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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

  • 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.

    Continue reading »
  • 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.

    Continue reading »
  • 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.

    Continue reading »
  • 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.

    Continue reading »
  • 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.

    Continue reading »
  • Wildfire season gave Washington a break in 2022


    Despite air quality getting hazy in recent weeks, Washington's wildfire season in 2022 was fairly mild compared to the past few years.

    That's according to the state's Department of Natural Resources. At a press event Friday, Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz celebrated "the beginning of the end of the 2022 wildfire season."

    "After weathering the second and third worst fire seasons in our state's history in 2020 and 2021, it sure feels really good to say that, this year, Washington saw the fewest acres burned in an entire decade. Rains have fallen across portions of Eastern Washington, temperatures are moderating as we enter fall, moisture is returning to fuels on both sides of the Cascades."

    A total of 140,000 acres have burned in Washington state, so far, in 2022. DNR says that is the fewest number of acres since 2012. A total of 1,370 separate fires have been reported this year, the second fewest in a decade. Structure loss was also limited to a single outbuilding within the Bolt Creek fire.

    "Let me repeat, this is the best fire season our state has seen in the last 10 years," Franz said.

    DNR points to a few reasons the fire season was so mild this year, starting with the low number fires, and the considerable rain that fell last winter and spring.

    But Franz also points to House Bill 1168 that was passed by the state Legislature last year as a major factor. It provided funding to modernize and upgrade the state's wildfire response. The state purchased 16 bulldozers and four firefighting excavators. Currently, new Kodiak multi-mission airplanes are undergoing modifications that will add infrared sensors and fire mapping technology. Before, Washington mostly had Vietnam War era aircraft to combat wildfires, Franz said.

    In previous years, DNR had about 40 full-time firefighters. It had funding for 100 more this time around, fielding a total of 691 firefighters in 2022. The state continues to recruit, Franz said.

    "Of course, while we are past peak fire season... that does not mean that we will not still see sporadic fire activity during the remainder of the year," Franz said, noting that the Bolt Creek fire continues to send smoke into the air.

    "Bolt Creek has reminded us that wildfire doesn't see boundaries. As climate change and other factors have worsened the length and impact of our fire seasons in Washington state, turning them into true fire years, wildfire is no longer an east-side issue, it is an entire state issue."

    Continue reading »
  • $1B up for grabs to help salmon get to where they're going

    U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announce a $1 billion program to help save the region's salmon while visiting Washington state Thursday.

    Standing near a stream in Issaquah, Buttigieg compared fish to cars.

    "The definition of transportation is connecting people and goods to where they need to go," he said. "This particular program calls us to think about making sure fish get to where they need to go, too."

    Salmon need to travel up rivers to spawn. A lot of them don't make it because culverts get in the way.

    Culverts are like tunnels that let streams pass under roadways. Many were installed decades ago. While they allow water to pass through, they don't work as well for salmon.

    The new program will help pay to improve or replace culverts in the region. A total of $1 billion is available over five years thanks to the "National Culvert Removal, Replacement and Restoration-Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage Program." Applications are open for tribal, state, and local governments.

    Now, local officials just need to apply for the federal funds to address local culverts so fish will have a better shot of making it to their destinations.

    “With this investment, we’re helping protect local economies that count on healthy fisheries and also make key roads less prone to flooding,” Buttigieg said in a statement. “Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this first-in-its-kind effort will begin to address the longstanding challenges posed by existing culverts for fishing and Tribal communities, from the Pacific Northwest to the low-lying communities in the Southeast.”

    Continue reading »
  • Bat in Alki Beach tests positive for rabies

    Another rabid bat has been found in Washington state.

    The bat infected with rabies was found alive near the Alki Beach Pier on Sept. 18, in the parking lot of the Duwamish Head Condominiums. A rabies test result came back positive Thursday, Oct. 6.

    Health officials have identified at least four people who may have been exposed to the bat.

    King County Public Health officials are urging anyone who may have had contact with the bat to see a doctor or call the health department at 206-296-4774.

    Rabies, if left untreated, is deadly, but it can be stopped before symptoms develop.

    “Rabies is treatable if caught before symptoms appear, so identifying anyone who has had contact with the bat as soon as possible is important,” said Elysia Gonzales, medical epidemiologist at Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Contact includes touching a bat, being bitten, scratched, or any other bare skin contact with a bat or its saliva.”

    At least six bats, including this recent one, across the state have tested positive for rabies so far this year. Other bats have been found in Kittitas, Mason, Snohomish, and Thurston counties.

    Continue reading »
  • Where is the 'best' place to live in Western Washington?: Today So Far

    • Kirkland is the best. Wait, Sammamish is the best. Maybe it's Bellevue?
    • Almost Live! is back! (sort of)
    • Langley on Whidbey Island is building a solution to its lack of worker housing.

    This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 7, 2022.

    Kirkland ranks high on a list of best places to live in the United States ... say wha?!

    Kirkland comes in at third place on Money Magazine's recent assessment of "best places to live." Interestingly, WalletHub did its own unique analysis and ranked neighboring Sammamish among its best small cities in America, but Kirkland doesn't show up (despite the fact that both Money Magazine and WalletHub were aiming for cities with similar populations). Read more about all this here.

    I've been having fun with these online roundups for a few years now, and the same cities generally show up, trading places here and there each year. Pop analyses are great examples of playing with numbers without getting a holistic picture. HomeSnacks, for example, ranks Bellevue on its own 2022 list of best places to live in the USA (not Kirkland or Sammamish). But looking at just Washington cities, Bellevue doesn't even make the same website's list. Different data and different methodologies can lead you this way and that way. SafeWise rounded up the "safest" cities in Washington and Sammamish shows up again.

    I know that I'm going to ruffle some hometown feathers with this one (hey, someone got mad at me for talking about Tacoma, a city I love). It is not my intention to pile on any local community. Know that a young Dyer once lived in both Kirkland and Sammamish. My main memories of the area are that someone stole my Cabbage Patch doll, and a waiter was pretty rude to me (not on the same day). My general impression of these Eastside communities hasn't changed much from Almost Live's take in 1997.

    But that is me. I bring this up because while these "best of" lists are great for chit chat and news blurbs, these websites always miss a very important point: Who are these best cities for?

    What makes a great place to live? What features add up to a good, even "best," city? There are folks for whom this town or that city hit the mark, be it Kirkland, Sammamish, Seattle, Sultan, Tacoma, Auburn, Poulsbo, and so on. Personally, I have a few boxes that I like to check.

    • Commute times, traffic, mass transit, etc. (25-ish minutes from Kirkland/Sammamish to Seattle, depending on time, park-and-rides, and if the sun comes out prompting WSDOT to close a bridge for maintenance)
    • Are there any local watering holes / a nightlife? If so, is the local conversation more about the latest IPAs, sports, or how/if the X-Men can be woven into the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Easy access to the outdoors. (Sammamish stands out in this category)
    • Access to pinball (only two pinball machines in Kirkland, and none in Sammamish)
    • Affordability? Can a working couple with a mother-in-law find a decent place to live at a decent price? (Average rent in Kirkland is about $2,500; Sammamish is $2,600; Seattle is $2,300 / median income in Kirkland is $117,000; Sammamish is $181,000; Seattle is $97,000)
    • Access to coffee (Kirkland beats Sammamish in this category, unless you like comparing the Safeway Starbucks to the QFC Starbucks).
    • Will neighbors be OK if I hang a Starfleet flag outside my door? Maybe a Goonies flag?
    • Farmers markets? (Wednesdays during spring/summer in both Kirkland and Sammamish)

    I should note that I usually haven't lived up to my own standards above (What? I never said I wasn't a hypocrite). And folks could just as easily show people like me, who have lived in Seattle, a list that states: Buildings that aren't painted with migraine-inducing neon colors; don't have to dig a tunnel to get through town; proximity to Twin Peaks filming sites; access to high-class, boutique pot shops; and when I ask people to hang out, they follow through instead of just saying, "Yeah ... sure ... let's do that ... sometime..."

    Sometimes, numbers lack nuance. The "best" place to live around here is relative. The most honest assessment is this: Our entire region is the best, not any single corner. It's the collection of communities with outdoor ambiance, indoor concerts, sports teams, and all the DIY creative small businesses scattered throughout. You can drive over to Funko in Everett, hit up a Seahawks game in Seattle, take a trail in the Issaquah Alps, hang out with friends and a board game at Bellevue's Mox, and spend an evening at the McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma.

    Continue reading »
  • Youth program led by convicted sex offender loses county funding after KUOW investigation

    A youth program funded by King County has lost its contract to work with young people at risk of gun violence after a KUOW investigation found its leader had false credentials — and is a convicted sex offender facing a new charge of felony insurance fraud.

    Saleem Robinson, the founder and executive director of the youth program, Renegades for Life Youth Outreach, had two convictions for indecent exposure, including masturbating in front of a bartender at 13 Coins restaurant in SeaTac. He is set to stand trial this month for filing an insurance claim on a car that was uninsured when he crashed it in May.

    KUOW also found that Robinson did not earn his purported bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington, nor his Master of Social Work from Seattle University.

    Community Passageways, one of the lead contractors on the county and City of Seattle’s $5.9 million Regional Peacekeepers Collective, terminated the Renegades for Life contract following the KUOW story, said Community Passageways spokesperson Katoya Palmer.

    In a letter to Robinson, Community Passageways questioned his “integrity and ability to tell the truth in light of recent findings.”

    Although Robinson told KUOW that his sex offenses are irrelevant to his work for the county, and said that he does not work with minors, Community Passageways said the contract he signed requires all Renegades for Life staff to work with youth, which constitutes a breach of contract.

    The year-old Regional Peacekeepers Collective stands to receive another $9 million in King County Executive Dow Constantine.

    Community Passageways wrote the following letter to Robinson, severing his organization's contract:

    " I want you to know that we greatly appreciate your dedicated service and harbor no ill-feelings about Renegades for Life. However, the values we maintain as critical to servant leadership and restorative justice practices are integrity, honesty, loyalty, and truth.

    "Although you are one of the most loyal, we question your integrity and ability to tell the truth in light of recent findings. Further, the contract you signed specifically requires all staff to work with youth. You shared that your organization does not work with youth, and there are other issues related to good faith negotiations, such that a breach of contract has been noted as a result."

    Continue reading »
  • El Centro de la Raza will preserve beloved Federal Way roller rink

    The community nonprofit El Centro de la Raza plans to redevelop the two-acre site of Pattison's West Skating Center in Federal Way.

    But this isn't the story of another community landmark going away.

    The organization El Centro de la Raza, or “The Center for People of All Races,” announced it has purchased Pattison’s West Skating Center, located along Pacific Highway South and across the street from its existing Federal Way office building. (El Centro is still headquartered at its landmark school building on in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood.)

    Executive Director Estela Ortega said the roller rink isn’t being torn down. It will be part of a campus that will include a senior center and a park for people to play dominos.

    Aurea Estrella-Geraghty is a regular at the rink. For her, the news of El Centro purchasing Pattison's was welcome, after several years of uncertainty about the rink's future.

    “There had been rumors in the past about the rink being sold and in each of those cases, the buyers had no interest in keeping Pattison’s open as a rink,” Estrella-Geraghty said. “With the sale of the rink to El Centro, and their plans to continue operations of Pattison’s and not miss a beat, [it] puts the skate community at ease. Knowing we will not be losing the rink is the best news ever. Many of us come here several nights a week. It’s more than just skating — it’s a family.”

    Sunday was the rink's last night under its previous ownership. The energy was “upbeat and slightly bittersweet,” Estrella-Geraghty said.

    “Even though the rink will continue running, it's still uncertain if the vibe will be the same,” she added.

    Ortega said El Centro is in the process of hiring the skating rink’s current employees.

    “We’re not making a big change there because they know the operations, they’re committed." She said. "So we feel that is a really big win for us.”

    El Centro’s nearby office building will be demolished to build 228 units of affordable housing, including two- and three-bedroom units, an early childhood development center, and a marketplace for small vendors.

    Continue reading »
  • Samish elders celebrate Cayou Channel

    Elders from the Samish Nation are celebrating the renaming of a waterway in the San Juan Islands.

    State officials have renamed the passage between Orcas and Shaw islands "Cayou Channel" after the early 20th century Samish leader, Henry Cayou.

    Cayou's great-niece, Rosie Cayou, celebrated the change last Sunday when she spoke at a ceremony on a boat off Orcas Island.

    RELATED: Changing the channel — San Juan locals propose new name for waterway

    “I cannot begin to tell you how important this is," Rosie Cayou said. "The ancestors of these islands have risen.”

    "I’m proud for the entire Cayou family, and I’m proud for the communities of the San Juan Islands."

    The waterway had been known as Harney Channel for more than a century. Harney was an Army general who led a massacre of Indigenous women and children in Nebraska.

    On the other hand, Henry Cayou was one of the first Indigenous elected officials in Washington state. He served on the San Juan County Commission for nearly 30 years and helped bring electricity to the San Juan Islands.

    Continue reading »
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