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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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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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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