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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Got long Covid? UW Medicine wants to hear from you
Seattle is among a handful of cities chosen for studies to evaluate long-Covid therapies.
University of Washington Medicine announced Wednesday it will conduct the first two clinical trials to study long Covid for the National Institutes of Health. The clinical trials are part of the NIH RECOVER Initiative (RECOVER stands for Researching Covid to Enhance Recovery).
RELATED: Long Covid, long wait times: patients turned away from specialty clinics turn to primary care docs
Some people who have had Covid-19 may experience long-term impacts from the infection. For some, the condition's symptoms can last months or even years. UW Medicine reports that symptoms can vary, but some of the most commonly reported problems include fatigue, brain fog, low physical endurance, trouble with problem-solving, and memory lapses.
Dr. Helen Chu will lead the research team. Chu is an expert in communicable respiratory diseases and is a professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Researchers expect the trials to last until December. They plan to enroll 315 total participants across all study sites in the U.S. The UW team will enroll 25 participants and then continue to enroll more people until the nationwide goal of 315 participants is met.
Several studies will be conducted nationwide to assess potential therapies, including drugs, and even medical devices to help alleviate long Covid symptoms. Anyone interested in the clinical trials can learn more by sending an email to uwrecoverstudy@uw.edu.
RELATED: Extreme heat can exacerbate long Covid symptoms
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Tukwila is swelling with asylum-seekers. What can be done?
When asylum-seekers began showing up at the door of Tukwila's Riverton Park United Methodist Church last year, Rev. Jan Bolerjack felt it was the church's duty to care for them. But as the situation worsened over the months, the reverend said it's now more than one church, in one Washington town, can handle.
"This basically came to us, and we couldn't shut the door," Bolerjack told KUOW's Soundside. "It is our call; this is more than we can handle though."
The reverend said that the need is now so great, she has to turn some people away. The issue has grown into a regional emergency, with various parties chipping in to help, but with few long-term solutions.
RELATED: Tukwila church offers temporary comfort and refuge for asylum seekers
Bolerjack is now urging others in Western Washington to help. She hopes people will open their homes.
"They can come and take a family into their homes. These families are wonderful families," she said. "They deserve better than what they are getting as a welcome into the United States. Some people even wonder if they are really in the United States, ending up like they are here. Come take a family. Come meet a family. Come play with some children. Financial assistance is always welcome, also."
"I got a call from a friend, Sarah Perry, who is also our King County Council member, and asked if MAPS could help with a situation they have," said Hyder Ali with MAPS.
Ali said that he was told the asylum seekers needed a place to stay for about two weeks. He turned around and spoke with the MAPS board and within 10 minutes, the funding was approved.
"Migrants are probably the most vulnerable in our society," Ali said. "No one wants to uproot their family and come to a foreign country, unless they face severe violence or disastrous conditions in their homeland. In the Muslim community we are quite familiar with this situation because we've had a number of refugees from war-torn countries that have come to Seattle ... our faith teaches us that we need to take care of the most vulnerable."
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Corner stores are the cornerstone of Seattle's quest to become a 15-minute city
A "15-minute city" is a city where the shops and restaurants you need are within a 15-minute walk of your home. That is Seattle's goal.
The city's new draft comprehensive plan includes a proposal to achieve that status, in part by reviving neighborhood corner stores.
The plan comes shortly after the death of a bill in Olympia that would have legalized corner stores statewide.
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f you’ve walked through Seattle’s residential neighborhoods, you may have seen funky, older homes that look like they used to be restaurants or corner stores. They’re remnants of an era when homes and businesses used to butt up against each other.
Of the businesses that managed to hold on to old corner store locations, many have become beloved neighborhood institutions, like the Volunteer Park Cafe or Irwin's in south Wallingford.
But these survivors have been swimming against the tide. After World War II, Seattle, like many cities, decided homes and businesses should be kept apart.
But in low density zones, the clues of an earlier way of thinking are still there. Maybe a home has a big plate glass window right next to the sidewalk (with the windows drawn) — or a strange entry door diagonally situated, facing the street corner where sidewalks cross. These tell the story of a time when stores were within a short walk of every home.
In the years since corner stores fell out of favor, the economics of what will succeed in those spaces has changed. Today, large grocery chains negotiate special discounts on goods that put smaller grocery stores at an economic disadvantage.
This is one reason why many business locations evolved into awkward homes, where residents must keep the shades drawn to get a little privacy from passersby on the sidewalk.
RELATED: Will Seattle's new growth plan produce enough housing for newcomers?
Current zoning laws make it difficult to turn those homes back into businesses in low density residential neighborhoods. But Seattle's new draft comprehensive plan, released Tuesday, would allow those awkward apartments to become businesses again. It would also allow construction of new corner stores, though city officials say that will probably not happen often, for economic reasons.
Nevertheless, the new approach suggests that in the future, it’ll be easier for people to find hidden cafes and shops nestled among smaller homes.
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King County leaders say they have new plans to fight the opioid crisis. But when?
King County officials announced new plans to address the region's opioid crisis Monday, aiming to provide new avenues to help people who are addicted to dangerous drugs. None of the plans involve new funding and it’s uncertain when they might materialize.
At a press conference, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced new plans to stop people from dying from drug overdoses. The broad-ranging plans cover mental and behavioral health, mobile outreach, overdose treatment, and more services for young people addicted to drugs.
“Substance use disorder is complex, and there is not one single cause, nor one simple solution,” Constantine said.
RELATED: Fentanyl is a great drug for cartels. But those blue pills are killing King County
Aiming to address the multiple causes, the new plan includes:
- King County will partner with Pioneer Human Services to open a treatment program in Seattle with room for 16 people.
- The County also intends to re-open a 24-hour sobering center downtown.
- Fire departments in the county will get more nalaxone to give out to people. The nasal spray stops the effects of an opioid overdose and can save someone’s life.
- Public health officials also want to test up to 1,000 drug samples a year to cut cut down on the fentanyl in the county.
To do all of this work, county officials said it will hire dozens of people to work in substance abuse treatment, case management, and behavioral and mental health care. They’ll also add about 50 apprenticeships to attract new people into the field.
All of these plans will be paid for by existing taxes and initiatives already approved by King County voters. No new money will be allocated to this project, elected leaders said.
When exactly any of this will happen is unknown. Neither Executive Constantine nor anyone else at the press conference would specify a timeline. Clint Jordan of Pioneer Human Services, however, did comment on when a 16-bed residential treatment program could open.
"We’re targeting a six month open,” Jordan said. “I think that puts us in October, November, somewhere in there.”
The multi-pronged approach is an effort to reach as many people as possible as opioid use, especially fentanyl, is surging in King County. Seattle-King County Public Health reports a record 1,082 people died last year from overdoses. Just over two months into 2024, there already have been 134 people in King County who have died from an opioid overdose.
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Seattle cop slashes minivan tire during pro-Palestine march, video shows
A Seattle police officer is under investigation for allegedly slashing a tire during a pro-Palestine march last month, according to the Office of Police Accountability. The march was held on Feb. 9, in downtown Seattle, and had reached the World Trade Center along the waterfront when the incident took place.
A video circulating on social media shows a beige minivan pulling away, as protestors chant in the background. One officer gestures for the car to move forward. Another Seattle officer then runs up behind the vehicle and appears to plunge some kind of device into the driver’s rear tire.
A different clip shows an officer placing what appears to be a stationary tire deflation device near the minivan’s front passenger tire. Seattle Policy policy allows for the use of stationary tire deflation devices, but only when the vehicle is not moving.
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Seattle area McClatchy newspapers move to printing just 3 days per week
The McClatchy Media Network is planning a digital transformation for two of its regional newspapers to better align with how readers are getting their news in 2024.
In a statement published by the Tacoma News Tribune and The Olympian last week, both news outlets said they’ll move to a digital-first news format, and only provide print versions of their papers three days a week, every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday starting May 6. The digital versions of the papers will be called eEditions and will include websites and mobile apps.
In January, the McClatchy-owned Bellingham Herald also moved to a more digitally-focused format, printing just twice a week to better serve the growing number of people using their phones or other smart devices to consume news.
According to a 2023 Pew Research study, 86% percent of adults in the U.S. get their news from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
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Vote 'uncommitted' in presidential primary, say coalition members for Gaza ceasefire
Rebekah Harris Liebermann is the granddaughter of Holocaust refugees and one of potentially thousands of Washingtonians who plan to vote “uncommitted” in the state’s Democratic presidential primary next week.
“My grandfather died just about a year ago, and it would break his heart to see what is being done in his name and in our names,” Liebermann told KUOW. “It is imperative that we do absolutely everything that we can to not only stop the genocide that's happening.”
Liebermann was part of a coalition calling for Democratic voters in Washington to cast “uncommitted” ballots rather than voting for President Joe Biden in the presidential primary election on March 12. The group stood in the cold Monday in front of the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle to call on Democrats to use the ballot box to send the Biden administration a message: If Biden does not support a permanent ceasefire, they cannot support him.
Broadly speaking, those who said they would vote “uncommitted” viewed a vote for Biden as a vote for the status quo, under which the U.S. aids Israel and does not call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
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Washington State Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig stepping down at end of 2024
Washington Senate Democrats will lose one of their leaders in 2025. Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig will not run for reelection, opening the influential role to new leadership.
"Part of being a good leader is knowing when it is time to step aside and let others lead," Billig said in a statement Monday. "I have been incredibly lucky to have served Spokane in the Legislature and fortunate to have the strong support of my family and so many friends and neighbors throughout our community."
RELATED: Republicans, Democrats, carbon, and you. Debating Washington's cap and trade
Billig was elected in 2010 to represent the state's 3rd legislative district, which covers the city of Spokane. He has served as majority leader over the past six years, and sits on the Ways and Means, and Rules committees.
Washington Senate Democrats note that Billig championed education funding, helped pass new climate policies, pushed for sustainable aviation fuels, and had more than 90% of his bills passed with bipartisan support.
Billig said that he will continue to work his regular job with Brett Sports, where he is CEO and co-owner. Brett Sports owns the Spokane Indians baseball team.
Washington Senate Democrats will choose a new Senate leader in November.
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Former Seahawk QB Russell Wilson to be released from Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson will not play for the Denver Broncos in 2024. The former Seahawk, and current Bronco, will be released from his contract before the NFL's league season begins this month.
"We spoke with Russell Wilson today to inform him of his release after the start of the league year. On behalf of the Broncos, we thank Russell for his contributions while wishing him the best as he continues his career," Broncos General Manager George Paton and Head Coach Sean Payton said in a joint statement released Monday afternoon.
RELATED: Pete Carroll's unique legacy and what's next for the Seahawks
Six minutes after the joint statement was published on X (formerly Twitter), Wilson released his own statement thanking Broncos country, his teammates, and even folks who work in the team's cafeteria.
"Tough times don't last, but tough people do. God's got me. I am excited for what's next," Wilson said in his statement.
According to The Seattle Times, Wilson's release comes at an opportune time for the Broncos. If Wilson remained on the team past March 17, he would be guaranteed $37 million as part of his five-year contract.
Wilson played 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, starting in 2012. The Seahawks went to the Super Bowl the next year, beating the Denver Broncos. Two of the three Super Bowls played by the Seahawks happened while Wilson was the team's quarterback.
In 2022, Wilson left the Seahawks and signed a five-year, $245 million contract with the Broncos. His first season with Denver has been viewed as a disappointment. Wilson was reportedly sacked more times than any other quarterback in the NFL that year. In the 2023 season, Wilson was benched for the last two games.
Wilson's release comes two months after the Seahawks let former Head Coach Pete Carroll go, another figure from an era when the Seahawks were among the best teams in the NFL.
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Measure would clear the way for Washington high schoolers to get an even earlier jump on college
A bill to allow incoming 11th graders to take summer college courses is headed to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk.
The “Walking to Running Start” measure, led by Republican Sen. Brad Hawkins of East Wenatchee, passed the house 92-1 last week. The bill had already cleared the Senate.
It’s an expansion of the state’s Running Start program, which has allowed juniors and seniors to earn college credit while in high school for over two decades.
Diana Haglund, communications director for the Wenatchee School District, said about 250 students there currently participate in the program — and they’re excited to offer it to more.
One perk of the expansion, Haglund said, is that students can ease into the college experience more gradually during the summer term.
“It’s kind of an intro to that, to give kids a flavor and sort of kick the tires on what Running Start would be like, and what the rigor level of college classes would be,” she said.
Haglund is also hopeful that the bill will allow more students to pursue higher education — especially those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it.
In Wenatchee, 65% of students are considered low income.
While Running Start students have to purchase textbooks, provide their own transportation to classes, and pay some other fees, college tuition is covered by their home school district.
“We have a lot of first-generation students who are coming through our system and could really benefit from those two years of Running Start experience, to help them get a leg up,” she said. “It makes a big difference in that accessibility and equity of access for many of our students and families.”
Assuming Inslee signs off on the bill, the measure will go into effect 90 days after the session ends. Students will be able to earn as many as 10 credits during the summer before their junior year.
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Rules on firearms storage, open-carry, buybacks, and gun dealers advance in Washington Legislature
As the Washington Legislature heads into its final week, four bills that address firearms storage, open-carry, buybacks and gun dealers have passed both chambers and appear headed to the governor’s desk.
HB 1903 establishes a civil infraction and fine of up to $1,000 for gun owners who fail to report a lost or stolen firearm within 24 hours. The owner could be fined if a “prohibited person” subsequently gains access to the firearm.
RELATED: Federal Way gun store owner to pay $3 million for violating Washington gun law
Dylan O’Connor is government affairs director with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, which worked to pass all four bills. He said the potential infraction is one more incentive for people to safely store their guns.
“I would lock it up, I wouldn’t leave it in the glove compartment of my vehicle or anything like that, just to make sure I’m keeping myself safe as well as the community,” O’Connor said.
The second bill, HB 2118, is intended to prevent thefts and straw purchases from dealerships. It requires firearm dealers to adopt specified security features including bars on doors and windows, “alarm and surveillance systems, and safe storage and record keeping practices,” according to the bill report.
Troy Nicholas with the National Shooting Sports Foundation told lawmakers that dealers were willing to accept background check and age-verification requirements for employees, but opposed video-retention requirements as cost prohibitive.
Walla Walla County Sheriff Mark Crider also testified in opposition to that bill last month.
“Its demands are unrealistic and draconian mandates that have zero law enforcement value and appear to have no other purpose than to put Washington [Federal Firearms License] holders out of business,” Crider said.
Supporters say the new requirements will help keep guns out of the illegal market. They noted that in the final version the video-retention requirement was shortened from multi-year proposals to 90 days. The effective date of the bill is delayed until July 2025.
A third bill, SB 5444, prohibits the open carry of firearms in certain locations including transit stations, public libraries and zoos or aquariums.
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How will Seattle grow through 2044? City leaders are about to find out
Where should Seattle allow more housing to be built? The city’s official answer to that question will change when the city updates its comprehensive plan. That work starts now.
The comprehensive plan is like a guidebook for development. It lays out where the city will direct new growth, and where development will be restricted.
City leaders update Seattle's comprehensive plan every 10 years, and a draft of the next update is expected the week of March 4 (it's been "under construction" for at least two years). Each update considers growth over the upcoming 20 years.
RELATED: Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice and the origins of Seattle's growth strategy
Past versions of this plan funneled 83% of the city’s new housing into dense neighborhoods called “urban villages.” Those strategies failed to build enough housing, and as a result, a large number of people were priced out of Seattle.
The new plan is expected to make a lot more room for new housing. Whether its approach is aggressive enough will be the subject of intense debate for the rest of 2024, at the end of when the final draft is due to the state.
Some of the heavy lifting in this document has already been done by state legislators, who last year allowed “middle housing” in single-family neighborhoods across much of Washington. Seattle’s document will have to conform to these new state rules.
If Seattle wants to meet the demand for housing though, it’ll have to go much further.
RELATED: Where should Seattle build homes for newcomers?
A lot has happened, since the last time Seattle made a growth plan like this back in 2016. Rents and home prices have risen dramatically. More people are linking homelessness to the housing shortage. And more people understand the destructive effect of redlining, particularly on Black families.
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