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
-
Pierce County Sheriff warns of candy-colored fentanyl pills
They appear like attractive pieces of candy or sidewalk chalk, but the Pierce County Sheriff's Department is warning that these rainbow-colored items are not for kids, or anyone else for that matter.
"Rainbow fentanyl" has been showing up in the Northwest, notably in Oregon, according to a Sheriff's Department Facebook post. It has also been seized at the southern border. The post, however, does not indicate that rainbow fentanyl has shown up locally in Western Washington.
RELATED: Fentanyl is a great drug for cartels. But those blue pills are killing King County
RELATED: King County declares fentanyl a public health crisis
The rainbow variety is the same as other fentanyl-laced items, but it has been dyed bright colors. It has shown up as multicolored pills and as small chunks — the Sheriff's Office notes these chunks appear like chalk children use on sidewalks.
Continue reading » -
Seattle Pacific University leaders sued over LGBTQ policies
Several students and faculty members at Seattle Public University have filed a lawsuit over the school's anti-LGBTQ policies.
The lawsuit is against members of SPU's Board of Trustees. Plaintiffs claim that SPU is not fulfilling its duties as a university and is adding to enrollment challenges.
SPU has faced pressure this year over its policy to not hire members of the LGBTQ community. Awareness of the private Christian university's LGBTQ policies was heightened when students and staff held protests in spring.
The Washington State Attorney General's Office then launched an investigation into SPU's LGBTQ policies and hiring practices, looking into potential discrimination.
SPU has previously argued that, as a religious organization, it does not have to follow anti-discrimination laws. It has also sued the state over the AG's investigation. SPU's leadership has claimed that the Constitution allows the university to require staff to "agree" with the its perspective on marriage and faith. The AG's Office says the university's lawsuit is an attempt to obstruct a lawful investigation.
The lawsuit filed this week is the latest chapter in SPU's battle over its LGBTQ policies. NPR reports that 16 plaintiffs, along with Our Community Protest, LLC, have sued SPU's Board for its refusal to hire members of the LGBTQ community.
"This case is about six men who act as if they, and the educational institution they are charged to protect, are above the law," the lawsuit's introduction reads. "They are powerful men who use their positions, as trustees of Seattle Pacific University (SPU), to advance the interests of a religious denomination at the expense of the students, alumni, staff, and faculty of the university."
The lawsuit claims that six members on the Board of Trustees have formed a "rogue board" to advance their religious interests. It states that the Board inflicts trauma on the campus and it must be "held accountable for placing their personal religious beliefs above their fiduciary duties to SPU and its people." Plaintiffs claim the university's hiring policy is "loathed" by the SPU community.
The university has not yet responded to the lawsuit, but it did provide KUOW's Soundside a statement: "Seattle Pacific University is aware of the lawsuit and will respond in due course.”
Read NPR's full coverage here.
Continue reading » -
-
How do you deal with online negativity?: Today So Far
- The internet is a wonderful tool for information, but it can carry just as much negative energy. How do we deal with the trolls and aggravating content?
- Also, I'm back from vacation.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for September 12, 2022.
Hello there! It's me, Dyer, your Today So Far guide to KUOW's newsroom. I'm back from a long vacation / two-year delayed honeymoon. I hope you're ready to jump right back into things, however, there is one reader who likely isn't so happy about my return. As I slide back into the TSF routine, I'd like to reset the tone here and chat about something I come across often as someone who works in the online space. Perhaps it's something you encounter too — negativity.
Just before I headed out the door two weeks ago, I got a letter from a reader who we will call "D." The letter stated, "Happy you will be gone for a while!" and threw a couple names my way. I have a general rule to not feed the trolls, however, I have to admit that I sort of agreed with this reader. You see, they objected to a previous "Did You Know" factoid in this newsletter about the "aroma of Tacoma." D insists that such an aroma no longer exists, and that I am a "typical Seattleite, scared of your better neighbors to the south." They called me "childish" and did not appreciate my "belittling of a truly magnificent city." I may have been joking around, but I clearly struck a nerve.
This put me in a weird spot — I agree that Tacoma is a truly magnificent city. That's sort of why I moved there. While I don't condone the unkind tone this person, or any online person, sent onto the World Wide Web, I can say that we both agree Tacoma is pretty great.
How do you deal with trolls, or just aggravating online content? The internet can transmit beneficial information as much as it can carry negative energy. We have a choice about what to do with it. You don't have to allow it to infect you (I know, that's easier said than done).
I've encountered an array of negative people in my work as a reporter. In fact, I used to keep a list of all the names I was called. Once, I was both a "communist" and a "fascist" in a single week. Still, as odd as this sounds, I find it's best to listen first; they may have a point in there somewhere, or maybe not. Keep in mind there is a person on the other side of that tweet or email, and they are likely more vulnerable and complex than the internet can convey. Endeavoring to understand doesn't mean you have to agree or engage with such negativity, and it doesn't mean that you can't set boundaries.
This is not an original approach. I'm reminded of conversations that journalist Monica Guzmán had with KUOW. While she covers more of a political angle, I feel it relates here. It's also something KUOW has dabbled with in the past via its Curiosity Club.
Frankly, this approach is a lot harder than simply calling someone a name and writing them off. In the long run, however, this is a choice that I feel is more constructive. As someone who consumes this online content, I hope this may help you in some way. Or maybe you disagree. That's OK. At least you listened.
With all that said, let's get to the real reason we're here with a few recent headlines from KUOW's newsroom.
- Shootings spiked during the pandemic. The spike now looks like a 'new normal'
- This Seattle arts space provides sustenance to the Black community
- In the post Russell Wilson era, what's in store for the Seahawks this year?
- 'Making good progress on negotiations,' Seattle schools says after three days of teacher strike
AS SEEN ON KUOW
Continue reading » -
UW has 5 years to divest from fossil fuel
The University of Washington has five years to pull its investments from fossil fuel companies and refineries.
UW's Board of Regents voted unanimously in favor of a resolution last week stating the university will divest those funds, based on advice from its financial advisors. That advice says the university could do it by 2027.
“The Board of Regents recognizes the gravity and the urgency of the situation with respect to climate change," said David Zeeck, chair of the UW Board of Regents, in a statement. "With this resolution, the Board wishes to avoid greenwashing and to take meaningful action, putting the University of Washington in the front ranks of universities addressing climate change through research, teaching, operations and investments.”
Zeeck added that this is an "early step in a very important journey to reduce the UW’s impact on the environment through our investments and operations."
Second-year student Jacob Anderson is part of a student-faculty activist group. He says UW currently has $124 million worth of investments in the fossil fuel industry through its endowment fund.
"The UW kind of leans on this endowment fund," Anderson said. "They're taking out a lot of loans to build new construction all across campus and they do rely on a lot of the earnings, but how much money you make is not as important if the world is uninhabitable."
Anderson says he wants their success to inspire other students to create change at their schools.
The resolution that the Board of Regents passed also states a goal of investing 2.5% of UW's endowment fund in companies involved with climate solutions.
Continue reading » -
Memorial services being planned for 10 people lost in floatplane crash
Memorial services are being planned this week for the 10 people who died in last week's floatplane crash near Whidbey Island.
- A prominent civil rights activist from Spokane, Sandy Williams, and her partner, Patricia Hicks.
- A family from the eastside: Ross Andrew Mickel, Lauren Hilty, and their small son. Hilty was pregnant with another child. They were married just a few years ago on San Juan Island.
- A young attorney from Seattle, Gabby Hanna. Her family says she loved to travel.
- Jason Winters, the pilot, who’s been around seaplanes for decades.
- Rebecca and Luke Ludwig, a married couple who were visiting from Minnesota.
- Joanne Mera, a business owner from San Diego.
Federal investigators are still searching Mutiny Bay for wreckage.
Continue reading » -
Why waters around Oak Harbor will turn red, briefly
Don't be alarmed if you see the water around Whidbey Island turning red over the next week.
Washington state's health department will be dying the waters red on Sept. 12 for a targeted wastewater study. Officials are aiming to evaluate wastewater movement near the new Oak Harbor Clean Water Facility. The dye is being added to treated wastewater so it can be followed as it moves out into the open environment.
The Department of Health wants to see any potential impacts the water is having on nearby shellfish growing areas.
Health officials say the red color could be visible in and around Oak Harbor for about 24 hours. The color is a fluorescent dye called "rhodamine." DOH says it's non-toxic to humans, animals, and marine life.
The study is coming a few years later than scheduled. It was initially slated for 2019, but a tech issue delayed it. The Covid pandemic further put it on hold.
Continue reading » -
Hikers escape Bolt Creek wildfire
Two hikers are sharing a very dangerous lesson they learned after facing the Bolt Creek wildfire — don't take any risks when wildfires are burning in the area.
The two hikers — Steve and Matt — chronicled their experience on video. The hike up Baring Mountain started uneventful on Sept. 10, but as they got higher and higher, they noticed the smoke in the air. Eventually, they saw massive flames in the distance, quickly advancing on their position. They called 911 for rescue services, but their position was too dangerous. That led them to risking the journey off the mountain, avoiding the flames at every turn.
"I debated about posting this video online; I was afraid about all the criticism that I would get," Steve said on the video. "I'm posting this video as an educational tool to try and point out all the mistakes that we made that ended up putting our lives in danger. Hopefully, this video can bring some awareness... so everyone doesn't make the same mistakes we made."
The Bolt Creek Fire is burning in the Cascade Mountains on the border of Snohomish and King counties. It has prompted the Red Cross to set up a shelter at the fairgrounds in Monroe, Wash., for residents displaced by evacuation orders.
Continue reading » -
Washington schools chief calls for free lunch for all students
Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal wants all Washington public school students to eat lunch for free.
He's calling on state lawmakers to fund a universal free lunch program to feed students regardless of their families' income.
About half of Washington's students currently attend schools that provide free meals to everyone, according to the state superintendent's office.
"We've still got 330,000 students who could use meals in this state that we're going to make eligible," Reykdal said during a press conference last week.
Congress funded free lunches for all students during the pandemic but chose to end the program in June. That meant many low-income families across the country returned to the pre-pandemic system, in which they must apply for free or reduced-price meals.
Federal requirements govern student eligibility for those meals. A family of four with an annual household income of about $51,000, for example, pays about $2,330 per year for their children to receive breakfast and lunch at school, according to OSPI.
Under that system, Reykdal says "paperwork is sometimes more important to regulators than just focusing on what young people need."
“Students and parents are nervous about missing the deadline for applications or not having enough money on their student accounts,” said Megan de Vries, director of food and nutrition services at Edmonds School District. “We want students to spend their energy on learning, not stressing about basic needs.”
Reykdal is proposing $86 million a year to expand the free lunch program in Washington state. If adopted during the 2023 legislative session, which begins in January, free lunch could be available to all kids as soon as the 2023-24 school year.
Currently, Washington schools may continue the universal free lunch program this school year if they qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Community Eligibility Provision. The superintendent's office estimates about 1,200 schools qualify, meaning nearly half of students in the state are attending a school where universal free lunch is available.
After Congress opted to discontinue the federal program, California, Vermont and Massachusetts adopted their own universal free lunch models, similar to what Reykdal is now proposing.
Seattle parent Jeff Lew praised Reykdal's proposal. Lew became a universal-free-lunch advocate to fight the stigma associated with qualifying free lunch and started the Lunch Debt group to spread the word.
"I am hoping that the proposal will be passed, so that all students can eat for free regardless of family income or background," Lew told KUOW. "Students can’t focus on their studies on an empty stomach."
While states debate the best way forward, federal officials could still revive a nationwide solution in one form or another.
The White House will host a conference later this month to discuss hunger, nutrition, and health, the first such conference in 50 years.
NPR politics reporter Ximena Bustillo says many advocacy groups are asking President Joe Biden to push for a universal school meal system, cheaper prices or offsets that would allow schools to pay for the meals themselves.
That conference is scheduled for Sept. 28.
Continue reading » -
No school Monday as Seattle teachers strike continues
Seattle teachers will strike for the fourth day on Monday after the school district and union did not come to an agreement over the weekend.
Seattle teachers continue to negotiate their contact with the school district, according to an email the district sent to parents on Sunday afternoon. This means yet another day without school for more than 50,000 Seattle Public School students, including preschool students.
This was a surprising pivot after they sent an encouraging email on Saturday, saying they were "making good progress on negotiations."
Teachers and other certificated staff started striking last Wednesday, which was supposed to be the first day of school.
Among the major issues is a new plan that would place more students with special needs in "regular" classrooms. This is referred to as inclusion, which teachers say they champion, but not without assurances that special education teachers and paraeducators (teaching assistants) will join those students in the classroom.
Traditionally, Seattle students with special needs were instructed in separate classrooms. When the district announced this plan as negotiations were underway, the teachers union took note, and said it needed more support for special education.
Teachers have said they worry about scenarios in which a child cannot use the restroom alone, feed themselves, or have violent outbursts, and the teachers would find themselves alone to tend to that child, in addition to 24 other students.
This strike is happening against the backdrop of the pandemic, with its years of remote learning and tentative returns to the classroom. There have been high levels of teachers feeling burnt out, many leaving the profession, and students missing class time.
According to David Knight of the University of Washington School of Education, the issues behind these strikes run deeper than money.
"These strikes, they're often about salary," Knight said, "but at the end of the day, that's usually not why teachers were drawn into the profession, and not why they stay."
—Isolde Raftery, David Hyde, Kim Malcolm, Hans Anderson
Continue reading » -
Where to send your kids if Seattle teachers strike on Monday
You may not have to keep your kids home if the teachers strike continues this week. Here are some options.
- Boys & Girls Club (select sites)
Eligible: Families already signed up with B&G. New families may go to the Rotary Club at 201 19th Ave, 206-436-1880.
Where: Wallingford, Rainier Vista, MLK, Ballard, View Ridge, North Seattle
When: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: $25/day
- City of Seattle drop-in centers for students ages 5-12: FREE!
These sites are all currently full with waitlists. Slots may come open however, so it’s worth checking. This was tricky for me to navigate, so I’ll spell out what I did: First, I created an account with the city, then clicked through to this press release. I scrolled down to the drop-in centers where these “strike recreation activity hubs” are scheduled. If you are logged in, it should let you add the activity to your cart.
- Pinnacle Explorations Strike Camp
Where: MLK Fame Center (Madison Valley)
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Continue reading » -
Go now (we’re serious), Snohomish County tells smoked-out residents near Bolt Creek fire
Residents near the Bolt Creek fire of Snohomish County were told to leave their homes, but just half have left.
“We ask that they reconsider,” a county notice said on Sunday morning. “We need everybody’s help protecting lives today.”
A mandatory evacuation order was issued Saturday for the town of Index in Snohomish County, where the Bolt Creek fire covered 7,600 acres by Sunday morning. The fire has also prompted closure of Highway 2. The Skykomish School District has announced schools will be closed on Monday.
Some of the people forced to evacuate their homes due to wildfire Saturday were taking refuge at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, where the American Red Cross opened a shelter.
Red Cross spokesperson Betsy Robertson said four to five people stayed inside the shelter Saturday night, with seven to eight more receiving services while camped outside.
Robertson said they have capacity for many more.
“We are prepared to host easily up to 100 or more should more people come and seek us out," she said, "and we really hope they do.”
Robertson said this order covers an area where residents are historically more accustomed to flooding that may move more slowly than wildfires.
“Wildfire is a completely different, unpredictable threat to your livelihood, your home, your safety," she said.
She said people can can come to the fairgrounds to get food, a place to sleep, and to charge cell phones. The fairgrounds are also offering shelter for livestock. Robertson said she visited the fire zone on Saturday.
“I got to experience the ash falling from the sky, the smoke in the air and receive the emergency texts that came through on my phone in the peak of the afternoon threat,” she said.
On Saturday, the Bonneville Power Administration shut off three high voltage transmission lines to give firefighters safer access to the area.
According to The Seattle Times, a power administration spokesperson said the shutoff wouldn’t affect customers because the power agency could transmit power through other routes. Robertson said the Red Cross has also opened a shelter for people affected by the Goat Rocks fire near Packwood, Washington. That fire prompted the closure of Highway 12 on Saturday as well.
Evacuation levels have not changed since Saturday night.
Per Snohomish County, these are the levels:
• Level 3 (GO now!): Index
• Level 2 (Set): Between Index and Zeke’s
• Level 1 (Ready): Zeke’s to Gold Bar east city limits
Peter Mongillo with Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue said they estimate 500 structures are at risk in this zone, including homes, barns, and garages.
Snohomish County and the American Red Cross are providing indoor shelter and RV spots at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, located at 14405 179th Ave. SE, Monroe.
The Bolt Creek fire is a roughly 50 minute drive from north Seattle. The smokey air has blanketed Snohomish County; in Seattle the air quality is at 111, which translates to “unhealthy for sensitive people.”
Continue reading »
