Plus: πŸŽ‰ Weekend events | Friday, August 25, 2023
 
Axios Open in app View in browser
 
Presented By Amazon
 
Axios Seattle
By Melissa Santos and Christine Clarridge Β· Aug 25, 2023

It's Friday! Adventure awaits.

Today's weather: Chance of morning showers. Widespread haze. High near 82.

πŸŽ‚ Happy early birthday to our Axios Seattle member Denise Hopkins!

⚠️ Situational awareness: State Route 520 will be closed from 11pm tonight to 5am Monday.

  • Parts of State Route 518 from Burien to the Seattle-Tacoma International airport will also be closed, so officials are advising people to leave extra time if they are headed to the airport.

Today's newsletter is 886 words, a 3.5-minute read.

 
 
1 big thing: New study shows value of letting fires burn
A group of firefighters stand on dry ground with trees in the background, as smoke clouds the view in the distance.

Firefighters gather near the lines of the Taylor Bridge Fire near Cle Elum in 2012. Photo: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

 

A new forecasting tool that simulates the outcomes of various wildfire strategies has been developed by researchers with the University of Washington and the U.S. Forest Service.

Why it matters: Knowing when β€” or whether β€” to let small wildfires burn in uninhabited regions may play an increasing role in wildfire management strategies as officials in Washington grapple with unprecedented fire risks.

Driving the news: The tool, REBURN, simulates large forest landscapes and wildfire dynamics over decades and centuries under various wildfire management strategies.

  • It shows the consequences of allowing certain fires to burn and extinguishing all wildfires regardless of size.
  • Prescribed burning, Indigenous cultural burning and allowing some wildfires to burn under mild conditions can "reshape forest vulnerability to fires, mitigating the severity and smoke of future wildfire events," Susan Prichard, research scientist with the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, told Axios.

Details: In studies published this summer, the REBURN team reported using the tool to analyze a region in north-central Washington where the 2006 Tripod Complex Fire burned.

  • Simulations showed that setting prescribed burns and allowing smaller wildfires to burn yielded more varied and resilient forests over time.
  • Recently burned patches of land also act as natural "fences" or barriers to the spread of fire for at least 5 to 15 years, the study found.

What's next: Prescribed burns are already part of the state Department of Natural Resources' fire management approach as well as a key component of its 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan, department spokesperson Will Rubin told Axios.

  • Additionally, DNR scientists are also studying what wildfire can accomplish when left to burn, he said.
  • Prichard said the REBURN team is working with DNR officials right now to run simulations of ongoing fires near Colville, Prichard said.

Go deeper

Share on Facebook Tweet this Story Post to LinkedIn Email this Story
 
 
2. State isn't rushing to redraw districts
Animated illustration of Washington state with red and blue districts in it changing shape.

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

 

It's been more than two weeks since a federal judge ruled that Washington state must redraw one of its legislative districts in the Yakima Valley. But so far, no one is breaking out their pencils to draw a new map.

What's happening: Legislative leaders haven't agreed to meet in a special overtime session to reconvene the state redistricting commission, the body that originally drew the maps in 2021. And it's not clear they have the votes to do so, despite the court's order.

Catch up quick: In his Aug. 10 decision, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik ruled that Washington's newly drawn 15th Legislative District β€” which stretches from Yakima to Pasco β€” denies Hispanic voters equal opportunity to elect their preferred candidates, violating the U.S. Voting Rights Act.

  • Lasnik said the state could either reconvene the redistricting commission, a process that would require a vote of the Legislature, or leave it to the court to decide on a new legislative map.
  • The Jan. 8 deadline Lasnik set for a progress report means the Legislature would have to meet in special session to start the process, as the part-time body isn't scheduled to convene before then.

Between the lines: Even if Gov. Jay Inslee did call the Legislature into an emergency session, two-thirds of lawmakers would need to agree to reconvene the redistricting commission to draw new maps.

  • That's a high bar to meet and would require agreement from majority Democrats and minority Republicans.

What they're saying: "At this point it remains unclear whether the Legislature would have the 2/3 vote in each chamber necessary to reconvene the Redistricting Commission," Mike Faulk, a spokesperson for Inslee, wrote in an email to Axios.

What's next If the Legislature doesn't act, the court is expected to take over the process starting in mid to late January.

Full story

Share on Facebook Tweet this Story Post to LinkedIn Email this Story
 
 
3. Morning Buzz: Waterfront makeover
Illustration of Bigfoot peeking out from behind the Axios A logol

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

 

🏞️ A $45 million public-private partnership will connect and improve parks along Seattle's waterfront. The project, whose investors include Melinda French Gates, MacKenzie Scott and Expedia, is designed to be complete by the time Seattle hosts the World Cup in 2026. (GeekWire)

T-Mobile, which is based in Bellevue, announced yesterday it will lay off about 5,000 employees in the coming weeks. That's about 7% of its workforce. (KING 5)

Share on Facebook Tweet this Story Post to LinkedIn Email this Story
 
 

A message from Amazon

Amazon donates and delivers 1.6M meals and counting around Puget Sound
 
 

The company is working with local partners to deliver meals to families in need.

The impact: β€œNot only has Amazon helped fill the gap in our normal operations,” said Aaron Smith, Director of Seattle Public Schools Nutrition Services, β€œthey’ve done it with passion and dedication.”

Learn more.

 
 
4. Things to do this weekend
Illustration of a restaurant check with the word

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

 

πŸ“š Get nostalgic for back-to-school season with 10 school-themed movies screened by the Seattle International Film Festival. This weekend, they're playing "School of Rock," "Mean Girls," "Bring it On," "Heathers," "Legally Blonde" and "The Breakfast Club." The film series continues at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian through Aug. 31.

πŸŽ‚ Celebrate the Seattle Art Museum's 90th birthday with a party at the Olympic Sculpture Park. The 21+ SAM Remix event includes live music, light and sound installations, and art making. 8pm to midnight tonight. Tickets are $50.

🎭 Laugh along with "Titanish," a play spoofing the 1997 movie "Titanic," which is showing at the Seattle Public Theater on the north shore of Green Lake through Sept. 17. Evening showtimes today and tomorrow with matinees on Sunday β€” although the cheapest seats are no longer available.

🎢 Check out Tibet Fest, which will feature dancing and music celebrating Tibetan culture. 11am-6pm tomorrow and Sunday at the Seattle Center Armory.

🎡 Catch some live music, browse an art walk and sample food trucks at the Chinatown-International District Block Party. 3-9pm tomorrow at 900 S. King Street. Free.

🍿 Take in a $4 movie as part of National Cinema Day on Sunday. All Regal and AMC theaters are participating, as are many others around town, The Seattle Times reports.

Pass it on

Share on Facebook Tweet this Story Post to LinkedIn Email this Story
 
A message from Amazon
Nearly 50% of Amazon’s housing equity investments have gone to minority-led developers and nonprofits.
 

A message from Amazon

Amazon is committed to building a stronger Puget Sound
 
 

Amazon has

  • Donated $78M to local nonprofits in 2022.
  • Committed to investing $500M in equitable housing.
  • Delivered 1.6M meals to families in need.

The results: A 2023 Seattle Times poll found most residents think Amazon has improved life in the city.

Explore its ongoing efforts.

 

πŸ• Melissa is planning to check out Moto Pizza's new location in Belltown, which just opened.

πŸ… Clarridge is enjoying delicious, fresh-off-the-vine tomatoes.

This newsletter was edited by Rachel La Corte and copy edited by James Farrell.

HQ
Want to help Axios Seattle grow? Become a member.
Support your local newsroom and gain access to exclusive insights from reporters, event invitations and more!
 

Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters.
Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content.
Advertise with us.

Axios, PO Box 101060, Arlington VA 22201
 
Like what you see?
Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.
 

Follow Axios on social media:

Axios on Facebook Axios on Twitter Axios on Instagram