Regulation

Oregon House Set To Vote On Natural Hair Care Measure

Chris Lehman — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:39:15 +0000

African-American hair stylists are asking the Oregon legislature to scale back the rules surrounding traditional braiding techniques. The Oregon House is set to vote Monday on a measure that would ease the training requirements for hair treatments that don't involve chemicals.

Amber Starks wants to open a braiding shop in Portland. She also wanted to volunteer her skills for African-American children in foster care.

Wash. Bars Allowing Marijuana Use Could Face Penalties

Amy Radil — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:47:10 +0000

Pot possession is now legal in Washington. But city and state regulators are drawing the line at marijuana use in bars and coffeeshops. KUOW’s Amy Radil reports.

New State Rules Forbid Bouncy Houses And Trampolines For Childcare Programs

Amy Radil — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:52:58 +0000

Kids in daycamps and childcare programs in Washington are spending less time airborne these days. New state regulations forbid childcare providers from using trampolines and inflatable bouncy houses. State officials say the rule change was based on safety concerns. But doctors say bouncy houses don’t pose the same risks as trampolines. KUOW’s Amy Radil reports.

A Long Road To Food Safety

Ruby de Luna — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:32:21 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration recently proposed the most sweeping changes to food safety rules in 70 years. Now it wants to hear from the public. The new rules were triggered by a series of foodborne illness outbreaks. Twenty years ago Seattle was at the epicenter of one of the earliest and most notorious. Hundreds of people got sick from eating contaminated burgers. Ruby de Luna has this story of one family’s experience.

Colorado Marijuana Task Force Makes Recommendations

Ben Markus — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:28:35 +0000

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper's task force on recreational marijuana wrapped up it’s work last night. We now have a better idea of what the industry will look like, who can buy marijuana, and how to protect kids. That is: if the recommendations are adopted by the State legislature. Colorado Public Radio’s Ben Markus reports.

Northwest Lawmakers Continue Fight Against Indoor Tanning

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:30:17 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Research shows if you use a tanning bed before the age of 35, you are more likely to get skin cancer. That’s why legislators in Washington, Oregon and Idaho have been considering proposals to bar teenagers from indoor tanning salons. A bill in the Washington legislature to do this has died for the fourth year. But the idea is still alive in Salem and Boise.

Jessica Hewlett is just 22 years old and already a cancer survivor.

Idaho Town Struggles With Clean Water Act Requirements

Aaron Kunz — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:37:20 +0000

40 years ago Thursday, Congress passed the Clean Water Act to reduce pollution in America’s waterways. Even four decades later, hundreds of towns across the Northwest are failing to meet clean water standards for their wastewater treatment plants. For most, that means costly upgrades and higher fees for households and businesses. The southern Idaho town of Burley is no exception. EarthFix reporter Aaron Kunz explains.

Court Rules For New Regulation Of Gold Mining In Western Salmon Streams

Amelia Templeton — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:54:09 +0000

Gold mining with small dredges is popular in the rural Northwest. Today, the 9th circuit court ruled that the Forest Service has to strengthen its regulation of this kind of mining in salmon streams. Amelia Templeton of Earthfix reports.

CDC Cuts Lead Poisoning Threshold

John Ryan — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:44:31 +0000

Correspondent John Ryan of Seattle station KUOW has been investigating lead pollution in the Northwest. Lead has been known for centuries to be a powerful poison. Even small concentrations can lower children's IQs and cause permanent brain damage. As John reports, the federal government now says children's brains are even more sensitive to lead than previously thought.