The supersizing of ICE — fueled by an infusion of billions of dollars granted by Congress — has raised concerns about the agency's hiring practices and whether officers being brought on are receiving proper vetting. https://to.pbs.org/4fqD4pn

Maine shooting and officer's background raise new questions about ICE's rapid hiring

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been rapidly expanding its workforce, hiring thousands of new officers as part of the Trump administration's attempt to ramp up immigration arrests and deportat...

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Today on The Nosh with Rachel Belle, we're getting saucy. 🌶️ From a soy sauce flight at Mixed Pantry to neurodivergent-fueled hot sauces from Lunamor's Larder, condiments are king.

Nothing's ever too complicated for Bill Nye. Revisit The Eyes of Nye, originally aired in 2005, where he explores topics ranging from cloning to addiction. Stream the episodes on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

The Eyes of Nye - YouTube

Revisit The Eyes of Nye, the 2005 series from science guy Bill Nye.

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Tacoma’s Mayor Anders Ibsen explains the levers his administration is using to make first-time homeownership a reality.

President Trump fired the new top U.S. prosecutor in Seattle on Wednesday less than an hour after the attorney was unanimously appointed by the federal judges in the district, highlighting tensions between the courts and the president over the powerful positions. https://to.pbs.org/4554n3J

Trump immediately fires the new court-appointed top prosecutor in Seattle

President Donald Trump fired the new top U.S. prosecutor in Seattle on Wednesday less than an hour after the attorney was unanimously appointed by the federal judges in the district, highlighting tens...

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President Trump is set to address the nation on Thursday night on topics he said will include elections and voting machines, suggesting he is likely to revisit some of the unproven claims he has previously made about Republican losses, particularly his own in 2020. https://to.pbs.org/44BZK0X

Trump is expected to make election conspiracies a focus of his national address

President Donald Trump is set to address the nation on Thursday night on topics he said will include elections and voting machines, suggesting he is likely to revisit some of the unproven claims he ha...

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Celebrate Season 3 of Art by Northwest with a live screening! Get a sneak peek of Season 3 episodes followed by a Q&A with featured artists from this season. 📅 Aug 19, 7 - 8 PM 📍 316 Broadway 🎟️ RSVP: eventbrite.com/e/art-by-northwest-season-3-preview-screening-tickets-1993024462819?aff=bluesky

Three cheers for the great outdoors! In honor of Parks & Recreation Month, we're celebrating the parks in our backyard, where nature thrives and so do we. 🌳 Watch Mossback's Northwest, Out & Back with Alison Mariella Désir, Nick on the Rocks & The Nosh with Rachel Belle on the Cascade PBS app.

Tacoma is dealing with its own homelessness crisis. While the city provides most shelter beds and services for Pierce County, an increasing number of people outside the city limits are using those resources. Mayor Ibsen’s administration explains how the city is working to address the problem.

Child safety advocates are sounding the alarm about artificial intelligence features now being used by millions of students in classrooms that rely on education tools made by Google. https://to.pbs.org/4yn3vVt

Google's AI search features pose 'unacceptable risk' to children, new report finds

Common Sense Media found that across more than 2,600 test interactions, Google’s two built-in AI search functions routinely failed to recognize risky and harmful behavior.

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Astronomers have detected a type of sugar in space that's also found in raspberries and self-tanners. https://to.pbs.org/4vqzce9

A sweet discovery: Astronomers say sugar is lurking in the space between stars

Astronomers have detected a type of sugar in space that’s also found in raspberries.

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U.S. inflation cooled last month as the cost of gas, clothes, and used cars fell, providing some relief to consumers, while underlying price pressures also cooled more than expected. https://to.pbs.org/44y31hN

Inflation cools more than expected in June as gas costs fall and underlying prices ease

Tuesday's report likely reduces pressure on the Fed to boost its short-term interest rate to combat inflation.

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The City of Tacoma is working to close a roughly $40 million general fund shortfall with projections that its deficit will balloon in the next two years.

“Flying in space was a fantasy that everybody had. Most kids wanna see themselves floating around the moon and doing all types of things you saw on TV. And so did I.” - Ron McNair, one of NASA's first Black astronauts. Once Upon a Time in Space premieres tonight! Steam it on the Cascade PBS app.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a motorist in Maine on Monday, the second time in a week that ICE has used deadly force and at least the ninth death since President Trump began his immigration crackdown. https://to.pbs.org/3ReomJV

DHS says ICE officer who fatally shot driver in Maine was 'fearing for public safety'

A witness says he heard driver say, "I tried to stop."

pbs.org

Ukraine and nine other countries announced Monday they were forming a coalition to protect Europe from ballistic missiles, utilizing Kyiv's experience in fighting Russia's full-scale invasion for over four years. https://to.pbs.org/4wjVwYd

Ukraine and 9 other countries form coalition to protect Europe from ballistic missiles

Ukraine and nine other countries have announced a coalition to protect Europe from ballistic missiles, taking advantage of Kyiv’s experience of fighting Russia.

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Sam Neill, the smoothly elegant and versatile actor whose prolific career moved from art films to blockbusters as he dodged velociraptors in "Jurassic Park" and played Holly Hunter's husband in "The Piano," has died. He was 78. https://to.pbs.org/44qXs4I

Actor Sam Neill dies at 78

The smoothly elegant and versatile actor moved from art films to blockbusters, as he dodged velociraptors in “Jurassic Park” and played Holly Hunter’s husband in “The Piano.”

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Like many Washington cities, there’s a duality in @cityoftacoma.bsky.social — opportunities, but also major fiscal challenges — with a new mayor leading the way. Paris Jackson sat down with Mayor Anders Ibsen to learn how his administration plans to navigate moving the city forward.

Mayor Anders Ibsen lays out his vision for Tacoma

Ibsen says utilizing the talent and “grit” of the city will help navigate its pain points.

cascadepbs.org

Anyone can suffer from heat-related illness. https://to.pbs.org/4v9dQBU

How to stay cool and safe in a heat wave, even without air conditioning

Scorching temperatures, especially combined with high humidity, pose risks particularly for children, older people and those with certain health conditions.

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The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said federal officers were looking for someone else when they attempted to stop Salgado Araujo's vehicle. DHS said Salgado Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle and that an officer opened fire in self-defense. https://to.pbs.org/4vkbIHh

What to know about the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said federal officers were looking for someone else when they attempted to stop Salgado Araujo's vehicle.

pbs.org

Results are in from the Washington Youth Survey, including trends in weight control, social media use and gambling.

Survey of WA youth shows reasons for optimism, but challenges remain

This week, we dive into the results of the Washington Youth Survey, including stories about trends in weight control, social media use and gambling.

cascadepbs.org

As Cascade PBS sunsets its digital-first news operation, we take a look back at some of the stories that exemplify its impact on the region over the past 18 years, first as Crosscut and later as the Cascade PBS newsroom.

Remembering Crosscut: 18 years of independent journalism in WA

As Cascade PBS sunsets its digital newsroom, formerly Crosscut, current and former staff members reflect on some of the outlet’s impactful reporting.

cascadepbs.org

From @cascadiadaily.com: Whatcom County Council introduced an amendment to close a legal loophole that left them in the dark about a $225K payout to an employee who accused her manager of sexual harassment and retaliation. The Council said it knew nothing until Cascade PBS broke the story in 2024.

Whatcom Council eyes closing legal loophole that hid $225K payout

A prosecutor’s legal interpretation left the Council in the dark about a sexual harassment settlement, until Cascade PBS’s reporting unearthed the case.

cascadepbs.org

Growing up, Reinaldo Gil Zambrano saw the world—or rather, the walls of his family home—as a canvas. “I was drawing around the house, on all the different walls,” he said of his childhood in Venezuela. It’s quite the origin story for someone who has painted murals across his adopted home of Spokane.

Art by NW: Reinaldo Gil Zambrano carves bold explorations of home

The Venezuela-born, Spokane-based artist makes intricate woodblock prints, and is building printmaking communities both local and global.

cascadepbs.org

The Cascade PBS documentary "Wolf Land" is here - follow the story of a self-described “wolf-protecting cowboy,” Daniel Curry, who rides the line between cultures in search of common ground in his quest to save wolves.

Wolf Land

A cattle rancher and a wolf-protecting cowboy unite to preserve what’s dearest to them.

cascadepbs.org

REI has appointed three new people to fill vacancies on its board of directors. The move comes after members of the Issaquah-based outdoor retail co-op voted to reject the uncontested slate of candidates put forward by the board in its spring election.

REI appoints new board directors after contentious spring election

REI has appointed three new people to fill vacancies on its board of directors. The move comes after members of the Issaquah-based outdoor retail co-op voted to reject the uncontested slate of candida...

cascadepbs.org

From @washingtonstatestandard.com: Medicare enrollees in Washington may soon need to get additional approval before undergoing some procedures under a controversial new federal program. The six-year pilot program will rely on AI to help decide whether certain care is eligible for coverage.

Feds roll out AI pilot program for Medicare reviews in Washington

The program will rely on the technology to help decide if procedures are eligible for coverage, which Sen. Murray called a move “to privatize Medicare.”

cascadepbs.org

A wolf-protecting cowboy and a cattle rancher unite to preserve what’s dearest to each of them. Cascade PBS's WOLF LAND is playing at multiple film festivals this month with a broadcast premiere on Saturday, October 4 at 7 p.m. Tune in live or stream on the Cascade PBS app cascadepbs.org/wolfland

One couple is on a mission to build what they call “self-determined” affordable housing.  Edwin Lindo and Dr. Estell Williams, founders of Estelita’s Library in the Central District, are raising funds for their next endeavor, a nearly $28M project that would bring housing stability to Beacon Hill.

The Newsfeed: Social justice library goes beyond books to housing

The owners of Estelita’s Library are fundraising for their next ambitious endeavor, a nearly $28M affordable-housing development on Beacon Hill.

cascadepbs.org

Artist Melinda Hurst Frye’s essential hiking list includes USB cords, Windex, a paintbrush & a scanner. “They’re not supposed to have spores on them, and they’re definitely not supposed to go outside,” Hurst Frye says of the scanners, which she presses into the earth to grab moody mycelium images.

Art by NW: Melinda Hurst Frye photographs the forest’s understory

The Kenmore-based artist uses flatbed scanners to expose the hidden networks of the Pacific Northwest’s wood wide web.

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