Soundside

After a few marathon public comment sessions last week, the Seattle City Council is considering the final version of a comprehensive plan. This is the document that dictates where and how the city will grow over the next two decades.  Over the last week, balancing tree canopy with growth emerged as one of the most controversial issues in the plan.  And there’s a history here: In 20...

NASA announced its next batch of potential astronauts this week. Out of 8,000 applicants, just ten were chosen to attend the two year training program, including Lauren Edgar from Sammamish. When those astronaut candidates complete the training, they will be eligible for missions to low earth orbit, the moon, and Mars. Guest: Lauren Edgar, NASA astronaut candidate Relevant Links: NASA Selects All-...

What happens when you become the target of hate, spread across wide swaths of the media? Of a movement that is as frightening and violent as it is just factually wrong? You might want life to go back to normal. But those who’ve experienced this know things can’t ever be the same. A Belligham resident told us about her experience. Guest: Jenn Mason, owner of WinkWink sex shop in Belling...

This week, we're looking at the special election in Washington’s 5th Legislative District, which covers Issaquah to Enumclaw. State Sen. Victoria Hunt, a Democrat, was appointed to the seat and is running to keep her job this fall.  Republicans are hoping to flip a couple of seats in the legislature and claw back some lawmaking power from Democrats, who currently hold majorities in...

Log onto Instagram and you’ll see videos of celebrity interviews, food recipes and, lately, homes for sale. These days realtors are leaning more on social media to show property listings. They take their audience on immersive tours and give details about a home’s price, features and neighborhood.  These posts get plenty of attention from casual viewers, but they do also attract po...

There's a flurry of health news happening these days: Decisions and announcements being made at federal agencies. State governments vowing to fight changes.  It can be hard to know what the impacts will be at the ground level.  We're going to set aside some time every now and then to check in with doctors and medical professionals about the latest developments -- and what they mean for y...

There is a disconnect between the high level of homelessness in Seattle and the high number of affordable housing units that are sitting unused at the moment. As of the end of last year, nearly 11% of affordable housing in the city were empty – more than 2700 apartments. . That’s more than five times the number of vacancies compared to 7 years ago.  So what happened?  We...

Well, with Fall officially beginning at 11:19 on Monday morning, we’ve reached the FINAL weekend of the summer.  How will YOU be celebrating the end of the season?  Are you sad to see the summer slip away, or are you excited for the Autumnal goodness that the season change brings? Either way, we’ve got Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows here with nearly EVERY option av...

In 2019, the remote plains of Harney County, Oregon made national news. Scattered amongst groves of ponderosa pine were a handful of mutilated cattle. The cows had an almost surgical removal of their tongues and other organs. But the most astounding thing is that the scenes where these cattle were found were pristine. No tracks. And not one drop of blood – the carcasses were drained dry.&nbs...

A state Senate seat in Washington’s 26th district is looking like a barn burner. The district covers Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Port Orchard and the Key Peninsula. And Republicans see this race as a way to chip away at the Democratic majority in the Senate. Republican state Representative Michelle Caldier has served the district for 6 terms in the House. She’s trying to unseat Democratic s...

Washington’s great outdoors are famous for breathtaking mountain views, crystal blue lakes and…. roads? You could start seeing more of that last one on your hikes and camping trips in the coming years.  That’s because President Trump is trying to get rid of the Roadless Rule. It’s a 2001 federal policy that prohibits road construction and logging in protected national...

A new school year has started; kids are sharpening pencils and breaking in backpacks. Many are also getting used to another new tool: Artificial Intelligence.  A slew of tech companies have been offering free or low-cost AI products to schools that will purportedly engage students and help them learn, while also aiding teachers with their day-to-day responsibilities. In a survey by the Consor...

In May, King County prosecutors filed sexual assault charges against a King County sheriff’s deputy. They said he raped a 17-year-old girl.  Prosecutors claim the abuse started while the two were alone on a ride-along in his police SUV while she was participating in Explorers, a national youth mentorship program, with the Burien Police Department.  And that allegation mirrors a dis...

A Senate seat in Washington’s 26th district is looking like a barn burner. The district covers Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Port Orchard and the Key Peninsula. And Democrats are hoping to keep that district from flipping.   Democratic state Senator Deb Krishnadasan is the appointed incumbent in this fight. She finished the primary about 1,000 votes ahead, setting up an incredibly tight r...

This is a story about the internet and our country’s political polarization. It’s also a story about our thirst for answers, and the race to score ideological points following a tragedy. And that rush to blame and to explain creates an environment where totally innocent people are run over by the runaway train of internet speculation, viral misinformation, and prejudice. That’s w...

At 11am on Monday, September 15th, students at high schools across Seattle walked out of class, and headed to Seattle Public Schools’ district office downtown. They were protesting changes to lunch times, announced last week by the district, that they say will negatively affect student experience at school. KUOW reporter Noel Gasca was at the Seattle Public Schools district office, where stu...

Since May 8, 1792, European colonists have called the large volcano just off the coast of Puget Sound "Mount Rainier." It was given that name by a British explorer, Captain George Vancouver – a gift to his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier.  But prior to Vancouver’s arrival in what eventually became Washington state, the Indigenous peoples in and around the Salish Sea called it b...

You know what time it is. It's WEEKEND WARMUP TIME! Links:  SPORTS Mariners -  LA Angels - 9/11-14 Sounders -  LA Galaxy - 9/13 Reign -  Racing Louisville FC - 9/14 Seahawks -  AWAY vs Pittsburgh 10am 9/14 Wallingford Bratwurst Festival The Chehalis Flying Saucer Party Seattle — Cider Summit Hops & Crops Music and Beer Festival - Kent Sip Suds & Si - North Be...

November’s general election could bring a group of new faces to Seattle City Government.  Today we’re diving into the race for City Council’s Position 8 seat. That’s a city-wide post, representing ALL of Seattle, as opposed to just one geographic district. The incumbent in this race is Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck.  She won the seat after a special election...

A brand new contemporary art space opened up last month in downtown Seattle. It's called Cannonball Arts, and Soundside recently got a sneak preview. GUESTS: Brent Watanabe , a Seattle based artist who specializes in computer-controlled installations Greg Lundgren , Creative Director of New Rising Sun RELATED LINKS: Cannonball Arts Downtown Seattle’s Bed Bath & Beyond building to be...

November’s general election could bring a group of new faces to Seattle City Government.  Today we’re diving into the race for City Council’s Position 8 seat. That’s a city-wide post, representing ALL of Seattle, as opposed to just one geographic district. Our first candidate in this Position 8 race is Rachael Savage. She’s a small business owner in Capitol Hill...

What will it take to save the Lake City Fred Meyer? Is it even possible? Lawmakers and local shoppers are asking those questions after Kroger announced last month that the Lake City location would be part of a wave of regional closures.  Local residents remain worried about where people will go for prescriptions and fresh produce, especially elderly and low-income residents, who may not have...

He’s back. Well, he never really left. Conservative megadonor Brian Heywood wants to put two new policy proposals in front of the Washington state Legislature next year.  Both deal with kids in schools, specifically, with parents’ access to school records, and trans kids playing sports.  Heywood spent millions of dollars on a slate of initiatives last year. Some of them passe...

Almost a year ago, an Israeli soldier shot and killed Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank. She was a Seattle resident and a University of Washington graduate.  We spoke to her family about their memories of her and their push for an independent investigation into her killing.  Guest Hamid Ali, Ayşenur's husband Ozden Bennett, Ayşenur's sister Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help...

School starts up this week for some districts in our region, others started last week – before Labor Day! For some students, gym classes may include a surprising throwback: The Presidential Fitness Test.  President Trump reestablished the program over the summer. It had been quietly phased out in 2013 by President Obama, and people are split over the value and impact of this test. Teach...