Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on Tuesday proposed a budget that would reduce the city's police spending by $20 million through the end of the year.That's roughly a 5% reduction from the $409 million originally allocated to the Seattle Police Department for 2020.The funding cut is part of a larger effort to balance the city's budget that has suffered under the pandemic. But further cuts could be considered as city officials look ahead to the 2021 budget. Seattle is facing a more than $300 million budget shortfall for 2020. These dollars were used to buy face masks, and to cover Covid-19 testing...…Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on Tuesday proposed a budget that would reduce the city's police spending by $20 million through the end of the year.That's roughly a 5% reduction from the $409 million originally allocated to the Seattle Police Department for 2020.The funding cut is part of a larger effort to balance the city's budget that has suffered under the pandemic. But further cuts could be considered as city officials look ahead to the 2021 budget. Seattle is facing a more than $300 million budget shortfall for 2020. These dollars were used to buy face masks, and to cover Covid-19 testing...WW…

Apr 07, 2020at8:40 amByThe cougar is elusive, stealthy, and mysterious. It's also a very tricky animal to study. Even in a state like Washington with more than 2,000 cougars (and 7.5 million people). These big cats, these “American lions,” are rarely ever seen. So researchers have to get creative.Such as this "camera trap" that I watched wildlife biologist Kim Sager-Fradkin check up on during a trip to the Olympic Peninsula.These cameras are placed strategically, deep in the forest. They take a photo anytime an animal walks past the sensor. It’s a non-invasive way to monitor the wildlife...…Apr 07, 2020at8:40 amByThe cougar is elusive, stealthy, and mysterious. It's also a very tricky animal to study. Even in a state like Washington with more than 2,000 cougars (and 7.5 million people). These big cats, these “American lions,” are rarely ever seen. So researchers have to get creative.Such as this "camera trap" that I watched wildlife biologist Kim Sager-Fradkin check up on during a trip to the Olympic Peninsula.These cameras are placed strategically, deep in the forest. They take a photo anytime an animal walks past the sensor. It’s a non-invasive way to monitor the wildlife...WW…

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a bold statement on Friday about President Donald Trump letting governors decide when to open their states.“The president’s statements this morning encourage illegal and dangerous acts," Inslee said in the statement. "He is putting millions of people in danger of contracting COVID-19. His unhinged rantings and calls for people to 'liberate' states could also lead to violence. We’ve seen it before."Inslee was responding to tweets from Trump that seemed to target states' stay-at-home orders. States such as Michigan and Minnesota — which have Democratic governors — have...…Gov. Jay Inslee issued a bold statement on Friday about President Donald Trump letting governors decide when to open their states.“The president’s statements this morning encourage illegal and dangerous acts," Inslee said in the statement. "He is putting millions of people in danger of contracting COVID-19. His unhinged rantings and calls for people to 'liberate' states could also lead to violence. We’ve seen it before."Inslee was responding to tweets from Trump that seemed to target states' stay-at-home orders. States such as Michigan and Minnesota — which have Democratic governors — have...WW…

Aug 19, 2020at2:30 pmByBy the time Postmaster General Louis DeJoy halted a raft of changes that might slow down the U.S. mail, the Postal Service had already shut down 40% of the high-speed letter-sorting machines in the Seattle-Tacoma area, KUOW has learned.Following a national uproar over the removal of postal equipment and reductions of retail service hours and worker overtime, the Trump Administration’s new postmaster general announced Tuesday that he was putting the initiatives on hold until November.“To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these...…Aug 19, 2020at2:30 pmByBy the time Postmaster General Louis DeJoy halted a raft of changes that might slow down the U.S. mail, the Postal Service had already shut down 40% of the high-speed letter-sorting machines in the Seattle-Tacoma area, KUOW has learned.Following a national uproar over the removal of postal equipment and reductions of retail service hours and worker overtime, the Trump Administration’s new postmaster general announced Tuesday that he was putting the initiatives on hold until November.“To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these...WW…

Aug 20, 2020at3:39 pmByArguing that Chief Carmen Best is the ideal person to shepherd changes at the Seattle Police Department, members of Seattle's Black clergy and police reform activists spoke out in support of SPD's leader.Chief Best recently in September, amid tensions between the department and the City Council. But leaders at the Thursday press conference said they want her to stay on.“She’s accountable for us," said Devitta Briscoe, assistant director of . Best is the first Black woman to head SPD.“We’re not just fighting as Black women for our voices, we are fighting for our...…Aug 20, 2020at3:39 pmByArguing that Chief Carmen Best is the ideal person to shepherd changes at the Seattle Police Department, members of Seattle's Black clergy and police reform activists spoke out in support of SPD's leader.Chief Best recently in September, amid tensions between the department and the City Council. But leaders at the Thursday press conference said they want her to stay on.“She’s accountable for us," said Devitta Briscoe, assistant director of . Best is the first Black woman to head SPD.“We’re not just fighting as Black women for our voices, we are fighting for our...WW…

Aug 21, 2020at12:41 pmByIf the trend continues, Seattle will likely a set record number of shootings in the city over 2020. King County is also seeing the considerable spike in gun-related incidents.Law enforcement says it’s unclear why that is. Gun control advocates want to see more research on the issue.Adriel Webb, 18, was shot and killed on July 20 . Webb had just graduated high school.“He was just a great kid so you know obviously it hurts," said Rick Newell, Executive Director of .Webb was mentored by M.U.S.T. through high school and graduated on time to go to college.“He texted me...…Aug 21, 2020at12:41 pmByIf the trend continues, Seattle will likely a set record number of shootings in the city over 2020. King County is also seeing the considerable spike in gun-related incidents.Law enforcement says it’s unclear why that is. Gun control advocates want to see more research on the issue.Adriel Webb, 18, was shot and killed on July 20 . Webb had just graduated high school.“He was just a great kid so you know obviously it hurts," said Rick Newell, Executive Director of .Webb was mentored by M.U.S.T. through high school and graduated on time to go to college.“He texted me...WW…

There have been many bumps in the road for Olympia Beer ever since it was founded 125 years ago. Now fans are once again buckling up for what's ahead.Olympia Beer announced Monday that it is pausing production.The announcement came via Instagram, stating that due to a drop in demand for the beer brand, parent company Pabst has opted to "temporarily pause" production."While we've spent several years trying to bring Olympia Beer back home to be brewed locally, we've also witnessed a growing decline in its demand. Sadly, we have not been able to find a solution to the challenges posed by...…There have been many bumps in the road for Olympia Beer ever since it was founded 125 years ago. Now fans are once again buckling up for what's ahead.Olympia Beer announced Monday that it is pausing production.The announcement came via Instagram, stating that due to a drop in demand for the beer brand, parent company Pabst has opted to "temporarily pause" production."While we've spent several years trying to bring Olympia Beer back home to be brewed locally, we've also witnessed a growing decline in its demand. Sadly, we have not been able to find a solution to the challenges posed by...WW…

The Seattle Office of Police Accountability says it is processing roughly 12,000 individual complaints against officers in the wake of the demonstrations held over the weekend. The protests were part of a nationwide civilian response to the police killings of Black Americans.Numerous videos of unrest in downtown Seattle have circulated online, including one showing a young child screaming in agony after reportedly being pepper sprayed during a peaceful rally attended by thousands.Another clip shows two officers apprehending a suspect on the ground, after a group — separate from the...…The Seattle Office of Police Accountability says it is processing roughly 12,000 individual complaints against officers in the wake of the demonstrations held over the weekend. The protests were part of a nationwide civilian response to the police killings of Black Americans.Numerous videos of unrest in downtown Seattle have circulated online, including one showing a young child screaming in agony after reportedly being pepper sprayed during a peaceful rally attended by thousands.Another clip shows two officers apprehending a suspect on the ground, after a group — separate from the...WW…

Jun 02, 2020at1:14 pmByBlack Lives Matter activists have been organizing protests in Seattle for multiple days since the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis. What started out as peaceful protests of racial injustice have ended with police dispersing crowds with multiple non-lethal weapons.On Saturday afternoon, May 30, you could feel the tension downtown.Black Lives Matter activists had been marching since noon, chanting “no justice, no peace” and “these racist cops have got to go.” The peaceful march ended with a rally at Westlake Park.Chasten Cole brought her two...…Jun 02, 2020at1:14 pmByBlack Lives Matter activists have been organizing protests in Seattle for multiple days since the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis. What started out as peaceful protests of racial injustice have ended with police dispersing crowds with multiple non-lethal weapons.On Saturday afternoon, May 30, you could feel the tension downtown.Black Lives Matter activists had been marching since noon, chanting “no justice, no peace” and “these racist cops have got to go.” The peaceful march ended with a rally at Westlake Park.Chasten Cole brought her two...WW…

Grandma lay on the bed, her eyes open and vacant. She wore a thin, white hospital smock dotted with small flowers and held her granddaughter’s hand as afternoon light enveloped the room.The heart monitor beeped, and at the foot of the bed, her grandson stumbled through the Book of Isaiah. He was not religious, but Grandma was, and Isaiah was where the ribbon rested in her black Bible.Like others in the room, the grandson wore a yellow mask and yellow gown — protective gear issued to them by the nurse at EvergreenHealth community hospital in Kirkland, Washington, because Grandma was in...…Grandma lay on the bed, her eyes open and vacant. She wore a thin, white hospital smock dotted with small flowers and held her granddaughter’s hand as afternoon light enveloped the room.The heart monitor beeped, and at the foot of the bed, her grandson stumbled through the Book of Isaiah. He was not religious, but Grandma was, and Isaiah was where the ribbon rested in her black Bible.Like others in the room, the grandson wore a yellow mask and yellow gown — protective gear issued to them by the nurse at EvergreenHealth community hospital in Kirkland, Washington, because Grandma was in...WW…