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Soundside

KUOW News and Information

Soundside leads the Puget Sound conversation with smart questions, lively debates, and direct access to the region's most influential voices. Timely, insightful, and unmistakably local, it's where the Pacific Northwest comes to dig into the news.

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August 4 · 16 min
'Small part of a far larger problem': Emergency department doctor on ghost guns
Police took a 15-year old into custody in connection to a mass shooting at the Seattle Center that left three dead and several others injured. Police later said that 15-year old had a “ghost gun." This refers to a type of firearm that’s often assembled at home and manufactured without a serial number. In charging documents, prosecutors allege the teenager fired into the crowd. Police say the gun doesn’t appear to be involved the deaths of two bystanders from last week. Washington is a leader in trying to prohibit ghost guns. Back in 2022, the state passed a law to ban them. Earlier this year, lawmakers prohibited the unlawful manufacture of guns using 3-D printers or CNC milling machines. And yet, ghost guns continue to be a concern here in the state. Guest: Garen Wintemute is the founding director of the Centers for Violence Prevention at UC Davis in California. He's also an emergency department attending physician. Related links: 15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect charged with first-degree assault; prosecutors seek adult trial | KUOW Ghost gun used in Seattle Center shooting, police say | The Seattle Times Ghost guns explained—how they are made, used? | FOX 13 Seattle Bullets from 15-year-old's gun did not kill 2 Seattle Center victims, according to early findings | KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 4 · 12 min
What to do about that scourge of summer: odorous house ants
We are officially deep into a Pacific Northwest summer: we’ve already experienced wildfire smoke, 90 degree temperatures and for the unlucky amongst us, you may have also have seen small black ants crawling across your kitchen counters and floors. I’m talking about odorous house ants. So named because of the smell they emit when they are squished (I won’t say by who). These little guys are annoying, and they’re everywhere this time of year. I even saw a Reddit post referring to Seattle as being “placed on top of a giant ant hill”. Now, that’s not actually true… but it can certainly feel like it around now. That’s because, if you live in a city like Seattle, you actually are in an ideal ant environment, one that has led to the little insect’s proliferation. So before we get mad at odorous house ants, maybe it’s best to understand this creature? Maybe instead of a war on ants… we can make peace. Guest: Todd Murray, the Director of Washington State University's Puyallup Research and Extension Center See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 4 · 21 min
Washington clemency board members say Gov. Ferguson is sidelining their work
The Washington state Clemency and Pardons Board hears cases of people currently incarcerated and makes recommendations to the governor for commutations. These recommendations can allow someone to leave prison before their sentence is completed. In Washington state law, someone’s case would need to be “extraordinary” in order to qualify. Last year, the board heard a little over 30 cases and recommended 10 people for commutations. Governor Ferguson rejected all of the cases, some of which had the support of every board member. The Governor has approved pardons for some people who had already completed their sentences and his office said he was "considering the recommendation of the board while also accounting for victim impacts and public safety." His approach hasn’t sat well with members of the Clemency and Pardons Board. Guests: Raymond Delos Reyes, chair of the Washington Clemency and Pardons Board Dan Berger, professor at the University of Washington-Bothell and director of the Washington Prison History Project Relevant Links: Cascadia Daily News: Governor’s disrespect for clemency process extends mass incarceration KOMO: Case questions Washington's clemency process after governor rejects board's recommendation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 3 · 20 min
Front Page: Spokane wildfires, Seattle police chief resigns, man's death in a Federal Way hospital
Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. Guest: Mike Carter, senior reporter on the law and justice team at The Seattle Times Related Links: Washington wildfires destroy homes, force thousands to evacuate | KUOW Seattle mayor describes what she wants in new police chief | The Seattle Times 4 takeaways from Mayor Wilson after Seattle Center shooting, police chief's exit | KUOW Man pinned by police at WA hospital died as doctor, nurses watched | The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 3 · 8 min
The latest on the Spokane wildfires
17 large wildfires continue to burn across Washington state. In Spokane, three major fires sparked on Saturday, collectively burning over 8,000 acres and 700 structures. 67,000 people are under evacuation orders. KUOW reporter Paige Browning joined Soundside with the latest. Guest: KUOW reporter, newscaster, and Seattle Now host Paige Browning Related stories: More than 700 to 1,100 structures lost in three Spokane fires; officials searching for 14 people - Spokesman Review ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’: Washington’s fire season off to roaring start - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 3 · 21 min
Washington’s Supreme Court could see big changes in 2026. Here are the candidates on your primary ballot
The future of Washington’s new “millionaires tax” is at stake this election season. And not JUST the ballot measure asking voters to weigh repealing the tax in November. The justices on the state Supreme Court will decide a separate legal challenge to that historic measure. In a highly unusual scenario: five of the court’s nine seats are up for election this fall. Tuesday’s primary will determine the candidates for FOUR of those races. Soundside's final look at the Washington State Primary Ballot takes a closer look at these four races for seats on the WA State Supreme Court. GUEST: Jonathan Martin - Former Seattle Times editor who now writes for the Washington Observer. Also, The Cascadia Daily News recently announced he’ll be their new editor-in-chief starting in September. RELATED LINKS: https://www.washingtonsupremecourt.org/ League of Women Voters of Washington - Supreme Court Candidates Washington Supreme Court elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia The independent money comes out to play - WA Observer Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 30 · 11 min
WA blocked over 100,000 license plate searches from feds, but immigration raids and vehicle arrests are still rampant
Here’s a number for you: 108,170. That is the number of times immigration enforcement has attempted to look up a Washington license plate number and been denied since November of last year. That number comes from the state and it’s one that Governor Bob Ferguson has been touting, citing the value of guarding resident’s data from the federal government. While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions? Guest: Gustavo Sagrero, KUOW’s Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter Relevant Links: KUOW: WA has blocked over 100,000 federal attempts to access license plate data KUOW: This Seattle-area mechanic offers free tows for vehicles left behind after ICE arrests Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 30 · 6 min
Weekend Warmup: Seafair, Softball, and Spider-Man
As we do EVERY Thursday, Soundside has your list of all the best ways to decompress this weekend... LINKS: Cinema Therapy LIVE! THE PRINCESS BRIDE ECSFF - Short Film Festival Michael Mann's Manhunter: The Final Cut Lake City Summer Festival & Parade Kite Festival | Pierce County, WA Seattle Paddle Rave U-District Boba Fest Seafair Weekend Festival 2026 Magnolia Summerfest Flock Fiber Festival 2026 Junior League Softball World Series Cats & Dawgs Kirkland Classic Mariners vs Twins! Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 30 · 31 min
How juvenile court handles cases when kids are accused of serious offenses
Police have one 15-year-old suspect in custody in connection to the mass shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday. Earlier this week, a King County Superior Court Judge found probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault and a single count of second-degree illegal possession of a firearm. The suspect remains in juvenile detention. An arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, where the defendant will hear charges filed against them. But the legal process may become more complicated due to the alleged suspect’s age. Judge J. Mike Diaz explains how juvenile court works, and the major differences between that and adult court – in the wake of the mass shooting at Seattle Center. Guest: J. Mike Diaz was a King County Superior Court judge from 2018-2022, and served a term as the Chief Judge of King County's Patricia H. Clark Children & Family Justice Center. Former governor Jay Inslee appointed him to the Court of Appeals in 2022. He's also an adjunct professor of Law at Seattle University Law School and taught juvenile law at the Washington Judicial College. Related Stories: 15-year-old Seattle Center shooting suspect charged with first-degree assault; prosecutors seek adult trial - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 30 · 20 min
The Seattle Center shooting, from the perspective of a father who lost his son to gun violence
People in Seattle are still processing a mass shooting on Sunday that left three dead. It happened on the final day of the Bite of Seattle, a lively food festival that draws thousands of attendees every year. A day after the shooting, Arron Murphy-Paine helped organize a vigil at the Seattle Center, where the shooting happened. His son, Amarr Murphy-Paine, was shot and killed outside of Garfield High School in 2024 while he was breaking up a fight. That case remains unsolved. Murphy-Paine sat down with Soundside to reflect on the Seattle Center shooting. Guest: Arron Murphy-Paine Related links: Community mourns victims of Seattle Center shooting as police search for another suspect | KUOW Overall gun violence down, but doubling among youth in King County | Snoqualmie Valley Record 2 years after shooting death, family works to build a more just and peaceful Seattle | KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 28 · 35 min
" Easier for a kid to get a gun than a summer job": 2 violence intervention experts on the Seattle Center shooting
More information is still emerging about the Seattle Center shooting. For now, we know that police have said they believe at least two people participated in the shooting. Police have one suspect in custody, who is just 15 years old. Police have also claimed the shooting could be gang-related. The alleged suspect’s age furthers concerns about Seattle-area youth and gun violence. Earlier this week, Mayor Katie Wilson spoke about steps the city is taking to prevent gun violence, including violence intervention and community support. Soundside spoke with two experts working on this issue in our region about the shooting and their response. Guests Paul Patu, co-founder of Urban Family Dominique Davis, founder and CEO, Community Passageways Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 28 · 10 min
Mayor and Police Chief share more information about Bite of Seattle shooting
We’re continuing our coverage of Sunday’s shooting at Seattle Center, where three people were killed and several more wounded. A 15 year old suspect is in custody. Police say they believe a 19 year old who is one of the deceased was also involved in the shooting. Seattle's mayor, and chief of police, held a press conference during the noon hour about the investigation. Guest: KUOW reporter Paige Browning Related stories: Live updates: Community mourns victims of Seattle Center shooting as police search for another suspect - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 27 · 29 min
Front Page: Seattle Center shooting
Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. Guest: Marcus Harrison Green, founder of the South Seattle Emerald and co-host of the podcast “In the Meanwhile." Related links: Live updates: 3 dead in Seattle Center shooting; 1 suspect in custody as police search for another | KUOW Live: Seattle police say third shooting suspect among deceased | The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 27 · 14 min
How this empty QFC became a hub for punk rock, movie lovers and more
Wanna go see a movie? We could check out what’s playing at The Beacon…. Or Majestic Bay… …. Or…. We could pop by the old QFC on 15th Avenue on Capitol Hill. That’s where a local community group has been hosting movie nights for the past few months. This QFC stands for the “Quality Film Club.” It convenes every other Thursday… in the Quality Flea Center. (You can see how they’re keeping the spirit of QFC alive). This club is just one of the many ways that its co-organizers are creating community. And all of it is facilitated by their access to this abandoned grocery store. Guest: Josh Okrent, a co-organizers of the Quality Film Club. He’s also the “Big Cheese” of the Punk Rock Flea Market. Related links: The Quality Film Club: Capitol Hill’s newest movie theater is in an abandoned grocery store | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News Two Seattle QFC Redevelopments Run Into Concerns Around Height and Parking | The Urbanist Can the Punk Rock flea market save the soul of Seattle? | Seattle | The Guardian Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 23 · 16 min
Why a Seattle Symphony bassist started a fight with City Hall over housing density and orcas
Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan has hit a snag. The plan is the set of zoning changes that plans the city’s future growth – the current one in the works outlines a lot more housing density in the city. State law requires such a plan be in place, but Seattle’s has been delayed by administrative appeals from two groups. On Wednesday, we spoke with Seattle councilmember Eddie Lin about his proposal to eliminate one of the paths people have to appeal the plan under the State Environmental Policy Act. Jennifer Godfrey filed one of the appeals currently delaying implementation, and formed the group Orca Nexus, which is advocating for more environmental review of Seattle’s zoning changes. They claim the Comprehensive Plan’s Environmental Impact Statement did not fully evaluate the environmental impact of greater housing density on trees and runoff. They say removing trees will increase pollutants that could harm humans, salmon and especially endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Guest: Jennifer Godfrey Related Links: Conservation Groups Join Push Against Seattle Growth Plan This change will let Seattle address climate change, housing shortage Seattle Poised to Remove SEPA Review Hurdle for Most Housing Projects Residents and activists clash over plan to curb SEPA appeals at Seattle hearing Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 23 · 5 min
Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Derby Days, River Days, and HORSEGIRLS!
Hi friends, another weekend is upon us with PLENTY to go and see and do. LINKS: Timber! Outdoor Music Festival - Carnation, WA 4 Days Of Aloha - Vancouver, WA Redmond Derby Days - Redmond, WA Renton River Days - Renton, WA Bite of Seattle - Seattle Center Kaiser Permanente Seafair Torchlight Run 2026 Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade 2026 SIFF Film Center - Horsegirls CID Food Walk | Seattle Chinatown-International District Summer 2026 - Urban Craft Uprising Seattle Scottish Highland Games 2026 The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire - Feast of Fools! Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 23 · 17 min
Attorney General Nick Brown discusses his lawsuits against Kalshi and Paramount
It’s a war of definitions, and Kalshi just lost a battle. On Monday, a King County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction against the “prediction market” company. Judge John McHale found Washington state is likely to succeed in proving Kalshi is actually an online gambling site. Those are illegal here in Washington. The lawsuit was brought by Attorney General Nick Brown, who also scored another victory on Monday with a temporary pause on Paramount's acquisiton of Warner Brothers. Guest: Attorney General Nick Brown Related Links: WA judge halts Kalshi ‘prediction market’ over state gambling laws AG Brown, coalition temporarily block Warner Bros./Paramount merger as lawsuit proceeds Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 22 · 21 min
Video Games won't be on discs much longer. Do gamers care?
The economics behind the most popular video games are, in a word, staggering. Case in point: Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated to be released later this year, and according to IGN, it made $260 MILLION dollars during the first week of pre-orders. Some analysts estimate that the game could rake in about 5 BILLION dollars during its launch week. But don’t expect to have a hard copy to cherish for your collection – developer Rockstar Games announced last month that GTA 6 will only be available to download. Industry giant Sony says it too will soon be ditching discs. The company said earlier this month that it plans to discontinue physical game disc production for new PlayStation games starting in 2028. Sony says it’s reflecting a broader shift in consumer preference toward digital downloads. And this shift has consequences for local small businesses: With no discs to sell and trade, stores, especially ones that sell used games, will reap less revenue. Adam David owns Big Red’s Retro Games in Silverdale. He says he’s not surprised by these decisions: “Your newer, younger consumer doesn’t care about a physical disc. Your next generation of game players, they've grown up on digital, and at the same time they're too young to see the ramifications down the road of having just a digital library and the fact that, you know, it can be taken away from you” What are the ramifications and ripple effects when an industry changes the way we buy its products? It’s something Seattle-area journalist Jacob Robbins has been pondering – he wrote about the disappearance of physical media in games for his new Substack newsletter entitled “Side Quests.” GUEST: Jacob Robbins RELATED LINKS: It’s Going to Be the Biggest Video Game Launch Ever. These Seattle Game Stores Aren’t Happy. GTA 6 Predicted to Make Up to $5.2 Billion in Sales by End of Launch Week After Securing an Estimated $260 Million via Preorders 'Commercially It Just Makes Sense' - No GTA 6 Disc Decision Explained Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 22 · 12 min
Seattle City Council weighs ending some environmental appeals as growth plan stalls
Haven’t heard about Seattle’s comprehensive plan recently? Well, the city council is supposed to be working on it, but the process is on hold because of appeals. Just to catch you up: The comprehensive plan is a set of zoning changes that are supposed to be a blueprint for future growth. It’s required by state law. It usually means allowing more housing density. One thing this iteration of the plan would do is change zoning laws to allow for six story buildings in neighborhood centers across the city. The appeals that are currently putting the plan on hold are based on the State Environmental Policy Act or SEPA. City Councilmember Eddie Lin, who chairs the Land Use and Sustainability Committee, said that the current phase of the Comprehensive Plan will be delayed into late 2026 or possibly next year. He’s proposing a change that’s working its way through city council. It would limit these types of appeals. Guest: Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin Relevant Links: Seattle Times: This change will let Seattle address climate change, housing shortage KOMO: Residents and activists clash over plan to curb SEPA appeals at Seattle hearing Seattle Times: Seattle’s history shows why zoning appeal process matters Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 21 · 16 min
Primary Elections 2026: Brent Hennrich, candidate for Washington's 3rd Congressional District
Here on Soundside, we're covering Washington’s most competitive races ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election. Historically, one of the tightest in the state is the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington. This area includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County. It’s one of the few swing districts left in the country. Voters there have gone for Trump, but they have also repeatedly chosen a Democrat to represent the district in the House.... over a Republican. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez currently holds the seat and is running for re-election. She faces a few challengers, like Brent Hennrich. He's campaigning to her left as a progressive alternative. Guest: Brent Hennrich, a progressive challenger running to represent Washington's 3rd Congressional District Related links: Minority Democrats in 20th District endorse progressive alternative for Congress | The Daily Chronicle What’s fueling the far-left surge? ‘Democrats themselves hate the party’ | The Seattle Times Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez challenged from left, right, center | The Columbian Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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