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Kate Walters

Reporter

About

Kate Walters is a reporter covering Covid-19 and the many ways the pandemic has impacted our lives. She's covered personal experiences of community members, state and local policies, affects on the healthcare system, and more. In the past, Kate has reported on homelessness for KUOW, as well as general assignment stories ranging from city hall politics to sea stars. Originally from Australia, Kate studied journalism at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). She started her career in public radio at WXXI in Rochester, NY.

Location: Seattle

Languages: English

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Stories

  • caption: Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, along with Police Chief Carmen Best, announce their proposal to reorganize the police department, reducing its size and funding, July 13, 2020.
    Government

    Mayor aims to shuffle jobs out of Seattle Police Department, shrinking its budget

    Transferring a share of duties out of the Seattle Police Department is among a range of changes to polic in the city, proposed by the mayor and police chief Monday. Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best say, however, that they will oppose any reductions proposed by the Seattle City Council that would "compromise SPD’s ability to provide service and safety to the residents and businesses of Seattle."

  • caption: Seattle City Hall.
    Politics

    Seattle City Council passes tax on big businesses

    The Seattle City Council has passed a new tax on big businesses. The move comes just two years after the council passed, and then quickly repealed, a controversial ‘head tax’ on large companies. The new tax, which differs from the previous attempt, would be levied on businesses with an annual payroll of $7 million per year or more. It would target payroll for highly paid employees making $150,000 per year and up.

  • caption: University of Washington Medical Center
    Health

    Concerns raised as UW psych unit slated for permanent closure

    Staff and some former patients are raising concerns over the closure of a small inpatient psychiatric unit in Seattle known as Seven North. University of Washington Medicine temporarily closed the unit at their Montlake campus in May and furloughed staff as part of their bid to address a $500 million shortfall due to costs and revenue losses associated with the pandemic. They announced this month that the closure would be permanent, with lay-offs of 23 staff members effective in mid-July. UW Medicine is working to find employment opportunities within their system for those staff members, according to a statement.

  • caption: Seattle City Hall.
    Politics

    Seattle City Council votes to repeal 2 loitering laws

    The Seattle city council voted unanimously Monday to repeal two laws over concerns about disproportionate impacts on Black and Indigenous people and other People of Color. The council voted to remove the crime of drug traffic loitering and prostitution loitering from the city's criminal code.