Bellamy Pailthorp

Burgess exits Seattle mayoral race

Bellamy Pailthorp and The Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:30:36 +0000

Seattle City Council member Tim Burgess has bowed out of the mayoral race.

Burgess said recent polling showed his campaign lacked the sparkle he needed to win, and he posed a risk of splintering the vote in the crowded race.

Inslee issues greenest-yet budget pledge for Climate Solutions

Bellamy Pailthorp — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:01:47 +0000

As the special legislative session gets underway in Olympia, Gov. Jay Inslee says some of the most important parts of his two-year budget proposal are investments in clean energy.

During a fundraiser for the nonprofit group Climate Solutions on Monday, the governor said he is pushing for a state budget that includes funds to start a new research center at the University of Washington.

Greening up historic buildings: Seattle’s Town Hall as case study

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:59:05 +0000

Seattle has been in the spotlight lately as the home to the world’s greenest new office building, the Bullitt Center. Also under construction is the headquarters of Brooks Sports in Fremont, which promises to be “deep green.”

But what about all the buildings that are already standing?

Pebble Mine opponents put value of Bristol Bay fishery at $1.5 billion

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:04:09 +0000

Though it’s thousands of miles away, a proposed mine for gold and copper in Alaska’s Bristol Bay threatens to destroy the livelihood of thousands of people in the Puget Sound area.

Seattle’s fleet of commercial fishermen and seafood processors have been a big part of the opposition to the so-called Pebble Mine.

A new economic report puts the value of Bristol Bay’s salmon at $1.5 billion per year, and says more than a quarter of the jobs it generates are located in Washington state.

'Slow Flowers': Seattle author's case for sustainably-grown flowers

Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:01:00 +0000

Like many other holidays, Mother’s Day has become quite commercialized. Along with a Hallmark card often comes a perfect-looking bouquet of flowers that have traveled thousands of miles to get to your front door.

But for those who long for flowers with a local tie and fewer pesticides, there are other options.

Canceled open house latest effect of sequester on parks, science

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:53:47 +0000

A much-loved open house at the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver did not take place over the weekend. The center is run by the U.S. Geological Survey, which had to cancel the program due to the federal budget sequestration.

Snapshots: Why people marched on May Day

Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 02 May 2013 04:53:41 +0000

Thousands of people gathered in Seattle for the May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights. So we asked some of them: What inspired you to march?

You can also view their photos and answers on our Pinterest page.

No show of violence as thousands gather for May Day rally, march

Martha Kang, Ashley Gross, Bellamy Pailthorp, Gabriel Spitzer and Paula Wissel — Thu, 02 May 2013 02:00:50 +0000

A planned rally and march for workers and immigration reform progressed without interruptions by anarchists Wednesday, easing fears of another violent May Day.

Thousands of people gathered at Judkins Park, behind St. Mary's Church, for the Rally for Workers and Immigrant Rights at 1 p.m. Several unions were present, as were some representatives of the Occupy movement. Many people were displaying the flags of U.S. and Mexico, as well as signs urging comprehensive immigration reform.

With boating season comes risk of cold water shock

Bellamy Pailthorp — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:44:38 +0000

Boating season opens this weekend and the weather forecast predicts mostly clear skies and temperatures in the upper 70s.

The warming temperatures have authorities concerned about water safety and the potential for deadly drowning incidents. Last year, 32 people died from drowning, and more than a third of them in the spring.

Wade Alonzo with the State Parks Boating Safety Program says Washington certainly sees cold water, even when the weather is fair.

Want to be green? Have your groceries delivered

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:14:15 +0000

Having your groceries delivered might seem like a self-indulgent luxury.

But researchers at the University of Washington have found that, most of the time, you can feel good about doing something for the environment when you order your groceries online and have them delivered instead of making a trip to the store.

“We like to call it 'the bus for groceries,'” said Anne Goodchild, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at UW.

How much fish is healthy? Wash. tribes push for updated standard

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:41:07 +0000

How much fish should you eat? The state Department of Health recommends two meals of fish a week. But the Department of Ecology assumes people eat far less, about the equivalent of one meal per month.

That’s because it uses those assumptions to calculate how much water pollution can be legally allowed in Washington—pollution that ends up in the fish we eat.

Tacoma City Council favors Hilltop area for light rail extension

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:01:00 +0000

Tacoma is on the brink of more than doubling the length of its Sound Transit Link Light Rail line.

Under a plan just recommended by the Tacoma City Council, the current starter line between the Tacoma Dome and the city's downtown would extend north into the Hilltop neighborhood.

4/20 a special day for pot fans

Bellamy Pailthorp — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 03:01:00 +0000

Fans of recreational marijuana are expected to light up in record numbers Saturday. That’s because the date—April 20 or 4/20—is also slang for the time of day when many pot-users like to get high.

Micro-housing boom has some Seattle neighborhoods up in arms

Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:48:28 +0000

New buildings packed with dorm-like rooms for rent have been popping up in Seattle’s densest neighborhoods.

A grey area in the law is allowing these so-called “micro-housing” projects to go up without neighborhood comment. A brown-bag discussion on the issue of takes place at City Hall today.

Seattle, King County to spend $1.5 billion on wastewater upgrades

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:35:09 +0000

The city of Seattle and King County will spend $1.46 billion on upgrades to public sewer systems aimed at reducing the amount of polluted water entering the Puget Sound and other waterways, according to a federal settlement filed under the Clean Water Act.

Under the agreement, the city and county will also pay $750,000 in fines for dumping raw sewage into the Sound and several lakes.