Tom Banse, Author at Northwest Public Broadcasting

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

The Curious Case Of A Big Company (Boeing) That Wants To Give Up A Tax Break

By Tom Banse February 25, 2020

The Boeing Company is bringing an unusual request to state lawmakers in Olympia: please take away our airplane manufacturing tax break. The Washington Legislature seems likely to oblige, but possibly will add some strings to the deal. Read More

Bringing Back Oregon’s Sea Otters Gets Federal Bucks For Feasibility Study

By Tom Banse February 14, 2020

Presently, the only places to see sea otters in Oregon are at the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where this guy lives. TOM BANSE / NW NEWS NETWORK

A group that wants to bring back wild sea otters to the Oregon Coast is taking a big step forward. The federal government has awarded them a grant to launch a feasibility study for a possible reintroduction effort. Continue Reading Read More

They Had A Beachcombing Blast On The Washington Coast After Old Munitions Washed Ashore

By Tom Banse February 13, 2020

Military anti-aircraft rounds like these are washing up by the small town of Pacific Beach, Washington.

Beachcombing was a blast for soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord earlier this week. An ordnance disposal unit was called out after unexploded military munitions washed up on the beach north of Ocean Shores, Washington. Read More

Odds Improving That Washington May Legalize Sports Betting, But Not Like Oregon

By Tom Banse February 11, 2020

At least in the near term, Washington state lawmakers do not want to have online sports betting as offered by the Oregon Lottery.

A couple of years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states beyond Nevada to have sports betting. Oregon dove in last year. Idaho, Washington and California have held back. Now, Washington state lawmakers are taking a hard look at legalizing sports betting. But they do not seem inclined to copy much from Oregon's playbook. Read More

Legal Betting On The Super Bowl Was A Big Draw In Oregon. Washington Could Be Next

By Tom Banse February 9, 2020

Legal betting on the recent NFL Super Bowl was a winner for the state of Oregon and a handful of Oregon tribal casinos. This comes as legislators in Washington state ponder whether to legalize sports betting too. Continue Read More

What Time Is It Here? That Question Could Surface In Border Towns Thanks To Idaho Legislature

By Tom Banse January 29, 2020

"What time is it here?" is a question few people feel the need to ask when crossing state lines in the Northwest. But a committee vote Wednesday in the Idaho Legislature raises the possibility that border cities in the Inland Northwest may observe time differently than their close neighbors as soon as next year. Read More

Want To Own A Big Ol’ Boat? A Former Washington State Ferry Is Up For Sale — Again

By Tom Banse January 24, 2020

Do you want to own an old ferryboat? A retired Washington car ferry is for sale again after the current owner's many ideas for the boat did not work out. Continue Reading Want To Own A Big Ol’ Boat? A Former Washington State Read More

What’s In Your Wallet? It’s Time For Travelers To Get Real About Getting Real ID

By Tom Banse January 20, 2020

You will need Real ID-compliant identification to go through TSA screening beginning Oct. 1, 2020.

Effective this October, a standard Washington, Oregon or Idaho driver's license won't pass muster with the Transportation Security Administration to board a domestic flight. Continue Reading What’s In Your Wallet? It’s Read More

Washington Lawmakers Hope To Discover A Way To Pass Free State Parks Entry Bill This Year

By Tom Banse January 10, 2020

Palouse Falls State Park is home to Washington's official state waterfall -- and large crowds in the spring runoff season.

Remember back when it didn't cost anything to visit a state park for the day? A senior Republican in the Washington Legislature says the state's budget surplus should make it possible for park access to be free again. Read More

At Least 12 British Columbia Residents Among Victims Of Boeing 737 Plane Crash In Iran

By Tom Banse January 8, 2020

Colleagues of the flight crew members of the Ukrainian 737-800 plane that crashed on the outskirts of Tehran, light candles at a memorial inside Borispil International Airport near Kyiv. CREDIT: Efrem Lukatsky/AP

The crash of a Boeing 737 airliner shortly after takeoff from the Iranian capital hit home in the Pacific Northwest Wednesday. The crash victims include immigrant families just across the U.S. border in British Columbia. Read More

Moses Lake Airport Close To Maxing Out On Boeing 737 Storage As Planes Stay Grounded

By Tom Banse January 7, 2020

Grounded Gol Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft at Boeing facilities in Moses Lake, Wash. CREDIT: Lindsey Wasson/Reuters

Boeing is close to maxing out the storage space it has leased at the Moses Lake, Washington, airport for its grounded 737 Max airliners. The plane maker plans to deploy a fresh wave of mechanics across the mountains to maintain the large fleet until those planes can fly again. Read More

Chinook Tribe Back In Court On Long Quest To Regain Federal Recognition

By Tom Banse January 5, 2020

The Chinook Indian Nation gather outside a federal courthouse in Tacoma to rally support for federal recognition. CREDIT: MOLLY SOLOMON

The decades-long quest of Chinook tribal members to regain federal recognition gets another airing in court on Monday. A U.S. District Court judge is scheduled to hear oral arguments on cross-claims for summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by the tribe against the Department of the Interior. Read More

‘Just Get On And Go!’ No Bus Fare Needed Anymore On This Olympia-Area Bus System

By Tom Banse January 3, 2020

Passengers on Thursday warmly greeted the elimination of fare collection on Intercity Transit buses in Olympia CREDIT: Tom Banse N3

As of the New Year, no bus fare is needed to ride the Olympia area's Intercity Transit. On Wednesday, the transit agency became the largest in the Pacific Northwest to eliminate fare collection, leapfrogging Corvallis and Missoula which did so earlier. Read More

Plans To Beef Up Amtrak Cascades Service Still Delayed Two Years After Fatal I-5 Derailment

By Tom Banse December 29, 2019

A holiday wish of many Pacific Northwest rail fans is more roundtrips on the Amtrak Cascades schedule with greater speed and reliability. But in order to beef up train service between Seattle and Portland, a bypass route south of Tacoma needs to be reopened. There is still no fixed date to return Amtrak trains to those tracks where a deadly derailment happened just over Read More

2020 Census Kicks Into High Gear Next Month With State Taxpayer Assist

By Tom Banse December 26, 2019

This coming spring, U.S. Census workers will follow up with households that do not respond to questionnaire mailings.

The once-every-ten-years census count of everyone living in the United States starts next month, beginning with remote villages in Alaska. West Coast states are spending local tax dollars to boost the response when their turn comes beginning in March. Read More

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