Washington
A Hiker’s Path: Knob scrambling to Pinnacle Peak in southern Indiana
![A Hiker’s Path: Knob scrambling to Pinnacle Peak in southern Indiana A Hiker’s Path: Knob scrambling to Pinnacle Peak in southern Indiana](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/08/23/NHEN/74917396007-image-1.jpeg?auto=webp&crop=639,361,x0,y59&format=pjpg&width=1200)
I recently hiked on one of my favorite trails: the Knob Lake trail.
The trail is located in the Jackson-Washington State Forest. The forest encompasses nearly 18,000 acres in Jackson and Washington counties in the heart of southern Indiana.
The majority of the land that now makes up this beautiful forest was purchased by the state in the 1930s and the 1950s. This part of the state contains unique topography know as the “knobs”. The region provides scenic views and offers some breathtaking hiking opportunities.
The Knob Lake trail is no exception.
The trail combines three trails to make a loop and is 4.3 miles in total length. It’s considered very rugged in ease of hiking mostly due to the knobs one must climb.
It was a fantastic day weather wise when I hiked this trail. The temperature was in the upper 70s and it was sunny with a blue sky overhead. I decided to hike the whole loop of the trail which consists of trails 1-3.
The path follows a ridge top made up of several knobs. The knob hills must be ascended and descended. It’s a straight up and down path on each one. No switchbacks to make it easier. And some of them are pretty steep. I started my hike on trail 2.
The late summer forest was beautiful.
Last week’s column: Hiking among the treetops in Pine Hills Nature Preserve
The trail was marked, but it would have been hard to miss the high knobs that I ended up climbing in succession. I think I counted 10, but lost count in between breaths. The climbs were steep. I have found that most of the trails in the southern part of the state are like that. It makes them all a very fun challenge.
The goal was to reach Pinnacle Peak, the highest point of the trail. The highest elevation I could find on the trail was 976 feet. All of the knobs neared the 900-foot mark.
So the path finally intersected with the Pinnacle Peak trail, which is a spur trail that goes off the main loop and up to Pinnacle Peak. I had more climbing to do, but I knew I was almost there. Never mind that it appeared to be steeper and there was loose gravel to be found on the trail in places.
I finally reached the top! I must say, the views were fantastic on top of the peak. There were lots of large rocks scattered about and some of the rocks had etchings on them that dated back over 100 years.
It was a special moment for me on that high peak. Quite serene.
Soon it was time to head back. I still had a bit of hiking and climbs to make, but for the most part, it was downhill and then back to the car. It had been a wonderful hike.
To get to this place: From Brownstown, take Ind. 250 East for approximately 2 miles. Turn left at the state forest sign. Knob Lake will be approximately 1 mile on right. Be sure to pick up a map at the gate!
A quote for your week: “A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.” — William Wordsworth, English poet, 1770-1850
Until the next trail,Susan
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Washington
Karen Keiser appointed to Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board – The B-Town (Burien) Blog
![Karen Keiser appointed to Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board – The B-Town (Burien) Blog Karen Keiser appointed to Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board – The B-Town (Burien) Blog](https://b-townblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SKM-SenKarenKeiser2024-1.jpg?_t=1739475367)
Former Washington State Senator Karen Keiser has been appointed to the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) Board of Directors, the organization announced this week.
Keiser, who retired last year after serving nearly 30 years in the state Legislature, was appointed by former Gov. Jay Inslee before he left office in mid-January.
“We are excited to welcome Karen Keiser to the Exchange Board. Throughout her time in the Senate, Karen shaped Washington state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act and championed numerous policies to improve access to high-quality, affordable health care,” said Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey. “Her background and expertise will help guide the Exchange into the future.”
Keiser, a longtime advocate for health care reform, played a key role in expanding Washington’s health coverage during her tenure as chair of the Senate Health Care Committee.
“I am so pleased to take on this new role on the Exchange Board,” Keiser said. “When I became Chair of the Senate Health Care Committee, our state’s uninsurance rate was near 16%. With the effective implementation of what was called ‘Obamacare,’ the Exchange successfully reduced our uninsured rate to below 5%. I am thrilled to join the Exchange to protect and expand those gains.”
Keiser represented Washington’s 33rd Legislative District, which includes Burien, Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, and SeaTac. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 and later to the Senate, where she became its most senior member before her retirement.
Before her political career, Keiser worked as a broadcast journalist in Portland, Denver, and Seattle, and later as the communications director for the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. She holds degrees in political science from UC Berkeley and a master’s in journalism.
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange oversees Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online health insurance marketplace, and Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). Enrollment in Apple Health is available year-round, while the next open enrollment period for Washington Healthplanfinder runs from Nov. 1, 2025, to Jan. 15, 2026.
For more information on health insurance options, visit wahbexchange.org.
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Washington
Washington lawmaker proposes regulations for self-checkout machines • Washington State Standard
![Washington lawmaker proposes regulations for self-checkout machines • Washington State Standard Washington lawmaker proposes regulations for self-checkout machines • Washington State Standard](https://washingtonstatestandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/state-capitol.jpg)
Proposed legislation could change the way customers shop at grocery stores, as one Democratic lawmaker is pushing for regulations on self-checkout machines.
House Bill 1739 would establish rules for when and how self-checkout stands could be used in grocery stores. If passed, self-checkouts could only be used when a regular checkout lane is open. An employee who monitors self-service lanes would have to do so exclusively, and be limited to supervising a maximum of two stands. For their part, customers would be limited to bringing just 15 items to check out.
The regulations would apply to grocery stores over 15,000 thousand square feet in size, but not to any bulk goods stores with memberships. The Department of Labor and Industries would be responsible for investigating and enforcing violations with a fine.
“There has been a lot of challenges across Washington for grocery workers with unchecked automation and chronic understaffing,” said prime sponsor State Representative Mary Fosse, D-Everett.
At a House Committee on Labor and Workforce Standards hearing Wednesday morning, Fosse said she wants a conversation about making sure the self-checkout technology supports clerks.
“We know it can be a convenience, but when it’s used to–as a way to eliminate workers and cut labor costs, that’s when it really puts workers and customers at risk,” she said.
Grocery workers testified in support of the regulations, saying self-checkout makes them unsafe and overwhelmed.
Washington
Washington D.C. Becomes One of the Most Accessible Cities in the World with Waymap
The tech company’s partnership with Metro brings turn-by-turn, step-by-step navigation to nearly every corner of the city, including deep underground
WASHINGTON, February 12, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Waymap, a navigation app designed for people with vision impairments that is making complex city spaces and transit systems more accessible for everyone, today announced its platform is now live across the entire Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (Metro) transit system, including 98 rail stations, over 11,000 bus stops, and 325 bus routes. With an estimated 50 million Americans reporting some degree of vision loss, Waymap is a powerful free tool expanding travel and community connection for people with vision impairments and other disabilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. To download the app, visit linktr.ee/waymap.
“Access to navigation means access to the world—and to all the social, emotional, and professional opportunities it holds,” said Waymap Founder and President Tom Pey. “From lifelong residents with disabilities to visitors and others who have a harder time getting around, everyone should be able to explore all that this great city has to offer. We are grateful to have Metro as a partner in bringing this possibility closer to reality.”
Founded in 2017, and inspired and informed by the experiences of its Founder and President, Tom Pey, Waymap’s proprietary SmartStep™ technology gives turn-by-turn, step-by-step audio instructions with up to three feet of accuracy throughout a user’s journey. With over 32 million square feet (and counting) of real estate mapped globally, Waymap is the only personal navigation system that does not rely on mobile phone signal, WiFi, Bluetooth beacons, GPS, or other physical infrastructure. For more information on how Waymap’s technology works, see here.
“Metro plays a vital role in the community—connecting people in the region to jobs, schools, major attractions, and recreational activities. Ensuring that America’s Metro System is a leader in accessibility on a global scale is a priority for all of us at Metro,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “Safe, accessible public transit not only increases ridership, it also leads to a stronger economy, improved access to arts and culture, and a better place to live and work overall. Waymap also has the potential to make our region’s transportation network easier for all people to navigate.”
While Washington D.C. is the first entire city and transportation network to become available on Waymap’s platform, the company plans to expand to more cities across the U.S. and internationally in the coming year. Waymap’s location technology is currently live in cities and locations including:
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