Seattle Now

Earlier this month, 3,400 U.S. Forest Service employees were fired. That group does not include firefighters, but many of them serve in roles that help with wildfire prevention . In addition to mass firings, the federal hiring freeze has caused delays for some seasonal wildland firefighters. We talk with environment writer and former wildland firefighter Amanda Monthei about the potential imp...

State officials give an idea of how many federal employees have lost their jobs, it's the first major cutoff day for bills in the Washington State Legislature, and Mayor Bruce Harrell issued an executive order he hopes will make Light Rail expansion happen faster. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because lis...

This week…  Federal job cuts have reached Washington’s trails and campgrounds. State legislators are taking a look at changing Washington’s state flag. And Mayor Bruce Harrell “pump faked” his State of the City audience with a faux Supersonics announcement.   Science Journalist Jane C. Hu and Stranger Queer Culture and Politics Reporter Vivian McCall a...

WA schools chief pushes back against DEI executive order, lawmakers propose a  "mosquito fleet" of ferries, and what does more housing mean for Seattle's trees? 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 questi...

Since Link Light Rail began service in 2009, more than 30 pedestrians have been hit by trains after stepping into a crossing. Less than two weeks ago there was a collision near Othello Station in the Rainier Valley. The next week, just blocks away… Another collision between a light rail train and a car. KUOW Reporter Casey Martin will explain what makes the light rail so dangerous in south...

Federal cuts would have a huge impact on cancer research, performance-based layoffs are rippling through the tech industry, and WA's recycling system could get an overhaul. 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...

Are you single in Seattle and sick of the dating apps? We've heard from some folks that dating in Seattle is a drag. It can be hard to connect, hard to find a relationship, and especially with dating apps – people are just flaky. The Seattle show  Fun & Flirty is trying to connect people IRL. It's part comedy, part dating, all live on stage. We talk with creator and co-host Zah...

Washington's Democratic Congress members continue to push back on President Trump, Mayor Bruce Harrell talks about Seattle's priorities at his "State of the City" address, and a King County family believes their relative has been unjustly taken to a Guantanamo prison facility.  It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seatt...

Voters in Seattle are overwhelmingly supporting a tax on big businesses to fund a social housing developer. Now, that developer has to build housing or snap up an existing building. KUOW reporter Joshua McNichols tells us what comes next and how soon we can expect it. Watch Mayor Bruce Harrell's 2025 State of the City Address here . Watch Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's community forum here . Lear...

Gun violence trending downward in King County, unionized REI employees want representation on the company's board, and we remember Wing Luke, who would've turned 100 this month. 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 fee...

This week…  The parent of a youth hockey player was charged with assault after shoving two referees onto the ice. And Seattle has a stinky problem: An audit of Seattle’s public park bathrooms found that things are not up to the city’s standards. Interim Stranger News Editor Marcus Harrison Green and KEXP DJ Eva Walker are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattl...

WA joins another lawsuit against the Trump Administration, people rally against Tesla in Seattle, and some WA lawmakers want a pay-per-mile tax system for drivers. 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 question...

Shelley Brothers passed away earlier this month at 67. You may know her as co-owner of the Wildrose, Seattle's oldest and only remaining lesbian bar. She also served as Grand Marshal of Seattle’s Pride parade, supported local LGBTQA+ businesses, and was highly engaged in Seattle’s civic life.  To many, Shelly was a pillar in Seattle’s queer community. We'll talk about her le...

Seattle police can use tear gas and blast balls again, social housing advocates cheer election results, and UW professor's study is shelved after Trump takes office. 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 quest...

Would you want a cafe in your neighborhood? A bill to allow businesses like cafes and grocery stores to set up in neighborhoods across Washington has bipartisan support in the state legislature. We’ll visit a neighborhood cafe in Wallingford and hear more about the bill. Check House Bill 1175’s progress  and read the bill here. Hearings on affordable housing bills can be found her...

Rep. Jayapal says "chaos is the point," nine Seattle EPA employees put on leave, and Seattle needs more clean, public bathrooms. 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 ideas...

It’s been nearly five years since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a worldwide pandemic. One of the first researchers to document its community spread was Dr. Helen Chu with UW Medicine. Now, Dr. Chu’s team has a new study called  SeaPrep up and running in Seattle, that’s meant to help us prepare for the next pandemic. King County severe weather shelter i...

There's a special election tomorrow, Discover Passes may get more expensive, and a January 6th rioter returns home to Washington. 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 ideas...

According to the Washington State Department of Health, flu cases are on the rise.  Fewer kids are getting vaccinated for the flu in Washington State.  In fact, a CDC report from last year ranks Washington in the bottom third for children who've received the most recent flu vaccine.  That puts us well below the national average, which has also been on the decline.  Dr Elizabeth...

WA sues Trump over transgender youth executive order, UW's new president says school will uphold DEI values, and the debate over limiting rent increases is roaring back to life in Olympia. 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 i...

This week…  We got enough snow to make things messy for the first time this winter. Hold onto your Subaru Seattle, it seems our signature vehicle has been overtaken by another household name - Is the Tesla the new car of Seattle? And Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson’s campaign office left something extra in a memo this week, leading to a peek behind the political curtai...

A Seattle judge blocks President Trump's citizenship order, a Washington child dies from whooping cough, and Washington's Congressional delegation passes on an ugly duckling of a tradition. 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...

The Duwamish Tribe has renewed hope for gaining federal recognition. Duwamish people have lobbied the United States government for decades to be recognized and gain the benefits that come with it. But it’s been a difficult argument to win. Difficult until a recent rule change and judge’s ruling. Here to give us details is Duwamish Tribal councilwoman Yvonne Griffin and Lynda Mapes, a S...

Seattle Children's cancels gender affirming surgery for 16-year-old, protesters rally against President Trump in Olympia, and big changes are head for Canlis. 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 abo...

Over the weekend, the Trump administration announced tariffs for three of the country’s top trade partners: Mexico, Canada and China. While Mexico and Canada’s tariffs have been delayed 30 days, China’s is currently in place. Some of Washington state’s biggest moneymakers, like Boeing, Amazon and the agricultural industry, rely heavily on trade with those countries.  W...