Liam Moriarty

Eagles return, drive entire colony of herons out of Kiwanis Ravine

Martha Kang and Liam Moriarty — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:01:00 +0000

The great blue heron is one of Washington’s most iconic birds, as is the bald eagle. Now, it seems eagle attacks on heron nests are driving herons to abandon the largest colony in Seattle. And volunteers are asking local residents to help them figure out where the herons have gone.

For more than a decade, Pam Cahn has monitored the dozens of heron nests at Kiwanis Ravine near Discovery Park in northwest Seattle. The volunteer citizen-scientist has kept track of eggs laid, chicks hatched and fledglings flown, then sent the data to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife for record-keeping.

But Cahn says this season, eagles have wreaked havoc on the approximately 90 heron nests in Kiwanis Ravine.

Complete with hearse, march planned to bury pot prohibition

Liam Moriarty — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:16:04 +0000

An annual march to support legalization of marijuana will take to Seattle streets Saturday. The Cannabis Freedom March will feature a mock funeral procession for cannabis prohibition, complete with a hearse. Organizers say the time has come to lay anti-marijuana laws to rest.

“2013 is the year to really push,” said organizer Sharon Whitson with Hempfest. “We have legalized cannabis in Colorado, and here in Washington state. We have a number of other states seriously looking at it. And a few states, over the course of this year, have legalized medicinal cannabis, as well.”

Seattle considering public-funded campaign financing plan

Liam Moriarty — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:07:11 +0000

The cost of running for public office keeps rising, and Seattle City Council members worry the need to fund expensive campaigns gives people with deep pockets a louder voice.

While money doesn’t seem to play the outsized role in Seattle elections that it does in national or even state campaigns, longtime council member Nick Licata is concerned.

A typical city council campaign costs about a quarter of a million dollars. In the past decade, Licata notes, the average size of donations has nearly doubled.

Inslee proposes cutting oil industry tax break

Liam Moriarty — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:30:37 +0000

The search for ways to reduce Washington’s more than $1 billion budget shortfall has led Gov. Jay Inslee to suggest eliminating some little-known tax breaks long enjoyed by various industries.

One of these loopholes saves millions each year for an industry that didn’t even exist in the state when the tax break was created.

Group to decide what's best for Woodland Park Zoo's elephants

Liam Moriarty — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:11:04 +0000

After years of controversy over the welfare of the elephants at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, a task force of community leaders will meet for the first time Thursday.

Their goal is to figure out what’s best for the zoo’s three elephants.

Boeing, Airbus both claim WTO victory

Liam Moriarty — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:48:00 +0000

NORMANDY, France – Both U.S. and European officials are claiming victory after a global trade court ruled in a long-standing dispute over claims of illegal government subsidies to Boeing and European rival Airbus.

Airbus on track to beat Boeing 9th year in a row

Liam Moriarty — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:14:03 +0000

NORMANDY, France – Boeing rival Airbus is set to finish 2011 with a record number of aircraft orders, beating out Boeing for the ninth year in a row.

But analysts say Boeing is poised to gain ground against its European competitor in 2012. That's because of a new product that will be built in Puget Sound.

Coming to Terms with Bears: A conversation with Chris Morgan

Liam Moriarty — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:58:57 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-964525.mp3

Over the years, bears have gone from primal menace to environmental icon, while enduring a close brush with extinction along the way. Ecologist and Bellingham resident Chris Morgan works to educate people about bears, especially the bears we share the Cascades Mountains with.

On this Earth Day, we present a recent conversation about the importance of coming to terms with these large carnivores.

Renovated Cheney Stadium will usher in a new era in Tacoma baseball tonight

Liam Moriarty and Gary Crawford — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

A steady drizzle has the infield covered in white plastic, but as the time ticks down, the place is in a high-level state of bustle.

Staffers scurry by carrying armloads of bright red T-shirts, burly young guys wheel stacks of cardboard boxes around. Crews are wiring up the TV and radio booths and the control room for the electronic scoreboard is filled with techies.

At 7:05 this evening, it's showtime for the newly redesigned, redveloped, revamped and renovated Cheney Stadium and the Tacoma Rainiers' home opener against the Sacramento River Cats.

Seattle's water and sewer rates are among the highest in the nation

Liam Moriarty — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:45:15 +0000

If you live in Seattle, and you think your water and sewer charges are high, you’re right.

That’s according to a new city-government audit of Seattle Public Utilities. The Seattle Times reports the audit cites an industry analysis that found Seattle paying the highest rates among 50 U.S. cities.

Step away from the whale: Whale watch regulations get tougher

Liam Moriarty — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:00:00 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-962877.mp3

Next time you go whale watching on Puget Sound, be sure to take your binoculars. Soon, you’ll have to stay twice as far from the endangered killer whales as before.

Taking a broader look at the value of natural resources

Liam Moriarty — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:05:29 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-962755.mp3

Lawmakers in Olympia are struggling to close a $5 billion budget gap, and, like many state programs, natural resource agencies are on the chopping block. A study by a Tacoma-based non-profit says cutting those services too deeply could cost a lot more money than it saves.

Snohomish Community Transit faces more service cuts

Liam Moriarty — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:18:35 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-962756.mp3

If you ride Community Transit buses, brace yourself for longer waits and fewer trips. For the second year in a row, bus service in Snohomish County is facing a 20 percent cut.

Groups seek regulation for livestock air pollution

Liam Moriarty — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:05:57 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-962177.mp3

If you put thousands of cows or chickens or hogs in a confined area, it’s likely to produce a powerful aroma. But can it harm your health?

A coalition of community and environmental groups says "yes." And they're asking for regulations on high-intensity livestock operations they say violate air pollution standards.

Boeing helps with Southwest Airlines investigation

Liam Moriarty — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:01:12 +0000

Boeing says it’s providing technical assistance to federal aviation regulators and to Southwest Airlines in the wake of Friday’s mid-flight incident where a hole appeared in the skin of a 737 airliner at 34,000 feet.