All the fun of the Fourth of July holiday comes at a cost. This year, in unincorporated Pierce County, that cost was over 200-thousand dollars. All from fires caused by fireworks.

Host lead-in: Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, fireworks caused over 200-thousand dollars in property damage in unincorporated Pierce County. N-W-P-B’s Lauren Gallup talked with the county fire marshal.

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Each month, one in six Oregonians rely on the food stamp program SNAP. According to state figures, half of them are children, elderly or disabled.

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Food insecurity is rising in Oregon. As Bryce Dole reports, the recently passed Republican policy bill could make the problem worse.

A panel of independent scientists says Canadian and American efforts to save endangered orcas aren’t working.

They’re calling for bolder efforts to bring these whales back from the brink of extinction. KUOW’s John Ryan reports.

Washington’s governor says the state will make up for federal cuts to funding for Planned Parenthood clinics. KNKX's Lisa Brooks has details.

Gov Bob Ferguson is planning to backfill funding for Planned Parenthood potentially slashed by President Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

KUOW’s Scott Greenstone has more:

Emerald Ash Borers – or EAB – are destructive beetles that infest and kill ash trees.

As their numbers increase in the summer, the Oregon Department of Forestry is urging Oregonians to keep an eye out for the pest.

KLCC’s Julia Boboc (Bo-bawk) reports: [SOQ 0:44]

Starting next month, cars with unpaid parking tickets in Newport will be getting the boot.

After more than a decade of harvesting, the Sisters Community Garden has been asked to move from its space– without any clear direction of where they’ll go next. KLCC’s Gabriella Sgro [SKROH] reports: [SOQ 0:49]