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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Seattle minimum wage will rise in 2023
The minimum wage in Seattle will go up in 2023, but how much depends on the employer.
Seattle's Office of Labor Standards has set the city's new minimum wage for small and large employers to between $16.50 and $18.69. The new wages start on Jan. 1.
The new $16.50 rate is for small employers who pay medical benefits or allow tips for employees. This is a 75 cent raise from the current $15.75 per hour rate.
The minimum for small employers who don't pay for insurance, and for all large employers, is $18.69 per hour. This is a $1.42 raise from the current $17.27 rate.
The city defines a small employer as a business with fewer than 500 employees.
Washington state's minimum wage was also recently revised and is slated for a raise in 2023. Washington's 8.66% increase (tied to the cost of inflation) will raise the state's minimum wage to the highest in the nation (though Washington, D.C., still has a higher minimum wage).
Washington state's minimum wage will go up $1.25 to $15.74 in 2023.
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Washington's GOP is reaching out for more votes: Today So Far
- Washington's GOP hopes to gain more Latino votes.
- Washington's winemakers are adapting to the smoky summers we've had over the past few years.
- Closing the homeownership gap in Washington state.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 4, 2022.
We can't avoid this anymore. It's October. It's time to start talking about elections.
With about a month to go, we won't be able to escape sensational campaign ads from our mailbox to our TVs, or the online bickering, or the last-minute "surprises" planned just in time to swing a few votes. Beyond all that, the issues are real and so are the candidates, which sounds odd since conspiracy theories are still driving a lot of voters — particularly election fraud and anything that sows doubt. In the Northwest, you'll hear candidates promote "election integrity" as an extension of this.
Another story that has come through KUOW's newsroom is the concerted effort by Democrats and Republicans in Washington to gain Latino votes. After every election, Democrats always seem so surprised that every single vote in the Latino demographic did not go their way. While it's true that, statistically, Latino votes generally favor Democrats, locally and nationally, there are communities that lean right. With the economy not doing so well, and a few other points, Republicans are looking to open up more votes in their favor.
“Religiously, economically, they fit, I think in my opinion, much better on the Republican side of the political spectrum,” said Republican Congressmember Dan Newhouse who is running for re-election in Washington's Fourth District.
“This is a big voting bloc that is very much open to considering voting for Republican candidates,” state GOP Chair Caleb Heimlich said.
This is not just GOP campaign rhetoric. There are political analysts in Washington who have noticed a slight sway to the right in recent elections. Republicans have noticed too. That's why state Republicans have opened an office in Wenatchee, and have hired a full-time employee with the purpose of reaching out to Latino communities in Yakima and the Tri-Cities. Read more here.
Washington's winemakers are adapting to the smoky summers we've had over the past few years. While smoke is great for sunsets, it's not so great for wine grapes which soak it up. That smoky taint stays with the grapes throughout the winemaking process and gives an ashy flavor. Many winemakers have a mission to mitigate this taint. Some have blended the 2020 crush with other wines to get past the smoky flavor. But there is another effort to get technology to help out. Some new work out of Washington State University has uncovered the undesirable smoky compounds that are causing the problem. The goal now is to develop a way to remove them. Read more here.
The homeownership gap between white and Black residents in Washington is worse than it was in the 1960s. That's one finding of a new study from the state's Department of Commerce, which was initially ordered up by the Legislature. Black, Indigenous and people of color would have to purchase more than 140,000 houses to achieve parity with white homeowners. The study is meant to inform future policies to help bridge the gap.
Michael Brown with the Seattle Foundation's Black Home Initiative tells KUOW that its "focus on home ownership isn’t just a nice thing – it’s meant to be transformative.” That's because homeownership can feed into other benefits, like financial and community stability. Brown promotes subsidies to help low-income people buy homes. He argues that the market will not come up with such housing on its own, so it has to be intentional. Read more here.
AS SEEN ON KUOW
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Fight leads to shooting outside U District bar
University of Washington students are one week into the school year, and already, some are concerned for their safety after a shooting near campus.
Freshman Nandina Talukder was with her parents when they got an emergency alert about the shooting a little after 1 a.m. on Sunday.
“I was very shocked because this is my first year as freshmen and I've just been here like for a week now," Talukder said. "And to get such news at the beginning of me being here, it was very shocking, and also kind of disappointing because it's not a good way to welcome people here.”
RELATED: Shootings spiked during the pandemic. The spike now looks like a 'new normal'
The Seattle Police Department reports that officers and medics with the Fire Department were dispatched to the 4300 block of University Way around 1 a.m. Sunday. Two men reportedly got into a fight outside of a bar. One man pulled a gun and fired 3-5 rounds before fleeing the scene. Officers did not find the suspect in the area following the shooting.
Four students suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting. Two were released from the hospital Sunday and the others are in satisfactory condition.
Talukder says more police should be around with students back on campus.
“Will I get shot every time I go out? That's not something that you should probably think about it," Talukder said.
Shootings around Seattle have been on the rise in recent years with most occurring downtown or Central Seattle.
UW Police have not said yet if they’ll increase patrols in the U District.
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30 Congress members send letter to Starbucks, urging cooperation with unions
Members of Congress are urging Starbucks to work with the unions that have sprung up at nearly 250 stores in the United States, saying they're concerned about reports of withheld pay and other accusations of union busting.
A letter signed by 30 lawmakers was sent to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on Oct. 3. Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Seattle is the only Washington House member to sign the letter.
RELATED: Laxman Narasimhan begins role as Starbucks new CEO
The effort was led by U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California who told MarketWatch that Starbucks "could set a model for the food and drink industry in America" and "could rightly say they’re being progressive," if it supports the union efforts across hundreds of its stores.
The lawmakers also note they're concerned about reports of pay increases and benefits going only to stores that are not unionizing. Starbucks has said it prefers to talk directly with its employees about working conditions instead of through a union.
"As workers renegotiate the compact between employee and employer across workplaces nationwide, we encourage both parties to work together, mend differences and unite to help build an economy that works for everyone," the letter states.
Read the full letter here.
RELATED: Regulars react to their Starbucks closing
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Puget Sound Energy bills are about to rise
Puget Sound Energy is telling customers they will likely see higher energy bills in the coming months, starting with gas customers.
According to PSE: "This is due to a combination of factors, including rising natural gas prices, state policy objectives for clean energy, and continued investments in system reliability and safety."
A hike in natural gas prices will hit utility bills in November 2022. But more could be coming along in 2023.
RELATED: Seattle hikes electricity rates
PSE has filed a request to increase its rates with Washington's Utilities and Transportation Commission. The new rates would kick in January 2023.
- If approved, the average electric customer will see a rate increase of $8 in 2023, and a little less than $2 in 2024.
- Gas customers will see an increase of $5 in 2023, and $1 in 2024.
PSE says the increased rates are needed to cover $3.1 billion in investments over the past four years. The utility company says it won't "profit from the natural gas it purchases for customers."
“We are making our customers aware of these increases now, to give them time to learn about their options for controlling their energy usage and how to get help paying their energy bills,” said Andy Wappler, PSE senior vice president and chief customer officer. “We are urging customers to take advantage of our bill assistance and energy efficiency programs to help them manage those higher costs.”
If you need assistance with paying your Puget Sound Energy bill, go to pse.com/lower.
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People experiencing homelessness may lose decades of life
People experiencing homelessness in King County may die decades earlier than their peers in the broader community.
That's one takeaway from a recent report from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office on some of the deaths that have occurred among people living unhoused over the past decade.
The Medical Examiner's office doesn’t investigate all deaths in the county, only those that are unexpected, sudden, violent, suspicious, or where the cause of death is unknown.
Over the past 10 years, the office has investigated 1,429 deaths of people presumed to be homeless.
Most were male and most were premature, according to the report.
“The median age of presumed homeless decedents was 51 compared to the median age of all King County residents who died which was 79,” the report states.
Additionally, as is true in the overall homeless population in the county, Black and Native people were overrepresented in the deaths investigated by the office.
Derrick Belgarde, executive director for the Chief Seattle Club, a homeless service organization, said structural racism and marginalization from systems of care contribute to the disproportionate impacts seen in Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color.
“We know our Native American community doesn't trust non-Native systems, doesn't trust going to clinics or getting the care that they need because of the trauma we've endured over years,” Belgarde said.
Along with a need for housing and addressing physical health-care needs of people experiencing homelessness, Belgarde said there’s also a need to address the emotional and mental health needs for that population.
He said culturally appropriate outreach and care are vital to addressing disparities.
When it comes to causes of death, the medical examiner's report shows almost half of the deaths investigated among people presumed to be homeless were classified as accidents, with most due to poisoning or drug overdoses.
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Why are you so worked up about Buoy?: Today So Far
The Seattle Kraken has a new mascot, a sea troll named Buoy. Not everyone is happy about it. But so what. Not everything is for you and that is OK.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 3, 2022.
Let's get something out of the way, right at the start this week: The Kraken's new mascot, Buoy, is not a kraken. But so what?
As soon as new mascot for Seattle's hockey team was announced on Friday, folks began airing their grievances, mostly over social media (anybody else see the irony of online trolls criticizing a troll?). The fact that most criticism people can cite is located on Twitter, that's the first sign you shouldn't take any of this too seriously.
But hey, I get it. The team is called the "Seattle Kraken." Logically, the mascot should be a kraken. The Seahawks have Blitz (a sea hawk). UW has Harry/Hendrix the Husky as well as a live Husky named Dubs (because they're the huskies). The Sounders have Sammy the Sounder, which is a stretch, but you have to give them some credit for creativity for that one. As do the Storm for the whole concept around Doppler. But when you have something that is plain and straightforward, like "kraken," I understand why folks would be scratching their heads, wondering where the kraken is. Now, I know what you're going to say: "But the Mariners have a moose!" You know what, the Mariners' mascot should be an old, cranky sailor — someone who throws salmon at the audience while spouting offensive sea slang. There, I said it. Am I going to campaign against the moose? No. I have better things to do. Also, I've met the moose and they seem alright.
But here's the thing folks — Buoy is for you ... but it's also not for you. Sports mascots serve a variety of purposes, much of which is promotion at corporate and public events (an online form to request Buoy appearances is already up and running). They're also meant to craft an endearing fandom among youngsters. It's for kids (and to encourage those kids to pester their parents to take them to a game and buy merch). A kraken probably wouldn't have conveyed the fun-loving, cuddly persona kids want. As Lamont Buford, Kraken's vice president of entertainment experience, said in a statement, Buoy is the result of months of branding development to be "kid friendly and approachable."
While Buoy may look like the love child of an orc and a Smurf, it's more likely the product of test marketing that took place in the bowels of office cubicles and meeting rooms. It's designed to go beyond the game that fans are already at, to efficiently increase visibility, and capture future fans.
Just because something is not for you, that doesn't make it bad. Meanwhile, young, up-and-coming fans are going to be just fine with Buoy. And just in case any critics forgot, there is a whole hockey game happening while you're busy complaining. Attracting new fans, and their dollars, will ultimately help keep that game going. To folks disappointed about the absence of a kraken, I encourage you to do it yourself. Seattle has always been very DIY, and the cosplay scene is strong locally, so we have the skills. If you want a kraken at the games — dress up and show up.
Over the weekend, Buoy did not let any online criticisms go unanswered. In response to one online comment, "This is up there as worst mascot design ever," Buoy responded "so what’s the excuse for your design work?" When another person simply tweeted "No" to Buoy's debut, the mascot wrote back, sarcastically, "you’re fun at parties." See more here.
All that said, as a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, I do appreciate Buoy elevating the profile of sea trolls. And if the legend is true, that Buoy once jammed with Mudhoney, that demands some local respect. Read more here.
Also on KUOW.org today:
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How NW winemakers are adapting to smoky growing seasons
In 2020, western wildfires gave the Northwest's wine grapes an ashy, smoky taste. This year, Washington is expecting a record harvest, but vintners are still figuring out the best way to deal with the impact of smoke taint.
Creating blends of different grape types was one way winemakers salvaged the 2020 harvest. But scientists are looking for other ways to approach the problem.
That smoke can seep into the fruit, giving the wine produced an ashy, smoky flavor. While they haven’t been as bad this year, the wildfires of 2020 blanketed states across the West.
In his office at Washington State University’s Wine Science Center, professor Tom Collins has studied how smoke exposure affects grapes for years, and just submitted his team’s most recent findings to the journal Nature.
“In a nutshell, what this first paper is to say is, we've identified this class of compounds, and we think we know how they get there," Collins said.
And if you know what causes the smoky flavors, he says scientists can work on how to remove them from the wine.
Mitch Venohr, a winemaker with Fidélitas Wines in Richland, Wash., said he is glad the researchers have made strides in identifying the smoky compounds.
“Now the next big question is: How do we specifically remove those from wine? Or are there things that can be done in the vineyard to prevent those smoke compounds from getting into the grapes?" Venohr said.
Read the full story from Northwest Public Broadcasting here.
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Breaching Snake River dams is needed to restore salmon, NOAA report says
A final report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states the four Lower Snake River dams in southeastern Washington must go.
Rob Masonis, a conservation expert with Trout Unlimited, agrees. He says removing the dams will be a foundation of salmon recovery.
“If you don’t have that foundation, the billions of dollars that we have spent, and will spend in the future, will not produce the desired outcome of salmon recovery,” Masonis said. “We need to remove the big bottleneck that’s preventing us from realizing the benefit of those investments and that’s the four dams on the Lower Snake River.”
Trout Unlimited works to protect stream and river habitat.
RELATED: Youth rally to protect salmon in the Snake River
The report from NOAA also suggests that things like predator management, restoring estuaries and habitat, along with reintroducing salmon above the Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams could help restoration efforts.
Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse is against removing the dams. He argues that the region can't produce clean energy without the Lower Snake River dams.
“The Biden administration is playing politics with its energy future, while ignoring recent data showing spring and summer chinook returns at higher levels than they have been in years,” Newhouse said in a statement.
RELATED: Time is running out for salmon as the Snake River dam removal debate enters a new phase
Read the full story from Northwest Public Broadcasting here.
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Laxman Narasimhan begins role as Starbucks new CEO
Laxman Narasimhan officially took over as Starbucks' CEO Oct. 1, but changes to the company won't be coming along too quickly as the new leader is phased in.
“Starbucks commitment to uplift humanity through connection and compassion has long distinguished the company, building an unrivaled, globally admired brand that has transformed the way we connect over coffee," Narasimhan said in a statement. "I am humbled to be joining this iconic company at such a pivotal time, as the Reinvention and investments in the partner and customer experiences position us to meet the changing demands we face today and set us up for an even stronger future. I look forward to working closely with Howard, the Board, and the entire leadership team — and to listening and learning from Starbucks partners — as we collectively build on this work to lead the company into its next chapter of growth and impact.”
Narasimhan replaces Howard Schultz, who returned as interim CEO earlier this year after the previous CEO, Kevin Johnson, retired. Johnson spent five years leading the global coffee giant. Schultz returned to the company to fill in until a new CEO could be hired. He was paid a $1 salary.
Narasimhan relocated from London to Seattle for the job. He is now also a member of the Starbucks board of directors.
Previously, Narasimhan held leadership roles with PepsiCo and served as the CEO of Reckitt, a multinational consumer heath, hygiene, and nutrition company. Starbucks says he "has a proven track record in developing purpose-led brands."
Schultz will stay on the board of directors. He's also not entirely absent from the company's leadership. According to Starbucks, Schultz will continue as interim CEO and remain in Narasimhan's orbit over the next few months to help phase in the new CEO. This process will include hanging out in Starbucks stores, as well as visiting farms and manufacturing plants.
Narasimhan will officially, fully step into the role on April 1, 2023.
In a statement, Schultz said Narasimhan is the "right leader to take Starbucks into its next chapter."
"He is uniquely positioned to shape this work and lead the company forward with his partner-centered approach and demonstrated track record of building capabilities and driving growth in both mature and emerging markets," Shultz said. "As I have had the opportunity to get to know him, it has become clear that he shares our passion of investing in humanity and in our commitment to our partners, customers, and communities. The perspectives he brings will be a strong asset as we build on our heritage in this new era of greater well-being. I greatly look forward to our partnership over the coming months and years."
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Home run: Mariners heading to the playoffs
The Seattle Mariners have done it. After 21 years, the baseball team is finally returning to the playoffs.
You couldn't have written it any better. Tied game in the bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, and a pinch hitting Cal Raleigh sends a solo home run to right field for the walk off win. With that, the Mariners officially clinched their spot in the postseason.
"I mean, 21 years," said longtime fan Adam McCrow moments after the win Friday night. "That's a long time to wait, but worth every second. So pretty happy right now. Where were you in 2001? Where were you 21 years ago? I actually went to the game. You know, that night it was pretty stellar, but a little somber too. And so having this moment tonight, where you could absolutely let go and just, you know, cheer like a madman, it was awesome."
Friday night's win was capped off by fireworks and the players celebrating on the field.
The Mariners start a four-game series against the Tigers Monday night, Oct. 3, in Seattle to finish the regular season. The team then heads to the playoffs for the first time in decades.
Read the full story here.
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Seattle Kraken mascot 'Buoy' makes big debut on the ice
The Seattle Kraken's new mascot was revealed Friday. Over the weekend, Buoy the sea troll did not let online criticism go unanswered.
Buoy is a 6-foot-tall sea troll who made its debut descending onto the ice from the arena's rafters during Friday's game. The team drew inspiration from Seattle's famous Fremont Troll.
Almost as soon as the Kraken unveiled Buoy, it began drawing out trolls of another kind — online critics. Whoever is at the helm of the Kraken's PR has opted not to be silent as Buoy addressed such criticism directly.
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