Inside Olympia

With SeaTac Airport reaching capacity, the state is looking to potentially site a new international airport in Western Washington. Plus, what does the future of aviation look like in general in the state that gave birth to Boeing? Host Austin Jenkins interviews David Fleckenstein, director of the WA State Department of Transportation's Aviation Division, and two members of the Commercial Aviation...

We debrief on this year's wildfire season, forest health, salmon restoration, balancing the demands of timber communities and environmental groups on state forests, and much more with Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz.

Washington state is creating a first-in-the-nation independent state office which will investigate police use-of-force incidents. Host Austin Jenkins interviews Roger Rogoff, tapped by Gov. Jay Inslee to be the first director of the new Washington Office of Independent Investigations.

The NW Power and Conservation Council was created in 1980 to develop a regional power plan and fish and wildlife program to balance the NW's environment and energy needs. We talk with the council's executive director, Bill Edmonds.

He starred on the second season of the hit series "Survivor," he was Gov. Inslee's general counsel, and in October 2021 was appointed by President Biden as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington: an in-depth interview with Nick Brown.

Host Austin Jenkins interviews Senate Democratic Majority Leader Andy Billig of Spokane and House Republican Floor Leader Jacquelin Maycumber of Republic: their thoughts on the 2022 elections and issues likely to dominate the upcoming 2023 legislative session.

Farming interviews with State Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle, whose mission is protecting animals against disease outbreaks, like the current threat posed by Avian Bird Flu; and Ignacio Marquez, the Yakima-based regional assistant to the director of the WA State Dept. of Agriculture.

We discuss the opioid/fentanyl crisis with Dr. Charissa Fotinos, State Medicaid Director/Health Care Authority Behavioral Health Medical Director. Plus, the state of the state economy, and the latest state revenue forecast, with WA Chief Economist Steve Lerch.

Host Austin Jenkins sits down for in-depth interviews with Shelly Baldwin, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, and Alfie Alvarado-Ramos, director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Utilities and Transportation Commission has been closely involved in helping ratepayers and utilities negotiate the COVID pandemic. Plus, the UTC is overseeing the state's planned transition to clean energy. This week host Austin Jenkins interviews the chair of the UTC, Dave Danner.

Jilma Meneses leads state government's largest agency, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), which provides services to one in every four Washingtonians -- the aged and disabled, low-income people, persons with behavioral health issues, and more. Host Austin Jenkins sits down for a full-hour, in-depth interview with Secretary Meneses.

One year into her tenure as secretary of the Washington State Department of Corrections, Cheryl Strange discusses the challenges of operating prisons during COVID, morale of corrections workers and inmates, her efforts to create a more therapeutic approach in state prisons, and more.

She's spent four decades in Washington's community and technical college system. Now, she's stepping down as leader of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. What are the challenges and opportunities facing this system of nearly three dozen colleges spread across Washington state? We talk with outgoing SBCTC Executive Director Jan Yoshiwara.

Over the past year, the Office of the State Auditor has released performance audits on long-term care worker training, voting ballot rejection rates, and K-12 student behavioral health issues. Coming soon: audits on customer service at the WA Employment Security Department, the backlog in sexual assault kit testing, and the state's road toll collection system. This week we sit down for the full ho...

We discuss the state of the state's K-12 public schools with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. Plus, the view from inside the classroom with Pamella Johnson, an academic and behavioral intervention specialist at Rochester High School.

This week: Homelessness among school-aged youth and young adults in Washington -- the scope of the problem, and what state government and one private organization are doing to address the problem. Host Austin Jenkins interviews Kim Justice, executive director of the state's Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection, and Julie Patino, executive director of A Way Home Washington.

Pam MacEwan is retiring as CEO of Washington's Health Benefit Exchange, after a career spent focused on expanding access to health care. We'll hear her thoughts on health care in our state. Representative Pat Sullivan is stepping down from the State House after nearly two decades in office, much of it as Democratic Majority Leader. He's played a key role in budget negotiations, education funding w...

After a long downward trend, there's a recent uptick in COVID cases. Should we be concerned? We ask State Epidemiologist Scott Lindquist. Plus, he worked on the issue in Washington D.C., and now he's made housing affordability and availability one of his signature issues in this Washington. We talk housing, the 2022 legislative session and more with Washington State Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck.

Will Washington's new capital gain's tax survive the courts? We debate that question with two University of Washington law professors. And we check in with the chair of the Liquor and Cannabis Board on the State of Washington's cannabis industry.

In-depth interviews with State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, and retiring State Rep. Jesse Johnson. The State Treasurer is pressing Congress to pass new banking laws that would help prevent robberies at cannabis stores. And, he wants the state to provide "baby bonds" to children from low-income and marginalized communities. Rep. Jesse Johnson is stepping down for family reasons after three years in...

The Evergreen State College is 50 years old. But recently it has struggled with declining enrollment. So how is the school celebrating its past and planning for its future? Austin Jenkins sits down with the college's Interim President John Carmichael and Executive VP Dexter Gordon.

In honor of Sunshine Week, host Austin Jenkins sits down for the full-hour with recently retired, long-time KIRO 7 Senior Political Reporter Essex Porter. His thoughts on the importance of covering politics and government, the future of local news, and more.

From housing and homelessness help to small business assistance, the WA Department of Commerce has played a key role in the state's response to the COVID pandemic. Host Austin Jenkins talks with Commerce Director Lisa Brown.

Behavioral health is again a top issue in the Legislature -- we discuss with State Sens. David Frockt and Keith Wagoner. Plus, we interview State Sen. Reuven Carlyle, who is stepping down after a legislative career marked by involvement in issues like climate change, data privacy, abolishing the death penalty, and foster care.

This week majority Democrats in House and Senate released their proposed supplemental operating budgets -- we discuss with Senate Ways & Means Chair Christine Rolfes, and the committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Lynda Wilson. Plus, the state's chief economist, Steve Lerch, talks about the state of the state's economy and the billions in new revenue in the latest state revenue forecast.