Tacoma

The Kalakala still floats, for now, plus Seattle's plywood "space shuttle," demolition fight in Spokane, and other preservation news.

Heritage Turkeys of the year

Posted Mon, Jan 9, 2 a.m.

Who did most to raze, wreck, uproot, neglect, and generally trash our historic treasures in 2011? The envelopes, please...

Best of 2011: Where there's smoke, there's sickness

Posted Fri, Dec 30, 2 a.m.

By Robert McClure/InvestigateWest and Katie Campbell/ KCTS Earthfix

In Washington wood smoke is now a leading cause of air pollution, leaving residents of Tacoma and other highly-polluted areas, literally, gasping for air.

Where there's smoke, there's sickness

Posted Fri, Dec 16, 2 a.m.

By Robert McClure/InvestigateWest and Katie Campbell/ KCTS Earthfix

In Washington wood smoke is now a leading cause of air pollution, leaving residents of Tacoma and other highly-polluted areas, literally, gasping for air.

Japanese lessons on the art of economic rebounding

Posted Tue, Oct 25, 2 a.m.

By Bill Stafford

The country struggles to recover from its lost decade and the earthquake. The Seattle economy is quite dependent on Japan, and we have lessons to learn from their strategic approaches.

The Cascadia conundrum: Balkanized transportation

Posted Tue, Oct 4, 2 a.m.

Puget Sound is a poster child for the problems of regional transportation planning. One big roadblock: long-standing distrust of Seattle.

Feisty Tacoma and compliant King County face off with a billboard powerhouse

Posted Fri, Sep 23, 2 a.m.

By Eric Scigliano

The county prepares to welcome fast-shuffling, TV-style digital billboards. But Tacoma tells Clear Channel to take a hike and turn out the lights.

The 100-year-old model for the Port of Seattle still makes good political sense

Posted Thu, Sep 15, noon

By Michael Moore

A veteran observer of ports around the country argues that elected port commissioners, as in Seattle and Tacoma, are far preferable to ports that must serve the wishes of mayors or other politicians.

How a South Korean trade pact would impact the Northwest

Posted Thu, Sep 1, 2 a.m.

By Dick Nelson

The free-trade agreement is getting close, though the politics is still divisive. Here's a look at how strong are the trade bonds between the Northwest and this Asian tiger, and it's far more than jetliners.

Seattle and the great sorting of our households

Posted Mon, Aug 29, 2 a.m.

New data about our region show where the families and singles are concentrating, how gentrification is affecting Seattle, and what kind of households are in dense, job-rich areas.

Surprising tactics won the vote for Washington women

Posted Thu, Jul 21, 2 p.m.

By Judy Lightfoot

A recent UW Press book tells how Emma Smith DeVoe, a brilliant community organizer long before the practice became an industry, parlayed traditional feminine values into new political power.

Do we really want more flashy digital billboards?

Posted Tue, Jun 28, 2 a.m.

By Eric Scigliano

King County and the city of Tacoma are considering whether to allow bright, image-flipping electronic billboards recalling those seen along I-5 near Fife in Pierce County. Critics, including some suburban cities, are fighting the idea of "billboards on amphetamines."

Will the last family leaving Seattle please turn out the lights?

Posted Mon, Jun 13, 1:34 p.m.

Updated with additional maps. New data show how Seattle is changing in fundamental ways. It has become a haven for singles, for young people (but not children), and for renters. Married couples with children, the historic norm, now make up only 13% of Seattle households.

The missing presence in M's press box

Posted Mon, Jun 13, 12:30 p.m.

By Mike Henderson

A veteran broadcaster was the press-box favorite, and he influenced sports and public life in Tacoma and Pierce County.

Rockwell exhibit: Like roaming the family attic

Posted Thu, May 5, 2 a.m.

By Jean Lenihan

The Tacoma Art Museum is showing a comprehensive traveling collection of Norman Rockwell's work through the end of May, detailing his process and showcasing more somber works alongside his iconic, upbeat Americana.

Seattle is shedding diversity; the state's minority populations grow

Posted Fri, Apr 29, 2 a.m.

While larger trends have made the city become whiter, other parts of the central Puget Sound region have become genuinely diverse. Seattle now ranks 40th statewide in diversity.

Blowing the whistle on plans to shift Amtrak's route south of Tacoma

Posted Wed, Apr 20, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

The state wants to move Amtrak's Cascades trains inland south of Tacoma, routing them through Lakewood. But the cars would roll through at 79 miles an hour, raising concerns about safety and noise.

Growth in the past decade: winners and losers

Posted Thu, Mar 17, 11:45 a.m.

The state is growing vigorously, all across the landscape. Hopes of urban concentration are not being realized, with some exceptions.

Lessons from infamy: maintaining Seattle's memory of Chinese expulsion

Posted Sat, Feb 19, 2 a.m.

By Collin Tong

Some 125 years ago, Seattle and Tacoma erupted in an outburst of lawless, violent racism directed at immigrants.

Heritage equals jobs

Posted Thu, Jan 20, 2 a.m.

That was the message down in Olympia as heritage groups caucus to keep their programs alive and prove their worth.

Tacoma Blog posts

Cantwell pushes a new bill to boost low-income housing and jobs

Posted Tue, Aug 30, 3:20 p.m. 2011

by Judy Lightfoot

Washington Low Income Housing Alliance hosted Sen. Cantwell and affordable housing advocates at a forum in the impressively renovated Salishan neighborhood. Cantwell said her bill supports a "win-win-win" federal strategy.

Remembering Julie Anderson, doyenne of Seattle arts

Posted Mon, Jul 18, 6 a.m. 2011

by David Brewster

A daughter-in-law pays tribute to a beloved mainstay of good causes and the arts in Seattle.

Sounding the alarm for Tacoma's City Hall and our own Alcatraz

Posted Tue, May 24, 2 a.m. 2011

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation releases its 2011 annual "Most Endangered" list.

Clough luck at the Smithsonian

Posted Sun, Apr 3, 4:40 p.m. 2011

by David Brewster

Tracing the Seattle and Tacoma connections in the latest flap at the Smithsonian, with a delicious surprise ending.

Play ball? Not yet? Well, read all about Seattle Rainiers baseball history

Posted Mon, Mar 28, 2:45 p.m. 2011

by Mike Henderson

The book is out on the beloved minor league franchise. It's a good baseball fix while we wait for the Mariners and Tacoma Rainiers's seasons to start.

Saga of the 'Silver Slug'

Posted Tue, Mar 29, 2 a.m. 2011

The near-sinking of the Kalakala raises alarm over the historic ferry's fate.

Re-naming Cascades peaks

Posted Mon, Apr 4, 2 a.m. 2011

William O. Douglas thought it was silly to have big mountains named for people who'd never set foot here. Something to ponder when looking at "Rainier."

Population trends and shifting legislative districts

Posted Sun, Mar 13, 8 a.m. 2011

by Dick Morrill

Two ways to locate the "center" of the state, and some of the legislative districts that will have to expand or lose girth.

Crosscut Tout: A lively Italian piano-percussion trio joins with NW Sinfonietta

Posted Wed, Mar 9, 12:15 p.m. 2011

by Ronald Holden

The program features Ravel, Stravinsky, and music from 'West Side Story.' Take your pick from three performances this weekend (March 11-13) in Seattle, Tacoma, and Puyallup.

Mark Twain: A vision for Portland's leadership on bicycling

Posted Wed, Aug 11, noon 2010