Topic: Pacific Northwest

Radioactive tuna travels from Japan to US faster than wind

Low levels of nuclear radiation from the Fukushima power plant have turned up in 15 bluefin tuna caught off San Diego. The fish is not harmful to humans, say researchers.

Solar eclipse: How to safely watch this evening's 'ring of fire'

During this evening's 'ring of fire' solar eclipse, what should be a spectacular display will be seen across much of the American West. Here's how to watch it safely.

Will Saturday's 'supermoon' destroy the Earth?

No, it won't. You people really need to learn to calm down. 

Four unusual shade perennials to try

Light up a woodland garden with this quartet of unusual shade-loving perennial plants.

Tips for Japanese garden design

A trip to the San Francisco Botanical Garden provides good examples for designing a successful Japanese garden.

The little tulips: Tulipa tarda proves that less is more.

Little species or botanical tulips aren't as showy as hybrids but they grow in every U.S. region and return year after year.

Electric cars: Big climate aid in L.A., but not Wichita

Electric cars benefit the climate depending on where they're plugged in. In some cities, electric cars do no better than high-mileage gasoline-powered cars.

Dirr’s tree and shrub encyclopedia sets a new industry standard

Michael Dirr's new 'Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs' is a must-own book for serious gardeners.

10 best cities to buy short sale homes

Foreclosures are tough: Homeowners lose their houses and ruin their credit, while banks get stuck with vacant, deteriorating real estate for months before selling it at a considerable loss. Increasingly, banks are finding another way: the short sale. Instead of waiting to foreclose, a bank preemptively sells a home at a deep discount and closes out the underwater mortgage, even if the house sells for less than the value of the mortgage. The result: Homeowners shed their mortgage debt, and banks unload properties more quickly and inexpensively. Here are the Top 10 metropolitan areas with the biggest average discounts on these pre-foreclosure homes, according to online foreclosure marketplace RealtyTrac. Can you guess which city is No. 1?

Peyton Manning future: Is it in the Cards, or with the Dolphins?

Peyton Manning future: Manning has many NFL suitors. But two teams may be emerging as the best fit for Peyton Manning's future services: Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins.

Washington State caucuses could foreshadow Super Tuesday

The Republican presidential caucuses in Washington State are being held Saturday, three days before Super Tuesday. Mitt Romney is leading in polls, but Rick Santorum is strong there too.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signs gay marriage bill into law

Gregoire signed the bill surrounded by gay rights supporters. 'I'm proud our same-sex couples will no longer be treated as separate but equal,' she said.

Washington State headed toward gay marriage: a sign of shifting attitudes

Lawmakers voted to make Washington the seventh state to allow gay marriage. Opponents vow to force the measure onto the November ballot, but obtaining a voter veto of the new law will be an uphill battle.

Nancy Pearl: caught in the anti-Amazon backlash

'The vehemence surprised me,' celebrated bibliophile Nancy Pearl said of the reaction to her decision to publish with Amazon.

Forecast: Seattle weather could stay eventful in next three months

Forecasters looking at temperature and precipitation trends are calling for cooler and wetter conditions than normal in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle weather this week has consisted of snow and ice storms.

Paul Allen plans to replace space shuttle program

Paul Allen is planning on building the world's largest plane intended to offer space travel to paying customers and possibly to the international space station.

Will airborne launch pads replace the Space Shuttle program?

Stratolaunch Systems, founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is planning to build a huge carrier aircraft that will launch unmanned rockets into space.  

Winter forecast: La Niña returns, southern drought persists

Last winter – with its droughts, tornado outbreaks, heavy snows, and floods – was a tough one in different ways for millions of people. Be prepared for more of the same this year.

Alpine strawberries: Perfect in foliage and in fruit

A season to celebrate

A Christian Science perspective: While changing seasons can bring renewal and freshness, to some areas they can bring storms and fires. Read how a spiritual view can make a difference.

Vancouver Island quake, magnitude 6.4: No damage or injuries reported

Visiting the greenest gas station in the United States

SeQuential travels to local businesses in Oregon and Washington to buy waste cooking oil that it converts into biodiesel for cars and trucks – and sells at its stations.

'Barefoot Bandit' inks $1.3 million movie deal: Worthy cause or bad precedent?

'Barefoot Bandit' Colton Harris-Moore robbed houses and stole planes, boats, and cars before being caught in the Bahamas last summer. Now, Fox is making a movie about him. Colton-Harris has said all the money from the deal will go to his victims.

D.B. Cooper skyjack: All that for $200k?

Forty years ago, when D.B. Cooper jumped into the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, the ransom he demanded would have gone far. Now, in an era of trillion-dollar deficits, the amount is like a joke from 'Austin Powers.'

A new D.B Cooper book – and a new lead

Yesterday a new lead was announced in the infamous D.B Cooper case, a week before a new book about the Cooper case is scheduled for release. Coincidence?