Process to tackle Washington’s future aviation needs faces skepticism from inside and out

By Lauren Gallup
Lawmakers are considering restarting the process to find a location to build a new airport after months of community backlash to current recommendations. One member of the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission, which was formed in 2019 to address aviation capacity shortages, agrees more review is needed. Bryce Yadon represents Futurewise, an environmental land use Read More

Federal government allocates over $6 billion to wildfire technology and management

By Lauren Gallup
Firefighters stand in the distance with drip torches along a road surrounded by trees. A fire burns in the foreground of the picture. It's climbing up some smaller trees.
Lawmakers are allocating over $6 billion this fiscal year to support the Department of the Interior and the United States Forest Service in wildfire response. It’s an increase of 14% from the last year’s funding, and will support wildfire suppression, operations and a new research hub to aid fire management. This fiscal year, the forest service will see an increase of Read More

A park from pollution: 30 years after the ASARCO smokestack demolition, Tacoma’s waterfront transforms

By Lauren Gallup
An image of the ASARCO smelter in Tacoma, showing the smokestack rising above the waterfront. Photo credit Tacoma Public Library.
It was a clear day in Tacoma on January 17, 1993. Commencement Bay was crowded with boats. Families gathered on boat decks and across North Tacoma sidewalks to watch the demolition of what was once the tallest smokestack in the world, the ASARCO smokestack that loomed over Tacoma’s waterfront for nearly 100 years. With the press of a button, a child, supervised by Read More

Whatcom County makes no forest conservation recommendation, seeks clarity from DNR

By Lauren Gallup
The Whatcom County council approved 5-2 to send a letter to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, saying that are not ready to issue specific recommendations on Phase II of the department's carbon project. Image captured by Lauren Gallup.
The Whatcom County Council made no specific recommendations on which county timberlands to conserve for the next phase of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ carbon offset project. In the letter, the council affirmed its commitment to work with the department, and instead of offering recommendations, asked the DNR to provide more information about the Read More

Washington bill seeks to regulate solitary confinement

By Lauren Gallup
Inside the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, also known as the Northwest Detention Center. Photo courtesy of La Resistencia, May 2022.
Maria Leónides Pérez’s son, Santiago Ortuno Pérez, has been detained in the Northwest ICE Processing Center, also known as the Northwest Detention Center, in Tacoma for a little more than three years. During his time in detention, Ortuno Pérez has spent at least 10 months in segregation from the general population. He said he’s there now, and has been for 51 days, Read More

New report finds data sharing with federal immigration agencies might violate Washington law

By Lauren Gallup
Varying security cameras lined up. A growing number of privacy concerns are being raised about automated tracking and data sharing and storing, locally and nationwide. Photo by Lianhao Qu via Unsplash.
Immigrant-rights advocates are pointing to new findings by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights, raising concerns of how surveillance technology is used in Washington state. The report argues that sharing of license plate data violates the state’s Keep Washington Working Act. The University of Washington Center for Human Rights analyzed data on the use Read More

In their own words: Rosalie Fish

By Lauren Gallup
Rosalie Fish, running with a painted red handprint across her face and the letters "MMIW" along her leg to raise awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis. Photo courtesy of Fish.
For over 30 years, Native American Heritage Month has been federally recognized. Northwest Public Broadcasting reporters are interviewing Indigenous people throughout the region to learn what they think about the month and what they want people to understand about their culture and who they are. Reporter Lauren Gallup spoke with Rosalie Fish, a University of Washington Read More

Tacoma unveils Black Lives Matter mural

By Lauren Gallup
Along Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, the city’s new Black Lives Matter mural unfolds across the 23,000 square-foot Tollefson Plaza in bright colors. The mural cascades down the steps of the plaza and from different viewpoints, it reveals different faces, messages and meanings. The challenging space makes the viewer work to absorb the mural — something lead artist Read More

Proposed Warehouse In South Tacoma Has Residents Worried About Exacerbation Of Current Inequities

By Lauren Gallup
The site where Bridge Industrial has proposed building a warehouse in South Tacoma. Photo courtesy of Michelle Mood.
Residents of South Tacoma are fighting a proposal by Bridge Industrial to develop a 2.5 million sq.ft. warehouse in the neighborhood on a currently undeveloped superfund site. The development drew criticism when it was announced earlier this year; in response, the city required the company to submit additional studies on environmental impacts for their permit application. Read More

Cow Canyon Fire 60% Contained

By Lauren Gallup
Colored graphic of a tree with flames surrounding it.
The Cow Canyon fire, burning near the border of Yakima and Kittitas counties, is now 60% contained. Joel Brumm, public information officer for the fire incident command team, says crews have continued to make progress on the containment lines and extinguishing residual fire to reduce spread. Read More

Step Into Gallery 110 At The Seattle Art Fair

By Lauren Gallup
"Global Head Spin," a sculpture by artist Michael Abraham, was on display at this year's Seattle Art Fair.
Tri-Cities artist Greg Pierce travels the Pacific Northwest collecting rocks for his sculptures. Fused with clay and glass, each piece reinterprets the region’s landscape. He’s part of Gallery 110, which represents artists from across Washington state. Reporter Lauren Gallup spoke with Pierce at the Seattle Art Fair. Read More
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