Q&A: WA’s broadband director on the $1.2B expansion challenge ahead by Brandon Block / December 14, 2023
Nick on the Rocks: How the Ice Age carved WA’s labyrinth of canyons Host and geology professor Nick Zentner explores the Drumheller Channels near Othello — which resemble Southwest deserts — in the Season 5 premiere. by Shannen Ortale / December 8, 2023
News Tokitae’s death surfaced orcas’ complicated history in the PNW The death of the whale at a Miami amusement park just before her planned release highlighted the species’ fraught relationship with humans. by Knute Berger / December 4, 2023
Environment Washington’s climate woes: First wildfires, then debris flow Dry soil in burn scars can lead to roaring earthen rivers that are more powerful than mudslides. by Kylie Mohr High Country News / November 16, 2023
Environment PNW landfills reached ‘explosive’ methane emission levels in 2022 Washington and Oregon sites had leakages 20 times more concentrated than the Clean Air Act limit standards. by Joseph Winters Grist / November 3, 2023
Politics Why are gas prices rising at stations unaffected by cap-and-trade? Even oil companies not participating in the state’s new carbon auction system are pumping up the cost to the consumer. by John Stang / October 23, 2023
Environment Why isn’t the Pacific Coastal rainforest treated like the Amazon? Authors of a new book say the 2,500-mile-long ecosystem stores more carbon than other forests — but its lack of an ‘inspiring’ name is keeping it in the dark. by Ian Morse Undark / October 9, 2023
Investigations The effort to save SeaTac’s biggest forest amid airport expansion Community pressure and federal legislation could help protect a hard-won South King County park from long-term development. by Hannah Weinberger / September 28, 2023
Environment Could selling sewage save the Salish Sea? Waste flushed into Puget Sound harms fish and marine life. A nutrient pricing system — like WA’s cap-and-trade program — may curb pollution. by John Stang / September 21, 2023
Environment Federal affirmative action ruling may impact WA cap-and-trade Allocating funds from the carbon plan to minority communities most affected by pollution could draw legal battles based on the new SCOTUS decision. by Alex Brown Stateline / September 8, 2023
Environment Readers sound off on Washington’s high gas prices The state’s cap-and-trade system is met with skepticism and grudging acceptance as companies pass the program’s cost to consumer pocketbooks. by Venice Buhain / September 5, 2023 / Updated: Sept. 7, 2023
Environment The Lummi Nation sees ‘parallels’ with the orca Tokitae’s story The whale — also named Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut and Lolita — was captured in 1970, but died last month before her planned return to the Salish Sea. by Richard Arlin Walker ICT / September 4, 2023
Environment Inside the tumultuous debate behind Seattle’s tree ordinance The debate over more density or more tree canopy got personal as developers clashed with the city’s Urban Forestry Commission. by Eric Scigliano / September 1, 2023 / Updated at 9:40 a.m. on Sept. 3
Environment Indigenous nations say their forests are federally underfunded To reach per-acre parity with Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands, the government would need to increase funding by $96M every year. by Lyric Aquino Grist / September 1, 2023
Investigations Amid heavy smoke, wildfire crews work without practical respirators 'There are times where you just don’t breathe, because you can’t.' by Hannah Weinberger / August 29, 2023
Environment How wildfires are impacting outdoor recreation in Washington Driven by climate change, more frequent blazes may change the way we hike, ski and camp. by Andrew Engelson / August 24, 2023
Environment Washington’s ‘smoke season’ is back. Here’s how to stay safe. As wildfire risk increases, so does the frequency of hazy, hazardous days. Here are some tips on monitoring air quality – and your health. by Venice Buhain / August 23, 2023