A disease-causing tapeworm that can infect dogs — and sometimes humans — has been found in more than a third of coyotes in the Puget Sound region.

Why it matters: In rare cases, this parasite can cause a serious, slow-growing disease in humans and dogs that forms tumor-like cysts in the liver and can be fatal if untreated.

• Symptoms typically take years to appear, complicating diagnosis.
• Treatment is possible but complex, often involving surgery and years of medication, even when caught early, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So while the risk is low, the potential consequences are severe.

Driving the news: The tapeworm to watch, Echinococcus multilocularis, was found in 37 of 100 coyotes surveyed in the Puget Sound region, according to a University of Washington study published last month in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

• This is the first detection of it in a wild host on the West Coast, according to the study.

Catch up quick: Coyotes are a routine part of Seattle's urban ecosystem, and this discovery adds a new public health risk just as spring pup season makes them more visible, territorial and prone to encounters with pets.

• Chase Gunnell of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife tells Axios that more coyote sightings — and reports of them following people near dens while raising pups — are common from March through May.

What they're saying: "There have been numerous cases of dogs getting sick, and a handful of people have also picked up the tapeworm," said the study's lead author, Yasmine Hentati.

Yes, but: Human infections are very rare in the U.S., and only a handful of dog cases have been reported in Washington and neighboring states in recent years, per the study.

What to do: To prevent conflict and contact with potentially infected coyotes, keep dogs leashed in parks and greenbelts, the Department of Fish & Wildlife advises.

• Prevent them from eating feces, rodents or carcasses.
• Stay current on deworming and routine vet care.
• And never feed coyotes.

The bottom line: Seattle's coyotes aren't new — but what they're carrying is, and it's a reason for smarter habits as encounters increase this spring.

Go deeper

Moto Pizza has opened a new location in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood, further expanding its foothold in the local pizza scene.

The big picture: In five years, Moto Pizza has grown from a pandemic experiment in West Seattle to a local chain with more than a half dozen stores — plus more slated to open in California later this year.

Catch up quick: The company describes its thick, rectangular pies as a "delightfully odd mix of Detroit, New York, Roman, and Filipino goodness."

What they're saying: Moto founder Lee Kindell told Axios that opening in Pioneer Square's historic Smith Tower "is a dream come true" for him.

• He called the neighborhood the "crown jewel of the city," citing "the history, the beautiful architecture and the creativity that's going on down there."

Fun fact: Kindell competed at the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas last month and won first place in the Detroit-style pan pizza subdivision.

• He snagged second place in the pan pizza division overall.

What's next: Kindell said he plans to have more than a dozen Moto locations open by the end of the year.

If you go: Moto's Pioneer Square location can be found at 512 Second Ave., Suite 100 (on the ground floor of the Smith Tower). 11am-9pm.

Tell a pizza lover

🚶 The Ave in the University District will go car-free for three Saturdays in May and June as Seattle tests a pedestrian-focused street setup. (The Urbanist)

⚖️ Seattle police officers are pursuing a class action lawsuit alleging the city exposed them to harmful vehicle exhaust for years at the West Precinct due to ventilation problems. (KOMO)

🏙️ Seattle's Columbia Tower Club, a longtime private social club atop the city's tallest building, will close at the end of April after 40 years. (Seattle Times)

More than 5 million voting-age Americans would have to drive an estimated hour or more to present their citizenship documents to register to vote, as would be required under the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.

• That includes many voters in Washington.

Why it matters: President Trump is pushing the SAVE Act as necessary to secure future elections, but it could complicate voting for many American citizens.

How it works: The SAVE Act would require people to present documents in person to an "appropriate elections official" to register to vote — effectively killing online and mail-in registration.

• More than 21 million voting-age Americans lack the documents needed to register to vote under the SAVE Act, such as a birth certificate or passport, per an estimate from the Brennan Center for Justice, a liberal public policy nonprofit.

What we found: The average American lives about 20 minutes by car from their nearest election office, per an Axios analysis. Those are county or municipal offices that manage voter registration and voting.

Yes, but: For rural Americans in western states, that more than doubles to 49 minutes.

• In parts of central Washington and the Olympic Peninsula, some voters would have to drive two hours or more.

Full story

NASA sent five hot sauce varieties on Artemis II, deeming the spicy staple an essential item.

• Even in space, flavor matters.

Hot sauce serves practical and behavioral health functions in space, according to Victoria Segovia, a public affairs specialist at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

• "In microgravity, astronauts often experience less acute olfactory senses due to fluid shift — similar to having a mild congestion — which can dull flavor perceptions," she tells Axios.
• "Spicy and bold" condiments help enhance taste, she says.

NASA declined to release the list of brands on this mission.

• But Wasabi, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Sriracha and Tabasco are popular on the International Space Station, along with shrimp cocktail featuring freeze-dried shrimp and horseradish, PBS says.

What condiment could you not live without if you were headed into space? Let us know by hitting reply.

Check out the astronauts' menu