Emily Randall has been a “person to watch” in Washington politics for a while now. Randall’s first electoral victory was in 2018, when she flipped a Republican held state Senate seat in the 26th district. Now, Randall is headed to Congress. Last month, she won the election to become the U.S. Representative-elect for Washington’s 6th district. That includes both peninsulas, most of Tacoma, and counties including Kitsap, Mason, and Grays Harbor. Randall is heading to the other Washington where, un...
Dec 17, 2024•13 min
What does the Northwest sound like to you? Is it light drizzle on you window? The sound of waves pushing against rocky beaches or dry grass blowing in the Palouse. It’s a question that we’ve asked local sound artists in the area. And, over the next week, we’ll be hearing some of those sounds. Today, we take you to the Methow Valley. Guest: Perri Lynch Howard - Independent artist based in the Methow Valley Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help ...
Dec 16, 2024•4 min
Washington State has a brand-new Superfund site: the Upper Columbia River. It’s the latest development in the federal government's attempts to force a Canadian company to pay for pollution that flowed down stream into U.S. waters. So what’s the next step for cleaning up the river? Well, it’s a long process, which Seattle-ites can see in their own backyard. Cleanup is also beginning on another Superfund site, the Duwamish Waterway, nearly a decade after the EPA released a plan. Guest: Isabella Br...
Dec 16, 2024•11 min
For the first time in 24 years, Washington has a new state Insurance Commissioner stepping into the role. Patty Kuderer is currently a state senator representing the 48th district, which covers areas including Redmond, Bellevue, and Medina. She’ll become Washington’s 9th insurance commissioner in January. It’s a big job - Kuderer will be in charge of licensing and regulation for every insurance industry in the state, as well as handling consumer complaints, and lobbying the legislature to change...
Dec 16, 2024•19 min
Once again, thanks for listening to Soundside during our Winter Fundraising Drive! Here at Soundside, we work really hard to bring you the news, like our conversation with Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson, and shows like Sound Politics, but we also like to keep things fun! So, in that spirit, here’s somebody who loves fun: producer Jason Megatron Burrows with a few sneak peeks of things to keep you occupied this weekend… LINKS: Christmas Parade of Boats - Friday - South Lake Union to t...
Dec 13, 2024•3 min
Toxicity. Gaslighting. Undermining. These are some of the ways Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales has described the behavior of her colleagues since she announced her resignation last week. She’s vacating her position three years before her term ends. "When I raise the issues on the dais, I am met with this seething anger just for expressing my policy priorities or my perspective," Morales said. Morales’ resignation letter raised red flags about the inner workings of city hall, and highlig...
Dec 12, 2024•14 min
Spokane mayor Lisa Brown is raising red flags about a plan to move liquid nuclear waste from Hanford through her city. She wrote a letter to the federal Department of Energy, the EPA, and Washington’s Department of Ecology asking those agencies to reconsider a plan for trucks filled with the waste to travel Eastbound I-90 out of Washington on their way to Utah and Texas. The 2,000 gallons set to be moved are just a tiny portion of the 56 million gallons sitting under the Hanford site, north of t...
Dec 12, 2024•20 min
Come January, when lawmakers sit down for the new legislative term in Olympia , there will be several new faces. More than a dozen legislators make up the new freshman class, and they’ll be facing what some have described as a ‘perfect storm’: the state is bracing for an anticipated 10 to 12 billion dollar budget gap. It’s been nearly 15 years since Washington faced a fiscal shortfall this significant. Back then, at the center of finding the cuts, and compromises, to deal with it -- was state re...
Dec 11, 2024•32 min
King County continues to ramp up its behavioral health services following the approval of a $1.25 billion by voters. With the latest development being the launch of an expanded and streamlined mobile crisis team-program last week. Guest: Taylor Blatchford, engagement reporter for the mental health project at the Seattle Times Relevant links: Seattle Times: King County expands mobile teams that bring care to people in crisis Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! I...
Dec 11, 2024•11 min
Stories about the newspaper industry struggling - aren’t necessarily breaking news. Over the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve read and listened to plenty of coverage about the challenges news organizations are facing: corporate buyouts and layoffs, and the rise of social media misinformation. But now, there’s another challenge local news journalists have to watch out for - artificial intelligence. Ryan Haas is a news editor and podcast producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting. He recently reported on a...
Dec 10, 2024•17 min
In fall of 2023, San Juan County transitioned to a 32-hour work week for county employees. It was meant to keep the county within its budget while staying conscious of the cost-of-living in San Juan. One year later, the county released a check-in report based on resident and employee feedback. So, how’s the new system working out? San Juan County Manager Jessica Hudson joined Soundside to give us insights into what the county discovered. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this sh...
Dec 10, 2024•21 min
Pianist Salo was a longtime member of a Seattle post-rock band called “Joy Wants Eternity.” Their music was instrumental -- and all of it was made close to ten years ago. The band went their separate and amicable ways in 2015. So, imagine Salo’s surprise when just this year, Joy Wants Eternity was listed as a collaborator on a new project: an album from a musician called the “Illusory Explainer. An album they didn’t actually collaborate on. Both the band and their fans were confused. If the grou...
Dec 09, 2024•18 min
Seattle City Council Member Tammy Morales is leaving her post. She announced last week she is resigning from the council. Morales has represented Seattle’s 2nd District, which includes Yesler Terrace, the CID, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley and Rainier Beach, since 2019. Her last day in the seat will be January 6th. It’s a surprise decision considering Morales was re-elected to a four year term just last year. In a letter to her constituents , Morales leveled criticisms about at toxic environment o...
Dec 09, 2024•28 min
For '90s kids, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were the dominant force in twin fiction. Over the years, other generations have been fascinated by characters like Wrigley's Doublemint Twins, or Hayley Mills and Lindsay Lohan in the 1961 and 1998 versions of the film "The Parent Trap," respectively. Twins are rich narrative terrain and raise questions about individuality. "They're a natural kind of hook for a bunch of questions about human life in general," said Helena de Bres, a professor at Wellesley...
Dec 06, 2024•24 min
Thanksgiving may be over, but there is still so much to celebrate this month. We're about 3 weeks out from Christmas and Hanukkah, then there's all the New Year festivities. If your calendar isn't already packed with wintry, holiday fun, we've got you covered. Soundside Producer Brooklyn Jamerson-Flowers made a list of weekend events for you to add to your list of end of year goodness. She even checked it twice. LINKS: Christmas Tree Lightings: Friday: Des Moines Friday: Duvall Saturday: West Se...
Dec 05, 2024•4 min
It can be challenging for anyone to stay on top of their mental health. One organization in Bellingham has come up with a creative solution to make it easier for its clients to access consistent therapy. Lydia Place has turned a Ford Transit cargo van into a therapy office on wheels. 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. G...
Dec 05, 2024•8 min
Winter is here. The nights are long, cold, and let’s face it … dark. Instead of scrolling endlessly on Netflix, maybe rewatching Hot Frosty (you know, the one about the magical snowman who turns into a hot dude), why not escape into a good book instead? If you’re not sure where to start, no worries, we got you. We’ve got a panel of book nerds ready with some book recommendations to help you get through the season. Guests: Heidi Daniel, Executive Director of King County Library System Robert Sind...
Dec 05, 2024•20 min
Today, there was a surprise announcement from Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales. After 5 years on the council, Morales, the representative for the 2nd District, said she is resigning, effective January 6th. KUOW Investigative reporter Ashley Hiruko gives us some insight into the decision and the council. Guest: Ashley Hiruko, KUOW Investigative Reporter Related Links: KUOW - Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales steps down, citing harmful work environment Thank you to the supporters of...
Dec 05, 2024•6 min
Tacoma can sometimes feel like a place for the little-er guy. Where an aspiring entrepreneur can start a small business without the hyper expensive rents and other daily costs of a city like Seattle. But, according to recent reporting by the News Tribune, one city regulation may be stifling small food businesses in Grit City. And it has to do with some of the … greasier parts of the job. Most cities, including Seattle and Tacoma, require restaurants to install machines that prevent grease, fat, ...
Dec 04, 2024•21 min
Seattle Public Schools continues to stare down a $100 million budget deficit. It’s a problem that’s sparked frustration, protests, and even a legal battle over the district’s leadership. Plans to close schools drew a lot of backlash— and have been shelved, for now. Yet, the question remains: how will the district balance its books? To help answer that question and a few more is KUOW’s education reporter Sami West. Guest: Sami West, KUOW Education Reporter Related Links: KUOW - Judge throws out a...
Dec 04, 2024•10 min
It’s Giving Tuesday, a day to take a pause from the holiday hustle and bustle, and give back to our community through charitable causes. One way a lot of people like to give back is by donating food or money to their local food bank. While grocery prices are stabilizing, grocery prices are up about 20% compared to four years ago. So how is inflation impacting food banks ahead of this holiday season? We put together a panel of three food bank organizers to get a better understanding of how inflat...
Dec 04, 2024•22 min
Since the late 1800s, logging has been a major industry in the Pacific Northwest, and its impact on the region's economy and environment have been significant. For the towns that depend on logging, the profession comes with a lot of pride. But it’s also one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , roughly 4 in 100,000 people die from injury at work. For loggers, it’s more than 10 times as much. Logging has always been dangerous work. But how ...
Dec 03, 2024•19 min
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the WTO protests in Seattle, a raucous action by 50,000 protesters who descended on the city in the fall of 1999. Their aim? Shutting down a conference of top decision makers at the World Trade Organization. When this coalition of activists succeeded in stopping the WTO’s opening ceremonies, the “Battle of Seattle” became an inflection point in a growing struggle between advocates for free trade – and groups fighting for the rights of labor, farmers, the e...
Dec 03, 2024•26 min
If you’re a parent with kids in public school, you’re likely familiar with the "lunch crunch." Across the state, a growing squeeze on lunchtimes is leading many students to eat lunch quickly -- if at all. A recent investigation from KING 5 reveals that many schools are falling short of meeting recommended lunch time benchmarks. This is critical time that helps kids stay full and focused throughout the day. Soundside's Diana Opong was joined by Chris Ingalls, KING 5 investigative reporter, to dis...
Dec 03, 2024•13 min
Fantasy football season is well underway, with many players excited about the upcoming playoffs. I know next to nothing about fantasy football and had to get a primer from Soundside Producer Alec Cowan, who is playing in KUOW’s league. He says it’s essentially regular people trying their hand at being NFL managers: drafting players, and forming rosters for each game. There are elaborate points systems based on how NFL players do each week. There’s a reason why people take part in fantasy leagues...
Dec 02, 2024•7 min
Soundside is taking a break this week to celebrate Thanksgiving. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week. Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show. 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. Stories Featured: Artists vs AI: Indie creators are noticing the emergence of artificial ...
Nov 26, 2024•51 min
Soundside is taking a break this week to celebrate Thanksgiving. Don’t worry - we’ll be back with new episodes next week. Until then, we’re bringing you some of our favorite stories from the show. 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. Relevant Links: One option for slowing climate change? Block out the sun Seattle Synchro'...
Nov 25, 2024•52 min
The first days of Robert Lester’s ambitious canoe journey started with a lot of walking. That start was in Butte, Montana on Silver Bow Creek -- the starting point of a 1300-mile trip through the Columbia River basin to the Pacific Ocean. Lester made the trip in a two seat canoe. He was joined by 18-year-old Braxton Mitchel, who’d never canoed beforehand. That journey took 55 days and is the focus of a new documentary from Lester and director Neil Larson, titled “The Columbia River Canoe Project...
Nov 21, 2024•16 min
It’s been a week! The headlines, the bomb cyclone, being stuck without electricity... A LOT of us could use a way to disconnect and do something FUN this weekend, so to help with that, we’ve enlisted our resident Culture Nerd to find the best events! So, once again, here’s producer Jason Megatron Burrows with a few sneak peeks of things to keep you occupied this weekend… LINKS: Vitamin String Quartet Thursday - Seattle Friday - Bellingham Saturday - Spokane Sunday - Portland, OR (SOLD OUT) Compo...
Nov 21, 2024•5 min
Lucidity is a new opera staging its west coast premiere at the Seattle Opera tonight. The performance takes a deeper look at the personal impacts that a dementia diagnosis has on an individual, and their family. The opera follows Lili, a former singer who has a bit of a diva streak. Her adopted son, Dante, pauses his career as a pianist to care for his mom. Together, they navigate Lili’s declining memory, her ability to perform, and her struggle to hold onto the thing at the center of her life: ...
Nov 21, 2024•14 min
