Animal overpass project now visible to westbound motorists
A billion-dollar project that will allow animals to travel unimpeded over Washington state's busiest interstate is now visible to westbound I-90 travelers.
A billion-dollar project that will allow animals to travel unimpeded over Washington state's busiest interstate is now visible to westbound I-90 travelers.
In Olympia, ex-Secretary of State John Kerry says individual states can lead on climate change
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday urged support for legislative efforts in the Washington Legislature to pass a carbon pollution tax to address climate change.
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday urged support for legislative efforts in the Washington Legislature to pass a carbon pollution tax to address climate change.
California bill would ban servers from handing out plastic straws unless asked
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A California lawmaker is facing criticism for a bill that, if passed, would make it illegal for servers to offer plastic straws unless asked.The law makes providing a straw without being asked punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, reports KGTV.The bill was introduced by Majority Leader Ian Calderon last week.The law wouldn’t apply to bars or fast-food restaurants, but only to sit-down restaurants.Calderon said the law would eventually be amended to eliminate the extremely harsh penalties.Calderon says the bill is aimed at reducing the environmental damage from plastic that winds up in landfills, waterways and ocean.Still, critics have scorned the bill, calling it government overkill.Strawless in SeattleAn ordinance banning plastic straws and plastic utensils will take effect this year in Seattle.Starting July 1, 2018, eateries in the city will no longer be able to dispense plastic items, Seattle Public Utilities’ Strategic Adviser for Product Stewardship Sego Jackson said.The ordinance banning plastic silverware has been on the books since 2010, Jackson said, but an exemption has been in place.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A California lawmaker is facing criticism for a bill that, if passed, would make it illegal for servers to offer plastic straws unless asked.The law makes providing a straw without being asked punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, reports KGTV.The bill was introduced by Majority Leader Ian Calderon last week.The law wouldn’t apply to bars or fast-food restaurants, but only to sit-down restaurants.Calderon said the law would eventually be amended to eliminate the extremely harsh penalties.Calderon says the bill is aimed at reducing the environmental damage from plastic that winds up in landfills, waterways and ocean.Still, critics have scorned the bill, calling it government overkill.Strawless in SeattleAn ordinance banning plastic straws and plastic utensils will take effect this year in Seattle.Starting July 1, 2018, eateries in the city will no longer be able to dispense plastic items, Seattle Public Utilities’ Strategic Adviser for Product Stewardship Sego Jackson said.The ordinance banning plastic silverware has been on the books since 2010, Jackson said, but an exemption has been in place.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to reconsider drilling off Oregon
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke agreed to consider exempting Oregon from the Trump administration's offshore drilling plan after speaking with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, her office said Friday.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke agreed to consider exempting Oregon from the Trump administration's offshore drilling plan after speaking with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, her office said Friday.
The busiest locks in the country (ours) needs money for improvements
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks turned 100 last year. This year, they're asking for money for what they say are much-needed improvements.
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks turned 100 last year. This year, they're asking for money for what they say are much-needed improvements.
Al Gore tweets support for Gov. Inslee's proposed carbon tax
Gov. Jay Inslee made a forceful push Tuesday for a carbon tax in his annual state of the state address, calling it "our destiny" and "the right thing to do" to curb climate change.
Gov. Jay Inslee made a forceful push Tuesday for a carbon tax in his annual state of the state address, calling it "our destiny" and "the right thing to do" to curb climate change.
Touring band and volunteers help cleanup Lake Union
Dozens of people and a touring band from Australia cleaned up Terry Pettus Park on the southeast side of Lake Union Sunday.
Dozens of people and a touring band from Australia cleaned up Terry Pettus Park on the southeast side of Lake Union Sunday.
NRA says grizzly bear hunts needed for safety
The National Rifle Association and a sport hunting group want to ensure their members can hunt grizzly bears in the three-state region around Yellowstone National Park after the animals lost U.S. protections.
The National Rifle Association and a sport hunting group want to ensure their members can hunt grizzly bears in the three-state region around Yellowstone National Park after the animals lost U.S. protections.
Group buys land to prevent break in Pacific Crest Trail
A group dedicated to preserving and promoting the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail has purchased private land in western Washington state to prevent a break in the path.
A group dedicated to preserving and promoting the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail has purchased private land in western Washington state to prevent a break in the path.
Trump administration reverses ban on importing elephants killed as trophies
The Trump administration said it will allow the importation of body parts from African elephants shot for sport, contending that encouraging wealthy big-game hunters to kill them will aid the vulnerable species.
The Trump administration said it will allow the importation of body parts from African elephants shot for sport, contending that encouraging wealthy big-game hunters to kill them will aid the vulnerable species.
Hanford workers finish stabilizing collapsed tunnel
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state have finished stabilizing a partially-collapsed tunnel containing radioactive wastes left over from the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons.The U.S. Department of Energy said Tuesday the tunnel was filled with more than 4,400 cubic yards of grout intended to prevent any additional collapse.The tunnel partially collapsed earlier this year, prompting a brief alarm at the site that required some 3,000 workers to shelter in place.
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state have finished stabilizing a partially-collapsed tunnel containing radioactive wastes left over from the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons.The U.S. Department of Energy said Tuesday the tunnel was filled with more than 4,400 cubic yards of grout intended to prevent any additional collapse.The tunnel partially collapsed earlier this year, prompting a brief alarm at the site that required some 3,000 workers to shelter in place.
7 leaks found in Hanford's oldest double-walled tank
RICHLAND, Wash. -- Inspectors at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation have found seven leaks in the site's oldest double-walled radioactive waste storage tank.Tank AY-102 was known since 2012 to have a slow leak from its inner shell into the space between its inner and outer walls.The Tri-City Herald reports that the tank, which once held 744,000 gallons of waste, had been emptied of all but 19,000 gallons by February.Then an inspection was done with video cameras.A manager for the U.S. Department of Energy told the Hanford Advisory Board on Wednesday that a total of seven leaks were found.The Energy Department says no waste is believed to have breached the outer shell to contaminate the environment.Hanford for decades made plutonium for nuclear weapons and the wastes are left over.
RICHLAND, Wash. -- Inspectors at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation have found seven leaks in the site's oldest double-walled radioactive waste storage tank.Tank AY-102 was known since 2012 to have a slow leak from its inner shell into the space between its inner and outer walls.The Tri-City Herald reports that the tank, which once held 744,000 gallons of waste, had been emptied of all but 19,000 gallons by February.Then an inspection was done with video cameras.A manager for the U.S. Department of Energy told the Hanford Advisory Board on Wednesday that a total of seven leaks were found.The Energy Department says no waste is believed to have breached the outer shell to contaminate the environment.Hanford for decades made plutonium for nuclear weapons and the wastes are left over.
Decades-long study on West Coast seabirds reveals an alarming trend
Barbara Patton scans the expansive beach on Washington's outer coast looking for telltale signs of dead seabirds: a feather sticking straight up, dark colors in the sand, unusual seaweed clumps that could mask a carcass.
Barbara Patton scans the expansive beach on Washington's outer coast looking for telltale signs of dead seabirds: a feather sticking straight up, dark colors in the sand, unusual seaweed clumps that could mask a carcass.
Fries sold at CenturyLink Sunday came from potatoes fertilized with food scraps from the stadium
Fans at Sunday's Seahawks game may not have known, but the french fries they ordered during the game, weren't ordinary fries.
Fans at Sunday's Seahawks game may not have known, but the french fries they ordered during the game, weren't ordinary fries.
World mayors pledge emissions-free cities by 2030
The mayors of London, Los Angeles, Paris and several other major world cities are pledging to ban gasoline and diesel vehicles from "large parts" of their cities by 2030.
The mayors of London, Los Angeles, Paris and several other major world cities are pledging to ban gasoline and diesel vehicles from "large parts" of their cities by 2030.
Former Hanford manager gets $8M jury award for retaliation
RICHLAND, Wash. -- A former manager at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation has been awarded $8.1 million for retaliation and discrimination.A Benton County Superior Court jury made the award Tuesday to Julie Atwood, who was forced to resign from U.S. Department of Energy contractor Mission Support Alliance in 2013.The Tri-City Herald reported that Atwood filed a civil lawsuit against the contractor and one of its vice presidents, Steve Young, who also is the mayor of Kennewick.The jury found that Mission Support Alliance retaliated and discriminated against Atwood, and that Young aided and abetted.The verdict includes $2.1 million in lost wages and benefits.
RICHLAND, Wash. -- A former manager at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation has been awarded $8.1 million for retaliation and discrimination.A Benton County Superior Court jury made the award Tuesday to Julie Atwood, who was forced to resign from U.S. Department of Energy contractor Mission Support Alliance in 2013.The Tri-City Herald reported that Atwood filed a civil lawsuit against the contractor and one of its vice presidents, Steve Young, who also is the mayor of Kennewick.The jury found that Mission Support Alliance retaliated and discriminated against Atwood, and that Young aided and abetted.The verdict includes $2.1 million in lost wages and benefits.
Crews start injecting grout into collapsed Hanford tunnel
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation have started injecting grout into a partially collapsed tunnel that contains radioactive wastes left over from the production of nuclear weapons.The grout is intended to improve the stability of the 360-foot-long tunnel, which dates to 1956, and help prevent any radioactivity from escaping into the environment.The U.S. Department of Energy said it will take an estimated 650 truckloads of grout to fill the tunnel adjacent to the closed Plutonium Uranium Extraction Plant, which produced most of the plutonium for the nation's nuclear arsenal.
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation have started injecting grout into a partially collapsed tunnel that contains radioactive wastes left over from the production of nuclear weapons.The grout is intended to improve the stability of the 360-foot-long tunnel, which dates to 1956, and help prevent any radioactivity from escaping into the environment.The U.S. Department of Energy said it will take an estimated 650 truckloads of grout to fill the tunnel adjacent to the closed Plutonium Uranium Extraction Plant, which produced most of the plutonium for the nation's nuclear arsenal.
Warm waters off West Coast has lingering effects for salmon
Federal research surveys this summer caught among the lowest numbers of juvenile coho and Chinook salmon in 20 years, suggesting that many fish did not survive their first months at sea.
Federal research surveys this summer caught among the lowest numbers of juvenile coho and Chinook salmon in 20 years, suggesting that many fish did not survive their first months at sea.
China wants to ban gas and diesel cars
China's industry ministry is developing a timetable to end production and sale of traditional fuel cars and will promote the development of electric technology, state media on Sunday cited a Cabinet official as saying.
China's industry ministry is developing a timetable to end production and sale of traditional fuel cars and will promote the development of electric technology, state media on Sunday cited a Cabinet official as saying.
Interior Secretary says he won't eliminate any national monuments
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he's recommending that none of 27 national monuments carved from wilderness and ocean and under review by the Trump administration be eliminated.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he's recommending that none of 27 national monuments carved from wilderness and ocean and under review by the Trump administration be eliminated.