Northwest News Network

Gov. Jay Inslee speaks at a news conference following the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Democratic state Sen. Sam Hunt of Olympia is pictured in the background.

Politics

Washington state Democrats look to strengthen abortion protections

Austin Jenkins

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee and fellow abortion rights supporters are looking for ways to double down on Washington state's protections for abortion rights. But unlike California, they do not have a supermajority in the legislature. What else might state Democrats do to solidify abortion rights in Washington?

This latest iteration of Amazon's package delivery drones will be used to drop off packages in customers' backyards.

Business

Amazon drone deliveries nearly ready for prime time with Oregon crashes in rear-view mirror

Tom Banse

Amazon made news this month by announcing it will start package deliveries by aerial drone to real customers in a northern California town. In the run up to the U.S. debut, the company conducted extensive flight tests in Eastern Oregon, where it experienced a spate of crashes. Amazon said Monday the upcoming rollout of commercial drone delivery signifies the refined technology is safe and no longer experimental.

The strange underground economy of tree poaching

Greg Rosalsky

A new book dives deep into the fascinating criminal world of tree theft and efforts to combat it.

Cockroaches that ate Apollo 11's moon dust are up for sale. NASA ain't happy about it

Elissa Nadworny

NASA is trying to prevent an auction house from selling an unusual mixture of space memorabilia.

Oregon man breaks the record for fastest time alphabetizing alphabet soup

Jacob Chandler successfully arranged letters "A" through "Z" in 2 minutes and 8.6 seconds. Chandler says he was inspired to take on the challenge to show his son that anything is possible.

A Burmese python sits in the grass at Everglades Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2019. A yearly competition will begin in August for people to hunt and kill the invasive species.

Want to hunt pythons in Florida this summer? This professional has tips

Jaclyn Diaz

Registration has opened for Florida's annual python hunting challenge. The competition is not for the faint of heart.

Despite what the internet may think, this 7-Eleven in Chicago is not selling gas for $7.11.

No, this 7-Eleven isn't charging $7.11 for gas, even if the internet says so

Fernando Alfonso III

A viral image of a 7-Eleven charging $7.11 was taken in 2021, and doesn't reflect the current state of gas prices in the U.S.

Mason County Auditor Paddy McGuire, left, faces Republican challenger Steven Duenkel this year. Duenkel is running on an 'election integrity' platform.

Government

Vote fraud conspiracy theories driving some candidates for elections offices in WA, elsewhere

Jim Brunner of The Seattle Times and audio by Austin Jenkins of NW News Network

Across the country, backers of former President Donald Trump are making election integrity a campaign issue. So far, that issue has not dominated Washington’s election for secretary of state — the state’s top election official position. But mistrust in voting systems is an issue in some local races this year.

Orick, California, is the gateway to Redwood National and State Parks.

The tale of a distressed American town on the doorstep of a natural paradise

Greg Rosalsky

The town of Orick sits just steps away from Redwood National Park. It has prime real estate for recreation and tourism, so why are its motels and restaurants shuttered and its residents impoverished?

Ikea provides yet another service to the world: a catalog of baby names

Danielle Kurtzleben

IKEA Norway released a list of 800 names of its products that parents may wish to use to name their children. It comes in the midst of a pandemic baby boom in Nordic countries.