coronavirus Archives | Northwest Public Broadcasting

Where To Get Masks And Testing In Yakima County As Coronavirus Cases Near 8K

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa July 7, 2020

A COVID-19 test kit. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has instructed state health officials to test all nursing home staff and residents in the coming weeks, according to a state doctor.

The county’s emergency management office has handed out more than 3 million pieces of protective equipment since March. That includes 770,000 masks to businesses, municipalities, and food banks and an additional 220,000 masks distributed to low-income residents. Read More

Aerosols, Droplets, Fomites: What We Know About Transmission Of COVID-19

By NPR News July 7, 2020

A sneeze can carry the coronavirus pathogen in droplets and in aerosols — and they could land on a surface, making it a fomite. CREDIT: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

An open letter signed by 239 researchers addressed to the World Health Organization, published Monday in Clinical Infectious Diseases, calls for attention and guidance around a third route of transmission: tiny respiratory particles that float in the air and are called aerosols. They could be responsible for infecting someone who comes along and breathes them in. Read More

On The Brink: Rural Hospitals Brace Staff And Finances For Potential New COVID-19 Surge

By NPR News July 5, 2020

A hallway leads to a makeshift isolation ward for COVID-19 patients at Syringa Hospital in Grangeville, Idaho. CREDIT: Kirk Siegler/NPR

Rural "critical access" hospitals, often some of the largest employers in small towns, have been operating on razor-thin margins throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Continue Reading On The Brink: Rural Hospitals Brace Read More

England To Lift Quarantine Rule For More Than 50 Nations — But Not For The U.S.

By NPR News July 3, 2020

England will soon lift a 14-day quarantine requirement for travelers from more than 50 countries and territories, including Italy, Germany, France and Spain, the Department for Transportation said Friday. The U.S. is not among the exempt countries. CREDIT: Matt Dunham/AP

Effective July 10, travelers from "reduced risk" countries, including Spain, France, Germany and Italy, won't have to self-Isolate for 14 days. The U.S. is not among the exempt countries. Continue Reading England To Lift Quarantine Read More

Planning To Celebrate The 4th? What To Know About The Risks Of Parties And Bars

By NPR News July 3, 2020

With new coronavirus infections climbing in most states, infectious disease experts are discouraging group get-togethers, especially those that involve drinking. In this photo patrons enjoy a beer outside the Central Market in Los Angeles, this week. CREDIT: Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Alcohol makes people lose inhibitions. And maybe take off their masks, and get up close and personal. Here's why you may want to reconsider going out this weekend. Or how to stay safe if you do. Continue Reading Planning To 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

‘The Disease Does Not Give A Damn’: Moscow, Idaho Mayor Looks Beyond Politics To Require Masks

By Nicholas Deshais July 2, 2020

Idaho Gov. Brad Little is encouraging, though not requiring, Idaho residents wear facial coverings and masks in public settings with the hashtag campaign #MaskUpIdaho CREDIT: Idaho Governor's Office/Twitter

“Well, none of us like to wear masks. I don’t particularly like to wear a mask,” Moscow Mayor Bill Lambert says. “But I have for the past two months, and I will in the future because I think it’s an easy thing for us to do.” Read More

A User’s Guide To Masks: What’s Best At Protecting Others (And Yourself)

By NPR News July 2, 2020

Left to right: a neck gaiter (aka a buff) that slips over the head; a KN95 respirator, a version of the N95 respirator used in U.S. hospitals; a pleated surgical mask (below the KN95); a cloth mask. Photo illustration by Max Posner/NPR

They're made of cotton. Or polyester. Or paper. Or polypropylene. Here's what researchers say about the effectiveness of the different types of face masks during this pandemic. Continue Reading A User’s Guide To Masks: What’s Read More

Governor Says Tri-Cities Has Seen ‘Astronomical’ Rise In COVID; Protesters Say ‘Inslee Is Non-Essential’

By Courtney Flatt June 30, 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

Over the past two weeks, Inslee said infection rates have increased six-fold in Franklin County and nearly five-fold in Benton County. The main thing that could help, he said: masks. “Yes, there’s controversy, as there is in any great, noble endeavor, but the vast majority of people in (the Tri-Cities region) want to beat this pandemic,” Inslee said. Read More

‘Going To Be Very Disturbing’: Dr. Anthony Fauci Warns Coronavirus Cases Could Reach 100K A Day

By NPR News June 30, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies before the Senate alongside public health officials and members of the White House coronavirus task force on June 30, 2020. CREDIT: KEVIN DIETSCH//AFP via Getty Images

The Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions convened Tuesday to address plans to reopen schools and workplaces amid the coronavirus pandemic. Continue Reading ‘Going To Be Very Disturbing’: Dr. Anthony Read More

Global COVID-19 Deaths Top 500,000

By NPR News June 28, 2020

Tim Killian, a spokesman for Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., prepares to give a daily briefing to reporters on Wednesday. CREDIT: Ted S. Warren/AP

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide surpassed 10 million on Sunday while deaths topped half a million. Health officials estimate the actual case count could be much higher. Continue Reading Global COVID-19 Deaths Top 500,000Read More

Barcelona Opera Reopens With An Audience Of … Plants

By NPR News June 26, 2020

The Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona filled its nearly 2,300 seats with plants for a June 22 concert, which was also broadcast online. CREDIT: Emilio Morenatti/AP

As Spain lifts its national state of emergency, the Liceu opera house in Barcelona finds alternative living things to fill nearly 2,300 seats. Continue Reading Barcelona Opera Reopens With An Audience Of … PlantsRead More

2nd Inmate Dies, National Guard Deployed To Help With COVID Testing At Eastern Washington Prison

By NWPB News June 25, 2020

An image from the Washington State Department of Corrections website page for Coyote Ridge, a prison in eastern Washington with a capacity for 2,468 inmates. CREDIT: Washington DOC

Coyote Ridge has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases of any Washington state prison. The outbreak is concentrated within the Medium Security Complex portion of the prison, which houses more than 1,800 inmates. The total prison population is typically more than 2,400. Read More

Chelan County Judge Denies Request For Restraining Order Against Governor’s Coronavirus Measures

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa June 25, 2020

The Chelan County Courthouse in Wentachee, Washington. Courtesy of Chelan County

Ultimately, presiding judge Kristin Ferrera sided with the state and did not issue an injunction on the emergency order. She said she didn’t have enough evidence on its current harms to the plaintiffs, representing business owners and individuals in Chelan and Douglas counties. 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

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

Asked And Answered: What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Science

By NPR News June 24, 2020

A laboratory technician holds a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate ready for a trial in May 2020. CREDIT: Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images

Some of the technology behind coronavirus vaccine development dates back to the first vaccines; other techniques are much newer. Here are eight top strategies scientists are pursuing. Continue Reading Asked And Answered: What To Know About Read More

‘None Of Us Have Ever Been Told To Slow Down On Testing,’ Fauci Testifies To House

By NPR News June 24, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies Tuesday during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin Dietsch/AFP via Getty Images

House Democrats press the leaders of federal agencies for details on whether President Trump has stymied health experts from taking more effective action to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Continue Reading ‘None Of Us Read More

Governor Jay Inslee Issues Statewide Mask Requirement; Yakima Hospital Clarifies Capacity Question

By NWPB News June 23, 2020

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced a statewide mask-wearing requirement on June 23, 2020. CREDIT: TVW

After weeks of relying on voluntary compliance, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday afternoon announced an enforceable, statewide requirement that people wear face coverings when in public, including outdoors when six feet of separation can't be maintained. The new public health order, to be issued by the Secretary of Health, takes effect on Friday. Read More

Critics Of Idaho Governor Organize ‘Special Session’ Of Legislature. It’s Unclear Whether That’s Legal

By NWPB News June 22, 2020

File photo. Gov. Brad Little speaks March 13, 2020 at a news conference. On Wednesday, April 15, he extended a stay-at-home order to the end of April, saying it’s needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. CREDIT: Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman via AP

A coalition of organizations — including the John Birch Society and Health Freedom Idaho, an anti-vaccination group — are organizing what they are calling a “special session” of the Legislature Tuesday. It’s unclear how many legislators will show and whether legislators can even convene a special session in the first place. Read More

‘Individuals Need To Take Responsibility’ For Wearing Masks, Says Tri-Cities Region Health Officer

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa June 22, 2020

Perla Torres, a fruit packer at Jack Frost Fruit, poses for a photograph wearing a mask she says she bought from a supervisor. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa/NWPB

Cases of COVID-19 are rising dramatically in Washington’s Yakima County and the Tri-Cities region of Benton and Franklin counties. That’s driving local health officials to urge residents to wear masks in public. Read More

Yes, Wearing Masks Helps. Here’s Why, And Why You Should

By NPR News June 22, 2020

N95 particulate respirator masks (left) block at least 95% of small airborne particulates in the air. However, they are still in short supply and should be reserved for medical workers. Surgical face masks (right) are most effective at protecting others from the wearer's droplets. CREDIT: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Politicians argue. Those opposed to mask mandates protest. But meanwhile, growing evidence shows that mask wearing is a critical tool in curbing the spread of the coronavirus. Continue Reading Yes, Wearing Masks Helps. Here’s Why, And Why You Read More

Nursing Homes Struggle As Staff Choose Unemployment Checks Over Paychecks

By NPR News June 21, 2020

Some nursing homes and long-term care facilities say they're struggling to fill shifts as certified nursing assistants opt for unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Continue Reading Nursing Homes Struggle As Staff Choose Read More

NIH Halts Hydroxychloroquine Study; Says ‘Unlikely’ To Help COVID-19 Patients

By NPR News June 20, 2020

A bottle of hydroxychloroquine tablets in Texas City, Texas. The Food and Drug Administration has rescinded its emergency use authorization for the drug. CREDIT: David J. Phillip/AP

The NIH said that while the anti-malarial drug did not cause harm to patients in the study, testing showed little evidence that it would benefit patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Continue Reading NIH Halts Hydroxychloroquine Study; Read More

Masks Will Soon Be Required In Yakima County As It Exceeds Capacity With Surging COVID-19 Cases

By NWPB News June 19, 2020

Astria Health closed its hospital in Yakima earlier in 2020 after a bankruptcy filing. It could reopen in a lease to the state during the coronavirus pandemic. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa / NWPB

As of Friday afternoon, 61 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 in Yakima County. Even though at least another 17 patients were transported out of the county, the region’s major hospital, Virginia Mason Memorial, had completely run out of hospital beds as of Thursday night. 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

COVID-19 Cases In Yakima Jail And Coyote Ridge Prison In Eastern Washington Continue Rising

By NWPB News June 18, 2020

Even as Washington counties work to reopen in various phases of the state’s four-phase reopening plan, county jails and state prisons and corrections institutions continue to deal with coronavirus outbreaks and COVID-19 infections. 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

Judge Denies Request To Force Coronavirus Safety Measures At Trump’s Tulsa Rally

By NPR News June 17, 2020

Katrina Cotton, center, of Houston poses for a photo Monday with her daughter, Kennedy Cotton, 7, at the Black Wall Street Memorial in Tulsa, Okla. CREDIT: Sue Ogrocki/AP

The lawsuit says the rally, which is to take place at a 19,000-seat indoor arena, could act as a superspreader event for the coronavirus. Continue Reading Judge Denies Request To Force Coronavirus Safety Measures At 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

Jay Inslee Visits Yakima As County Continues To Grow As State’s Coronavirus Hotspot

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa June 16, 2020

Gov. Jay Inslee visited Yakima June 16, 2020, as the county's coronavirus numbers continue to grow at a rate that suggests it will be hard for it to move beyond Phase 1 of reopening. The Health District has issued a masking directive to encourage more use of face coverings. Courtesy of Governor's Office

A survey by the Yakima Health District found that just 35 percent of residents wear masks in public. That spurred the health district to issue a masking directive, hoping to get 80% of residents to use face coverings. Continue Read More

New Washington Phone Hotline Serves People Struggling With COVID-19 Issues

By Doug Nadvornick June 16, 2020

The new Washington Listens line for people struggling with Covid-related issues is funded by a federal emergency management grant. CREDIT: Washington DOH

The state of Washington has opened a new statewide toll-free telephone hotline for people who are struggling during the Covid pandemic. Continue Reading New Washington Phone Hotline Serves People Struggling With COVID-19 IssuesRead More

WNBA To Return In July With Shorter Season, No Fans

By NPR News June 16, 2020

The Washington Mystics play in Game 5 of basketball's WNBA Finals in October. The league, which postponed the start of its season due to the coronavirus, announced plans to reopen in July. CREDIT: Alex Brandon/AP

The WNBA has announced plans for a shortened season to be held in Florida, a neutral site. It's the first time that all teams' players will train and play in the same location. Continue Reading WNBA To Return In July With Shorter Season, No FansRead More

Retail Sales Bounce Up 17.7% After Record Drop As States Reopen

By NPR News June 16, 2020

Social distancing instructions are posted at California's Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall on June 12, as local businesses enter Phase 3 reopening. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Spending is still nowhere near last year's. But as more states and cities allowed restaurants and shopping centers to reopen, May saw a big swing from a historic collapse in March and April. Continue Reading Retail Sales Bounce Up 17.7% After Read More

FDA Withdraws Emergency Use Authorization Of Hydroxychloroquine For COVID-19 Treatment

By NPR News June 15, 2020

Emergency use authorization makes it easier for doctors to use a drug in a manner not specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA granted these drugs this status in March. Continue Reading FDA Read More

A New Library Of Congress Project Commissions Music Of The Pandemic

By NPR News June 14, 2020

Allison Loggins-Hull and Nathalie Joachim are two of the artists featured in the Library of Congress' Boccaccio Project, a collection of songs inspired by the coronavirus pandemic. CREDIT: Erin Patrice O'Brien/Courtesy of the artist

The Library of Congress is debuting 10 works of new music about the COVID-19 pandemic. The project takes inspiration from Giovanni Boccaccio, a writer who collected stories about the Black Death. Continue Reading A New Library Of Congress Read More

Coronavirus Closed The Border. This Bellingham – BC Couple Was Stuck On Opposite Sides

By NWPB News June 14, 2020

Ryan Hamilton and Savannah Koop had planned to marry on May 8, and then the border closing due to the pandemic changed their plans. CREDIT: Eilis O'Neill /KUOW

When COVID-19 caused border closures, a woman from British Columbia and her fiancé in Washington were unable to see each other — not even for their wedding. Continue Reading Coronavirus Closed The Border. This Bellingham Read More

During Pandemic, Yakima Farmworkers Kept Their Jobs, Raising Risk Of Infection

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa June 13, 2020

Farmworkers in Yakima's fruit-packing industry walked off production lines in May and went on strike, demanding more protections against the coronavirus pandemic. Above, Emmanuel Anguiano-Mendoza (left) and Agustin López hold posters featuring David Cruz, a worker who died on May 30. CREDIT: Enrique Pérez de la Rosa/NWPB

Yakima County has the most COVID-19 cases per capita among West Coast states. The largely Latinx agricultural workforce helped secure the backbone of the local economy. Continue Reading During Pandemic, Yakima Farmworkers Kept Their Read More

Coronavirus 2nd Wave? Nope, The U.S. Is Still Stuck In The 1st One

By NPR News June 12, 2020

People rest inside social distancing markers at Domino Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York in late May. Stay-at-home orders in New York helped to lower the state's "reproduction number," which estimates how many people one sick person could infect with the coronavirus. CREDIT: Michael Nagle/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

The nation still sees more than 20,000 new cases on average a day, a number that's barely budged for weeks. Forecasters say we're looking at tens of thousands more deaths this summer. Continue Reading Coronavirus 2nd Wave? Nope, The U.S. Is Read More

Nursing Homes Run Short Of COVID-19 Protective Gear As Federal Response Falters

By NPR News June 11, 2020

Kelly Womochil, an aide at Enterprise Estates Nursing Center in Enterprise, Kan., tries on a poncho that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending to nursing homes to protect against the coronavirus. CREDIT: Pamela Black

At least 711 nursing homes reported running out of N95 masks at the end of May, and 1,963 said they had less than a week's worth. "The federal government has got to step up," says one advocate. Continue Reading Nursing Homes Run Read More

‘More Than Cows And Cotton Candy’: Washington Fairs Cancel Events For 2020, Hoping For Big 2021

By Nicholas Deshais June 11, 2020

The Benton-Franklin Fair and Rodeo won't take place in 2020, but it hopes to return bigger and stronger in 2021. It's just one of 65 county and state fairs in Washington to have called off events this year. Courtesy of Benton-Franklin Fair and Rodeo

The Spokane Interstate Fair and Benton-Franklin Fair and Rodeo joined more than 40 others that have canceled this year. In all, Washington has 65 state and county fairs every summer and fall. Continue Reading Read More

Idaho Moves Statewide Into Its Phase 4, Meaning ‘100% Of Businesses’ Can Reopen, Governor Says

By Doug Nadvornick June 11, 2020

Idaho Gov. Brad Little, left, announces stricter guidelines for social interactions to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, and also livestreaming the discussion, at his office in Boise on March 18, 2020. CREDIT: Keith Ridler/AP

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has announced his state will move to the final phase of its reopening strategy, beginning Saturday. Visitors can go see loved ones in those facilities. Night clubs and large sporting venues can reopen. Non-essential travel can continue to areas that are accepting visitors and which don’t have coronavirus transmission problems. Read More

Federal Reserve Vows To Help Economy Weather The Pandemic Recession

By NPR News June 10, 2020

An employee sets a table for pickup orders at a restaurant in Arlington, Va. Even as states are moving to reopen their economies, tens of millions are out of work. CREDIT: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The Fed leaves interest rates near zero as expected, and promises to use all of its tools to support the economy. Officials project unemployment above 9% at the end of this year. Continue Reading Federal Reserve Vows To Help Economy Weather 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

COVID-19 Infections And Deaths Are Higher Among Those With Intellectual Disabilities

By NPR News June 9, 2020

Source: New York State Department of Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. CREDIT: Stephanie Adeline/NPR

There's growing evidence of high rates of death from COVID-19 for a population that doesn't get a lot of attention: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Continue Reading COVID-19 Infections And Deaths Are Read More

Idaho Advocacy Group Sues To Get More Time For Ballot Measure Signature Gathering

By Doug Nadvornick June 9, 2020

Amy Pratt personally collected more than 1,000 signatures to help get Proposition 2 on the ballot. It's the first time she's been politically active and she has no plans of stopping. CREDIT: JAMES DAWSON / BSPR

Idaho’s signature gathering window was interrupted in mid-March due to coronavirus restrictions. Now, Reclaim Idaho hopes to put a public school funding initiative on the November ballot by asking a federal judge for extra time to collect signatures. Read More

It’s Official: The U.S. Economy Is In A Recession. How Long Will It Last Is Uncertain

By NPR News June 8, 2020

Boxes of food are loaded on vehicles last month at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The country has officially entered a recession amid the pandemic, the National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday. CREDIT: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

The committee tasked with marking U.S. business cycles says the economy peaked in February and has since been in a recession triggered by the pandemic. But it says the recession could be short-lived. Continue Reading It’s 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

As Casinos Reopen In Las Vegas, Stakes Are High And Union Calls For Transparency

By NPR News June 5, 2020

Hand washing stations now share the casino floor with slot machines at the Bellagio. It's part of a move to ramp up hygiene protocols ahead of the establishment's reopening on June 4. CREDIT: David Fuchs/KUER

Casinos is Las Vegas are reopening Thursday, after being shuttered for more than two months. Workers there are eager to start getting paid again, but they're also worried about their health. Continue Reading As Casinos Reopen In Read More

During Pandemic, Opponents Of Oregon Partisan Redistricting Pursue New Ballot Initiative Strategy

By NWPB News June 4, 2020

This package was sent to a half-million Oregon households containing petitions for an initiative that would take congressional and legislative redistricting out of the hands of the Oregon Legislature.

The COVID-19 pandemic has killed several would-be initiative campaigns in Oregon because organizers can’t send canvassers out to gather the tens of thousands of signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. Read More