Seattle Now

Mayor Wilson faces increased pressure over police cameras, hunger strike ends at Tacoma immigrant lockup, and we explore why orcas are making so many appearances this summer. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. The interview in today's episode was produced by Natalie Newcomb. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap h...

Over the last decade, power outages in Seattle have gotten twice as long, on average. They’re also getting more frequent One of the driving forces are underground power lines from the 1960s. Meanwhile, rates are going up. Soundside co-host David Kroman is here to talk about it. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your fee...

Hunger strike continues at Tacoma immigrant lockup , state lawmaker fined $15,000 in ethics case, and the Washington State Library has a new leader. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Vaughan Jones. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.  Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got questions about local ne...

It’s not your average Monday when an orca swims right up next to you.  That’s what happened at the Ballard Locks last week. If you want to keep up on orca activity, there’s a whatsapp group that alerts you about local sightings. We'll talk with Kersti Muul, field biologist and director of the whatsapp group Salish Wildlife Watch .  We can only make Seattle Now because l...

Twenty years ago, Josh Okrent and his friends opened the first Punk Rock Flea Market in an old union hall in Belltown. Since then, the flea market has moved through empty spaces around Seattle, and now occupies the old QFC grocery store on 15th Avenue East. You can pay $1 and choose your own adventure among the crafters, collectors and performers. Josh’s exploration of vacant buildings start...

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom. First, does Washington state go too easy on kids caught with guns? Some officials say yes. Next, more on the Seattle Center shooting… The wife of Carlos Sanchez Villalba says every day is harder since losing her husband. Next, wildfires have shut down two big segments of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington. And finally, as m...

Sound Transit says the West Seattle Light Rail line will be completed later than expected, Seattle approves money to assist transgender and queer Seattleites, and 80 cats are headed to Tacoma Humane Society from two separate incidents. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here t...

This week the Seattle City Council banned so-called junk fees for renters. Orcas were spotted in Salmon Bay, looking for a seal snack. And 60 cats were rescued from a boat in Tacoma. Asian Verified creator Michael Wong and Simply Seattle’s Danny Ball are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now i...

ICE may purchase the Tacoma detention center, state officials are predicting a larger-than-expected cash boom from the so-called "Millionaire's Tax," and prediction market Kalshi was officially barred from operating in Washington by a King County court. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners supp...

Seattle’s had its very own county-owned film production space for the last 5 years. It’s called Harbor Island Studios. But recently, King County pulled its funding. Now, a non-profit called CREATE48 has 1 year to prove the viability and necessity of the space. We’ll learn more from film critic and arts reporter Chase Hutchinson. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners supp...

Recall petition filed against Mayor Wilson, Seattle bans landlords from charging 'junk fees,' and Tacoma Police rescue 60 cats from an abandoned boat. 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.  Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got questions about local...

The worst thing imaginable happens to your home. A flood, an earthquake, a wildfire. What’s insurance going to get you? We dig into the data on homeowners' insurance in Washington state, with KUOW data and graphics editor Teo Popescu. Listen to more Control F here. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got...

Mayor Wilson orders probe into 'flow of information' following Seattle Center shooting, all Spokane evacuation orders are lifted, and orcas show up at the Ballard Locks. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. Find the interactive smoke forecast map, here . We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.  Tap here to make a gift...

In Spokane, wildfires destroyed or damaged more than 900 structures last week. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported, but roughly 67,000 people had to evacuate. The city practiced an evacuation this spring, which likely helped the city’s response.  Ashley Bosa helped with the evacuation drill. She’s a post-doc researcher at Boise State University’s Resi...

Governor Bob Ferguson signed an emergency declaration suspending some state laws for fire victims, the University of Washington will get a $540 billion dollar grant from the Gates Foundation, and we'll hear from the fire victims returning to Spokane. 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...

Washington state has big clean energy goals. But with the looming deadline of 2045 to have zero emission energy across the state, people are starting to ask: Are these goals actually achievable? We’ll get into that with Greg Kim from the Seattle Times. Read Greg's reporting here . We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your...

Beat the heat with these (indoor) arts and culture recommendations! KUOW's Dyer Oxley, Katie Campbell, and Jeannie Yandel share their ideas for cool things to do this summer in Seattle. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us...

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom. First, the latest on the closest big fire to the Seattle area… the Little Giant Fire. Next, every spring, scores of volunteers get together in Newport, Oregon to dissect hundreds of juvenile salmon. And finally, after a flurry of art, tattoos and even a bobble head made in Jimothy’s honor... A local man has created an 8-...

Feds approve public health emergency for WA wildfires, Seattle could ban grocery stores from using personal info to set prices, and an anti-tax candidate is in  close second for King County Assessor. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Vaughan Jones. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.  Tap here to make a gift and keep Seat...

This week… Western Washington got the summer weather double-header of smoke and heat. Seattle's film buffs want to see blockbusters on the state's biggest movie screen. And a Seattle reddit user says we need to talk about the flavor selection of a local ice cream chain. UW Business Professor Jeff Shulman and KUOW’s Vaughan Jones are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattl...

Spokane arson suspect charged, law grads granted 'diploma privilege,' and a critic of the Washington Supreme Court has taken the lead for an open seat. 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.  Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got questions about local...

Last week started with a mass shooting at Seattle Center and ended with SPD’s chief taking a $700,000 severance package and resigning. We’ll unpack what went down and what it all means for the future of Seattle with Seattle Nice co-hosts Erica Barnett and Sandeep Kaushik. Read more of Erica's reporting at PubliCola . We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.  Tap...

Zillow lays off 500 workers, WA breaks ground on a new hybrid-electric ferry, and we break down the early results from the August primary. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got questions about local news or story id...

Washington law school graduates were all set to take the bar exam last week, until technical issues forced its cancellation. The Washington State Bar Association is offering a make-up exam in September. But several law school deans are asking the Washington State Supreme Court to grant “diploma privilege," which means they could practice law without taking the bar. We speak with Anthony Varo...

Spokane arson suspect makes court appearance , feds grant emergency declaration for wildfires, and Zillow lays off more than 500 workers. 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. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got questions about local news or story idea...