New Amtrak trains coming soon to Pacific Northwest, but not in time for World Cup ^36%

KUOW Public Radio - By Tom Banse, Washington State Standard - 4/10/2026, 6:54 PM

Negativity Bias 10.4% - Post Hoc (False Cause) 9.9% - Pessimism Bias 8.8%

Summer capacity in the region will remain limited due to a railcar shortage. New trainsets are still expected later in the year. The strained Amtrak Cascades rail service is on track to have limited capacity to carry the crowds expected to descend on the Pacific Northwest for the upcoming men’s World Cup. Sleek new, amenity-packed “Airo”... more

Coal power in Washington Legislature’s crosshairs after talk of Centralia plant’s revival ^58.9%

KUOW Public Radio - By Tom Banse, Washington State Standard - 2/13/2026, 8:59 PM

The Washington House of Representatives on Thursday approved a new coal tax that targets a single company. It’s meant to thwart a surprise move by the Trump administration to keep the last coal-fired power plant in the Pacific Northwest operational. The fast-moving bill would saddle TransAlta Corporation’s Centralia coal plant with extra... more