This is Northwest Public Broadcasting's Weekly News Now I'm Tracci Dial.

Thanks so much for joining us.

A new online tool is helping people see how contamination is moving underground at Hanford.

It's called TRAC, and the U.S. Department of Energy is using it to look at several DOE sites across the country.

The one at Hanford is watching the radioactive waste and chemicals that have leaked into the soil after the site was used to make plutonium during World War Two and the Cold War.

TRAC, which by the way, stands for Tracking, Restoration and Closure, is a newer tool that maps the plumes and then shows them as animations.

Here's Acting Director of Subsurface Closure, DOE's April Kluever “We have some of the most complex cleanup scenarios in the world.

We know that.

We are instituting some of the most cutting edge technologies to address these most complex scenarios in the world.

” There is a link to TRAC on our website.

Just look for this article.

Also on NWPB.org, A new Washington law is ruffling some school board feathers.

It requires more diversity, equity, and inclusion in curricula.

The new materials will include histories and contributions of historically underrepresented people, including the LGBTQ+ community.

Hear how the Prosser School Board is reacting, one of many school boards voting on resolutions against the bill before it was signed into law.

And in case you missed it.

Northwest Public Broadcasting had the incredible opportunity to spend some time with award winning journalist Maria Hinojosa.

She traveled all the way from the East Coast to Pullman, Washington, where the Murrow College awarded her with the 2024 Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award.

The full 20 minute or so interview is on our YouTube channel.

Here's a sneak peek.

“Well, thank you so much for sitting down with us, taking this time to be with Northwest Public Broadcasting.

I do have a question.

As a journalist, what do you have a favorite question in interviews?

You know what?

I don't have a favorite question.

I really approach every interview with, like, the kind of excitement and curiosity of something new that's going to happen.

So there's not one question that I'm going to ask everyone, although there is an ending question... ” Find out what that question is, and a slew of other questions we had for her.

That full interview is up now on our YouTube channel.

Johanna Bejarano has an interview with her in Spanish as well.

More can always be found on our Instagram and Facebook.

I'm Tracci Dial with your NWPB Weekly News Now.

Find this on our YouTube channel as well.

Just search Northwest Public Broadcasting.