Tom Banse, Author at Northwest Public Broadcasting

Chehalis Tribe Opens Distillery, After Centuries-Old Nationwide Prohibition Overturned

By Tom Banse September 27, 2020

The Talking Cedar brewpub and distillery opened to the public this summer in Grand Mound. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

A new distillery will soon begin making whiskey, vodka and gin on Chehalis tribal land in southwest Washington state. It's the first legal, Native-owned distillery to open on tribal land in the nation. The Chehalis Tribe's effort to diversify its economy by joining the craft spirits boom had to first overcome a nearly two century old prohibition on liquor production in Read More

Dead Whale Left To Rot On Washington Beach Now On Its Way To Becoming Amazing Yard Art

By Tom Banse September 24, 2020

The skull of a gray whale that washed ashore in Puget Sound in 2019 will soon find its final resting place in a Jefferson County back yard. CREDIT: Mario Rivera

Last year, a couple who lives near Port Townsend, Washington, agreed to let the federal government drop off a dead gray whale to decompose on their semi-isolated beach. Now, the couple has a permit to keep the whale skeleton and will soon assemble the most amazing yard art. Read More

There’s New Momentum To Retire Native-Themed Mascots At Washington State Schools

By Tom Banse September 18, 2020

The Chieftains mascot at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington, is on the way out following a unanimous vote of the school board. CREDIT: Molly Solomon/OPB

The first Native American woman elected to the Washington State House of Representatives says she is drafting legislation to retire Native-themed mascots and team names at public schools. This has been a goal of Native American leaders for a while, but has new-found momentum in the wake of the Washington, DC, NFL football team’s name change. Read More

Tablet And Phone Cameras Monitor Mask-Wearing And Distancing In Cafes And Lobbies

By Tom Banse September 7, 2020

Screen grab from a Nomad Go demo video showing a kiosk that monitors mask compliance at a building entry. CREDIT: Nomad Go

The four-year-old startup Nomad Go in Kirkland, Washington, sells software for building management -- to monitor lines and speed of service, for example. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, co-founder and CEO David Greschler realized his company's image analysis tools could be enhanced to show not only percent occupancy, but also mask compliance and if people are properly Read More

Western Washington Bonsai Tree Exhibit Offers Novel Take On 75th Anniversary Of WWII’s End

By Tom Banse September 6, 2020

Bonsai trained by WWII conscientious objector Mas Imazumi on display in the World War Bonsai: Remembrance and Resilience exhibition.

What does the contemplative art of bonsai have to do with World War II? Plenty, said Aarin Packard. He's the curator at the Pacific Bonsai Museum, which displays all kinds of the dwarfed trees pruned and trained into artistic shapes. Read More

Ferry Service Boosted To Washington Town Of Point Roberts, Cut Off By U.S.-Canada Border Closure

By Tom Banse September 3, 2020

Point Roberts , Washington, on the southern tip British Columbia is stuck between a rock and a border closure during the pandemic. CREDIT: Esmy Jimenez/KUOW. Created with DataMapper

The Port of Bellingham is increasing temporary ferry service to the isolated enclave of Point Roberts, Washington. That community was largely cut off from the U.S. mainland when Canada and the U.S. closed their land border this spring to nonessential crossings to control the spread of the coronavirus. Read More

Two WWII Vets – One In The Northwest, One In Britain – Lap Expectations For Their 100th Birthdays

By Tom Banse September 2, 2020

Bud Lewis accomplished his 100 Laps To 100 Years feat ahead of schedule - and kept on walking. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

The story of Captain Tom in Britain reached Bud Lewis of Portland through a chain of friends and family. The two men are virtually the same age. Lewis also served in World War II in the tropics. The U.S. Army veteran was convinced by his circle to copy his British counterpart. Read More

‘Tidying Up The Past’: Pandemic House Cleanings Yield Offers To Return WWII Souvenirs

By Tom Banse August 29, 2020

U.S. Marines posed with a captured Japanese flag on Iwo Jima. CREDIT: National Archives, USMC #112350

Aging veterans and their descendants are attempting to return memorabilia to the families of their former enemies ahead of a milestone anniversary. Next Wednesday, September 2, marks 75 years to the day since the Japanese surrender ceremony that ended World War II. Read More

U.S. – Canada Border Restrictions Extended, Forcing Big Changes To Lives In Washington And B.C.

By Tom Banse August 19, 2020

Peace Arch Park reportedly is the scene of lots of weddings this summer featuring Canadian-American couples seeking to ease their border crossing status.

The months-long closure of the U.S.-Canada border to non-essential crossings has been extended again. The border crossing restrictions will last at least until late September, probably longer, due to the pandemic. The outlook is leading people who used to cross regularly to make major life changes. Read More

Matriarch Of Northwest Apple Industry Passes Away At Age…194? Yeah, That’s Correct

By Tom Banse August 18, 2020

The long-standing plaque at the foot of the Old Apple Tree testifies to how the community recognized the significance of the tree early on. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

It's not often that you'll read an obituary for a tree. Or that a dead tree gets a memorial service of sorts. But then there aren't many like Vancouver, Washington's "Old Apple Tree." Continue Reading Matriarch Of Northwest Apple Read More

After Months Of Lockdown, New Plans For Washington State Care Facilities Will Allow Family Visits

By Tom Banse August 6, 2020

Dorothy Campbell talks to her husband, Gene Campbell, on the phone through his window at the Life Care Center of Kirkland on March 5, 2020, in Kirkland. CREDIT: Megan Farmer/KUOW

The state has developed a new four phase plan for the long-term care settings. This plan is entirely separate from the four phase protocol for reopening Washington state counties. Continue Reading After Months Of Read More

New ‘Twilight’ Book Will Boost Olympic Peninsula Vampire Tourism, If COVID Doesn’t Put A Stake In It

By Tom Banse August 3, 2020

Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) swooned through five blockbuster movies in the Twilight saga. CREDIT: Kimberley French/Summit Entertainment

The Twilight phenomenon gets an injection of fresh blood this Tuesday with the release of a new installment in the bestselling vampire saga from author Stephenie Meyer. The series of novels and subsequent hit movies spurred legions of fans to visit the fictional story's real-life setting on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. But a predicted "renaissance" in vampire tourism Read More

Pandemic Hasn’t Interrupted Alaska’s Resupply Lifeline From The Northwest, And Woe If It Does

By Tom Banse August 2, 2020

Western Towboat tugs depart Puget Sound every week of the year to deliver essential supplies to Alaskan towns by barge.

The coronavirus pandemic has served to remind many of us how much we count on strangers staying healthy so we can restock our cupboards and go about daily life. That's especially true for Alaskans who depend on a marine cargo lifeline from the Pacific Northwest for the majority of their goods. Read More

After Divorce From Amazon Founder, MacKenzie Scott Donates $1.7B, Including For Native Education

By Tom Banse July 31, 2020

Seattle philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott. CREDIT: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

About a month after her divorce last year, Scott signed a pledge to donate the majority of her fortune in her lifetime. Now, the Seattle author, philanthropist and mother of four is providing a glimpse at how she will give her money away. Read More

Official COVID-19 Fatalities May Undercount Pandemic’s Death Toll By Hundreds In Northwest

By Tom Banse July 15, 2020

Suburban Seattle resident Helen Molina died of COVID-19 in April, a few weeks after this picture was taken. Her passing is emblematic of the vulnerability of people with Alzheimers and dementia during the pandemic. Courtesy of Susan Weber

The carefully followed death toll from COVID-19 may not fully capture the loss of life during the pandemic. Analysis of state and federal statistics for deaths from all causes shows hundreds of additional deaths above normal levels this spring in the Pacific Northwest. Some or many of those may actually be missed COVID deaths. Read More

Four Tribes In Talks To Introduce Legal Sports Betting To Washington In Their Casinos

By Tom Banse July 8, 2020

The Kalispel Tribe's Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights could be among the first places in Washington state to offer legal sports betting. CREDIT: Northern Quest/Kalispel Tribe

Four Washington state tribes have opened negotiations with the state government to introduce sports betting. Earlier this year, the legislature authorized wagering on sports, but only at tribal casinos -- unlike the broader legalization in Oregon. Read More

Washington Governor Puts 2-Week Pause On Further County Reopening, Strengthens Mask Order

By Tom Banse July 2, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced a two week pause in further reopening via video conference on July 2, 2020. CREDIT: Washington Governor's Office

Washington Governor Jay Inslee and the state Health Secretary are hitting the pause button on the county-by-county reopening process in response to the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Inslee announced that for at least the next two weeks all counties in Washington state will stay in whatever reopening phase they are currently in -- with a couple of exceptions. Read More

Northwest Coastal Beach Communities Bracing For July 4th Revelers … And Their Trash

By Tom Banse July 1, 2020

On July 5, 2019, volunteers on the Long Beach Peninsula collected approximately 16 tons of trash left behind by Independence Day revelers.

A favorable weather forecast and the Fourth of July falling on a weekend has beach communities in the Pacific Northwest bracing for an onslaught despite the ongoing pandemic. Two beach towns that tend to be holiday crowd magnets are particularly in the limelight this year. Read More

Want A Really Big Houseboat? Former Washington State Ferry May Head To Auction (Again)

By Tom Banse June 27, 2020

Are better times ahead for the former Washington state ferry Evergreen State now that the Port of Olympia has seized it for nonpayment of bills? CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

A former state ferry now moored on the Olympia waterfront may be headed for auction for the third time in about three years, this time to remedy months of unpaid port bills. The venerable car ferry Evergreen State was declared "abandoned" by the Port of Olympia on Friday, to the dismay of its owner. Read More

Washington State Leaders Hesitant About Counties Moving To Final Phase 4 Of State Reopening Plan

By Tom Banse June 24, 2020

Thinly populated, rural counties in Washington -- such as Columbia County, seen here -- are in the vanguard of the state reopening process, but the final stage appears to be delayed. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Washington state leaders are expressing hesitancy about opening the door to the final phase of the governor's four-phase reopening plan. By the end of this week, eight rural counties will have spent the minimum three weeks in Phase 3 and can then theoretically apply to lift most remaining coronavirus restrictions. Read More

Study Estimates High Costs, Low Ridership If Washington Boosted East-West Train Service

By Tom Banse June 24, 2020

The rail corridor studied stretches from Seattle to Spokane with six intermediate stops including Ellensburg, Yakima and Pasco.

The Washington Legislature commissioned the $250,000 study last year to see if it would be feasible to restart passenger service on the Stampede Pass line. The route crosses the Cascade Mountains from Seattle to Ellensburg, then stretches onward through the Yakima Valley to Pasco and Spokane. Read More

Does Cuteness Count? A Cost-Benefit Analysis Encourages Backers Of A Northwest Sea Otter Return

By Tom Banse June 21, 2020

A sea otter in the waters off Vancouver Island

A study of sea otter restoration in British Columbia is giving encouragement to a group that wants to bring sea otters back to the Oregon Coast. The research team led by the University of British Columbia analyzed the rebound in sea otters off the coast of Vancouver Island. Read More

Washington State Ferries To Stay On Reduced Schedule As Summer Begins

By Tom Banse June 19, 2020

Washington State Ferries is only using one of the two boats it normally assigns to the Port Townsend-Coupeville route in summer, as is the case on routes to downtown Seattle as well. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Summer officially begins on Saturday, but it still feels like winter if you study the sailing schedule of Washington State Ferries. With ridership depressed by the ongoing pandemic, the nation's biggest ferry system is sticking to a reduced schedule through what would normally be its busiest season. Read More

Now Showing At The Drive-In: Class Of 2020 High School Graduation

By Tom Banse June 17, 2020

Slightly more than 100 vehicles entered the Port Townsend Wheel-In Motor Movie drive-in for the high school graduation ceremony in June 2020. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

An iconic, but disappearing American institution -- the drive-in movie theater -- came to the rescue of the senior classes in several Pacific Northwest communities this month. As luck would have it, a drive-in cinema is well suited for a socially-distanced graduation ceremony. Read More

Impaired Driving Declined During Pandemic, Though Not Because People Are Drinking Less

By Tom Banse June 10, 2020

DUI arrests by Washington state troopers dropped by 46 percent during the coronavirus pandemic. CREDIT: Washington Traffic Safety Commission

Impaired driving citations dropped sharply across Oregon and Washington this spring during the coronavirus pandemic. There are multiple possible explanations for the decline, but people drinking and using drugs less does not appear to be a likely one. Read More

Frustrated By Delayed Unemployment Benefits, Laid Off Workers Turn To Washington Supreme Court

By Tom Banse June 6, 2020

Laid-off restaurant worker Katrina Thiessen is frustrated by the weeks-long delay in having her unemployment claim approved.

Frustration with long delays in getting jobless benefits is boiling over into a lawsuit against the Washington State Employment Security Department. Attorneys representing two laid off workers and the nonprofit Unemployment Law Project filed the case directly with the state Supreme Court on Friday. Read More

Washington’s Smallest Counties Will Lead The Way Into Phase 3 Of State’s Reopening Plan

By Tom Banse June 4, 2020

Nine rural counties are eligible to apply to the state Secretary of Health this week to move to the next stage in Gov. Jay Inslee's four-phase reopening plan. Lincoln, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Columbia and Wahkiakum counties wasted no time and submitted the necessary paperwork and letters of support on Wednesday to advance from Phase 2 to Phase 3. Read More

The Coast Is Clear(ing): Tourist Lodgings Reopening Along Washington And Oregon Shores

By Tom Banse June 3, 2020

A getaway to the seashore is back in the realm of possibility as many coastal Oregon and Washington towns relax closure orders on tourist lodgings and vacation rentals. Continue Reading The Coast Is Clear(ing): Tourist Read More

All-Electric Commuter Plane Begins Flight Testing In Moses Lake

By Tom Banse June 1, 2020

A modified Cessna Grand Caravan takes off from Moses Lake, Washington, on its inaugural flight using fully-electric propulsion on Thursday.

A Cessna commuter plane retrofitted in Washington state has taken the crown of biggest all-electric airplane now flying. Redmond, Washington-based electric motor maker MagniX teamed up with flight testing contractor AeroTEC to convert a 10-passenger, single engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan to fly on battery power. Read More

Summer Camp Cancellations Multiply, But Some Hold Out Hope For Late Start

By Tom Banse May 21, 2020

The director of YMCA Camp Reed north of Spokane holds out hope to open classic summer camp in July.

The coronavirus is spreading a pandemic of disappointment among Pacific Northwest families and camp counselors via the widespread cancellation of traditional sleepaway summer camps. But some camp operators in Washington state and north Idaho are waiting to make the final call for this summer in hopes that overnight camps can still take place -- albeit with a late start Read More

San Juan Becomes First County In Pacific Northwest To Require Masks In Public

By Tom Banse May 16, 2020

Friday Harbor in Washington's San Juan Islands is the seat of San Juan County. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

San Juan County in the northwest corner of Washington state is about to become the first county in the Pacific Northwest to require residents and visitors to wear a face covering in public places. Elsewhere in the region, governments have highly recommended wearing masks, but it's not the law. Read More

Eruption Anniversary Plans Blown Up And Reborn, Sort Of Like The Honoree: Mount St. Helens

By Tom Banse May 13, 2020

File photo. A classic view of Mount St. Helens from the Johnston Ridge Observatory and Visitor Center

There were once big plans for many public events to mark the 40th anniversary of the catastrophic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The coronavirus pandemic blew up those plans, but many are resurfacing online this week and next. Read More

Pandemic Gives Pacific Northwest Whales A Respite From Din Of Underwater Noise

By Tom Banse May 13, 2020

Underwater noise impacts on endangered orcas were already under study before the coronavirus pandemic opened the door for a natural experiment.

American and Canadian marine scientists -- and one talented dog -- are seizing an unexpected opportunity presented by the coronavirus pandemic. They are trying to establish whether Pacifc Northwest whales benefit from the current drop in boat traffic and underwater noise. Read More

Most Washington State Parks Set To Reopen Tuesday, With Gorge And Coast Areas Waiting Longer

By Tom Banse May 3, 2020

Steamboat Rock State Park is one of more than 100 Washington parks slated to reopen on Tuesday, May 5. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

More than 100 Washington state parks made the cut to reopen for day use beginning Tuesday, but aficionados of Pacific Coast and Columbia River Gorge getaways will have to wait a while longer. Continue Reading Most Read More

Locals Only, Please. Reopening Of Some Washington State Parks Greeted With Concern

By Tom Banse April 29, 2020

Lime Kiln Point State Park on San Juan Island CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Outdoor enthusiasts in Washington may be looking forward to the reopening of many shuttered state parks and public lands next week. But a few of Washington's most popular state parks could stay closed because the surrounding communities are worried about crowds and renewed disease spread. Read More

Outdoor Enthusiasts Greet News Of Reopening In Washington With Cheers Of Victory

By Tom Banse April 28, 2020

A protester reels in a fake fish near poles marking a six-foot social distance on a boat on Lake Union in Seattle April 26, 2020 during a protest against Washington state's current ban on recreational fishing. CREDIT: Ted S. Warren/AP

In Olympia on Monday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced that restrictions on fishing, hunting, hiking and golfing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus will begin easing next week on May 5. Inslee also announced most state parks, state forestlands and state-managed boat ramps will reopen on that Tuesday. Read More

‘Drive-By WiFi’: Hot Spots Pop Up Across Washington To Bridge Digital Divide In Pandemic

By Tom Banse April 27, 2020

The Tahuya fire station, in rural Mason County, Washington, is one of the sites tapped to host a drive-up Wi-Fi hotspot.

Distance learning, ordering groceries online or applying for unemployment, those are all kind of difficult without a good internet connection. So, at least seven public utilities spanning Washington state are setting up drive-up Wi-Fi hotspots amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read More

Improvisation Necessary For Northwest First Responders Facing COVID-19 Threat

By Tom Banse April 24, 2020

South King Fire and Rescue Lt. Greg Willett stands in an aid car optimized to transport COVID-positive patients.

Coronavirus risk and ongoing shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) are leading fire departments around the region to rediscover the enduring truth of the idiom, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Continue Reading Read More

‘Pretty Humbling And Enlightening’ Says King County Firefighter Recovering From COVID-19

By Tom Banse April 24, 2020

Fire Captain Shane Smith is recovering from a serious brush with COVID-19. He is mystified about where he contracted the virus. CREDIT: Brad Chaney/South King Fire & Rescue - 2019

More than 500 firefighters and EMTs in the Pacific Northwest have been temporarily quarantined after suspected exposure to the coronavirus over the past two months. The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters and the Oregon Fire Service Coronavirus Response Team have been monitoring the number of first responders taken out of service. Read More

Surge In Unemployment Continues As Clunky State Systems Await Upgrades

By Tom Banse April 17, 2020

Shavonne Maes paints a mural onto the boarded up facade of Some Random Bar on March 26, 2020, in Seattle.

Fresh numbers of initial claims for jobless benefits showed some moderation in the past week in the staggering wave of layoffs across the Northwest caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But the level of unemployment claims continues to hover at record levels, as reported Thursday by the state labor and employment departments of Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Read More

Washington Tries Out Tyvek House Wrap As Alternative For Critically Scarce Protective Gowns

By Tom Banse April 14, 2020

Firefighter Jim Wilson models a protective gown he made out of construction-grade vapor barrier.

Protective surgical gowns are one of the most scarce and eagerly sought items in the current coronavirus pandemic. Responders-turned-MacGyvers in at least three separate places, including two in Washington state, have independently hit upon a do-it-yourself alternative using common construction house wrap. Read More

In Northwest States, Newly Jobless Wait For Unemployment Systems To Catch Up

By Tom Banse April 10, 2020

There are hundreds of thousands of additional jobless workers waiting in the wings to file claims, including part-time and gig economy workers and self-employed who qualify under expanded federal benefits. But they are temporarily frozen out. The wait for overloaded unemployment systems to catch up is leaving some of them frustrated or anxious. Read More

Meet The Person Leading Washington’s Hospital Coordination: A Retired Admiral Nicknamed ‘Rocky’

By Tom Banse April 7, 2020

Retired Vice Admiral Raquel Bono came to Olympia in mid-March to fill the newly-created position of COVID-19 health systems response coordinator.

When the coronavirus outlook got scary and hairy in mid-March, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee recruited an outsider to join his crisis management team. He convinced a retired vice admiral to temporarily move cross-country to serve as Washington state's COVID-19 hospital "czar." Read More

Yes, There’s Still A 2020 Census. Pandemic Necessitates Creativity In State Promotion

By Tom Banse April 1, 2020

You can spare a census taker from having to go door-to-door later by answering the 2020 census online or by phone right now.

A near real time map of 2020 census self-response rates shows that 42% of Washington state and Idaho households at known addresses have completed the census as of April 1. The rate is 40.5% for Oregon, compared to the national average of 38% to date. Read More

Sports Betting Is Now Legal In Washington, But Only At Tribal Casinos

By Tom Banse March 26, 2020

Chinook Winds Casino opened the first legal sportsbook in Oregon in August 2019. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Amid a widespread shutdown of athletic events, Washington state has become the 21st state to legalize betting on sports. Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed legislation to authorize sports wagers in tribal casinos only. Continue Reading Read More

Coronavirus Makes Long DMV Lines A No-No With Real ID Deadline Fast Approaching

By Tom Banse March 17, 2020

Driver licensing offices around the country are closing temporarily to help limit spread of coronavirus. ODOT / FLICKR - TINYURL.COM/JO3K6VK

Thanks to coronavirus, one dreaded chore is temporarily off limits. No need to brace for long lines at the DMV to renew a driver license because those offices are closed for now in Washington and perhaps soon in Oregon. Continue Read More

Boeing Asked Washington State Lawmakers To Raise Its Taxes. They Did.

By Tom Banse March 12, 2020

Boeing wants to give up a sizeable state tax break to defuse a trade dispute with the European Union and WTO. CREDIT: Boeing Company

Washington state is on the verge of ending a large tax break for the Boeing Company and its parts suppliers. This is happening at Boeing's bidding to head off a bigger hit from threatened European tariffs. Continue Reading Boeing Asked Read More

Restrictive Coronavirus Testing To Be Relaxed Amid Widening Washington Outbreak

By Tom Banse March 4, 2020

Testing capacity for novel coronavirus in Washington increased significantly on Tuesday once a University of Washington virology lab began accepting samples. UW MEDICINE

As the death toll from the novel coronavirus continues to rise, many people who feel sick are naturally concerned they might have the infection. Until now, a coronavirus test has been difficult to get locally because of limited capacity and strict rules for who qualifies. However, both of those restrictions may relax soon. Read More

Jay Inslee Says Washingtonians ‘Should Begin To Think About Avoiding’ Large Crowds And Gatherings

By Tom Banse March 3, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is flanked, from left, by state Secretary of Health John Wiesman, Emergency Management Director Robert Ezelle and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal during a coronavirus briefing Monday in Olympia.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday that his emergency powers would allow him to order the cancellation of large public gatherings to control the growing coronavirus outbreak in his state. However, he told reporters during a briefing in Olympia that he does not plan to use that authority at this time. Read More

Lewis County Pushback Leads Washington Lawmakers To Consider Bottling Plant Restrictions

By Tom Banse February 27, 2020

Craig Jasmer co-founded the Lewis County Water Alliance to fight a proposed water bottling plant near Randle, Washington. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Uproar in Lewis County has pushed the Washington Legislature to the verge of closing the tap for water permits for new water bottling plants statewide. Business groups are mounting an 11th-hour push to stop what they consider to be an overreaction in Olympia that they say could cost jobs and unfairly tarnishes a healthy product. Read More

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