KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
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Stories
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Washington is offering $200 to some residents to help pay electric bills
Government
Along with officials from King County and Seattle, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announces the Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program on July 29, 2024. The program offers a $200 utility bill credit to low- to moderate-income households.Hyping it as the latest program benefiting from the state's Climate Commitment Act, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday a new program that will give a $200 utility bill credit to certain customers in the state.
“We are committed to ensuring that the benefits of the state’s clean energy transition reach everyone, especially those most burdened by energy costs,” Inslee said in a statement announcing the new program Monday.
Inslee presented the Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program in Seattle, alongside officials from Seattle, King County, and the state's Department of Commerce, which is managing the effort.
RELATED: Surge of new EV charging stations coming to Washington state
Washington Families Clean Energy Credits grant program will reportedly offer a one-time $200 utility bill credit to 675,000 low- to moderate-income customers. The state estimates this will cover about 20% of utility households in the state. Customers below 80% of an area's median income will get priority. The Dept. of Commerce gave the following examples of income ranges eligible for the credit:
- In cities like Everett, Seattle, or Vancouver, a household with four people and an income between $110,950 to $226,050.
- In areas with the lowest incomes in Washington, household income could range between $72,000 and 135,000.
The state noted the program could be expanded to households at 150% of the area's AMI, if funding is available.
The credit will be placed in eligible customers' accounts on Sept. 15, 2024.
According to the Dept. of Commerce, customers who are already signed up for discounts or assistance will automatically get the credit. Others will need to apply. See a video below about how to find out if your utility account is eligible. For Puget Sound Energy Customers, check here.
During the program's announcement, Inslee often highlighted the fact that it is funded by the state's Climate Commitment Act — one of the governor's main accomplishments in office that is now under fire.
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Rare rain hits Washington ahead of 'intense and widespread heat' across the west
Washingtonians woke up to something quite rare Monday morning — rain. Sure, rainfall isn't exactly uncommon in the Northwest; however, rain on July 29 is very notable.
RELATED: Smoke or sunshine? WA’s new air quality map tells you what’s ahead
According to the National Weather Service, measurable rainfall has occurred less frequently on July 29 than on any other day of the year (since records began in 1945) — only 5% of the time. The grand total rainfall for this day in Seattle has been .31 inches over the past 79 years.
While the Monday rain may be a welcome break, the region continues to experience drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that 47% of the Northwest is experiencing drought conditions. In April, a drought emergency was declared for all of Washington state, largely due to low snowpack in the mountains.
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Attention Washington college students: There's still time to apply for federal aid
Education
FAFSA form for student aid.Flickr Photo/The Bent Tree (CC BY NC 2.0)/https://flic.kr/p/4kSAPeWith the new school year starting soon, Washington state education leaders want college-bound students to know it’s not too late to apply for federal financial aid.
The newly revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid — better known as FAFSA —was supposed to be easier this year, complete with a new streamlined form.
RELATED: The FAFSA rollout left many students in limbo. Some colleges feel the effects, too
But it was not. The form was released months behind schedule, then it was mired with technical glitches. Now, Washington state has been grappling with one of the worst FAFSA completion rates in the country.
As of July 19, only about 36% of Washington seniors have filled out the application, according to the National College Attainment Network. That's an 11% decrease from last year, and the sixth-lowest rate among all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Christina Winstead, the associate director of College Access Initiatives at the Washington Student Achievement Council, said she's worried about the consequences this trend will have on students and families for years to come.
About half of families qualify for financial aid, Winstead said, and it can help cover tuition, school supplies — even computers — and living expenses for college. State aid also covers college alternatives, like apprenticeships and certificate programs.
"My biggest fear is that students who are not informed about access will do things like take a private loan, like not pursue education, or not pursue a pathway that they want to pursue," Winstead said.
RELATED: The 'Better FAFSA' was not, but the University of Washington says it's getting there
Winstead knows how difficult it can be to understand what financial aid options are available. When she was in her first year of college, she almost dropped out because she assumed she wouldn't qualify for financial aid and struggled to juggle multiple jobs with her schoolwork.
"When I see these numbers, I just think of all the students who are like me," she said, "who didn't know they should apply for aid, who struggled with three jobs and thought, 'Oh, it's me. I'm the reason why I'm not able to go through school.'"
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Northwest tribes' salmon hatcheries get $240 million federal boost
Environment
The Lummi Nation is receiving $2 million to repair an aging hatchery on the South Fork Nooksack River, site of a mass dieoff of endangered Chinook salmon in 2021.Gerald Gabrisch/Lummi Natural Resources DepartmentWest Coast tribes are getting nearly $240 million from the federal government to improve their salmon hatcheries.
Twenty-seven tribes, including 21 from Washington state, will get an initial $2 million each to repair and modernize their aging hatcheries, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Thursday.
The remaining funds will be awarded competitively among the tribes “in the coming months,” federal officials said.
Jennifer Quan, regional administrator of NOAA Fisheries, called it “one of our greatest commitments of support for tribal fisheries since the treaties themselves that first assured the tribes access to the fisheries.”
RELATED: Washington tribes get $39.4 million for salmon habitat restoration, culvert removal efforts
Treaties between the U.S. government and many Northwest tribes in the 1850s promised tribes the right to keep fishing and hunting in their traditional places in exchange for the tribes’ giving up most of their land.
“Today, hatcheries provide many of the fish that no longer come from the salmon rivers, the rivers that have been impacted by our dams and development,” Quan said.
Councilmember Lisa Wilson of the Lummi Indian Business Council, the governing body of the Lummi Nation, said the funding will help preserve tribes’ treaty rights to their traditional foods.
“We have salmon in every funeral that we have, which unfortunately, with the fentanyl crisis, it's been a lot of funerals in the last few years,” Wilson said. “It's very important that, any kind of celebration, we have our salmon, and if it wasn't for the hatcheries, we wouldn't have that salmon.”
RELATED: Fish out of water story ends with 77,000 young salmon in the wrong water
Wild salmon in most tribes’ territories have declined drastically.
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Smoke or sunshine? WA’s new air quality map tells you what’s ahead
Environment
Washington state's new air quality map.Washington State Department of EcologyAs wildfire season heats up, the Washington Department of Ecology is rolling out a new tool to help people breathe easier and stay safe. The state’s revamped air quality monitoring map, launched this week, is designed to keep residents in the know during the smoky days ahead.
The new map gives real-time updates on air quality across the state, showing pollutants like smoke, ozone, and carbon monoxide . The map has accessibility features aimed at making it more user-friendly for those who are visually impaired, and can be accessed via smartphone or desktop.
RELATED: The presence of wildfire smoke could have you feeling bad — and not for the reason you think
Planning to enjoy some fresh air outdoors? The map also includes a smoke forecast to help people prepare ahead of time. It projects what air quality will be like over the next five days, said Department of Ecology monitoring coordinator Jill Schulte. The map also shows 7-day and 24-hour air quality trends.
While wildfire smoke typically peaks in August and September, it can start in July and linger into mid-October. The Department of Ecology says it plans to keep enhancing the map throughout the summer.
RELATED: Wildfire smoke is here to stay. But critics say our preparations are still 'lackadaisical'
Schulte also highlighted that the map comes has a web application that updates information every hour. Residents can visit the department’s website to explore the new map and download it to mobile devices.
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Washington state's Democratic delegates vote to endorse Kamala Harris for president
Elections
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Oct. 26, 2022 on the topic of the Clean School Bus Act, which was spearheaded by Washington Congressmember Patty Murray.Office of Sen. Patty MurrayWashington state's Democratic delegation came out in favor of supporting Vice President Kamala Harris Thursday, throwing more weight behind Harris' presidential campaign.
RELATED: Kamala Harris may be ‘brat.’ But is that enough to sway young voters in Washington?
“As the first South Asian woman to lead a state party organization for any major party and as our delegation chair, I am beyond thrilled to announce that the Washington State Delegation has voted overwhelmingly to support the first woman of color to represent a major party in a presidential election," said Shasti Conrad, chair of Washington State Democrats. "With Harris as our nominee we will protect our fundamental rights and freedoms and defeat Donald Trump’s and MAGA’s extremist Project 2025 agenda."
Washington state's delegation heading to the Democratic National Convention voted 79-17 in favor of Harris. According to the party, no other candidates were considered — it was a strict yes or no vote to endorse Harris.
The national convention will take place Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, where Democrats will officially decide on a presidential candidate in the wake of President Biden bowing out. The party will also update its platform at the event.
RELATED: The Obamas have endorsed Harris, capping a week where Democrats embraced her
“As a party, we will shield Vice President Harris from the racism and misogyny already being hurled her way while also amplifying her vision for a democratic and prosperous future," Conrad said.
The Washington state Republican party has attacked Harris as a "DEI hire" and the chair, Jim Walsh, has called the upcoming Chicago convention a "scripted coronation."
Uncommitted Washington, a group of delegates who want to see changes in the administration's approach to Israel and Gaza, released its own statement following Thursday's vote. While the state party said delegates "overwhelmingly" supported the vice president, Uncommitted Washington said that "nearly a fifth" of the state's delegation did not vote in her favor and "still have concerns about providing an endorsement to Vice President Harris."
Yaz Kader, an uncommitted delegate, told KUOW that "it was a fair process," and that "my vote to not endorse Kamala Harris is reflective of the administration’s continued inability to have a red line as the Palestinians in Gaza experience massacre after massacre, and I will continue to push for a ceasefire."
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Kent in disguise: An unofficial, underground Transformers fan fest for Washington
Robots in disguise have been a considerable part of U.S. pop culture for 40 years, and over half of that time, there has been a fan event dedicated to all things Transformers in Western Washington.
"People have been very enthusiastic of CybFest when I've told them, even if they have no interest in Transformers," said Cybfest NW coordinator Ben Harpold.
Even though it's an unofficial Transformers convention, put on by fans, Cybfest NW organizers are anticipating that 2024 will be its biggest event yet.
What: Cybfest NW, an unofficial Transformers festival for fans and families, featuring toy dealers, artists, STEM features, and more. Special guest this year is Sue Blu, voice actress for the character Arcee from the original "Transformers" series, as well as a voice director for other series.
When: Aug. 3, 2024, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Kent Commons Community Center, 525 Fourth Avenue North, Kent
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'Defund is dead': Seattle leaders say it's time to hire more police
Crime
Seattle Police Department / FacebookSeattle Police Department leaders say they need to hire more officers — and quickly.
On Tuesday, interim Chief Sue Rahr updated the Seattle City Council on crime trends and the department’s inability to attract more officers.
Rahr's update came just two months into the job, after she'd taken over for former Chief Adrian Diaz.
RELATED: Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz out; former Sheriff Sue Rahr interim
She emphasized upticks in some violent crimes and shots fired around the city so far this year. But the real focus of the Council briefing was SPD’s short staffing. Rahr put it bluntly: "We're in a staffing crisis," she said. "We're down 400 officers, and we are doing our level best to try and increase our ability to hire more officers more quickly."
She that on Saturday night, every precinct in the city was missing officers.
One of the main reasons Rahr cited for the lack of officers is Seattle's lengthy application and screening process. Other law enforcement agencies, she said, have larger pools of applicants because their process is quicker.
"I'd like to see us use a testing process that is much more low-barrier and faster," Rahr told the City Council.
Her predecessor, Diaz, told the Council earlier this year that SPD is also interested in speeding up internal reviews, so officers who are under investigation can return to work faster.
At Tuesday's briefing, most members present agreed with Rahr that the hiring process needs to be streamlined. But critics have said they're concerned that lower hiring barriers could mean lower hiring standards.
RELATED: Seattle Police watchdog heads ignored complaints against former Chief Adrian Diaz: letter to council
Rahr also said the City Council members themselves are crucial to attracting more officers, as politicians' tones matter.
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Tacoma woman is cured of tuberculosis after legal and medical intervention
Health
A medical drama surrounding a Tacoma woman with tuberculosis has come to an end now that she is cured.
The Tacoma woman was the third case in two decades in which a court order was issued because a person refused treatment. She also spent time in jail.
The woman had refused treatment in 2022 and 2023, and refused to isolate from others, creating concern that the disease would spread in the community. By May 2023, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department had spent a year attempting to find and convince the woman to isolate and get treatment, with the help of her family.
RELATED: Dengue fever is — unfortunately — having a banner year. Can it be quelled?
An arrest warrant was issued and the woman was briefly taken into custody in June. She still refused treatment and was allowed to return home that same month, as long as she isolated.
According to the health department: "Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies then took the patient to the clinic inside the Pierce County Jail. At that point, she realized how serious her situation was and decided to treat her illness. With her family’s help, our disease investigators earned her trust. She began to take her medication and regained her health over time."
Today, the woman has tested negative for tuberculosis multiple times, and "she is no longer at risk of infecting others," the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said in a statement.
"She gained back weight she’d lost and is healthy again," the statement reads.
Health departments are required to stop the spread of diseases like tuberculosis by state law. According to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, a court order is the "last resort."
Pierce County sees about 20 cases of tuberculosis each year.
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Alaska Airlines passengers will now be greeted with chill Sub Pop tunes
Arts & Life
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)Move over Muzak. Sub Pop Records has expanded into the background music space. When Seattle-area passengers now board Alaska Airlines planes, they'll be greeted with a playlist curated by the local record company.
RELATED: Surf X Surfwest — Riding the Northwest's surf rock wave
"Boarding music doesn’t exist in isolation — it's a core component of the premium experience we provide to our guests," said David Scotland, Alaska's inflight product and experience director, in a statement. "The music, the lighting, and the care shown by our amazing crew members all work together to create a great first impression for our guests when they board."
Boarding music plays in the background as passengers arrive on the plane, find their seats, put away baggage, and prepare to take off. That music will now be a selection of Sub Pop tunes for flights that depart from Sea-Tac Airport or Paine Field in Everett.
"The airport and boarding process can be stressful; settling into your seat and hearing thoughtfully curated playlist can start to put your mind at ease as you prepare for your flight," Scotland said.
With that in mind, passengers should not expect any of Sub Pop's classic Mudhoney, Supersuckers, or Sunny Day Real Estate on this playlist. Not even Hot Hot Heat. Alaska's boarding playlist presents the smoother, poppier side of Sub Pop. You can expect songs by The Postal Service, Father John Misty, and Yuno. See the full playlist below.
RELATED: 'The bright shining sun of Seattle music,' why everyone loved Susie Tennant
"I had to think about the people who would be at the airport – about what kind of music could make their eyes light up and make them want to learn more," Nick Duncan, Sub Pop’s A&R manager who curated the boarding playlist.
"Finding things that fit in with the inflight environment while also representing our ethos and roster of artists; that required some threading of the needle.”
According to the airline, the idea behind the playlist is to avoid profanity or anything that sounds like elevator music.
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Garfield County pledges to keep jail shuttered after suicide went undetected
Law & Courts
Attorneys say this photo of Lara's cell was taken as part of the investigation by the Washington State Patrol.Photo courtesy of Galanda Broadman law firmFamily members of a man whose suicide went undiscovered in Garfield County Jail for 18 hours have settled their claim, in an agreement approved by a superior court judge on Monday. Kyle Lara’s parents say the most important part of the agreement has already occurred: the closure of the jail where he died.
The family's attorney, Ryan Dreveskracht, said the jail “was so improperly run, the conditions of confinement were so egregious,” that Garfield County closed the jail in March 2023, shortly after the Laras’ tort claim was filed.
In a statement Drevesckracht said, “In addition to what is believed to be the largest municipal settlement for an in-custody suicide in state history, the Lara family negotiated a promise from Garfield County that its jail will not be reopened unless the county complies with state and federal regulations and the jail’s leadership and staff undergo state corrections training. Garfield County currently houses inmates in the Whitman and Walla Walla county jails.”
Garfield County officials said the Board of Commissioners couldn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Under the settlement, Garfield County also agreed to pay Kyle Lara’s parents $2.5 million, which David and Rhonda Sue Lara said will provide for Kyle’s 13-year-old daughter, their granddaughter, who they are raising.
Closing the jail “was what it was all about,” David Lara said, “to ensure this can never happen to another person.” But he said he still believes there was “no accountability” since no employees were penalized.
An investigation by the Washington State Patrol found that Garfield County placed Lara in solitary confinement despite indications that he was suicidal. People in detention were supervised by civilian 911 dispatchers who were busy with other duties, rather than by certified corrections officers. Staff failed to check on Lara when he blocked a video monitor with a sheet, and they continued to put meals through the slot of Lara’s cell door long after he was dead.
“I think about my son’s last day and when truly was the last time my son interfaced with anybody? How long was it?” David Lara said. “So to a certain extent, I’m very pleased that our city has taken the steps forward to correct these problems.”
But he said, “to this day I do not understand, there is no oversight whatsoever in the state of Washington of the jail system.”
Washington lawmakers have recently considered proposals to establish a new jail oversight agency, but so far they haven’t passed.
When he died, Lara was awaiting trial. He’d been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after a fight with his girlfriend.
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Feds investigate Delta Air after mass cancellations, customer complaints
Passengers wait in line for assistance at the Delta Terminal, Friday, July 19, 2024, at Logan International Airport in Boston.(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)Thousands of air travelers remained in limbo Monday, days after the start of a global tech outage from which many businesses had already recovered.
Delta Air Lines canceled more than a third of its flights on Sunday and one in four flights Monday, according to FlightAware.com. Since Friday, Delta has canceled more flights, by far, than any other airline.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on social media that his agency had launched an investigation of the airline and its treatment of its many stranded customers.
“All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld,” Buttigieg said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Seattle woodworker Sam Adler was at the crowded Denver airport on Monday, trying to get home to Seattle for the second day in a row.
“Last night, I just waited in the cell phone lot because the flight kept getting delayed and delayed and delayed," Adler said. "And the day before, I had panic-bought a second ticket because all of the flights had been canceled.”
Overhead display screens at Delta departure gates in Denver Sunday night showed what’s known as Microsoft’s “blue screen of death” — an unwelcome display to any user of Microsoft Windows.
A flawed security update from the firm CrowdStrike has been blamed for the worldwide tech outage that hit banks, hospitals, and other businesses starting on Friday.
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