Cascade PBS

Remembering Crosscut: 18 years of independent journalism in WA As Cascade PBS sunsets its digital newsroom, formerly Crosscut, current and former staff members reflect on some of the outlet’s impactful reporting.

As Cascade PBS sunsets its digital-first news operation, we take a look back at some of the stories that exemplify its impact on the region over the past 18 years, first as Crosscut and later as the Cascade PBS newsroom.

Whatcom Council eyes closing legal loophole that hid $225K payout A prosecutor’s legal interpretation left the Council in the dark about a sexual harassment settlement, until Cascade PBS’s reporting unearthed the case.

From @cascadiadaily.com: Whatcom County Council introduced an amendment to close a legal loophole that left them in the dark about a $225K payout to an employee who accused her manager of sexual harassment and retaliation. The Council said it knew nothing until Cascade PBS broke the story in 2024.

Art by NW: Reinaldo Gil Zambrano carves bold explorations of home The Venezuela-born, Spokane-based artist makes intricate woodblock prints, and is building printmaking communities both local and global.

Growing up, Reinaldo Gil Zambrano saw the world—or rather, the walls of his family home—as a canvas. “I was drawing around the house, on all the different walls,” he said of his childhood in Venezuela. It’s quite the origin story for someone who has painted murals across his adopted home of Spokane.

Wolf Land A cattle rancher and a wolf-protecting cowboy unite to preserve what’s dearest to them.

The Cascade PBS documentary "Wolf Land" is here - follow the story of a self-described “wolf-protecting cowboy,” Daniel Curry, who rides the line between cultures in search of common ground in his quest to save wolves.

REI appoints new board directors after contentious spring election REI has appointed three new people to fill vacancies on its board of directors. The move comes after members of the Issaquah-based outdoor retail co-op voted to reject the uncontested slate of candida...

REI has appointed three new people to fill vacancies on its board of directors. The move comes after members of the Issaquah-based outdoor retail co-op voted to reject the uncontested slate of candidates put forward by the board in its spring election.

Feds roll out AI pilot program for Medicare reviews in Washington The program will rely on the technology to help decide if procedures are eligible for coverage, which Sen. Murray called a move “to privatize Medicare.”

From @washingtonstatestandard.com: Medicare enrollees in Washington may soon need to get additional approval before undergoing some procedures under a controversial new federal program. The six-year pilot program will rely on AI to help decide whether certain care is eligible for coverage.

A wolf-protecting cowboy and a cattle rancher unite to preserve what’s dearest to each of them. Cascade PBS's WOLF LAND is playing at multiple film festivals this month with a broadcast premiere on Saturday, October 4 at 7 p.m. Tune in live or stream on the Cascade PBS app cascadepbs.org/wolfland

The Newsfeed: Social justice library goes beyond books to housing The owners of Estelita’s Library are fundraising for their next ambitious endeavor, a nearly $28M affordable-housing development on Beacon Hill.

One couple is on a mission to build what they call “self-determined” affordable housing.  Edwin Lindo and Dr. Estell Williams, founders of Estelita’s Library in the Central District, are raising funds for their next endeavor, a nearly $28M project that would bring housing stability to Beacon Hill.

Art by NW: Melinda Hurst Frye photographs the forest’s understory The Kenmore-based artist uses flatbed scanners to expose the hidden networks of the Pacific Northwest’s wood wide web.

Artist Melinda Hurst Frye’s essential hiking list includes USB cords, Windex, a paintbrush & a scanner.

“They’re not supposed to have spores on them, and they’re definitely not supposed to go outside,” Hurst Frye says of the scanners, which she presses into the earth to grab moody mycelium images.

Art x NW: A Seahawk’s architectural art takes flight in Seattle Plus, the Seattle Symphony’s new director, and ‘Art by Northwest’ features a photographer whose work literally scans the earth for signs of life.

Constructed of cross-laminated timber, Night Chapel, installed in the Northwest African American Museum’s yard, envelops visitors in quiet & offers the sensation of seeing things anew. This simple yet elegant wooden structure was designed by Michael Bennett, former defensive end for the Seahawks.

Matteo Bocelli: Carbonara Matteo Bocelli: Carbonara

LISTEN: Like any card-carrying Italian worth his focaccia, singer Matteo Bocelli says he could eat pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner! From his home in Tuscany, Matteo tells host Rachel Belle about the super-simple, but deeply delicious, sauce recipe he’s been trying to perfect.

Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead.

Newly uncovered audit findings allege a South Sound property manager fraudulently obtained nearly $1 million in pandemic rent assistance money, in a scheme that led Thurston County to shut down emergency aid for months.

Ferguson vs. Everyone: How WA’s new governor has defied expectations From lawmakers to voters, Governor Bob Ferguson has surprised and confused people on all sides during his first few months. Northwest Reports digs in.

LISTEN: A new podcast series, Ferguson vs. Everyone, explores the state's puzzling reception to its 24th governor. Host Sara Bernard and politics reporter Laurel Demkovich speak with lawmakers, a pollster and reporters about the unexpected moves of Gov. Bob Ferguson.

The Curse of the Middle Guy: Ferguson’s first 8 months as governor Expectations were high for Bob Ferguson. For many across the political spectrum, the reality has been baffling and disappointing. What happened?

Nearly everyone had an expectation of who Bob Ferguson might be as Washington’s 24th governor. He’s become known for keeping his cards close to his chest, leaving lawmakers and voters surprised, confused and even disappointed. “It’s a curse of trying to be in the middle,” said pollster Stuart Elway.

Horse Heaven wind farm faces one-third cut over hawk protections Leaders of Washington’s energy permitting council advanced a plan on Wednesday that would cut by one third the size of the state’s largest proposed wind and solar energy plant. The state’s Energy Fac...

Leaders of WA's energy permitting council advanced a plan to 1/3 of the state's largest proposed wind & solar energy plant. The council indicated it will require Horse Heaven wind project developers to incorporate extensive setbacks from bird nesting sites of the endangered ferruginous hawk.

Reporters talk mobile home owners’ rights at Pierce County library At a public screening of Cascade PBS’s documentary ‘Priced Out,’ the journalists behind the investigation answered questions from community members.

Cascade PBS teamed with the University Place Library in Pierce County Tuesday to host a screening of the documentary "Priced Out," followed by a Q&A with the journalists behind the story. Miss the event? Find an excerpt of the Q&A here:

Washington state to fund Planned Parenthood after Medicaid cuts Clinics will submit claims to WA’s Health Care Authority for reimbursement, but now the money will come only from state coffers with no federal aid.

From @washingtonstatestandard.com: Washington state will backfill lost Medicaid dollars for Planned Parenthood after a court ruling last week, while at the same time, advocates continue to push to restore the funding for abortion access that lawmakers cut in the new state budget.

Art by NW: Justin Gibbens’ watercolors blend science & surrealism The Central Washington artist renders regional wildlife in unexpected ways, inviting viewers to meet the natural world with curiosity and humor.

For artist Justin Gibbens, hanging out in a room of deceased animals at CWU's specimen collection is a place of revelation. Using the skills of natural science illustration, his watercolors start with exactitude but turn surreal: a raccoon with three tails; a walrus whose tusks bend into a pretzel.

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Art x NW: ‘Walk Don’t Run’ brings a big, bold art walk Downtown Plus, the new episode of ‘Art by Northwest’ features a watercolor artist bringing a surreal edge to scientific wildlife illustrations.

Walk Don’t Run, a two-mile art crawl, marks the beginning of Art & Culture Week Seattle (Sept. 20-27). In its second year, this multigenre, multivenue smorgasbord is intended to showcase Seattle’s vibrant arts scene. The rich lineup includes gallery talks, live music, theater and dance performances.

New $8M WA youth detention facility proposed for next state budget A longer version of this article appeared in the Washington State Standard. Tana Senn, director of the state’s Department of Children, Youth and Families, is asking for nearly $8 million to open a ne...

From @washingtonstatestandard.com: The state’s Department of Children, Youth and Families is asking for nearly $8M to open a new 16-bed juvenile facility in Pierce County. The facility would be a medium-security detention center focused on serving young people with acute mental health needs.

The Coast Salish designers behind this year’s Sounders community kit The soccer team partnered with Indigenous weavers for the special jerseys and donated $50,000 in sales to local Native nonprofit organizations.

From @underscore-news.bsky.social: Coast Salish weavers collaborated with the Seattle Sounders to create the new Salish Sea Kit, which includes a jersey, shorts, socks and a scarf. The jerseys will be worn during the 2025 and 2026 Major League Soccer seasons as the team’s secondary kit.

MLK Labor pivots to dual Harrell, Wilson endorsement for mayor Delegates from the MLK Labor Council voted Wednesday evening to endorse both Mayor Bruce Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson in Seattle’s mayoral election. Before the primary, MLK Labor had given Harr...

NEW: Delegates from the MLK Labor Council voted Wednesday evening to endorse both Mayor Bruce Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson in Seattle’s mayoral election. Before the primary, MLK Labor had given Harrell a sole endorsement in this year’s race.

Lynnwood considers raising its minimum wage to above $20 an hour If a new initiative to increase hourly rates by nearly $4 passes, the city would join others in Washington with the country’s highest wage floors.

Lynnwood may become the latest Washington city to raise its minimum hourly wage above $20 — higher than almost anywhere in the nation. The city currently follows the state’s minimum, but advocates are gathering support for an initiative to raise wages to $20.24/hour & strengthen worker protections.

Little Saigon leaders share new plan to combat drugs, disorder It includes more policing, social services, neighborhood improvements and new homeless shelters, but needs buy-in from the city, county and state.

Little Saigon leaders held a press conference Tuesday to unveil ideas for addressing entrenched problems of drugs, crime, disorder and homelessness. The blocks around 12th and Jackson have been a hotspot for drug sales and fencing stolen goods, with the problem worsening amid the rise of fentanyl.

Is your mayor using ChatGPT? Here’s how to FOIA around and find out - Poynter Seattle PBS reporter Nate Sanford investigated how city officials throughout Washington are using generative AI. Here’s how he did it.

I talked with @poynterinstitute.bsky.social about how to get copies of government officials' ChatGPT histories.

FOIA around and find out:
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...

WA state schools superintendent seeks $10M for AI in classrooms This article originally appeared on TVW News. Washington’s top K-12 official is asking lawmakers to bankroll a statewide push to bring artificial intelligence tools and training into classrooms in 20...

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is asking lawmakers to bankroll a statewide push to bring AI into classrooms. Reykdal told TVW he will request about $10M in the upcoming budget for a pilot program to purchase AI tutoring tools — beginning with math — and fund teacher training.

WA reviews uses for its portion of $50B federal rural health funds The Rural Health Transformation Program will distribute $100M annually to each state for five years in response to more than $990B in Medicaid cuts.

House Resolution 1 earmarked $50B for rural health care to be divided across all states over 5 years. Republicans & the Trump administration promote the money as a transformational opportunity, but WA health care officials note it only makes up a fraction of Medicaid cuts that will go into effect.

WA reviews uses for its portion of $50B federal rural health funds The Rural Health Transformation Program will distribute $100M annually to each state for five years in response to more than $990B in Medicaid cuts.

My latest for @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social: The Big Beautiful Bill includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid. However, healthcare officials hope a $50 billion fund included in the bill will mitigate some of the potential impacts from such cuts. www.cascadepbs.org/news/2025/09...

In police youth program, abuse often starts when officers are alone with teens in cars A quarter of sexual misconduct allegations in law enforcement Explorers programs involve officers grooming or abusing young people during ride-alongs.

In May, Seattle prosecutors charged a sheriff’s deputy with raping a teen girl he met as an adviser in his department’s Explorers youth mentorship program. Departments nationwide have Explorer programs. Ride-alongs are a key program perk, but also a gateway to abuse. Via @themarshallproject.org