How many Washington lawmakers are leaving office?: Today So Far

• There are 23 Washington state lawmakers leaving office, but not all are leaving for the same reason.
• KUOW talks to a Maldovan about why that country feels anxious amid Russia's invasion.
• Burien has a supportive housing idea, but not everybody is supportive of it.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for March 28, 2022.

I'm gonna give you the news quick today as I have to run down the hall and pitch. "Pitching" is when KUOW reminds everyone that the news we produce, and the services we provide, have a cost and we rely on people like you to donate and keep us going. Though, in my case, pitching is when KUOW takes the awkward guy from the web team and sticks him in a radio studio to see what kind of anxious hilarity ensues.

But it's worth it. We rely on you to keep our reporters in the community. You also keep my favorite website, KUOW.org, up and running. Donations are also what make this newsletter happen. So if you have a few bucks to help keep our lights on, please visit here.

While the war continues in Ukraine, its neighbors are getting nervous. Neighbors like Moldova. The small country is on Ukraine's southwestern border. And similar to Ukraine's eastern region, there is significant Russian support there. Moldova has between 2.8-4 million people. To put that in perspective, Washington state has more than 7 million people. But there is a thin strip of land along the border called Transnistria that is largely occupied by separatists and about 1,800 Russian troops. That means the rest of Moldova has its fingers crossed for Ukraine. They know that significant U.S. military involvement is unlikely. Lucia Gnatiuc grew up in Moldova and tells KUOW's Angela King that Moldovans often joke: "If we get in trouble, we won't call for NATO or U.S., we'll call the Ukrainians!" Read more here.

It's not uncommon for lawmakers to find better gigs, or to retire. But the number of lawmakers stepping down in Olympia is notable, according to Northwest News Network's Austin Jenkins. There are 23 lawmakers leaving their seats open this campaign season; that's about 16% of the Legislature. Jenkins says that the reasons for leaving seem to boil down to three options: long-time lawmakers retiring; lawmakers aiming for higher offices; and "newer, younger lawmakers who seem to be signaling that they're, frankly, not willing to put up with the sacrifice involved in running for and serving in the Legislature." Read more here.

I've previously said in this newsletter that the cost-of-living strain that people are feeling is not isolated to Seattle. It's regionwide. That's why Burien is trying to build supportive housing, but not everyone in town is so supportive of the idea. People who have lived in the city all their lives can no longer afford to live there during a time when homelessness persists. Supportive housing would not only put an affordable roof over people's heads, it would offer case management, help with food, and medical assistance. However, four business owners are suing the city over the proposal. They argue that "putting a 95 unit building in the downtown corridor that has no parking is not going to help downtown business." They are also worried about violence stemming from the housing. Of course, there are critics of those arguments. Read more here.

AS SEEN ON KUOW

DID YOU KNOW?

The cherry trees at the University of Washington weren't originally planted there. These Yoshino cherry trees were originally planted at the Washington Park Arboretum in 1939. But with the development of Highway 520, they had to be moved and were relocated to UW where people visit every spring to watch them bloom.

And here's a cherry tree life hack from Dyer: There are other cherry trees around town (and there is a live webcam of the Quad). So if you don't want to spend hours driving, parking, and dodging crowds, take a walk around Green Lake and spot a few there.

Back in 1929, delegates from Japan were traveling through Seattle and planted three cherry trees at Seward Park. There are still three trees at the park today, but it is unclear if they are the original ones from 1929. Either way, they are blooming. And there's a whole city block of cherry trees at Aloha and 21st Street East. In fact, you can check Seattle's street tree map (yes, that exists) and see what's around you. According to KING 5, look for "prunus" trees on the map, though you may mistakenly get a plum tree.

As I am technically a UW employee, I hope all that doesn't get me in trouble.

ALSO ON OUR MINDS

Avian flu is infecting U.S. poultry flocks. It could affect the price of chicken, too

There's an outbreak of bird flu making its way into U.S. poultry flocks. If the virus continues to spread, it could affect poultry prices — already higher amid widespread inflation.

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