something that can be done at the same time as a Covid vaccination, if you're so inclined.
When pandemic precautions were in place for Covid (masks and social distancing), a side effect was greater protection against the flu. Previous flu seasons were mild. As those measures phase out, there is heightened concern that the flu could come back in a big way.
"Although we can't know in advance when an influenza season will take off or peak or how long it will last, it's a safe bet to expect that this flu season will be more severe than the past two, based on what happened in southern hemisphere countries during their recent flu season," a spokesperson with Public Health Seattle & King County told KUOW. "In the US, flu typically starts to take off in November and December and lasts through spring, but some years [it] arrives earlier."
"Based on the number of deaths that are seen nationally, we in King County would expect an estimated 80 deaths per season in a very mild flu season to over 400 in a very severe one. Reported deaths are just the tip of the iceberg. In the US each year, there are millions of influenza illnesses and doctor visits, as well as tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year."
This week, Snohomish County reported their first flu death since 2020 — a Bothell woman in her 70s. The death is recent, but happened before October, so it will be included in the 2021-22 flu season, not the current one.
King County reported five flu deaths in the 2021-22 flu season.
Across Washington state, there were 21 flu deaths in the 2021-22 season.
The recent numbers for Washington state are down from before pandemic measures arrived. The 2017-18 flu season had 296 flu deaths, and the 2016-17 season had 278.
Paige Browning contributed to this report.
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Seattle is ending its Covid emergency Oct. 31
Some of Seattle's emergency orders for the Covid pandemic will end after October 2022, some will phase out in the coming months, and others are being woven into how the city operates moving forward.
“Our city has been working under an emergency proclamation for nearly 1,000 days as we responded to a new pandemic and unprecedented resulting challenges,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement.
“While the impacts of the pandemic continue to be felt by our neighbors and communities, it is thanks to our city’s strong response — including our high vaccination rate and strong healthcare system — that we can continue moving toward recovery and revitalization."
Mayor Harrell announced Tuesday that the city will end its own civil emergency proclamation for Covid after Oct. 31. The city's timing matches Washington state's move to end emergency orders for the pandemic.
RELATED: Inslee announced end to Covid emergency orders
While the civil emergency proclamation and its orders officially end on Nov. 1, some changes made during the pandemic will remain.
Seattle will maintain its Covid vaccine requirement for its employees, volunteers, and contractors. While masks are not required at city properties, they will continue to be available.
The city also began to make changes to how it manages food carts and street cafes over the past few months. Current permits for outdoor dining have been extended through Jan. 31, 2023.
Other emergency orders will end right away on Nov. 1, but the mayor's office says that some will be phased out.
For example, the city currently has a pandemic safeguard around commercial property and tenants. Property owners must allow payment plans for tenants who have struggled during the pandemic. Evictions are limited, and there are limits on tenants' personal liability. This emergency order will expire six months after Nov. 1, on May 1, 2023.
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Panel calls on SPD to 'repair the public trust' after botched CHOP response
A new review from Seattle’s Office of Inspector General is the latest attempt to scrutinize the conduct of Seattle police during June 2020. It calls on SPD to "repair the public trust and safety compromised" during those weeks.
Inspector General Lisa Judge is in charge of reviewing systemic issues within SPD and recommending changes. Judge convened a panel made up of community members, as well as members of the Seattle Police Department to review police handling of those protests two years ago. This report is the third in a series, or Wave 3, in a process the OIG calls Sentinel Event Review.
Many of the panel’s 34 recommendations relate to communication – calling on SPD to better communicate with demonstrators in the future, as when emergency responders needed to reach gunshot victims. The report also criticized SPD for circulating lies to manipulate protesters, and for airing unfounded claims of extortion at a police press conference.
The report notes that SPD’s response to the protesters creating the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP), later renamed the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) “was characterized by a lack of evolution in response to a protest which had changed from a demonstration to an occupy style movement. SPD personnel made several public statements, the accuracy of which was questioned by community. Other tactical decisions made by SPD and the City further undermined public trust and safety, and neither SPD nor the City was able to communicate effectively with the protestors or other community members in the area.”
SPD’s chaotic abandonment of the East Precinct has already been the subject of numerous media reports and lawsuits. The OIG report adds more perspective on the frustrations of police officers, saying “SPD officers also felt unsupported by leadership. SPD panelists felt the City had abandoned the Department, capitulating to protestor unrest and forcing the withdrawal from the East Precinct. Adding to their frustration, the Mayor’s Office regulated all public statements by SPD, preventing the department from engaging with the CHOP to try and establish common ground, rapport, and appropriate public safety.”
Proud Boy "ruse"
The panel recommends more transparency and accountability in the decision-making process going forward. It next reviewed SPD’s attempt to deceive protesters on June by “generating false radio traffic asserting that a group of Proud Boys was marching in Downtown Seattle.” An investigation by the city’s Office of Police Accountability indicated that “an SPD Captain appointed an officer to make false radio broadcasts to draw protestors away from the CHOP.”
While the OPA investigation sustained complaints of misconduct for the ruse, the OIG’s panel “focused discussion on the racism implicit in this ruse and about systemic racism within SPD. Many panelists felt the use of the Proud Boys for the ruse was an intentional manipulation of protestor fear of a violent white supremacist group, used to frighten and undermine the establishment of a Black Lives Matter protest at the height of anti-police tensions in Seattle,” it said.
Panel members also found that “lying to the community in this way was not only contrary to policy, but it was also a poorly considered tactic contributing to tensions in the CHOP.”
Most panel members found that officers’ stated justification for the ruse did not seem credible. The panel also raised concerns that the ruse was performed outside the normal chain of command and radio transmissions were not recorded and stored in accordance with normal SPD procedures.
But the report notes that this issue is under a separate review: “SPD is working to modify its policies involving deception and ruses in collaboration with OIG and a stakeholder workgroup. Panel recommendations were generated without any insight into this ongoing policy development.”
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What gardeners need to know before the cold weather arrives in the NW ... eventually: Today So Far
- Gardeners should be on the alert: Winter is coming ... and this year will require some special attention.
- Someone is poisoning wolves in northeastern Washington.
- SeaTac is the latest city to up its minimum wage these days.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 11, 2022.
Gardeners should be on the alert: Winter is coming, and this year will require some special attention.
That's according to Seattle's favorite gardener, Ciscoe Morris, who notes that the very dry summer, leading into a cold winter, could set up some unique conditions.
"If they go into the winter season too dry, and then we get a cold winter, which they're saying we might get, that could have some detrimental effects for sure," Ciscoe told KUOW's Soundside.
Ciscoe's top winter gardening tip this year: Mulch. Skip the beauty bark. It's best to get some fresh wood chips or even compost. And when the temps start sticking around the 40s, it's best to harvest any tomatoes or other crops that have held on longer than usual with this warm October weather.
Ciscoe has more tips for Northwest gardeners heading into winter. Check out Soundside for more.
SeaTac is the latest city to up its minimum wage these days. Like others around Washington state, it's largely spurred by severe inflation. The new wages go into effect in January 2023.
Seattle is slated to up its minimum wage to between $16.50 and $18.69, depending on the size of the business, and whether or not the employer contributes to medical benefits. Washington state's minimum wage will rise to $15.74, making it the highest state-level minimum wage in the country.
SeaTac's new minimum wage of $19.06, however, will make it the highest in the USA regardless of state or city, SeaTac officials say. The city is upping the pay by 8.66% to keep up with inflation. Read more here.
Someone is poisoning wolves in northeastern Washington. Last February, Stevens County deputies discovered four dead wolves while they were out on a snowmobile patrol. Two more wolves were found the following month. Toxicology reports have confirmed the wolves were poisoned. It's not an anomaly and other wolves were poisoned in eastern Oregon in 2021. It is unknown if these two incidents are connected.
The wolves are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. In Washington state, it is a gross misdemeanor to illegally kill a wolf, which could result in a year in jail or $5,000 in fines. Read more here.
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When is someone going to turn on the rain around Washington?
October has been warmer and drier than typical Northwest fall weather. Now, it might finally be time to cover up the BBQ, get out your boots, and install fresh wipers — rain is showing up on the forecast.
Starting Oct. 19, the National Weather Service says Washington will be warm and rainy.
Phil Swartzendruber, a forecaster with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, says that between the dry summer and smoky air, the region really needs the rain.
"We're hoping for someone to flip the switch and turn the fall weather on. I'm not sure who's got the clicker," Swartzendruber said.
Swartzendruber says that the Northwest is dealing with an unusually warm and dry start to the fall. That has come with a rare wildfire on the west side of the Cascades, sending smoke throughout the region.
"Probably not going to get rain or a major system until the beginning of next week," Swartzendruber said. "By the end of next week we should actually have a fairly big system, and probably going to be the most likely time that we're gonna get a big event to really clean (the air) out."
Swartzendruber's forecast lines up with the latest from the National Weather Service in Seattle. It's noting that, "Mean temperature for Seattle through the first 10 days of the month is 63.2. That's the warmest start on record," adding that four of the top six warmest "October starts" have happened within the past 10 years.
The Weather Service's latest forecast states that between Oct. 19-25, the switch that Swartzendruber has been watching for is finally going to be flipped, and above-average rain will come to the Northwest. It will still be warmer than usual, but it will be rainy.
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$51,000 reward offered for information about poisoned wolves
Washington state's Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking for the public’s help finding the person who poisoned six wolves in northeastern Washington.
Authorities found the wolves back in February and March 2022.
Now, advocacy groups are offering a $51,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction.
“These communities where this happens tend to be quite small, tight-knit communities, so there’s a likelihood that somebody who was not involved might know who did this," said Sophia Ressler, a staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Ressler says this type of poaching is cruel. It can also can harm pets and other wildlife.
In 2021, eight wolves were poisoned in eastern Oregon.
Read the full story here.
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SeaTac raises minimum wage to highest in the nation, city says
The city of SeaTac is raising its minimum wage for hospitability and transportation workers, starting in 2023.
The city points to data from the UC Berkley Labor Center which indicates SeaTac will have the highest minimum wage in the nation. Baseline pay for these workers will increase from the current $17.54 an hour to $19.06 in 2023.
It's an 8.66% increase in pay, spurred by recent inflation that is plaguing workers. SeaTac's minimum wage affects "hospitality and transportation" jobs as defined in the city's code.
By comparison, Seattle's minimum wage is going up to $18.69 an hour next year.
Washington state's minimum wage is also on the rise. It will move up to $15.74 in January. That ranks it as the highest state minimum wage in the USA.
Read more about the rise in Seattle and Washington state's minimum wage here.
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Watch out for scammers amid election season
As the November election gets closer, the Better Business Bureau of Washington has issued a warning: Watch out for scammers.
The BBB says people are sending out fake polls and donation requests as they relate to polarizing issues, preying on people's emotions. So watch out for phishing attempts that come through text messages or emails. They might take you to a spoofed version of a candidate's website or download malware on to your device.
A spokesperson recently told KING 5 that texting scams, known as smishing, are increasing.
They also warn scammers might call and pretend to be conducting a survey to get a donation from you. The BBB suggests if you want to donate to a specific candidate, do your own search on your computer and find their official website.
The BBB further notes on its website:
"Scammers prey on emotion. The more people care, the more vulnerable they can be. People participate in polls and surveys because they want to be heard, and scammers can use that desire to build trust. People donate because they want their candidate to win and to improve their country or community, and scammers are more than happy to take advantage of a competitive spirit or big heart."
It adds that engaged voters can slow down and follow these tips:
- Take the time to research an organization, and be wary of anyone rushing you to make a decision, provide information, or donate.
- Scammers may call your phone and claim to be a member of your political party.
- Scammers may claim you are not registered to vote in an attempt to gain personal information.
- DO NOT provide bank information, social security numbers, or any other personal information over the phone.
- Some scammers use voice cloning technology to mimic an actual candidate's voice.
- If someone offers a prize, be suspicious.
Some scammers send messages for you to text your vote. The aim is to get you not to send in your ballot, thinking you already voted.
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Bikes are coming back to Green Lake: Today So Far
- The gunshot idea...again. Will Seattle do it this time?
- Come November, wheels will be back at Seattle's Green Lake Park.
- The 2022 wildfire season has been the mildest in a decade.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 10, 2022.
Given recent headlines, it might be a bit odd to hear that the 2022 wildfire season has been the mildest in a decade.
The state's Department of Natural Resources is noting that 140,000 acres have burned in Washington this year, which is the fewest since 2012. A total of 1,370 separate fires have happened so far, the second fewest in a decade.
This comes after 2020 and 2021 were the second and third worst wildfire seasons on record in the state. I'd say we can all breathe a sigh of relief, but despite this news, air quality throughout our region was unhealthy at best this morning. Wildfires continue to burn in the Cascades, sending smoky air our way.
DNR is also crediting recent investments in wildfire fighting in the state. Did you know the state was previously using helicopters from the Vietnam War era for these operations? Read more here.
Come November, wheels will be back at Seattle's Green Lake Park. You may recall that wheels, such as bikes and roller skates, were banned at the park's "inner loop" (the path directly next to the lake) amid the pandemic. If you don't recall that, then you weren't alone as I've witnessed wheels rolling along the path this whole time, including my own, and no one said anything. Signs did go up, but honestly, they were up pretty high and I was too busy not rolling into others on the walkway to read them. Those signs also conflicted with the signage imbedded in the actual pathway itself instructing bikers and skaters to stay right and go slow.
Amid all this, there has been work on plans for an "outer loop" around Green Lake, along Aurora Avenue and Green Lake Way, that will connect with existing protected bike lanes. I've previously expressed some criticism about how this is not the same feel, ambiance, or purpose of the lakeside path — it's a bike lane in a road. It seems that some Seattleites also weren't too into the idea. A Parks and Recreation spokesperson told me that, while some folks enjoyed the absence of wheels, others were concerned about having kids on bikes or rollerbladers on the street bike lanes. So the wheels are coming back, just like the good old days, and the more recent days too.
Parks and Rec is reminding folks of Green Lake's courtesy code. Anybody who has spent time at the park knows that folks need this reminder. If everyone just followed the code, it would take care of a lot of common complaints, starting with: Wheels on the right, walkers on the left. Also, don't walk with more than two people side-by-side. Read more here.
Seattle wants to try something new to respond to gunshots in the city. At least, it would be new if it is ever approved. The idea, however, has been floating around Seattle for a decade.
The idea is simple: Install gunshot-listening devices on rooftops and utility poles around parts of the city with higher-reported gun crime. When a gunshot is heard, those devices focus in on where it likely came from and send information to police. A camera system can also be a part of this to record suspects, cars, etc. immediately after the gunshot.
Mayor Bruce Harrell now wants to set aside $1 million in the next budget to fund such a system in town. He argues that it is needed after record-high gun violence.
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Batista becomes first Black principal dancer in Pacific Northwest Ballet history
While celebrating 50 years as a ballet company, the Pacific Northwest Ballet is making history.
"This is a moment for us,” said dancer Jonathan Batista while describing how he felt about becoming the first Black principal dancer in the history of the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
The newly promoted Batista joined the organization as a soloist last year and says moving to the highest rank as a ballet dancer last month means the world to him and the Black dance community.
"Being the first Black dancer in 50 years of Pacific Northwest Ballet, this is a moment for young Black boys, young Black girls, that want to dance, that want to see themselves on that stage," Batista said.
Originally from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Batista has performed with companies from the UK to Canada, sometimes as the only Black member of the company.
Batista says he’s grateful to make history through his promotion to principal dancer in Seattle.
"It is such an honor to be in this position," he said. "It also is a moment where I think, 'Wow, it took 50 years for Black man, for Black person, to become a principal dancer.'"
The Pacific Northwest Ballet has a total of 46 dancers in its company. Batista is one of nine who identify as Black.
RELATED: 'I don't want my career to fade away' says one PNB dancer
In addition, Cecilia Iliesiu and James Kirby Rogers were also promoted to principal dancers.
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Wheels will roll again around Seattle's Green Lake
Wheels will be welcomed back to the path around Seattle's Green Lake by November after being banned at the park amid the pandemic.
Wheels — such as bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, etc. — were banned on Green Lake's lakeside pathway in 2021. The goal was to open up more outdoor space amid the pandemic, and wheels have been the source of a few complaints on the pathway, known as the "inner loop."
"We get a steady stream of people reporting near-collisions, or collisions, or just a feeling of unease with how much use there is on this path and how difficult it is for people to navigate it safely,” a Seattle Parks and Recreation spokesperson previously told KUOW.
During this time, the city continued to work on plans for a new path for bikes and wheels along Aurora Avenue and Green Lake Drive that will connect with existing protected bike lanes. This new path is called the "outer loop."
Parks and Recreation Department recently announced that the wheels are coming back to the lakeside path by Nov. 1. Motorized wheels, such as electric bikes and scooters, are still banned. The department says it received an immense amount of feedback about the inner loop during the wheel ban, including hundreds of emails and phone calls.
"The feedback was primarily about not feeling that the new outer loop would be appropriate to young kids on bikes or rollerbladers," a spokesperson told KUOW. "Though there was a whole spectrum of sentiments expressed, including many people now reaching out to say they liked the 'no wheels' rule."
Parks staff will present a plan for reintroducing wheels to the inner loop on Oct. 13.
According to a spokesperson, that implementation plan will include "improving signage and education to ensure all users stay in their lane and respect that the Inner Loop is a place for slow recreation. Our expectation is also that cyclists who wish to go faster will now use the Outer Loop options, thus reducing this potential conflict on the Inner Loop. Successful and safe recreation on this path will require all users to do their best to abide by the Courtesy Code."
Green Lake's courtesy code includes:
- Walkers/joggers on the inside lane; wheels on the outside lane.
- Max of 10 mph; warn people when passing; move slowly through crowded areas.
- Bikers and skaters yield to pedestrians.
- Dogs on short leashes.
- Don't walk with more than two people side-by-side.
Bike or skate in a line, not side-by-side.
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