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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

  • Seattle is 14th geekiest city in the USA (really!?)


    What do New York, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Chicago, and Las Vegas all have in common? They are the nation's top five geekiest cities for 2023.

    Wait a minute ... where's Seattle on this list?

    Seattle comes in at 14th, which might have some Northwesterners scratching their heads a bit. As someone who dabbles in the local geek scene, and a defender of nerd pride, it feels as if Seattle should rank higher.

    Rounding up the Pacific Northwest's representation on this list of 2023's Geekiest Cities:

    Continue reading »

  • Seattle's All-Star busker fest: Today So Far
    • There's a busker fest in downtown Seattle ... and also All-Star Week.
    • Metropolitan Market is expanding its footprint in Seattle with a new location slated for Crown Hill.
    • Reminder: Don't forget to sign your kids up for kindergarten.

    This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 11, 2023.

    Quick hits

    Reminder: Don't forget to sign your kids up for kindergarten. KUOW's Isolde Raftery did, so she wrote up a reminder and a few tips for parents out there. Check that out here.

    There has been a lot of talk about MLB's All-Star Week, but a side effect of all the baseball events is a bit of a busker fest across downtown Seattle.

    “The Seattle music scene is so much more diverse than just a guy with a guitar,” Kate Olson told KUOW, between performances on her alto saxophone. Now, speaking as one of those guys with a guitar ... OK, Olson has a good point.

    The city lined up a total of 28 busking events across all days of All-Star w]Week. They're scattered near T-Mobile Park, but also around the Chinatown-International District, Pioneer Square, and Westlake. KUOW's Casey Martin took a stroll through the busking scene so far. Check that out here.

    Metropolitan Market is expanding its footprint in Seattle with a new location slated for Crown Hill. According to a statement from the market's CEO, they're coming to the area because of relationships, bringing people together, and building long-lasting memories. If we're being completely honest, the fact that Crown Hill has a median income of $146,887 doesn't hurt either ($180,000 for families, $194,783 for married couples, and $88,510 for nonfamilies). There are about 35,600 people living in the zip code for Crown Hill, 98117.

    Those numbers seem to be right in Metropolitan Market's sweet spot, like Queen Anne ($111,059 median income), West Seattle ($124,795), Kirkland ($149,131), and Magnolia ($148,878). Though, it's a bit under the demographics for the market's other locations, like Mercer Island and Sammamish, but I mean, come on, that's a bit obvious. Do I really have to produce numbers for those? ($170,000 and $207,341 respectively) I initially figured numbers like those might help paint a picture of where such luxury, high-end markets go. But it turns out, these days, Seattle has a lot of money stuffed into just about every corner of the city.

    Isolde Raftery also has this story here.

    AS SEEN ON KUOW

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  • Washington crime rates rose in 2022, report says

    Homicide and car theft rates are up in Washington state, according to data from 2022. But hate crimes went down slightly.

    A new report from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs aggregates crime statistics from 2022, indicating an overall rise in crime.

    Executive Director Steven Strachan says it’s not clear what the data signals as a long term trend. He stresses that it’s important victims feel comfortable to file a report.

    “They have to feel comfortable and able to report it and feel that something will be done," Strachan said, adding that this is something they plan to monitor over time.

    According to the association's summary: "...there were 394 murders in 2022, an increase of 16.6 percent over 2021. This is the highest number of murders recorded since WASPC began collecting this data in 1980. Homicides have increased 96 percent since 2019. Crimes against persons, property and society all increased in 2022, and violent crimes showed an increase of 8.9 percent."

    Also, the rate of car thefts went up by 34%. Domestic violence calls were nearly 46% of all crimes against people.

    Some numbers decreased between 2021 and 2022. There were 1,444 arrests for drugs and narcotics (down from 2,163 in 2021). And there were 544 incidents of hate crimes last year, compared to 592 in 2021.

    Washington’s population grew by nearly 93,000 people during this time.

    Strachan says this is happening at a time when the number of commissioned officers is down.

    "We are 51st in the nation in law enforcement staffing," he said. "This is the 13th straight year of being lowest in the nation."

    The report is based on data from 231 law enforcement agencies throughout Washington, including Tribal, state, county, and city police.

    Continue reading »

  • How good is the food around you? Today So Far
    • Seattle soccer star Megan Rapinoe is planning to retire.
    • Democrats must think Dave Reichert is serious competition for Washington governor.
    • How good is the food near you?

    This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 10, 2023.

    Quick hits

    Just a few days after her 38th birthday, Seattle soccer star Megan Rapinoe is planning to retire.

    OL Reign's 2023 season will be her last, after 11 years with the National Women's Soccer League. The season ends in October. The Reign is planning for a celebration of Rapinoe's career at the team's last home game on October 6. Read more here.

    I'm just going to be honest with you. When I first saw Dave Reichert's 33-second gubernatorial campaign announcement video, my knee-jerk reaction was to message his campaign: "A quick follow-up question for Mr. Reichert now that he has officially announced his campaign ... what is your workout routine? And do you have any tips for leg day?"

    I know that is not the most journalistic take on an election story, but I can't be the only one whose thinking that the reason Reichert's announcement video is just 33 seconds long is because he recorded it in between reps. His Democratic counterparts announced their campaigns with highly produced, minutes-long videos backed by sensational music. Reichert basically showed up and said, "I'm here now, buckle up."

    And that's all it took. He is now the most prominent Republican in the race for Washington governor. Shortly after his announcement went live, Republican Raul Garcia dropped out of the race (he's actually pivoting to run for Senate now). Democrats are also signaling that they think Reichert is serious competition. A handful of GOP candidates are already running, but within minutes of Reichert's campaign going live, Democrats started swinging. Both Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz attacked Reichert, citing his record on abortion rights and related issues. Read more here.

    Upon first glance, the Kitsap Community Food Co-Op could appear like a simple convenience store. But a closer look reveals that inside, it has food — like real food.

    There's locally grown produce, and basics like bulk grains, and fruit. This may sound like such a basic statement, but consider this: Seattle has it pretty good. Things can be a bit different outside of the city (and honestly, even still in parts of Seattle).

    Wherever I lived in Seattle, walking to a grocery store was pretty easy, and I had options. I could always count on Safeway. In a pinch, I could search my couch cushions for spare change and maybe I could shop at Whole Foods. Fresh food was around. Ever since moving out of the city, I've come to appreciate Seattle's grocery scene. I'll put it this way: My current neighborhood has a lot of "Beware of Dog" signs around. There are two corner stores nearby where you might find an apple, but genuine food is not really an option. It's not too far, but a trip to the grocery store involves getting into a car and hopping on the freeway.

    Continue reading »

  • 2021 Northwest heat dome was deadlier than previously believed, according to new report

    A new report from the University of Washington says the heat dome of 2021 was likely more deadly than officials previously thought.

    Previous estimates stated that more than 110 people died from the heat dome between June 26 and July 2, 2021, but now UW researchers estimate that more than 400 people died from direct and indirect heat-related causes during that time.

    According to the report:

    "More Washingtonians will be vulnerable to extreme heat in the future due to the state’s aging population, urbanization, and climate change. Climate models project 4 to 6°F summer warming in the Pacific Northwest in the 2050s relative to the last half of the 20th century and the number of extreme heat days is projected to increase on the order of five-fold by the 2050s."

    Researchers say the region needs to address the problem with a portfolio of strategies to avoid issues like power failures, which can limit the effectiveness of other efforts.

    Continue reading »

  • Pregnant people, babies prioritized for syphilis antibiotics as Tacoma faces shortage

    The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is urging local doctors to save their medication used to treat syphilis, due to a shortage of the drugs.

    The health department's advice is to reserve syphilis drugs for pregnant people and babies born with congenital syphilis.

    There's a national shortage of the drug penicillin G benzathine (aka Bicillin L-A), which is also used to treat other bacterial infections, such as pneumonia or strep throat.

    The drug shortage comes after syphilis cases quadrupled in Pierce County, between 2016 and 2021. Congenital syphilis (cases among unborn babies) increased from two in 2020 to 14 in 2021. The health department notes that syphilis is on the rise among all demographics, especially heterosexuals.

    The rise in syphilis cases throughout Pierce County has prompted its health department to develop a new ad campaign, designed to spread awareness.

    Syphilis cases have been on the rise in recent years. King County experienced a dramatic spike in cases in 2021 and 2022. Cases have risen five-fold since 2015 in cisgender women throughout King County.

    One reason for the rise in cases, according to one health care worker who previously spoke with KUOW, is that cases of other diseases like HIV have gone down, perhaps causing people to ease up on protection, like condoms. Such preventative measures could also work against other diseases. Chlamydia rates in Washington state have gone up 85% since 2000. Gonorrhea cases have nearly quadrupled in that time. Read more here.

    Pierce County health officials are urging sexually active people ages 45 and younger to get tested for syphilis because it's still present when someone isn't presenting symptoms, which include a skin rash, mucous lesions, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, fatigue, and headaches. Syphilis can spread to the brain and be deadly to both adults and unborn children if left untreated.

    Continue reading »

  • Security increasing at Point Defiance Park following shooting

    Tacoma's Point Defiance Park in Tacoma will be closing early all week long after a tragic shooting over the weekend.

    Park officials made the announcement after a 9-year-old girl was shot in the arm while sitting in a car at a stop sign Saturday night. The incident happened inside the park, not far from Owen Beach. She is expected to be OK.

    According to Metro Parks Tacoma's website:

    "Metro Parks Tacoma will close Point Defiance Park at 8:30 p.m. beginning today, July 9, 2023- Sunday, July 16, 2023 and increasing evening security patrols. These decisions have been made to address safety concerns for park goers. We are saddened by the increase in gun violence in our community and the negative impact it is having on the safety of our parks."

    Continue reading »

  • Where should solar projects go in Washington state?

    Not everyone loves renewable energy development, but a new project in Washington state, and an upcoming project in Oregon, hope to pinpoint places where building solar farms should cause less conflict.

    More renewable energy projects will soon pop up around the Northwest, so Oregon and Washington can meet their carbon-free electricity goals. But where should all those projects go? The Washington State University Energy Program has developed new maps to help answer that question.

    RELATED: Washington is ripe for solar energy development. But where should it go?

    Picking the right places can help protect wildlife, farmers, ranchers, and nearby communities. The maps show places where solar farms would probably cause the least amount of conflict.

    “It's important that we think through the consequences, the long term impacts, so we don't end up repeating some of the mistakes that we've made in the past," said Dani Madrone with American Farmland Trust.

    Madrone helped draw up the maps. She says the groups involved tried to learn from problems with other energy projects, like dams.

    Information on tribal land isn’t included in the maps, which tribes say won’t replace on-the-ground surveys.

    Courtney Flatt with Northwest Public Broadcasting has the full story here.

    RELATED: Even in the bright of day, some Central Washington residents have a solar energy 'nightmare'

    Continue reading »

  • Upscale grocery store Metropolitan Market to open location in north Ballard

    Metropolitan Market, a boutique Seattle supermarket chain, is opening a 10th location in Crown Hill, in north Ballard, on Aug. 30.

    Talk about a sign of the times.

    The old Value Village thrift store in north Ballard had been empty since November 2019, just before the pandemic. The location is next to a Walgreens pharmacy and a stone's throw from a Safeway.

    But now we know that a Metropolitan Market, the city's most upscale supermarket chain, is moving into that location at 8532 15th Ave. NW at the summer's end.

    It will be the supermarket's 10th location.

    Other locations are in View Ridge (Seattle), Queen Anne (Seattle), West Seattle, Magnolia (Seattle), Mercer Island, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Sammamish and Kirkland.

    A temporary office to recruit staff for the new grocery store went up at Northwest Market Street, at 15th Avenue NW.

    Continue reading »

  • Don't forget to enroll your kid in kindergarten like I did

    I forgot to sign my kid up for kindergarten.

    It's not the end of the world, but WHOOPS. Anyway, I'm writing this blog post just in case you, too, forgot to enroll your kid.

    It doesn't take long — 20 minutes or so — but do have identification and two pieces of mail ready. Also, if you're enrolling on your phone, have your emergency contacts written out, because the form will erase if you toggle between apps on your phone to get your mother-in-law's phone number.

    For Seattle Public Schools, here's the link for enrollment. (You may need to create an account.)

    Some schools are providing Jump Start, which is a pre-kindergarten program. My son's school, Greenwood Elementary, will have two days of Jump Start. Contact your school directly to find out more about this program. (Ironically, you find out about it when you enroll for kindergarten.)

    The district's enrollment office goes on a brief break July 17, so enroll before then!

    Continue reading »

  • Megan Rapinoe, pink-haired soccer legend, announces retirement

    Megan Rapinoe, the soccer megastar who fought unapologetically for equal pay for women players, announced Saturday that she is retiring.

    "It is with a deep sense of peace and gratitude that I have decided this will be my final season playing this beautiful game," Rapinoe wrote on Instagram. "I never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape and change my life forever."

    The announcement comes three days after her 38th birthday.

    Rapinoe was a national icon but in Seattle, we got to claim her as our own. She played for OL Reign of the National Women's Soccer League.

    Her accolades are too many to list, but here are a few: She was named Best FIFA Women's Player in 2019, won gold with the U.S. team at the London Summer Olympics in 2012, and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. She received the Presidential Medial of Freedom from Joe Biden in 2022.

    Also on that list: She is married to Sue Bird, a Seattle basketball star and legend in her own right, who retired last year.

    Rapinoe is known for being a smart player (if you've never watched this play, it might change your outlook on life), and for her activism off the field for equal pay and LGBTQIA+ rights.

    A commemoration of Rapinoe's career will be held at Lumen Field on Oct. 6, 2023 — the final match of the regular season, against the Washington Spirit. From OL Reign: "Details surrounding the 'Forever Reign: A Celebration of Megan Rapinoe' themed match will be announced at a later date."

    Continue reading »

  • Will All-Star traffic be a home run for Seattle? Today So Far
    • It's Major League Baseball's All-Star Week. That means traffic, which is a good and bad thing.
    • Hyping Puget Sound's out-of-this-world industry.
    • Amazon is preparing for its Prime Day event that's coming up next week.

    This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for July 7, 2023.

    Quick hits

    Today marks the first day of Major League Baseball's All-Star Week. That means traffic.

    I know, I know. It means an array of sports delights to most people, and a chance to see their favorite athletes on the field. But if you're like me, your mind immediately thinks about all the cars that are going to funnel into Seattle — plan accordingly. For everyone flocking into town, please consider parking outside the city, and taking the light rail to the stadium. It goes right there.

    For a lot of Seattle's downtown shops, this event means much-needed business. As KUOW's Joshua McNichols points out, "even the yarn store expects a rush." MLB"s All-Star Week starts Friday and continues through Tuesday. Each day, fans are encouraged to walk through downtown, from Pike Place Market to T-Mobile Park. Along that route, businesses are aiming to draw in the crowds, and many might not be the type that you'd expect to find sports fans frequenting. But they have plans. Read the full story here.

    Another local economic event happened this week, but it went under the radar for most folks. Leaders from throughout the region's space economy, along with NASA and Sen. Maria Cantwell, gathered at Blue Origin's Kent HQ for an industry trade show. It offered a chance to network and see what kind of local activity is brewing around here, and it has been brewing. The Seattle-area space industry has doubled in just four years and more growth is needed if the region wants to compete.

    It was also an opportunity for Sen. Cantwell to show off Washington's aerospace and tech capabilities. The space industry, and related STEM fields, has been a focus of the senator (she previously introduced a bill to clean up space junk in orbit around Earth). Her office had been hyping the event weeks in advance. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson was present this week to see everything from Blue Origin's work on the Artemis mission to what local colleges are cranking out. Read more here.

    Amazon is preparing for its Prime Day event that's coming up next week. At the same time, the region is heating up and folks are pointing out that Prime Day requires the company's workers to brave that heat, such as delivery drivers who have to hit the hot roads. UPS is facing similar criticism.

    Amazon tells KUOW's Monica Nickelsburg that the company has taken a variety of cooling measures, and has been preparing for the heat. Read more here.

    AS SEEN ON KUOW

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