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Ostrom Mushroom Farms to pay $3.4 million for discrimination

By Johanna Bejarano May 19, 2023

Ostrom Mushroom Farms and Windmill Farms settlement

Ostrom Mushroom Farm must pay 3.4 million dollars for discriminating against workers. The Washington state attorney general said Ostrom’s settlement with Washington state resolved the civil rights lawsuit against the company for unfair, deceptive and discriminatory actions against female farmworkers and Washington-based workers. Read More

New Washington wine research focuses on climate change, sustainability

By Lauren Paterson May 18, 2023

The sun shines over a mountain peak in central Washington behind rows of green vineyards.

Sunrise over Red Mountain vineyards in central Washington. (Credit: Andrea Johnson Photography/Washington State Wine Commission) Listen (Runtime 1:03) Read It’s been a slower start to spring in the Pacific Northwest, […]Read More

Tacoma ‘craftivist’ featured in documentary on ‘health care for all’ movement

By Lauren Gallup May 18, 2023

Grassroots craftivist Laura Fielding, who started Red Berets for Medicare for All, knits a beret at Tacoma's Wright Park. Photo by Lauren Gallup.

A new documentary, Healing US, premieres in Tacoma at the Grand Cinema on May 19. The documentary tells the story of the national movement for Medicare for All, where folks are advocating for an universal healthcare system. One of the key players in that story is Laura Fielding, founder of the Red Berets for Medicare for All coalition in Tacoma. Read More

Washington leaders call new drug law ‘imperfect’ solution to overdose crisis

By Northwest News Network May 18, 2023

Washington lawmakers passed a new drug possession and addiction treatment policy during a one-day special legislative session Tuesday

Washington is getting a new drug possession and addiction treatment law, after the state legislature approved a final deal during its one-day special session Tuesday. But many lawmakers call it a hard compromise that represents just one step toward tackling the state's drug crisis.Read More

‘We used to be the doctor’s handmaiden’: Nurses share perspectives on career, future

By Rachel Sun May 17, 2023

When you go to the doctor, it’s likely they aren’t the first medical professional you'll see in the office. That’s because nurses account for the largest group of health care professionals. During National Nurses Week, health reporter Rachel Sun spoke with current and retired nurses about their careers and perspectives on the future of the profession.Read More

Gov. Inslee signs new drug possession law after special legislative session

By Northwest News Network May 17, 2023

The legislature is meeting to finalize a state-level policy on drug possession and addiction treatment, to avoid a patchwork approach across the state

The Washington State Legislature is reconvening Tuesday, as lawmakers aim to finalize new drug possession penalties and addiction treatment resources in the state.Read More

Bryan Kohberger indicted on murder charges, arraignment set for Monday

By Lauren Paterson May 17, 2023

Bryan Kohberger walks into the Latah County Courtroom with an orange jumpsuit on.

Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, appears at a hearing in Latah County District Court, on Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, […]Read More

Sindicato de profesores de YVC exige transparencia

By Johanna Bejarano May 15, 2023

YVC faculty union members demand transparency.

Los miembros del sindicato de profesores del Yakima Valley Community College no tienen confianza en la presidenta de la institución Linda Kaminski. Los líderes sindicales afirman que la administración no rinde cuentas ni atiende sus quejas. Pero los representantes de la universidad dicen que se han celebrado reuniones con el profesorado y que están trabajando para Read More

YVC faculty union demands transparency

By Johanna Bejarano May 15, 2023

Yakima Valley College faculty union members voted no confidence in college president Linda Kaminski. Union leaders say the administration has become unaccountable and is not addressing their complaints. But, college representatives say meetings with faculty have taken place, and they are working to answer their questions.Read More

Pacific Northwest startup wants to expand private flying beyond the ultra-rich

By Tom Banse May 12, 2023

KinectAir CEO Jonathan Evans disembarks from a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft in Kalispell after joining a customer's flight from Vancouver, Washington

For a few years now, aviation enthusiasts have teased the idea of a Jetsons-style future in which small electric aircraft whisk us to work or across the state and region. That future is not here yet, though a handful of companies, including one based in the Pacific Northwest, are trying to get a head start on the future of flying using conventional planes.Read More

Washington ends COVID-19 vaccine requirements for state employees

By Northwest News Network May 12, 2023

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday that he is rescinding the requirement for state employees to get their COVID-19 shot as a condition for keeping their jobs

Washington State employees will no longer be required to get a COVID-19 vaccination in order to keep their jobs.Read More

Cantwell dice que Washington necesita más recursos para enfrentar crisis de MMIP

By Johanna Bejarano May 9, 2023

En una conferencia de prensa realizada en el Seattle Indian Health Board, dirigentes tribales, familiares de personas desaparecidas y la senadora estadounidense Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) afirmaron que se necesitan más recursos federales para abordar la crisis de las personas indígenas desaparecidas y asesinadas en el estado de Washington. La conferencia tuvo lugar el 5 Read More

Tacoma residents appeal permit decision for Bridge Industrial warehouse

By Lauren Gallup May 9, 2023

The property where a 2.5 million square-foot warehouse is being proposed in South Tacoma. Photo courtesy of Michelle Mood.

Two Tacoma groups have filed a joint-appeal against the city’s recent decision to issue a land-use permit for a highly controversial warehouse in South Tacoma. The South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and 350 Tacoma, a grassroots environmental organization, filed the appeal on May 5. Earthjustice, a non-profit, environmental law organization, is representing the groups. Read More

Cantwell says Washington needs more resources to address MMIP crisis

By Johanna Bejarano May 9, 2023

Tribal leaders, family members, and Democrat U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington asked President Biden for more federal resources to address the missing and murdered indigenous women and people crisis in Washington. Read More

Oregon nonprofit returns Wallowa land to Nez Perce Tribe

By Lauren Paterson May 9, 2023

The sun shines above a bright blue lake next to a golden field of grasslands surrounded by evergreen trees.

Oregon nonprofit Wallowa Land Trust gave 30 acres of undeveloped land near Wallowa Lake to the Nez Perce Tribe. (Credit: David Jensen) Listen (Runtime 00:53) Read Wildlife will have easier […]Read More

MMIWP: Comunidades indígenas siguen alzando sus voces en la búsqueda de sus seres queridos

By Johanna Bejarano May 5, 2023

Al comenzar el mes nacional de concientización sobre los casos de mujeres y personas indígenas desaparecidas y asesinadas (MMIW/P), las familias siguen llamando la atención sobre las barreras y los retos que experimentan al abordar la crisis en Washington.Read More

Nisqually Tribe’s sovereignty summit focuses on MMIWP crisis

By Lauren Gallup May 5, 2023

Chay Squally and Sarah Colleen Sotomish at the Nisqually Indian Tribal Summit on May 4. Photo courtesy of Debbie Preston.

Washington state has one of the largest numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples cases in the nation. On May 4, the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Annual Protecting Our Sovereignty Tribal Summit focused on the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples crisis. Read More

Inslee announces special legislative session to pass new drug possession law

By Northwest News Network May 5, 2023

(Credit: WSDOT / tinyurl.com/yddspl8b) Read By Jeanie Lindsay The Washington Legislature will attempt to wrap up its unfinished business on drug possession this month. Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday he’s […]Read More

Retired Alaska Airlines turboprop to get new life as ‘world’s largest’ hydrogen-powered plane

By Tom Banse May 5, 2023

Tom Banse / NW News Network Elected officials and corporate leaders gathered in a Paine Field hangar to celebrate the handover of a retired Alaska Airlines Q400 turboprop, which will be converted to hydrogen-electric propulsion over the next year

Alaska Airlines ceremonially handed over a surplus turboprop airliner on Monday to a company that aims to turn it into the largest hydrogen-powered plane yet to fly.Read More

Spring push: Long cool spring, then record warm weather sends Northwest farmers scrambling

By Anna King May 4, 2023

Celestino Mendoza, 68, of Kennewick, says it’s been a lot of work to harvest a giant push of asparagus with the record-warm spring weather across much of the Northwest. [Photo: […]Read More

MMIWP awareness events raise Native voices in search for missing loved ones

By Johanna Bejarano May 4, 2023

As the national awareness month on the crisis starts, families continue calling attention to the barriers and challenges they experience when addressing the missing and murdered indigenous women and people MMIW/P crisis in Washington. Read More

Programa de intercambio de idiomas une a comunidades en Yakima

By Johanna Bejarano May 4, 2023

En Yakima, una organización comunitaria ayuda a hispano y anglohablantes a ganar confianza y mejorar sus habilidades comunicativas. Un programa de intercambio de idiomas y cultural ayuda a las personas a mitigar las inseguridades que experimentan al practicar otros idiomas.Read More

How some in the Pacific Northwest are preparing for King Charles III’s coronation

By Lauren Gallup May 4, 2023

Tea guests enjoying the British tea room, Sweet Peas Tea Room, in Battle Ground, Washington. Photo courtesy of Sweet Peas Tea Room.

At Sweet Peas Tea Room in Battle Ground, Washington, the Union Jack will fly proudly for the coronation, May 6 of King Charles III. Owner Sharon Harbeck is hosting a full English tea at the British tea room she and her daughter, Chantelle, have run for six years. Read More

Language exchange program brings communities together in Yakima

By Johanna Bejarano May 3, 2023

Language exchange students work on activities during a class in Yakima. Credit: Johanna Bejarano / NWPB. Listen (Runtime 1:55) Read In Yakima, a community-based organization helps Spanish and English speakers […]Read More

WSU researchers win historic FDA approval for gene-edited pork

By Courtney Flatt May 3, 2023

Six brown sausages sit on top of a black grill. Orange flames crawl up the grill and onto the sausages.

Blake Foraker grills gene-edited German-style sausages at Washington State University. Credit: Connor Henricksen Listen (Runtime 3:58) Read At a barbecue on campus last week, flames licked a set of sausage […]Read More

High school students discover invasive crayfish in Idaho

By Lauren Paterson May 3, 2023

A bright red crayfish sits atop grey gravel with its red and bumpy claws outstretched.

Red Swamp Crayfish have been discovered in the Lewiston Levee ponds, thanks to science students at Lewiston High School. (Credit: istockphoto) Listen (Runtime 00:59) Read Lewiston High School teacher Jamie […]Read More

Controversial mega-dairy and farm under fresh scrutiny by Oregon officials

By Anna King May 2, 2023

This photo from a Oregon Department of Agriculture report shows water runoff on a field. Runoff events, along with fertilizer leaks, have incurred violations for Easterday Dairy. (Courtesy: Oregon Department […]Read More

Federal regulators want public input on Goldendale Energy Storage Project

By Courtney Flatt May 1, 2023

A view from the edge of the cliff where the Goldendale Energy Storage Project could be built. An underground tunnel would carry water from a upper reservoir to a reservoir […]Read More

New online toolkit to provide help, comfort to families with missing loved ones

By Lauren Gallup May 1, 2023

Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1512 into law on Monday, May 1 as supporters and bill sponsors looked on.

By signing into law House Bill 1512, Washington state will create an online toolkit meant to assist families and law enforcement seeking to locate and recover missing persons. The act, known as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Persons and Lucian Act, is in part named after Lucian Munguia, who was 4 years old when he went missing in Yakima last September. His Read More

Washington’s regular legislative session is over. Here are some of the highlights

By Northwest News Network May 1, 2023

Washington's 2023 regular session adjourned "Sine Die" April 23

Washington's legislature adjourned its 2023 regular session with a new two-year state budget, alongside dozens of policy changes focused on housing, health care and public safety – and a surprising last-minute bill failure.Read More

Washington governor signs new gun bills into law, including ‘assault weapons’ ban

By Northwest News Network May 1, 2023

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed three new gun bills into law Tuesday, including an assault weapons ban that takes immediate effect

Surrounded by gun reform advocates, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed three new gun control bills Tuesday morning, including a ban on the import and sale of high capacity and semiautomatic firearms.Read More

Here’s what Washington lawmakers say is behind drug possession bill’s last-minute failure

By Northwest News Network May 1, 2023

Washington lawmakers adjourned this year's regular legislative session late Sunday, after 105 days

In an unexpected development, the Washington state Legislature adjourned for the year late Sunday night having failed to put a new drug possession law on the books.Read More

Bridge Industrial gets land use permits to develop warehouse in South Tacoma

By Lauren Gallup April 28, 2023

The site where Bridge Industrial has proposed building a warehouse in South Tacoma. Photo courtesy of Michelle Mood.

The City of Tacoma approved land use permits to develop a warehouse in South Tacoma. The decision came April 21 after over a year of feedback from residents and public agencies expressing environmental equity concerns over the development. Read More

More wildlife rehabilitators needed in the Northwest

By Lauren Paterson April 27, 2023

A barn owl stands over six white eggs in a nest of hay against a plywood background.

A barn own with her eggs at the Blue Mountain Wildlife center in Benton City, Washington. Many barn owls are rehabbed at the center after building nests in haystacks throughout […]Read More

‘Don’t wait’: Hospital staff, first responders practice active shooter response

By Rachel Sun April 26, 2023

Clarkston police say they’re running more active shooter drills as the number of mass shootings climb. On Friday, they ran one of those drills at Tri-State Memorial Hospital.Read More

Donating life: how a young man’s organ donation decision helped a father live

By Rachel Sun April 24, 2023

How a young man’s decision helped a father live to see his own son grow upRead More

Relentless wintry weather means tragedy for many cattle ranches across the West

By Anna King April 21, 2023

Ranchers struggle to keep enough fresh hay and bedding down for new calves and their mothers during the recent blizzards across southeast Oregon and much of the West. (Credit: Angie […]Read More

Washington establishes cold case unit to investigate missing and murdered Indigenous peoples cases

By Lauren Gallup April 20, 2023

A photo of families gathered for May 5th MMIWP Awareness Day 2022

On April 20, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law House Bill 1177 that establishes a cold case unit specifically for missing and murdered Indigenous women and people in the state. “This legislation will ensure that Indigenous victims of crime receive robust, thorough investigations, and potential prosecution,” Inslee said. Read More

Tri-State Hospital to hold active shooter drill Friday

By Rachel Sun April 20, 2023

Tri-State Memorial Hospital in Clarkston will hold an active shooter drill on its main campus from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday.Read More

‘Idaho Vital Statistics’ reports COVID-19 third highest killer behind heart disease, cancer

By Rachel Sun April 20, 2023

Idaho’s leading causes of death as reported in the 2021 Vital Statistics Summary Listen (Runtime 00:48) Read A report announced this week by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare […]Read More

In biggest turnout in ten years, Richland citizens fill city council meeting to speak out against drag show harassment

By Johanna Bejarano April 20, 2023

A record number of people attended the Richland City Council regular meeting to continue discussion about holding family-friendly drag events in Tri-Cities. Criticism of children's access to drag events has led to demonstrations, vandalism and threats in Pasco and Richland. Read More

More firefighters needed to control wildfire hotspots in Eastern Washington

By Lauren Paterson April 19, 2023

A white tanker plane drops bright orange flame retardant onto a smokey forest of evergreen trees.

A tanker airplane drops fire retardant on a wildfire burning near Twisp, Wash. Three firefighters were killed battling the blaze. (Credit: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press) Listen (Runtime 1:07) […]Read More

Underground fire, harmful fumes prompt cleanup plan for Yakima landfill

By Courtney Flatt April 17, 2023

While hiking, Nancy Lust, with Friends of Rocky Top, watches a truck dump waste into a landfill in Yakima County. Lust lives near the landfill and has fought to learn […]Read More

Protestas contra espectáculos drag en Tri-Cities llevan a amenazas de muerte y vandalismo – Tercera parte

By Johanna Bejarano April 14, 2023

Después de que ciudadanos se manifestaran a favor y en contra de los espectáculos drag para toda la familia en Tri-Cities, el restaurante The Emerald of Siam de Richland recibió un sobre amenazador.Read More

Ciudadanos piden a concejo que impida acceso de niños a espectáculos drag – Segunda parte

By Johanna Bejarano April 14, 2023

All ages drag shows protests in Richland, WA.

Manifestantes han organizado múltiples demostraciones en Tri-Cities. Unos se alinearon afuera de un espectáculo drag con temática de Disney en Pasco. Y en Richland otros protestaron afuera de un drag brunch de Pascua. La discusión se está extendiendo también a las reuniones de los concejos locales y comisiones en los condados de Benton y Franklin.Read More

Familia se reúne tras 15 años de la deportación de su madre

By Johanna Bejarano April 14, 2023

Family reunion after 15 years of deportation.

Largos abrazos y lágrimas de alegría. Así fue el reencuentro de Claudia Cifuentes con dos de sus hijos -Claudia y Kevin- tras 15 años de separación.Read More

Wildfire Defense Grants to fund 14 programs in Washington

By Lauren Paterson April 14, 2023

A plume of smoke rises above a yellow field flanked by three evergreen trees against a blue sky.

The Cow Canyon Fire burns near Naches, Washington in August 2022. New funding from the federal government is earmarked to help Northwest communities become more resistant to wildfire. (Credit: Washington […]Read More

NWPB is no longer posting to Twitter: A message from General Manager Cara Williams Fry

By Cara Williams Fry April 13, 2023

Logos of Twitter and NPR on their respective buildings.

Dear NWPB audiences and supporters, Twitter recently labeled NPR’s (National Public Radio) official Twitter account as “state-affiliated media,” which is incorrect and then changed it to “government-funded media,” falsely implying that […]Read More

Olympia school board president thinks RIF is likely

By Lauren Gallup April 13, 2023

School funding experts predicted a looming financial disaster for the nation's K-12 schools. CREDIT: LA Johnson/NPR

The Olympia School Board plans to vote tonight on whether to begin a reduction in force (RIF) process. School board President Darcy Huffman said it’s likely the board will approve the process, which would mean staff below a certain seniority level could be let go. Read More

Professor’s blood test could increase access, speed of STD screening

By Rachel Sun April 13, 2023

A new test that uses just a drop of blood could help more people get tested and treated for a common, and frequently undetected, sexually transmitted infection. Read More