Austin Jenkins, Author at Northwest Public Broadcasting

Washington Will Use National Guard, Partners With Microsoft, Costco, More To Boost Vaccine Delivery

By Austin Jenkins January 18, 2021

Nurse Elizabeth Vadnais administers the COVID-19 vaccine to fellow nurse Ashlynn Strode. Courtesy of Providence of SW Washington

The state of Washington, hamstrung as many states have been by a slow distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, will deploy the National Guard, set up mass vaccination sites and create a new public-private partnership to lead a renewed effort to get the vaccine into the arms of people. Read More

Police, Reformers Face Off Over Proposal To Ban Chokeholds And Military Equipment In Washington

By Austin Jenkins January 12, 2021

Community members gathered in June for a celebration of life for Manuel Ellis, who was killed by Tacoma police in March. In this photo, one of the attendees hangs a flyer with Ellis’ image that says “Happy Father’s Day Manny.” CREDIT: Parker Miles Blohm/KNKX

A proposal to impose sweeping restrictions on police tactics and techniques in Washington is highlighting stark differences of opinion between police and reform groups. That divide was on display Tuesday in the House Public Safety committee during a lengthy, virtual public hearing on an omnibus bill sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Jesse Johnson. Read More

Five Things To Know About Washington’s Upcoming 2021 Legislative Session

By Austin Jenkins January 6, 2021

Amid the ongoing pandemic and threats by far-right protesters to "occupy" the Capitol, Washington lawmakers will convene Monday for what will ultimately be a mostly remote 2021 session with a focus on the ongoing response to COVID-19, police reform, addressing climate change and writing a two-year state budget. Read More

Governor Dusts Off Washington Capital Gains Tax Idea, Proposes Insurance Tax To Fund Public Health

By Austin Jenkins December 18, 2020

On Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled his budget proposals for the next two-year budget cycle. Among his proposals is a new tax on health insurance premiums to fund public health.

The tax measures are contained in the governor's two-year, $57.6 billion operating budget proposal released Thursday in advance of the 2021 Legislative session. Separately, the Democratic governor also released proposed capital construction and transportation budgets. Read More

Declaring He’s ‘Joyous,’ Jay Inslee Says Vaccine Distribution Begins This Week In Washington

By Austin Jenkins December 13, 2020

On Sunday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced the last hurdle has been cleared for the distribution of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The first shipments should arrive Monday and the first doses could be administered starting Tuesday, Dec. 15.

The first doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine should start arriving in Washington on Monday, with the first vaccinations of front line health care workers beginning as early as Tuesday. An upbeat Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced that timeline at a rare Sunday news conference. Read More

One Person Shot In Olympia During Clashes Between Opposing Political Groups At State Capitol

By Austin Jenkins December 12, 2020

Police tape blocks a street near Washington's Capitol Campus where a person was shot Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, as far right and far left protesters clashed.

For the second Saturday in a row, a gun was fired as groups of protesters from opposing ends of the political spectrum clashed in Olympia. The shooting happened Saturday afternoon at the Capitol visitor’s parking lot, which is located on the edge of a residential neighborhood. Read More

As Washington COVID Cases Surge, A Chief Medical Officer Prepares Hospitals For The Worst

By Austin Jenkins December 10, 2020

At Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, non-urgent surgeries are being cancelled and nurses who don't normally work with patients are being prepared to return to the front lines. The actions come as COVID-19 cases continue to spike.

“Unfortunately, I think within the next week it’s going to be a significant rise in COVID-19,” said Dr. Kevin Caserta, the chief medical officer for Providence SW Washington. Already, the two hospitals Caserta oversees, St. Peter and Providence Centralia, have seen a near doubling of COVID patients over the past six to eight weeks – from roughly 25 to nearly 50 today. Read More

Hotel Stays Up, Abuse Reports Down: Report Highlights COVID’s Affect On Washington Child Welfare

By Austin Jenkins December 8, 2020

A poster for reporting child abuse and neglect in Washington State

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in Washington foster youth spending more nights in hotel rooms while overall reports of child abuse and neglect have declined precipitously. Those are among the pandemic-related findings of an annual report from the state’s Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds (OFCO) released Monday. Read More

Washington Voters Said ‘No’ To A Constitutional Amendment. Now There’s A $15 Billion Problem

By Austin Jenkins December 3, 2020

Graphic showing election results for Washington engrossed Senate Joint Resolution 8212 - rejected 54 percent to 46 percent

It was a little-noticed constitutional amendment to allow for the investment of long-term care trust fund dollars in private stocks. Voters soundly defeated the measure 54 to 46 percent. Now comes the surprise cost of that under-the-radar vote: an estimated $15 billion. Read More

Washington House Democrats Told To Limit Their Bill Introductions In 2021 Session Due To COVID

By Austin Jenkins December 1, 2020

Because of disruptions wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, majority Democrats in the Washington House have been asked to restrain themselves and introduce no more than seven bills each during the 2021 legislative session -- and then only bills that “are urgently needed.” Read More

Gov. Jay Inslee Names Texas Doctor Umair Shah As Washington’s Next Health Secretary

By Austin Jenkins November 17, 2020

Since 2013, Shah has been executive director of Harris County Public Health in Houston, Texas. He will replace outgoing Secretary John Wiesman who has served in the position since 2013. Previously, Wiesman announced his plan to leave the post at the end of the year to take a teaching job in North Carolina. Read More

Panic Buying, Washington Businesses Close For Good As New COVID Restrictions Loom

By Austin Jenkins November 16, 2020

Toilet paper is sold out at a Safeway store in Tumwater, Washington. A wave of 'panic buying' followed news that Gov. Jay Inslee was instituting tough new restrictions to address a third wave of Covid-19.

Washington Republicans say the Legislature should immediately meet in special session to address the economic fallout from Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest Covid-19 orders – and even consider tapping the state’s “rainy day” fund. Continue Read More

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee To Announce New Statewide COVID-19 Restrictions Sunday

By Austin Jenkins November 14, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced additional measures to combat coronavirus on July 23, 2020. CREDIT: TVW

While Inslee's office did not release details in advance of the 11 a.m. Sunday event, industry group emails sent to grocery store and restaurant owners, and obtained by the public radio Northwest News Network, outlined what Inslee is expected to order. Read More

Coronavirus Third Wave In Washington: Long Lines For Testing, People Turned Away

By Austin Jenkins November 13, 2020

Cars line up for coronavirus testing outside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Florida is one of many states reporting spikes in COVID-19 cases in recent days, as the number of confirmed cases worldwide has topped 10 million. Wilfredo Lee/AP

It used to be a busy day at the Providence COVID drive-up test site near Olympia was 100 cars. Recently, the site broke a one-day record with 352 drive ups. It's another sign of the “third wave” now underway. Continue Reading Read More

No ‘Blue Wave’ In Washington As Late-Arriving Ballots Favor GOP Candidates For State Legislature

By Austin Jenkins November 9, 2020

Predictions of a possible “Blue Wave” in Washington state did not materialize last week, despite President Trump’s unpopularity among the electorate. As of Monday, he had received just under 39 percent of the vote to President-elect Joe Biden’s 58 percent. Read More

Despite Intense Interest In Election, Washington Voter Registrations Lag Compared To 2016

By Austin Jenkins October 31, 2020

Washington's August 4 primary ballot is chock full of candidates even though traditional campaigning has, in many cases, been put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. CREDIT: Washington Secretary of State's Office

According to figures provided by the Secretary of State’s office, 513,000 people registered to vote in Washington prior to the 2016 election. So far this year, this state has seen approximately 440,000 new registrants, a 14 percent drop compared to four years ago. However, the last two months have shown something of a rebound. Read More

Why Washington Accepts Ballots Postmarked By Election Day Well Into November, Unlike Oregon

By Austin Jenkins October 28, 2020

A ballot drop box in Thurston County, Washington. While ballots must be returned to a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day, they can still be counted if they come in through the mail weeks later as long as they're postmarked by Election Day. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

Washington’s latitude about late-arriving ballots stands in stark contrast to Oregon, and more than half of states, where ballots must arrive by Election Day. In fact, by allowing ballots to still be counted nearly three weeks after the election, Washington has the most generous policy in the nation, according to a recent analysis. Read More

Washington Elections Officials Bracing For Last-Minute Disinformation Campaigns

By Austin Jenkins October 26, 2020

drops her ballot in a drop box at Lacey City Hall in Thurston County on Monday, Oct. 26. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

State and local election officials in Washington sought to reassure voters Monday that robust security measures are in place to protect against interference with the general election, even as they acknowledged the likelihood that bad actors will try to sow distrust and undermine confidence in the national election results. Read More

Washington Beer Lobby Goes On The Offensive To Drown A Tax That Isn’t Even On Tap

By Austin Jenkins October 26, 2020

In a letter sent to Gov. Jay Inslee and legislative leaders in October 2020, representatives of the beer, grocery and hospitality industry urged policymakers “not to increase taxes on beer.” But state lawmakers say they're not considering such a tax at this point ahead of the 2021 legislative session. CREDIT: Scott A. Leadingham/NWPB

There's no indication a beer tax is on tap in Olympia. But the industry isn’t taking any chances. Especially after what happened in 2010. That’s when state lawmakers imposed an increase in the beer tax as part of a plan to balance a budget hammered by the Great Recession. Read More

Elections Officials Say There’s No Evidence Washington State Systems Have Been Compromised

By Austin Jenkins October 23, 2020

A person drops off a ballot for Washington state's primary election, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, at a collection box at the King County Administration Building in Seattle. CREDIT: Ted S. Warren/AP

State and local election officials in Washington said Thursday that election systems here are secure and haven’t been hacked. Those assurances follow multiple reports in recent days of efforts by foreign actors to interfere with the upcoming national election. Read More

Big-Time Spending Highlights Six Must-Watch Washington Legislative Races

By Austin Jenkins October 22, 2020

The Washington state capitol building in Olympia. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

In a year that seems all about the presidential election, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s happening down the ballot. In Washington, all nine statewide elected positions are up this year. But some of the fiercest action, and biggest spending, is happening in state legislative races. Read More

Newcomers, Up-And-Comers, And Almost Lifers: Your Guide To Washington’s Statewide Races

By Austin Jenkins October 21, 2020

Since 2011, Washington has been an all vote-by-mail state. This year, ballots will be mailed out no later than October 16. They must be returned to an official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day or postmarked by that day. Election officials recommend voters use one of the nearly 500 official ballot drop boxes or voter centers statewide. Read More

Mask Or No Mask? Washington Governor’s Race Is A Study In Stark Contrasts

By Austin Jenkins October 20, 2020

One candidate embraces masks, the other shuns them. It's just one of the many differences between Washington's candidates for governor this year.

If there was a meme for this race, it would be Jay Inslee wearing a face mask next to an image of Loren Culp without a mask. While Inslee has been evangelizing about masks, Culp has been holding mostly maskless outdoor rallies across the state. Those rallies are a symbol of the defiant nature of Culp’s campaign and his live-and-let-live political philosophy. Read More

With Elections Under The Microscope, Washington Has A Fierce Race For Secretary Of State

By Austin Jenkins October 16, 2020

Republican Kim Wyman, left, is seeking a third term as Washington Secretary of State. Democratic challenger Gael Tarleton is seeking to unseat Wyman.

For more than half a century, Republicans have had a lock on Washington’s Secretary of State’s office. This year, Democrats hope to end that five decade run by unseating incumbent Kim Wyman who’s seeking a third term. Continue Read More

Washington Lt. Governor On Unpaid Leave As He Attends Jesuit Training In California

By Austin Jenkins October 13, 2020

Lt. Gov Cyrus Habib is requesting money in the next two year state budget to hire security. JEANIE LINDSAY / N3

In a statement Tuesday to the public radio Northwest News Network and the Associated Press, the executive director of the lieutenant governor's office, Kristina Brown, said Democrat Cyrus Habib began his leave on Sept. 1 and notified both Inslee and Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig at that time. Read More

Former Washington State Auditor To Ask U.S. Supreme Court To Review His Convictions

By Austin Jenkins September 21, 2020

Former WA State Auditor Troy Kelley leaves the federal courthouse in Tacoma in 2016. Kelley's attorney says he plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review Kelley's conviction. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

The move comes after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month denied Kelley’s request for a rehearing of his case by all of the judges on that court. Previously, a three-judge panel rejected Kelley’s appeal seeking to overturn his convictions. Read More

‘We’re Ready’: Washington Election Officials Seek To Reassure Voters And Convince More To Register

By Austin Jenkins September 20, 2020

As President Donald Trump intensifies his attacks on the security of vote-by-mail, county auditors and state election officials sought Friday to reassure voters the state of Washington is well prepared to pull off the 2020 vote-by-mail election. Read More

With Chanting Fans And Lots Of Yard Signs, A Small-Town Police Chief Tries To Become Governor

By Austin Jenkins September 19, 2020

Republican candidate for Washington governor Loren Culp speaks at a protest rally in May 2020. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

Back in May, Culp was one of three dozen candidates running for Washington governor. A first-time candidate, he lacked the statewide name recognition of Tim Eyman, the anti-tax initiative promoter who was also running. But the police chief of Republic, population 1,100, in the northeast corner of the state seemed to have something the other candidates didn’t: a fired-up Read More

For One Olympia Family, Going Back To School Means Rolling Up The Garage Door

By Austin Jenkins September 5, 2020

A few Ikea shelves and desks, rugs and a temporary plywood wall is what it took for the Swanson family to turn their garage into a classroom for four of their six children, plus two foster children.

It was common through the 1800s for American school children to attend a one-room schoolhouse. In 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Swanson family in rural north Olympia will attend a one-garage schoolhouse. Continue Read More

In Washington, The Revolving Door Between State Public Service And Lobbying Is Well Greased

By Austin Jenkins September 2, 2020

Efforts to slow WA’s revolving door from state service to lobbying have been thwarted in recent years. That makes the state an outlier in not requiring a cooling off period. So how much does this happen? Continue Read More

Former Washington U.S. Senator Slade Gorton Dies At 92

By Austin Jenkins August 19, 2020

Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton has died at the age of 92. A Republican, he served three terms in the Senate. He was also a state lawmaker and three-term state attorney general. CREDIT: U.S. Senate

Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton of Washington, a three-term Republican and 9/11 commissioner, has died at the age of 92. Thomas Slade Gorton III was born in Chicago in 1928. He was a descendant of the Gorton Seafood family of Massachusetts. But it was politics that attracted him from a young age. Read More

She Followed Rules And Took COVID Seriously. But Now An Olympia Gym Owner Is ‘Freaking Pissed’

By Austin Jenkins August 13, 2020

Tiffany Krueger, owner of Athena Fitness and Wellness in Olympia, says the governor's new 17-foot distancing rule for fitness clubs is unfair and could put her out of business. Courtesy of Tiffany Krueger

On Aug. 3, Gov. Inslee announced new rules for indoor fitness studios and gyms that nearly tripled the required spacing between class participants from six feet to 17 feet. Krueger expressed her frustration in a 4-minute video she posted to Instagram. “I have to say that I am freaking pissed,” she said in the video. “We’re unable to pay our bills with these mandates; that Read More

$165,000 A Week For COVID Analysis? That’s How Much Washington State Has Paid A Consulting Firm

By Austin Jenkins August 10, 2020

The June agreement is one of three, six-figure-a-week, no-bid contracts the state of Washington has entered into with McKinsey – one of the largest consulting firms in the world -- in the midst of the pandemic, according to a review by the public media Northwest News Network and The Seattle Times. The nature and price of the contracts has raised questions about whether Read More

Breaking Down Dynamics Of Washington’s Aug. 4 Primary, With A Crowded Race For Governor

By Austin Jenkins August 3, 2020

Washington state primary election ballot for the Aug. 4, 2020 all-vote-by-mail election. CREDIT: Scott Leadingham/NWPB

While turnout in November could easily top 80 percent, Washington’s August primary typically draws 40 percent or less of the electorate. We break down the dynamics of this year's unusual election season during the coronavirus pandemic. Read More

Court Upholds Conviction Of Former Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley, Further Appeals Possible

By Austin Jenkins July 29, 2020

Former Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected an appeal by former Washington state Auditor Troy Kelley who sought to have his 2017 convictions for possession of stolen property, filing false tax returns and making false statements overturned. Read More

A Dog Days Of Summer Primary And A Ton Of Candidates: Guide To Washington’s Statewide Races

By Austin Jenkins July 15, 2020

Washington’s typically sleepy August primary will test the endurance of voters as they navigate a larger-than-usual crop of candidates. The robust turnout of would-be officeholders may be, at least partially, the result of the state making it easier to qualify for the ballot in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Read More

Washington Will Continue Pause On County Reopening, Could See Rollback As COVID-19 Cases Rise

By Austin Jenkins July 14, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday, July 14 that the state will pause further reopenings until at least July 28. CREDIT: TVW

This week Oregon and California took steps to slow or rollback their re-openings, and Washington could be next, Gov. Jay Inslee said. Dramatic growth in COVID cases over the past month has pushed the state over its previous peak in April. Read More

‘Hogwash’: Jay Inslee Responds To President Trump On Pressure To Reopen Schools For Fall Term

By Austin Jenkins July 9, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks at a news conference at Columbia Basin College in Pasco June 30, 2020. Hecklers yelling at him, some with signs and flags for Trump 2020 and Republican gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp, caused the event to be moved inside. CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is responding to President Donald Trump’s threat to penalize states that don’t reopen schools this fall. At a news conference Thursday, Inslee pushed back hard on the president and said the state won’t be bullied. Read More

A Presidential Year Without A Statewide Ballot Initiative: A First Since 1928 In Washington

By Austin Jenkins July 3, 2020

Professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman, right, holds a photo from his first successful $30 car tabs initiative in 1999. Eyman says he has collected almost enough signatures to qualify a 2019 car tabs rollback initiative to the 2019 Legislature. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS/N3

A review of Washington’s initiative history reveals that not since 1928 has the November ballot been bereft of an initiative to the people in a year when voters were electing a president. Continue Reading A Read More

Washington Financial Disclosure Forms Will Go Back Online, Despite Opposition From Lawmakers

By Austin Jenkins June 26, 2020

The Washington Public Disclosure Commission website is where candidates file and the general public can see campaign expenditure reports.

The F-1 statements, as they’re known, were taken offline last month following an urgent email with the subject line “Stop online posting of F1 data” from Democratic state Sen. Sam Hunt, the chair of the State Government committee which oversees the PDC. Read More

Lewis County Sheriff’s Response To Washington Governor’s Mask Directive: ‘Don’t Be A Sheep’

By Austin Jenkins June 25, 2020

In this screenshot from a YouTube video, Lewis County Sheriff Robert Snaza tells a crowd "Don't be a sheep" when it comes to following Gov. Jay Inslee's face covering order.

Hours after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced a statewide mandate for people to wear masks in public, a Republican sheriff in southwest Washington appeared to urge open defiance of the order. “Don’t be a sheep,” Lewis County Sheriff Robert Snaza said to loud applause from a mostly mask-less crowd gathered in a church parking lot. Read More

She Lost Her Sister To COVID-19. It Highlights Risk To People With Developmental Disabilities

By Austin Jenkins June 19, 2020

A montage of photos captures special moments in the life of Sharon Gowdey who had Down syndrome and died of COVID-19 in April. People with developmental disabilites appear to have a much higher risk of death from the virus. Courtesy of Kathleen Hesseltine

Early data show a 13.5 percent death rate among people with developmental disabilities who live in state-supported, community-based settings and have tested positive. That’s nearly triple Washington’s current statewide death rate of 4.6 percent. It’s a similar story in other states, including Oregon. Read More

Governor Orders Furloughs, Cancels Some Pay Raises As Washington Shows $9B Drop In Revenues

By Austin Jenkins June 17, 2020

This chart shows Washington state revenues dropping by seven percent in fiscal year 2021, but increasing in subsequent years. CREDIT: Economic and Revenue Forecast Council

In a move not seen since the Great Recession, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday canceled pay raises for some state employees and ordered furloughs for many more through at least this fall. The move came the same day a new state revenue forecast projected an $8.8 billion drop in tax collections over the next three years. Read More

President Trump Ramps Up Criticism Of Jay Inslee And Jenny Durkan Over Seattle Protest Zone

By Austin Jenkins June 15, 2020

In this screenshot from C-SPAN, President Trump answers questions from reporters at a White House roundtable event on June 15, 2020. He used the occasion to criticize Washington state officials over the ongoing protest on Seattle's Capitol Hill.

Stepping up an attack he began on Twitter last week, President Trump on Monday spent more than four minutes at a White House meeting inveighing against Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and the six-block protest area now known as CHOP, for Capitol Hill Organized Protest. Read More

It’s An Election Year. But That’s Not Scaring Washington Democrats From Talking Taxes

By Austin Jenkins June 11, 2020

In this 2012 file photo, then Gov. Chris Gregoire talks about the state budget. During the Great Recession, Democrats largely addressed plummeting revenues through budget cuts instead of tax hikes. The response to the COVID-19 recession may be different. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3

Unlike during the Great Recession, when the budget was largely balanced through spending cuts, this time around majority Democrats and their allies, like labor unions, are already signaling that tax increases are almost certain to be part of any solution. Read More

Nearly 100-Year-Old Historic Marker Stolen From Washington Capitol Campus

By Austin Jenkins May 29, 2020

This bronze plaque commemorating the location of the home of Washington's first territorial and state governors was stolen from the Capitol Campus earlier this month. Now the Washington State Patrol is seeking tips from the public.

A nearly 100-year-old historical marker has been mysteriously stolen from Washington's Capitol Campus and, with no leads on who took it, the state patrol is now asking the public for help solving the crime. Continue Reading Nearly Read More

After Unemployment Fraud, Washington’s Campaign Finance Watchdog Blocks Some Online Access

By Austin Jenkins May 26, 2020

At the request of a powerful Democratic state senator who warned of “foreign intrusion,” Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) on Sunday temporarily suspended public, online access to the personal financial statements of elected officials, candidates and other public officials. Read More

Washington Republicans Want To Block Pay Raises And Cut Spending In June Special Session

By Austin Jenkins May 22, 2020

Saying that it’s time for the legislative branch to “intervene” in the state’s COVID-19 response, Republican leaders in the Washington Legislature on Thursday called for a special session of the Legislature to begin in June. Read More

Might There Be A Special Session Of The Washington Legislature? Don’t Bet On It, Or Against It

By Austin Jenkins May 20, 2020

The Washington Capitol building in Olympia with flowers in front

As Washington Gov. Jay Inslee exerts his emergency powers to battle COVID-19, behind the scenes legislative leaders are exploring the idea of a special session of the Legislature, perhaps as early as next month. Continue Read More

At Age 6, He And Classmates Fled Mount St. Helens. 40 Years Later, This Reporter Recalls That Day

By Austin Jenkins May 18, 2020

Reporter Austin Jenkins, in green circle, was part of a Puget Sound Primary School trip to Camp Cispus in May 1980. Austin and his classmates were evacuated from the camp after Mount St. Helens erupted.

Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins was a first grader on a school camping trip near Mount St. Helens when the volcano erupted on May 18, 1980. Austin recently unearthed his scrapbook from that time and interviewed several others who were on that memorable trip. On this 40th anniversary of the eruption, Austin recounts their harrowing escape. Read More

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