KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
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Stories
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After tough times, Washington's wheat harvest is looking good this year
Washington's state's winter wheat harvest is now underway, and growers are expecting a good crop this year.
The historic drought of 2021 dealt a severe blow to Washington’s winter wheat crops. The state’s output fell from 133 million bushels in 2020, to less than 71 million.
But this year, a mild winter and persistently wet spring have produced the opposite effect. The latest estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture predict Washington’s wheat crops will rebound to nearly the 2020 level.
On top of that, USDA’s Dave Losh says there’s more good news.
“A large amount of production and the quality will be good as well," Losh said, adding that the wheat grown in Washington usually ends up being purchased overseas – typically in Asia.
The harvest itself is already underway, and will last through September in some parts of Eastern Washington.
By Brandon Hollingsworth, Spokane Public Radio
Get news updates and more in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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Rep. Kim Schrier focuses on supply chain issues amid 8th District race
Democratic Congresswoman Kim Schrier is asking President Biden to lower certain tariffs on items that keep supply chains moving smoothly. She says the cuts would help tackle inflation.
It's also about politics.
Schrier's facing a tough re-election fight this year to represent Washington's 8th Congressional District. And her Republican opponents all claim they'd do a better job fighting inflation.
The district is one of around a dozen races that will likely determine which party controls Congress next year.
Schrier hopes to see lower taxes on logistical items, like the frames that secure shipping containers to trucks. There's currently a shortage of these truck chassis.
Shortages lead to shipping delays and that ultimately means higher prices for consumers. Schrier says slashing taxes on truck chassis would help bring down prices.
It's the latest in a handful of actions Rep. Schrier has touted in an effort to address supply chain issues. She has also worked on the recent Ocean Shipping Reform Act and the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act.
“The goal here is to make life a little easier for the people we represent. To help you fill up your tank and feed your family. To help farmers spend less on inputs without lowering crop yields,” Rep. Schrier said in June. “As the only member on the House Agriculture Committee from the Northwest, I will continue to do all I can to support farmers and lower costs for families.”
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Seattle's new approach to help those experiencing homelessness: Today So Far
- People who have previously experienced homelessness in Seattle are helping reach out to others still on the street. It's a homelessness response that is slated to expand further into King County.
- The inquest into the killing of Charleena Lyles concluded this week and found that Seattle officers were justified.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 8, 2022.
It's takes one to help one. That's the idea behind a new effort in Seattle. People who have been homeless themselves are being dispatched to the streets to help people going through what they once did. People like Kirk Rodriguez.
"People who have experienced homelessness know the most about it,” Rodriguez told KUOW. "And just how to approach systems, how to navigate them, issues people interact with not just at face value, not just that like understanding from reading or hearing about it but having actually lived it."
As Casey Martin reports, this new effort is up and running in Seattle right now. This summer, it will expand through King County with about 30 peer counselors. Read the full story here.
The inquest into the fatal shooting of Charleena Lyles by Seattle police concluded this week that officers' actions were justified. It's a conclusion that Lyles' family disagrees with. You can read more about that here. Ever since the incident in 2017, and through this inquest process, there has been one part of this story that has stuck with me — what happens when police respond to people with mental illness.
In 2010, Douglas Ostling called 911 amid a mental crisis at his family's home on Bainbridge Island. When police arrived, they found Ostling with an axe in his studio apartment above the family's garage. They shot and killed him. In the wake of the shooting, the family contested the police's initial version of events. Turns out, officers shot Ostling through his door, then withheld medical aid for more than an hour as he bled to death. Two years later, a jury determined that Bainbridge Island did not adequately train its officers to handle calls involving mentally illness. The family was awarded $1 million. A federal judge concluded that police should not have withheld medical aid. In 2015, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the Douglas M. Ostling Act which requires law enforcement to take training on how to de-escalate situations involving people suffering from mental illness. As for the shooting itself, officers were justified.
In 2020, Redmond police officers shot and killed Andrea Churna. Churna called 911 while suffering from a mental crisis. She had a firearm during the police encounter, however, it was not in her possession when she was fatally shot by police. Redmond paid $7.5 million for "serious errors" in that incident.
And in 2017, officers knew that Charleena Lyles had a history of mental illness when she called 911 and asked them to respond to a burglary. They spoke about it while they were walking up to her apartment, discussing previous encounters with Lyles.
"So this gal, she was the one making all these weird statements about how her and her daughter were going to turn into wolves ... it just took a turn," one officer said on recorded dash cam video of the incident.
During the inquest, officers spoke about an "officer safety caution" that was noted in SPD's system at the time, due to a previous encounter with Lyles just two weeks before. They knew mental illness was a potential factor, and they didn't plan for any non-lethal responses, such as a stun gun.
Following the inquest's conclusion this week, the Lyles' family lawyer stated: "SPD’s policies, practices and procedures are designed specifically to allow an officer to shoot and kill a person in mental crisis with a paring knife. In those circumstances officers are not trained to disarm. They are not trained to wound. They are trained to shoot to kill."
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Monkeypox vaccines are on the way to Washington state
Washington state is slated to receive a shipment of monkeypox vaccines from the federal government as community spread of the disease increases.
So far, 15 confirmed and probable cases of monkeypox have been discovered in Washington state.
The state Department of Health says it has been alloted enough of the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine to immunize 398 Washingtonians. Enough doses for 272 people have already been designated for jurisdictions with known cases and close contacts, the Department of Health said in a statement Friday.
The vaccine allotment is part of a federal, multiphase effort to distribute more than one million doses across the U.S. in the coming months.
In May, a case of monkeypox was discovered in a King County patient who recently traveled to an area where the virus was spreading. But several new cases have popped up across the state among people with no recent travel history, indicating that monkeypox is spreading within the community. All but one of the 15 known cases in Washington are among King County residents.
Despite the increasing spread, health officials say there’s no need to panic.
“The risk to the public is low at this time. Transmission generally requires close, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has symptoms of the disease,” Dr. Scott Lindquist, a state epidemiologist, said in a statement. “For people who have had recent contact with someone who tested positive for monkeypox, the vaccine can reduce the chance of developing a monkeypox infection.”
Signs of a monkeypox infection include flu-like symptoms, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes. An infected person may also find sores on or around their genitals, or experience rectal pain.
While monkeypox can spread through respiratory secretions, transmission this way usually requires sustained, face-to-face contact or kissing. Anyone can contract monkeypox, but health officials say that men who have sex with other men are at an increased risk of infection. Contact with items, such as clothing, that have touched the bodily secretions or rashes of an infected person can also spread the virus. Additionally, monkeypox can be contracted through contact with an infected animal or animal products.
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Look who just got the Presidential Medal of Freedom: Today So Far
- A Seattle star was honored by the White House and received the Presidential Medal of Honor, the highest honor for civilians.
- Monkeypox is no longer an isolated incident in King County; it's spreading through the community.
- The AHL just appointed its first female coach, and they are tied to the Seattle Kraken.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 7, 2022.
Seattle soccer star Megan Rapinoe's name is going up alongside the likes of Denzel Washington, Steve Jobs, Simone Biles, and John McCain. Today, Rapinoe officially receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This is the highest honor a U.S. civilian can receive. It's given by presidents for contributions to prosperity, values or security, or for world peace and other notable acts as an American. Rapinoe not only earned the honor for her status as an Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, but also for her advocacy work for gender pay equality, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ rights. The ceremony presenting the medals is today at the White House.
I wrote in late May that monkeypox had arrived in King County. It seemed pretty isolated at the time. But things have changed.
When the first local case showed up in May, it involved a person who travelled through an area where monkeypox was already spreading. That was the general story for many cases that arrived in the United States. But now, cases are showing up in King County in people who have not been traveling. That means they got it from interacting with others in the area. And therefore, health officials are warning that monkeypox is spreading in the community.
King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin said, "We expect to see additional cases locally as the outbreak grows in the US and globally."
The virus is not generally threatening to healthy people, but can be pretty bad for those with other health concerns. If you have symptoms (flu-like symptoms with a rash), contact your doctor.
Another sports headline popped up recently with a local angle. Jessica Campbell was hired as an assistant coach with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, making her the first female to take on such a role in the American Hockey League.
The Firebirds are the Seattle Kraken’s AHL affiliate in California. So this means Campbell will be developing players who could have a shot at moving up the NHL's Seattle team.
"I'm really looking forward to my role, knowing that I can make an impact on these players and help them get to the goals that they're aspiring to," Campbell told KUOW.
"Playing the female game or the men's game, we speak the same language, I've lived the same feelings and experiences, and I've been at the highs and the lows."
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Scientists begin keeping a closer eye on Glacier Peak
Glacier Peak is just one of five active volcanoes in Washington state, and it’s classified as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the entire United States.
Scientists are now stepping up their monitoring of the mountain.
Located about 25 miles outside of Darrington, Glacier Peak hasn’t erupted in about 13,000 years, but scientists say it could wake up anytime and they want to be prepared.
Seth Moran is a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory. He says, the more early warning sensors on an active volcano the better.
Glacier Peak is slated to have four new seismic network stations installed, each with a seismometer and GPS. That will give scientists a heads up if magma starts to move.
Mount Adams is another peak in Washington with only one monitoring station but is not considered a top threat like Glacier Peak. Mount Baker has three, and Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier have around 20 stations each.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog
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Seattle soccer star Megan Rapinoe receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
OL Reign's Megan Rapinoe turned 37 this week and received a great birthday present from the White House — the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rapinoe was one of 17 people who received the nation's highest civilian honor at a White House ceremony Thursday, July 7.
The medal is given by the president to those who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant endeavors.
According to the White House, Rapinoe earned the honor as an "Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women’s World Cup champion. She also captains OL Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League. She is a prominent advocate for gender pay equality, racial justice, and LGBTQI+ rights."
Rapinoe said she she was in between practices when she got the good news from the White House.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog
Other recipients this year include:
Simone Biles: Most decorated American gymnast in history, and an advocate for mental health, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault.
Sister Simone Campbell: A member of the Sisters of Social Service and former Executive Director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice organization.
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Inquest jury concludes 2 Seattle officers used justifiable force when they shot and killed Charleena Lyles
A King County inquest jury has concluded that two Seattle police officers used reasonable or justifiable force when they shot and killed Charleena Lyles in 2017.
Lyles' relatives say they reject the findings.
In June 2017, Charleena Lyles, a pregnant Black woman, called police to her apartment about a suspected burglary. The officers say that part way through their encounter, Lyles demeanor changed and she lunged at one of them with a knife.
They shot her seven times in front of her children.
On Wednesday, the jury found the officers largely followed department procedures and training during the encounter, and that there was no reasonable alternative to the use of deadly force at the time officers fired.
The attorney for Lyles' family said in a statement that the process focused on the officers' states of mind, not on Lyles, and that SPD policies are designed to allow an officer to shoot and kill someone in mental health crisis with a pairing knife.
In a statement, the SPD called Lyles' death a tragic event.
The jury’s findings are not legally binding. But they could play a role in whether the King County prosecutor decides to charge the officers.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog
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Is our tech hub too big for just Seattle?: Today So Far
- Amazon is now the second-largest employer in Bellevue. Other tech companies are expanding on the Eastside, too.
- Out with the old, and in with "Cayou Channel." Why Washington just renamed this stretch of water.
- Washington leaders are further preparing for fallout from the overturning of Roe v Wade.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 6, 2022.
Remember that whole Amazon HQ2 thing? Back in 2017, Amazon announced it was searching for a second headquarters, outside of Seattle. Long story short, Amazon chose two locations, but one didn't work out. And today, it refers to Arlington, Virginia as its HQ2.
However, when it was all going down, I looked across Lake Washington toward Bellevue and said, "Well, that's actually HQ2." And now, Amazon just overtook T-Mobile to become Bellevue's second largest employer. The number of employees in Bellevue are nowhere near the levels at the Seattle HQ (about 61,000 people). Amazon has roughly 7,500 employees in Bellevue. It currently has 5,000 at its Virginia offices, though it aims to eventually have 25,000 people there. Then again, Amazon has also said it wants just as many employees in Bellevue by 2025.
It's an indicator that Bellevue and other Eastside communities are where Seattle's tech industry will further be expanding in the years ahead. KUOW's Joshua McNichol's has done a great job covering the fact that the Seattle area doesn't have enough office space for the demand. And that demand is driving further development in cities like Bellevue.
There may be lines drawn on a map separating cities, but my Dyer prediction is that this growth will add up to a single Lake Washington tech hub, with companies working more and more across offices in Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, Renton, Redmond, and beyond. We won't just be looking toward South Lake Union when we talk about the local tech hub. Read more in KUOW's Today So Far Blog.
If you plan on taking a trip to Orcas Island, you will now be passing by the new Cayou Channel. It's not a new body of water, and if you already travel this stretch, you may be quite familiar with it. For generations, maps have called it "Harney Channel." But a recent dive into history by a local resident revealed that General William Harney, who the channel was named after, wasn't exactly the type of character that modern residents would want to honor.
After a lengthy effort, this stretch is now named "Cayou Channel," after Henry Cayou. Before he passed away in 1959, he was an Indigenous entrepreneur, a fisher, and a San Juan County Commissioner for nearly 30 years. In fact, Cayou was one of the first Indigenous elected officials in the state. It's the type of character that's as inspirational as the view of Cayou Channel. Read more here.
Local officials are preparing to protect abortion rights in our corner of the United States now that Roe v Wade has been overturned.
Some states have already begun banning abortions, and there is further concern that those states will take legal action against residents who seek abortion services outside their borders. It's something that Washington is already expecting — people coming from out-of-state for medical care that is legal here. It is unclear if any law regulating what a state's residents do out of state will even hold up in court. But officials in King County are not taking any risks. Executive Dow Constantine issued an order, barring the Sheriff's Office from helping out-of-state investigations into local abortion services. Gov. Jay Inslee already issued a similar order to the Washington State Patrol.
The King County Council has also approved half a million dollars for the Northwest Abortion Access Fund to help with any influx of out-of-state patients. The lone "no" vote on the matter came from Councilmember Reagan Dunn, who said he doesn't want the county paying for people who aren't residents.
And one other development worth noting. On the national level, Sen. Maria Cantwell aims to protect personal health data. She is co-sponsoring a bill that would give users more control over such information. The concern here is over any potential digital trail that patients leave. Also, any data that people provide on smartphone apps, such as period-tracking apps. Read more here.
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Monkeypox spreading among community in King County
Monkeypox is spreading through the community in King County, according to local health officials.
In May, a local case of monkeypox was discovered in a patient who recently traveled to an area where it was being spread. This matches other accounts around the globe where people returned from traveling having contracted monkeypox.
But new cases have emerged in King County which indicate that monkeypox is spreading among the community.
“Finding monkeypox in residents who were likely exposed locally highlights the importance for people who are at higher risk for monkeypox and for healthcare providers to be able to recognize the symptoms promptly, and to take steps to limit the risk for infection and the spread to others," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for King County.
According to Public Health Seattle-King County, of the 7,000 global monkeypox cases, about 560 are in the United States. As of July 6, there are nine cases in King County. Dr. Duchin says this is to be "expected." He also says that vaccines for monkeypox are being prioritized for higher risk people.
“We expect to see additional cases locally as the outbreak grows in the US and globally," Dr. Duchin said. "We are working to limit the impact on our community, collaborating with a strong network of community-based organizations to share information so that people can quickly recognize if they develop a rash or other flu-like symptoms, limit close contact if symptoms develop, and get checked out right away.”
King County has set up a website with monkeypox information. Anyone with symptoms is urged to contact their doctor.
Monkeypox symptoms generally show up within two weeks of exposure and are similar to the flu, plus a rash. Most people recover within 2-4 weeks, however, monkeypox can be dangerous for higher risk people.
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King County prepares for fallout from overturning Roe v Wade
King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an executive order Tuesday that prevents the Sheriff’s Office from cooperating with out-of-state investigations of people seeking abortions locally.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
The move comes in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade, and a number of states already implementing abortion bans. States like Massachusetts and Nevada have similar order in place, preventing local aid of out-of-state investigations. Concerns around such a situation stem from places like Missouri, which have proposals to make it illegal for its residents to get abortions, even if they are out-of-state. The legal landscape on such cross-state regulations are unclear at this point.
At the same time, Washington Senator Maria Cantwell is responding at the federal level. She wants to protect the health data of those who might seek an abortion.
"We want a tool in place that says women's healthcare data should be protected," Cantwell said Tuesday.
Sen. Cantwell is now co-sponsoring a bill that would require things like period-tracking apps to let users know what information is being collected and how it is being used or shared. If passed, the law would also require apps, phones, and browsers, for example, to give users a mechanism for requesting that their sexual and reproductive health data be deleted. The onus would still be on users to make the request.
Cantwell said she’s worried people’s digital trail — say, information about a pregnancy, or travel to an abortion clinic — might be used against them, and against the provider who gave them an abortion. She said giving people more control over their data would thus help protect both people who seek, and people who provide, abortions.
Out-of-state abortion needs
In the wake of the overturning of Roe v Wade, King County expects to get an influx of patients coming from out-of-state, where abortions have been banned. Officials are now preparing for that surge.
The King County Council approved half a million dollars for the Northwest Abortion Access Fund on Tuesday. The non-profit will help pay for transportation, lodging, and abortion services. The organization says it’s already received calls from out of state since the court ruling.
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Say hello to Cayou Channel: Orcas Island waterway gets a new name
Washington state has renamed a body of water south of Orcas Island after a local indigenous man.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
When ferries pull into the dock on Orcas Island, they pass by Harney Channel. It was named after General William Harney who became well known for his role in the "Pig War" between the United States and England. That incident eventually led to U.S. control of the San Juan Islands.
But Harney's name has also been cemented in history as the man who led troops to kill Indigenous women and children in what is now Nebraska, during the 1855 Battle of Ash Hollow. That incident is also known as "the Harney Massacre."
After that history was discovered by a local history aficionado, an effort was spurred to change the name to something with more admirable character.
RELATED: Changing the channel — San Juan locals propose new name for waterway
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