WASHINGTON, USA —
Heat Advisory in effect this weekend
Western Washington is under a Heat Advisory this weekend with temperatures expected to reach into at least the mid-80s as wildfire smoke lingers in the air.
The Heat Advisory is in effect from noon Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday for areas as far north as the Canadian border, south to Lewis County, along the Cascade foothills, as well as Kitsap County and the South Sound.
According to KING 5's meteorologists, highs will mostly be in the low to mid-80s. However, they could reach into the upper 80s and low 90s in the South Sound.
The National Weather Service warns that hot temperatures will increase the risk of heat-related illnesses for those sensitive to the heat, especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.
To compound the issue, the Department of Ecology is forecasting much of western Washington's air quality to be in the "moderate" category Saturday, Aug. 26. It will improve Sunday, Aug. 27 for much of the region except around Puget Sound and north to the Canadian border. Read more
Over the next few months, Puget Sound Energy customers may notice their natural gas bill will be a little higher.
But according to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, those customers don’t need to be told why they’re paying more.
“The Utilities Commission approved the rate hike, but made it illegal for Puget Sound Energy to list that on people’s bills,” said Todd Myers of the conservative think tank Washington Policy Center. “So people will see their rates go up, but they won’t know why, and in fact, the Utilities Commission has prohibited Puget Sound Energy from telling its customers.” Read more
A longtime benefit for families in King County returns this fall as thousands of children return to school in Washington.
King County's "school-based health centers," or SBHCs, will open its doors once again to provide comprehensive health care for enrolled students, for free.
"This doesn't replace a community provider's office but it can complement and support that," said Sara Rigel, a health services administrator for Public Health - Seattle & King County. Read more
Within hours of Maui County releasing 388 names of people unaccounted for following the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, some cases were already being resolved Friday as relatives or the people themselves reported they were safe.
One person on the list told The Associated Press he hopes to be taken off it. At least two others were among the victims of the fire — people who are known to have perished but have not yet been positively identified as deceased in the official tally, which currently stands at 115. Read more
Cal Anderson once again has a tree at the Washington state Capitol memorializing his service to the state.
Earlier this month, the state’s Department of Enterprise Services cut down a Kwanzan Cherry tree dedicated to Anderson, the state’s first openly gay state legislator.
Anderson died of complications of AIDS in 1995. That same year, the state planted a tree and placed a plaque on the Capitol campus to memorialize Anderson. Read more
Have the "5 things you need to know" delivered to your inbox. Sign up for the daily morning email here.
