KPLU News for Seattle and the Northwest

At least 51 dead as monstrous tornado wreaks havoc in Oklahoma

The Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:40:20 +0000

A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed, including at least 20 children, and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.

Police file: Josh Powell had affair before wife vanished

The Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:18:33 +0000

Newly released police files say Josh Powell had an affair with a Utah woman just months before his wife disappeared.

According to a West Valley City police detective's report, investigators contacted the woman, whose full name is redacted, in August 2010, after her phone number was discovered in connection with the case.

Seattle wants to give free-standing public toilets another go

Ashley Gross — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:01:00 +0000

Five years after Seattle had to get rid of its free-standing public toilet structures, Mayor Mike McGinn wants to give it another go, this time with a new design.

A brief history of Oklahoma tornadoes

Scott Neuman — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:51:53 +0000

Although Oklahoma is a state where tornadoes are a fact of life, few days stand out like May 3, 1999.

That was when some 70 tornadoes touched down over a 21-hour period, cutting paths of destruction like deep cuts of a knife blade in and around Oklahoma City.

Tweets capture 'shock and awe' at tornado's deadly power

Scott Neuman — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:47:36 +0000

Our colleague Andy Carvin has scanned Twitter in search of reaction, including photos and video, from the massive tornado that swept through central Oklahoma on Monday.

Among the tweets:

Sidney Montoya of Oklahoma City says he is "Praying for my little cousins in Moore, their elementary school just got hit by the tornado."

And Dennis Varghese, who also lives in Oklahoma City, says: "Just overheard a lady break down and say, 'my house is gone!' and now worry

Backers of gas tax rally at Capitol

Austin Jenkins — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:11:40 +0000

Pressure is mounting on Washington state lawmakers to approve a gas tax increase to fund road projects. Backers of the 10-cents-per-gallon tax proposal rallied at the state Capitol Monday to push for a vote during the current 30-day overtime session.

Dozens in hard hats gathered on the steps of the Capitol, holding signs and chanting: “Pass it now! Pass it now!”

'Pot-bellied' pig: Local butcher spikes pig feed with weed

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:42:59 +0000

William von Schneidau, an intrepid butcher in Seattle, is giving a whole new meaning to "potbelly pig." Lately, he's been feeding marijuana refuse to the pigs he turns into prosciutto for BB Ranch, his butcher shop in the city's famous Pike Place Market.<

KPLU wins regional SPJ awards

KPLU — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:19:36 +0000

A number of awards were bestowed upon KPLU in the 2012 Society of Professional Journalists' (Western Washington chapter) Excellence in Journalism Competition. This year's contest covered work produced or published in 2012 within the region.

Study: Urban stresses cause birds to abandon nests, eggs and all

Jessica Robinson — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:19:49 +0000

A bird of prey can get so stressed out by city noise that it might abandon its nest—eggs and all, according to a new study by researchers at Boise State University. The study suggests human disturbances affect the American kestrel more than previously thought.

Can a piece of hair reveal how much Coke or Pepsi you drink?

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:30:27 +0000

One way to know how much soda people drink is to ask them.

The problem?

Latest in 'living building' green design: Self-sustaining classroom

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:01:00 +0000

A prototype of a self-sustaining portable classroom has arrived at a parking lot in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood.

The classroom is meant to set a higher bar for schools by demonstrating they can meet the highest standard of green building design, the Living Building Challenge, fairly quickly.

Saxophonist Tineke Postma in concert on Jazz Northwest

Jim Wilke — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Noted Dutch saxophonist Tineke Postma recently played in Seattle as part of the Art Of Jazz Series at The Seattle Art Museum. The concert was recorded for broadcast on Jazz Northwest and aired this Sunday, May 19 on 88.5, KPLU.

The Seattle appearance was the first for the saxophonist and composer who was on a nationwide tour that concluded with a performance at the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival at The Kennedy Center in Washington. For her concert at SAM she was joined by Seattle musicians Tim Kennedy, piano, Evan Flory-Barnes, bass and D'Vonne Lewis, drums.

Should the state OK equity crowdfunding?

Tom Banse — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:32:44 +0000

Crowdfunding websites have grown rapidly as a way to raise money for creative ventures—everything from movies to scientific research, to clever inventions. You might have heard of Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Rockethub. It would be just a small leap to use those same platforms to sell shares in a startup. That's illegal right now, but maybe not for long.

David Foster Wallace tells us about freedom

Robert Krulwich — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:14:18 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmpYnxlEh0c

Remembering Mount St. Helens blast 33 years later

The Associated Press — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:01:00 +0000

Saturday is the 33rd anniversary of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens that killed 57 people, knocked down a forest and filled the sky and rivers with volcanic ash.

The mountain in southwest Washington may be the best known volcano in the state, but it's not the only one or the most dangerous.