Northwest News

Unusual Funding For Unusual Proof-of-Concept Power Plant

Tom Banse — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:07:55 +0000

A renewable energy consultant and the Oregon Institute of Technology have come up with an unusual financing plan for an even more unusual power plant idea.

Compressed Air Technology To Store Wind Energy

Courtney Flatt — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:48:12 +0000

Renewable energy storage is one step closer becoming a reality in the Northwest. Researchers are proposing a new system that could store enough wind energy to power 80,000 homes for a month. But researchers aren’t proposing fields lined with batteries. They’re using some of the Columbia River Basin’s natural geography and compressed air.

Fewer But Bigger Northwest Cherries Expected This Year

Anna King — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:40:03 +0000

Northwest cold snaps this spring mean not as many cherries this summer. Flower buds and bees don’t like low temperatures. And the cherries don’t like the rain.

Interior Secretary Jewell Adapts To Her New Role

Amelia Templeton — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:34:44 +0000

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell made her first public return to the Northwest with a stop in Portland this week.

Bridge Collapse Trucking Company's Safety Record Better Than Most

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:02:53 +0000

Federal records show the trucking company involved in the I-5 bridge collapse in Skagit County north of Seattle has a safety record that’s better than most.

Mullen Trucking out of Alberta, Canada has an on-road performance rating of three percent. What does that mean? When it comes to trucking safety – like in golf – a low score is good.

You could look at it this way: 97 percent of other trucking companies have a worse record on the road.

I-5 Bridge Collapse: Update

Lucrezia Cuen — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:10:24 +0000

By first light this morning, investigators were sorting through twisted steel girders and interviewing drivers to piece together exactly what brought down the Interstate-5 Skagit River Bridge in Mount Vernon. More now from Northwest Public Radio’s Lucrezia Cuen.

Sasquatch Fest Leaves Footprint In Rural Washington

Paige Browning — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:31:38 +0000

Today/Friday through Monday is the 12th year of the Sasquatch Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheater, where more than 20-thousand people will camp and see live music. Paige Browning reports.

Many Posts, But Little Pointing To Grudge In Online Life Of Ricin Suspect

Jessica Robinson — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:11:20 +0000

The 38-year-old man accused of sending ricin-laced letters to a federal judge and the Spokane post office had an active social media presence. But his online profiles contain no hints at a grudge toward the federal government. This was also not his first run-in with the law. Jessica Robinson reports.

Three Rescued In Bridge Collapse

Gabriel Spitzer — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:52:08 +0000

An interstate 5 bridge collapsed into the Skagit River Thursday evening. The collapse sent tons of concrete and steel into the river, along with two vehicles and three people. Remarkably, no one died, and authorities say all three people rescued had only minor injuries.

Interior Secretary Jewell Makes First Visit To Northwest

Amelia Templeton — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:04:48 +0000

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell made her first public stop in the Northwest in Portland today, six weeks into the job. Amelia Templeton from our EarthFix team reports that local activists wanted to know how she will handle coal leases on federal land.