Environment Nick on the Rocks: The mystery of Waterville's basalt boulders Just north of Withrow, WA, pancake-flat fields are dotted with massive rocks that help us visualize an Ice Age glacier. by Shannen Ortale / January 26, 2024
Nick on the Rocks The mystery of Waterville’s basalt boulders Just north of Withrow, Wash., pancake-flat fields are dotted with massive rocks that help us visualize an Ice Age glacier. Special thanks to Central Washington University as the original creator and collaborator for Nick on the Rocks. January 26, 2024
Indigenous Affairs WA’s energy ‘green rush’ could endanger cultural Indigenous lands As developers propose solar and wind projects across Washington, gaps in the permitting process threaten culturally significant tribal sites. by B. "Toastie" Oaster High Country News + ProPublica / January 26, 2024
Investigations Legislators are shaping their staff’s collective bargaining rights But workers it would affect can’t weigh in. Ethics rules prevent them from lobbying on bills — even ones that would define their ability to unionize. by Lizz Giordano / January 24, 2024
Politics Seattle City Council appoints Tanya Woo to fill District 8 seat Woo initially ran for the District 2 seat, backed by Chinatown-International District leaders and big businesses. by Josh Cohen / January 23, 2024 / Updated: Jan 23, 4:55 p.m.
News Crosscut Now: WSU teaches the future of health care in Eastern WA With a shortage of doctors east of the Cascades, the school is training the next generation of providers in hopes they’ll practice in state long-term. by Paris Jackson / January 25, 2024
Politics For most Washington voters, the governor’s race is just beginning Just 24% of poll respondents said they’ve decided on a candidate. Last time the seat was open, half of voters knew who they were supporting by January. by H. Stuart Elway / January 23, 2024 / Updated at 11:38 a.m. on Jan. 23
News Podcast | Central WA may have new districts by the fall election Reporter Mai Hoang talks about the ongoing fight to redraw majority-Latino legislative districts between Yakima and Pasco. by Maleeha Syed / January 24, 2024
Author B. "Toastie" Oaster B. “Toastie” Oaster (they/them) is an award-winning journalist and a staff writer for High Country News writing from the Pacific Northwest. They’re a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Email them at b.toastie@hcn.org or submit a letter to the editor. See our letters to the editor policy. Follow @toastie@journa.host
Environment Nick on the Rocks: Why Mount Shuksan is made of sea green stone Greenschist gets its tint from minerals compressed under the ocean long ago. Now it caps an entire mountaintop in the North Cascades. Special thanks to Central Washington University as the original... by Shannen Ortale / January 5, 2024