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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Amazon expands to become Bellevue's second-largest employer
Amazon continues to expand in Western Washington, and not just at its Seattle HQ.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
The Puget Sound Business Journal is reporting that Amazon is grown significantly in Bellevue, so much that it has ousted T-Mobile as the second largest employer in town.
RELATED: Amazon is releasing delivery drones in this small town
Between 2020 and 2021, the online giant more than doubled its Bellevue employees — from 3,100 to 7,500 people. Over at T-Mobile, the company added 100 workers during that same time. In Seattle, Amazon still holds more than 61,000 workers.
The Business Journal estimates that Amazon's employee count is even larger now. The company did an internal headcount last month and added up more than 9,100 employee. It is possible Amazon will have more than 10,000 workers on the Eastside by the end of summer.
The Journal further notes that tech companies have generally grown in Bellevue, with Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, and Salesforce all adding new employees.
Amazon has been eying Bellevue for a few years as a place to expand its workforce — and Bellevue has been welcoming the company.
It started such plans in 2019 when it began moving its Worldwide Operations Team across Lake Washington (the team that helps get packages from the warehouse to customers' doors). Upon hearing those plans, Bellevue Mayor John Chelminiak said, "Welcome home, Amazon." And technically, founder Jeff Bezos started the company in the garage of his West Bellevue home in 1994.
The region's commercial and office space is growing alongside the tech expansion in Bellevue. The demand for Seattle area office space is the second highest in the nation. And companies are signing 10-year contracts for office space.
As KUOW's Joshua McNichols reported earlier this year, the growth is largely driven by tech companies as they expand.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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Oregon faces firefighter shortage as it looks toward wildfire season
This year's fire season could be a challenging one for crews in Oregon. They're dealing with a firefighter shortage and a delayed pay raise.
Sen. Ron Wyden visited Southern Oregon Tuesday to get an update on this year's fire season from state fire officials.
Wyden has been pressuring the Biden administration to speed up a promised pay increase for wildland firefighters. Congress approved $600 million last year to raise firefighter pay, but that’s been delayed by over a month.
Wyden said agencies have fewer firefighters to share with other states as they deal with an ongoing worker shortage.
“We are looking at a fire challenge where all of these western states are simultaneously gonna need very large numbers of firefighters," Wyden said.
During his meeting with state officials, Wyden said he learned the combination of drought conditions and late rainfall this year means there’s more fuel to burn. That could lead to more wildfires across the region.
— Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio
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Objects that mean something: Today So Far
- Why are so many people turning over their pets?
- Covid cases are high in many Washington counties.
- KUOW's newest podcast "The Blue Suit" debuts, showcasing heirlooms and objects that hold special meaning.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 5, 2022.
Stay up to date with the Today So Far Blog!
I just moved into a new neighborhood and came across some recent street-side gossip — someone dropped off their dog, still a puppy, in the neighborhood, and left it there. The dog is now safe at a local shelter, but it got me thinking about a somewhat unexpected statement from Seattle Humane recently — there's been an uptick in people turning over their pets, willingly, because they cannot care for them.
There are many guesses as to why more and more people are dropping off their pets at shelters these days. Perhaps people are finding they cannot care for their pandemic adoptions as they return to office life, or life in general. But Seattle Humane wants people to know that it sees something else going on.
"From our perspective, this trend is instead being driven by increasing levels of financial and housing insecurity," Seattle Humane said in a statement.
What Seattle Humane is seeing locally is an echo of what Humane Society locations are seeing on a national scale. In January, the number of monthly surrenders was about 35,000. It jumped to 43,250 in May, according to Seattle Humane. In Washington state, more than 4,300 pets have been surrendered so far in 2022. Seattle Humane believes it will see more surrenders due to housing issues this year than it did in 2021. Read more in KUOW's Today So Far Blog.
Reminder: The pandemic is still happening. I know it can seem as if it isn't. The current version of the virus is not as deadly, nor is it straining our hospital systems as much as before. You may hear those facts stated as if it all doesn't matter anymore. But that's like saying, "Hey, you have insurance, and a seatbelt. Who cares if you get in a car crash?" I still don't want to get in car crash, and hey, I still don't want to get sick!
The reason I bring this up is that Washington currently has 15 counties with high levels of Covid transmission, including Pierce and Thurston counties in Western Washington. Covid levels are "medium" in King and Snohomish counties, according to the CDC. In King County, levels are still not as high as the peak in May and early June. But it's still ticking up — 3% since last week. Read more in the Today So Far Blog.
Is there a family heirloom you keep around? What does it say? When I think about it, I have a typewriter that my grandmother owned. I have a few typewriters, but I feel a need to keep this one up and running a bit more than the others, because it came down from family. I imagine that one day, I'll hand it off to someone else, a relative, who can carry it forward.
I got to thinking about that after hearing the intro to KUOW's new podcast series "The Blue Suit." A unique inspiration for this endeavor came to poet Shin Yu Pai amid pandemic shutdowns, when she was cut off from her parents. It spurred further thoughts about the experiences of Asian Americans.
"...we as Asian Americas are connected by a common separation — a separation from historical homeland and people and things left behind. Sometimes by choice, often by circumstance," Pai says in the introduction to "The Blue Suit." "Like many others before and after us, we leave something behind to make something new — a new livelihood, a new identity, a new future."
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15 Washington counties have high Covid levels
A total of 15 counties in Washington state are experiencing high Covid community levels.
According to the CDC, six of those are in Western Washington, including: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Lewis, Pierce, and Thurston counties.
The remaining nine counties in Eastern Washington include: Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Spokane, Ferry, Lincoln, Walla Walla, Columbia, and Asotin.
Community Covid levels in King and Snohomish counties are medium.
King County currently has and average of 1,045 daily cases, a 3% uptick since last week. Hospitalizations are up 2% (17). The numbers are only slightly down from a recent high in May and early June.
The CDC recommends that people in areas with high community levels mask up again while indoors and on public transportation.
Two-thirds of the counties in neighboring Oregon are also dealing with high community levels. Eight of Idaho's 44 counties are listed as "high."
More updates on KUOW's Today So Far Blog
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Will Washington's new gun restrictions hold up in court?
As of the new fiscal year, there are two new bans on untraceable guns. Earlier this month, Washington state expanded locations where weapons are prohibited or restricted.
Olympia correspondent, Austin Jenkins spoke to KUOW's Angela King about the details of these new laws.
Read the full report here.
Cracking down on "ghost guns"
Ghost guns are untraceable as they don't have serial numbers. Jenkins said lawmakers are responding to a "proliferation" of untraceable guns. One can buy a ghost gun online. People can even build them at home by downloading a design plan from the web and using a 3D printer.
Jenkins said the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is facing an "explosion" of these types of guns in recent years. In 2016, law enforcement collected 17,000 untraceable guns. In 2021, the number shot up to 19,000. Nationally, about 700 of these guns were involved in homicides or attempted homicides.
Jenkins said Washington law enforcement is anecdotally seeing more untraceable guns. He noted that these homemade ghost guns tend to appeal to hobbyists and firearm collectors. But they are also attractive to criminals, because they can't be traced.
Banning the sale of gun magazines with more then 10 rounds
According to Jenkins, advocates of the ban say, "It's designed to reduce the risk of mass shootings." Gun-rights advocates already filed a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the ban.
Expanding restricted and no-weapon zones
Under the new rules, one cannot openly carry firearms in local government buildings, like city hall, where public meetings are held. According to Jenkins, guns are now banned in school-board meetings that take place on school district owned or leased property. This also applies to concealed weapons.
Bans were also expanded to include election facilities, ballot-counting centers, and voter-registration offices. Jenkins said the ban exempts concealed pistol permit holders. However, there are no exceptions at counting centers while ballots are actively being counted.
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Why Seattle Humane is seeing more and more pets at its shelter
Seattle Humane has noticed more and more pets coming into its shelter, and it wants people to know that it is not because people are starting to return to the office.
It's because they don't have housing. While there are many reasons why a person would turn in their pets, Seattle Humane believes current financial hardships and housing insecurity is prompting a spike in drop offs.
According to a statement from Seattle Humane:
"In 2022, we are seeing an increase in pet owners seeking to rehome their pets and shelters across the country are seeing this same trend. However, we don’t believe that this increase is because people are going back to the office. In fact, downtown Seattle’s office occupancy rate is currently below 40%. From our perspective, this trend is instead being driven by increasing levels of financial and housing insecurity."
For a pet to have a home, its human family also has to have one. Or at least, it has to find a living situation that allows for pets.
There are a range of factors that Seattle Humane sees when people drop off their pets. Generally, a third of adoptable pets at Seattle Humane are surrendered by their owners.
The shelter says that in January, nationally, Humane Society locations saw 34,579 pets turned in. In May, that number went up to 43,249. More than 4,300 pets were surrendered by their owners in Washington state alone this year, so far. Seattle Humane says that it, and other shelters across the Northwest, have experienced a spike in requests for pet assistance and foster services.
According to its statement: "Seattle Humane received more than 2,400 owner surrender requests in 2021. For the first 6-months of 2022, we have received nearly 1,500 owner surrender requests. The number of pets we’ve accepted due to housing insecurity in 2022 has nearly reached the total intakes due to housing concerns in all of 2021. At this rate, we can project the number of pets surrendered this year related to housing issues will far exceed our total in 2021."
Read Seattle Humane's full statement here.
More updates on KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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See an orca in Puget Sound — stay away
Today may mark the start of the southern-resident orca watching season, but Washington wildlife officials are asking everyone to stay away from the region's endangered whales.
"The southern residents do really poorly with a lot of boats around," said Julie Watson with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. "It affects their ability to find food, and so we're asking the public to voluntarily give them a little bit more space so that especially these vulnerable whales can bounce back."
In addition to asking recreational boaters to stay away, Fish and Wildlife officials want whale watching tour boats to stay half a nautical mile from 13 vulnerable orcas.
These orcas were just categorized as "vulnerable" by the Sealife Response Rehabilitation and Research Group. They have poor health. And one is pregnant.
There are 74 southern resident orcas left. Boats are not allowed to approach them outside of the summer months.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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Inslee orders WSP to not help out-of-state abortion investigations
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has issued a directive that prohibits state troopers from cooperating with out-of-state abortion investigations. This comes in response to last week's Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade.
"We will use every resource under the law to defend the rights to choice, to defend privacy rights, to defend the safety of citizens, including those that come from other states," Inslee said.
Under the governor's directive, the Washington State Patrol is barred from assisting outside agencies from investigating people who come to Washington for an abortion. WSP also cannot help investigate those who provide abortion services to people from states where it is outlawed. That could mean the patrol refuses to cooperate with an out-of-state subpoena, search warrant or court order.
In his strongly worded directive, Inslee warns the state patrol to be watchful for requests for information from other states that may hide the fact they’re investigating someone who came to Washington for an abortion.
The order also requires the patrol to work with the state Attorney General’s Office to scrutinize all requests for cooperation from states where abortion is banned or restricted.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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Washington's Missing Indigenous People Alert system goes live
The first Missing Indigenous People Alert system in the United States was activated in Washington today.
“Hopefully, like our other alerts, the system will not be needed very often," said Carrie Gordon, director of WSP's Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit. "But when it is needed and used, we feel it can be a very helpful tool in recovery.”
Indigenous people go missing at a significantly higher rate compared to the general population, according to a news release from the Washington State Patrol.
“This is a significant step for our state and agency,” Gordon said. “We know that indigenous people go missing at a significantly higher rate than the general population. WSP currently has two full time tribal liaisons that work with tribal law enforcement and advocacy groups to coordinate state communications and response to this issue. The new M.I.P.A. system will be one more tool in rapid response by the state that will hopefully allow us to find and assist indigenous people who are in danger.”
The new system is designed to help find indigenous people who go missing and bring them home. All law enforcement agencies in Washington will be notified about the missing person, and subscribers to the system will also get a message.
You can subscribe to missing indigenous persons list here.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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Tunnel tolls going up in Seattle
It will now cost you more to use the Highway 99 tunnel under Seattle.
Tunnel tolls are increasing by 3%, which means drivers will Pay between 5 to 10 cents more per trip, depending on the time of day.
Peak morning travel tolls are between 7-9 a.m. Tolls during that time will go up to $1.80. The price between 3-6 p.m. goes up to $2.60 to $2.70 per trip.
Drivers who don't have Good to Go passes will pay $2 more than those who do have them.
The recent toll hikes begin July 1, 2022, and will go up every three years after that.
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ERs brace for firework injuries ahead of Fourth of July
Don't be a Larry.
When I was an infant, my family lived in Kirkland. My older brother was very into fireworks and my parents obliged each Fourth of July. My brother's friend Larry would come over during this time. Our house was where the fireworks were happening.
At one point my brother figured out that he could light a firecracker and throw it into the air. It was small, but it was like his own fireworks show. Light the fuse, throw the firecracker. Light the fuse, throw the firecracker. Larry noticed. He wanted to try. So he lit the fuse, and threw the lighter.
Ever since the trip to the ER that year, our family was never as into fireworks. No one was going to be a Larry at our house (other than being startled, Larry was fine).
Every year, I think about that story when hospitals like Harborview Medical Center starts bracing for the annual increase of firework-related injuries. Harborview gets about 40 to 50 a year.
Medical experts are reminding everyone that fireworks can lead to losing body parts, like your hand. They can also injure others.
“I remember many really tragic patients who lost body parts, hands, other things because of misadventures with fireworks,” said Dr. Michael Sayre, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. “The best strategy is not to get injured in the first place. So don't play with fireworks. Don't hold them in your hands, don't use them around children, and then you won't get hurt.”
The best way to prevent injuries is to not play with them. And don't hold them in your hands. Avoid using them around children. If you really want to see some pretty lights and hear some big bangs, there are public firework displays going on this weekend.
Natalie Newcomb contributed to this article.
More updates in KUOW's Today So Far Blog!
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Don't call 911 to report fireworks unless it's a true emergency
King County and Pierce County officials are have a special Fourth of July message: Don't call 911 to report illegal uses of fireworks.
Only call 911 in the event of injury, fire, or emergency.
For the first time, fireworks are now banned in unincorporated parts of King County. They've already been banned in Seattle.
Seattle's 911 call center typically gets about 2,000 calls a day. On July 4th alone, calls jump by about 50%. That's according to Bill Schrier, a strategic advisor for Seattle's 911 call center.
Schrier says they want to keep 911 call lines clear for serious emergencies as people inappropriately use alcohol, drugs, and drive under the influence.
"Don’t call 911 to report illegal fireworks unless it’s an emergency," said Schrier. "If its just illegal fireworks going off in the neighborhood that's not an emergency that's threatening life and property and people should not call 911".
Schrier provided some examples of when you should pick up the phone regarding fireworks.
“A firework that comes down on top of a house, or a roof, ignites bushes, fireworks that injure a person, ignites clothes on fire, all of those things threaten life and or property."
Report illegal fireworks
You can also report illegal uses of fireworks in King County and Pierce County online.
If you want to report illegal fire works in King County, you can report them online here. Or you can call King County's non-emergency line: 206-296-3311.
If you live in Pierce County's Fife, Orting, Roy, Sumner, Tacoma, or University Place, you can report illegal fireworks here. Or call 253-287-4455.
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