Environment Seattle’s canopy shrinks as ordinance protects the wrong trees Since 2023, the city has classified more than 2,000 trees as “protected” — without regard to whether they ever were threatened by development. by Robert McClure / InvestigateWest / February 3, 2025
Environment Lessons from a year of reporting on climate solutions in the PNW 11 steps Washington, Oregon and British Columbia can take to decarbonize the economy. by Robert McClure & Peter Fairley InvestigateWest / December 15, 2021
Environment How Cascadia’s climate activists fought off fossil fuels and succeeded During a decade when the region’s governments flouted their carbon emissions goals, activists who came together to stop exports surpassed their wildest expectations. by Robert McClure InvestigateWest / January 18, 2021
Environment How COVID reshaped Seattle, season by season Disaster researchers take a Prius-eye view of how COVID-19 is changing the city. by Jane C. Hu High Country News / December 21, 2020
News Wilderness rescuers face a busy winter complicated by COVID The pandemic has driven an increase in outdoor activity and rescues, while limiting training and volunteer opportunities. by Jane C. Hu High Country News / November 16, 2020
Environment Six months, 18,000 meals: Feeding Seattle’s frontline workers Ellen Kuwana's We Got This Seattle keeps employees at grocery stores, homeless shelters and fire stations fed as they battle the pandemic. by Jane C. Hu High Country News / September 4, 2020
News Pandemic pushes WA foster care group homes into lose-lose dilemmas With one group home losing a state contract after turning away infected youth, operators at other homes fear state retaliation. by Rachel Nielsen & Robert McClure InvestigateWest / August 14, 2020 / Updated at 5:53 p.m. Aug. 14
Environment Coronavirus cuts off a Washington border town from two countries Point Roberts residents used to cross through Canadian land daily. When the pandemic caused the border to close, they found themselves stranded. by Jane C. Hu High Country News / August 11, 2020
Environment COVID-19 and wildfire smoke are a deadly combo for Seattle With smoke shelters shuttered, public health officials worry thousands could suffer from unhealthy air. by Jane C. Hu High Country News / July 29, 2020
Equity When a Washington woman fought tribal disenrollment, she became a target How a burglary, social media and politics led to the bullying of a Nooksack Tribal councilwoman out of office. by Jane C. Hu High Country News / February 6, 2020