(intense upbeat music) - Welcome to "Crosscut Now," I'm Paris Jackson.

In today's episode, we lift the veil on this season of "Human Elements," with its director to learn how this science show tells complex stories about climate change that's relatable to everyday life.

And we'll also look at how companies that violated state health and safety laws in the workplace receive major monetary fee reductions.

And the Yakama Nation has a new courthouse after seven decades of waiting.

(pensive music) In today's top story, we go inside one of the creative minds behind the "Crosscut" KCTS 9 show "Human Elements."

It captures the intimate connection between humans and earth.

Season four of the series tackles one of the greatest crises facing our globe and us here in the Pacific Northwest.

I sat down with "Human Elements" director and producer Sarah Hoffman, to learn more about the productions new season focused on a significant issue affecting our everyday lives.

(dramatic music) Thank you for joining us, Sarah.

- Thanks so much for having me, Paris.

- Now as the Director of "Human Elements," and also the producer you're with the science show bridging the the gap between humans and our planet.

Tell us a little bit more about that.

- "Human Elements" looks at scientists, researchers, advocates, and how they're interacting with the environment through their work, through their life, and through the projects that they're passionate about.

- Interesting.

Now for season four, you're focusing on climate change in the Pacific Northwest.

How did you and your team decide to focus on this particular topic?

- Yeah, so the last few seasons, we've been kind of picking a theme to tie all of these stories together, and climate change is such a big topic that impacts like everything we do, everything we touch, everything we experience.

So the idea was to take that and look for ways to make it a little bit more approachable and kind of to see people working in that space and some of the ways that they're able to have an impact or teach us something about the ways that climate change is impacting our environment and our world.

- The first episode is already out of season four, and you're focused on a specific butterfly species.

Again, surrounded by this topic of climate change, how did you decide to showcase the work that's being done right here with one of our renowned professors?

- Yeah, so with that story, we're kind of looking at how data that was collected 25 years ago compares to data now.

And so this butterfly is just one example of a way that we can see how our planet is changing, and how maybe some animals might be able to adapt and what we can learn from that.

- So you focus on climate change here in the Pacific Northwest, and you're traversing all over this region.

Tell us about some interesting places you've been able to go.

- Yeah, so these stories have taken us to some incredible landscapes.

We've been tracking lynx out in the Winthrop area through the rugged mountains of the North Cascades.

We've gotten to peek into a freezer that has native plants that are rare and endangered being preserved there, and kind of see what the teams that are working on that are doing to conserve those species.

We've gotten to peek into Recompose, which is a funeral home that specializes in human composting and kind of revolutionizing the death care industry and how that can have an impact on carbon emissions.

So yeah, we've gotten to go to some amazing places and we're excited to share that with everyone.

- What surprised you from this latest season?

- We did a lot of stories this season that focused on indigenous communities, and through those stories we kind of see maybe one project about climate change, like the Swinomish tribe and their work with reviving clam gardens.

But through that and other stories, you kind of see how everything is really interconnected in our ecosystem, the water and the air, and us as humans, the culture that, you know, has been passed down in that community for generations, it's all interconnected, and we can learn a lot from that.

- What do you hope the viewer takes from these characters that you're highlighting in every episode?

- I hope that people can kind of come into this topic and maybe they feel paralyzed by fear of climate change and feel like they can do something about it.

And so in talking to our climate therapist who's featured in our final episode, we kind of learn that accepting that grief that we feel and acknowledging that, and maybe sharing that with other people is a first step, and then that can lead us into action.

And so every individual person can take an action that is personal to them.

So what we see in this season are different ways that different people in this field are kind of taking action, but everyone can have an individual responsibility and make an impact to such a big issue.

- There's so much more to come of season four.

Thank you for joining us, Sarah.

- Thank you so much.

- If you wanna see season four of "Human Elements," watch KCTS 9 every Friday night.

(pensive music) (intense upbeat music) Are Washington companies found to violate state safety and health laws being let off the hook easily?

We'll explain what "Crosscut" found in reviewing state data.

Companies that violate health and safety laws on work sites can be issued monetary fines by the state.

And "Crosscut" has found that a large percentage of those fines are substantially reduced through appeals to the state agency responsible.

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries is tasked with ensuring the safety of most workers in the state.

In 2019, L & I touted the penalties against a dairy and bottling distribution company totaling $1.8 million as the second largest in state history at the time.

But that noteworthy amount was reduced by 75% after an appeals process.

"Crosscut" data analysts found that more than a third of health and safety penalties are later lowered.

Between 2017 and 2021, that amounted to more than 15 million dollars in voided safety fines.

L & I spokesperson Matt Ross wrote in an email, "The goal of compliance isn't to collect fines, it's to keep workers safe on the job."

(pensive music) It's been a long time coming for the Yakama Nation, but a new tribal justice facility opened to serve the community.

Details ahead.

A Washington indigenous tribe is now conducting business in a new building after decades of effort and multiple letdowns.

Last month, dozens gathered for the opening of the Yakama Nation Justice Center in Toppenish, Yakama County.

As Nika Bartoo-Smith reports for Underscore News and ICT, the Confederated bands and tribes of the Yakama Nations courthouse had been in a double-wide trailer surrounded by a cluster of other trailers since the 1950s.

That included the police station, clerk's office, and tribal court.

In 2012, members of the Yakama Nation began fighting for a new building, and after three failed attempts to secure grant funding.

In 2019, the Department of Justice finally approved a grant to build the new Justice Center, but delays struck during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now four judges serve on the Yakama Tribal Court.

Beyond the modern new facilities, the new building will allow for an expansion of services.

You can find more on this story from Underscore News and ICT, a news partnership that covers indigenous communities.

Go to ictnews.org.

I'm Paris Jackson.

Thank you for watching "Crosscut Now," your destination for nonprofit Northwest News.

Go to crosscut.com for more.

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