Northwest

New Study Shows Increase In Stormy Weather In Western Washington

Ashley Ahearn — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:46:49 +0000

Climate change will affect different regions of the country in different ways. In the Southwest it may get warmer and drier. In the Northwest, however, climate models predict it getting warmer and wetter.

Northwest Winemakers Hope To Whet-The-Whistle Of China's Emerging Middle Class

Anna King — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:20:34 +0000

Northwest winemakers are trying to whet-the-whistle of China's emerging middle class. Demand for wine is growing significantly there. And that’s drawn Chinese business delegations, restaurateurs and tourists to our region. There even may be a reality TV show that would feature Northwest wineries. Correspondent Anna King begins our story in Walla Walla, Washington.

Seattle Woman’s Great Aunt Faced Tough Decision On The Titanic

Sarah Waller — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:35:28 +0000

This past year has marked some big milestones. The 150th anniversary of the University of Washington, the 50th anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair. Charles Dickens would have been 200. 2012 also marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. A majority of the people who boarded the luxury ocean liner didn’t survive the trip. For some, the only thing separating survival and drowning was a split-second decision. Now, a century after the tragedy, a Seattle woman wonders what she would do if she had been in her relative’s shoes on the night of the sinking. Sarah Waller has the story.

Northwest Dry Spell Almost At An End

Chris Lehman — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:56:41 +0000

The streak of dry weather in much of the Northwest is about to come to a soggy end. A weather system fueled by subtropical moisture is bearing down on the region.

Buff Kennewick Man Had Coastal Diet

Anna King — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:31:25 +0000

For nearly a decade, scientists and Northwest tribes fought bitterly over whether to bury or study the 9,500 year old bones known as Kennewick Man. Now, after years of careful examination, scientists are releasing some of their findings to tribes at meetings this week in Central Washington. As correspondent Anna King reports, Kennewick Man grew up on the coast.

Poll Finds Water Quality NW Residents Top Concern

Courtney Flatt — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:59:35 +0000

A new public opinion poll finds that water quality ranks as Northwesterners’ top environmental concern.

DHM Research asked 1,200 residents in Washington, Idaho and Oregon about their environmental concerns. 60 percent said they worried about drinking water, and 54 percent said they were concerned about local lakes, rivers and streams. That result tracks with previous polls.

People said they were happy, overall, with the water that comes out of their tap.

DHM Research’s John Horvick says most survey respondents thought that water quality has not improved since the implementation of the Clean Water Act 40 years ago. He says that finding surprised him.

Northwest Firefighters Play Waiting Game Amid Cooler Weather

Jessica Robinson — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:21:20 +0000

Some firefighters from the Northwest have been sent to blazes across the West. But the firefighters still at home are playing the waiting game.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visited Boise Tuesday. They toured the center that coordinates national wildfire response efforts.

Some firefighters from the Northwest have been sent to blazes across the West. But as Jessica Robinson reports, the firefighters still at home are playing the waiting game.

Northwest Lawmakers Debating How To React To Health Care Ruling

Matt Laslo — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:27:38 +0000

The Supreme Court’s decision on the health care law threw many members of Congress for a loop. Many northwest lawmakers were surprised that the Supreme Court upheld the law’s individual mandate and put limits on the government’s attempt to expand Medicaid. Matt Laslo reports from the nation’s capital.

Northwest Rallies On May Day

Chris Lehman — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:48:33 +0000

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber says he'll convene a workgroup to study possible changes to the state's driver's license laws for undocumented immigrants. That news prompted cheers at a May Day rally in front of the state capitol Tuesday evening. Thousands of people marked the day with demonstrations in Salem, along with other cities across the Northwest. Correspondent Chris Lehman has this report from the march in Salem.

Energy Developers Eye New Grid-Stabilizing Hydro Projects

Tom Banse — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:59:45 +0000

If you thought the great dam building era of the Northwest was long over, you might be mistaken. But we're not talking about damming rivers here. This is about building long earthen dams to make new off-stream hydropower reservoirs. They're being designed to act as giant batteries and shock absorbers for the electric grid. Correspondent Tom Banse explains.

Here's an odd thought that relates to keeping your lights burning steady and bright. Someday a small portion of your electricity bill could go toward pumping water in a loop. Lots of water.