Environment Seattle got dark and rainy again. Do we still need to conserve water? Seattle-area officials are still asking the public to use less water, even as autumn storms have been refilling the city’s reservoirs. John Ryan
Science Want some good news? King County streams are getting healthier Several 20-year long studies show that King County streams have fewer pollutants compared to previous samples, despite a population boom. In one study, a quarter of sites improved in water quality while only 3% declined in health. Natalie Akane Newcomb
Environment How 'forever chemicals' got in the groundwater west of Spokane Seattle Times reporters Isabella Breda & Manuel Villa talk with Soundside about PFAS chemicals in the drinking water near the city of Spokane. Diana Opong Jason Burrows
Government This water taxi captain prevented a runaway barge from ramming into downtown Seattle. Here's his account Captain Dan Krehbiel was steering a water taxi boat from West Seattle on Thursday when he spotted a runaway barge -- a six-story wall of steel containers -- headed at a clipped pace of the Great Wheel and the Seattle Aquarium. What follows is Krehbiel’s account of what happened. Patricia Murphy Jason Pagano
World Making cities 'spongy' could help fight flooding — by steering the water underground Almost all of China's medium and large cities are susceptible to floods. Some experts are promoting a solution called sponge cities — urban landscapes that are softer and meant to absorb more water. John Ruwitch
Environment The U.S. needs minerals for green tech. Will Western mines have enough water? As the U.S. plans new mines for copper, lithium and other metals to use in green technologies, mining projects in the West could threaten scarce water supplies. Julia Simon
Crime Tri-Cities advocates fighting human trafficking work to slow crime during busiest summer weekend As the Tri-Cities gears up for boat races – one of the biggest events of the year – local human trafficking advocates are gearing up to help. This is the first year that local resource centers are trying a new tactic. Courtney Flatt
Environment Another three bite the dust: Heat melts Mount Rainier glaciers A warming climate has claimed three glaciers on Mount Rainier, home to more ice than any American mountain south of Alaska. John Ryan
