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Northwest News
Updated about 18 hours ago
Government
Northwest Public Radio is a participant and contributor in the Northwest News Network (N3), a collaboration of public radio stations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Our reporters bring a regional perspective to coverage of Northwest states government, environment, economy, and other news of widespread interest to residents of the Northwest. Regional news on Northwest Public Radio is a part of Morning Edition every weekday morning, and All Things Considered in the afternoons.
Northwest Public Radio is a participant and contributor in the Northwest News Network (N3), a collaboration of public radio stations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Our reporters bring a regional perspective to coverage of Northwest states government, environment, economy, and other news of widespread interest to residents of the Northwest. Regional news on Northwest Public Radio is a part of Morning Edition every weekday morning, and All Things Considered in the afternoons.
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Northwest News
Updated about 18 hours ago
Northwest Public Radio is a participant and contributor in the Northwest News Network (N3), a collaboration of public radio stations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Our reporters bring a regional perspective to coverage of Northwest states government, environment, economy, and other news of widespread interest to residents of the Northwest. Regional news on Northwest Public Radio is a part of Morning Edition every weekday morning, and All Things Considered in the afternoons.
Inslee To Make Key Decision On Vancouver Oil-By-Rail Terminal
In early 2018, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will make a final decision on whether to permit the Vancouver Energy Project -- the largest proposed oil-by-rail terminal in the country.
Dec 22 2017
Play
Columbia Basin Landowners Fined $600,000 For Illegal Water Use
Four landowners near Moses Lake, Washington, have been fined $618,000 for illegal water use . The water was pumped from the Odessa aquifer, which has been in severe decline for more than 30 years.
Dec 21 2017
1min
Play
Speeding Amtrak Train Derails Despite $181 Million In Track Improvements
The train ride from Seattle to Portland usually takes almost 4 hours. Amtrak passengers were supposed to be beneficiaries of a multimillion-dollar project aimed at making the trip a little faster. Instead, on Monday morning, they became victims.
Dec 19 2017
3mins
Play
Progress Made on Marijuana Intoxication Measurement Tool
The legalization of marijuana in Washington has been terrific for the state’s coffers. According to the Department of Revenue, marijuana retailers totaled $1.2 billion in sales during fiscal year 2017. That’s about $4.8 million a day. The state’s share of that, in taxes, was about $227 million for the fiscal year.
Dec 16 2017
4mins
Play
Trump Administration Suspends Efforts To Bring Back North Cascades Grizzlies
The Trump administration is suspending efforts to bolster the grizzly bear population in Washington’s North Cascades. That would leave this part of the mountain range with fewer than ten of the imperiled bears.
Dec 20 2017
1min
Play
Former Washington Auditor Guilty Of Possession Of Stolen Property, Not Guilty Of Money Laundering
Former Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley has been found guilty of possession of stolen property, making false declarations and filing false tax returns, but not guilty of money laundering.
Dec 21 2017
1min
Play
Nostalgia Galore As 'Queen Of The Skies' Bids Farewell In U.S. Passenger Airline Fleets
Nostalgia is flowing freely in the skies this week as Delta Air Lines takes its remaining Boeing 747 jumbo jets on a farewell tour. They're the last of the iconic jumbos in U.S. passenger service. The swan song stopped at Delta's main hubs, including SeaTac. It also landed at the jet’s birthplace, Boeing's wide body assembly plant in Everett.
Dec 19 2017
3mins
Play
Investigation Shows Oregon Department Of Education Administrator Sexually Harassed Female Staffer
A high-level administrator at the Oregon Department of Education was accused of sexual harassment last year. Despite being found to have done some of the things he was accused of, he remains in a leadership position in a key state agency.
Dec 14 2017
1min
Play
Washington Eastside Legislators Weigh In On Proposed Carbon Tax
Legislative reaction in eastern Washington to Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s proposal to levy a carbon tax next year ranges from cool to tepid.
Dec 16 2017
1min
Play
Low-Level Contamination Escapes Demolition Site At Hanford
UPDATE: Dec. 21, 2017: The Department of Energy has confirmed it found low-level radioactive waste on the exterior of cars owned by eight Hanford workers.
Dec 19 2017
Play
Washington Voters Will Likely Get To Weigh In On Police Deadly Force
Washington voters will likely get to weigh in on police use of deadly force. A ballot measure on that subject turned in around 360,000 voter signatures Thursday afternoon. That should be more than enough to qualify for consideration by the Washington Legislature and then probably go to the statewide ballot in 2018.
Dec 29 2017
1min
Play
Study Estimates Wildfire Smoke Contributes To Tens Of Thousands Of Deaths
The wildfires that burned through the Northwest this past summer caused hazy skies throughout Washington and Oregon. Air pollution from tiny particles released by fire is a known health hazard.
Dec 29 2017
Play
Census Data: Idaho Fastest Growing, Washington Adds Fourth Most People
Northwest states are among the fastest growing in the country. And according to the latest census figures, it’s gaining people more than twice as fast as the national average. Migration to the region—rather than births—made up the bulk of population growth.
Dec 28 2017
1min
Play
Seattle Housing Market Still Tops Chart As Nation's Hottest
Home prices continued to climb in Seattle and Portland at some of the fastest rates in the country this year. The latest data show Seattle is still the nation’s hottest market. According to the Case-Shiller Home Price Index , the price of a typical single family home in Seattle rose twice as fast as the national average this year—nearly 12 percent. In Portland, home prices increased more than 6.5 percent.
Dec 27 2017
1min
Play
2018 Brings Mandatory Sick Leave And Minimum Wage Increase For Washington Workers
Workers in Washington are about to get a new benefit. Starting January 1, the state will require all employers to provide paid sick leave. It’s part of a law passed by voters in 2016 that also raises the state’s minimum wage.
Dec 27 2017
Play
Inslee To Make Key Decision On Vancouver Oil-By-Rail Terminal
In early 2018, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will make a final decision on whether to permit the Vancouver Energy Project -- the largest proposed oil-by-rail terminal in the country.
Dec 22 2017
Play
Columbia Basin Landowners Fined $600,000 For Illegal Water Use
Four landowners near Moses Lake, Washington, have been fined $618,000 for illegal water use . The water was pumped from the Odessa aquifer, which has been in severe decline for more than 30 years.
Dec 21 2017
1min
Play
Former Washington Auditor Guilty Of Possession Of Stolen Property, Not Guilty Of Money Laundering
Former Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley has been found guilty of possession of stolen property, making false declarations and filing false tax returns, but not guilty of money laundering.
Dec 21 2017
1min
Play
Trump Administration Suspends Efforts To Bring Back North Cascades Grizzlies
The Trump administration is suspending efforts to bolster the grizzly bear population in Washington’s North Cascades. That would leave this part of the mountain range with fewer than ten of the imperiled bears.
Dec 20 2017
1min
Play
Nostalgia Galore As 'Queen Of The Skies' Bids Farewell In U.S. Passenger Airline Fleets
Nostalgia is flowing freely in the skies this week as Delta Air Lines takes its remaining Boeing 747 jumbo jets on a farewell tour. They're the last of the iconic jumbos in U.S. passenger service. The swan song stopped at Delta's main hubs, including SeaTac. It also landed at the jet’s birthplace, Boeing's wide body assembly plant in Everett.
Dec 19 2017
3mins
Play
Speeding Amtrak Train Derails Despite $181 Million In Track Improvements
The train ride from Seattle to Portland usually takes almost 4 hours. Amtrak passengers were supposed to be beneficiaries of a multimillion-dollar project aimed at making the trip a little faster. Instead, on Monday morning, they became victims.
Dec 19 2017
3mins
Play
Low-Level Contamination Escapes Demolition Site At Hanford
UPDATE: Dec. 21, 2017: The Department of Energy has confirmed it found low-level radioactive waste on the exterior of cars owned by eight Hanford workers.
Dec 19 2017
Play
Washington Eastside Legislators Weigh In On Proposed Carbon Tax
Legislative reaction in eastern Washington to Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s proposal to levy a carbon tax next year ranges from cool to tepid.
Dec 16 2017
1min
Play
Environmental Protection Agency Awards Millions For Puget Sound Recovery
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded more than $25 million in grants to Washington state, to be used specifically for Puget Sound recovery.
Dec 16 2017
Play
Progress Made on Marijuana Intoxication Measurement Tool
The legalization of marijuana in Washington has been terrific for the state’s coffers. According to the Department of Revenue, marijuana retailers totaled $1.2 billion in sales during fiscal year 2017. That’s about $4.8 million a day. The state’s share of that, in taxes, was about $227 million for the fiscal year.
Dec 16 2017
4mins
Play
Washington Lawmakers Try To Entice Oregon Back To I-5 Bridge Talks
Washington state lawmakers are moving ahead with an effort to revive a plan to replace the aging Interstate 5 Bridge. They remain hopeful their counterparts in Oregon will join them.
Dec 15 2017
Play
'Astronomical' Cost Estimate For Portland-Seattle-Vancouver, BC Bullet Train
A brand new feasibility study of bullet train service between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC , puts a sky-high price tag on construction costs. But Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signaled he's not deterred and is asking the Legislature to pay for further study.
Dec 15 2017
1min
Play
New Spokane Ordinance Could Increase Transparency, Limit 'Dark Money' In Local Politics
Officials in Spokane want to take on campaign finance reform. A proposed ordinance before the City Council on Monday was meant to limit the influence of money in local politics. It’s similar to legislation that’s likely to be proposed at the state level next year.
Dec 15 2017
1min
Play
Dump The Pump (Tax)? Washington Joins Oregon In Pay-By-The-Mile Experiment
In early 2018, a group of Washington drivers will be keeping close tabs on the number of miles they drive and how much they spend on gas. They will be part of a pilot program to test out a proposed pay-by-the-mile road tax, similar to what Oregon rolled out in 2015.
Dec 14 2017
1min
Play
Investigation Shows Oregon Department Of Education Administrator Sexually Harassed Female Staffer
A high-level administrator at the Oregon Department of Education was accused of sexual harassment last year. Despite being found to have done some of the things he was accused of, he remains in a leadership position in a key state agency.
Dec 14 2017
1min
Play