Your morning news digest from KUOW | Friday, Feb. 22
Carbon fee // Joe Fain // Identification help // Gluten free // Paine Field // Plastic ban // Electric fleet // Seattle fashion
Carbon fee
State lawmakers are considering a carbon fee as part of the $17 billion transportation funding package. It would raise about $8 billion over the next 10 years and would also include a 6 cents per gallon fuel tax increase.
The money would pay for things like highway maintenance and state ferry projects.
If passed the fee would be the first of its kind in the nation. Voters rejected a different carbon tax proposed by Governor Inslee last November.
References for Fain
Christine Gregoire, the former Washington state governor, and Ana Mari Cauce, the current University of Washington president, were contacted as references for former state Sen. Joe Fain during his hiring process as Bellevue Chamber of Commerce CEO.
Fain was accused of a rape dating back to 2007 by Candace Faber, a former Seattle city official.
Help identify this woman
The King County Medical Examiner's office is asking for the public's help to identify a woman, presumed homeless, who died on the streets in Kirkland in January.
Gluten fighting wheat
A group of scientists at WSU say they've created a unique wheat variety that’s safe for gluten-sensitive individuals.
Researcher Sachin Rustgi says they've changed a specific wheat strain to include an enzyme that would break down gluten.
Rustgi says the wheat strain won’t be on the market for at least a few more years. They want to make sure it could withstand high heat -- like if it were baked in an oven.
New growing Paine
Paine Field, an old airport, that's hosted Boeing jets and private planes for decades, is opening a new terminal in two weeks.
Flights to Denver and eight west coast cities are scheduled to start March 4, on Alaska, United, and Southwest Airlines.
"We expect it to be a game changer for the economy of Snohomish County," said airport spokesperson Scott North.
Plastic bag ban
Speaking of Snohomish, the city has become the 28th in Washington to ban single use plastic bags, starting Jan. 1, 2020. Lawmakers in Olympia are considering making a statewide ban.
All electric
Lime Bike is reportedly making their fleet of rental bikes all-electric. That means users will have to pay more, but they'll never have to pedal alone up Seattle's hills.
Snow costs
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal the Port of Seattle spent about $1 million on snow management equipment and materials. That's about twice the amount of what the airport averaged over the last five years for its entire winter seasons.
Seattle fashion
It gets a bad rap, but we found some people who have changed up their sartorial game in recent years to respond to world events.
