Are the drones finally upon us?: Today So Far

• Amazon says it's ready to fly its delivery drones.
• Answering common questions in the wake of overturning Roe v Wade.
• Congress says it has new evidence for today's hearing on the January 6 insurrection.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for June 28, 2022.

It seems like every year that goes by, there's a story about how Amazon has a grand plan to deliver packages via drones. And we keep waiting. Well, it finally seems like this is the year it happens.

Amazon will officially start delivering packages via drones straight to front doors, or back yards, in a small Northern California town. Lockeford has about 3,500 residents who will serve as guinea-pig customers for the drone deliveries. Though, I will point out that despite presenting a plan to test the drones in Lockeford, Amazon is still saying the small-town test will happen sometime later this year. So we're still waiting.

As Northwest News Network's Tom Banse reports, it's been touch and go for Amazon leading up to this point ... as well as a few crashes. Amazon has been testing drone models in Eastern Oregon. They weigh about 85 pounds. Apparently, the drones have been crashing quite a bit during the testing process — on a monthly basis between May 2021 and last February. But now the company says it's ready. If this works, it really could change the whole buying/delivering lifestyle that continues to grow in our society.

Folks are still processing the overturning of Roe v Wade. It was a big discussion during Pride weekend. And with that comes a lot of questions. So KUOW has compiled answers to some common questions about what will happen in Washington state following the decision.

Washington state's top officials and lawmakers are now gearing up for battles ahead over abortion rights and more. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson is preparing for legal fights with states that implement abortion bans. Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal says that she is discussing a package of protections with colleagues. That package would not only address abortion rights, but also issues related to contraception and marriage equality. Passing such laws through Congress could protect such rights from later Supreme Court decisions. Of course, to do that, they're probably going to need some more Democrats in DC, and they know it.

Washington Democrats are also planning on codifying abortion rights in the state Constitution. The state GOP is commenting, however, that Democrats are using the recent news to distract "from their record on public safety and affordability." Read more here.

We have another hearing on the January 6 insurrection today. This time, Congress members say they have "recently obtained evidence" that they want to present. I don't know what that could be, but it sounds so cryptic and intriguing, like a sudden plot twist in a Perry Mason episode (or Matlock if that's more your thing ... or perhaps "My Cousin Vinny"). KUOW is streaming the live proceedings, which you can watch here.

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AS SEEN ON KUOW

Dr. Jerry Garcia (left) and Dr. Erasmo Gamboa (right) at Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a and Latino/a culture, in South Park. Behind them are cabins from Sunnyside, Wash. which were previously housing for agricultural workers. Read more here. (Alec Cowen / KUOW)

DID YOU KNOW?

Nirvana was not the legendary band's first attempt at a name. They settled on Nirvana after a few other options.

Before "Nirvana," the band went under the names Ted Ed Fred, Fecal Matter, Pen Cap Chew, and even Skid Row (not to be confused with the other band called Skid Row). According to Kurt Cobain, they opted to go with "Nirvana," because it sounded nice and pretty, unlike the rougher, grittier names a lot of other punk bands had.

ALSO ON OUR MINDS

Some cities cancel Fourth of July fireworks because of shortages and fire concerns

The skies over a scattering of Western U.S. cities will stay dark for the third consecutive Fourth of July as some major fireworks displays are canceled again this year — some over wildfire concerns amid dry weather and others because of enduring pandemic-related staffing and supply chain issues.

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