Soundside (KUOW News and Information)

Where do you put juvenile offenders when correctional facilities won’t take them?

That’s the question many county judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials are facing after Washington’s Department of Children, Youth and Families closed both of the state’s youth correctional facilities to new inmates until further notice.

To explain what’s happening and what it means for youth who are convicted of serious crimes, Soundside was joined by KUOW investigative reporter Ann Dornfeld.

Guests:

• Ann Dornfeld, KUOW investigative reporter

Related Links:

• KUOW - Conflict and confusion after state suspends intake for convicted juveniles
• WA suspends taking in sentenced youth at two detention centers | The Seattle Times

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year we can count on the reliable passing of the seasons: the leaves falling in Autumn, winter blooming into spring, and if you’re following tech, the reliable attempt – yet again – at a federal data privacy bill in the U.S. Congress. 

Back in April, two Washington legislators – Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell and Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers – announced to much fanfare that they would be leading the charge this year with newly drafted legislation called the American Privacy Rights Act. 

"Researchers project that if current trends continue, companies training large language models may run out of new publicly available high-quality data to train AI systems as early as 2026," said Senator Cantwell in a hearing on the issue earlier this month. "So without a strong privacy law, when the public data runs out, nothing stopping it from using our private data..."

As AI systems and their developers are hungry for more data, companies are starting to ask consumers to provide it -- often without ethical guidelines in place. 

In the hearing, Senator Cantwell called AI advancements “...fuel on a campfire in the middle of a windstorm," citing concerns with deepfakes, data security, price gauging, and data transparency.

"Privacy is not a partisan issue," said Senator Cantwell. "According to Pew Research, the majority of Americans across the political spectrum want more support for regulation. I believe our most important private data should not be bought or sold without our approval..."

Will concerns driven by AI be push tech regulation to the finish line?

To hear more about this latest attempt and if this effort might make it through, Soundside’s Libby Denkmann caught up with AI researchers Jacob Metcalf and Jennifer King. 

Guests:

• Dr. Jacob Metcalf is a researcher at the nonprofit Data & Society, where he studies and consults with companies on ethical AI practices. 
• Dr. Jennifer King is a privacy and Data Policy Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human Centered Artificial Intelligence. 

Related Links:

• Lawmakers unveil new bipartisan digital privacy bill after years of impasse - The Verge
• White Paper Rethinking Privacy in the AI Era: Policy Provocations for a Data-Centric World | Stanford HAI
• The Ethical Dilemma at the Heart of Big Tech Companies (hbr.org)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many performers, a missed show can mean a huge pay cut. 

Drag queens, comedians, musicians, and other entertainers are mostly independent contractors, which means no employer provided health insurance or sick time. 

Now, local drag queen Betty Wetter, as well as the dance duo Drama Tops, and Velocity Dance Center, have come together to create the Queer Sick Pay Fund. 

The Fund is meant to provide queer nightlife performers in the Seattle area with sick pay and resources when they have to miss a gig. 

Guest:

• Seattle drag queen Betty Wetter

Relevant Links:

• Velocity Queer Sick Pay Fund page

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We wanted to round out today’s show by remembering a man described as the greatest music journalist Seattle ever had - Charles R. Cross.

For over 40 years, Cross tracked the pulse of Seattle through its music. 
He was also known for his biographies of local rock legends: Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart.

Cross’ family confirmed in a statement that he died on Aug. 9 of natural causes at his home in Shoreline. He was 67. 

Charles was also a regular guest on KUOW. . 

Our last conversation was back in January. Charles invited me over to his house to pour over archives of The Rocket - the scrappy biweekly music magazine he owned and edited.

The paper published from 1979 to 2000, and its writers were tastemakers for the whole music industry  during grunge’s dizzying heights in the ‘90s. When we sat down to talk, Cross had just announced that all 336 issues of The Rocket were available online, a painstaking process that exemplified the deep love he had for the journalism and artists who helped build Seattle culture . 

Here’s that conversation.

Guest:

• Seattle-based music journalist Charles R. Cross

Relevant Links:

• Variety: Charles R. Cross, Music Journalist Who Wrote Heralded Kurt Cobain Biography and Edited Seattle’s Alt-Weekly the Rocket, Dies at 67
• The Seattle Times: Charles R. Cross, influential Seattle music journalist, dead at 67

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Washington state parks need to be more accessible to people with disabilities.

That’s the conclusion from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation – which prompted a deal announced earlier this month to bring state parks into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Guests:

• Laurel Demkovich, Washington State Standard reporter
• Syren Nagakyrie, Founder and Director of Disabled Hikers

Related Links:

• Washington to fix accessibility violations at its state parks - Washington State Standard
• U.S Department of Justice and Washington State Parks resolve complaint over Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations 

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This November, Washington voters will be asked to weigh in on complicated policies like a capital gains tax and a long-term care fund. Maybe the most complex one is the future of the Climate Commitment Act, an initiative on the November ballot seeks to repeal the key part of this 2021 law: the “cap-and-invest” system. 

It’s essentially an auction for major polluters where companies can purchase carbon allowances – kinda like permission slips for emitting planet-warming carbon dioxide. 

Over the next two days, we’ll hear from both a supporter of the initiative to repeal the cap and trade system and a defender of the Climate Commitment Act.

Today, we hear the defender of the CCA: State House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, State House Majority Leader, who helped create the Climate Commitment Act

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When some people picture political conventions, they might imagine a grand stage lit up with dazzling lights, a seemingly never ending stream of speeches - and a sea of enthusiastic supporters cheering their hearts out, waving lots and lots of American flags.

Since Monday, the Democratic National Convention has been underway in Chicago. 

There have been speeches and high-profile moments. like a visit from Michelle Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama.

But there’s a whole other world at the DNC. Beyond the big speeches and VIP appearances, there’s a bustling undercurrent of activity.

From vibrant panel discussions and quirky merchandise stalls, to a crowd that’s anything but predictable—there’s a lot more happening than meets the eye.

Guests:

• Mike Davis, WBEZ Theater reporter

Relevant Links:

• WBEZ Chicago: At a DNC fair, Chicago's Black entrepreneurs get a moment in the spotlight

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For generations, native Chinook salmon have made their spring migration up the Columbia River…

But over the past few decades, as their population has dwindled, salmon have been overtaken by a non-native species of fish hailing from the East Coast - THE SHAD.

Shad runs now number in the millions, while just about 700 thousand native Chinook make the trip up the Columbia each year. 

What’s behind the rise of this East Coast interloper? Humans, of course. 

But the effects of Shad on the local ecosystem? Well, that’s a bit more complicated.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes to find out more about the "Chrome Tide."

GUEST: Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes

RELATED LINK: There’s a new top fish of the Columbia River — and it doesn’t mind the warm water | The Seattle Times

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a policy President Obama enacted by executive order in 2012. 

It’s had a rocky legal journey, but when it was still accepting new applications, DACA was open to undocumented young people who graduated from high school or served in the military and were brought to the U.S. as children. 

The program has given roughly 800,000 people access to things like a driver’s license, a social security number, and a work permit.

When the Trump Administration came into office, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that things would be changing.

"I am here today to announce that the program known as DACA under the Obama administration is being rescinded." ~Former AG Jeff Sessions

That was September, 2017. 

Within hours, immigration attorney Luis Cortes Romero – a DACA recipient himself based in Kent, Washington – helped assemble a team of legal heavy-hitters and plaintiffs who were committed to taking on the Trump Administration in federal court. 

Cortes Romero and his colleagues took the fight all the way to the highest court in the land and successfully defended DACA. 

In the process, he became the first undocumented person to help argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Now, Luis Cortes Romero is the subject of a new documentary, called “From Here/From There (De Aquí/De Allá)”, which premieres on the PBS series VOCES tomorrow, Tuesday, July 9th.

GUEST: Luis Cortes Romero

RELATED LINKS: 

• ‘From Here/From There’ (De Aqui/de Alla): The Extraordinary Journey of Luis Cortes Romero – People's World 
• Luis Cortes-Romero, a lawyer and DACA recipient, on his team's Supreme Court victory.
• Small Step Could Bring Big Relief to Young Undocumented Immigrants
• Biden Gives Legal Protections to Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens - The New York Times 
• Trump says foreigners who graduate from US colleges should get green cards | Reuters

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33,000 Boeing factory workers walked off the job Friday, demanding higher wages and for the company to restore pensions. Most are based here in the Pacific Northwest. 

The overall labor landscape in the U.S. has changed significantly since the last machinists strike 2008 – nationally, union membership remains at historically low levels, but work stoppages have increased in recent years and the number of striking workers skyrocketed in 2023.The UAW strike late last year won historic concessions for auto workers across the country. 

Guests:

Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory

Rebecca Givan, Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Boeing Machinists reject contract as 96% vote to strike

AP: Boeing machinists vote to strike after rejecting pay increases of 25% over 4 years

New York Times: Boeing’s Strike Halts Airplane Production at Key Plants

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In the early 90s, Seattle was at the center of a sonic revolution. Grunge, a homegrown sludgy rock sound, became a global commodity. At the same time, another sound was making its mark on Seattle.

The Gits were a band on the precipice of national stardom, standing out with their punk sensibility and charismatic female vocalist, with music labels circling. But the promise of a big break came to a violent end. The band’s lead singer, Mia Zapata, was murdered in 1993. It happened in the early morning hours after a show at the Comet Tavern. 

For years, in media accounts, the band was defined by that tragic night. Today, the Gits’ drummer, Steve Moriarty, says he doesn’t want an act of violence to overshadow their full story. His book, Mia Zapata and the Gits: A True Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution, tells a fuller story of the band's existence.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

Steve Moriarty, drummer and author of Mia Zapata and The Gits: A True Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fueled by dry weather and high temperatures, wildfires across the Northwest have now burned more than 1 million acres. On Friday, Governor Jay Inslee declared a statewide emergency to unlock more firefighting resources. 

As of now, those dozens of fires across Washington and Oregon have put thousands of people under evacuation notice. But for cattle ranchers across the plains of the Northwest interior, moving their families – and their herds – is getting more and more difficult. 

Soundside was joined by Anna King, who has been following a number of ranchers as they work to get their cattle away from fire. King is a Senior Correspondent with Northwest Public Broadcasting and has spent more than a decade covering ranching in the remote corners of the Northwest.

Guests: 

• Anna King, Senior Correspondent with Northwest Public Broadcasting 
• Kayce Faulkner, rancher in Burns, OR
• Matt McElligot, president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association
• Mitch Baker, rancher north of Burns, OR

Related Links:

• Burnt over cattle and lands: In southeast Oregon, grief-stricken ranchers are exhausted and frustrated by wildfires - Northwest Public Broadcasting (nwpb.org)
• Anna King's video on cattle fences: Good Fences (youtube.com)
• Map of current Northwest fires: Wildfires rage in Oregon, Washington: Map the Pacific Northwest wildfires, evacuations (msn.com)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden announced he would not be running for re-election, and would instead endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.

A lot of the news coverage in the last twenty four hours has focused on how party officials from both sides of the aisle are considering the President’s decision to step down from race. 

But those aren’t the people who will ultimately be deciding the outcome of this race in November.

The question is: will an influx in Democratic Party fundraising, institutional support – as well as a new narrative – be enough to engage the average American voter?

Or does the seeming momentum of the Republican Party sweep former President Tump back into office?

Guest:

• Eric Liu: CEO and co-founder of Citizen University, a cross-partisan non-profit dedicated to reviving civic engagement. He’s also a former foreign policy speech writer and deputy domestic policy advisor under the Clinton Administration.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to visit campaign staff in Wilmington, Delaware this afternoon. This of course, comes as she works to consolidate Democratic support for her abbreviated campaign for the party’s presidential nomination. 

It once seemed beyond the realm of possibility that President Biden would leave the campaign stage. For weeks he insisted he was up to the task of defeating Donald Trump. At one point Biden even said the “Lord Almighty” would have to tell him to quit.  

Meanwhile, more and more Democratic members of congress felt he needed a “come to Jesus” moment to realize he should quit the race. 

It looked like a stalemate. 

But then, a remarkable thing happened over the past week or so. As the President was fighting COVID, he reportedly listened to arguments he didn’t want to hear. 

Some close aides and longtime allies like Nancy Pelosi brought him data: evidence that showed he was likely headed for defeat.

And Biden changed his mind. He was, as they say, "100 percent in, until he was 100 percent out." 

He joins a small handful of sitting Presidents who have made such a decision. 

And it’s worth saying: it is incredibly rare to willingly give up what is (arguably) the most powerful job in the world. 

Now we’re all navigating this uncharted territory together.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with the Chairs of both the WA State Democrats and WA State Republicans to see how they are navigating this momentous time.

GUESTS: 

• Shasti Conrad: chair of the Washington State Democratic Party
• State Rep Jim Walsh: chair of the Washington State Republican Party

RELATED LINKS:

• https://x.com/washdems/status/1815416981086257185
• https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-campaign-allies-calling-delegates-lock-support-before-convention-sources-2024-07-21/
• https://twitter.com/WAGOP/status/1815397774969778307

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has been an onslaught of news in Seattle’s theater community. 

Earlier this year, Seattle Rep announced it was laying off the majority of its artistic staff. The non-profit theater’s subscription base is half of what it was before the pandemic.

And that isn’t the only change in the theater world: The 5TH Avenue Theatre is shutting down its new works program. ACT Theatre is exploring a merger with Seattle Shakespeare.

Now, to be clear, these aren’t the only theaters in town, there are many, many smaller theaters throughout King County, like Second Story Repertory in Redmond, and Green Lake’s Seattle Public Theater which has merged with Matcha Theatre Works.

But for major players like the Rep, 5TH Ave, Village Theatre, and ACT, the climb out of the pandemic has been tough.

Guests:

• John Langs, Artistic Director of ACT Theatre
• Sheila Daniels, Assistant Professor at Cornish College of the Arts
• Aviona Rodriguez Brown, Associate Director of Engagement at 5TH Avenue Theatre and founder and CEO of ARB Consulting Arts.

Relevant Links:

• Seattle Times: Seattle Rep layoffs to include majority of its artistic staff
• Seattle Times: ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Company may merge soon
• Seattle Times: John Langs, artistic director of Seattle’s ACT Theatre, to step down

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Seattle Theater Group merged with Matcha Theater Works; the organization that merged with Matcha Theater Works is called Seattle Public Theater.

An earlier version of this podcast also stated that Seattle Rep and Seattle Children's Theatre merged. This overstates the recently announced partnership between these two theaters. Seattle Children's and Seattle Rep have instead combined forces on a few functionalities like box office, IT, and database administration.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last March, it was reported that the Nordstrom family was interested in once again taking their storied retail company private. 

There hadn’t been much word until last week, when we finally heard a price proposal – $23 a share. Another bid by the Nordstrom family was rejected six years ago.

So - why try again now? And what is the future of this iconic Seattle brand?

Seattle Times business reporter Alex Halverson breaks it all down.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

• Alex Halverson, Seattle Times business reporter

Relevant Links:

• What’s behind Nordstrom family’s $3.8B play to take control of company - Seattle Times

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As humans have built skyscrapers, factories and highways around the Puget Sound, our environment has become much noisier, and not just terrestrially.

Underwater, humans (and our large cargo ships) have a large sonic impact, too.

New research suggests that cacophony is hurting the survival of some of the original inhabitants of the Salish Sea: Southern Resident orca whales.

Orcas use a series of clicks and vocalizations to hunt down their favorite meal: Chinook Salmon. It’s sort of like a bat using echolocation.

A new study published in Global Change Biology by scientists at the University of Washington and NOAA shows how orcas’ hunting is affected by all that sound we create.

Guests:

Jennifer Tennessen, senior research scientist in the University of Washington’s Department of Biology

Relevant Links:

KUOW: Shhh! The orcas can’t hear their dinner

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You won’t see Brian Heywood’s name on your ballot this November but you will see his impact.

Heywood is a Redmond based hedge fund manager who spent millions of dollars of his own money to fund citizen’s initiatives against the state’s cap and invest system, capital gains tax, and long term care insurance program.

His PAC, Let’s Go Washington, also gathered signatures for another initiative on your ballot about natural gas regulations.

Brian Heywood joins Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss his attempt to rollback these policies and why he's pursuing citizen's initiatives instead of running for office.

Guest:

Brian Heywood, hedge fund manager and funder behind I-2117, I-2109, and I-2124

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: 6 initiatives head to WA ballot with $6M support of Brian Heywood

KUOW: WA initiative supporters turn in signatures to repeal capital gains tax, carbon auctions

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Members of the King County Council have moved to officially say the county’s youth jail should remain open.

The council voted last week eight-to-zero in favor of a non-binding resolution to declare its support for keeping the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center in operation – with some improvements.  

The move comes just over four years after King County Executive Dow Constantine pledged to shutter the facility by 2025

It was a promise made during the summer of George Floyd racial justice protests.

At the time – Constantine said his goal was “shifting public dollars away from systems that are rooted in oppression.” 

And he predicted that, “phasing out centralized youth detention is no longer a goal in the far distance.”

But since then, the goal has been getting farther down the road.

Earlier this year, the timeline for closing the jail was pushed out to 2028 at the recommendation of an advisory committee of community partners. And now, the county appears to be indefinitely delaying that push. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

• Tascha R. Johnson, Associate Executive Director of Choose 180 - a non-profit dedicated to transforming the juvenile justice system
• King County Councilmember (District 9) Reagan Dunn

Relevant Links:

• Youth jail should be improved, not closed, King County Council votes - KUOW

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chances are high that you’ve never been to McNeal Island before.

Few have - the island, located in the Puget Sound, southwest of Tacoma, isn’t accessible to the general public.

The only people that are allowed are staff and pre-screened visitors at the Washington State Special Commitment Center - the first post-prison institution for people designated as sexually violent predators.

Around 515 people have been detained in the Special Commitment Center program since 1990. 

But now, a new report from the Seattle Times shows that, for the first time in its history, the center is releasing more patients than it’s taking in. 

What that means for these patients, and the general public, depends on who you ask.

Here to shed some light and help make sense of things is Seattle Times investigative reporter Rebecca Moss.

GUEST: Rebecca Moss - Seattle Times Investigative Reporter

RELATED LINKS:

• WA confined hundreds for sexual violence. Then it quietly began releasing them. - Seattle Times
• The island where WA has confined hundreds for sexual violence: What to know - Seattle Times

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 150 years, the United States government operated boarding schools that separated Native American children from their families and communities. The government's goal was to eradicate native languages and culture. At least 17 US Indian boarding schools existed in Washington State.

A new report from the Department of Interior outlines the scale and impact of the government's effort. It identifies by name almost 19,000 native children who were sent to boarding schools across the US and roughly 1000 children who died in the boarding school system, including 60 in Washington State.

While the report is among the first of its kind, native leaders are saying it's just a start towards understanding the impact of these schools. Deborah Parker, a citizen of the Tulalip tribes and Chief Executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, talks about where things stand in light of the new report.

Guests: Deborah Parker, Chief Executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

Relevant links: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/60-native-children-from-northwest-died-in-u-s-boarding-schools-among-nearly-1000-deaths-nationwide/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/us/politics/native-american-boarding-schools.html

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle City Council is preparing to take a final vote today on a pair of new laws that city attorney Ann Davison and some city council members say could help the city fight drug trafficking and prostitution.

The SODA ordinance –  stands for “Stay Out of Drug Areas.” It would create a new gross misdemeanor, punishable up to 364 days in jail, and a $5,000 fine, for being caught inside a designated SODA zone – if you’re subject to a judge’s order to stay out. 

Soundside host Libby Denkmann talks to one man who was subject to a similar policy – in his case, a King County judge issued a several-block “Stay Out of Drug Area” order after he was arrested in 2015. 

Guests:

Joe Conniff, REACH Reentry Program Supervisor at Evergreen Support Services. Conniff is also the author of Causes and Conditions: A Life Experience in Addiction and Recovery.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like a lot of Washingtonians right now, we're doing our best to stay cool. 

Sometimes going outside is unavoidable, and in that case, it means doing everything you can to avoid sun damage. 

That means applying - and reapplying lots of sunscreen.

But lately, some people on social media platforms like Tiktok, have been trying to convince their audiences to do the opposite.

You don’t have to have a medical degree to know: that kind of advice is wrong, and it’s having a worrying impact. 

Here to help us tackle these sunscreen myths - and answer some of your burning questions about sunscreen, is Dr. Lindsay Gunnell, a dermatologist at with UW Medical.

Guests:

• Dr. Lindsay Gunnell, UW Medical dermatologist

Related Links:

• Some Tiktok influencers are maligning sunscreen. Here's what to know about the claims. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine you are renting a property and your grass dies and gets brown (this is the Pacific Northwest, where, aside from some unseasonable August rain, it’s pretty dry all summer).

Then you get a note from your management company that letting that grass die violates the property’s rules and fines you $125. Then, on top of that, the company charges you an additional $125 for the trouble it took to put that note on your door. 

These fines, so called “junk fees,” are allowed in Washington State. 

A few cities like Seattle and Olympia have banned them. But those living outside areas with regulations can be subjected to a myriad of fines. 

Renters claim it is a way to penalize them to the point of moving. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

• Kelsey Turner, reporter at InvestigateWest

Relevant Links:

• InvestigateWest: WA renters say unregulated ‘junk fees’ are being used to retaliate, discriminate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the turn of the 20th century, Asahel Curtis was a prolific photographer who traveled throughout Washington. His work captured the state as it underwent big changes, owing to rapid industrialization. For decades, a massive collection of Asahel’s glass plate negatives has been held at the Washington State Historical Society in Tacoma.

The plates, however, are aging. In the 1980s, historians and staff were able to digitize around 3,000 of his most essential photographs. That left about 58,000 to go. Now, thanks to renewed interest and funding, historians are working on preserving the rest of the Curtis images.  

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

• Margaret Wetherbee, Head of Collections at the Washington State Historical Society

Recommended Links:

• Asahel Curtis Collection - Washington State Historical Society (washingtonhistory.org)
• ASAHEL: The Curtis Collection | Cascade PBS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

K-beauty is not a niche market. Built around dewy skin with no visible pores, big eyes, a thin body, it’s the “ideal” for pop stars, celebrities, and regular people across the world.

The industry, built on Korean skincare and makeup products, is the result of “hallyu” — exporting of South Korean pop culture that the government has helped sponsor since the 1990s.

In her new book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital,” Elise Hu describes how digital filters and a booming beauty economy have transformed the industry, societal expectations, and what’s actually achievable when it comes to that “flawless” finish.

This interview originally aired on June 6th, 2023.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guest: 

• Elise Hu: journalist, podcaster, and author of “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Columbia River is undoubtedly one of the most important rivers in the Northwest. Today, its irrigation provides water for the farms of Central Washington; it’s a vital waterway for salmon; and it provides a critical source of hydroelectric power. 

The river is split between the U.S. and Canada, and its headwaters begin in British Columbia. For the last 60 years, one treaty -- the Columbia River Treaty -- has dictated how the two nations manage the river and its dams. But that treaty is quickly approaching an important deadline this September, and if nothing changes, terms in the treaty become less favorable to the United States.

In the last month, stakeholders on both sides of the border have come to an "agreement in principle" on an update to the Columbia River Treaty. Negotiations over changes in the treaty have been in the works for the last 6 years.

It’s probably something you haven’t heard about before – but it’s a critical piece of the future of the Columbia River and everything that depends on it. This week Soundside’s Libby Denkmann caught up on the treaty’s latest with Nigel Bankes, professor emeritus of law at the University of Calgary.

Guests:

• Nigel Bankes, professor of law emeritus at the University of Calgary

Related Links:

• Agreement in Principle on a Revised Columbia River Treaty | ABlawg
• U.S. and Canada update 60-year-old Columbia River Treaty | Cascade PBS
• What’s at stake if the Columbia River Treaty were to end - OPB

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This election season we’re taking a dive into the big races and big initiatives on your ballot this November. This week we’re taking a look at Initiative 2066 – the "Natural Gas Policies Measure." 

For a quick refresher, this initiative aims to keep natural gas as a consumer option as building codes, state policies, and utility companies begin a pivot to green and clean energy. 

Yesterday, Soundside heard from Leah Missik, who opposes the initiative to repeal provisions in this year’s natural gas law.

Today, Soundside heard from a supporter of the initiative: Greg Lane, the executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, which is the main sponsor of the initiative. 

Guests:

• Greg Lane, executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington.

Related Links:

• Washington's Energy Choice Initiative (protectenergychoice.com)
• Measure to prevent phasing out of natural gas in WA is on track for November ballot • Washington State Standard
• City Inside/Out: Gas or green? Debate over natural gas heads to voters | seattlechannel.org

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For the first time in 12 years, the Governor’s race in Washington is wide open, with no incumbent running.

Three-term Governor Jay Inslee is stepping aside, and there are four clear frontrunners to replace him.

This week we’ll hear from the men vying to replace Governor Inslee, and first up is Dave Reichert.

Reichert formerly served as King County Sheriff and represented Washington’s 8th Congressional district for 14 years.

Guests:

• Dave Reichert, former congressman representing Washington's 8th District

Relevant Links:

• KUOW: Mainstream Republicans strike different tone than official state GOP at annual conference
• Seattle Times: Reichert emphasizes law-and-order agenda at Yakima GOP conference
• KUOW: It's official: Dave Reichert enters race for Washington governor

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Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison and Councilmember Cathy Moore say they have a plan to give the city a new tool to help fight drug trafficking and prostitution. 

Last Thursday they introduced a pair of ordinances that would create a number of “safe zones” in the city -- typically called Stay out of Drug Areas (or SODA) and Stay Out of Areas of Prostitution (or SOAP) zones.

The legislation hearkens back to previous Seattle laws that were REPEALED by the Seattle City Council four years ago.

So, why bring them back now?

Soundside host Libby Denkmann sits down with KUOW reporter Amy Radil to get the latest. She covers politics, government, and law enforcement for the station.

GUEST: Amy Radil

RELATED LINKS: 

Seattle officials revisit ‘exclusion zones’ to disrupt drug activity, sex trafficking - KUOW

Council Proposes Creating Huge New Zone Where Sex Workers Aren't Allowed - Publicola

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The scene opens on a dusty street. Weathered wooden buildings with false fronts line either side of the street, as two gunslingers line up at high noon.

A lone tumbleweed drifts across the street… which, actually, is the problem we’re here to discuss today. 

Tumbleweeds, also known as Russian thistle, are an invasive plant here in the United States. And for people in Central and Eastern Washington, they’re a nuisance that can clog roads and pose a potential fire hazard. 

So when reporter Anna King found that these invasive plants were being sold online as elegant decor – she was understandably curious about why. She joined Soundside to discuss her recent reporting on how tumbleweeds are managed, and how they spread so far.

Guests:

• Anna King, reporter for the Northwest News Network covering Washington and Oregon mainly East of the Cascades.

Related Links:

• Tumbleweeds sold for big bucks on popular home decor website causes chuckles in the Northwest - Northwest Public Broadcasting (nwpb.org)

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The FBI is still searching for a motive in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Republican and Democratic leaders have urged Americans to turn down the temperature of rhetoric that demonizes and dehumanizes political opposition 
to try to take the edge off the anger and division that’s come to be standard in public discourse.

But it’s not clear everybody’s listening to that hopeful message.

We had reports that former President Trump had moderated his speech for the GOP convention in Milwaukee this week to focus on a message of unity. But this morning, Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate the dismissal of the classified documents case in Florida.

He decried what he calls a “weaponization of our Justice system.” And he claimed without evidence that the numerous legal cases against him a “conspiracy” coordinated by the “Democrat Justice Department” to hurt “Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME.”

So - are we back where we started? 

Are the events of the past 48 hours going to lead to any change in the tone and tenor of mistrust and polarization that defines our politics in 2024?

And if so, how might that change be realized? 

Soundside host Libby Denkmann spends the hour exploring these questions with a variety of experts.

Guests:

• KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone
• Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan
• Jacob Ware - a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and the author of "God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America."
• Ronald Feinman - a professor at Florida Atlantic University, and the author of “Assassinations, Threats and the American Presidency: From Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama.”

• Monica Guzman - host of the podcast “A Braver Way”, and a senior fellow at “Braver Angels” - a cross-partisan organization dedicated to political depolarization. She’s also the author of the book “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to have fearlessly curious conversations in dangerously divided times.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are 28 candidates running for Governor in the August 6th Primary. So, if you’re a Washington voter and feeling a little overwhelmed, you’re not alone.

On Soundside we’re keeping it simple. This week we’re interviewing the top 4 candidates in terms of polling and fundraising. So far, we’ve spoken with Dave Reichert, Bob Ferguson, and Mark Mullet.

They all want to replace Democratic Governor Jay Inslee, who’s been in office for almost a dozen years. 

All these candidates have very different ideas about where the state should be headed. 

The final candidate is Semi Bird. Bird is a former Richland School Board member and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Army, where he served as a Green Beret and earned a Bronze Star. 

Guests:

• Semi Bird, former Richland School Board member

Relevant Links:

• Tri City Herald: Controversial Richland School Board Member Announces Bid for Washington Governor in 2024
• Seattle Times: WA GOP endorses Semi Bird for governor at Trump-dominated convention
• KUOW: Republican gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird responds to accusations of "stolen valor"

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The Paris 2024 Olympics are in full swing. Tomorrow (Wednesday the 7th) is the final day of competition for the artistic swim teams - better known to many by the sport’s old name: synchronized swimming.

This is the first time in 16 years that the American team has qualified for the Olympics. And, two members of that team come from right here, in Seattle.

They both got their start at the same club - called Seattle Synchro.

Guest:

• Daniela Garmendia, Head Coach at Seattle Synchro

Relevant links:

• Seattle Synchro team website

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At this point, most of Washington’s primary election results have been called.

Bob Ferguson will face Dave Reichert in the race for governor. Tanya Woo and Alexis Mercedes Rinck are vying for a spot on the Seattle City Council. Goodspaceguy once again failed to get onto the November ballot.

But – in one race, the drama has remained at a fever pitch as votes trickle in.
Nearly 2 million people cast ballots, but in the end, just 51 votes separated second and third place in the race to be Public Lands Commissioner.

And the fun’s not over yet.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

• Northwest News Network state government reporter Jeanie Lindsay

Relevant Links:

• KUOW: A recount is coming in race for WA public lands commissioner

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The U.S. presidential race has undergone a big transformation. 

But has anything changed for Democrats who voted "uncommitted" in Washington state's presidential primary?

As the party prepares to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris in a virtual role call vote, an uncommitted delegate says Harris needs to show more separation from President Biden on the war in Gaza before she will earn his support.

Guest:

• Yaz Kader, uncommitted delegate for Washington’s 7th congressional district, which encompasses most of Seattle and Burien, as well as Vashon Island, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline, and Normandy Park.

Relevant links:

• Seattle Times: WA to send 2 ‘uncommitted’ delegates to Democratic National Convention
• Washington State Standard: Harris snags support of Washington Democratic delegates

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Vice President Kamala Harris is quickly gaining momentum as a potential successor for President Joe Biden in November. But there’s still one major event that will define this year’s Democratic campaign: The Democratic National Convention. 

The convention will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago. President Biden, who clinched his primary victories, would typically seize the opportunity to discuss policy and outline the party's platform for the final stretch of the election. 

But with his departure from the race, the focus of the convention may be very different.

To analyze the implications of Biden’s decision to not run for reelection and how the Democratic could move forward, Soundside was joined by James Long. Long is a professor of political science at the University of Washington, and a co-founder of the Political Economy Forum there.

Guests:

• James Long, professor of political science at the University of Washington, and a co-founder of the Political Economy Forum.

Related Links:

• Washington Post: How Democrats can pick a new candidate, step by step
• Yahoo News: DNC panel to meet in public to set ‘transparent, fair’ framework to pick presidential nominee

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The Department of Children, Youth, and Families, which oversees the state’s foster care system, celebrated a milestone last week:

The number of children in foster care has dipped below 5,000. That’s down significantly from 9,171 kids in foster care in 2018 – a reduction of more than 50% in six years. 

This is seen as progress among experts who have pushed for states nationwide to keep children with their parents whenever possible. Splitting up families can do lasting harm to kids and disproportionately affects people of color. 

But critics of the approach say the policy shift has created a situation where the state may be leaving children in harmful situations too long, especially when parents struggle with addiction or mental health issues. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

• Nina Shapiro, social issues reporter at the Seattle Times

Relevant Links:

• Seattle Times: Why WA’s foster care system is shrinking fast
• Seattle Times: Is Washington state taking too many children from their parents? Movement seeks to overhaul foster care

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For decades, the road to recovery after a spinal cord injury has meant years of physical therapy. The goal is often small but meaningful improvements in body function. 

Being able to stretch your fingers that much farther, or grip just a bit harder. 

Jon Schleuter’s path began after he broke his neck diving into a pool 20 years ago. 

Soundside's Libby Denkmann and Alec Cowan spoke with Schleuter in May. 

You can check out the original story, complete with photos here: https://www.kuow.org/stories/things-are-happening-new-tech-offers-groundbreaking-recovery-in-spinal-injuries 

GUESTS: 

• Jon Schlueter
• Chet Moritz

RELATED LINKS:

• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-02940-9
• https://www.onwd.com/therapy/arc-ex/ 
• https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65689580https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65689580 

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It’s track and field week at the Paris Olympics.

Yesterday, the women’s 800 wrapped up with Keeley Hodgkinson of Great Britain taking the top spot. 

As exciting as an Olympics track event always is, it didn’t compare with nearly 100 years ago, when women were first allowed to run this race. Then, it was a media frenzy. 

And not because of the pure awe at elite runner’s abilities. Instead, at the Amsterdam Olympics of 1928, the media and many sports officials were concerned about women running competitively at all. The Boston Globe’s John Hallahan described “six competitors [who] were so exhausted that they were near collapse at the finish. All fell flat on the ground.”

But the truth of that race, and the history of women’s running, is far more complex than popular accounts would lead you to believe. 

It’s a story that author Maggie Mertens tells in her new book, Better, Faster, Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know about Women. 

Guests:

• Maggie Mertens, journalist and author of Better, Faster, Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know about Women

Relevant Links:

• WSJ: The Long Road to Olympic Equality for Women

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Primary election results continue to roll in. And sure, your head may have been turned by that flashy State Lands Commissioner race.

But if you’re a Seattle resident, a very consequential city council contest should also be on your radar.    

The at-large 8th district seat is up for grabs this November. The citywide position was formerly held by Teresa Mosqueda. Last year, she won a spot on the King County Council. 

Tanya Woo, a business owner and community organizer in the Chinatown International District, was appointed to the vacated city council seat earlier this year.  She is now running to win that seat outright.

But a progressive challenger Alexis Mercedes-Rinck had a dominant showing in last week’s primary. And she may be on track to make Woo’s stint on the council a short one.

Guests:

• David Kroman, Seattle Times staff reporter covering Seattle City Hall

Relevant Links:

• Seattle Times: Seattle incumbent’s lagging primary results signal warning for general
• Seattle Times: New Seattle City Council members sprint to catch up after slow start
• Seattle Times: Seattle council delays vote on social housing funding initiative

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When I say the one percent, what do you think of?

Is it the ultrawealthy? A phrase coined during the Occupy Movement? Is it the second wateriest form of milk on the market?

This story is about a different group of one percenters, it’s primary election season, after all, and we’re talking about voters who have their ballots rejected in Washington.

Over the last decade, around 99 percent of cast ballots were accepted.

But of those one percent that were disqualified, the Secretary of State's office noticed a trend: certain demographic groups had higher rates of rejections than others. 

That’s something the office wanted to know more about, so they teamed up with University of Washington researchers to better understand whose ballots were rejected and why.

Guest:

• Scott W. Allard, Associate Dean for Research & Engagement at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington

Relevant Links:

• Washington State Ballots Project

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August is right around the corner and that means schools are getting ready for the academic year.

While kids are hanging onto a few more weeks of summer, voters are getting ready to determine who will oversee Washington’s public schools. 

The incumbent, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, is facing some challengers in the primary on August 6.  

Guest:

• Washington State Standard reporter Grace Deng

Relevant Links:
Washington State Standard: Six quotes to sum up the second WA schools chief candidate debate

Ballot drop box locations

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Public opinion polling.

It’s never been more consequential for the direction of our democracy – or more scrutinized. For weeks, journalists, pundits and politicians have debated the available data on the outcomes of a head-to-head rematch between President Joe Biden and former-President Donald Trump. 

Those numbers had appeared increasingly troubling for Democrats. And the polling data, in the end, reportedly made the difference for Biden in deciding to step aside. 

For more insight into the implications and challenges of polling, Soundside was joined by W. Joseph Campbell, professor emeritus of communications at American University and author of “Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections.”

Guests:

• W. Joseph Campbell, professor emeritus of communications at American University and author of "Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections."

Recommended Links:

• Homepage - Emerson Polling (emersoncollegepolling.com)

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Oh, voter. You are going to be asked to watch so many races in the coming months.

There is, of course, the presidential race, which is sucking the air out of the room. There's also governor, attorney general, congressional seats, state house representatives, land’s commissioner, and, because you live in the great state of Washington, citizen’s initiatives.

And, if you don’t have enough to think about, there is a new initiative likely headed to your ballot. 

It will roll back the state’s efforts to move away from this fossil fuel. And it would ban any proposed bans on natural gas.

Guest:

• Jerry Cornfield, state government and politics reporter at the Washington State Standard

Relevant Links:

• Washington State Standard: Initiative opponents target the millionaire behind the measures

• Washington State Standard: Builders launch initiative to block Washington’s natural gas phase-out
• Washington State Standard: Washington’s heat pump push hits a snag

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Riders packed trains on Friday to see four new stations on the One Line, which now stops in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood.

At the 148th Street Station, Shoreline celebrated the occasions with a marching band, speeches, and bubble machines. The suburb has been planning for this moment for years, that’s apparent when you step off the train. 

Across I-5 from the light rail station, new apartment buildings are going up. Townhomes line a couple blocks near Meridian Avenue. There’s also road work to add larger sidewalks and traffic-calming roundabouts. 

The city is encouraging density and building infrastructure to support more pedestrians, and this is an effort most every city in the state is struggling with.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guest:

Mayor Chris Roberts, City of Shoreline

Relevant Links:

KUOW: Light rail is helping Mountlake Terrace find its heart

The Urbanist: South Shoreline Light Rail Brings Suburban Retrofit with Thousands of Homes

Seattle Times: Lynnwood light rail is opening. Here’s what you’ll find at 4 new stations

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Last night in Milwaukee, Ohio senator J.D. Vance accepted the Republican nomination for Vice President of the United States and took his place as former President Donald Trump’s running mate. 

Vance’s first convention speech possibly - maybe - upstaged the cameo earlier in the night from Babydog, a rotund bulldog owned by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice.

This was always going to be a big week for Republican politics – but I think it’s safe to say that there’s been even more eyes and attention on this convention, as it’s marking the first major event for former President Donald Trump since the attempt on his life last Saturday.

Here to break down the Republican National Convention so far is Jim Brunner,  politics reporter for The Seattle Times. 

GUEST:

• Jim Brunner, Seattle Times politics reporter

RELATED LINKS:

• Top WA Republicans absent from Trump-centered RNC in Milwaukee - The Seattle Times
• WA union leader welcomes Teamsters president's Amazon-bashing RNC speech - The Seattle Times
• Tree hats worn by WA Republican delegates get the ax at RNC - The Seattle Times

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The political landscape is shifting rapidly this week. 

Just days after President Biden announced he would not seek re-election, the Democratic party is getting in line behind the Vice President.

According to an Associated Press survey, Vice President Kamala Harris has earned enough delegate support to become the Democratic nominee for President.

And now, as she takes center stage, the spotlight on Harris has intensified. And the floodgate of criticism from Republicans has opened.

Some of these attacks have focused on what you’d expect – like her work on immigration, or the Biden Administration’s record on inflation.

But some notable criticism has also focused on factors outside of the Vice President’s control: Harris’ race, and gender. 

On Monday, Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee called Harris “our DEI Vice President” in a post on X. DEI as in, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”

And the Washington State GOP posted yesterday on the same platform that Harris was “unqualified to lead,” adding, “Antimeritocratic DEI is not building back better, it's setting us further back.”

With the first Black and Asian woman – and only the second woman ever– headed to be the nominee of a major political party, how will racist and sexist tropes play a role in this campaign season?

And how are Black and Asian women gearing up to confront them?

Guest: 

• Washington State Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland

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Washington voters this year are contemplating a wide-open race to replace the state’s Attorney General.

The Attorney General manages the state's largest public law firm, overseeing a staff of attorneys charged with representing public agencies and defending the rights of Washington residents, covering issues including consumer protection, civil rights, environmental regulations, and antitrust. 

This year’s race is an especially interesting one. The current Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, is running for governor. That means that without an incumbent, the office will see its first new A.G. in 12 years. 

This week Soundside is interviewing the three candidates who all want to be the state’s next top lawyer. Libby Denkmann spoke with Republican candidate and Pasco mayor Pete Serrano yesterday. 

Next up is state Senator Manka Dhingra. Dhingra is a Democrat representing the state’s 45th legislative district, which includes Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish and other parts of the Eastside. She’s also the Deputy Majority Leader in the State Senate. 

Guests: 

• Manka Dhingra, Democrat representing the state’s 45th legislative district, which includes Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish and other parts of the Eastside.

Related Links:

• Who are the three candidates running for WA attorney general?
• What is an attorney general? They’re more attorney than general
• WA attorney general candidate questioned over employment claims, asked to correct website

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Today is Mexican Independence Day, and we’ve got a bit of a musical treat to take us out.  

Yesterday, Orquesta Northwest put on a concert at Town Hall Seattle, celebrating “El Grito” -- the day that father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called for Mexicans to rise and fight for freedom. 

The concert was part of the Mexam NW Festival, which features dozens of Mexican cultural events around the Seattle area. The festival is curated by the Mexican Consulate of Seattle and runs through October 19th. 

Soundside producer Jason Burrows went to the Town Hall Seattle and caught the musicians and organizers as they were rehearsing for the performance.

GUESTS: 

• Paula Madrigal, Artistic Director of Orquesta Northwest
• Teo Benson, Executive Director of Orquesta Northwest

Related Links: 

• Orquesta Northwest 
• Mexam NW Festival

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know a few things about the woman known as Lou Graham, for sure: 

She was a brothel madam in Seattle at the turn of the century. And she’s immortalized in one of the city’s popular ghost tours. 

Maybe you’ve even felt her spiritual presence while passing through tunnels underneath Pioneer Square.

Beyond that, facts are sparse. But plenty of legends about Graham’s life and impact on Seattle are served up to tourists and YouTube viewers who care to search her name.  

From Geographics: “Technically sex work was illegal, so Graham made sure to have the ladies registered as “seamstresses” on the books.

From Women Being Podcast: “Graham was an advocate for women’s rights and social justice, and supported the women’s rights movement, including the Seattle chapter of the NAACP. She died in 1903 a feminist icon.”

It turns out, most of that is TOTAL BUNK.

But the truth behind those fables – and a journalist’s search to find it – may be even more illuminating.  

GUEST: Hanna Brooks Olson, author of “Notoriously Bad Character: The True Story of Lou Graham and the Immigrants and Sex Workers Who Built Seattle”

RELATED LINKS:

• https://hannabrooksolsen.com/ 
• The Many False Histories of Lou Graham | Medium

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If someone asked you to name three Rock musicians that are Black, could you?

Some people might be able to, but in general there aren’t a lot of them.

This is despite the fact that the genre traces its roots back to Black blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues artists in the United States. The rock music industry and academic scholarship of the genre instead tend to focus on white voices. That’s according to research from the University of Ottawa. 

Cameron Lavi-Jones says that’s part of what inspired him to create the band King Youngblood, which he fronts. It’s also why, along with co-founder Anthony Briscoe, Lavi-Jones created Black & Loud Fest.

The Fest celebrates Black-fronted bands - especially those in genres that don’t  typically feature many Black performers.

And it’s returning to Seattle for its third year: next Saturday, September 14th at the Crocodile.

Guests:

• Cameron Lavi-Jones, frontman of King Youngblood, and co-founder of Black & Loud Fest

Relevant Links:

• Black & Loud Fest Website

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Have your friends been canceling on you because they’re sick? Coworkers on prolonged absence because your entire team came down with a bug? Feeling a sniffle yourself lately? 

This summer, The CDC says more than a dozen states across the US are seeing “very high” spikes  in COVID cases. But now that we’re a few years past the pandemic, what’s the responsible amount of time to stay home from work, avoid the grocery store, or get the latest booster? 

To help answer those questions and get the latest in covid-ettiquette, Soundside reached out to an expert.

GUEST: Dr. Amanda Casto - Infectious Disease Specialist with the University of Washington School of Medicine

RELATED LINKS: 

• Most people don't care about COVID anymore. That's good — and bad. 
• The Science Behind Why COVID-19 Tends to Spike During Summer Months

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For many Washington students, and parents, the school year is just about to start - if it hasn’t already.

And they're not the only ones gearing up for the new year. Teachers and school staff are about to step into a new year with all sorts of new questions about how their respective school systems will be run.

So, we wanted to check in with a panel of education experts, to hear about how they’re preparing for both an incoming class  of students, and the realities of working in the Washington education system right now.

Guests:

• Ibijoke Idowu, a special education teacher with Seattle Public Schools

• Hilda Lail, Vancouver Public Schools Bilingual Family and Community Engagement Partnership Coordinator

• Julianna Dauble, president of the Renton Education Association

Relevant Links:

• Cell Phone and Smart Device Use in Schools - OSPI
• SPS, city of Seattle announce safety plan before new school year - Seattle Times
• Seattle school closures: Why almost every student would be affected - Seattle Times
• More school resource officers coming to Renton - Kent Reporter

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To round out today's show, we're going to meet someone who spends nearly all of his time proudly showing off our little corner of the Pacific Northwest.

As the lead naturalist for the Seward Park Audubon Center, Ed Domiguez teaches park visitors about local birds, and animals, along with plants and everything in between.

Soundside producer Jason Burrows joined Ed on one of his early bird treks back in 2022, and brings us this story of enjoying nature. Ed is still leading guided tours today -- you can learn more about upcoming tours and other programs by going to sewardpark.audubon.org.

Guests: 

• Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Environmental Learning Center 

Related Links:

• KUOW - Sharing 'a life-sustaining energy,' exploring Seward Park with naturalist Ed Dominguez
• Seward Park Audubon Center

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This week (September 8th to 14th) is National Suicide Prevention Week.

Deaths by suicide in young people have risen by more than 60% in recent decades. And in 2022, it was the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-14. 

Behind that tragic statistic is a lot of nuance, though. 

For example: Alaska Natives, American Indians, and White youth are more likely to take their own lives than their Asian American peers. But researchers say even that statistic masks the reality of suicide rates in Asian American young people, and that rates vary greatly by subgroup. 

Soundside spoke with Dr. Anthony L. Bui, lead author of a study that looked at suicide rates in Asian American youth. Dr. Bui is also an acting assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a researcher at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

He believes that by better understanding the background of individuals at risk, we can develop culturally specific and more effective approaches to youth mental health care.

Dr. Bui's study was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics. 

During our conversation Dr. Bui noted the importance of reaching out to professionals like school therapists when you are concerned about the youth in your life. 

Soundside called up one of those school-based, child mental health specialists -- Ana Short -- to learn more about what culturally appropriate health care for young people may look like in practice.

Correction notice, 2:13p.m. on Thursday, 9/12/2024: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Ana Short worked for Internal Community Health Services. This story has been amended to the correct employer: International Community Health Services.

Guests:

• Dr. Anthony L Bui, acting assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. 
• Ana Short, child mental health specialist with International Community Health Services. 

Related Links: 

• Suicide rates differ in subgroups of young Asian Americans - UW Medicine | Newsroom 
• More Asian young people are dying by suicide — and some subgroups are faring worse than others (nbcnews.com)

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The Washington State Department of Corrections has pledged to stop the use of solitary confinement in state prisons, in most cases. And the agency says it has made progress on that goal.

But a recent report from the agency’s own independent watchdog, the Office of the Corrections Ombuds, says isolating inmates for extended periods of time is still a widespread practice.

The findings, published in June, showed more than 1 in 5 people incarcerated in state prison at the time of the report had served a significant amount of time in solitary. 

The Ombuds also highlighted 176 suicide attempts over the last decade by people in solitary. 14 of those were fatal.

The report was requested by WA State lawmakers who are working to END solitary confinement because of its effects on the mental health of inmates.

To find out more, Soundside talked to WA State Standard reporter Grace Deng.

GUEST: Grace Deng - WA State Standard

RELATED LINKS: 

• Prisoners still routinely isolated in WA, despite efforts to cut solitary confinement - WA State Standard
• https://oco.wa.gov/sites/default/files/OCO_SolitaryConfinementReport_Part1_June2024.pdf 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King County is in the midst of a coordinated effort to confront gun violence. Late last week, the county announced a 100-day initiative to combat shootings in the area.  

Gun violence is a national issue, and it’s the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, surpassing traffic collisions in 2020, and last month U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence a public health crisis.

Guests:

• Eleuthera Lisch - Director of Public Health - Seattle and King County’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention

• Celia Jackson - Director of Criminal Legal System Transformation in the King County Executive’s Office

Relevant Links:

• King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention: Community-based Resource Guide
• Axios: Seattle launches initiative to reduce gun violence

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Perhaps you’ve noticed a lot of construction on Seattle streets this year: new bike lanes along MLK, fresh pavement and bus shelters on Madison Street, and sidewalk replacements across the city.

That’s because the Seattle Department of Transportation has money to spend. 

In 2015, voters passed a $930 million transportation levy called “Move Seattle.”

And initially, Seattle was slow moving that money out the door.

“Move Seattle” expires this year and Seattle voters will likely be deciding on whether to raise their property taxes again for a new transportation levy this fall.

And this one is clocking in at over $1.5 billion.

Tomorrow, the city council plans to vote on the final version of a Seattle transportation levy that will appear on ballots in November.

Guests:

• Greg Spotts, Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation

Related Links:

• The Urbanist: SDOT Sprints Toward the End of the Move Seattle Era
• Seattle Times: Sidewalks top of mind for Seattle’s priciest-ever transportation levy
• KUOW: $1B for sidewalks, bike lanes, and road repairs: Seattle transportation levy ahead

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study out of the University of Virginia combined data from all 50 states to see how COVID restrictions did or didn’t reduce pandemic deaths.

Despite criticism – even today – that COVID restrictions were tyrannical and unnecessary, the paper shows that states with more stringent mask and vaccine mandates did in fact save lives, and that states without those measures could have prevented excess deaths had they followed similar strictures.  

While hindsight is, in this case, literally 2020 – the study should inform our response to future pandemics.

Soundside spoke with the paper's author, Christopher Ruhm, about the findings. Ruhm is a professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Public policy. 

Guests:

• Christopher Ruhm, professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Public policy. 

Related Links:

• How State Policies Impacted Death Rates During COVID | Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy | University of Virginia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington’s 3rd Congressional District covers the southwest corner of the state, from Long Beach to Mount Adams, and from Yelm down to Vancouver. 

It’s also the home of one of the most fiercely contested congressional seats in the entire country.

In 2022, Republican challenger Joe Kent defeated incumbent Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler in the Primary, but lost to Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in the General election by roughly 2600 votes.

This time around, Gluesenkamp Perez is the incumbent. The way this primary race is shaping up, she will likely be facing either Kent or his Republican Party competition, Camas city council member Leslie Lewallen, in November.

This week, we’ve invited the leading candidates in the race on the show for interviews, to get a sense of their policy positions and vision for the future.

GUEST: Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat in her first term representing the 3rd district of Washington State.

RELATED LINKS:

• The Identity Crisis of Marie Gluesenkamp Perez - Politico
• The Blue-Collar Democrat Who Wants to Fix the Party’s Other Big Problem - New York Times

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picture a historic church in Tacoma’s Proctor neighborhood, bathed in afternoon sunlight, poised for a dramatic transformation.

Julie Cain, who purchased the church in 2021, envisions turning it into affordable housing for young adults. The project aims to address local housing needs and foster a supportive community, with plans for shared rooms and communal spaces.

However, the ambitious plan has sparked mixed reactions from neighbors concerned about traffic, parking, and neighborhood changes.
Back in June, the city issued a permit for converting the church – albeit with some limitations. Neither side liked that outcome, and both sides requested a reconsideration. Yesterday, the city denied both requests. Now, no one is happy.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guests:

• Becca Most, Pierce County reporter for the Tacoma News Tribune

Relevant Links:

• Tacoma News Tribune: Affordable young adult housing proposed for old Tacoma church
• Tacoma News Tribune: Proctor church conversion to shared youth housing hits snag
• Tacoma News Tribune: Amici House youth project in Tacoma hits development hurdle

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Fitz Cahall started his “Dirtbag Diaries” podcast in 2007, he was an avid outdoorsman struggling to make ends meet as a travel writer. At the time, this whole ‘on demand audio storytelling’ thing was kind of new, and Fitz saw it as a way of bringing new life to his joy of the outdoors. 

Today, he’s replaced his wild life bouncing around in a van with the concrete landscape of Seattle, where he continues to host his podcast with his wife, Becca, and their team of producers. And 17 years after they first began, Fitz and crew have now adapted 30 of their favorite “Dirtbag Diaries” into a new book titled States of Adventure: Stories About Finding Yourself by Getting Lost.

Cahall recently joined Libby Denkmann to discuss the book, the last 17 years of podcasting, and how he continues to find inspiration in the great outdoors.

Guests:

• Fitz Cahall, author of States of Adventure.

Related Links:

• The Dirtbag Diaries - The original outdoor adventure podcast : The Dirtbag Diaries
• States Of Adventure - The Dirtbag Diaries : The Dirtbag Diaries

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While ballots are still being counted, most of the races in last week’s primary election have been decided. But one contest in particular – the race to become the next Commissioner of Public Lands for Washington state – has become surprisingly close. 

The Commissioner of Public Lands runs the state Department of Natural Resources – think forest and wildfire policy, along with issues like fish hatcheries and salmon restoration.

As of last week, just a few thousand votes separated the two candidates fighting for the final spot in this November’s general election -- and even now, the race is a toss-up.

For the latest, Soundside was joined by Seattle Times' Amanda Zhou and Isabella Breda. Both Zhou and Breda are reporters for the Seattle Times Climate Lab.

Guests: 

• Amanda Zhou and Isabella Breda, Seattle Times staff reporters covering climate and the environment. 

Related Links: 

• Democrat Upthegrove moves into No. 2 spot in WA lands commissioner primary | The Seattle Times
• Here’s where candidates for WA lands commissioner stand on key issues | The Seattle Times

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To ratify, or to strike: those are the options in front of 33,000 Boeing workers this week.

On Monday, machinists at Boeing sites across the West Coast woke up to news that union leadership had reached a tentative contract agreement with the company. 

The last contract was ratified 16 years ago -- in 2008.

However, not everyone is excited about the terms of the agreement.

On Thursday, those union employees will decide to take or reject the offer. If they vote it down, machinists could walk off the job later this week.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUEST:

• Lauren Rosenblatt - Seattle Times  Innovation, Technology, and Workforce issues reporter

Related Links:

• Machinists union agrees on tentative contract deal with Boeing | The Seattle Times
• Boeing Machinists union chief expects members will reject deal, strike | The Seattle Times 
• UNION RECOMMENDS ACCEPTANCE - PDF of the Contract Basics

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s primary election day.

Over a million Washingtonians have already turned in their ballots.  

If you’re not one of those early voters, you’re not alone. About 80% of registered voters have opted to wait until the last few hours, if they’re voting at all. 

Perhaps it’s procrastination; perhaps you plumb forgot. Maybe you just really prefer casting a ballot in-person on election day, you traditionalist, you.    

Or maybe you just don’t think primary elections are all that crucial, and you’re saving it up for November. 

Well, we wanted to get an update on voter participation so far for this primary…

So we’ve brought in some experts to help us go through the numbers. Their teams are busy RIGHT NOW with the huge logistical work of collecting, counting and securing ballots to provide accurate results later this week.

GUESTS: 

• Pierce County Elections Manager, Kyle Haugh
• Clark County Auditor, Greg Kimsey

RELATED LINKS:

• Current Ballot Return Statistics - WA Secretary of State
• A trickle of ballots so far for Washington’s primary - WA State Standard

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This November, Washington voters will be asked to weigh in on complicated policies like a capital gains tax and a long-term care fund. Maybe the most complex one is the future of the Climate Commitment Act, an initiative on the November ballot seeks to repeal the key part of this 2021 law: the “cap-and-invest” system. 

It’s essentially an auction for major polluters where companies can purchase carbon allowances – kinda like permission slips for emitting planet-warming carbon dioxide. 

Over the next two days, we’ll hear from both a supporter of the initiative to repeal the cap and trade system and a defender of the Climate Commitment Act.

Yesterday, we heard from a defender of the CCA: State House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon.

Today, we talk to a proponent of the initiative, who wants to dismantle the state's carbon auction: Washington Policy Center's Todd Myers.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

Todd Myers, Vice President of Research at the Washington Policy Center.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a lot of stories about the financial challenges facing schools right now: Seattle School District has a $100 million budget gap they need to close and they’re going to be shuttering schools to make ends meet. 

Bellevue School District also closed schools to shore up its budget last year.

Other districts are looking at million dollar shortfalls and considering school closures or ending programs. 

But Marysville School District is facing a particularly challenging landscape.

"They have a critically declining financial condition," said Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy. Her office reviews the finances of all 295 school districts in the state.

Their report on Marysville’s finances made headlines when it was published last week. McCarthy compared Marysville's situation to Vader School District, which dissolved in 2007 because of severe financial problems.

So what is going on at Marysville and how does it fit into the larger landscape of budget challenges at districts statewide? 

Guest:

• Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab and a Research Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy

Relevant Links:

• Washington State Standard: Why WA school budgets are getting tighter, and what can be done about it
• KUOW: Could Marysville schools have to close amid 'uniquely perilous' financial troubles?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few months ago, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz was demoted following numerous HR complaints – and legal filings – during his time at the helm of the SPD. Those complaints include claims of discriminatory behavior by Diaz toward women and people of color. There were also rumors of a relationship with an employee.

Diaz has denied those allegations, but in May, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that Diaz would no longer lead the department and appointed former-King County Sheriff Sue Rahr to replace him as interim police chief. 

But in a recent unsigned letter sent to the Seattle City Council, a whistleblower has alleged that the department’s issues could continue even after Diaz -- because the agency tasked with holding SPD accountable hasn’t been doing its job. 

KUOW’s Ashley Hiruko has been reporting on all of these developments and joined Soundside to discuss a letter confirmed to be written by a whistleblower within the Office of Police Accountability. 

Guests: 

• Ashley Hiruko, KUOW investigative reporter

Recommended Links:

• KUOW - Seattle Police watchdog heads ignored complaints against former Chief Adrian Diaz: letter to council
• KUOW - Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is being dismissed
• KUOW - Interim SPD Chief talks SPD culture, school safety, and whether to bring officers back to campuses

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night - President Biden sat down with NBC’s Lester Holt, and answered a question on everyone’s mind: will the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump change the election?

His answer: "I don't know. And you don't know either."

He’s right - we don’t know how last weekend’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump will change things.

But, at least for now, some corners are calling for unity and dialing back extreme rhetoric.

And public calls for the incumbent president to pass the torch within the Democratic Party have quieted, as attention instead turns to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

This is not the first act of political violence that has occurred in America in recent years. To name a few:

Two people died when supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021, to disrupt the certification of the presidential election.

In 2017, a gunman opened fire as Republican members of congress held a baseball practice, injuring congressman Steve Scalise.

And in 2011, another member of congress, Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head while meeting with constituents in Arizona. Six people at the event were killed.

Congressman Adam Smith represents Washington’s 9th congressional district, which includes areas from Auburn to Bellevue and parts of Seattle. He’s also a close friend of Gabby Giffords.

Congressman Smith sat down with Soundside to discuss the shooting, as well as continued calls for President Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee.

Guest:

• Congressman Adam Smith, who represents Washington’s 9th congressional district, which includes areas from Auburn to Bellevue and parts of Seattle.

Related Links:

• Transcript: Read the full Biden interview with Lester Holt on NBC News
• Adam Smith, renegade? The promise and peril of crossing your party

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I can’t stop listening to the news, it’s stressing me out to the max, you say?

I’m literally listening to the news right now, and may be developing an anxiety-induced twitch, you say?

If that’s how you’re feeling right now, you may be in need of a little escape this summer.

Perhaps a good book is in order?

Well, if that’s the case you’re in luck because our next guests are here to hook you up with novels, non-fiction roller coasters, and storylines that’ll make you forget TikTok dances exist for a while. You’ll be like Tyla Dance what, never heard of her.

Book Recommendations:

• Jenna Zarzycki, adult services librarian at King County Library System
  • You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo (Summer Pick)
  • Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura (Beach Read)
  • No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister (Local Recommendation)
  • Never Whistle at Night edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (Horror)
  • The Yellow Handkerchief (El Pañuelo Amarillo) by Donna Barba Higuera (Children's)
  • This is Chance! by Jon Mooallem (Non-fiction)
• Charlie Hunts of Charlie's Queer Books:
  • Goblin Mode by McKayla Coyle (Summer Pick)
  • THE GUNCLE series by Steven Rowley (Beach Read)
  • Someplace Generous edited by Elaina Ellis and Amber Flame (Beach Read)
  • Second Night Stand by Karelia and Fay Stetz-Waters (Local Recommendation)
  • Cryptid Kids: The Bawk-ness Monster by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter (Children's)
  • Off with their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta (Young Adult Horror)
• Katie Campbell, KUOW editor and reporter
  • Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Summer Pick)
  • Subduction by Kristen Millares Young (Local Recommendation)
  • Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (Local Recommendation)
  • Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang (Mild Horror)
  • The Last One by Will Dean (Medium Horror)
  • The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons (Hot Horror)
  • The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (Thriller)
• Diana Opong, KUOW host
  • Dinner at the Brake Fast by Renee Beauregard Lute (Children's)

Guests:

• Jenna Zarzycki, adult services librarian at King County Library

• Katie Campbell, KUOW editor and reporter who runs KUOW's book club

• Charlie Hunts, owner of Charlie's Queer Books in Fremont

Relevant Links:

• KUOW Book Club
• King County Library Summer Reading Program

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re headed back to Washington’s 3rd Congressional District – which includes the southwest corner of the state, from Long Beach to Mount Adams, and from Yelm down to Vancouver.

It’s expected once again to be the site of one of the closest House races in the country – the Cook political report rates it as one of only 22 “tossup” contests in 2024.

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez flipped the seat in 2022 by a slim margin: she defeated Republican Joe Kent by roughly 2600 votes.

Kent is back vying for the seat, along with another Republican challenger:

GUEST: Leslie Lewallen, a city councilmember in Camas, WA and a former King County Deputy Prosecutor.

RELATED LINKS: 

• Leslie Lewallen sets sights on Washington’s 3rd Congressional District seat - The Columbian
• One of 2022's closest House races is primed for a rematch — with a fight over the GOP's future first - NBC
• YVYV: Republican Leslie Lewallen running in Washington's Third Congressional District  - KATU TV

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a move aimed at curbing street racing, the Seattle City Council recently approved stricter penalties for people who participate in, or are spectators of, the activity. 

A blog post by the city specifically noted a street racing event from July of last year as an influence on the legislation.

Three people were wounded and one was killed during the race in Capitol Hill, after someone opened fire on a crowd of spectators.

City Attorney Ann Davison, who worked in partnership on the bill, called street racing a growing problem in the area. 

But some have argued that the legislation is overkill, when the state already instituted new laws around street racing earlier this year.

Guest:

• Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7)

Relevant links:

• Seattle City Council Blog: Seattle City Council adopts new tools to fight illegal street racing
• Statement from Councilmember Kettle: While Seattle Police don’t have specific on data on street racing, my constituents have increasingly raised concerns about these incidents. The feedback has been amplified by the media coverage of the late night disruption to neighborhoods, shootings and injuries during these dangerous gatherings.  On July 23, 2023, three people were wounded by gunfire and one person was fatally shot during an unlawful racing event in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. And during a weekend in June, a pair of illegal racing events resulted in the tragic shooting death of 22-year-old man, multiple shooting injuries, and a car striking a pedestrian.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new show from Cascade PBS looks at the way artists in the Pacific Northwest incorporate their surroundings into drawings, tapestry, and pottery. 

‘Art by Northwest’ showcases local artists inspired by the landscapes and culture of their communities. Each episode explores the stories behind their work, reflecting the unique essence of the Pacific Northwest. 

"What I hope for the series is that people see how artists are translating their landscape into their work," says host Brangien Davis.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

• Brangien Davis, host of Art by Northwest and Crosscut's arts and culture editor

Relevant Links:

• Art by Northwest Episode 1 - Leaving the Loom: Tininha Silva
• Art by Northwest Episode 2 - Collaborating With Trees: Todd Horton

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The Democratic party is riding the Good Vibes Express after its Chicago convention. 

And a look at polling averages gives them reason to celebrate: Since becoming the nominee, Vice President Harris has shaken up a relatively static presidential race: She’s now running slightly ahead of former President Trump nationwide. 

In swing states, she has pulled even in key areas of the sun belt like Georgia and North Carolina. 

Some analysts say you have a more concrete expression of the electorate’s mood coming from right here in Washington State.

In fact, in the last several presidential and midterm elections, Washington state’s primary has developed a reputation as a reliable bellwether for the outcome of national general elections. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guest:

• Armin Thomas is a political analyst at Split Ticket, a nonpartisan election analysis firm

Relevant Links:

• A Very Detailed Examination Of The Washington Primary - Split Ticket

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the best coffee spots in Bellingham isn’t a cafe, at least according to some of the folks in the city’s unhoused population. Instead, it’s a casual coffee cart that pops-up twice a week, at a free lunch program, known as the Maple Alley Inn.

While the coffee is decent, the main attraction is the person running the cart. 85 year-old Ursula DeWit is known for her easy smile and exceptional listening skills. Her kindness has made a significant impact in the lives of people she serves coffee to, including seniors, veterans and families.

We’ll also hear from April Ballard who is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at Georgia State University about the importance of treating vulnerable populations of people with dignity.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

GUESTS: 

• Dr. April Ballard, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at the Georgia State University School of Public Health
• Ursula DeWitt, volunteer at the Maple Alley Inn in Bellingham

RELATED LINKS: 

• Background info on Maple Alley Inn
• Free Lunch Program
• Striving for dignity in homelessness research and outreach
• Ballard Kindness Cafe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new wrinkle in the debate over homelessness policy in the city of Burien. 

Last September, Burien passed a controversial ordinance banning camping in much of the city, Meanwhile, a local church decided to step in and offer its property as a temporary encampment for the homeless. Burien requested that the church, the Oasis Home Church, get a “temporary use permit” for the encampment.  

They declined to do that and are now bringing another lawsuit against the city, arguing that Burien was infringing on their religious freedom to provide a place for homeless residents to stay. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

Anna Patrick, reporter on the Seattle Times’ Project Homelessness team

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: Burien faces another homelessness lawsuit, this one about religion

Seattle Times: SCOTUS homelessness decisions’ impacts in Washington could be unique

Seattle Times: Burien poised to kill King County-funded shelter project

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Addressing homelessness is looking a little different in Thurston County these days.

The county, which includes Olympia, just became the fifth community in the nation to collect data on every single adult experiencing homelessness.

The county’s partner organization says that data includes the names and circumstances of each person counted. And the county vows to update the information monthly.

It’s part of a model called “Built for Zero”. 

Guests:

• Keylee Marineau, homeless response program manager at Thurston County's Office of Housing & Homeless Prevention
• Garrett Grainger, Research Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University

Relevant Links:

• Olympia, Wash. Becomes Fifth U.S. City to Collect Data on All Single Adults Experiencing Homelessness - PR Newswire
• Blog: Five Questions Housing Analysts Should Ask About "By-Name Data" - HSA: The Forum for Housing-Related Research and Debate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, the Yakima City Council made a landmark decision by passing a proclamation to designate the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride month. 

Less than a year later, the council voted to reverse that decision. 

The move was celebrated by far right religious leaders like Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk and Sean Feucht, who took to X to applaud the decision. 

And while pride celebrations defiantly went on in the city, it’s raised a lot of concerns about the ties between public officials and prominent Christian Nationalist figures. 

GUESTS: 

• Mai Hoang - Central and Eastern Washington reporter for Cascade PBS.
• Dominick Bonny - investigative journalist based in Wenatchee.

RELATED LINK: “Under God: How Christianity Permeates Yakima City Politics.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer is in full swing with clogged hiking trails, packed ferries, and the smells of backyard barbeques. 

But while many of you might be visiting tourist towns in the Cascades or near a Puget Sound Island, one Washington tourist town has been struggling: Point Roberts, our favorite local exclave.

It’s a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides, and its fourth side borders Canada. Summers are usually the high points for Canadian tourists who flock to "The Point’s" beaches, or maybe they just want the cheaper gas. 

But since the pandemic closed down the border, traffic and tourism has struggled to rebound.

A lot’s been written about Point Roberts and its predicament. Soundside producer Alec Cowan wanted to know how locals see the situation. He took a trip across the border and back to see how this isolated town is dealing with the dip – and all the stories about its decline.

Guests: 

• Brian Calder, president of the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce
• Neil King, co-owner of Kora's Corner in Point Roberts
• Emma Jones, Point Roberts local
• Rick Hoole, Point Roberts local with the Bald Eagle Golf Club
• Tracy Evans, Point Roberts local with the Bald Eagle Golf Club
• Dave Duncan, manager at the International Market in Point Roberts

Related Links: 

• KUOW - After two years of isolation, Point Roberts is open for business — sort of
• KUOW - Ferry service boosted to U.S. exclave of Point Roberts, which is cut off by Canada

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington, is a 350-acre working farm. It’s celebrated for its family-friendly attractions, including amusement parks, petting zoos, berry picking, pumpkins, hayrides. There’s an on-site cafe and brewery. 

And now it’s become the Seattle area's hottest new concert venue. 

Partnering with Seattle Theater Group, the farm is hosting a brand-new concert series. The 6000-capacity outdoor space has booked performers like Portugal the Man, Mt. Joy and Elvis Costello. 

BUT tensions are brewing between the farm and some vocal community members who oppose its existence.

GUEST: Michael Rietmulder | The Seattle Times

RELATED LINKS:

• Remlinger Farms’ new music venue has small Carnation concerned | The Seattle Times
• Alleged hit-and-run incident at Remlinger Farms under investigation | The Seattle Times
• Facebook Statement by Remlinger Farms

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington voters this year are contemplating a wide-open race to replace the state’s Attorney General.

The Attorney General manages the state's largest public law firm, overseeing a staff of attorneys charged with representing public agencies and defending the rights of Washington residents, covering issues including consumer protection, civil rights, environmental regulations, and antitrust. 

This year’s race is an especially interesting one. The current Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, is running for governor. That means that without an incumbent, the office will see its first new A.G. in 12 years. 

This week Soundside is interviewing the three candidates who all want to be the state’s next top lawyer. 

First up: Pete Serrano is a city council member serving as mayor of Pasco, Washington. He’s a co-founder of the legal nonprofit, The Silent Majority Foundation, and he’s endorsed in the Attorney General race by the Washington GOP. 

Guests:

• Pete Serrano, city council member serving as mayor of Pasco, Washington.

Related Links:

• What is an attorney general? They’re more attorney than general
• Who are the three candidates running for WA attorney general?
• Washington Supreme Court will hear Gator’s Custom Guns case on high-capacity magazine ban
• The Republican who wants to be Washington’s next attorney general

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in 12 years, there is no incumbent running for Governor in the state.

And since Gov. Jay Inslee decided he would not seek a fourth term in office, dozens of candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to replace him.

This week I’m talking to the four men who lead the pack in fundraising and polling. 

Next on the list, Democratic state Senator Mark Mullet. Mullet represents Washington's 5th legislative district in Olympia. He also owns an ice cream parlor and pizza shop in Issaquah.

Guests:

• State Senator Mark Mullet (WA-05)

Relevant Links

• Washington State Standard: Mullet looks to seize middle lane in 2024 governor’s race
• Washington State Standard: Heating up: Mullet goes after Ferguson for once backing drug decriminalization

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spokane County Commissioner Al French is facing a recall effort over his handling of disclosures of contaminated groundwater in the West Plains. 
 
The “Clean Water Accountability Coalition” is sounding the alarm about PFAS—sometimes called 'forever chemicals’—in well water. 
 
And let's not forget to mention that French is also running for re-election this year, adding another layer to the already heated debate. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

Nate Sanford, staff writer at Inlander

Relevant Links:

Inlander: Spokane County Commissioner Al French faces recall attempt over PFAS controversy 

Inlander: EPA, Ecology and Spokane officials urge West Plains residents to sign up for free PFAS testing

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever tried to find a therapist who takes your insurance and failed -- you're not alone.

Many in-network providers are bailing on insurance companies, and it’s affecting access to care.

A new investigation from ProPublica surveyed over 500 therapists nationwide – compiling their answers in a new investigation called “Why I left the network”. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

• Annie Waldman, a reporter at ProPublica covering health care

• Canh Tran, a clinical social worker & therapist in Seattle
• Dr. Chuck Benincasa, a psychologist working in a group practice in Everett  

Relevant Links:

• Why I Left the Network - ProPublica
• New Biden Administration Rules Aim to Hold Insurers Accountable for Mental Health Care Coverage - ProPublica
• What Mental Health Care Protections Exist in Your State? - ProPublica

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All this week we're talking to the top polling candidates running for governor in Washington state. 

Voters, when you finally crack that August 6th primary ballot envelope open, you will see there are 28 people vying for governor of the Evergreen State, that's a lot so we're talking to the four men who lead the pack in fundraising and polling, and next up is Washington State’s current Attorney General, Bob Ferguson.

Ferguson is a Democrat. He was first elected Attorney General in 2012 and before that he was a King County Councilmember.

Guests

• Bob Ferguson, Attorney General of Washington

Relevant Links:

• Washington State Standard: Man in the middle: Ferguson tries to strike a balance on policing
• Washington State Standard: Attorney General Bob Ferguson formally enters 2024 race for Washington governor
• Seattle Times: Ferguson laser-focused on Reichert at state Democratic convention 

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Washington’s 3rd Congressional District covers the southwest corner of the state, from Long Beach to Mount Adams, and from Yelm down to Vancouver. 

It’s also the home of one of the most fiercely contested congressional seats in the entire country.

In 2022, Republican challenger Joe Kent defeated incumbent Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler in the Primary, but lost to Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in the General election by roughly 2600 votes.

This election, Kent is back for round 2, and looking to flip the district back to the GOP.

He’s once again facing off against Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in this primary election… along with another candidate from the Republican Party, – Leslie Lewellen, a councilmember in Camas, WA.

This week, we’re speaking with candidates in the race, to get a sense of their policy positions and vision for the future.

GUEST: Joe Kent, Army veteran and Republican candidate for District 3 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

RELATED LINKS: 

• Joe Kent is campaigning differently. Will it make a difference? - Washington State Standard
• Poll: Southwest Washington’s 3rd District congressional race in a dead heat - Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Washington State University's MT James Entomological Collection is the largest insect museum in the state, it holds around three million specimens. 

In 2022, state legislators allocated $50,000 for the collection to digitize pollinators,  like bees, moths, flies, butterflies and other insects that carry pollen.

Adding the 30,000 pollinators in WSU’s collection to a digital database will open up collaboration for researchers worldwide.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

• Elizabeth Murray, Telford Family Professor of Entomology and the director of the MT James Entomological Collection at Washington State University

Relevant Links:

• Spokesman Review: WSU makes strides in digitalizing 3 million insect collection
• M.T. James Entomological Collection website

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New criminal penalties for drug and prostitution-related crimes within some of Seattle's busiest areas are on the way.

In an 8 to 1 decision, the Seattle City Council voted in favor of two ordinances on Tuesday, one creates “Stay Out Of Drug Area” zones – or “SODA” zones – in six areas of the city. 

A Seattle municipal court judge can now order people who get arrested for drug-related crimes to steer clear of these zones or face a gross misdemeanor charge.   

The other establishes a “Stay Out of Area of Prostitution” zone on Aurora Avenue North from 85th to 145th street. This new SOAP ordinance also reinstates a prostitution loitering law as a misdemeanor. 

And it creates a new gross misdemeanor offense: promoting “loitering for purposes of prostitution”, meant to target sex traffickers. 

Soundside hears from KUOW politics reporter Amy Radil about the enforcement power these zones give the city, and the pushback from critics. 

And later, Soundside talks to Madison Zack-Wu, an organizer with Strippers Are Workers, about the concerns sex workers have raised about the legislation. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests:

• Amy Radil, KUOW politics and government reporter

• Madison Zack-Wu, organizer with Strippers Are Workers

Relevant Links:

• New 'loitering' penalties targeting Seattle drug and prostitution zones approved by City Council - Amy Radil, KUOW

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Across vast stretches of rural Washington, large boxy warehouses have popped up between fields of potatoes. They contain the humming infrastructure that the tech industry and users rely on to store documents in the cloud, access streaming videos, or perform internet searches. 

It’s easy to see why companies put data centers in this part of the state: cheap hydro electricity, available land, and a friendly legislature in Olympia that provides tax breaks.

But now, all those data centers are gobbling up electricity, which will only intensify with the growth of AI technology. 

And the growing demand is stretching the grid in rural counties, moving them farther away from green energy mandates from the state. 

Lulu Ramadan and Sydney Brownstone are reporters at the Seattle Times who looked into the effects of data centers on the electrical grid and rural communities in a two part series.

Guests:

• Lulu Ramadan, investigative reporter at The Seattle Times and a distinguished fellow with ProPublica's Local Reporting Network
• Sydney Brownstone, investigative reporter at The Seattle Times

Relevant Links:

• Seattle Times: Data centers guzzle power, threatening WA’s clean energy push
• Seattle Times: Data centers got a huge tax break to create WA jobs. Is it paying off?

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Washington voters this year are contemplating a wide-open race to replace the state’s Attorney General.

The Attorney General manages the state's largest public law firm, overseeing a staff of attorneys charged with representing public agencies and defending the rights of Washington residents, covering issues including consumer protection, civil rights, environmental regulations, and antitrust. 

This year’s race is an especially interesting one. The current Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, is running for governor. That means that without an incumbent, the office will see its first new A.G. in 12 years. 

This week Soundside is interviewing the three candidates who all want to be the state’s next top lawyer. Libby Denkmann spoke with Republican candidate and Pasco mayor Pete Serrano and Democratic candidate and State Senator Manka Dhingra earlier this week.

Our last candidate is Nick Brown. Brown has been General Counsel to Governor Jay Inslee and from 2021-2023, he was the U.S. Attorney for Western Washington.

Guests:

• Nick Brown, formerly general counsel to Governor Jay Inslee, and from 2021-2023 the U.S. Attorney for Western Washington.

Related Links:

• Who are the three candidates running for WA attorney general?
• What is an attorney general? They’re more attorney than general
• As fentanyl deaths skyrocket, U.S. attorney maintains tougher prosecution isn't the answer

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Voters statewide have big choices coming their way: They’re getting their ballots for the August primary starting next week, and there are a lot of candidates to decide between.

Over the last week, Soundside host Libby Denkmann has been interviewing the top candidates in the race for our state's next Attorney General. 

Now, KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone, and former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna are chiming in on the race so far.

And later, Greenstone will take a deeper look at whether Washington Democratic voters, and donors, are still behind President Biden. 

Guests:

• Scott Greenstone, KUOW politics reporter
• Rob McKenna, former Washington Attorney General

Related Links: 

• How Washington's lawmakers, donors, and delegates could influence the Biden conversation
• The race for WA Attorney General: Pete Serrano
• The race for WA Attorney General: Manka Dhingra
• The race for WA Attorney General: Nick Brown

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Two NASA astronauts named Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are currently stuck in space.

The pair launched in the Boeing Starliner earlier this year. 

Malfunctions have delayed their return from what was originally meant to be an 8 day trip to the International Space Station. Now, they may not be back on Earth until February.

And – most galling for Boeing: They may have to hitch a ride with its competitor, SpaceX. So, what exactly happened with Boeing’s new spacecraft? And what will it take to get the Boeing Starliner back on Earth?

Guests:

• Jim Hermanson, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington

• Dr. Wendy N. Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies 

Relevant links:

• AP News: Could 2 NASA astronauts be stuck at the space station until next year? Here’s what to know
• The Conversation: Boeing’s Starliner launches toward the International Space Station − an important milestone for commercial spaceflight

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This election season we’re bringing you conversations on all of the statewide initiatives on this November’s ballot -- and this year, many of those initiatives have something to do with Washington’s ambitious goals to completely transition off of fossil fuels. 

Last week we heard about Initiative 2117, which would repeal a key part of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. Today, we’re talking about Initiative 2066.

This one’s about natural gas. If passed, the measure would repeal parts of a natural gas law passed earlier this year. In a nutshell, the law was designed to push Puget Sound Energy into developing a plan for transitioning away from natural gas. 

This is where Initiative 2066 comes into the picture. It’s supported by many of the critics of this year’s natural gas law – including building and hospitality associations.

Simply speaking, the initiative is aimed at guaranteeing utility customers’ access to natural gas by repealing certain provisions in this year's earlier natural gas bill, 1589, and changing state building codes.

I-2066 would prohibit penalties for using natural gas in construction, limit the ability of building codes to discourage the use of natural gas, and keep utility officials from making planning decisions that make natural gas cost-prohibitive. 

Initiative supporters have branded it a “ban” on natural gas bans. 

Over the next two days, we’ll hear from a supporter of the initiative to repeal provisions in this year’s natural gas law…. and an opponent of the initiative.

For the "No" side of the issue, Soundside spoke with Leah Missik, the acting Washington Director of the nonprofit “Climate Solutions.” She’s also on the executive team for the "No on 2066" campaign.

Guests:

• Leah Missik, acting Washington Director of the nonprofit “Climate Solutions” and a member on the executive team for the "No on 2066" campaign.

Related Links:

• NO on I-2066: Keep energy affordable in Washington (no2066.org)
• Measure to prevent phasing out of natural gas in WA is on track for November ballot • Washington State Standard
• City Inside/Out: Gas or green? Debate over natural gas heads to voters | seattlechannel.org

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Being a sports fan in Washington State is akin to riding the Extreme Scream at the fair: big highs, and REAL SUDDEN LOWS. 

Yes, I’m looking at you, Seattle Mariners…

With the Seahawks kicking off their regular season at home this weekend against the Denver Broncos, hope springs eternal! And it felt like a good time to check in on what’s been cooking at VMAC all summer.

The team has a new head coach, and a new slate of players… so, what should we expect? 

To answer that question, we’re talking to an expert.

GUEST: Michael-Shawn Dugar

RELATED LINK: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/michael-shawn-dugar/ 

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Yesterday, thousands of Washingtonians dug through the pile of mail sitting on their hallway table. They found their primary ballot - maybe even their voter pamphlet - and took time to vote.

Congratulations to all who did. Wear that new “I voted” sticker with pride.

Because there were a lot of important things to consider in this year’s primary election: come January we’ll have a new Governor, a new Attorney General, and a new Commissioner of Public Lands, to name just a few of the big jobs up for grabs. 

Today, we’re going to figure out: what we know so far about how yesterday’s primary went, and what we're still waiting to learn.

Guests:

• Former Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna
• Democratic political consultant Cathy Allen

Relevant Links:

• Washington Primary Election Results

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For months, parents, students, and faculty at Seattle schools have been nervously awaiting news about potential elementary closures throughout the district. 

Back in May, Seattle Public Schools announced it would need to close roughly 20 schools, citing a $105 million budget shortfall… 

Now, the wait to know FOR SURE about the fate of Seattle schools isn’t over YET, but the elementary schools on the chopping block have been identified.

Wednesday, the district’s “Well Resourced Schools” website published two different proposals. 

One would close 17 schools. The other recommends closing 21.

KUOW Education Reporter Sami West joins Soundside to break down the options at hand.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

RELATED LINK: Seattle names 21 public schools to possibly close 

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The summertime is usually the peak season for tourists in Stehekin, Washington – a small community of around 100 people at the north end of Lake Chelan. It’s only accessible by boat or floatplane, making it an ideal place for a lakeside getaway or entry into the North Cascades wilderness. 

But the geography and topography that make Stehekin unique are now posing challenges as the Pioneer Wildfire continues to threaten the town. Since it started June, the fire has grown to tens of thousands of acres, and at one point spread to within 100 feet of buildings near Stehekin. Many of the areas residents have stayed, but no structures have burned.

Soundside caught up with Stan Hinatsu about the latest on the fire. Hinatsu is the public information officer on the latest incident management team -- one of six -- responding to the Pioneer and Easy Fires.

Guests:

• Stan Hinatsu, Public Information Officer with the Pioneer/Easy Fire incident response team

Related Links:

• Stehekin residents prepare to defend their town as Pioneer fire nears | The Seattle Times
• Pioneer fire moves into Stehekin, comes within 100 feet of buildings | The Seattle Times

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Earlier this month, City of Seattle workers were told most of them will have to return to the office at least 3 days a week starting this fall. Meanwhile… a certain large tech and online retail company (named after a river in South America) has reportedly started a mulling the minimum number of hours employees must stay on site to count towards its three day in-office mandate.

These changes had us wondering – is remote work gradually eroding in the Puget Sound region?

One study looking at 2022 Census data found that a quarter of workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area worked at least part of the week remotely, away from the office.

But the past year has brought a lot of changes to employer policies around where employees have to put in their hours – and for policymakers, that’s coinciding with concern about the lasting effects of remote work on Seattle’s struggling downtown core. 

For a vibe check on remote work and what the numbers tell us about its effects on Seattle, Soundside host Libby Denkmann caught up with Tracy Hadden Loh, fellow at the Brookings Institute, and Joshua McNichols, growth and development reporter for KUOW and co-host of the "Booming" podcast.

Guests:

• Tracy Hadden Loh, fellow at the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C.
• Joshua McNichols, growth and development reporter for KUOW and co-host of the "Booming" podcast.

Related Links:

• How to break the doom loop: Actionable insights from the Brookings Future of Downtowns learning exchange
• Amazon cracks down on ‘coffee badging,’ amid return-to-office push | The Seattle Times
• KUOW - Seattle ticks through to-do list to revive downtown
• Seattle mayor mandates 3 days of in-office work for city employees (komonews.com)

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Last winter, federal officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a program to save the perpetually threatened northern spotted owl.

The problem? Invasive barred owls are crowding out our local forest -- they're bigger, and more aggressive. The solution? Culling half a million of those owls over the next 30 years.

On its face, the issue seems pretty straightforward: barred owls are invasive, and because of them, Northern spotted owls are disappearing. 

But for Jay Odenbaugh, a philosopher and ethicist, the issue brings up a bigger question: how we as humans try to intervene in a problem we're also responsible for creating.

KUOW's Diana Opong spoke with Odenbaugh about a recent op-ed he co-authored for the New York Times about how we can think more ethically about conservation. 

Guests:

• Jay Odenbaugh, professor of humanities at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR.

Related Links:

• KUOW - Why the feds want to cull barred owls in the Pacific Northwest
• Opinion | To Save Some Endangered Owls, Would You Kill 500,000 Other Owls? - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
• Feds propose shooting one owl to save another in Pacific Northwest | The Seattle Times

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