Your morning news digest from KUOW | Thursday, Mar. 21
Wildfires // Landfill expansion // Upzoning Seattle // State coffers // Opera director
Washington is burning
We're newly into spring and already wildfire season is upon us.
Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said that since Monday, crews have already put out 24 wildfires in western Washington, including in Whatcom, Mason, Grays Harbor, Cowlitz and Clark counties.
Last year almost 2,000 wildfires burned across Washington state.
Right now in Pierce County firefighters are working on a large brush fire at S.R 702 in Eatonville. They're urging residents on Jackson Road to evacuate as the fire continues to grow.
Cutting down Cedar Hills' footprint
Neighbors are speaking out against expanding King County’s landfill, called Cedar Hills, about ten miles east of Renton.
It takes waste from 37 cities – not including Seattle – and solid waste leaders say the landfill is running out of space.
Looking up
More tall buildings are headed to Seattle.
Mayor Durkan signed off Wednesday on the city's plan to boost height limits in dozens of areas across the city. She said it will generate 3,000 new affordable homes over the next decade.
Critics have said the change could push some people out of their neighborhoods and ruin views.
More in the state coffers
State lawmakers have more money to work with than they were counting on. New numbers show the state should wind up with $860 million more than expected through the middle of 2021.
House Democrats plan to release their proposal for the upcoming budget cycle early next week. Senate Democrats will follow with their own plan.
Seattle names new opera director
