Seattle Now

Governor Bob Ferguson has fulfilled a campaign promise by seeking bids to build new ferries. And after a long bidding war that began last year, Eastern Shipbuilding Group will be tasked with producing these first-in-America ferries at a cost of $715.4 million dollars.  But Ferguson’s choice of the company has sparked some backlash. You see, there were only two companies who submitted bi...

Washington’s public schools may be affected by a lack of federal funding, TikTok and its parent company ByteDance are laying off Bellevue employees, and is that a crack in the glass floor of the Space Needle? Officials say not to worry.  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 u...

June brought a slate of closed restaurants in Seattle, from a half-century-old dive bar to some of the city’s most high-end dining. But it was also a good month for new spots, with two popular rooftop bars debuting in Central Seattle just as the weather heats up. Tan Vinh breaks down all the trends in openings and closings this month with Seattle Eats producer Clare McGrane.  Read more...

Today, we’re bringing you the best from another KUOW Podcast - Meet Me Here… If you’re looking to get out and dance in Seattle, you’ve probably stumbled on a themed dance night. “Taylor Swift Night,” “2000s Dance Party,” “Dance Yrself Clean…” the options are endless.  You can even let your inner angsty teenager out at emo nig...

This week… It’s Independence Day, and Washington has a complicated relationship with fireworks. Washington retail giant Costco might be going to court for its affordable athleisure wear. And Visit Seattle has a new employee - Emerald, a generative AI program made to give recommendations to tourists. Factal Editor Joe Veyera and UW Professor and podcast host Jeff Shulman are here to br...

King County official arrested , Trump's spending bill means less money for Seattle, and Sea-Tac Airport prepares for huge crowds over the holiday weekend. 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...

Microsoft says it will cut 9,000 employees from its workforce, about 4% of its staff. Layoffs are nothing new at the company – it shed 10,000 jobs just two years ago – but this latest reduction brings the year's total to roughly 15,000 workers. Alex Halverson, reporter for The Seattle Times , has been following these Microsoft layoffs and found some of what's steering decisions about h...

Microsoft cuts more jobs , City Attorney Ann Davison says Seattle could be targeted by Trump, and WA officials worry about fireworks sparking wildfires. 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 lo...

You may have noticed something peculiar lately in Seattle: Three properties on a single lot, two of them connected by a skybridge. It all has to do with ADUs, or accessory dwelling units, and how developers are trying to maximize the amount of living space on a single lot. We talk with freelance journalist Jane C. Hu , who's  written about this trend of 3-pack developments for the New York Ti...

Washington lawmakers and healthcare providers react to President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill move through Congress, Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson has an idea for a new revenue source for the city, and researchers say orcas know that sharing is caring. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because list...

Summer is here… and for lots of locals, that means digging into their reading list. Whether it’s time on the plane or relaxing on a staycation, the warmer months can be a good time to explore some new books. We take a trip to Elliott Bay Books on Capitol Hill to check out what’s new and exciting on the shelves. Elliott Bay Books Book List : Jess Walter,  So Far Gone Peter B...

Sen. Patty Murray derides Trump's spending bill, WA cherry growers struggle to find workers, and it'll cost more to fish and hunt in WA. 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 stor...

Arts organizations in Seattle rely on international artists to show their work here in the US.  But it’s becoming increasingly difficult for artists to get the required permissions to enter the country.  Freelance arts reporter Marcie Sillman will tell us what that means for arts organizations and artists. Read Marcie’s Cascade PBS story here . We can only make Seattle Now be...

Today, we’re bringing you the best from another KUOW Podcast - Meet Me Here… This is the biggest weekend for Pride celebrations in Seattle, as June comes to a close. We talked on Casual Friday about queer movies and representation in media. Meet Me Here’s Katie Campbell spoke to local author Corinne Manning about their new collection of short stories, “We Had No Rules,&rdq...

Local officials react to the Supreme Court’s decision on the authority of Trump’s executive orders, the ban on car traffic in Pike Place Market has been extended, and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh will be hitting home runs on a big stage next month. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because...

This week… It’s our yearly tradition - Casual Pride-Day is back. We’ll talk about how Seattle’s queer community is celebrating pride this month, what the mood is under the Trump Administration, and the media picks to end your pride month with, from two of Seattle’s biggest movie buffs. Freelance Arts Reporter Jas Keimig and Film Curator-slash-Drag Queen Chase Burns (...

Gov. Ferguson urges Congress to protect Medicaid, student's family sues Seattle Public Schools over alleged antisemitism, and WA opens its first publicly funded EV charging station. 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...

The Seattle City Council just banned landlords from using software that uses an algorithm to set rent prices. They say it amounts to unfair collusion and rent-fixing. But will banning the software really lower the cost of renting in Seattle? Seattle Times real estate reporter Heidi Groover breaks it down. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.  Tap here to make a gift and...

Mayor Harrell proposes big changes to Seattle's tax code, WA gets a tepid economic outlook, and digital kiosks are coming to a Seattle street corner near you. 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 ab...

Mercifully, the PNW has escaped the heat dome blanketing a large portion of the eastern US. The temperature may remind you of Western Washington in June 2021.  The oppressive heat set records across the region. A new lawsuit claims the world's largest oil companies are to blame for the blistering temperatures, and for the death of at least one woman who died as a result. We can only make Seat...

Seattle bans algorithmic rent-setting software, WA Rep. Schrier grills RFK Jr. over vaccines, and officials say fugitive Travis Decker may not be alive . 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 l...

In a recent memo to employees, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said artificial intelligence is ultimately going to mean fewer jobs at the company , as AI transforms how work gets done. Geekwire co-founder Todd Bishop is here to talk about what AI could mean for Amazon , and Seattle's tech industry as a whole. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here  to make a gift and k...

The Department of Justice sues Washington over a mandatory reporter law, the state sees another measles case, and if you see a seal pup, stay back. 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 n...

Good stewardship of our public lands is important, especially now that the federal government has cut some workers. Anna Roth from Washington Trails Association takes us to one of Washington's most popular trails to talk about some ways to steward the state's forestland. Check out the Washington Trails Association’s website to learn more about how to show your love and support for Washington...

Today, we’re bringing you the best from another KUOW Podcast, Meet Me Here… Meet Me Here’s Dyer Oxley is a pinball fan - but don’t call him a pinhead. A pinball renaissance is happening across the Northwest, thanks to a fervent community that frequently gathers, holds tournaments, and keeps these machines flipping.  Seattle ranks second in the United States in terms o...