By Bill Lucia | Editor
A chemical storage tank catastrophically failed yesterday at a mill in southwest Washington, leaving at least one person dead and nine employees missing. Eight other employees and one firefighter were injured. Authorities said yesterday evening there is no immediate danger to the surrounding community. Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said at a press conference last night that first responders had searched “extremely dangerous” areas at the site and no further rescues were expected.
Also in today’s edition…
The state approves the killing of one wolf.
And, the U.S. Supreme Court denies Florida’s attempt to sue Washington and California over immigrant truck driver licensing.
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The burst white liquor tank is seen at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Wash., on May 26, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Longview Fire Department)
By Jake Goldstein-Street
The tank, which ruptured yesterday morning at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant in Longview, contained about 900,000 gallons of a caustic solution known as white liquor. The chemical is used in paper manufacturing and can cause severe burns. As of yesterday evening, officials said the tank could still contain roughly 90,000 gallons of the substance. They said they were developing plans for how to stabilize the tank before continuing recovery operations today.
The state Department of Ecology said no air quality hazards had been detected around the mill and that there were no threats to the nearby Columbia River. National Guard teams that specialize in responding to chemical incidents had also been dispatched to assist at the site, Gov. Bob Ferguson said last night.
(Photo by Eric Cole/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
By Aspen Ford
Following suspected attacks on cattle in northeast Washington, the state’s Fish and Wildlife director has authorized the killing of one wolf. Kelly Susewind issued the kill order on Friday afternoon. On May 17 and 18, state officials investigated two separate incidents — one where a calf was injured and another killed, and one where a calf was injured. Three wolf packs are active in the area, which is known as the Aladdin Valley and is located near Colville in Stevens County. It’s unclear which wolf or wolves might have been responsible for the attacks. Wolves remain classified as endangered under state law. At the end of last year, officials counted a minimum of 270 wolves and 49 packs statewide. Wildlife advocates criticized the decision to kill the wolf.
By Liv Caputo
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s attempt to sue California and Washington over granting commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens. This followed a fatal truck crash in Florida last year involving a driver in the country without legal status. The court’s majority did not explain its reasoning. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented, arguing the court should reconsider its longstanding reluctance to hear disputes between states.
ICYMI
1 year later, how WA’s controversial cap on rent hikes has been enforced | by Jake Goldstein-Street
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