Where your tires go: Today So Far

• The problem with car tires and what folks are trying to do about it.
• Got bug spray?
• It's hard to get hiking tips in Washington state.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for Aug. 7, 2023.

Quick hits

• Ranchers Cody and Debby Easterday owe the IRS more than $12.5 million in taxes
• A wheelchair ramp, respite care: What WA's long-term care tax could realistically get you
• The case for a soft landing in the economy just got another boost

You know how you have to get new tires every so often? That's because they wear down. Ever think of where the tires disappear to?

Tires break down into tiny bits of rubber that get left on the road. That eventually gets washed away. Around here, it gets washed into our streams, rivers, and other bodies of water. That's where salmon find it, and where those tire bits kill them. More specifically, a chemical called "6PPD" kills the fish. It's a toxic substance that tire companies use to stabilize rubber. It's so harmful to the environment that three tribes, including two from Washington state, are petitioning the government for a national ban of the chemical. Meanwhile, tire companies appear to be finding alternatives. Read more here.

Stock up on bug spray. Use it liberally.

As the climate continues to change, altering Northwest norms, different bugs are making their way to the region. That means there is potential for new diseases to come to town. Ticks are one such bug that researchers and entomologists are watching out for, and not just for Lyme disease.

Mosquitos are the other bugs that they're keeping an eye one. These bugs are quite prevalent right now, and more so this year than in others. There are a few reasons for that. One is that the big snow melt off in the mountains has sent plenty of water downstream for mosquitoes to lay eggs in. But there is another reason, as Liz Dykstra, a public health entomologist with the Washington State Department of Health's Zoonotic Disease Program, explained to KUOW.

"...we have subspecies that we refer to as floodwaters species. And what they do is they lay their eggs right above the waterline. You could have several years where multiple generations of mosquitoes lay their eggs right above that waterline. And those eggs are not covered, and they can stay viable for many years."

Read more here.

I had a feeling last week, when I asked for readers' suggestions for outdoor hiking and camping spots, I would get a response like this.

"Are you nuts?" Frank wrote to me. "No way in hell am I telling you where I like to spend time outdoors."

Frank would like to keep his cherished trails more open and crowd free. He hopes that would-be backpackers will turn to pickleball instead. He wasn't alone in this sentiment.

Jon also said he would not reveal his favorite outdoor spots, fearing they would become overrun. He did, however, recommend Mount St. Helens, if folks dare to brave it. He hiked to the summit in 1973, before it blew up in 1980, and has great memories of the trip.

I asked for places were folks might not have to compete as much with crowds, since places like The Enchantments have become a bit too popular. Since such information is quite guarded around here, I'll advise newcomers to the Northwest to check out the Washington Trails Association. This is a local resource that many rely on. If there is a trail, they'll know about it. They even have a pretty helpful hike finder tool. Good luck finding an enchanting trip outdoors.

AS SEEN ON KUOW

Recognize this Seattle hotspot? That's Colman Dock where ferry riders travel to, and arrive from, Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. The ferry terminal opened Friday after years of construction, giving the dock an upgrade and a facelift. (Joshua McNichols / KUOW)

DID YOU KNOW?

There's been a lot of hubbub about the University of Washington, and many other colleges, pulling their sports teams out of the Pac-12 and joining the Big Ten. One reason why this is a significant move for UW and the University of Oregon is because they hold a special place in the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 started as the Pacific Coast Conference in 1915 and was founded by four schools — University of California, University of Washington, University of Oregon, and Oregon State University. Yep. UW was a founding member. University representatives met at the Imperial Hotel in Portland and agreed to form a conference. Games officially began in 1916, and more teams began to join. Washington State University came onboard in 1918.

Over the decades since, there were some name changes and some controversies. The conference reformatted into the Big Five and Big Six, then the Pacific 8, and the Pacific 10 before becoming the Pac 12.

ALSO ON OUR MINDS

'Barbie' is the only billion-dollar blockbuster solely directed by a woman

"Barbie" will surpass $1 billion worldwide, according to Warner Bros. estimates. Hard as it may be to believe, that makes director Greta Gerwig the only woman in the billion-dollar club with sole credit for directing a film.

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