The PM Newsdesk Minutes: Monkeypox spreads in WA while gas prices fall

The KIRO NewsRadio newsdesk brings you their top stories on the afternoon of Friday, July 22.

The AM Newsdesk Minutes: Congress acts to protect against another Jan 6, first insider crypto suit

80 cases of Monkeypox in Washington state

There are now more than 80 cases of Monkeypox in Washington State. Most of them, 76, are in King County.

There is a vaccine available in our state, but Chief Odood tells KIRO Newsradio that his clinic — at Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center — doesn’t have the shots, just yet.

Although gay men are believed to be the most at-risk from the virus right now, Odood says the danger will spread as the virus does.

Gas prices start to fall in the Seattle area

As of July 18, gas prices in the Seattle region had dropped 7% to $5.26 a gallon, compared to $5.65-per-gallon last month, according to Federal Energy Information Administration data analyzed by the Seattle Times.

The American Automobile Association says less demand and falling global oil prices are the reason for the steady decline, with the cost of a barrel of crude running in the mid-90s right now compared to approximately $110 just a couple of weeks ago.

Wahkiakum County in Southwest Washington and the remote San Juan Islands reported the highest gas prices, followed by King County, while Skagit, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties were likely the best chance to find better prices, according to GasBuddy.com, which reported the best chance for a deal on gas in King County would likely be at Costco.

Why is the King County Prosecutor’s race not on the primary ballot?

If you don’t see the race for King County Prosecutor on your primary election ballot, we’re told there’s a simple explanation for it.

King County Elections tells KIRO Newsradio it’s because of a relatively new state law for non-partisan races.

There are only two candidates for King County Prosecutor.

If there are two or fewer candidates for a nonpartisan position, the law makes it so the race will only appear on the November election ballot.

In partisan races, the candidates appear on both the primary and general election ballots.

Stayman Flats fire contained

The Stayman Flats fire outside of Chelan is now one-hundred-percent contained.

The fire grew to about two square miles but did not cause any damage to structures. People in the area were evacuated earlier this week, but have since been allowed to return.

The State Department of Natural Resources says local fire crews will handle it from here, unless conditions change.

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