KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
Have any leads or feedback for the KUOW Blog? Contact Dyer Oxley at dyer@kuow.org.
Stories
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Why PSE urged Western Washington to conserve energy amid severe cold
Environment
Puget Sound Energy's Jackson Prairie gas storage plant outside Chehalis, WashingtonCourtesy of Puget Sound EnergyEnergy utilities in Washington and Oregon asked their customers to curtail gas and electricity usage on Saturday after the Northwest’s largest storehouse of natural gas shut down amid extreme cold temperatures.
A spokesperson for Puget Sound Energy, Washington state’s largest utility, said Sunday afternoon that it will keep asking customers to conserve as long as the region’s unusually cold weather continues.
On Saturday afternoon, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Williams Companies, operator of the Northwest’s main natural gas pipeline, sent out an emergency notice: “Puget Sound Energy’s Jackson Prairie Storage facility has suffered a complete outage.”
The Jackson Prairie facility, about 10 miles south of Chehalis, Wash., stores more natural gas than any other site in the Pacific Northwest.
In sandstone layers, more than 1,000 feet underground, it holds gas purchased in summer, when prices are low, for pumping into Williams' Northwest Pipeline in winter, when demand and prices are high.
With the need for heat and gas-fired electricity spiking during the region’s coldest temperatures in many years, the volume of gas in the Northwest’s pipeline system on the I-5 corridor was dropping “at a rapid rate,” the company warned customers.
“Northwest requests all customers to take IMMEDIATE action to reduce loads on the system,” Williams’ notice stated.
Just before 7 p.m., Puget Sound Energy asked its customers to conserve gas and power that evening, blaming “extreme cold temperatures” and “higher energy use than forecasted” without mentioning the dwindling supply of gas entering the Northwest Pipeline.
“This evening, we’re asking customers to set their thermostats at a lower setting and limit the use of hot water, such as dishwashing or clothes washing, dryers and other appliances.”
Gas-fired power plants are the leading source of electricity for Puget Sound Energy, followed by hydropower and coal.
Other utilities in Washington and Oregon made similar asks of their customers, though some acknowledged the outage at Jackson Prairie as well as the weather.
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And then there were 8. Seattle City Council announces finalists for vacant seat
Government
Flickr Photo/Daniel X. O'Neil (CC-BY-NC-ND)/http://bit.ly/1OGMTuhOn Thursday, the city released a list of 72 applicants who stepped forward to fill the vacant seat on the dais. On Friday, that list got whittled down to just eight.
RELATED: Political shakeup at Seattle City Hall for Council's Central Staff
In a special meeting, council members narrowed in on the final eight, which includes names that might be familiar to Seattleites, such as Seattle School Board member Vivian Song; Mark Solomon, who is crime prevention coordinator with the Seattle Police Department and who previously ran for City Council; or Tanya Woo, who recently lost the Council election to incumbent Tammy Morales by 1.5% (403 votes).
The eight candidates:
- Juan J. Cotto
- Neha Nariya
- Mark Solomon
- Vivian Song
- Steven K. Strand
- Mari Sugiyama
- Linh Thai
- Tanya Woo
Read the applications for the council seat here.
The vacant spot on the Seattle City Council was created when Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda stepped down to move over to the King County Council. The position is temporary and represents Position 8, which is an at-large seat.
Next up, a to-be-scheduled forum will be hosted by the Seattle City Club for the community to meet the applicants. On Monday, Jan. 22, the Council will hold a special meeting and the eight applicants will be able to address Council members.
The Council is slated to make its appointment Jan. 23.
The appointee will fill in until the November election. They have the opportunity to run to keep the seat.
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DOJ now reviewing case against Tacoma PD officers acquitted in Manny Ellis' death
Candace Wesley, center, joins family, friends and supporters following a verdict of not-guilty for the 3 Tacoma police officers involved in the death of Manuel Ellis on Thursday, December 21, 2023, in Tacoma.KUOW Photo/Megan FarmerThe U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle confirms it is reviewing the case against three Tacoma police officers involved in the death of Manuel Ellis.
"The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington, is conducting an independent review of the state’s case concerning Manuel Ellis’ death. If that review reveals violations of federal criminal statutes, the Justice Department will take appropriate action," said Emily Langlie, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle, in a statement.
RELATED: 3 Tacoma police officers found not guilty in 2020 death of Manny Ellis
Last month, the three officers — Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins and Timothy Rankine — were acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges by a jury in Pierce County for their role in Ellis’ death in 2020. Ellis’ family members then called for the U.S. Justice Department to evaluate whether the police officers violated Ellis’ civil rights when they forcibly restrained him. Ellis died at the scene after saying he couldn’t breathe.
Wayne Fricke, one of the defense attorneys for Tacoma Officer Burbank, said in an email: "I am not surprised that the United States Attorney is looking into the case. I fully expected that to happen at some point. I look at it as their office doing their due diligence and nothing more. I fully expect that after they review the information and hopefully speak to the defense, that they will close their files."
In the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis in 2020 that triggered widespread protests against police violence, the DOJ successfully prosecuted Derek Chauvin and the other police officers involved for federal civil rights offenses saying two other Minneapolis police officers deprived Floyd "of his constitutional right to be free from an officer’s unreasonable force when each willfully failed to intervene to stop former MPD Officer Derek Chauvin’s use of unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury" and death. The officers were also convicted of failing to render aid to Floyd.
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FAA expands oversight of Boeing amid investigation into in-flight blowout
Business
FILE - In this March 27, 2019, file photo people work on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 assembly line during a brief media tour in Boeing's 737 assembly facility in Renton, WashingtonAP Photo/Ted S. Warren, FileThe Federal Aviation Administration is launching a new plan to ensure Boeing’s manufacturing process produces airplanes that are safe to fly.
The FAA said Friday it will expand oversight of the Renton-based company, following an incident last week in which a piece of fuselage broke off of a 737 Max 9 jet mid-flight.
“We know there are problems with manufacturing,” FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker told CNBC. “There have been problems in the past, but these are continuing. The aircraft that was involved in the accident last week on Alaska was less than three months old, so this is a brand-new aircraft. It has just come off the line, and it had significant problems, and we believe there are other manufacturing problems as well.”
Under the new plan, the FAA will conduct an audit of Boeing’s Seattle-area 737 Max 9 production lines and increase monitoring when the aircraft is serviced.
RELATED: FAA launches investigation into Boeing after in-flight blowout
The FAA will also look at Boeing’s quality control procedures and instances where matters of safety are delegated. The FAA said Friday it may explore “options to move these functions under independent, third-party entities.”
“We welcome the FAA’s announcement and will cooperate fully and transparently with our regulator,” Boeing said in a statement. “We support all actions that strengthen quality and safety and we are taking actions across our production system.”
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Trump's place on Washington state's ballot challenged by 8 voters
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in New York.Mary Altaffer / Associated PressA group of voters in Kitsap County have put Washington on the list of states challenging former President Donald Trump's candidacy on the next presidential ballot.
Arguing what matters most is “that this country survives, and I’m not sure this country can survive Donald Trump," Frankey Ithaka is leading the local charge to challenge Trump's place on Washington state's ballot. On behalf of eight people, including themself, they filed the challenge in superior court for Kitsap and Thurston counties.
RELATED: Where the Republican presidential candidates stand on Donald Trump
“I think the language is clear in the 14th Amendment, and I think his intent is clear in his behavior and his words, and when you lay those two things together, I think your own personal politics kind of fade away," Ithaka said. "I think any rational person looking at those two things cannot deny that he engaged in an insurrection.”
Ithaka describes themself as a political person, though they are not a member of any political party. They have participated in more campaigns than they can count. Having a minor in political science, Ithaka said the Constitution is not unfamiliar territory for them. They have therefore taken interest in challenges to Trump in other states.
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Pete Carroll's unique legacy and what's next for the Seahawks
Sports
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is pictured during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Seattle. The Steelers won 30-23.Stephen Brashear / Associated PressKUOW’s Kim Malcolm talked to sportswriter Danny O'Neil about the news this week that coach Pete Carroll won't lead the Seattle Seahawks for a 15th season.
The Seattle Seahawks may not be moving forward with Pete Carroll as head coach, but his influence on the football team is likely to linger, according to sportswriter Danny O'Neil with The Dang Apostrophe.
"He was kind of this Willy Wonka character who always expected the best," O'Neil said, noting that in his early years as the Seahawks head coach, Carroll transformed the team into something not often seen elsewhere in the NFL.
RELATED: Pete Carroll ousted as Seattle Seahawks head coach
When the Seahawks announced that Carroll would not be returning as its head coach next season, the organization said that he would move into an advisory role for the team. O'Neil says fans shouldn't get their hopes up that Carroll will be guiding the team's next leaders.
"The advisory role, he will certainly will be someone who contributes, but I don't expect him to be in the building all that much," O'Neil said. "He still has a year remaining on his contract, so he's not going to coach somewhere else, and he may not have the appetite for doing that at this point. But I don't think this signals that he is going to have day-to-day involvement with how the team actually functions."
As for who will be involved with the day-to-day functions of the Seahawks moving forward, that's entirely up to speculation at this point. If O'Neil had to guess, Dan Quinn may be one likely option. Quinn is currently with the Dallas Cowboys, but was previously a coach with the Seahawks during Carroll's early years with the team. O'Neil also argues that Raheem Morris with the LA Rams has a strong chance of coming to Seattle. Both coaches are currently defensive coordinators, and it has been argued that the Seahawks defense has been a weak point in recent seasons.
"I don't think they are going to some military, drill sergeant type coach," O'Neil said. "Pete was unique in that he really coached out of positivity. He did not use fear or threats as a motivating factor. He really embraced unique, individual elements; celebrated how unique his players were in a way that I haven't seen any other coach be able to do. There might be more rules going forward, but I don't think we're going to a military, hardline approach."
RELATED: Managing a team 'the Pete Carroll' way
Dyer Oxley contributed to this report.
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Washington State Patrol investigating protesters who blocked I-5
Protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war gesture a peace sign on an overpass to those below as they block Interstate 5 northbound Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in downtown Seattle.(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)The Washington State Patrol is investigating multiple people suspected of organizing a protest that blocked I-5 through downtown Seattle on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2023.
Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste issued a statement Thursday morning, five days after the protest.
"The Washington State Patrol is actively investigating several individuals involved in orchestrating Saturday's protest and will be referring cases to the King County Prosecutor's Office as appropriate," Batiste said.
RELATED: Thousands of pro-Palestinian marchers gather in Seattle after communications cut off in Gaza
WSP further states that intentional disruption of traffic on a freeway puts lives in danger, and puts livelihoods at risk.
"It's dangerous and simply cannot be tolerated."
WSP recently told KUOW that it was not prepared for the "sheer size of the crowd" on I-5. Batiste's statement also notes that the "sophistication and scale" of the protest "presented unique challenges."
Activists blocked the freeway Saturday afternoon in a call for a ceasefire in Gaza. With an outsized military, Israel responded to Hamas' October attack by overwhelming Gaza, and has only recently pulled back troops. An estimated 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October, as hunger and disease surges amid the attacks. Israeli officials state that despite pulling back troops, the conflict is not over. This week, the United Nations began hearings over accusations, lead by South Africa, that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
At least eight people were arrested at last weekend's I-5 protest in Seattle. Activists chained themselves together with a device called a "sleeping dragon." WSP told KUOW that special training is required to safely remove the device from protesters. Activists also left their vehicles on the freeway, blocking traffic. WSP used bomb-sniffing dogs to search for explosives.
The protest on I-5 was not the first demonstration in Seattle over the Israel-Hamas war, though it was the first to block freeway traffic. Protestors blocked the University Bridge in December. Groups associated with the protests include: the Palestinian feminist organization Falastiniyat; the Seattle chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace; Samidoun Seattle; and Students United for Palestinian Equality & Return at the University of Washington.
RELATED: Understanding the Hamas-Israel war through history and human rights
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Winter is coming! Seattle area prepares for weekend freeze
Chances of lowland snow arrive Thursday in Western Washington, followed by freezing temperatures over the weekend.
UPDATE (Jan. 11, 2023): Not long after Western Washington experienced its warmest December on record, it's possible the region could set all-time cold records in January.
The National Weather Service in Seattle forecasts a low temperature of 14 degrees on Sunday, which would be the coldest recorded in Seattle since 2010. If temps dip lower, it will be the coldest since the '90s.
On Thursday morning, Seattle Weather Blog's Justin Shaw told Seattle Now that forecasts have shifted day-to-day for Seattle. At this point, Portland is more likely to see the amounts of snow previously expected in Seattle. The Seattle area may see pockets of snow, or a rain/snow mix into the weekend.
"It may not snow, but this cold means business," Shaw said. "We're looking at highs in the 20s, lows in the teens. It's probably not going to get above freezing from Friday morning until maybe Sunday night. Pull in your plants. Don't let your pets outside ... if your car breaks down, make sure you have a heavy coat, mittens, a hat, just be prepared."
Listen to Shaw's full conversation with Seattle Now here.
ORIGINAL REPORT (Jan. 10, 2023)
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Pete Carroll ousted as Seattle Seahawks coach
Sports
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and his wife, Glena Goranson, February 5, 2014 during the Super Bowl parade in downtown Seattle.vPete Carroll was the head of the Seattle NFL franchise when they won the Super Bowl XLVIII.Juan Pablo Chiquiza / KUOWPete Carroll is out as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
"It's been an honor and a thrill to be part of this program, and I've loved every minute of it, and you've watched me love it ... it's exciting that there is such a future here. You can see it," Carroll said at a Wednesday afternoon press conference, adding that the Seahawks have a lot of work ahead of them, but the team has "great places to go and great chances ... the future is bright."
"What's gonna happen now is the process will start for getting new leadership here," he said, noting his gratitude for the coaches who have supported him during his tenure as head coach.
Chair of the Seahawks, Jody Allen, confirmed the news of Carroll's departure in a statement Wednesday morning. Carroll will no longer be head coach of the team, but his role will "evolve" and he will remain in the organization in an advisory role, Allen said.
According to the statement, the Seahawks made the change "after thoughtful meetings and careful consideration for the best interest of the franchise," and that the team has "amicably agreed with Pete Carroll" about the decision.
Carroll held a press conference several hours after the announcement.
He said he met with the team's ownership over the past few days for post-season discussions and to plan how best to move forward. He said that they came to a "good clean spot" that made sense and that he "went along with their good intensions," which included his exit from the Seahawks as coach.
RELATED: Managing a team 'the Pete Carroll' way
Carroll said the change is not about him as head coach; rather it is about the whole organization.
"I realize that, I'm about as old as you can get in this business and they have to make decisions," Carroll said. "If there is something I can add for them in the future, we'll see."
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3 Democrats will be on Washington state's 2024 presidential primary ballot
Politics
The drive-through ballot drop box at King County elections in Renton.David Hyde / KUOWThe Washington State Democratic Party has submitted its list of candidates to be on the state's March 12 presidential primary ballot, the Secretary of State's Office reports.
Washington voters will have three Democratic candidates to choose from.
- Joseph R. Biden Jr.
- Dean Phillips
- Marianne Williamson
President Biden is currently the leader of the Democratic Party and is running for a second term to "finish the job" after defeating former President Trump in 2020. Recent polls suggest that another round of Biden vs Trump could ultimately be what voters are faced with in 2024.
Dean Phillips is currently a member of Congress, representing Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District. His bio hypes him as a business owner, including his role running his family's liquor business. He has argued that President Biden has a poor shot at winning a second term, and that the Democratic Party needs a candidate who can win against Trump.
Marianne Williamson comes to politics from a different angle. She is known as a self-help author in addition to being a religious and spiritual leader associated with the Unity Church. While she says that Democrats should thank President Biden for defeating Trump in 2020, she also argues that Biden's support will not be sufficient to win in 2024.
Both Phillips and Williamson are not appearing on all states' primary ballots in 2024.
RELATED: Nikki Haley debuts WA team ahead of 2024 GOP presidential primary
Washington's Republican Party submitted its candidate list last week. The state GOP is giving voters five names to choose from — Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Chris Christie.
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A prayer for cooperation and compassion as Washington's 2024 legislative session begins
Members of the House convene on the first day of the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Olympia.(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)The Washington State House started the 2024 legislative session Monday with messages of unity, as well as condemnation of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Shortly after the gavel fell marking the start of the session, two Olympia religious leaders offered the opening prayer, starting with Rabbi Seth Goldstein.
"May you have compassion for your fellow citizens, their struggles and their hopes, especially those that feel threatened and alone," he said.
Imam Omar Kaddoura echoed that sentiment.
"So spark between us cooperation, so that we may fulfill our responsibilities as stewards of this world," he said.
RELATED: Which Republicans will be on Washington state's 2024 primary ballot?
The prayer preceded remarks from Democratic House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, who made a point to condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia. She also praised the work state lawmakers have done to strengthen the state's hate crime laws.
State lawmakers then got off to a quick start, with the House passing three bills only minutes after opening speeches.
Jinkins said she's optimistic about tackling priority issues, such as housing, behavioral health, and opioids. She said many of these issues are interconnected.
"Our challenges don't exist in silos, and our solutions cannot exist in silos," Jinkins said.
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Washington State Patrol was not prepared for 'sheer size of the crowd' at Seattle I-5 protest
In response to a protest that shut down northbound I-5 last weekend, Washington State Patrol says efforts to resolve it were complicated by activist tactics, miscommunication and “the sheer size of the crowd.”
Activists calling for a ceasefire in Gaza blocked the freeway in Seattle for five hours Saturday, Jan. 6, 2023.
RELATED: Demonstrators block University Bridge traffic as they call for a ceasefire in Gaza
About eight of the freeway protesters chained themselves together using a “sleeping dragon” device that requires special training to safely remove, Washington State Patrol said, adding that the tactic had not been used in earlier Gaza ceasefire demonstrations.
The State Patrol also had to call in extra staff to safely handle the large number of protesters, and to find a way to process those arrested because the King County Jail didn’t have enough space. The protesters dispersed without any arrests, said a spokesperson for the Seattle chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace.
Police said the protesters used a new tactic by abandoning their vehicles on the freeway, which bomb-sniffing dogs then searched for explosives.
A communication breakdown between agencies prolonged the six-mile freeway shutdown, the State Patrol said. It’s reviewing its practices in response.
RELATED: To lid or not to lid — Should I-5 be covered through the heart of Seattle?
Saturday’s protest was the latest in a weekly series of local demonstrations against the Israeli attacks on Gaza, and U.S. support for Israel, by local groups including the Palestinian feminist organization Falastiniyat, the Seattle chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, Samidoun Seattle, and Students United for Palestinian Equality & Return at the University of Washington.
Similar rallies have been held across the United States in recent weeks calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, including a protest in New York City on Monday that shut down highly-trafficked bridges and the Holland Tunnel. Demonstrations also recently closed freeways and bridges in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Philadelphia.
Correction 1/11/24 4:19 pm: An earlier version of this story misstated arrests at the protest; arrests were planned but not carried out.
RELATED: Understanding the Hamas-Israel war through history and human rights
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