Seattle Now

Casual Friday with Zaki Hamid and Clare McGrane

This week… Some well-loved Seattle businesses are coming back from the dead as co-ops or collectives. Residents of the town of Carnation came to Seattle to say they’re fed up with false alarms at the Seattle-run Tolt River Dam. And you’ve heard of the Seattle Freeze… but are you Seattle Smug? KUOW’s Director of Community Engagement Zaki Hamid and Seattle Now Producer Clare McGrane are here to break down the week. Earth Day Events: seattle.greencitypartnerships.org/event/calendar/? We c...

Thursday Evening Headlines

Campaign to repeal WA's climate law facing official opposition, Mayor Harrell proposes law to demolish unsafe, vacant buildings, and the Seattle Storm unveil their new training facility. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram a...

Searching for Seattle’s 15 minute neighborhoods

City planners want Seattle to become a “15 minute city” – where you can walk to everything you need in your neighborhood. Well now there’s a new interactive map that can tell you just how walkable your neighborhood is. Paige Browning speaks with the map's creator, Nat Henry. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagra...

Wednesday Evening Headlines

Senate hears testimony on Boeing's eroding safety culture, Seattle's facing a massive budget hole, and SIFF unveils the lineup for its 50th film festival. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us fee...

Black Panthers in Seattle turn to the next chapter

The Black Panther Party’s Seattle chapter is drumming up new plans, more than 40 years after it disbanded. A group devoted to preserving Black Panther history plans to open a museum in Pioneer Square early next year, bringing attention to the ways the Panthers influenced Seattle then, and still do now. Seattle Times Race and Equity Reporter Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks is here to tell us about it, with some help from Elmer Dixon, a founding member of Seattle’s Black Panther chapter. Read Alex...

Tuesday Evening Headlines

Major increase in antisemitic incidents in WA, officials call for a statewide drought emergency, and Seattle's getting a new arts venue downtown. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback onl...

How a Canlis chef's yard became a community garden

A new community garden is in the works in Shoreline. It all started with a Canlis chef and some spectacular fruit trees. Patricia Murphy has the story on the garden’s unlikely path to a shared community P-Patch from some of people who made it happen. Ching Garden Volunteer Work Party: https://volunteersignup.org/T97CF We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we...

Monday Evening Headlines

Fire destroys businesses in Snoqualmie, high school seniors will get a break on some graduation requirements, and rural jails in WA are facing big challenges. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us...

WOOF! Seattle shelters have too many dogs

Seattle is a super dog-friendly city, so it may surprise you to hear that local shelters are overflowing with pups in need of homes. The crunch has a lot to do with after effects of the dog boom during the pandemic, and it's sounding alarms for people caring for these critters. We visit veterinarian Cardin Kennedy at the Seattle Animal Shelter and meet a pack of sweet dogs up for adoption. Seattle Animal Shelter's website: https://www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter/find-an-animal/adopt Eart...

Friday Evening Headlines

Supportive housing for Native Americans opens in Seattle, another "exceptional" tree is cut down, and Be’er Sheva Park is having its grand reopening this weekend. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Ruby de Luna. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave...

Casual Friday with Jodi-Ann Burey and Lex Vaughn

This week… Our personal data is in the hands of a lot of companies. Two Washington lawmakers reached across the aisle to propose national data security laws. Furry friends rejoice, five new dog parks are coming to Seattle. And we take a crack at naming Washington State University’s newest apple, and you can too. Author Jodi-Ann Burey and Editor of the Needling Lex Vaughn are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make ...

SPD's (tentative) contract and what it means for the city

How much should a brand new police officer in Seattle make? It looks like the new starting salary of officers will be in the low six-figure range, thanks to a new union contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild. The new tentative contract also includes large retroactive raises for current officers, and some changes to accountability. Publicola Editor and Publisher Erica C. Barnett is here to explain what’s in it, and what it says about Seattle’s relationship with its police force. ...

Financial Health 101 for an expensive region

Monday is tax day, and it's a reminder of how expensive our region is to live in. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows inflation in the Seattle metro area has been way above the national average for the last two years. It's the perfect time of year to do a check-up on your money. Financial coach and educator Suzanne Klenck has some words of wisdom, and some tips to get started if planning sounds daunting. Suzanne's email: [email protected] We can only make Seattle Now because li...

How Boeing got like this

This has been a year full of problems for Boeing. How did it get this way? Can the company change? Seattle Times reporter Dominic Gates gives us context. Parks Levy Meeting Registration: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pKE0Gk9XQtS6JTTaJ3arbw#/registration Read Dominic Gates’ latest Boeing Story: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeings-long-fall-and-how-it-might-recover/ We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! ...

WA employees are owed $5.4M in stolen wages

Washington workers lose millions of dollars each year to wage theft: They’re just not paid for work they did. A new investigation from the Seattle Times finds many of those workers aren’t getting their money back, in part because of challenges with our state’s department of Labor and Industries. The total amount owed since 2018 is $5.4 million. Seattle Times journalists Taylor Blatchford and Jackie Varriano break their investigation down for us today. Jackie and Taylor's piece: seattletim...

Casual Friday with Geraldine DeRuiter and Marcus Harrison Green

This week… Should Pike Place Market be pedestrian-only? Seattle City Council is reigniting that debate for the thousandth time. Amazon is moving away from its “Just Walk Out” technology, which isn’t as futuristic as it seems. And remember in 1989, when the Space Needle collapsed? We look back on one of Seattle’s most infamous April Fools’ jokes. Author Geraldine DeRuiter and South Seattle Emerald Founder Marcus Harrison Green are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle Now...

Living with ADHD in WA is hard right now

Odds are you know someone with ADHD, even though you might not realize it. Lots more people have been diagnosed in the past few years and that’s making it hard for some to get vital medication. ADHD advocate and author Jessica McCabe is excited about the shifting dialogue, but not so much about the shortages many people locally are experiencing. She has tips to help manage ADHD with or without medication. Job Accommodation Network (JAN): https://askjan.org/ We can only make Seattle Now ...

The Seattle City Council wants cheaper food delivery

You may have noticed your Doordash order got even more expensive. The Seattle City Council says it’s working on it. A minimum wage law for gig workers went into effect in January, and this more business-friendly council is already reconsidering. Seattle Times City Hall Reporter David Kroman is here to talk about it. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we ...

Orcas that visit Puget Sound are actually two distinct species

Orcas have a long special history in the Pacific Northwest. New research shows that the two types of killer whales that frequent Puget Sound are actually two distinct species. We’ll talk with Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes about what this means for the conservation of the endangered southern residents. Corridor Improvement Project: https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/freight-program/east-marginal-way-corridor-improvement-project We can only make Seat...

Every day is April Fools' Day with The Needling

Last week, Chihuly Garden and Glass shattered its museum’s ceiling to celebrate Women’s History Month… Just kidding! Happy April Fools’ Day. That was a recent headline from The Needling, Seattle's only real fake news site. We love a good self-deprecating joke around here, and Needling stories provide plenty. They also give us a chance to look at the city in a different way. Needling editor Lex Vaughan is here to talk about what Seattle finds funny, and what that says about us. We can onl...

Casual Friday with Andrew Walsh and Rachel Belle

This week… The City Council is weighing whether or not to keep paying app-based delivery drivers a minimum wage. The Mariners are back, along with some fun new food! And if you’re not a member, your time is running out to get a delicious cheap hot dog at the Costco food court. Too Beautiful To Live Podcast Co-Host Andrew Walsh and Your Last Meal Podcast Host Rachel Belle are here to break down the week. EDITOR'S NOTE: This episode was updated to remove a refrence to "Hellcat Guy" being a...

Rage and Hope: M's opening day is here

It was a contentious off-season for the Mariners, but opening day brings something most M's fan can agree on: the joyous start of baseball season. Whether you’re a die-hard or a casual fan, there’s plenty to be excited about with this year’s Mariners team despite the drama. Seattle Now Producer and baseball superfan Vaughan Jones lays out what to expect. Buprenorphine Hotline Info: https://publichealthinsider.com/2024/03/25/what-is-buprenorphine-a-qa-about-king-countys-new-bup-hotline/ D...

A blood test for colon cancer offers hope fighting a deadly disease

Colon cancer is the second-deadliest form of cancer in the U.S. Among men under 50, it’s the number one cause of cancer deaths. And today, we’re talking about a new blood test that could save lives. Researchers at Seattle’s Fred Hutch Cancer Center have co-authored a new study for a blood test that can accurately detect colon cancer. Dr. Rachel Issaka is the director of the Colon Cancer Screening program at Fred Hutch and UW Medicine, and she talks about the test and what it could mean. ...

Seattle weighs controversial tool to detect gun violence

It’s only March, but there have been at least 9 fatal shootings already in the city. That number will certainly grow. Gun violence has become more and more common in the past few years… and while everyone agrees that’s a problem, the solutions are harder to settle on. Today we’ll talk with Marcus Harrison Green about one solution proposed by the Mayor: Surveillance technology that alerts police to the sound of gunshots. The city is accepting feedback on audio gunshot location systems thr...

Kara Swisher on Seattle’s tech billionaires

Here at Seattle Now, we would jump at the chance to chat with Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos about their careers and their impact on Seattle. We don’t think either of those billionaires will be appearing on the show any time soon… But today, we’re talking to someone who has spent hours with these titans of tech. Reporter Kara Swisher has covered the industry for decades, and she’s got some axes to grind. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the s...

Casual Friday with Vivian McCall and Vaughan Jones

This week... The Seattle Reign were sold, and they’re worth a lot of money. A fatal car crash underscores the number of people dying on our roads. And we meet Hellcat Guy, the latest villain of the Seattle subreddit. Stranger Queer Culture reporter Vivian McCall and Seattle Now Producer Vaughan Jones are here to break down the week. It's not too late to donate in support of Seattle Now! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we want to...

'We feel a little forgotten': Garfield families demand safety measures

We need YOUR HELP to keep making Seattle Now. Donate to our home, KUOW, and help us raise a million dollars in one day for our Spring Pledge Drive Thursday: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow Parents of Garfield High School students say they say the city needs to do more after a student was shot in the leg waiting for the bus last week. Shootings around the school aren't new. But there's new momentum (and pressure on local leaders) to find immediate solutions. Check your ballot statu...

A visit to UW's iconic cherry trees

The weather is magnificent, and the cherry blossoms are in peak bloom on the University of Washington campus. Today, we’ll hear the surprising history of how these cherry trees came to be from UW Campus Arborist Sara Shores. UW's Cherry Blossom Cam: https://www.washington.edu/video/campus-webcams/ We need YOUR HELP to keep making Seattle Now. Donate to our home, KUOW, and help us raise a million dollars in one day for our Spring Pledge Drive Thursday: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattleno...

How five women fought off a cougar for 45 minutes

On February 17, five friends set out on a long bike ride in the Cascade foothills north of Snoqualmie. What started as a routine day on the trail turned into a fight for their lives when a cougar attacked one rider, leaving the other four to fight back with nothing but stones and their bikes. Angela King tells the women's story for the first time since the attack. Read more of Angela's reporting and see photos of the group on KUOW.org: https://www.kuow.org/stories/cougar-attack-washingto...

What we lose when restaurants close

We love our restaurants around here, but the pandemic and Seattle’s blistering growth means these third places are constantly shifting. Local food author Geraldine DeRuiter writes about Seattle's relationship to its restaurants in her new book, If You Can't Take The Heat. She joins us to discuss the importance of these third places and what we lose when they disappear. We need YOUR HELP to keep making Seattle Now. Donate to our home, KUOW, and help us raise a million dollars in one day f...

Casual Friday with Chase Burns and Jas Keimig

This week… Boeing is making headlines AGAIN… this time, it involves Dawn dish soap and hotel room keys. Washington’s US Representatives have joined the war against TikTok. And get your wizard hat on, Dungeons and Dragons kits are headed to libraries across the state. Ticket Editor Chase Burns and Freelance Arts Reporter Jas Keimig are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW:...

(Re)Introducing: the Seattle Reign

Seattle's National Women's Soccer League team is back this Sunday for a new season, and things will look a lot different. The team has a new lineup -- minus star Megan Rapinoe -- along with a new look and an old name: The Seattle Reign. Reign superfan and co-leader of the Royal Guard fan club Cyd McFarland tells guest host Kim Malcolm about the changes and what's getting them excited for the year ahead. Editor's Note: In this episode we say the Reign's owners, Olympique Lyonnais, are selli...

Burien's camping ban draws (more) legal scrutiny

The debate over homeless encampments in Burien is getting messier. Last week after the city widened a controversial ban on camping, the King County Sheriff’s Office said deputies would not enforce the rule, which they suspect is unconstitutional. A lawsuit from the Sheriff’s Office followed, and now a federal court will decide. Publicola Editor and Publisher Erica Barnett is here to talk about this escalating situation. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have...

Why Seattle's mental health problems are so visible

Many people suffering from a severe mental illness experience an endless loop. Many cycle through streets, jail, clinics, courts, and a shrinking number of hospital beds. "Lost Patients," a brand new podcast from KUOW and the Seattle Times, examines how we got here through the past of Seattle's past, present, and future. Subscribe to Lost Patients on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Here's where you can find a ballot dropbox in King County: https://cd.kingcounty.gov/en/home/dept/elections/gover...

We paid attention to WA's legislative session so you didn't have to

This year’s legislative session is in the can. Like every round of lawmaking, we started the session with lots of plans: Roughly 1,200 bills were introduced and 340 passed. Northwest News Networks' Jeanie Lindsay has been tracking it all so you don't need to. She tells us about her top 3 takeaways from the session. Live Cherry Blossom watch on the UW campus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECBJeRT-sy4 We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the...

Casual Friday with Lex Vaughn and Zaki Hamid

This week… The city’s newest comprehensive plan is here, and it’s looking to give Seattle a housing glow-up. The state legislature passed three of six Republican-backed initiatives, partially because they don’t want us to think too hard. And west coast burger chain In N Out Burger is making its way to Washington… but we’re not driving two hours for a burger. Needling Editor-In-Chief Lex Vaughn and KUOW Director of Community Engagement Zaki Hamid are here to break down the week. We can o...

Seattle needs homes. Here's the latest plan

We need more places for people to live. A lot more. Mayor Bruce Harrell has a new vision to make it happen. It’s all laid out in his update to the city’s comprehensive plan released earlier this week. We dig into where he wants the growth to go with Seattle Times City Hall reporter David Kroman. Registration for UW long Covid study: email [email protected]. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: htt...

Solving King County's fentanyl crisis will take patience

King County is devoting more resources to tackling a staggering opioid problem. Executive Dow Constantine says they’re taking a multi-pronged approach, centered around community-based and recovery-focused care. UW Medicine Research Professor Caleb Banta-Green is here to give us some perspective on the county’s new approach. King County overdose prevention and response: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/safety-injury-prevention/overdose-prevention-response We can only make...

What’s driving WA Dems to vote “uncommitted”

The rise and fall of ecommerce giant Zulily

When you need new stuff, odds are you reach for your phone instead of your car keys. Buying things online is just a way of life for many of us. But the market is changing, and there have been local casualties. Seattle Times Business reporter Lauren Rosenblatt tells the story of Zulily… a local internet retail company that boomed, and busted. It points to the way ecommerce is changing. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by ma...

Casual Friday with Paige Browning and Casey Martin

This week… There was city council drama in both Seattle and Burien, both involving the region’s homeless population. Washingtonians have a tough pill to swallow as pharmacies in the state are closing at an alarming rate, leaving a hole in neighborhood ecosystems. And the new Mariners uniforms might draw more people to the games, for all the wrong reasons. Seattle Now Afternoon Host Paige Browning and KUOW Reporter Casey Martin are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle N...

Seattle's short-lived Negro League baseball team

It’s the end of February: The last day of Black History Month, and the start of the Mariners Spring Training season. Seattle Now Sports Correspondent Vaughan Jones is here to tell a story that combines both baseball and Seattle’s Black history, the story of the Seattle Steelheads, a short-lived Negro League baseball team. Negro League Baseball Museum Virtual Tour: https://www.theygaveusgame.com/negro-leagues-baseball/museum-virtual-tour/ "The League" Documentary: https://www.theleaguedocu...

Hackers want your medical record

Cyber attacks on healthcare organizations are getting much more common. In the past three months at least 13 healthcare providers with patients in Washington were hit by data breaches. It all comes down to how connected our medical records are to the internet. Seattle Times Health Reporter Elise Takahama dug into why these attacks are becoming more common and how people can protect themselves. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show ha...

Feds sue to block Kroger-Albertsons merger

Kroger and Albertsons say they’ll fight the federal government's lawsuit to stop their proposed $24 billion merger. In filing the suit, the Federal Trade Commission says the deal would be bad for competition and consumers. The Grocery Workers Union agrees. Seattle Times Reporter Paul Roberts explains what this latest move could mean. Acoustic Gunshot Location System Comment Form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=RR7meOtrCUCPmTWdi1T0G4MqmZBt3AJJh59TWqhXZg9UME5XOEpFUDg1V...

Washington strippers want a bill of rights

Lawmakers in Olympia are considering a bill that would improve working conditions for strippers. Activists are planning a rally at the statehouse today KUOW’s labor and economy reporter Monica Nicklesburg explains. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www....

Casual Friday with Tan Vinh and Jodi-Ann Burey

This week… Mayor Bruce Harrell gave his State of the City address. A cougar attack in northern Washington reminds us it’s always important to be prepared. And Boeing and Alaska have a long road ahead to rebuild trust with customers. Could an executive shuffle and a branded beer help? Seattle Times Food Writer Tan Vinh and Author Jodi-Ann Burey are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a ...

Can WA legislators fix high rents?

It’s no secret that Seattle is an expensive place to live. A big part of the problem is high rent costs. In the past few years, local housing activists have pushed the idea of a rent cap. One version is getting a hearing in Olympia today on its way to potentially becoming state law. Mike Wilkerson, an urban economist and thedirector of analytics at ECONorthwest, breaks down the different kinds of rent caps and where the proposed law would fit in. We can only make Seattle Now because listen...

WA Republicans weigh their options for president

Washington state isn’t the biggest player when it comes to electoral votes during presidential races. Still the primary election is coming up on March 12, and Republican voters are weighing former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley KUOW’s David Hyde spoke with some local Republican families to get insights into their priorities for 2024. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift t...

Tuesday Evening Headlines

Mayor Harrell touts progress on homelessness, Gov. Inslee wants more money for ferries, and local cyclists are attacked by a cougar. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW. And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online.

The AI deepfakes that want to sway your vote

November’s general election is still a long way off, but deepfakes generated by AI are already entering the conversation. And we’re not just talking about a robocall from a fake President Joe Biden, which actually happened during New Hampshire’s primary last month. Local and state elections here in Washington could be targeted, too. Seattle Now producer Clare McGrane will explain where deepfakes are showing up, and how to identify them. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners supp...