Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
Looks like newspeople have made a commitment not to show any sense of curiosity.
A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.
Examples:
Gun Control
January 22, 2020 KUOW
Less than 24 hours after shooting, it’s ‘business as usual’ in downtown Seattle
“It was the third shooting in two days in the same area of downtown Seattle. Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said that there is nothing to suggest that the three incidents are related.”
January 22nd 2020 KOMO News
‘It was sheer panic’: 1 dead, 7 wounded in downtown Seattle shootout
“Two 24-year-old men with criminal records later were identified as suspects by police. Both were still at large as of Thursday morning. Both were considered armed and dangerous.”
Jan. 10, 2020 The Seattle Times
WA voters approved enhanced background checks back in 2014:
November 4, 2014 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Washington voters choose gun control; huge majority in Seattle area
Washington Universal Background Checks for Gun Purchases, Initiative 594 (2014)
“Furthermore, the initiative rendered it illegal to hand off a firearm to people outside a person’s immediate family, though exceptions were mentioned, including situations in which people are at a shooting range or hunting.”
Looks like frequent gun crimes roll on.
Enhanced background checks approved back in 2014 have had time to take hold.
Any reporting or updates on this?
Your 5th grade teacher just rejected your book report. Try again.
No Word on Enhanced Background Checks – No Comments Allowed
Lies about freedom
State Representative Julie Casimiro says troops are sent to distant lands to protect American rights and freedoms.
As if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
January 21, 2020 GoLocalProv
RI National Guard Head to the Middle East – They Deserve Our Gratitude
State Representative Julie Casimiro:
“They left on Monday, January 20th for an 11-month assignment in the Middle East at a time of international uncertainty and unrest. They left to protect our freedoms and our country.”
“These Citizen Soldiers sacrifice so much for their love of country and for that we owe them a lifelong debt of gratitude. They will miss many “firsts” in their families, holidays, birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations and Thanksgiving to protect our rights, freedoms and international security.”
Protecting our rights and freedoms?
More discussion please.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Rhode Island need services in the Middle East, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Congressman Derek Kilmer tells us:
Wars are for freedom and democracy.
Any newspeople available to ask:
Congressman Kilmer,
If wars are fought for democracy-how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If the troops are fighting for American rights and freedoms-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?
Related: How did Rhode Island freedoms get over to the Middle East?
Meth in the Puget Sound area
January 21, 2020 KIRO7
50 pounds of meth seized during Bellingham traffic stop
October 23, 2019, Q13 News video:
Is Port Angeles CBP at all relevant in keeping heroin and meth from entering the Puget Sound area?
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA
An upgrade in staff requiring a new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility. Secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin and meth in the community, no cross-border USBP arrest in more than 9 years, fraudulent overtime claims, 1,200-horsepower interceptor boats and zero questions from the press.
Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?
Your 5th grade teacher just rejected your book report. Try again.
The press is good with the Drug War
December 8th, 2018 The Daily World
Five county bust hits Mexican drug cartel
Drug pipeline ‘has been shut down:’ Statewide bust nets 29 arrests, guns, drugs
More than a year later, is there any shortage of cartel-sourced heroin, cocaine, fentanyl or meth anywhere in the US?
“The dangerous pills containing fentanyl flowing through this pipeline operated by this Western Washington distribution network has been shut down,” Keith Weis, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent, said in a statement.
Next time the DEA tells the press that a drug pipeline has been shut down, will reporters ask questions, or simply put out another press release?
Puget Sound area newspeople play along by not asking questions:
Zero questions from newspeople:
Local meth news stories here.
Local heroin news stories here.
Plenty of questions here:
Port Angeles – Post 911 CBP Spending Spree
More here:
Port Angeles Drug War Covered By Press Release
Press Plays The Role of Armed Forces & Homeland Security Public Affairs Staff
Homeland Security Meth/Heroin Racket Rolls On
Local water quality
Back in 2017, Island County Public Health posted a sign at the Coupeville Wharf about restrictions on recreational shellfish harvesting.
Several Island County beaches are now closed for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.
This appears to be a routine/ongoing situation.
View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.
One or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
Coupeville
Love to see newspeople provide updated reporting on this:
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
Sounds like the sewage treatment plant is sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
Stewardship is a priority:
Sign below educates the public on local waters.
Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area
Went out to take a look
I saw no warning signs on 5/21/19 at Monroe Landing.
Image below taken on a March 24, 2019 Penn Cove site visit.
WDFW has posted a permanent sign indicating a dark shaded area in the eastern part of Penn Cove:
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of investigative reporting & newspeople asking questions.
Lack of News Reporting Hurts Newspaper Subscriptions?
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A symbol of the press asking questions.
