Side hustles become essential as jobs disappear during the pandemic Whether they lost their jobs or the nature of their work changed, these Seattleites are finding creative ways to supplement their income. by Matt M. McKnight & Dorothy Edwards / September 14, 2020
Migrant workers leave WA farms, risking poverty instead of coronavirus Worried about a lack of COVID-19 safety precautions, visiting workers say they are prioritizing their lives in the midst of the pandemic. by Lilly Fowler / September 14, 2020
From WSU to Western, college town businesses are feeling the squeeze Online classes and no college sports spell trouble for small towns that lean on a higher ed economy. by Emily McCarty / September 14, 2020
As WA restaurants struggle, workers weigh physical and economic survival Beyond coronavirus exposure and making rent, service workers are likely coping with long-lasting mental health effects. by Margo Vansynghel / September 14, 2020
Child care was already dysfunctional. COVID-19 could break it completely As Washington state pushes through the pandemic, a shortage of child care options forces parents and providers to make difficult choices. by Melissa Santos / September 14, 2020
A debt crisis looms as renters turn to credit cards to stay afloat Experts worry people may be destroying their credit to make ends meet during the pandemic. by David Kroman / September 14, 2020
Already stigmatized, sex workers have fewer choices in a pandemic For years, sex workers have struggled to find safe work under tighter federal regulations. Coronavirus made that worse. by Manola Secaira / September 14, 2020
Intentional burns, key to preventing megafires, slow to start in WA Even as the consensus for prescribed fires has grown, the number of acres actually burned each year is shrinking. by Levi Pulkkinen InvestigateWest / October 19, 2020
During wildfires, West Coast farmworkers forced to put harvest over health Little is done to protect the workers’ health, and many feel powerless to hold employers accountable. by Mara Kardas-Nelson & Jess Alvarenga & Rosa Amanda Tuirán InvestigateWest / October 6, 2020
Support for The New Normal is provided by Comcast. The New Normal: A pandemic-sized strain on Washington parks The state’s park system has been the ultimate outdoor refuge this year, but crowds, trash and social distancing have caused stress. by Sarah Hoffman / October 5, 2020