KUOW Public Radio

More than 3,000 Boeing workers are set to strike after rejecting a contract offer The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union members in Missouri and Illinois rejected a modified contract offered by Boeing last week.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union members in Missouri and Illinois rejected a modified contract offered by Boeing last week.

WA nonprofit on the brink of collapse after dispute with state agency An education advocacy nonprofit says it may have to close its doors because the Washington Department of Commerce is holding back $3.6 million in grant funding for a digital literacy program.

An education advocacy nonprofit says it may have to close its doors because the Washington Department of Commerce is holding back $3.6 million in grant funding for a digital literacy program.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it's shutting down The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funnels federal money to public media stations, says it's winding down operations after President Trump signed a law rescinding all funding.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funnels federal money to public media stations, says it's winding down operations after President Trump signed a law rescinding all funding.

A string of arsons has hit south Seattle. What we know about the fires Authorities are investigating a recent string of arsons in South Seattle.

Authorities are investigating a recent string of arsons across south Seattle. Here's what we know so far.

Keeping the Northwest’s buzz alive: saving the western bumblebee One of the Northwest’s most common animals has all but disappeared from much of the region.

Washington has 28 native species of bumblebees, with eight of them, including the western bumblebee, in some degree of peril, conservation-wise.

Seattle sues Trump to protect DEI and LGBTQ+ from executive order threats The City of Seattle is taking President Donald Trump and his administration to court over two executive orders that threaten diversity and inclusive gender identity policies.

The City of Seattle is taking President Donald Trump and his administration to court over two executive orders that threaten diversity and inclusive gender identity policies.

Seattle School Board to pick next superintendent in October The Seattle School Board is now slated to pick the district's next superintendent by the end of October, according to a new timeline presented to the board on Wednesday.

The Seattle School Board is now slated to pick the district's next superintendent by the end of October, according to a new timeline presented to the board on Wednesday.

An earthquake could break Seattle into 7 'islands' Given its geography, Seattle faces some unique challenges were it to face something similar to the magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck early Wednesday off Russia's coast, causing fears of tsunamis ac...

Given its geography, Seattle faces some unique challenges were it to face something similar to the magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck early Wednesday off Russia's coast, causing fears of tsunamis across the Pacific and up and down the West Coast.

Violent crime drops in Washington as drug offenses skyrocket, latest statistics show Violent crime in Washington dropped significantly last year but remains well above pre-pandemic levels. And Washington remains dead last in police staffing per capita compared to other states.

Violent crime in Washington dropped significantly last year but remains well above pre-pandemic levels.

Washington state climate policies face federal headwinds Fighting climate change in Washington state could get more difficult if a Trump administration proposal becomes law.

Fighting climate change in Washington state could get more difficult if a Trump administration proposal becomes law.

Hiker seeks female companions, finds social media snark, and support Jeff Heatwole lives in Spokane. He's 35, a divorced dad with a 5-year-old son, a music teacher by profession, and a member of a Facebook hiking group. And Jeff got more attention than he was bargainin...

Would you hike with Jeff? A seemingly simple request got lots of online attention, and prompted a Spokane man to make the best of a viral moment

Hot dogs, foxtails, and kittens: What pet owners should know this summer Summer is a great season for adventures with your favorite pup. The sun is shining, the lakes are glistening, the grass is only partially dead — but just like your human kids, furry members of the fam...

Summer is a great season for adventures with your favorite pup — the sun is shining, the lakes are glistening, and the grass is only partially dead. But just like your human kids, furry members of the family need you to keep a watchful eye out for warm weather hazards.

Washington, other Pacific coast states under tsunami watch

Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami alert for Japan’s Pacific coast, upgrading an earlier advisory stemming from the powerful, magnitude 8.0 quake that hit on Wednesday morning near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

High school theater manager to bond out of Tacoma immigrant lockup A theater manager at Juanita High School in Kirkland is set to be released on bond from the Northwest ICE Processing Center after nearly two weeks.

Immigration officials arrested Rocha in the driveway of his home on July 18. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Rocha had overstayed a tourist visa.

Investigative documents in Kohberger case released to the public New documents have been released in the case of four University of Idaho students who were stabbed to death in November 2022.

The Moscow Police department created a web page to house documents related to the case of four University of Idaho students who were stabbed to death in November 2022. Hundreds of pages of redacted records reveal the sea of tips and information investigators navigated.

Another $122M from opioid settlements now available to Washington More than 100 local governments in Washington are now eligible to claim their share of $122.2 million in settlements with Purdue Pharma and eight generic opioid manufacturers, the Washington state att...

The money is part of multistate settlements with Purdue Pharma, Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus.

'Look a cougar in the eye' and other surprising PNW hiking safety tips What should you do if you encounter a cougar on a mountain trail or in your own backyard? The answer might surprise you.

What should you do if you encounter a cougar on a mountain trail or in your own backyard? The answer might surprise you.

Debora Juarez appointed to replace Cathy Moore on Seattle City Council Debora Juarez, a former Seattle City Council member, is back in her previous post.

Debora Juarez was appointed to fill the District 5 position on Monday, replacing Councilmember Cathy Moore, who stepped down earlier this month due to "recent health challenges." Juarez is a familiar face on City Council, having previously served two terms.

Seattle among cities looking to prevent robotaxis from rolling into emergencies More cities are allowing driverless taxis on their streets. But one struggle? How to help these cars navigate the streets when there’s an emergency, like a fire or a big crash.

More cities are allowing driverless taxis on their streets. But one struggle? How to help these cars navigate the streets when there’s an emergency, like a fire or a big crash.

Lummi Nation police officer shot during traffic stop; suspect at large A Lummi Nation police officer was shot multiple times during a traffic stop early Monday morning, and the search for the shooter is ongoing.

The officer who was shot was immediately transported to emergency medical care and has since undergone surgery.

Electric bills in Washington will go up, local leaders say Senator Patty Murray says electricity bills in Washington State will go up because of the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill," which cut federal spending on renewable energy projects. So is it true? An...

Senator Patty Murray says electricity bills in Washington state will go up because of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which cut federal spending on renewable energy projects. Is it true?

WA school officials exhale. Trump un-freezes billions in education funding The Trump administration announced Friday it will release billions of dollars of education funding to states it froze July 1. If the funding had been eliminated, Washington state schools stood to lose...

The Trump administration announced Friday it will release billions of dollars of education funding to states it froze July 1. If the funding had been eliminated, Washington state schools stood to lose $137 million.

Under Trump’s ICE, people without criminal history increasingly targeted in WA On the social media pages for the Seattle Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, scrolling lists of mug shots highlight people with criminal convictions. But these posts don’t reflect a ...

The arrests are part of the administration's goal to deport one million people annually, now backed by $75 million earmarked by Congress for immigration enforcement.

A Western Washington guide to the Aug. 5 primary election Here's a roundup of what western Washington voters should know about the Aug. 5 ballot.

Here's a roundup of what western Washington voters should know about the Aug. 5 ballot.

WA Rep. Shaun Scott fined $11k over late campaign finance reports, haircuts Washington state Rep. Shaun Scott was fined $11,000 on Thursday for not disclosing properly how much he raised and spent as he ran for office last year, and using campaign funds to pay for haircuts.

Washington state Rep. Shaun Scott was fined $11,000 on Thursday for not disclosing properly how much he raised and spent as he ran for office last year, and using campaign funds to pay for haircuts.

WA sues contractor to prevent sharing of food stamp data with feds Washington’s attorney general on Thursday sued to stop its food stamp payment processor from sharing program participants’ data with the federal government, which could use the information for immigra...

Washington’s attorney general on Thursday sued to stop its food stamp payment processor from sharing program participants’ data with the federal government, which could use the information for immigration enforcement.

Bellingham family moves forward after hate crime sentencing Washington state reports more hate crimes than most other states. We've ranked in the top five states since 2018, according to FBI statistics. In one case last summer, a 43-year-old man named Paul Bit...

Last summer, a 43-year-old man named Paul Bittner attacked an 11-year-old Bellingham boy who was walking back to school from a field trip. KUOW’s Kim Malcom talked with the boy’s father about the case.

Small town on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula shows it pride after school trans ban The small town of Quilcene, tucked away on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, is known for logging, plentiful oysters, and scenic views on Highway 101. But recently the otherwise tight-knit community has...

Eecently, Quilcene became the first school district in Washington state to ban trans athletes, even though the town and district have no trans athletes.

Seattle's Pike Place Market will remain car free into 2026 Citing positive feedback, increased foot traffic, and a need for more research, Seattle’s Pike Place Market is extending its car-free experiment through next spring.

Citing positive feedback, increased foot traffic, and a need for more research, Seattle’s Pike Place Market is extending its car-free experiment through next spring.

Murray says Trump's Canadian tariffs could cause costly rift with WA Sen. Patty Murray is warning about the potential fallout between Washington state and one of its closest trade allies, as a result of the Trump administration's impending tariffs.

Sen. Patty Murray is warning about the potential fallout between Washington state and one of its closest trade allies, as a result of the Trump administration's impending tariffs.