Seattle Now Weekend Listen: Methane hazard at Rainier Beach High School, Pierce County reimagines juvenile probation, and the UW Huskies get back the star quarterback they just lost
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Jan 17, 2026 Anne Dornfeld, a reporter for KUOW News, uncovers alarming methane hazards at Rainier Beach High School, revealing safety oversights in its recent construction. Lauren Gallup discusses groundbreaking opportunity-based juvenile probation in Pierce County, highlighting community engagement that reduces recidivism. Meanwhile, sports writer Danny O'Neill dives into the dramatic transfer saga of UW quarterback DeMond Williams Jr., exploring the implications for the team's future and the pressures influencing his decision to stay.
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Methane Risk At Rainier Beach
- Rainier Beach High sits on peat that can emit methane at flammable concentrations.
- Seattle Public Schools skipped recommended mitigation steps and delayed monitoring despite engineers' warnings.
Follow Engineers' Mitigation Steps
- Install both venting systems and a thick vapor barrier to reduce unknown explosion risks.
- Start regular methane monitoring before occupancy and continue monthly as engineers recommended.
Patchwork Methane Regulations
- Methane safety rules vary by source and location, creating coverage gaps for peat-derived methane.
- That inconsistency leaves schools like Rainier Beach exposed when local law doesn't require mitigation.