Regional Correspondent, Northwest News Network

Tom Banse

Tom Banse is a regional correspondent for the Northwest News Network, covering business, environment, public policy, human interest and national news across the Northwest.

Tom has covered state government and the Washington Legislature for more than a decade. He got his start in radio at a public radio station in southern Minnesota, WCAL.

Reared in Seattle, Tom graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota with a degree in American Studies.

Tom enjoys exploring the Olympic Peninsula backcountry and cooking dinner with his wife and friends.

Aerial Surveys Find Reintroduced NW Fishers Dispersing, Possibly Reproducing

Fisher reintroduction in Washington began in Olympic National Park. That worked, so now the focus is on returning the fisher to its historical range in the Cascade Mountains.

Sloths Seized From Oregon-Based Center Turning Into Courtroom Saga

The Olympia city prosecutor's office confirmed to public radio Thursday that it will file animal neglect charges in the next day or two against the owner of an Oregon-based sloth sanctuary.

Volunteers Come Together To Help Pets In Case Disaster Strikes

In Cannon Beach, Oregon, an all-volunteer team is assembling resources to provide support to pets and their owners in case of a natural disaster.

Water | Climate change | News | local | Environment

Coastal Erosion Gnaws At 1 Of Washington's Most Popular State Parks

Coastal erosion is threatening the main campground and other amenities at Cape Disappointment State Park, which has the second most camper visits in the Washington State Park system.

New Hope For Stopping Seemingly Unstoppable Shoreline Erosion

A stretch of shore in Pacific County, Washington, has long suffered from the most extreme coastal erosion along West Coast. Now, a relatively low-cost defense is raising hopes among property owners.

Technology | News | Science | Business | Transportation | local | Politics

Meet The Companies Testing Self-Driving Vehicles In The Pacific Northwest

A mixture of big tech companies and startups are expanding test programs to the Pacific Northwest. The list includes Waymo, NVIDIA, Intel and Torc Robotics.

Transportation | News | local | Energy | Environment | Politics

A Tax Break For Electric Car Buyers In Washington Ends May 31

Washington drivers who are thinking about buying an electric car would be wise to get down to a dealership in the next two weeks. That's because a...

Agriculture | News | Renewable energy | local | Environment

Commercial Solar Arrays On Farmland Cropping Up Bountifully — And Stirring Opposition

From the Willamette Valley to the Kittitas Valley and east to Idaho, energy developers are implementing commercial solar arrays. But a surge in utility-scale solar farm applications is generating pushback.

Politics | News | local | Environment

Portland Council Postpones Mandatory Quake Fixes For Old Buildings

Portland may become the first city in the Pacific Northwest to require all owners of old brick buildings to make earthquake safety upgrades. But not right now.

History | Politics | NW Life | local | Oregon History

175 Years After Oregon Territory Vote, Some NW Issues Remain The Same

Early settlers and pioneers voted to form a provisional territorial government 175 years ago this week. The vote was close and featured arguments that may sound surprisingly familiar today.

Animals | News | local

Sloth Seizure Sends Olympia Sanctuary Into Wild Court Battle

Officers seized six sloths, two tortoises, an African anteater, three armadillos, an Asian water monitor, a variety of other lizards and some smaller critters.

Politics | News | local

In A Disaster, English Isn't Always Enough

Emergency managers from around the West are grappling with how to reach people in foreign languages in the midst of a disaster, at a time when a new Washington state law is seeking to raise the bar.

Energy | Education | News | local | Environment

Check Out This 520 MPG Car. It's Built By Northwest Students

The Shell Eco-Marathon is taking place at the Sonoma Raceway in northern California. Category winners are expected to achieve more than 3,500 miles per gallon this year.

News | local | Energy | Water | Environment | Politics

Interior Secretary Downplays Possibility Of Drilling Off NW Coast

In congressional testimony Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said he has heard the strong opposition from the West Coast to the Trump administration's plan for offshore oil and gas drilling.

local

Northwest Author Trying To Get Movie Rights Clear Of Weinstein Company

A Northwest author is hoping the movie rights to his recent nonfiction bestseller shift away from The Weinstein Company. The Hollywood studio's upcoming...

News | local | Environment

Washington Coastal Counties Try To Avoid Future Tsunami Alert Glitches

Emergency managers from Washington coastal counties and tribes practiced tsunami alert communication and coordination with state and federal partners...

Technology | News | local

Defense Contractor Stops Drone Testing After Crash, Fire In Pendleton

No one was hurt when the 150-200 pound reconnaissance drone crashed soon after takeoff from Eastern Oregon Regional Airport. The crash set a field of wheat stubble on fire.