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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Washington AG cries fowl, but poultry payout for chicken price-fixing ruffles some feathers
Business
Settlement money of $460,000 from a major antitrust lawsuit may seem like chicken feed to some people. But consider that these funds are being added to a pool worth millions, which, in turn, is being divvied up and sent to Washington residents.
“As a result of corporate greed and illegal price-fixing, Washingtonians paid more for chicken without realizing it,” said Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson in a statement. “We are holding accountable those responsible, and getting money back to Washington families who were most harmed. We will continue to serve as a force for economic justice for Washingtonians.”
RELATED: Washington reaches settlement in chicken conspiracy lawsuit
Most of the 19 companies that Washington sued in a 2021 antitrust lawsuit agreed to settle in early December. The coop of settlement funds added up to $40.6 million. This week, the AG's Office announced that two more producers have agreed to pay up, adding $460,000 to that sum. That means the state could be cooking up more checks and sending them to Washington mailboxes.
Price fixing appears to be one issue that really sticks in Ferguson's gizzard. Washington also sued tuna producers in 2020, in a separate price-fixing lawsuit, and took in $5.1 million.
All of these funds are being divvied up and dispersed to eligible Washington residents.
The approach that the AG's Office has taken to disperse checks has ruffled some partisan feathers. The conservative think tank Washington Policy Center points out that, while all Washington consumers overpaid for chicken and tuna over the past decade, the state is only giving checks to residents under a certain income (below 175% of the federal poverty level). It argues that the Legislature should make decisions over who gets the money, and who doesn't.
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Seattle electric customers may notice higher bills this month
When Seattle residents open their electric bill for January, they could be paying about $9 more than expected. That's how much Seattle City Light estimates the average resident will pay under the most recent rate hike.
Seattle City Light prepared customers for the rate hike last October. The City Council also approved a 4.5% increase to the base rate in 2022 that is just now coming online (read more about that below).
RELATED: How hot temps, wildfire affect NW power grid
"We understand that rate increases are never welcome. But with atypical weather and rising costs over the last year, they are necessary so we can continue delivering safe, reliable power," City Light said in a blog post.
A total of 1% of the recent rate hike is actually coming from the Bonneville Power Administration, which City Light is passing on to customers. The majority of the rate hike is for higher wholesale power costs, which City Light blames on "unfavorable weather and market price conditions."
A Seattle residential customer can expect about $9 to be tacked on to their bill each month, according to the utility. People using the Utility Discount Program will pay about $4 more each month.
RELATED: Washington once saw hydropower as an easy alternative to coal. That's changing
In 2022, the Seattle City Council began a series of annual rate increases to the city's electric utility. According to that plan, a 4.5% rate increase would kick in at the start of 2023 and 2024. After that, a 3% rate increase would occur at the start of the year through 2028.
According to a September 2022 City Light blog post, the 4.5% increase is actually an average across all customer groups. Residential customers alone were actually slated for a 5.7% increase. City Light expected these increases to be less than inflation, and at the time estimated that residential customers would experience a $4 increase on their 2023 bills ($2 for those on the Utility Discount Program).
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Seattle records its warmest December. What does that mean for mountain snowpack?
Snowpack levels across the Pacific Northwest as of Jan. 2, 2024.Seattle just experienced its warmest December on record, and the trend is likely to continue through the rest of winter. That's bad news for Washington's mountains, which are currently quite low on snowpack.
"December temperatures across all of Washington state were between 3 and 6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal," Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco told Seattle Now. "So that's a pretty strong monthly anomaly."
The National Weather Service takes measurements for Seattle at Sea-Tac International Airport. December's daily average temperature for Seattle was 45.5 degrees Fahrenheit. That beats the old record (45.3 degrees) set in 2014.
Seattle was not alone. Olympia also hit 45.5 degrees in December, beating its previous high record (45 degrees) set in 1950.
Bumbaco wasn't entirely surprised by the warmth this season. Climatologists knew El Niño would influence the weather, causing a warmer, drier winter across the Northwest. The current forecast calls for more of the same through March with less precipitation and warmer temps.
RELATED: Ocean heat wave comes to Pacific Northwest shores
"The warm temperatures mean that the precipitation that we did see in December mostly fell as rain rather than snow in the mountains, so our snow is much below normal for this time of year average," Bumbaco said. "Statewide, it's only at 45% of median as of January 2, and several of the stations that monitor snowpack are at their record lowest for this time of year."
For example, Bumbaco said the Olympic Mountains are at their record lowest levels of snowpack. December and January are traditionally Washington's largest snow-delivering months.
"We would really have to see a lot of snow between January and March to get us to normal," Bumbaco said.
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New-look Seattle City Council backs new president in unanimous vote
Government
Sara Nelson, co-owner of Fremont Brewing, was elected the Seattle City Council president in a 9-0 vote Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2023.Nelson campaignOn a day in which five newly elected members took the oath to serve on the Seattle City Council, council members new and old voted unanimously on a new president — Sara Nelson.
Tuesday ushered in a new era for the City Council, which includes newcombers Joy Hollingsworth, Bob Kettle, Cathy Moore, Maritza Rivera, and Rob Saka. They teamed up with returning members Tammy Morales and Dan Strauss to elect Nelson council president on a 9-0 vote.
Mayor Bruce Harrell may have been the biggest winner in the 2023 election. He endorsed four of the five newcomers and one of the incumbents, Strauss. The newly aligned City Council is expected to more centrist and less progressive than its previous incarnation.
In a statement Tuesday, Harrell commended Nelson, who is midway through her first term on the Council.
"Council President Nelson serves as a strong voice for critical issues facing the city, including police recruitment and retention, support for Seattle’s small businesses, Downtown revitalization, and addressing the fentanyl epidemic," Harrell said. "Council President Nelson will bring an approach focused on serving our community, good governance, and tangible progress — common values that will serve her well in this leadership role and build consensus across the Council."
Harrell also said he was excited about the new makeup of the Council and its potential to bring about changes and make decisions to move Seattle forward in the coming years.
“With members sworn in, let's celebrate that this City Council reflects a new diversity of perspectives, experiences, and ideas that will help us collectively serve our Seattle communities," the mayor said. "I am looking forward to working with Council President Nelson and with all of the new and returning members of the Council to drive progress toward our vision for a safe, welcoming, and thriving One Seattle in 2024.”
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Nikki Haley debuts WA team ahead of 2024 GOP presidential primary
Politics
Former U.N. Ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks during an event sponsored by Turning Point USA at Clemson University on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, in Clemson, S.C.AP Photo/Meg KinnardAbout two and half months before Washington's presidential primary, GOP candidate Nikki Haley announced her team Tuesday to carry her campaign forward at the state level.
“The world is on fire, and Nikki Haley is the leader we need to make America strong and proud," said Saul Gamoran, Washington state chair for the Haley campaign. "Washingtonians want a president who has the vision and grit to jump into the fight on Day One. That person is Nikki Haley.”
"We’ve got a country to save, and a deep bench in the Evergreen State to help us do it," Haley said in a statement announcing her Washington campaign leadership team. "From inflation to the border crisis to the growing threat from China, Washingtonians know we need solutions and results. No one understands that better than the members of this leadership team, and I’m incredibly grateful to each of them for bringing their expertise to our campaign.”
RELATED: DeSantis, Haley remain opening acts to Trump
Haley's campaign not only announced its local team, it also hyped a slate of endorsements from elected leaders and GOP figures from across Washington, such as state Rep. J.T. Wilcox, former House minority leader; and Rep. Drew Stokesbary, the current House minority leader. The campaign's King County chair is GOP organizer Cynthia Cole.
While former president Donald Trump has been considered the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in 2024, the Republican primaries will ultimately decide the candidate. Haley's campaign has gained momentum in recent weeks (especially among big donors).
RELATED: Nikki Haley lands endorsement from Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity PAC
Washington state's primary is scheduled for March 12.
Nikki Haley’s Washington leadership team
Chair: Saul Gamoran, President, Gamoran Legal Consulting; Co-Chair: Paul Hess, King County Committeeman; Co-Chair: Diane Tebelius, Former Chair, Washington State Republican Party; Co-Chair: Barry Kaplan, Retired Partner, Wilson Sonsini; Co-Chair: Manette Merrill, Political Organizer.
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New year, new rules: 2024 brings new laws for Washington state
Government
The Washington Capitol in Olympia.WikimediaAs a new year begins in Washington state, so do a range of new laws.
The laws were passed by state and local lawmakers over the course of 2023, and were scheduled to kick in on New Year's Day, or shortly before 2024.
Hospital staffing
Washington's hospitals now need to form staffing committees with nurses and administrators.
These committees need to create annual staffing plans, accounting for the nurse-to-patient ratio. Hospitals are also required to track how often they are not in compliance with their staffing plans.
The new law also states that fines will begin in 2027 if hospitals are not compliant with the standard 80% of the time.
Cannabis testing
Employers in Washington state are no longer allowed to test for cannabis when they make hiring decisions.
Employers can still test for other drugs. They can also screen employees for cannabis use after an incident if there is suspicion that a worker was under the influence while on the job.
Tenant protections
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Baby orca update: It’s a boy!
Environment
Days-old orca J60, with his umbilical cord still attached, shows his underside enough for biologists to determine he is male on Dec. 28, 2023, in Puget Sound.Maya Sears, under NMFS Permit 27052Orcas don’t have gender-reveal parties (as far as we know).
But on Thursday, when a baby orca surfaced in Puget Sound and rolled over on its side, biologist Maya Sears was able to photograph its white underside from a small research skiff.
Sears shared her photo with orca surveyor Dave Ellifrit at the Center for Whale Research, who confirmed that this whale, less than a week old, is male.
The latest addition to the Northwest’s endangered orca population is known as J60.
RELATED: Newborn orca spotted near Seattle off Bainbridge Island
Whale lovers have bestowed names on these wild animals, through votes held by the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. Names have ranged from the silly (Oreo, Spock, Yoda) to the Indigenous (Hy'Shqa, Se-Yi'-Chn), to the oddball (Tahlequah, named for a Vashon Island ferry landing, which was named for a town in Oklahoma). The Whale Museum fundraises by getting people to adopt a named orca for $50 to $80 per year.
“While researchers love numbers, regular people love names,” the nonprofit research group Wild Orca’s website states. “It’s so hard to fall in love with a number!”
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How to give your Christmas tree new life or kick it to the curb
Environment
A person passes a pile of discarded Christmas trees along a sidewalk in New York City on Jan. 14, 2014.Getty Images file photoEach year, about 25 million to 30 million live Christmas trees are sold in the U.S., according to the Christmas Tree Association.
It is thought to be bad luck to take down your tree before the 12th day of Christmas, which is Jan. 6. So unless you're one of the rare types, chances are your tree is probably still up.
Whenever the time comes for you, here are some ways to dispose your tree or give it new life.
Leave it on the curb
Many cities and counties offer curbside pickup, and you can find local schedules online. Check to see if see if you have to cut it to a certain length.
But if your Christmas tree was grown outside the state you live in, it could carry invasive species, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. In that case, don't dispose of the tree in your yard or compost it.
Drop it off at a recycling center
Start by searching for recycling options in your area on Google or Earth 911, which has an extensive database. In the U.S. there are more than 4,000 local Christmas tree recycling programs, according to the Christmas Tree Association.
Most cities and counties have free drop-off points. The recycling centers will often turn the tree into mulch for the community to be used in erosion barrier programs, for example. Certain non-profits, such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts offer pickup service for a small donation.
Flocked trees, which are coated with synthetic dust or powder to look like snow on their branches, cannot be recycled and need to be disposed of with regular waste.
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There's a link between eye injuries and fireworks, UW study finds
Health
Researchers at the University of Washington say the odds of suffering a fireworks-related eye injury are higher if you live where the explosives are legal. The study also found children, especially boys, make up a disproportionate percentage of the victims.
To many, New Years Eve means fireworks. For some doctors in Seattle, the holiday also means a busy few days of treating eye injuries.
“A lot of surgery that happened in that week and try to rescue a lot of eyes,” said Dr. Shu Feng, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at UW.
Feng has worked as the on-call specialist at Harborview Medical Center for many years. In that time she and her colleagues noticed a growing trend of patients coming in from around the state with injuries from fireworks.
“The thought came up of: ‘Well, are these people coming from places where these fireworks are banned? Or are they coming from places where they're still legal?’” Feng told KUOW in an interview.
So Feng and UW began tracking fireworks injuries over an eight-year period, focused on the two weeks surrounding the Fourth of July holiday.
They found people who live in areas where fireworks are legal, like in Snohomish County on the day of July 4, are two times more likely to be injured by fireworks than in places where they’re not legal, like in Seattle.
“To find a difference between the odds of injury if you're from one area where there's legal fireworks versus banned was surprising,” Feng said.
One finding from the study that might be less surprising is that fireworks injuries tend to happen to people who interact with them the most: nearly all of the injuries (90%) happened to men and boys.
Feng says these injuries happened at a private event, not at a public display show.
“It's from people mostly setting them off at home,” she said. “It's from misfires, it's from homemade fireworks, it’s from those large fireworks that kind of shoot towards people."
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Mountlake Terrace man charged for participation in Jan. 6 riot at US Capitol
Crime
Images included in a federal charging document alleging Matthew Lawrence Stickney, of Mountlake Terrace, took part in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capital building in Washington D.C.Department of JusticeAnother Washington state resident has been charged for his alleged participation in the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
Matthew Lawrence Stickney of Mountlake Terrace has been charged with unlawfully entering the Capitol building, two counts of disorderly conduct, and demonstrating in the Capitol.
Stickney is the latest Washington state resident to be charged in relation to Jan. 6. A total of 18 Washingtonians have reportedly been arrested, including Ethan Nordean of Auburn, a Proud Boy who served as a leader among rioters that day. Nordean has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. The Associated Press reports that more than 1,200 people have now faced charges for their involvement in the riot.
RELATED: Seattle man among those charged in violent pro-Trump insurrection at U.S. Capitol
According to the charging document, the FBI obtained flight records that show Stickney took an airplane to and from Washington, D.C., around Jan. 6.
An agent identified Stickney by tracking two phones associated with his Google email and Google voice account. That data allegedly indicated that Stickney was inside the Capitol during the time of the riot. Stickney was also allegedly identified on video posted to social media, as well as surveillance footage from inside the Capitol building.
The FBI also points to Stickney's Google search history, which was obtained through a search warrant, and argues it is relevant to activities in D.C. that day. Alleged searches listed in the charging document include:
- how do i take my gun with me on a flight
- is weed legal in d.c.
- can i bring a gas mask on a plane
- can i carry a knife on a plane
After the events on Jan. 6, the charging document claims Stickney further Google searched for:
- hands burning from pepper spray
- cs gas
- us capitol
- hd security cameras
Stickney also allegedly searched for the term, "Boy, that escalated quickly," in the hours following the insurrection, which the FBI notes is a line from the 2004 film "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" in reference to a fight scene "that got out of hand, resulting in serious injury and death to some participants."
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State workers see dramatic increase in workplace injuries and illnesses as Washington tops national average
Business
Washington's rate of nonfatal workplace injuries in 2022 was 3.9 per 100 full-time workers. The national average was 2.7.The rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in Washington's private industry has risen above the national rate. Washington finds itself among the states with the highest rates of nonfatal workplace injuries.
The results of a new survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics was released this week. About 89,600 cases of nonfatal workplace injuries were recorded in Washington over 2022. That's 44% higher than the national rate.
Washington's "incident rate" was 3.9 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2022. The national rate was 2.7.
The only state that ranked higher than Washington was Maine (5 cases per 100 workers). Oregon and Vermont matched Washington with a rate of 3.9; Wisconsin was 3.7; California and Montana had a rate of 3.6 per 100 workers.
Among private industry, the largest jump in workplace injuries came in the education and health sectors. But overall, the biggest increase in both government and private sector jobs was the number of people injured while working in state government.
State workers saw a 78% increase in injuries and illnesses in 2022, over the previous year. No breakout of the kinds of state government jobs was provided.
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Newborn orca spotted near Seattle off Bainbridge Island
Environment
A newborn orca surfaces next to orca J40 in central Puget Sound on Dec. 26, 2023Maya Sears, under NMFS Permit 27052Beachgoers and whale researchers were excited to spot a newborn calf swimming with the Northwest’s endangered orcas on Tuesday near Seattle.
“Oh my gosh,” schoolteacher Neil Davis said, standing on the beach at Fay Bainbridge Park on Bainbridge Island as a group of southern resident killer whales sliced through the glassy water just offshore.
With the snow-covered Cascades on the horizon, the afternoon was quiet except for bursts of air from the marine mammals’ blowholes and the oohs, wows, and other excited exclamations bursting from the mammals standing on shore.
Davis had alerted his husband’s family and a friend’s family that the orcas were nearby. About 15 people gathered on the beach to watch the orca families swim quietly by.
“Look at ‘em!” one beachgoer said.
“They’re really close, huh? You don’t need binoculars for that!” another said.
“Oh! The baby!” Davis said as the smallest of fins sliced through the water.
On Wednesday, the Center for Whale Research confirmed that the baby orca is the newest member of J pod, one of the Northwest’s three family groups of the endangered killer whales known as the southern residents.
“I spent quite a bit of time during the pandemic watching whales from shore. But this is the closest I’ve seen them,” Davis said in a text message.
Whale researchers Maya Sears and Mark Sears had seen the 25 members of J pod on the afternoon of Dec. 23, but no baby, meaning this 26th member was probably born on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
The father-daughter team was out on the water again in their small research boat on Wednesday, hoping to scoop up floating fecal samples from the endangered orcas.
RELATED: It's getting quieter in Puget Sound and easier for orcas to find dinner
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