Environment Puget Sound tanker traffic thickens as Canadian pipeline boosts oil flow A 750-foot-long oil tanker and its high-powered escort tug started motoring west from a pipeline terminal near Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday afternoon. John Ryan
Environment Fisherman ordered to pay $646,259 for oil spill off San Juan Island Washington state officials are ordering a salmon fisherman to pay $646,259 in damages and penalties for spilling diesel fuel into Haro Strait as his commercial fishing boat sank off San Juan Island. John Ryan John Ryan
Law & Courts BNSF Railway ordered to pay $395 million after years of trespassing on Swinomish land A federal judge has ordered BNSF Railway to pay the Swinomish Tribe $395 million for illegally running mile-long oil trains through the tribe’s reservation for nearly a decade. John Ryan
Environment Train carrying hazardous sulfur derails in Whatcom County A BNSF Railway freight train derailed in Whatcom County late Tuesday night, with six cars going off the rails near the town of Custer, Washington. John Ryan
Environment Washington’s border waters are on the cusp of a major rise in oil tanker traffic ‘Money Talks is one of the takeaways you could have from this. In the case of Canada now, when push comes to shove, a major province in the country depends on this industry as critical to their future growth.’ -Tom Banse Tom Banse
Latin America The U.S. renews oil sanctions on Venezuela citing a failure to allow fair elections The Biden administration will reinstate sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector, accusing the government President Nicolás Maduro of failing to commit to "an inclusive and competitive election." Tara Neill
Arts & Life Rescue at sea: A Mercer Island man's harrowing account of courage and luck in the South Atlantic Balthasar Wyss of Mercer Island was rescued in March in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean after the sailboat he'd been on sank. This is his account of what happened. Angela King Natalie Akane Newcomb
Latin America Biden has to decide soon whether to sanction Venezuela. Here's what to know Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government faces a deadline this week — to commit to holding free and fair elections or face renewed U.S. oil sanctions. John Otis
Business Lummi Nation opposes BP's oil plans for Cherry Point The Lummi Nation is voicing its opposition to British Petroleum's goal of expanding oil operations at Cherry Point, near Ferndale, Washington, north of Bellingham. KUOW Staff
Environment Trees and contaminated soil are removed following gas pipeline spill in Skagit County Crews have begun removing trees and contaminated soil in Skagit County, after a pressure check valve failed on a BP-owned pipeline, causing 25,000 gallons of gasoline to spill in Conway earlier this month. KUOW Staff
