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
-
Can AI solve Seattle's traffic woes? Google thinks so
The city of Seattle is the first in the United States to work with Google on a new traffic light system, using artificial intelligence.
"It's a solution that they can deploy to an intersection within five minutes," said Juliet Rothenberg, product lead at Google's Climate AI. "It requires no construction, and no integration."
The effort incorporates AI and data from Google Maps, then gives the Seattle Department of Transportation suggestions on how to fix traffic jams.
The tech giant has launched "Project Green Light" in 13 different cities on four continents. Seattle is the first city in North America where it is being used.
Rothenberg notes that the new technology is quick, and much cheaper than other transportation solutions that require new construction.
"They might spend thousands, even ten-thousands of dollars of installing sensors in an intersection," Rothenberg said.
RELATED: Can AI reduce traffic deaths? These Seattle engineers are putting it to the test
Project Green Light can scan for significantly more traffic hot spots compared to existing methods. This gives city engineers more capacity to address high-traffic areas. It can also recognize when intersections nearby each other are not coordinating, contributing to a traffic jam.
"You'll have a lot of traffic going through the first intersection just to get stopped at the second intersection. Let's change that," Rothenberg said. "We can have traffic flowing smoothly through both simultaneously."
Changes can be as little as adding three seconds of extra green light time. Rothenberg said Project Green Light will recommend "these types of changes and even just those few seconds can have a big impact." According to early studies, up to 30% of stops can be reduced when using suggestions from Project Green Light.
The AI tech could also cut up to 10% of CO2 emissions at intersections.
Continue reading » -
Seattle mayor wants more housing at Fort Lawton
Mayor Bruce Harrell wants to add more dense housing to Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood.
Harrell now wants up to 500 units at the Fort Lawton site near Discovery Park. That's more than double the city's current plans for that location, which were initially developed in 2019. But the mayor's office says that a 2022 assessment of the property concludes that it will require considerable infrastructure upgrades.
“The scale of our affordability and homelessness crises requires us to make the wisest possible use of our limited housing dollars in order to achieve the largest possible impact,” Harrell said in a statement. “In a city of 84 square miles, the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan is a unique opportunity to transform 34 underutilized acres into a new community that will last for generations — we must make the most of it. This is our One Seattle vision in action — a city with affordable homes and communities where every Seattle neighbor can access the good jobs, schools, and supports needed to grow and succeed.”
The mayor's office says that building more units will translate to a lower per-unit price tag, and help cover infrastructure costs for the project.
Fort Lawton is a former military site, which is still owned by the Army. The proposal includes affordable housing, and permanent supportive housing for vets and seniors who have experienced homelessness.
Density advocates say that the site could add even more housing. Neighborhood critics have called for the entire site to be dedicated as park land. The mayor wants to preserve 22 acres for open space and park projects.
The City Council still needs to approve the plan. So far, Councilmembers Cathy Moore and Dan Strauss have voiced their support for the increased housing.
"As the incoming chair of the Housing and Human Services Committee, I applaud Mayor Harrell’s proactive approach to increasing desperately needed affordable housing as well as permanent supportive housing in our city," Moore said in a statement. "I look forward to Council’s review of the amended redevelopment plan and working with all stakeholders to bring this project to fruition."
Continue reading » -
The weather is not finished with Western WA: Lowland snow, freezing temps expected
UPDATE: The last time Western Washington faced a blizzard warning was 2012, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. Now, 2024 has opened with a blizzard that announced itself with thick mountain snow, treacherous roads, strong winds, high surf and coastal flooding, and heavy rain across the lowlands.
The intense weather is not finished with Western Washington as freezing temperatures are expected to come next. Meteorologist Kirby Cook with the National Weather Service in Seattle calls this a "mixed bag" of weather stretching across the region.
"We're looking at a return to winter weather this week," Cook said, noting that strong winds will continue with gusts up to 65 mph, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca through the Whidbey Island area into Wednesday. Rain will continue with some thunderstorms.
Then, Western Washington temperatures will start to chill out.
"Depending on exactly where you are, anywhere from a 50-70% chance for at least an inch of snow in the lowland areas of Western Washington, which is pretty significant," Cook said.
Looking ahead, Cook said Western Washington can expect:
- Some potential for snow in the lowland areas late Tuesday and early Wednesday morning, most likely in the south Puget Sound area (Olympia and along the I-5 corridor to Portland). Potentially 1-2 inches of snow.
- Increased potential for lowland snow Thursday through Saturday. High temperatures in the upper 20 degrees are expected Friday and Saturday. Overnight temps could dip into the teens. Cook says such conditions are unusual for the area, and that any precipitation that falls will come as snow.
- "It does look like there is a chance for some lowland snow early (Wednesday) morning ... mostly gonna be south of Olympia ... some of the higher hilltops in the Seattle area could see some snow. I wouldn't expect any significant accumulation with that."
- "Pretty significant snow" could hit the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula.
- Weekend will transition to warmer temps, with means a potential for freezing rain.
"It's really looking like as we transition out of the windy conditions in the next 24 hours or so we're going to move into a much cooler classic a winter weather pattern for the Northwest, certainly in Western Washington really through the weekend," Cook said.
The blizzard warning for the mountains is still in effect until Wednesday morning. Cook notes that's when the winds will calm down, but the snow is expected to continue. Elevated avalanche conditions are a concern.
The National Weather Service in Seattle reported late Monday night that wind gusts ranging up to 50-60 mph were moving through Western Washington, along with "enhanced showers." Tuesday morning, WSDOT asked drivers to consider delaying trips over the mountain passes, such as Snoqualmie Pass, due to heavy snowfall and poor visibility. Otherwise, drivers are asked to be prepared with "appropriate traction tires." Road conditions have already caused crashes on I-5 over Snoqualmie Pass.
ORIGINAL REPORT
Get your candles ready for power outages, and expect roadways to snarl. A blizzard is coming to Western Washington this week.
A blizzard warning has been issued for the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Mountains in Western Washington. But the snow in the mountains is not the only weather event slated for the region that residents should plan around.
"A significant storm system will bring heavy snow and major impacts to portions of the Pacific Northwest beginning today. Blizzard conditions are likely in some of the higher terrain where multiple feet of snow may accumulate," the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center stated Monday morning.
The blizzard warning is active through Wednesday morning. The Center forecasts "several feet" of fresh snow in the Cascade Mountains over Monday and Tuesday evening, from "back-to-back storms."
Expect mountain passes to be affected. The National Weather Service in Seattle reports that the last time Western Washington had a blizzard warning was 2012.
Continue reading » -
Political shakeup at city hall for Seattle Council's Central Staff
Politics
The sign at Seattle City Hall.Seattle's new Council President Sara Nelson has fired the head of the Council's central staff, Esther Handy.
Central Staff’s job is to help lawmakers with “objective research, and analysis,” much like the Congressional Budget Office in the Washington D.C.
Nelson is naming former Central Staff director Ben Noble to replace Handy. Noble was the director of Central Staff "for more than seven years" according to his city bio. He is currently Director of the Office of Economic and Revenue Forecasts.
RELATED: 5 new Seattle City Council members and 1 to go. Let the wrangling begin
Before her role at Central Staff, Handy served as a director of two progressive non-profits, including Puget Sound Sage, and before that worked as an aide to former Councilmember Mike O'Brien.
Handy was first hired to run Central Staff by former Council President Lorena Gonzalez, a Progressive who also ran for mayor against Bruce Harrell.
Councilmember Nelson’s politics are much less progressive. First elected in 2021 to an at-large council seat, Nelson has a reputation as a business-friendly centrist.
Last week, Nelson was elected council president by the new centrist majority on the council, which includes five new members.
Continue reading » -
Should Washington stay in standard time? These lawmakers say 'yes'
Government
As lawmakers return to Olympia for the 2024 session, the Washington state Legislature is taking another run at eliminating the twice-yearly ritual of changing clocks.
“I’m working with colleagues in Oregon and California and they’re going to be trying to get similar legislation through their states so that the Pacific time zone, hopefully, could be all together on this," said state Sen. Mike Padden, a Spokane Valley Republican who wants to move Washington to year-round standard time.
RELATED: UW sleep doctor wants us to fall back, and stay there
Padden’s bill (SB 5795) to place Washington in year-round standard time is co-sponsored by state Sen. Manka Dhingra, a Redmond Democrat. The measure would exempt Washington from participating in national daylight saving time. If approved, Washington would go into permanent standard time on Nov. 4.
The bill argues that daylight saving time has negative impacts ranging from poor health, increased traffic accidents, spikes in in crime, agricultural disruptions, and hindering economic growth.
"Scientific studies have connected a number of health consequences with the act of switching between standard time and daylight saving time, including greater risks of heart attacks, more frequent workplace injuries, and increased suicide rates in the days immediately after the switch," the bill states.
Standard time is what the region is currently in, with daylight fading earlier in the evening. Daylight saving time is the other option that kicks in during spring and lasts through summer. It includes daylight that stretches later into the evening.
Daylight saving time, with its lighter evening hours, is often preferred. Padden even prefers daylight saving time over standard time. In 2019, he supported a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee that would have put Washington permanently on daylight saving time. But that move requires approval from Congress, which hasn't happened.
RELATED: 6 things to know about the political debate around daylight saving time
With no action from Congress, Padded now argues that stopping the time switch altogether is the most important action to take. Moving to standard time is something Washington state can do on its own.
Continue reading » -
Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Oregon after window and chunk of fuselage blow out
Alaska Airlines planes parked at gates with Mount Rainier in the background at sunrise, on March 1, 2021, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle.(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)An Alaska Airlines jetliner blew out a window and a portion of its fuselage shortly after takeoff three miles above Oregon, creating a gaping hole that sucked clothing off a child and forced the pilots to make an emergency landing as its 174 passengers and six crew members donned oxygen masks.
No one was seriously hurt as the depressurized plane returned safely Friday night to Portland International Airport about 20 minutes after it had departed, but the airline grounded its 65 Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft until they can be inspected. The National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday it will also investigate.
Passenger Evan Smith said a boy and his mother were sitting in the row where the window blew out and the child’s shirt was sucked off him and out of the plane.
“You heard a big loud bang to the left rear. A whooshing sound and all the oxygen masks deployed instantly and everyone got those on,” Smith told KATU-TV.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said the inspection of the company 737-9 fleet aircraft could take days to complete. They make up a fifth of the company’s 314 planes. It wasn’t immediately known Saturday how that would affect the company’s flight schedule.
“We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred ... and will share updates as more information is available,” Minicucci said. “My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced.”
RELATED: FAA orders grounding of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after Alaska Airlines incident
The Port of Portland, which operates the airport, told KPTV that the fire department treated minor injuries at the scene. One person was taken for more treatment, but wasn’t seriously hurt.
Flight 1282 had taken off from Portland at 5:07 p.m. Friday for a two-hour flight to Ontario, California. About six minutes later, the window and a chunk of the fuselage blew out as the plane was at about 16,000 feet (4.8 kilometers). One of the pilots declared an emergency and asked for clearance to descend to 10,000 feet (3 kilometers), the altitude where the air would have enough oxygen to breathe safely.
‘We need to turn back to Portland,” the pilot told controllers in a calm voice that she maintained throughout the landing process.
Videos posted by passengers online showed a gaping hole where the window had been and passengers wearing their masks. They applauded when the plane landed safely about 13 minutes after the window blew out. Firefighters then came down the aisle, asking passengers to remain in their seats as they treated the injured.
The aircraft involved rolled off the assembly line and received its certification just two months ago, according to online FAA records. The plane had been on 145 flights since entering commercial service on Nov. 11, said FlightRadar24, another tracking service. The flight from Portland was the aircraft’s third of the day.
The Max is the newest version of Boeing’s venerable 737, a twin-engine, single-aisle plane frequently used on U.S. domestic flights. The plane went into service in May 2017.
The union representing flight attendants at 19 airlines, including Alaska Airlines, commended the crew for keeping passengers safe.
“Flight Attendants are trained for emergencies and we work every flight for aviation safety first and foremost,” the Association of Flight Attendants said in a statement Saturday.
Two Max 8 jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people and leading to a near two-year worldwide grounding of all Max 8 and Max 9 planes. The planes returned to service only after Boeing made changes to an automated flight control system implicated in the crashes.
Last year, the FAA told pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system on the Max in dry conditions because of concern that inlets around the engines could overheat and break away, possibly striking the plane.
Max deliveries have been interrupted at times to fix manufacturing flaws. The company told airlines in December to inspect the planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder-control system.
Continue reading » -
'Co-Living' bill would revive a nearly extinct affordable housing type in Washington cities
Business
A small apartment in Kirkland, one of only a handful of jurisdictions that allow them.KUOW Photo/Joshua McNicholsShould cities in Washington state allow people to live in small rooms with shared kitchens and sometimes shared bathrooms? That’s a question state lawmakers will consider in a hearing on Monday, Jan. 8.
Sixty years ago, people in Seattle could rent tiny apartments, just big enough for a bed and a little sitting area. They were cheap, even though they were right in the heart of downtown.
A few older buildings like that burned down, and in the 1970s and 80s, many cities made them illegal.
State Rep. Mia Gregerson, a SeaTac Democrat, wants to bring them back, so that people on limited incomes can live near their jobs again.
"And then it’s so cool because you’re able to live in the same communities as others, and then it’s between like $300 to $500 less than that same maybe studio down the street," she said.
Gregerson said the modern version of these buildings are much more fire resistant, and they tend to include large common areas, where residents can relax together, like a dorm. Many have their own bathrooms.
Learn more about these "dorms for adults" in the first episode of KUOW's new economics podcast, Booming.
Listen with the player below, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Continue reading » -
Which Republicans will be on Washington state's 2024 primary ballot?
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stand at their podiums during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee.Morry Gash / Associated PressWashington's presidential primary is slated for March 12 and the state's Republican Party is wasting no time in getting its candidates on the ballot.
RELATED: Supreme Court takes up Colorado's decision to kick Trump off its primary ballot
The Office of the Secretary of State reports that the Washington State Republican Party has submitted five names for voters' consideration in 2024:
- Donald Trump
- Ron DeSantis
- Nikki Haley
- Vivek Ramaswamy
- Chris Christie
Major parties have until Jan. 9 to submit candidates for the presidential primary in March. So far, the Democrats have yet to officially submit any primary candidates.
Candidate Nikki Haley has already taken steps to highlight her campaign in Washington. On Jan. 2, Haley's campaign announced its leadership team for the state, which includes a range of current and former elected officials, as well as local GOP organizers.
Continue reading » -
Keys to the band: UW and Michigan marching to win over fans at national championship game
Sports
Dr. Brad McDavid, director of the Husky Marching Band, during a performance at Husky Stadium.When the Huskies and Wolverines take the field at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Monday night, each school will bring its own style, game plan, and tempo to the field.
But which marching band will put on the most electric, championship-worthy performance? And how will it punctuate the football game that’s also rumored to be taking place at that time?
RELATED: Michigan and Washington will face off in the 2024 college football championship
Band directors Brad McDavid (Washington) and John Pasquale (Michigan) have different approaches. And while there may not be a "Battle of the Bands" going on, both told KUOW that they're aiming for a pregame dazzler, followed by a halftime spectacular.
In three decades at UW, McDavid has been to more than 200 halftime shows and 20 bowl games, but Monday is the first time he's bringing the Husky Marching Band to a national football championship. It will also be the last: McDavid plans to retire at the end of this year.
"I love taking the band to any city that's never seen them before and just showing them off," McDavid said. "They're like rabid dogs ... I tell them, 'Leave everything on the field, because this will be the first, and who knows, maybe the last time that the city of Houston, certainly a lot of Michigan fans, will ever see you. So give it your all and let's put the best show on the field that we can.'"
Michigan owns 12 national football titles, but, like McDavid, this will be also be Pasquale's first time performing at the national championship game.
"We have to be as good as we can possibly be, and however anyone else does it, well, that's up to them," Pasquale said.
"I have very high expectations of our students and staff so that they will perform at the highest level, both in terms of musical execution, and visual execution," Pasquale said. "They are always supportive of the team, have a ton of energy, fire up the crowd ... but for me, it all comes down to, 'How does the band sound? How does the band look?' It's my job to inspire the staff, the faculty, and the students to achieve at the highest possible level. That's a win for me."
Precision plays on the field
Continue reading » -
Washington State Ferries confirms passenger fears: Service disruptions will continue for years
A Washington state ferry is shown docked at the Anacortes ferry terminal as the sun rises on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Anacortes.A perfect storm of increasing demand for ferry services, crew shortages, and an aging fleet means Washington ferry passengers will continue to see limited sailings and frequent cancellations over the next four to five years.
The latest “Service Contingency Plan” released this week by Washington State Ferries projects that the combined stress on the system means that service will be limited and potentially disrupted on multiple popular ferry routes until new vessels enter service in 2028.
The report, which comes on the heels of a more optimistic 2023 report, cites multiple stressors — including a fleet that has been reduced from 24 to 21 vessels in the last nine years and a “global shortage of mariners” — as the primary factors in the ongoing reduction of ferry service.
The plan details how the state will compensate for these factors over the next four to five years until new vessels can be built and added to the state fleet.
More than 1,000 ferry trips were cancelled during the three-month period from July to September 2023, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Of those, more than half, 60%, were due to a lack of crew.
WSF is launching a new recruitment campaign backed by $20 million in state funds that should increase staffing levels over the next 18 to 24 months.
But ferry riders will have to wait even longer for new vessels, despite a 2023 law that loosens restrictions and allows WSF to contract with out-of-state shipbuilders.
RELATED: Washington can now look to out-of-state shipbuilders for its next ferries
The current fleet of 21 vessels range from 5 to 64 years old. Half of the fleet is more than 30 years old.
Continue reading » -
'The viruses are returning to normal' in Washington for winter 2024
Health
The winter season in the Northwest brings rain, dark skies, and the sniffles. For winter 2024, health officials expect that a lot more sniffles are coming, with three viruses circulating through the region.
"I think it's just the viruses are returning to normal," Dr. Helen Chu with the University of Washington School Of Medicine told Seattle Now.
RELATED: Washington's Covid dashboard upgraded to include flu and RSV
Dr. Chu gave an overall status report on seasonal illnesses as Washington begins 2024, following holiday gatherings, and returning to school and work.
- There are three viruses roaming among the general public — Covid, flu, and RSV.
- Currently, flu and Covid cases are going up.
- After surging over the fall, RSV cases are now on the decline.
- Washington is currently faring a bit better than other parts of the country, such as the Southeast and California where flu cases are high. With three different flu viruses spreading, Washington currently has moderate to high case levels, but that is expected to quickly change.
- Chu expects two viruses will spread at the same time, but probably (hopefully) not all three. She expects considerable increases in flu and Covid cases over the coming weeks.
"We are heading into the time when we are going to start seeing the numbers of cases go up, over the course of the next several days, and it is possible that the hospitals will start to fill up with cases of Covid and flu," Dr. Chu said, adding that the current flu vaccine appears to be a "good match" for what is going around.
RELATED: Here's how much private and homeschooling in WA has jumped since the pandemic
Vaccination levels in King County, however, are not looking as good. About 20% of county residents are up to date on Covid shots; 30% have received the flu vaccine; and roughly 15% of people eligible for an RSV vaccine have gotten the shot.
"So quite low, overall," Chu said. "I think people are tired of getting vaccines. It's a lot to get all at once; three vaccines at one time has lots of side effects. People probably have a lot of vaccine fatigue. The important thing is that it is not too late, and you can space them out ... Flu has not peaked yet, and Covid numbers are going to start coming up, and it takes about a week after you get your vaccine to get your antibody levels up and be protected. So now is a good time, as you go back to work and back to school, to get those seasonal vaccines."
Listen to Dr. Chu's full conversation with Seattle Now here.
Continue reading » -
Starbucks will allow customers to use their own cups for mobile, drive-thru orders
Business
Starbucks plans to offer borrow-a-cup programs in more stores by 2025.In an effort to reduce waste, Starbucks says it now will allow customers to use their own cups for drive-thru and mobile orders.
“At Starbucks, we envision a future where every beverage can be served in a reusable cup,” said Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer, in the company's announcement. “We know our customers are passionate about the planet, and now, they can join us in our efforts to give more than we take, no matter how they order.”
RELATED: Starbucks increases U.S. hourly wages and adds other benefits for non-union workers
The new policy was announced Wednesday and immediately went into effect. Starbucks previously tested the idea in Colorado last summer. It promoted the initiative as part of its broader waste-reduction goals. The Seattle-based coffee giant says it aims to decrease its waste by 50% by 2030.
That means customers can now use their own clean reusable cups at any participating stores across the United States and Canada. According to Starbucks' announcement, participation by licensed stores, like those in grocery stores, may vary.
Don't think of this as an opportunity to get too cute with sizes, though; the standard size options (Short, Tall, Grande, Venti, and Trenta) still apply.
Customers going through the drive-thru should let the barista know they have their own cup, then hand it over without the lid at the window.
RELATED: 'It adds up.' Consumer group alleges Starbucks' app traps customers into paying more
Customers using the Starbucks app to place an order should see a "Personal Cup" option in the customization menu. When they get to the store, they'll hand over their mug at the pickup area.
Continue reading »