Tom Banse
Regional Correspondent
Stories
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Chehalis Tribe opens distillery after overturning centuries-old prohibition
A new distillery will soon begin making whiskey, vodka and gin on Chehalis tribal land in southwest Washington state. It's the first legal, Native-owned distillery to open on tribal land in the nation. The Chehalis Tribe's effort to diversify its economy by joining the craft spirits boom had to first overcome a nearly two century old prohibition on liquor production in Indian Country.
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KUOW Newsroom
Dead whale left to rot on private beach now on its way to becoming amazing yard art
Last year, a couple who lives near Port Townsend, Washington, agreed to let the federal government drop off a dead gray whale to decompose on their semi-isolated beach. Now, the couple has a permit to keep the whale skeleton and will soon assemble the most amazing yard art.
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New momentum to retire Native-themed mascots at Washington state schools
The first Native American woman elected to the Washington State House of Representatives says she is drafting legislation to retire Native-themed...
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Tablet and phone cameras monitor mask-wearing and distancing in cafes and lobbies
A tech startup in the Seattle area is offering new software that it says can help businesses track whether they are COVID-safe, including monitoring for...
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Bonsai tree exhibit offers novel take on 75th anniversary of end of World War II
One of the more unusual ways the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II is being marked this summer is with an exhibit of stunted trees. They’re bonsai trees on display at the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way, Washington.
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KUOW Newsroom
Ferry service boosted to U.S. enclave of Point Roberts, which is cut off by Canada
The Port of Bellingham is increasing temporary ferry service to the isolated enclave of Point Roberts, Washington. That community was largely cut off...
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Two 100-year-old World War II vets, separated by an ocean, lap expectations
A World War II army veteran in Great Britain achieved world renown earlier this year with a charity walk to raise money for British health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic. The achievement went viral -- in a good way -- and inspired another pandemic feat by a 100-year-old U.S. Army veteran across the ocean in Portland, Oregon.
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KUOW Newsroom
'Tidying up the past': Pandemic house-cleaning leads to return of World War II souvenirs
Pandemic stay-at-home orders gave lots of households extra time for spring cleaning. Some people rediscovered World War II artifacts, including inscribed Japanese flags taken as souvenirs by American soldiers from Pacific battlefields.
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KUOW Newsroom
Canada-U.S. border restrictions extended, forcing big changes in some people's lives
The months-long closure of the U.S.-Canada border to non-essential crossings has been extended again. The border crossing restrictions will last at...
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KUOW Newsroom
Matriarch of Northwest apple industry passes away at age 194. Not a misprint
It's not often that you'll read an obituary for a tree. Or that a dead tree gets a memorial service of sorts. But then there aren't many like Vancouver, Washington's "Old Apple Tree."