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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Seattle-area Somalis seek officials’ help with daycare doxxing, immigration crackdown
Members of the Seattle-area Somali community say they are reeling from the impact of President Donald Trump’s rhetoric — he recently referred to Somali Americans as “garbage” — and from an immigration crackdown that has sent people to detention or left them unable to work.
In a meeting with Gov. Bob Ferguson and Seattle-area elected officials Monday, Somali Americans said outrage over fraud cases against unrelated Somali nonprofits in Minnesota is now fueling the doxxing and harassment of Somali child care providers in Washington state.
In Minnesota, federal prosecutors have obtained dozens of convictions in cases of stolen federal food aid during the Covid pandemic. Those investigations began under the Biden administration.
Then, in recent days, an unverified report by right-wing influencer Nick Shirley claimed that some Minnesota daycares operated by Somali residents were fraudulently obtaining state subsidies.
This weekend, FBI director Kash Patel called Covid fraud “the tip of a very large iceberg” and said he is sending more investigative resources to Minnesota.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, state officials said they take fraud allegations seriously, but found no evidence of it in their unannounced inspections.
In the meantime, some journalists with conservative media outlets and policy groups in the Seattle area announced they are knocking on doors and urged people to visit and verify the status of Somali-run child care businesses in Washington state. The state is home to tens of thousands of Somali immigrants. It's one of the largest Somali populations on the West Coast, much of it concentrated in south King County.
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Did you see that? Movies you shouldn't miss before exiting 2025
There is only so much attention to spread around the year, and that means a few notable movies and shows can fall through the cracks. That's why you're hearing friends, family, and co-workers exclaiming, "You just have to watch this!" So, let's cover a few titles you may have missed in 2025.
Not the obvious ones. You've likely heard plenty about "White Lotus" and "Severance." It was impossible to miss the buzz around the new "Superman" film, and unfortunately, the "Minecraft" movie... exists. And don't worry, I'm not going to be the umpteenth person to tell you about "Weapons."
Here are a few other movies and shows that you may have heard whispers about, or may have even gotten by you in 2025.
Movies
A movie filmed in Washington is getting a lot of award buzz. This is the kind of film your friend who really likes to mention their MFA might bring up. But even if you're not into artsy flicks, "Train Dreams" is worth a watch.
Based on an award-winning novella of the same name, it tells the story of an average logger in the early 1900s, simply living a life as the world advances around him. This is a gorgeous movie to watch and not in an "Avatar" kind of way. It's beautiful because Washington state is beautiful — its forests, its expansive plains, and all the natural settings around here that still feel like another time. "Train Dreams" is a movie you can really tune into, and tune out everything else.
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Washington state on track for warmest December on record — again
This month is set to be the warmest Washington December on record, breaking a record that was just set in 2023.
Steven Reedy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the average temperature this month is on track to reach 45.9 degrees. The record set in 2023 was an average of 45.5 degrees.
RELATED: Seattle records its warmest December. What does that mean for mountain snowpack?
That’s despite the cold, wet La Niña winter forecast for the Pacific Northwest.
Forecasters were right: December was wet, to say the least.
The Seattle area got above average rainfall this month, thanks in large part to three atmospheric rivers that caused extreme flooding in the region.
The state was under severe drought conditions this fall, putting Washington on track for the fifth driest year on record.
Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco said the Yakima Basin was especially affected by the drought. The basin has been dealing with drought conditions for three years. This fall, it had some of the lowest water levels since 1971, when officials started tracking water levels.
RELATED: Northwest just finished warmest fall on record, scientists report
But the atmospheric rivers that led to catastrophic flooding earlier this month put the state is back on track for annual rainfall. The state is now 0.18 inches shy of the average annual rainfall.
Bumbaco said getting that amount of rainfall over a long period of time would have been preferable for the Yakima Basin, in part to avoid flooding. Still, she said, “the water has helped the basin increase its storage and decreased the long-term precipitation deficit.”
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Thousands of pounds of ground beef recalled in WA, 5 other states
Washingtonians who have recently purchased Forward Farms ground beef may need to toss it if the use- or freeze-by date is Jan. 13, 2026.
Mountain West Food Group, LLC, is recalling nearly 3,000 pounds of ground beef products produced on Dec. 16 under its Forward Farms label. Testing revealed the products may be contaminated with E. coli.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Saturday the recall is specifically for 16-ounce, or one-pound, vacuum-sealed packages of "Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef" that has a use- or freeze-by date of Jan. 13 and the establishment number "EST 2083" printed on the side of the packaging.
The beef was distributed to retailers in six states: Washington, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Pennsylvania. Federal officials urged anyone who bought this product to throw it out or return it to wherever it was purchased.
As of Saturday, there were no reports of illness due to the consumption of the product. Federal officials said anyone concerned they got sick from eating the product should contact a healthcare provider.
E. coli can cause vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Some cases can last for days and may become severe.
Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Jeremy Anderson, CEO of Mountain West Food Group, LLC, at 208-679-3765 or info@mountainwestfoodgroup.com.
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After rivers flood, King County Water Taxis use infrared goggles to dodge logs
Seattle was spared from the worst of recent flooding, but the raging rivers in Western Washington sent lots of trees and logs into Puget Sound. That can mean trouble for captains sailing through Elliott Bay.
Crews aboard King County's water taxis are used to some debris floating in the water this time of year. But as December 2025 has seen record-setting river flooding, it's been worse.
Heavy rain and wind, like we’ve seen the past couple of weeks, can push a lot of the trees, logs, and debris along river banks into waterways.
RELATED: First came the rain. Then came the toilet rats.
That can be a hazard for boats, like King County Metro’s Water Taxis that crisscross Elliott Bay. Aboard every taxi is a crewmember dedicated as a lookout to keep an eye on the water to make sure there isn't any debris in front of them.
To avoid crashing into a big, floating log, Terry Federer, Marine Director for Metro, says they use tools straight out of a spy movie: infrared goggles.
"The debris in the water has a different heat signature than the water itself,” Federer told KUOW. “So, with the infrared goggles, the lookout can spot different types of debris and then tell the captain that they should move to this direction or to that direction to change course."
The boats have light bars on them, too, that emit infrared light. Federer said they can not only spot logs with the goggles and lights, but also large animals like whales.
Water taxis are nimble enough, he says, to quickly sail around obstacles. Because of their catamaran shape, captains can also sail over a piece of debris with the object slipping in between the two hulls.
RELATED: How much water flooded parts of Western Washington? At least 3 Lake Washingtons' worth
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As Washington state's flood recovery unfolds, what resources can people expect?
We don't have numbers yet on how many Washington homes and businesses have experienced flooding. Emergency officials say it's too early to even guess until flood waters recede. But for people starting to clean up, the safety issues are serious. Flood waters can bring sewage and bacteria, which cause mold and other hazards.
To find out more about what's ahead in the recovery process, Kim Malcolm talked to KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg, who has been reporting on what assistance will be available to Western Washingtonians as they recover.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Kim Malcolm: We've heard directly from several families impacted by recent flooding, but thousands more around the state are either still out of their homes or in flood recovery mode. Can affected property owners expect to get help from insurance?
Monica Nickelsburg: Unfortunately, most typical homeowners and renters insurance policies don't cover this type of flooding. Usually, to get help with those repairs you would need to have a separate flood insurance policy.
And do we know how many properties in Washington are covered by flood insurance?
It's about 50,000 homes and businesses in Washington that have flood insurance between the program that FEMA administers and the private market. That's about half the number of people who were advised to evacuate at the height of the flooding. It doesn't mean all of those homes were damaged, but we just don't know at this point. In general, experts say that a lot more people should have flood insurance than do.
Is there clarity on what resources are available to property owners who don't have flood insurance?
It's a little bit of a wait and see. It really depends whether President Trump signs off on a federal disaster declaration and at the same time authorizes FEMA to provide individual assistance to households. That would be different than the federal emergency that's already been declared, which is really more about providing lifesaving first responder emergency relief from FEMA.
Right now, the counties that have a lot of flooding are running surveys to assess the damage. Governor Ferguson will use the data collected in those surveys to make his case for a federal disaster declaration. So, if you're a property owner who has damage, you should go to your county website and fill out this survey.
How about any resources available at the local level?
Damaged properties might also be able to get relief from state and local property taxes. County websites have details on that. And even though homeowners insurance doesn't typically cover flood damage, your auto insurance might. If your car was damaged, you should check your policy.
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How much water flooded parts of Western Washington? At least 3 Lake Washingtons' worth
Even with words like “historic” and “record-breaking,” it can be hard to get a sense of the scale of the atmospheric river that hit Washington state this month, taking chunks out of highways, sweeping away homes, submerging cars, and taking at least one life.
RELATED: As floodwaters recede, King County farmers face daunting cleanup
But numbers can start to paint a picture. More than nine million acre-feet: That's the amount of water that dumped on the flooded areas of Western Washington over 10 days. It adds up to more than three times the volume of water in Lake Washington.
Still, that number doesn't capture all of the rain that struck the region in such a short period of time.
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Wet rat winter? How to handle toilet rats after Washington's heavy rain
Here's what to do if you find a rat coming through your toilet following heavy Western Washington rain and floods.
It was midnight when Simone Gabara got up to use the restroom in her White Center home. Like many who make a late-night journey down the hall, she was half asleep.
"I lifted the lid, and I saw a shape in there," she recalled, adding that her first thought was that perhaps someone else in the house forgot to flush before leaving the bathroom.
And then a second thought: "But why does it have eyes?"
RELATED: Too many rats? Birth control is one city's answer
It was late November 2021. A rat was in the toilet. It crawled through the pipes and into the bowl, but was trapped by the lid — no longer.
"Before I knew it, it had jumped onto the seat, and then down onto the floor," she said. "I was screaming a lot."
She fled the room, not knowing if the rat remained in the bathroom or had quickly scurried out behind her.
RELATED: Why are there so many rats in Seattle?
Gabara looked for answers. She called a plumber. She looked up information online and learned that it is possible for rats to climb up through plumbing and enter a house through the toilet.
Eventually, Gabara trapped the rat in the bathroom. The crisis was over.
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Washington floods create new worries for frail seniors and their caregivers
For Western Washington’s most frail and medically fragile seniors — and their caregivers — the recent floods and evacuations pose special challenges.
Some residents of skilled nursing facilities and smaller adult family homes have had to transfer abruptly — or they’re sheltering in hotels, and hoping to return home soon.
Selena Hayes lives in Kent. Her 74-year old mother, whose nickname is “Angel,” lives in a memory care facility nearby in Auburn. She has physical disabilities and dementia.
When the flooding began, Hayes said the maps indicated that her mother’s location was safe, but then she heard from the staff.
“I received a call asking if I could possibly take her home with me because they were told they were at a Level 2 -- just to be prepared,” Hayes said.
A “Level Two” evacuation means be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. "Level Three" means “leave now.”
Hayes panicked a little bit, because her home is not equipped for her mom and she doesn’t have much leave time off built up from her new job. Friends suggested she contact another “memory care” facility in Kent, one that she’d looked at previously. That facility had room and was able to provide so-called “respite care” for her mom, for a daily fee.
“They were very kind and said they could take her,” Hayes said. “And then they were able to go and pick her up and bring her to the east hill of Kent where she could be safe from all the flooding.”
This was a great solution, Hayes said, and her mom coped pretty well with the abrupt move. But her mom’s dementia made it complicated.
A friend visited and texted Hayes saying, “Your mom is pretty sad” and “doesn’t remember why she’s here.” Angel’s usual treats — like a Coke and a favorite TV show — failed to cheer her up.
When Hayes visited, it was clear her mom was disoriented by the change.
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Will fans give 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' the same pass they gave the first two films?
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" will spur similar reviews that its two predecessors got: It's pretty to look at, but it doesn't offer much else.
If you're already a fan of the previous "Avatar" movies, you'll be quite pleased with the fantasy, spectacle, and action in "Fire and Ash" — it's mostly a replay of the first movies. Yet, there are a couple notable surprises that will give audiences something to talk about.
RELATED: "Wicked: For Good" isn't as wicked good as the first film, but brings in a lot more gravity
This latest "Fire and Ash" chapter is a continuation of the "Avatar" lore, updating us on the characters we know, where they are going, and the state of things on Pandora. That's its primary purpose — deliver another episode. It doesn't push the cinematic needle forward like the first film did when it awestruck viewers more than 15 years ago. And it doesn't tell a new story.
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" repeats old plots and themes from the last two films — humans, greed, and oppression are bad, the environment is holy, so let's fight! It's a story as old as "Dances with Wolves," or "Fern Gully," whichever you prefer.
This is evident when you watch the preview for "Fire and Ash." I have a general rule with trailers: When a movie's story is weak, then its preview will essentially show the entire film — you will get a sense that you watched three acts and then some in just a couple minutes. This is the case with the spoiler-filled trailer for "Avatar: Fire and Ash," leaving little, if any, revelations for a theater viewing.
There are standout moments in "Avatar: Fire and Ash," thanks to actress Oona Chaplin, who takes on the role of Varang, the villainous Na’vi leader of the Mangkwan clan. Chaplin's performance draws all attention when she's on screen. It shows that, through all of the technology, acting is still very much a part of "Avatar." Chaplin steals the show in this movie.
RELATED: It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s not like other "Superman" films
The Mangkwan clan also stands out because filmmakers did something new with this "Avatar" and gave us Na’vi characters who stray from stereotypes — they're villains! Yes, Na’vi can be bad guys, too. With this, "Avatar" has finally introduced a level of complexity it has previously lacked. It's this part of the film that will give audiences something to talk about.
Because of its impressive technology at the time, audiences largely gave the first "Avatar" a pass and were willing to overlook its lacking story and cheap characters (another aspect of "Avatar" that hasn't gotten as much praise, but should, is its sound). All those impressive cinematic feats continue to hold up in "Avatar: Fire and Ash." But now that audiences have seen and done this before, will they so easily give "Fire and Ash" a pass this time around? We'll know the answer if they keep making more.
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Atmospheric river brings ‘one-two punch’ of rain, wind, possible floods to Western Washington
A powerful atmospheric river sweeping across the Pacific Northwest this week is expected to dump more than a foot of rain and snow in the North Cascades and Olympics and cause major flooding in rivers that flow down from the mountains.
Kirby Cook, science and operations officer with the National Weather Service in Seattle, said forecasters are expecting two waves of water — one lasting through Monday and into Tuesday morning and a second wave Tuesday evening through Wednesday.
“It’s sort of a one-two punch for precipitation,” Cook said.
The three-day total could add up to 15 inches or more in the mountains, where freezing levels remain around 7,000 feet.
“It’s not inconceivable that [Mount Rainier] will receive, at least at the top of the volcano, somewhere in the order of 20 inches of precipitation,” Cook said. “So, a lot of rainfall is going to fall over the next 72 hours.”
That means a substantial risk for major flooding along rivers that flow down from Mount Rainier, the North Cascades, and the Olympic Range. The flood risk spreads out from the mountains into in Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Lewis counties, as well as areas below the Olympics.
The National Weather Service currently has nine forecast points on area rivers expected to hit major flood levels, including several points along the Snoqualmie and Skykomish rivers in King and Snohomish counties, the Puyallup River near Orting in Pierce County, and further south, the Cowlitz River at Randle and Packwood in Lewis County.
In terms of wind, Cook said the Washington coast could see gusts to 45-50 mph Tuesday afternoon into early evening. He said the Seattle metro area could see wind gusts topping 35 mph Tuesday afternoon.
Cook said the storm is expected to dip south into Oregon Tuesday and re-drench Washington state Tuesday night through Wednesday, which could mean flood waters peaking twice during the week.
“It will be a complicated pattern where we'll get a surge and then flow will come down, and then we'll get a second surge on a lot of area rivers because of resurging precipitation from the south,” he said.
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Violent crime is on the decline in Washington state and nationwide
Preliminary data suggest that rates for violent and property crimes in Washington state fell in 2025, continuing the decline that began two years ago. That was the big takeaway in a briefing for state lawmakers Thursday.
Jeff Asher with AH Datalytics said the U.S. has seen unprecedented year-over-year drops in its murder rate, to the lowest levels ever recorded.
“We have murder down 19.8% so far this year nationally, which previously the FBI’s 14.9% last year was the largest one-year decrease ever reported,” Asher said. “Maybe in the first year or two of World War II is the only comparable period in terms of seeing such a strong drop in murder,” he said. “We’re sort of in uncharted territory, at least from a national perspective.”
Nationally, Asher said violent crime overall declined about 10% this year, and property crime saw a less significant decline, driven by “a pretty massive drop in motor vehicle thefts.”
He said his numbers indicate that Washington state crime rates are following similar trends.
Asher compiles the “Real Time Crime Index,” which currently includes data through September from 545 law enforcement agencies nationwide including Washington's seven largest cities and counties. He told the House Community Safety Committee that the Washington state agencies that report to his index seem on track to return to pre-pandemic levels of violent and property crime this year.
“Washington state is seeing substantial drops pretty much across all types of crime that largely mimics what we’re seeing nationally,” he said.
Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) said those crime statistics “are all going in the right direction.”
Crime trends were not uniform nationally during the pandemic. According to the Council of State Governments Justice Center, violent crime fell in 39 states between 2019 and 2024.
RELATED: Crime Has Declined Overall During The Pandemic, But Shootings And Killings Are Up
But Washington was one of eleven states in which crime increased. The center’s director, Marshall Clement, said homicides nearly doubled in Washington from 2019 to 2022 before they began to decline.
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