Soundside

KUOW News and Information

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Aug 28, 2024 · 20 min
Christian Nationalism and its effect on Yakima city politics
Last year, the Yakima City Council made a landmark decision by passing a proclamation to designate the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride month. Less than a year later, the council voted to reverse that decision. The move was celebrated by far right religious leaders like Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk and Sean Feucht, who took to X to applaud the decision. And while pride celebrations defiantly went on in the city, it’s raised a lot of concerns about the ties between public officials and prominent Christian Nationalist figures. GUESTS: Mai Hoang - Central and Eastern Washington reporter for Cascade PBS. Dominick Bonny - investigative journalist based in Wenatchee. RELATED LINK: “Under God: How Christianity Permeates Yakima City Politics.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 28, 2024 · 29 min
Budget woes, cellphones, and safety: educators share their thoughts going into the new school year
For many Washington students, and parents, the school year is just about to start - if it hasn’t already. And they're not the only ones gearing up for the new year. Teachers and school staff are about to step into a new year with all sorts of new questions about how their respective school systems will be run. So, we wanted to check in with a panel of education experts, to hear about how they’re preparing for both an incoming class of students, and the realities of working in the Washington education system right now. Guests: Ibijoke Idowu, a special education teacher with Seattle Public Schools Hilda Lail, Vancouver Public Schools Bilingual Family and Community Engagement Partnership Coordinator Julianna Dauble, president of the Renton Education Association Relevant Links: Cell Phone and Smart Device Use in Schools - OSPI SPS, city of Seattle announce safety plan before new school year - Seattle Times Seattle school closures: Why almost every student would be affected - Seattle Times More school resource officers coming to Renton - Kent Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 28, 2024 · 25 min
It's time to do a vibe check on the state of remote work
Earlier this month, City of Seattle workers were told most of them will have to return to the office at least 3 days a week starting this fall. Meanwhile… a certain large tech and online retail company (named after a river in South America) has reportedly started a mulling the minimum number of hours employees must stay on site to count towards its three day in-office mandate. These changes had us wondering – is remote work gradually eroding in the Puget Sound region? One study looking at 2022 Census data found that a quarter of workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area worked at least part of the week remotely, away from the office. But the past year has brought a lot of changes to employer policies around where employees have to put in their hours – and for policymakers, that’s coinciding with concern about the lasting effects of remote work on Seattle’s struggling downtown core. For a vibe check on remote work and what the numbers tell us about its effects on Seattle, Soundside host Libby Denkmann caught up with Tracy Hadden Loh, fellow at the Brookings Institute, and Joshua McNichols, growth and development reporter for KUOW and co-host of the "Booming" podcast. 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. Guests: Tracy Hadden Loh, fellow at the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C. Joshua McNichols, growth and development reporter for KUOW and co-host of the "Booming" podcast. Related Links: How to break the doom loop: Actionable insights from the Brookings Future of Downtowns learning exchange Amazon cracks down on ‘coffee badging,’ amid return-to-office push | The Seattle Times KUOW - Seattle ticks through to-do list to revive downtown Seattle mayor mandates 3 days of in-office work for city employees (komonews.com) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 27, 2024 · 17 min
Mia Zapata and The Gits are often defined by a tragic murder, drummer Steve Moriarty's book tells a different story about the band
In the early 90s, Seattle was at the center of a sonic revolution. Grunge, a homegrown sludgy rock sound, became a global commodity. At the same time, another sound was making its mark on Seattle. The Gits were a band on the precipice of national stardom, standing out with their punk sensibility and charismatic female vocalist, with music labels circling. But the promise of a big break came to a violent end. The band’s lead singer, Mia Zapata, was murdered in 1993. It happened in the early morning hours after a show at the Comet Tavern. For years, in media accounts, the band was defined by that tragic night. Today, the Gits’ drummer, Steve Moriarty, says he doesn’t want an act of violence to overshadow their full story. His book, Mia Zapata and the Gits: A True Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution, tells a fuller story of the band's existence. 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. Guests: Steve Moriarty, drummer and author of Mia Zapata and The Gits: A True Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 26, 2024 · 23 min
How Thurston County is aiming to bring homelessness to "functional zero"
Addressing homelessness is looking a little different in Thurston County these days. The county, which includes Olympia, just became the fifth community in the nation to collect data on every single adult experiencing homelessness. The county’s partner organization says that data includes the names and circumstances of each person counted. And the county vows to update the information monthly. It’s part of a model called “Built for Zero”. Guests: Keylee Marineau, homeless response program manager at Thurston County's Office of Housing & Homeless Prevention Garrett Grainger, Research Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University Relevant Links: Olympia, Wash. Becomes Fifth U.S. City to Collect Data on All Single Adults Experiencing Homelessness - PR Newswire Blog: Five Questions Housing Analysts Should Ask About "By-Name Data" - HSA: The Forum for Housing-Related Research and Debate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 26, 2024 · 25 min
No, Seattle's most notorious brothel madam was not a Gilded Age Girl Boss
We know a few things about the woman known as Lou Graham, for sure: She was a brothel madam in Seattle at the turn of the century. And she’s immortalized in one of the city’s popular ghost tours. Maybe you’ve even felt her spiritual presence while passing through tunnels underneath Pioneer Square. Beyond that, facts are sparse. But plenty of legends about Graham’s life and impact on Seattle are served up to tourists and YouTube viewers who care to search her name. From Geographics: “Technically sex work was illegal, so Graham made sure to have the ladies registered as “seamstresses” on the books. From Women Being Podcast: “Graham was an advocate for women’s rights and social justice, and supported the women’s rights movement, including the Seattle chapter of the NAACP. She died in 1903 a feminist icon.” It turns out, most of that is TOTAL BUNK. But the truth behind those fables – and a journalist’s search to find it – may be even more illuminating. GUEST: Hanna Brooks Olson, author of “Notoriously Bad Character: The True Story of Lou Graham and the Immigrants and Sex Workers Who Built Seattle” RELATED LINKS: https://hannabrooksolsen.com/ The Many False Histories of Lou Graham | Medium See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 22, 2024 · 19 min
How a battle over owls points to a bigger question in conservation
Last winter, federal officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a program to save the perpetually threatened northern spotted owl. The problem? Invasive barred owls are crowding out our local forest -- they're bigger, and more aggressive. The solution? Culling half a million of those owls over the next 30 years. On its face, the issue seems pretty straightforward: barred owls are invasive, and because of them, Northern spotted owls are disappearing. But for Jay Odenbaugh, a philosopher and ethicist, the issue brings up a bigger question: how we as humans try to intervene in a problem we're also responsible for creating. KUOW's Diana Opong spoke with Odenbaugh about a recent op-ed he co-authored for the New York Times about how we can think more ethically about conservation. Guests: Jay Odenbaugh, professor of humanities at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. Related Links: KUOW - Why the feds want to cull barred owls in the Pacific Northwest Opinion | To Save Some Endangered Owls, Would You Kill 500,000 Other Owls? - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Feds propose shooting one owl to save another in Pacific Northwest | The Seattle Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 22, 2024 · 14 min
The battle for Public Lands Commissioner turns to a recount
At this point, most of Washington’s primary election results have been called. Bob Ferguson will face Dave Reichert in the race for governor. Tanya Woo and Alexis Mercedes Rinck are vying for a spot on the Seattle City Council. Goodspaceguy once again failed to get onto the November ballot. But – in one race, the drama has remained at a fever pitch as votes trickle in. Nearly 2 million people cast ballots, but in the end, just 51 votes separated second and third place in the race to be Public Lands Commissioner. And the fun’s not over yet. 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. Guest: Northwest News Network state government reporter Jeanie Lindsay Relevant Links: KUOW: A recount is coming in race for WA public lands commissioner See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 21, 2024 · 12 min
What goes on beyond the tv stream at the DNC
When some people picture political conventions, they might imagine a grand stage lit up with dazzling lights, a seemingly never ending stream of speeches - and a sea of enthusiastic supporters cheering their hearts out, waving lots and lots of American flags. Since Monday, the Democratic National Convention has been underway in Chicago. There have been speeches and high-profile moments. like a visit from Michelle Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama. But there’s a whole other world at the DNC. Beyond the big speeches and VIP appearances, there’s a bustling undercurrent of activity. From vibrant panel discussions and quirky merchandise stalls, to a crowd that’s anything but predictable—there’s a lot more happening than meets the eye. Guests: Mike Davis, WBEZ Theater reporter Relevant Links: WBEZ Chicago: At a DNC fair, Chicago's Black entrepreneurs get a moment in the spotlight See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 21, 2024 · 24 min
For the first time in its history, McNeil Island is releasing more patients than it's taking in
Chances are high that you’ve never been to McNeal Island before. Few have - the island, located in the Puget Sound, southwest of Tacoma, isn’t accessible to the general public. The only people that are allowed are staff and pre-screened visitors at the Washington State Special Commitment Center - the first post-prison institution for people designated as sexually violent predators. Around 515 people have been detained in the Special Commitment Center program since 1990. But now, a new report from the Seattle Times shows that, for the first time in its history, the center is releasing more patients than it’s taking in. What that means for these patients, and the general public, depends on who you ask. Here to shed some light and help make sense of things is Seattle Times investigative reporter Rebecca Moss. GUEST: Rebecca Moss - Seattle Times Investigative Reporter RELATED LINKS: WA confined hundreds for sexual violence. Then it quietly began releasing them. - Seattle Times The island where WA has confined hundreds for sexual violence: What to know - Seattle Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 21, 2024 · 12 min
How a century-old church in Tacoma is trying to become affordable youth housing
Picture a historic church in Tacoma’s Proctor neighborhood, bathed in afternoon sunlight, poised for a dramatic transformation. Julie Cain, who purchased the church in 2021, envisions turning it into affordable housing for young adults. The project aims to address local housing needs and foster a supportive community, with plans for shared rooms and communal spaces. However, the ambitious plan has sparked mixed reactions from neighbors concerned about traffic, parking, and neighborhood changes. Back in June, the city issued a permit for converting the church – albeit with some limitations. Neither side liked that outcome, and both sides requested a reconsideration. Yesterday, the city denied both requests. Now, no one is happy. 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. Guests: Becca Most, Pierce County reporter for the Tacoma News Tribune Relevant Links: Tacoma News Tribune: Affordable young adult housing proposed for old Tacoma church Tacoma News Tribune: Proctor church conversion to shared youth housing hits snag Tacoma News Tribune: Amici House youth project in Tacoma hits development hurdle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 21, 2024 · 25 min
Fitz Cahall on 17 years of finding new adventures outdoors
When Fitz Cahall started his “Dirtbag Diaries” podcast in 2007, he was an avid outdoorsman struggling to make ends meet as a travel writer. At the time, this whole ‘on demand audio storytelling’ thing was kind of new, and Fitz saw it as a way of bringing new life to his joy of the outdoors. Today, he’s replaced his wild life bouncing around in a van with the concrete landscape of Seattle, where he continues to host his podcast with his wife, Becca, and their team of producers. And 17 years after they first began, Fitz and crew have now adapted 30 of their favorite “Dirtbag Diaries” into a new book titled States of Adventure: Stories About Finding Yourself by Getting Lost. Cahall recently joined Libby Denkmann to discuss the book, the last 17 years of podcasting, and how he continues to find inspiration in the great outdoors. Guests: Fitz Cahall, author of States of Adventure. Related Links: The Dirtbag Diaries - The original outdoor adventure podcast : The Dirtbag Diaries States Of Adventure - The Dirtbag Diaries : The Dirtbag Diaries See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 20, 2024 · 13 min
Renters say "junk fees" create real harm
Imagine you are renting a property and your grass dies and gets brown (this is the Pacific Northwest, where, aside from some unseasonable August rain, it’s pretty dry all summer). Then you get a note from your management company that letting that grass die violates the property’s rules and fines you $125. Then, on top of that, the company charges you an additional $125 for the trouble it took to put that note on your door. These fines, so called “junk fees,” are allowed in Washington State. A few cities like Seattle and Olympia have banned them. But those living outside areas with regulations can be subjected to a myriad of fines. Renters claim it is a way to penalize them to the point of moving. 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. Guests: Kelsey Turner, reporter at InvestigateWest Relevant Links: InvestigateWest: WA renters say unregulated ‘junk fees’ are being used to retaliate, discriminate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 20, 2024 · 11 min
How solitary confinement affects the mental health of WA State inmates
The Washington State Department of Corrections has pledged to stop the use of solitary confinement in state prisons, in most cases. And the agency says it has made progress on that goal. But a recent report from the agency’s own independent watchdog, the Office of the Corrections Ombuds, says isolating inmates for extended periods of time is still a widespread practice. The findings, published in June, showed more than 1 in 5 people incarcerated in state prison at the time of the report had served a significant amount of time in solitary. The Ombuds also highlighted 176 suicide attempts over the last decade by people in solitary. 14 of those were fatal. The report was requested by WA State lawmakers who are working to END solitary confinement because of its effects on the mental health of inmates. To find out more, Soundside talked to WA State Standard reporter Grace Deng. GUEST: Grace Deng - WA State Standard RELATED LINKS: Prisoners still routinely isolated in WA, despite efforts to cut solitary confinement - WA State Standard https://oco.wa.gov/sites/default/files/OCO_SolitaryConfinementReport_Part1_June2024.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 20, 2024 · 13 min
Weekend rain a welcome relief as wildfire burns near Stehekin
The summertime is usually the peak season for tourists in Stehekin, Washington – a small community of around 100 people at the north end of Lake Chelan. It’s only accessible by boat or floatplane, making it an ideal place for a lakeside getaway or entry into the North Cascades wilderness. But the geography and topography that make Stehekin unique are now posing challenges as the Pioneer Wildfire continues to threaten the town. Since it started June, the fire has grown to tens of thousands of acres, and at one point spread to within 100 feet of buildings near Stehekin. Many of the areas residents have stayed, but no structures have burned. Soundside caught up with Stan Hinatsu about the latest on the fire. Hinatsu is the public information officer on the latest incident management team -- one of six -- responding to the Pioneer and Easy Fires. Guests: Stan Hinatsu, Public Information Officer with the Pioneer/Easy Fire incident response team Related Links: Stehekin residents prepare to defend their town as Pioneer fire nears | The Seattle Times Pioneer fire moves into Stehekin, comes within 100 feet of buildings | The Seattle Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 19, 2024 · 14 min
Fewer WA children are in foster care amid state effort to keep families together
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families, which oversees the state’s foster care system, celebrated a milestone last week: The number of children in foster care has dipped below 5,000. That’s down significantly from 9,171 kids in foster care in 2018 – a reduction of more than 50% in six years. This is seen as progress among experts who have pushed for states nationwide to keep children with their parents whenever possible. Splitting up families can do lasting harm to kids and disproportionately affects people of color. But critics of the approach say the policy shift has created a situation where the state may be leaving children in harmful situations too long, especially when parents struggle with addiction or mental health issues. 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. Guests: Nina Shapiro, social issues reporter at the Seattle Times Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Why WA’s foster care system is shrinking fast Seattle Times: Is Washington state taking too many children from their parents? Movement seeks to overhaul foster care See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 19, 2024 · 21 min
Hear It Again: He broke his neck diving into a pool. 20 years later, new technology is helping him recover
For decades, the road to recovery after a spinal cord injury has meant years of physical therapy. The goal is often small but meaningful improvements in body function. Being able to stretch your fingers that much farther, or grip just a bit harder. Jon Schleuter’s path began after he broke his neck diving into a pool 20 years ago. Soundside's Libby Denkmann and Alec Cowan spoke with Schleuter in May. You can check out the original story, complete with photos here: https://www.kuow.org/stories/things-are-happening-new-tech-offers-groundbreaking-recovery-in-spinal-injuries GUESTS: Jon Schlueter Chet Moritz RELATED LINKS: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-02940-9 https://www.onwd.com/therapy/arc-ex/ https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65689580https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65689580 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 16, 2024 · 20 min
New COVID study finds pandemic mandates did, in fact, save lives
A new study out of the University of Virginia combined data from all 50 states to see how COVID restrictions did or didn’t reduce pandemic deaths. Despite criticism – even today – that COVID restrictions were tyrannical and unnecessary, the paper shows that states with more stringent mask and vaccine mandates did in fact save lives, and that states without those measures could have prevented excess deaths had they followed similar strictures. While hindsight is, in this case, literally 2020 – the study should inform our response to future pandemics. Soundside spoke with the paper's author, Christopher Ruhm, about the findings. Ruhm is a professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Public policy. Guests: Christopher Ruhm, professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Public policy. Related Links: How State Policies Impacted Death Rates During COVID | Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy | University of Virginia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 15, 2024 · 13 min
For Seattle drag performers, sick days are not an option
For many performers, a missed show can mean a huge pay cut. Drag queens, comedians, musicians, and other entertainers are mostly independent contractors, which means no employer provided health insurance or sick time. Now, local drag queen Betty Wetter, as well as the dance duo Drama Tops, and Velocity Dance Center, have come together to create the Queer Sick Pay Fund. The Fund is meant to provide queer nightlife performers in the Seattle area with sick pay and resources when they have to miss a gig. Guest: Seattle drag queen Betty Wetter Relevant Links: Velocity Queer Sick Pay Fund page See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 14, 2024 · 19 min
Updates are coming to this 60-year-old treaty guiding the Columbia River
The Columbia River is undoubtedly one of the most important rivers in the Northwest. Today, its irrigation provides water for the farms of Central Washington; it’s a vital waterway for salmon; and it provides a critical source of hydroelectric power. The river is split between the U.S. and Canada, and its headwaters begin in British Columbia. For the last 60 years, one treaty -- the Columbia River Treaty -- has dictated how the two nations manage the river and its dams. But that treaty is quickly approaching an important deadline this September, and if nothing changes, terms in the treaty become less favorable to the United States. In the last month, stakeholders on both sides of the border have come to an "agreement in principle" on an update to the Columbia River Treaty. Negotiations over changes in the treaty have been in the works for the last 6 years. It’s probably something you haven’t heard about before – but it’s a critical piece of the future of the Columbia River and everything that depends on it. This week Soundside’s Libby Denkmann caught up on the treaty’s latest with Nigel Bankes, professor emeritus of law at the University of Calgary. Guests: Nigel Bankes, professor of law emeritus at the University of Calgary Related Links: Agreement in Principle on a Revised Columbia River Treaty | ABlawg U.S. and Canada update 60-year-old Columbia River Treaty | Cascade PBS What’s at stake if the Columbia River Treaty were to end - OPB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.