Aaron Kunkler

  • 338 Stories
  • Page 1 of 17
In this 2019 file photo, Puget Sound Energy product development manager John Dooley stands in front of one of four units at the Glacier Battery Storage Project in northwest Washington state. (Sound Publishing file photo)

Washington state utility moratorium receives final extension

A final extension of the Washington state utility moratorium was announced last week, meaning the ban on shut-offs will expire on Sept. 30. A press… Continue reading

 

A screenshot of Puget Sound Energy's outage map at around 3 p.m. on June 28. At the time, some 12,300 customers across Western Washington were without power.

Nearly 12,300 PSE customers are without power today

Thousands of people in Western Washington have lost power over the weekend, as power demand spiked during a historic heat wave. As of Monday afternoon,… Continue reading

 

Screenshot of https://wolf-pac.com/

Grassroots movement targets dark money in politics

Washington state chapter of Wolf-PAC supports Article V constitutional convention.

 

Freshwater variety of kokanee salmon from Lake Sammamish. File photo

Researchers track ‘mysterious’ kokanee salmon in region

Kokanee in Lake Washington and Sammamish are genetically unique. Over the past decades, their numbers have dwindled.

Freshwater variety of kokanee salmon from Lake Sammamish. File photo
Entrance to the Tukwila Library branch of the King County Library System. File photo Tags

King County libraries move to Phase 4 this month

Libraries across King County will advance to Phase 4 on June 30, and all remaining library buildings will be open by July 13. After the… Continue reading

Entrance to the Tukwila Library branch of the King County Library System. File photo Tags
Eurasian watermilfoil. Courtesy of kingcounty.gov

Invasive milfoil plant may be linked to dwindling salmon population in Lake Sammamish

Those thick mats of vegetation floating just below the surface of Lake Sammamish are more than a nuisance to boaters and a danger to swimmers… Continue reading

Eurasian watermilfoil. Courtesy of kingcounty.gov
A plane drops fire retardant on the Palmer Mountain Fire last summer in north-central Washington. Laura Knowlton/Sound Publishing staff photo

Washington can expect a warmer, drier summer – and more wildfires

The threat of wildfires in much of Washington state is expected to be above average this summer as hot and dry conditions are predicted through… Continue reading

A plane drops fire retardant on the Palmer Mountain Fire last summer in north-central Washington. Laura Knowlton/Sound Publishing staff photo
Flames attack the hillside in Bonney Lake on Sept. 8, 2020. (East Pierce Fire & Rescue photo)

WA firefighters brace for potentially busy weekend

Washington state Department of Natural Resources firefighters were preparing for what could have been a busy Memorial Day weekend after a record number of wildfires… Continue reading

Flames attack the hillside in Bonney Lake on Sept. 8, 2020. (East Pierce Fire & Rescue photo)
Jeff Duchin, Seattle - King County Public Health officer, said when considering whether to wear a mask indoors in public spaces, people should understand their risk based on local coronavirus activity and make decisions based on their own risk tolerance. (Getty images)
King County

Should you keep masking up if you’re vaccinated?

Think about it, says King County’s top doctor.

Jeff Duchin, Seattle - King County Public Health officer, said when considering whether to wear a mask indoors in public spaces, people should understand their risk based on local coronavirus activity and make decisions based on their own risk tolerance. (Getty images)
Sound Publishing file photo Remi Frederick, a Village Green employee, receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Jan. 26 in Federal Way.

County health officer looks to community immunity instead of herd immunity

Herd immunity may be unlikely to reach King County anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean that people living in the county won’t be able to… Continue reading

Sound Publishing file photo Remi Frederick, a Village Green employee, receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Jan. 26 in Federal Way.
Remi Frederick, a Village Green employee receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Jan. 26 in Federal Way. Olivia Sullivan/Sound Publishing
Week of May 2

King County positive COVID cases are beginning to fall

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in King County is beginning to fall after a fourth wave began in March. As of May 4, there… Continue reading

Remi Frederick, a Village Green employee receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Jan. 26 in Federal Way. Olivia Sullivan/Sound Publishing
Washington state case count since March 2020. WA Governor's Office

Pandemic pause: King County remains in Phase 3

No Washington state counties will be rolling back their phase under the state’s Roadmap to Recovery plan following an announcement on May 4 by Gov.… Continue reading

Washington state case count since March 2020. WA Governor's Office
Courtesy of Washington Military Department

Washington gets mobile earthquake alerts

Washington state will have its own earthquake early warning system on May 4 when ShakeAlert goes live, which could give residents precious seconds to prepare… Continue reading

Courtesy of Washington Military Department
File photo A gray wolf.

Wolf population continues to make a comeback in Washington

The number of wolves in Washington state increased by 22%, marking the 12th year in a row the wolf population has grown, according to a… Continue reading

File photo A gray wolf.
The state must reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10% below 2017 levels by 2028. By 2035, emissions must be below 20% of 2017 levels. The clean fuels program is scheduled to begin by Jan 1, 2023, provided the Legislature passes a transportation-spending package by then. File photo

State lawmakers approve key climate and environmental legislation

Bills target clean fuel standards and carbon emissions.

The state must reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10% below 2017 levels by 2028. By 2035, emissions must be below 20% of 2017 levels. The clean fuels program is scheduled to begin by Jan 1, 2023, provided the Legislature passes a transportation-spending package by then. File photo
File photo

All fireworks will be illegal in unincorporated King County in 2022

Fireworks will be illegal in unincorporated parts of King County starting in 2022 after the King County Council approved a ban on April 27 with… Continue reading

File photo
Hamed Shirzad runs Shirzad Jewelry in Kirkland and recently completed an exhibit for the Bellevue Arts Museum, showcasing traditional Persian jewelry. Contributed by Hamed Shirzad

Kirkland’s Hamed Shirzad’s stunning Persian jewelry exhibit debuts at Bellevue Arts Museum

After a decade of work on his labor of love, Kirkland’s Hamed Shirzad has finished a set of Persian jewelry which will soon be on… Continue reading

Hamed Shirzad runs Shirzad Jewelry in Kirkland and recently completed an exhibit for the Bellevue Arts Museum, showcasing traditional Persian jewelry. Contributed by Hamed Shirzad
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Salmon update: King County wants cleaner water, more habitat

Salmon and orcas are in the spotlight once again as King County unveils a new strategic plan to rework its approach to protecting water quality… Continue reading

Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Help wanted sign in the window. File photo

State releases February unemployment data

February unemployment in King County sat at 5.3%, which marked a decrease from the prior month, but was still double that when compared to February… Continue reading

Help wanted sign in the window. File photo
Courtesy image

Judge orders Issaquah School District to pay for violating disabilities education act

Issaquah School District was ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for failing to provide adequate education to a special education student. The complaint… Continue reading

Courtesy image