KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
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Stories
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Can rent stabilization help Washington residents?
Government
A rent stabilization bill passed the Washington state House and is currently working its way through the state Senate. If it passes, it would place a cap on how much landlords can raise rents each year.Rent control, rent stabilization, and anti-price gouging — oh my! Those are three commonly referenced ideas when it comes to tackling skyrocketing rents.
It's a problem the Seattle area knows well. But these solutions are often conflated and may not fully address the issue causing the affordability crisis, according to Mike Wilkerson, an urban economist with ECOnorthwest, a local consulting firm focused on issues of housing, environment, economy, and more.
“Colloquially, everyone says ‘rent control.’ But I think often times ‘rent control’ is used in a negative connotation, versus the intentionality around using terms like ‘rent stabilization’ are painted in a more positive light,” Wilkerson told KUOW's Seattle Now.
Listen to the full conversation around Washington's rent stabilization bill on Seattle Now
Rent control
Rent control is what former Councilmember Kshama Sawant pushed for in Seattle before leaving office. None of her proposals passed. Basically, rent prices are capped at a certain level. If a tenant leaves a unit, the next tenant gets that exact same capped rate.
Rent stabilization
Rent stabilization offers more wiggle room. A rent stabilization bill is currently working its way through the state Capitol in Olympia. It already passed the House and is up for consideration in the Senate. This bill would cap any rent increases at 7% annually. But in between tenants, landlords can hike rent however they please. The bill also doesn't apply to new units on the market for 10 years.
Anti-price gouging
Anti-price gouging regulations also place a cap on rent increases with the goal of preventing massive hikes on a tenant.
Folks debate the ups and downs of these tactics, but Wilkerson argues that to really get ahold of affordability in the Seattle area, the root problem needs to be addressed — a lack of housing supply, and specifically a lack of affordable housing.
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Micro-apartments are poised to become legal in Washington state
Government
Angela Rozmyn stands outside the Arete micro-apartments in Kirkland, Washington.KUOW Photo/Joshua McNicholsA bill that would allow “micro-apartments” anywhere normal apartments are built has passed both chambers of the Washington Legislature.
Angela Rozmyn works for a developer that builds micro-apartments in Redmond and Kirkland, where they’re already legal. She says they’re basically an efficiency studio with a shared kitchen.
“It is someone’s private space, with their own bathroom, microwave, fridge, basic living quarters but without a full kitchen, and they rent generally for 55-70% the cost of a studio in the same area,” Rozmyn said.
RELATED: Why some Seattle-area seniors are choosing dorm-sized apartments
Rozmyn's area of expertise is sustainable development. She says giving people relatively affordable places to live in popular neighborhoods is more sustainable than making people drive long distances from urban centers to find something affordable.
One concern raised by cities and counties was about the low number of parking stalls included in this kind of apartment building.
The bill passed both legislative chambers by wide margins — 96 to 0 in the House, 44 to 4 in the Senate.
The bill took on a few changes in the Senate, and now the House and Senate versions must be reconciled before it goes to the governor's desk.
But according to Dan Bertolet of the Sightline Institute, reconciliation "will be a formality in this case because the only amendment the Senate made was very minor."
RELATED: Ballard beehive apartments offer refuge for a diverse workforce
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Can you find a good bagel in Seattle? A New Yorker does a taste test
Arts & Life
Carrine Fisher gets the 13 pieces of bagels ready to try as part of Bagel Quest on Feb. 17, 2024.KUOW/Juan Pablo ChiquizaPeople have strong feelings about bagels. Just ask Carrine Fisher, native New Yorker, what makes a good bagel and the first thing she looks for is texture.
“A good bagel is definitely crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, but not gummy.”
Fisher is particular about her bagels because they’re very much a part of her upbringing, having grown up in Brooklyn and New Jersey.
“I’ve spent a lot of time around bagel culture and my family is Jewish,” Fisher said. “Most family gatherings, at least at some point during the day, there would be bagels out and white fish and cream cheese.”
Fisher is not alone in her bagel reverence. Over the weekend, more than 200 die-hard bagel fans like her took part in Bagel Quest, a blind taste test to judge Seattle’s offerings.
Sarah Leviton started Bagel Quest in 2020 as a way to support local businesses and connect with friends during Covid lockdown. Word spread. Back then, 55 people signed up.
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The Kia Boy and me
Aimeé Muul's Hyundai was stolen in 2023 by a one of the self-proclaimed "Kia Boyz."Courtesy of Aimeé MuulIn July 2023, Aimee Muul’s 2017 Hyundai Elantra was stolen. While her car was missing, it was featured on a Kia Boyz Instagram story a couple of times and shown being used by young men to do stunts.
On the morning of July 6, 2023, I came out of my apartment to leave for work, only to find that my car was not parked where I had left it. All that remained was shattered glass in the empty parking spot. I was in disbelief. My gut felt knotted. I looked around, tried to activate the alarm with my car remote, wondering if I’d had a memory lapse and parked in a different location.
I called the police, made a report, and then called my insurance company. I also called out from work, given that it was a 30-mile trip. I was irate. I felt targeted, violated, and defeated. It felt unfair. I had been struggling greatly—financially and otherwise. I had moved back to Seattle from Spokane in early 2021 after an unexpected breakup; my father passed away in September 2022; and I was caring for my elderly mother – in addition to a sick, old dog. My car was essential.
I share this background to explain my frustration. I was so upset that I remarked to my nephew, “If I could find those m----- f------, I’d love to put a gun to their heads.” A knee-jerk reaction. I was seeing the world with blinders on.
My car was recovered by the Seattle Police Department six days later, less than one mile from my apartment complex. The officer called and asked if I could come immediately to pick it up—to avoid it being stolen again. He said the USB device used to start the car was still plugged in, that he did not see drugs, and that the car seemed drivable.
It was parked next to overgrown grass on the parking strip, which made it difficult to get in. When I opened the door, the stench of marijuana mixed with cigar nicotine was overpowering. There was broken glass all over the back seat and floor. Papers of mine were strewn across the back seat. There was a paper plate with old food covered in aluminum foil. A hair pick. An unsmoked cigar. Cigar ashes in the cup holder. It was filthy. As for the body of the vehicle, a window was broken, there were new scratches, scuffs, and dings. The only thing taken was my vehicle registration.
I felt strange sitting in my car, knowing that someone else had been doing stunts, eating, smoking, and laughing in it.
The next ordeal was with my insurance company. I notified them that the vehicle was recovered. At some point during the process of getting photos over to them and getting repair estimates, my claim was referred to the Special Investigations Unit for suspected fraud. Now I was really livid. Not only had my life been turned upside down with respect to my transportation, but I was being accused of fraud.
Once again, my thoughts turned to doing harm to those who stole my car. But after my landlord provided security camera footage of the theft to my insurance company, the suspected fraud portion of the claim was dropped. My car was repaired, I was out my $1,000 deductible, and life went back to what I suppose you could call normal. I got rid of my Hyundai because many Kia and Hyundai owners reported having their vehicles stolen multiple times despite the free upgrades provided by the car manufacturers.
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Syphilis cases are 'skyrocketing' in King County. Who’s most at risk?
Health
A close up of a rash caused by a syphilis infection.CDCRecently released data from the CDC shows syphilis cases are at a 74-year high in the United States. The surge in infections has Public Health – Seattle and King County concerned about the rising local epidemic.
In an audio statement, UW Medicine infectious disease specialist Dr. Meena Ramchandani said syphilis transmission is most prominent among men who have sex with men, but women are contracting the infection with “skyrocketing” frequency.
“A large proportion of those syphilis diagnoses in women are asymptomatic,” Ramchandani said. “What that means potentially, [is] … there's a large reservoir of undiagnosed infections that are circulating in the community.”
According to the CDC's 2022 STI Surveillance Report, more than 207,000 cases of syphilis were detected in the past 2 years — the highest national case count since 1950. Ramchandani noted a 90% increase in syphilis cases among women in particular between 2020 and 2022 in Seattle and King County.
RELATED: Syphilis among newborns continues to rise. Pregnant moms need treatment, CDC says
“[Infections have] been increasing since the early 2000s and we're continuing to see this increase,” she said. “What we've seen since about 2013 [is] an increase in syphilis in women and those capable of becoming pregnant and [in] heterosexual men, which we hadn't seen as much before.”
In pregnant people, syphilis can lead to fetal demise and other congenital impacts.
A national shortage of antibiotics that can treat syphilis infections also has health officials worried. Last month, the FDA temporarily approved the import of syphilis-treating drugs from a France-based pharmaceutical company.
Officials have yet to pinpoint an exact cause for the rise in syphilis cases, but Ramchandani said it could be due to several factors, including decreased access to quality sexual health care and cuts to funding for sexual health care and public health programs.
Another possible reason for the rise in syphilis cases is decreased awareness about the disease among individuals, communities, and even healthcare providers who “are not necessarily comfortable with diagnosing syphilis and managing syphilis,” Ramchandani said.
She pointed to the story of a patient who, despite showing symptoms of the disease for months, had difficulty receiving a diagnosis.
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Cougar attacks five mountain bikers on a trail in Washington state
Environment
Five mountain bikers reported a cougar attack on a trail in Fall City, Washington, near Snoqualmie. A 60-year-old female was hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries. A second cougar is suspected to have been in the area. This 2019 photo was provided by the National Park Service, showing a mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.APA group of five cyclists were riding on a trail in Fall City, Wash., when they were attacked by at least one cougar this past weekend.
The incident occurred on Saturday around 12:30 p.m., according to the King County Sheriff's Office, in a wilderness area along Tokul Creek approximately five miles north of the city of Snoqualmie.
RELATED: In a battle of apex predators, Washington cougars are killing wolves at a surprising rate
A 60-year-old female was hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries, but is in stable condition, according to a statement from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
"We are thankful that the victim is stable after the incident this weekend," said Lieutenant Erik Olson. "The people on scene took immediate action to render aid, and one of our officers was able to arrive within minutes to continue medical aid and coordinate transport. We may have had a very different outcome without their heroic efforts."
Officers euthanized and removed one young male 75-pound cougar on arrival, but eyewitnesses indicate there may have been a second cougar as well at the scene, said the statement. Officials were unable to find a second cougar that eye-witnesses said they saw on the scene.
RELATED: So you caught a cougar, now what?
Such attacks rarely end up fatal. In Washington state, there have only been two fatal cougar attacks and approximately 20 other recorded encounters that resulted in human injury in the last 100 years, according to the WDFW.
Cougars, a protected species and the largest members of the cat family in Washington, are "solitary and secretive animals rarely seen in the wild," reads a description of the mountain lion on the WDFW website. But sightings of them are on the rise in northeast Washington, according to a 2021 report by Northwest Public Broadcasting.
There are an estimated 3,600 cougars in Washington state as of 2022, says the WDFW.
If you do encounter a cougar in the wild, "you definitely want to show the animal that you are not prey. They are used to their prey running away," said bear and cougar specialist Richard A. Beausoleil in a 2018 interview with WBUR. "And so the very first thing is to stop, stand tall, make some noise, throw something at the animal if you can, but do not run."
RELATED: Neighbor calls a biologist. ‘There’s a cougar in my backyard.’ And he says...
If a cougar does attack, the WDFW suggests fighting back, as the cougar will flee if a person is aggressive enough.
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Letters to Inslee: More passenger-only ferries could be among solutions to Washington ferry woes
Government
Passengers look over Puget Sound while aboard a Washington State ferry.There could be more passenger-only ferries in Washington state's future. It's among the solutions that state lawmakers and Gov. Jay Inslee have talked about amid ongoing issues with Washington State Ferries.
"Action must be taken to preserve our marine highway system for our residents, businesses, and visitors. Please ensure ferries and ferry communities are a priority in the transportation budget," a recent letter from the Puget Sound Regional Council states.
On Feb. 11, the Council sent the letter titled "Fund our Ferries" to Inslee and officials with the Legislature's transportation committees, calling the situation a "crisis," and urging "robust investments." It's the latest correspondence targeted at Inslee and lawmakers over the condition of Washington's ferries, which are suffering from low staffing and frequent disruptions from the aging fleet.
RELATED: Washington's ferry system has a trust problem
San Juan County and the town of Friday Harbor sent a similar letter in November 2023, on behalf of "residents, business owners, and essential service providers," adding their voices to the chorus of regional leaders they say are "begging for solutions." Among the requests of state officials, San Juan County urges them to "support the County in establishing a passenger-only ferry service between the islands."
"We are compelled to collectively bring to your attention the serious consequences of the significant disruptions to Washington State Ferries (WSF) service on the Anacortes / San Juan Islands route," the letter reads. "The negative impacts of unpredictable and unreliable sailings and frequent cancellations caused by vessel and crew shortages, vessel maintenance and failures, and other persistent complications across the ferry system are compounding to critical levels."
In the February letter from the Puget Sound Regional Council (signed by 39 elected officials across King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties), the Council not only asked the state to maintain Kitsap's passenger-only ferry service, but also provide funding to increase passenger-only service between Seattle and Vashon Island. The Council also requested studies around additional passenger-only ferry services and the impact of ferries on local economies.
The PSRC also favors fast-tracking new hybrid ferries to replace the state's aging fleet, and says the state should go on a training and hiring spree to help staff the ferries and make up for anticipated retirements.
Gov. Inslee writes back
The governor's office told KUOW it has requested ferry relief funding from the Legislature, but added that budgeting is among the last items negotiated during the legislative session.
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Pollution is problematic for pollinators — and perhaps your produce
Air pollution is making it hard for some Washington state flowers to get pollinated, according to a new study in the journal Science.
Exhaust from cars and smokestacks can alter the fragrances that flowers emit to attract pollinators, leaving bees and moths at a loss.
“That degradation of the scent is sufficient enough that these pollinators can no longer recognize the flower,” said Jeff Riffell, a coauthor of the new study and University of Washington biology professor.
The study focused on the pale evening-primrose — a wildflower that grows in the sagebrush country of Eastern Washington and the American West — and two moth species that pollinate the plant. The tobacco hawkmoth and the white-lined sphinx are big and nimble enough that they can be mistaken for hummingbirds.
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'History is being repeated.' Japanese Americans call for Northwest Detention Center's end
Race & Identity
Margaret Sekijima addresses the crowd at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma on the Day of Remembrance in 2022. Several of Sekijima's relatives were incarcerated in the Minidoka, Heart Mountain, Tule Lake and Topaz relocation centers.Natalie Newcomb / KUOW PhotoJapanese Americans and groups calling for the closure of the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma blocked the federal building in downtown Seattle on Friday.
The Japanese American advocacy group Tsuru for Solidarity teamed up with La Resistencia, an immigration advocacy group calling for the end of immigrant detention, to start their Week of Action. It commemorates the upcoming 82nd anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which forced thousands of Japanese Americans into incarceration camps.
At 10 years old, Michael Ishii's mother was forced to go to the Puyallup Assembly Center, nicknamed “Camp Harmony,” where the Western Washington Fairgrounds stand today.
Ishii, an organizer with Tsuru for Solidarity, said history is being repeated through immigrant detention centers.
“In the United States, we have this system of locking people in prisons when they migrate," he said. "My community was detained in a similar way during World War II. We have a moral obligation to stand up and say, 'Not again.' If we don't stand up for our neighbors, just like nobody stood up for us during World War II, then we're no better. That’s why we’re showing up.”
Maru Mora-Villalpando, an organizer with La Resistencia, said her group is thankful that Japanese Americans are willing to support them.
“This partnership is unique," she said. "You don’t always find people that share this level of experience.”
Villalpando added that although Japanese Americans are not facing this experience to the same extent now, "They still are risking themselves to bring attention to this issue."
RELATED: Human rights group raises alarm about use of force, chemical weapons at Tacoma ICE center
In 1988, then-President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, an official apology to Japanese Americans for incarcerating them during World War II. Additionally, $20,000 in reparations was paid to surviving victims.
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Curriculum about fentanyl, other opioids could come to WA junior high classrooms
Education
The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning in August 2022 that "rainbow fentanyl" had been seized in 26 states. The DEA said it appeared to be a deliberate attempt by traffickers to make the drugs attractive to youth.Washington state's opioid death toll is climbing faster than anywhere else in the country, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That's why schools may soon be required to teach students about the risks.
The bill would mandate education about opioids, especially fentanyl, in seventh and ninth grade health classes.
Medical experts, parents, and students spoke in support of the bill Thursday at a Senate hearing. Maria Trujillo-Petty's 16-year-old son died in 2022 after unknowingly smoking marijuana laced with fentanyl.
"My baby is gone and he's never coming back," she said through tears. "But my hope is this bill will provide families and youth with the education so that no other parent has to live like this."
Emma Potra, a student at Lake Washington High School, also spoke in support of the bill. She said students must be educated so they can make informed decisions.
"It is frightening to hear the stories of teenagers my age passing away due to fentanyl," Potra said. "If this bill can save lives, can prevent a mother from losing a son or a student from losing a friend, then I'm in full support of it and I encourage everyone here today to support it as well."
No opponents spoke at the hearing.
The bill has already passed the House. If it passes the Senate, and Gov. Jay Inslee signs it, state education officials would have until December to provide schools with the updated curriculum.
Seventh and ninth graders would start learning it as soon as possible during the 2024-25 school year.
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Does Washington state need an independent prosecutor to charge police with misusing deadly force?
Patrol cars and ambulances are shown at the intersection of Third Avenue and Pine Street on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020.KUOW Photo/Megan FarmerThis year, a proposal to create a new, independent prosecutor at the state level is advancing in the Washington Legislature. House Bill 1579 would establish a unit within the Attorney General’s office to pursue charges against police officers accused of misusing deadly force.
The measure follows the Legislature’s creation three years ago of an Office of Independent Investigations, which is now preparing to investigate deadly force encounters statewide. The independent prosecutor would consider cases referred by that agency.
Tacoma City Councilmember Jamika Scott, a supporter of the bill, told the Senate Law and Justice Committee Thursday that she’s worried local prosecutors will not pursue these investigations.
“Without the option of an independent office to review these cases and make a prosecutorial decision, the work you all did to create the [Office of Independent Investigations] is greatly diminished and the time, work, and resources spent to create that office will not result in the improvements to the system that the community has expected,” Scott said.
RELATED: Washington state revamps police deadly force investigations
Opponents of the bill say a new statewide prosecutor is not needed.
“We take significant issue with the idea of spending $12 million to hire two dozen people whose sole job it is to charge police officers with murder,” said James McMahan, policy director for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. “We have seen and we have every confidence that prosecutors will continue to charge every person, especially police officers, if they are found to commit crimes.”
Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim said local prosecutors oppose the current bill as an overreach by the Legislature. But he said prosecutors would welcome the option of a statewide prosecutor for certain cases.
“It gives us a place to go if in fact we do have a concern about a conflict of interest, or even about resources,” he said.
Many family members of people killed by police support the bill. They say local prosecutors have an inherent conflict of interest because they work closely with law enforcement.
“We saw in the Manny Ellis trial that the criminal legal system did not crumble with an independent prosecutor," Katrina Johnson, a cousin of Charleena Lyles, who was killed in an encounter with Seattle police in 2017, told lawmakers. Johnson served on the governor’s task force that recommended the new office.
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Get ready, Eastside. Light rail is finally coming to Bellevue in April
Light rail will finally get rolling on the Eastside, providing a new way to travel across Bellevue, starting in spring 2024.
Service on Sound Transit's 2 Line is slated to begin Saturday, April 27.
Trains are expected to run roughly every 10 minutes, over 16 hours a day, seven days per week. Sound Transit has estimated that ridership will be about 6,000 average weekday riders.
RELATED: Where does Amazon want Sound Transit to build a new Seattle light rail station?
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