Pets dead or sick after coming in contact with Columbia River water near the Tri-Cities, Wash. Now health officials have confirmed the culprit, Anatoxin-a in toxic algae. Continue Reading Six Dogs Sickened Or Dead Near Read More
Northwest News
A woman was able to enter the secure grounds of Washington's governor's residence on Wednesday before being stopped by the Washington State Patrol. Gov. Jay Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee were not home at the time. The security breach follows a much larger incident on January 6 when a group of pro-Trump supporters forced open a gate and spilled onto the mansion lawn, Read More
Research photos taken with a drone show multiple killer whales are close to giving birth in one of the Pacific Northwest's critically endangered pods. The late-stage pregnancies stirred excitement among whale watchers -- and also renewed worries about the availability of adequate food supply for the mothers and babies. Read More
Dozens of Washington state troopers, prison correctional officers, ferry workers and other public sector employees have filed a lawsuit in Walla Walla County to try to overturn Gov. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccine. The lawsuit alleges the mandate is unlawful and unconstitutional. Read More
One of the historically largest farm equipment sales in the country is happening this week in the Northwest. It follows the bankruptcy of the Easterday family empire after its multi-million-dollar cattle swindle. Continue Reading Read More
Just in time for the kickoff of the NFL regular season, the first legal sports betting operation in Washington state has opened for business. On Thursday, a line of bettors queued behind a sports celebrity to place their first bets at a tribal casino in the eastern suburbs of Seattle. Read More
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has expanded his statewide mask order to include larger outdoor events with 500 or more attendees. Continue Reading Inslee Orders Mask Usage At Larger Outdoor EventsRead More
The state of Oregon has set an ambitious goal to prepare more families in earthquake country to be "two weeks ready" after a disaster. Washington's emergency management agency is also seeking more funding to prepare people in a similar way. Read More
More white-tailed deer are dying in the Northwest of viruses that often cause more die-offs after hot summers and droughts. Continue Reading Northwest Deer Dying Of Drought-Related Viral DiseaseRead More
Tens of thousands of public school students in Washington state returned to classes this month in school buildings judged to be at risk of collapse in a strong earthquake. A new report to the state Legislature prepared by state geologists and a structural engineering firm gave the lowest possible seismic safety rating to more than 90 percent of the school buildings Read More
The Washington Federation of State Employees announced a tentative deal with Gov. Jay Inslee early Saturday morning. Continue Reading Largest State Employee Union Strikes Tentative Deal Over Inslee’s Vaccine MandateRead More
The number of ferruginous hawks in Washington continues to decline. The birds face multiple threats, including wildfires, urban sprawl and loss of prey. Continue Reading Ferruginous Hawks In Washington Deemed EndangeredRead More
It’s a problem nationally and in the Northwest. Pet owners are having trouble getting access to veterinary services. It’s another example of the fallout from the ongoing pandemic. Continue Reading Desperate Times For Pet Owners And Read More
Fire officials hope to avoid another Labor Day weekend marked by extreme fires. Continue Reading Fire Officials Ask You Not To Make A ‘Tougher Season’ Tougher This Labor Day WeekendRead More
Wildlife advocates sued Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer after he deputized hound handlers to track and kill cougars. Continue Reading Judge Rules Klickitat County Sheriff’s ‘Dangerous Wildlife Policy’ Read More
Long-term care insurance companies have temporarily halted sales in Washington. The move follows a frenzy of interest in the costly insurance policies prompted by a November 1 deadline to opt out of a new state-run long-term care program. Read More
As wildfires have burned throughout the Northwest this summer, some forest stands have fared better than others. Managers say that’s thanks, in part, to thinning and prescribed burns, which have made the stands more resilient in the face of wildfire. Read More
Photo of author Jess Walter | Courtesy of Jess Walter. In this episode of Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella, author Jess Walter talks about humility and confidence, about the characters that still haunt him and how the history of Spokane shapes his work. With seven novels, one book of short stories and one nonfiction book, Jess… Read More
Whoosh Innovations said its fish passage system could transport salmon quickly over the Snake River dams – and generate $60 million over 10 years by diverting water from fish ladders to hydropower turbines. Continue Reading Could A New Fish Passage Read More
All school employees in Washington state must get a Covid-19 vaccine, or risk losing their job. Also, masks will once again be required in most indoor settings starting Monday, August 23, according to the latest mandates from Gov. Jay Inslee. Read More
The saga of the troubled Easterday ag empire is spreading to rural Idaho. At issue: The fate of an Easterday ranch centered on a beautiful meadow that contributes water to the Spokane region. Continue Reading Easterday Idaho: What’s To Become Of Read More
Photo of author and creator of the DAWN method for dementia care, Judy Cornish. In this episode of Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella, attorney Judy Cornish, talks about the confusion around diagnosing dementia, how she found her way into being an advocate for better dementia care and she explains the DAWN Method which is her… Read More
How hot is the Pacific Northwest real estate market? So hot that even in an isolated exclave such as Point Roberts, Washington, home prices are sizzling and some properties are changing hands sight unseen. Continue Reading In A Read More
Sea otters are undeniably cute, but cuteness only goes so far when major economic interests are at stake. That's an inference you can make from the emergence of organized pushback to the possible reintroduction of sea otters along the Oregon Coast. Read More
Scientists have discovered they can track fire lines and can quickly draw attention to spot fires using satellites. Continue Reading How The View From Space Is Helping Fight Wildfires On The GroundRead More
How bad is the fifth wave of COVID-19? One hospital in Thurston County, Washington is limiting visitors, the intensive care unit is at capacity and elective surgeries and procedures are being delayed. Continue Reading Read More
Two meatpacking giants are battling in federal bankruptcy court over a 1,500 acre feedlot near Pasco, Washington. It’s part of the ongoing Easterday cattle swindle saga. Continue Reading Beef Wars: Two Meat Giants Battle Over Easterday Read More
Northern leopard frogs are rapidly disappearing in the Northwest. Biologists hope this effort will help the population in Washington. Continue Reading Hopping Into The Wild: Endangered Frog Release Could Help Read More
Funding to help fix culverts could open up cold water habitat to Northwest salmon. Continue Reading U.S. Senate Infrastructure Package Could ‘Significantly Improve’ Salmon HabitatRead More
Siblings and authors of the children’s book, The Whale Child, Keith and Chenoa Egawa. In this episode of Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella, siblings and co-authors of a children’s book Keith and Chenoa Egawa talk about their book The Whale Child, the rollercoaster life story of their grandparents and how they came to be, and… Read More
Following the lead of several other states, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday issued a requirement that state employees along with private health care and long-term care workers get the COVID-19 vaccine or face termination from their jobs. Read More
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation says it lost more timber in 2015 than has ever burned on a U.S. reservation. The tribe is suing the federal government over the damage. Continue Reading Colville Tribe Sues Federal Read More
A new report is sounding the alarm about the state of mental health care in Washington prisons. Continue Reading Serious Gaps In Mental Health Care In Washington Prisons, Report WarnsRead More
Not every Olympic story is happening in Tokyo this week. Take for instance two runners in Tacoma. Continue Reading Across 41 Year Age Gap, An Olympic Hopeful And A Senior Games Champ Have Partnership That Read More
Since Democrats re-took the Washington Senate after a special election in 2017, they’ve enacted numerous pro-union bills, along with sweeping policy changes backed by unions. Democrats say their agenda is improving working and economic conditions for unionized and non-unionized workers alike. Critics on the right say unions, especially public sector unions, have too Read More
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris attend a virtual wildfire briefing with seven governors. CREDIT: Https://Www.Youtube.Com/Watch?V=PzvDeLvcQ7U The federal government is asking how it can help better fight wildfires burning across the West. President Joe Biden on Friday met with seven western governors to hear their concerns. Wildfires burning across the Read More
A photo of Josh Gortler from the cover of his book “Among The Remnants.” In this episode of Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella, retired social worker and community leader Josh Gortler shares his story: his childhood, fleeing with his family from the Nazi Holocaust, his adolescence, in Displaced Person camps, and his adulthood, free to… Read More
New laws governing Washington State law enforcement took effect on Sunday, including their use of force (HB 1310) and tactics (HB 1054).
Some police departments in King County say new laws means they will no longer respond to certain calls; City of Seattle chief Adrian Diaz calls that “absurd.” Read More
If you’ve ever backpacked in the Northwest’s mountaintops, you’ve likely spent some time among whitebark pines. These important trees are bringing together researchers across the West, who want to save them from a fatal fungus. Read More
Nez Perce Tribal Police Chief Harold Scott on April 21, 2021 in the Northwest Public Broadcasting studios. In this episode of Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella, Nez Perce Tribal police chief Harold Scott talks about his childhood in Lapwai, Idaho and how the racism and disrespect placed on him and his community lead him to… Read More
The Black Members Caucus nearly doubled in size this year and now has nine members. How is the caucus as a whole, and how are the individual members, changing the conversation and narrative around racial equity? Continue Reading Read More
From Oregon to the Dakotas, hay stocks for hungry cattle are already low. On top of that, ranchers say summer pastures are dry from the widespread drought. Continue Reading Western Ranchers Are Cuttin’ Herds Like Mad To Prep For A Read More
Extremely hot and dry conditions have caused some land managers to close more recreation areas than normal. Continue Reading Extreme Fire Danger Forces Managers To Close Public Lands In WA, ORRead More
In this episode of Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella, founder of a local newspaper, The Black Lens, in Spokane, Washington. Sandra Williams shares her life story growing up in the predominantly white Inland Northwest as a Black woman, her work ethic and what she is doing to insure future generations have a place that feels like community in Spokane. Read More
When Vancouver hosted a modern expo in 1986, it joined the Northwest’s other major cities, Portland (1905), Seattle (1909, 1962) and Spokane (1974) as exposition hosts. In the years since Expo ’86, Vancouver’s has also gained important symbolism as the last expo hosted in North America. It was a kind of golden moment. Read More
Dry conditions across Washington have prompted the state’s Department of Ecology to declare a drought emergency. Continue Reading Drought Emergency Declared In All 39 Washington CountiesRead More
Earthquake researchers are eager to dig into a trove of new data about the offshore Cascadia fault zone. When Cascadia ruptures, it can trigger a megaquake known as "the Big One." The valuable new imaging of the geology off the Oregon, Washington and British Columbia coasts comes from a specialized research vessel. Read More
There are thread-like worms on Mount Rainier that reserachers are looking at live at 32 degrees or they die... called ice worms. Continue Reading The Mysterious Return Of Glacier Ice Worms On Mount RainierRead More
Temperatures in the Inland Northwest are still hotter than normal, and this week the region will also be more prone to fire danger and smoky air due to drought and wind. Continue Reading Unusually High Temperatures With Read More
This year in north-central Washington has echoes of 2015, when the complex of fires across Okanogan County burned tens of thousands of acres on the reservation, closer to Omak, and shut down Highway 155 across the reservation for long stretches. What was true then is very possible now: The fires took out a lot of timber that the tribes harvest and use for revenue. Read More
