Most popular news on MyNorthwest in 2020
Dec 9, 2020, 10:46 AM | Updated: Dec 31, 2020, 12:55 pm
Gov. Inslee shared an update on the state's response to COVID-19 on Aug. 20, 2020. He wore a Mariners mask in honor of late U.S. Senator Slade Gorton, who passed away the day before. (TVW)
(TVW)
As would be expected, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions dominated headlines throughout 2020. The other big local stories were Seattle’s CHOP, protests for racial justice, late summer wildfires, and the presence of Asian giant hornets in Washington state.
1. Gov. Inslee issues ‘stay at home’ proclamation for Washington state
On March 23, Gov. Inslee signed a statewide proclamation for all Washingtonians to stay at home for the next two weeks and all businesses except “essential businesses” to close in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Read more.
2. A look inside Seattle’s newly-formed ‘Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone’
After police left Seattle’s East Precinct, what became known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) and later the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) took shape. Read more.
3. State superintendent says school closures likely to fall and beyond
In early March, state superintendent Chris Reykdal told the Dori Monson Show on KIRO Radio that remote learning was likely to extend into the fall and beyond. Read more.
4. Mossyrock, WA passes ordinance allowing businesses to stay open
The town of Mossyrock, Wash., passed an ordinance allowing businesses to stay open in defiance of Gov. Inslee’s updated COVID-19 mandates in November. Read more.
5. Expert: Washington could need ‘complete lockdown’ to fully stop coronavirus
Epidemiologist Dr. Eric Ding told KIRO Radio’s Gee & Ursula Show that if Washington state truly wanted to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a “complete and almost draconian lockdown” may be the best solution. Read more.
6. PETA’s president says you’re walking your dog wrong
We’d all like to think of ourselves as being kind to our dogs and cats, but are we really? Early in 2020, KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross consulted with Ingrid Newkirk, the president and founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Read more.
7. WA restaurant defies Inslee’s shutdown orders, calling it a ‘peaceful protest’
Some business owners in Washington state have been upset with the mandates from the governor and what they see as a double standard of allowing protests to happen while small businesses must close. One restaurant in Kennewick, Wash., remained open during the shutdown, calling it a “peaceful protest.” Read more.
8. State tracks live Asian giant hornet, getting closer to finding first nest
After a live Asian giant hornet was captured east of Blaine, scientists were able to attach a tracker and follow its movements. They did eventually find a nest and were able to eradicate it. Read more.
9. Wildfires burn through 330,000 acres in Washington in 24 hours
Several wildfires burned through the state of Washington late in the summer, driven primarily by high winds and hot, dry weather. High, easterly winds then pushed smoke from these fires west toward the Puget Sound area, which affected the air quality in many cities across the region. Read more.
10. Mayor urges compassion, kindness to make Seattle whole again
At the end of May, after hours of peaceful demonstrations in Seattle following the death of George Floyd, chaos broke out downtown after some people set fires, broke into stores, and looted merchandise. Read more.
