Brandon Block
@brandonblock.bsky.social
Investigative reporter at Cascade PBS in Seattle writing about Washington state government, housing, social policy, energy & more. Email me at brandon.block@cascadepbs.org
https://www.cascadepbs.org/author/brandon-block
https://www.cascadepbs.org/author/brandon-block
I talked with @kuow.org yesterday about the story of Alex Kuhnhausen, a 25-year-old WA prisoner who died last year from an infection that prison medical staff failed to treat and corrections officials kept hidden from his wife. www.kuow.org/stories/help...
"HELP ME!!! HELP ME!!!" WA prison kept woman in dark while her husband was dying
In April, 25-year-old Alex Kuhnhausen died of a bacterial infection he contracted at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.
www.kuow.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I talked with @kuow.org yesterday about the story of Alex Kuhnhausen, a 25-year-old WA prisoner who died last year from an infection that prison medical staff failed to treat and corrections officials kept hidden from his wife. www.kuow.org/stories/help...
Reposted by Brandon Block
Alex Kuhnhausen developed a bacterial infection while in solitary confinement. The repeated failures that followed offer a rare look at how decisions made by prison officials can turn treatable ailments deadly, @brandonblock.bsky.social reports.
www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...
www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...
October 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Alex Kuhnhausen developed a bacterial infection while in solitary confinement. The repeated failures that followed offer a rare look at how decisions made by prison officials can turn treatable ailments deadly, @brandonblock.bsky.social reports.
www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...
www.investigatewest.org/how-a-wa-pri...
Reposted by Brandon Block
From youth labor violations to housing abuses to pandemic aid fraud, Cascade PBS investigative reporters cast light into undercovered corners of Washington. Our final Impact Report and a thread of some of the team's best work: www.cascadepbs.org/impact-repor...
Investigations team caps four years with state law, policy reforms
From youth labor violations to housing abuses to pandemic aid fraud, Cascade PBS investigative reporters cast light into undercovered corners of WA in 2025.
www.cascadepbs.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:13 PM
From youth labor violations to housing abuses to pandemic aid fraud, Cascade PBS investigative reporters cast light into undercovered corners of Washington. Our final Impact Report and a thread of some of the team's best work: www.cascadepbs.org/impact-repor...
Reposted by Brandon Block
Really good reporting from @ashleyhiruko.bsky.social on shelter beds being paid for but left unfilled, seemingly in part over a deputy mayor's personal dislike of a prominent Seattle homelessness services provider.
By December, Seattle taxpayers were paying a hefty $4,200 a month per empty room — at a time when thousands of Seattleites were without a roof over their heads.
Seattle paid for shelter beds that it left vacant despite a massive need for housing
Early last year, the city signed a $2.7 million lease extension to continue using a hotel’s rooms as shelter space. Yet despite committing to pay the rent, the city stopped sending people there.
www.kuow.org
October 6, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Really good reporting from @ashleyhiruko.bsky.social on shelter beds being paid for but left unfilled, seemingly in part over a deputy mayor's personal dislike of a prominent Seattle homelessness services provider.
I was on @kuow.org yesterday talking about why Thurston County leaders never pursued a property management company that Auditors suspected of running a $940,000 pandemic aid fraud scheme. www.kuow.org/stories/what...
What happened to nearly $1 million of pandemic assistance in Thurston County?
A case of fraud put a stop to emergency aid in Thurston County for months, but county leaders never pressed charges against the alleged perpetrator or demanded the money back.
www.kuow.org
October 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I was on @kuow.org yesterday talking about why Thurston County leaders never pursued a property management company that Auditors suspected of running a $940,000 pandemic aid fraud scheme. www.kuow.org/stories/what...
Whatcom County Council has now introduced legislation to increase oversight of lawsuit payouts in continued fallout from my reporting on the favorable treatment of a former public works director accused of sexual harassment.
Whatcom County Council introduced an amendment on Tuesday night to close a legal loop hole that left them in the dark about a $225,000 payout in 2022 to an employee who accused her manager of sexual harassment and retaliation.
County council eyes closing legal loophole that hid a big payout | Cascadia Daily News
Whatcom prosecutor’s interpretation of law left council in dark about $225K settlement
www.cascadiadaily.com
September 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Whatcom County Council has now introduced legislation to increase oversight of lawsuit payouts in continued fallout from my reporting on the favorable treatment of a former public works director accused of sexual harassment.
Reposted by Brandon Block
September 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
New investigation: Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation
Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead.
www.cascadepbs.org
September 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
New investigation: Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
Five years after a wildfire started by its power lines torched the town of Malden, Avista utilities has settled lawsuits with hundreds of victims for $27 million — but done little to prevent future fires. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
WA families struggle to rebuild after utility-sparked wildfires
Five years after its power lines started a devastating fire in Malden, Avista has settled lawsuits for $27M — but fallen behind on disaster prevention.
www.cascadepbs.org
August 13, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Five years after a wildfire started by its power lines torched the town of Malden, Avista utilities has settled lawsuits with hundreds of victims for $27 million — but done little to prevent future fires. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
Self-styled green energy leaders OR and WA lag far behind in adding renewables. I interviewed OPB reporters Tony Schick and Monica Samayoa who report the region’s maxed out transmission grid is stalling growth. www.cascadepbs.org/podcasts/nor...
It’s (Still) Not Easy Going Green: Bonus Episode
Despite ambitious goals toward combating climate change, Oregon and Washington lag far behind other states when it comes to adding renewable energy.
www.cascadepbs.org
June 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Self-styled green energy leaders OR and WA lag far behind in adding renewables. I interviewed OPB reporters Tony Schick and Monica Samayoa who report the region’s maxed out transmission grid is stalling growth. www.cascadepbs.org/podcasts/nor...
New docs show that jail guards failed to respond to requests for medical help in the hours before David McGrath and Kevin Wiley died at the Issaquah City Jail. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
Issaquah pays $5.5M to settle jail deaths as costs mount statewide
Two men died after requesting medical help they never received. WA’s nation-leading jail death rates have led to millions in payouts, and local reforms.
www.cascadepbs.org
June 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
New docs show that jail guards failed to respond to requests for medical help in the hours before David McGrath and Kevin Wiley died at the Issaquah City Jail. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
WA Democrats opted to extend child support garnishments as part of their plan to balance the state's budget deficit, just one year after voting to end the practice. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
WA lawmakers walk back agreement to end child support garnishment
Legislators voted last year to stop intercepting payments meant for low-income families. Now with a budget deficit, they plan collections through 2029.
www.cascadepbs.org
May 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
WA Democrats opted to extend child support garnishments as part of their plan to balance the state's budget deficit, just one year after voting to end the practice. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
Reposted by Brandon Block
NEW: Oregon and Washington ranked near or at the bottom of the country for adding renewable energy during the past decade, despite pledges to eliminate fossil fuels from power generation.
With @opb.org
With @opb.org
How the Pacific Northwest’s Dream of Green Energy Fell Apart
The Northwest states passed aggressive goals to decarbonize the power supply but left it to the Bonneville Power Administration to build the transmission lines needed for wind and solar. The agency…
www.propublica.org
May 12, 2025 at 11:45 AM
NEW: Oregon and Washington ranked near or at the bottom of the country for adding renewable energy during the past decade, despite pledges to eliminate fossil fuels from power generation.
With @opb.org
With @opb.org
Kurt Beckett consulted for multiple wind and solar companies seeking development permits. Now he leads the agency tasked with permitting his ex-clients’ projects. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
New Washington energy chair’s industry ties raise ethics questions
Former energy consultant Kurt Beckett now heads the agency tasked with permitting his ex-clients’ wind and solar plants.
www.cascadepbs.org
April 30, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Kurt Beckett consulted for multiple wind and solar companies seeking development permits. Now he leads the agency tasked with permitting his ex-clients’ projects. www.cascadepbs.org/investigatio...
WA's workplace safety agency taking unprecedented enforcement action after @lizzgiordano.bsky.social investigation found a teen lost his legs doing prohibited work for construction company Rotschy
"They should have reasonably known the requirements." WA agency seeks first ever felony for violating youth labor law after teen loses both legs doing prohibited construction work. bit.ly/3Yfycf1 @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social
WA safety agency seeks felony charges after teen worker loses legs
Labor & Industries submitted an unprecedented referral against construction company Rotschy for allegedly allowing a minor to use dangerous equipment.
bit.ly
April 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
WA's workplace safety agency taking unprecedented enforcement action after @lizzgiordano.bsky.social investigation found a teen lost his legs doing prohibited work for construction company Rotschy
Reposted by Brandon Block
We were out picketing today to let @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social know we want a fair contract now!
April 1, 2025 at 9:53 PM
We were out picketing today to let @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social know we want a fair contract now!
Reposted by Brandon Block
The @cascadepbsunion.bsky.social is back on the march holding another lunch time info picket. And today we’re joined by 9 community members (not to mention all the honks in solidarity) who know Real News costs Real Money! We’re gonna keep fighting til we get the fair contract we deserve.
April 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The @cascadepbsunion.bsky.social is back on the march holding another lunch time info picket. And today we’re joined by 9 community members (not to mention all the honks in solidarity) who know Real News costs Real Money! We’re gonna keep fighting til we get the fair contract we deserve.
When Seattle pioneered the $15 minimum wage a decade ago, supporters and opponents made equally dramatic predictions about its impact. Both were wrong, @sanfordnate.bsky.social reports. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...
How Seattle’s record-high minimum wage has — and hasn’t — paid off
Though the cost of living remains above the $20-plus pay floor, activists say raising wages has been a success and are pushing other cities to follow suit.
www.cascadepbs.org
March 31, 2025 at 8:20 PM
When Seattle pioneered the $15 minimum wage a decade ago, supporters and opponents made equally dramatic predictions about its impact. Both were wrong, @sanfordnate.bsky.social reports. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...
🧵introducing "It's Not Easy Going Green," a new Cascade PBS podcast from @maleeha-syed.bsky.social and I about Washington's clean energy transition and its discontents (Kermit graphic by @jcohenwrites.bsky.social). www.cascadepbs.org/its-not-easy... (1/4)
March 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
🧵introducing "It's Not Easy Going Green," a new Cascade PBS podcast from @maleeha-syed.bsky.social and I about Washington's clean energy transition and its discontents (Kermit graphic by @jcohenwrites.bsky.social). www.cascadepbs.org/its-not-easy... (1/4)