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Soundside

KUOW News and Information

Get to know the PNW and each other.

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  • 1,095 episodes
  • Updated Yesterday

Episodes1095

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  • Jun 6, 2024 · 26 min

    It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... an Amazon delivery drone? FAA approval means more customers may get packages via drone

    In 2013, Amazon founder and then CEO Jeff Bezos told 60 Minutes that his company would be delivering packages via DRONE within 5 years. It took a little bit longer… but not much. Since December 2022, customers in College Station, Texas have been able to get small packages delivered by unmanned Amazon aircrafts. And last week, Amazon announced that the FAA has authorized its drone program, called Prime Air, to fly even farther, beyond the view of human operators. Amazon joins Google’s subsidiary Wing, and companies like UPS and Zipline, which have already received similar approval from the FAA. Guests: Matt McCardle, Director of Global Regulatory Affairs and Strategy for Amazon Prime Air Paresh Dave, Senior Writer for Wired Related Links: Amazon Drone Delivery Plans Move a Small Step Forward Amazon’s Delivery Drones Won’t Fly in Arizona’s Summer Heat Amazon’s Drone Delivery Dream Is Crashing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jun 6, 2024 · 13 min

    Here's how Starliner marks a turning point for space exploration, and maybe public perception of Boeing

    Boeing's Starliner spacecraft hit a milestone when it docked at the International Space Station on Thursday morning. The journey to get this spacecraft off the ground in the first place was bumpy, and expensive. It ended up running seven years behind schedule, and went more than $1 billion dollars over budget. But for many, this mission signifies a turning point for the relationship between NASA and commercial spaceflight. And, it may give Boeing the boost it needs to repair the company's public perception. Soundside host Libby Denkmann talked to Greg Autry, the director of the Thunderbird Initiative for Space Leadership, Policy and Business at Arizona State University. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jun 5, 2024 · 29 min

    With 'heart, sensitivity, and delicacy,' Wing Luke Museum plans to re-open after staff walkout

    The Wing Luke Museum in Seattle’s Chinatown International District is working to reopen after roughly two dozen staff walked out in protest. At issue: a new exhibit called “Confronting Hate Together,” which looks at how Seattle’s Black, Asian-American, and Jewish communities have faced prejudice both historically and in the present. On the day it was set to debut, about half of the Wing Luke’s staff walked off the job. Those workers said in a statement that parts of “Confronting Hate Together,” which the museum had been working on since before October 7th, conflated Anti-Zionism with anti-semitism. They also criticized the absence of Palestinian, Muslim and Arab voices. Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke with Wing Luke's executive director, Joël Barraquiel Tan, about how the museum is responding to staff’s demands while also balancing the autonomy of its partners in this project. Guest(s): Joël Barraquiel Tan, executive director of the Wing Luke Museum See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jun 5, 2024 · 21 min

    Why clean energy production could end up in your backyard

    The Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project near the Tri-Cities could become the largest of its kind in the state. The project, as originally planned, would span over 24 miles, and include wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage. But there are concerns: the land has previously been home to the endangered ferruginous hawk. It's also culturally important land to the Yakama Nation. Those kinds of issues led a state energy council to approve the project – but scaled back, to about half the original scale. But last month, Governor Inslee essentially rejected the council’s recommendation for a smaller project. In a letter to the Energy Facility Siting and Evaluation Council, Inslee directed the council to reconsider its recommendation – and pushed for the maximum allowable energy generation. He says that would provide about 5% of the new electricity the state will need over the next decade. Now, the state energy council has less than 90 days to respond to the Governor’s rejection. Inslee will decide whether or not to approve what they send him. Washington’s energy needs could grow by 20 percent by 2030… and could double by 2050. What does an ideal energy plan look like for Washington, and what would it take to get there? Guests: Courtney Flatt, correspondent for NWPB and the Northwest News Network focusing on environmental, natural resources and energy issues in the Northwest Darrin Magee, Director of the Institute for Energy Studies at Western Washington University See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jun 4, 2024 · 15 min

    Bears in the bin? Coyotes by the car? What to know when you encounter Washington wildlife

    It’s a gift for us in Washington to be surrounded by wildlife. You can catch sight of whales on a ferry commute, coyotes from the back deck, or ospreys diving for fish at the local park. But not all human-animal interactions are without a bit of risk. If you happen to run into a backwoods bear or a concealed cougar, someone like Kevin O’Connor may be sent in for help. O’Connor is a wildlife conflict specialist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and he joined Soundside to break down what you should know when it comes to our common wildlife encounters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jun 4, 2024 · 21 min

    How President Biden’s Executive Order will affect asylum seekers in WA State

    A major change to U.S. immigration policy just dropped: President Biden this morning signed an Executive Order limiting asylum claims from people who cross the border between ports of entry. This is an evolving story today as we get details of the order: but reporters who have been briefed by the Biden team say the new policy would effectively close the southern border after unauthorized crossings exceeded 2,500 in a day – so it would take effect almost immediately. Under the order, people who cross would instead be returned to their home country or Mexico. They would still be allowed to request an appointment to seek asylum at a legal port of entry. There are exceptions for unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking. This comes after months of negotiations on a bipartisan border bill in congress – a compromise deal that was ultimately rejected by Republican members. Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke with both Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Executive Director Malou Chávez about today’s order, and what it will mean for the immigrants here in Western Washington who are seeking asylum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jun 4, 2024 · 13 min

    A new chapter comes for Assunta Ng and Northwest Asian Weekly

    For 42 years - journalist and newspaper publisher Assunta Ng has been a pillar of Seattle’s Chinatown International District. After emigrating to the United States at the age of 19 to attend the University of Washington - Assunta, together with her husband George, started two newspapers devoted to serving the local Asian American and immigrant communities: The Seattle Chinese Post, and Northwest Asian Weekly. Assunta reported for the papers, and served as publisher - until last Friday. Soundside producer Noel Gasca went to Ng's farewell party to understand the work and legacy of a woman often called "the unofficial mayor of Chinatown." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jun 4, 2024 · 37 min

    Republican gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird responds to accusations of "stolen valor"

    In April, former Richland School Board Director and military veteran Semi Bird received the GOP's endorsement for governor. He has since faced controversy. Last week, conservative talk show host Jason Rantz published letters pertaining to Bird’s time in the Army. In those letters, a brigadier general reprimanded Bird for wearing medals he did not earn and submitting false performance evaluation documents. On Soundside, Bird pushed back on those claims and said his meritorious service, including earning a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, are being overshadowed by these politically motivated attacks. Guests: Semi Bird, candidate for Washington governor Scott Greenstone, KUOW politics reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • Jun 3, 2024 · 14 min

    "Mainstream" Republicans focus on local issues, ignore Trump

    The different factions of the Republican Party were clearly on display this past weekend, at the “Cascade Conference” in Yakima. The conference was hosted by a group called the “Mainstream Republicans of Washington”. Their self-stated mission is to push for the election of more qualified and moderate candidates for public office. Including former congressman and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert, who took the spotlight as keynote speaker. Mainstream Republicans of Washington has endorsed Reichert in the gubernatorial election. That’s in opposition to the official state GOP, which tapped former Richland School Board member Semi Bird. It points to an ideological split in the party as it tries to rally to be competitive in a state where Republican support has steadily eroded in recent years. Guest: Jeanie Lindsay, Northwest News Network state government reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 30, 2024 · 26 min

    Seattle jobs experts have advice for new grads

    Congratulations class of 2024, you've graduated from college. But now what? If you look at statistics, new graduates today have better than average job prospects. At a macro level, the US job market is looking good. 175,000 new jobs were added in April, and the unemployment rate remained low - at just 3.9 percent. But, that may not be how it feels to every job seeker. Expedia, Amazon, and Microsoft are just a few of the local tech companies that have laid off employees recently. And it’s not just tech: there have also been layoffs at REI, Dollar Tree, and at local media organizations - like KUOW. There are ripple effects of these layoffs. Workers with more experience are now also looking for work, along with new graduates. And that’s leading some recruiters, and job candidates, to say that finding a job is getting harder, and taking longer. Guests: Hart Hodges: a Professor in the Department of Economics at Western Washington University and Director of Western's Center for Economic and Business Research Bonnie Dilber: a recruiting manager at the tech company Zapier, and content creator who talks about job searches, recruiting, and the workplace. Briana Randall: executive director of the career and internship center at the UW Seattle campus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 30, 2024 · 25 min

    Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell: Next top cop should be "obsessed with safety"

    Soundside host Libby Denkmann sits down with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to discuss Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz's removal from his job on Wednesday, under pressure from a series of lawsuits including allegations of discrimination and harassment at the department. Sue Rahr, the former King County Sheriff and head of Washington State’s Criminal Justice Training Commission is now serving as interim chief, as a national search begins for the next head of the Seattle Police Department. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 29, 2024 · 22 min

    The life of racing pioneer Cheryl Glass

    Seattle's Cheryl Glass was a sprint car racing sensation. She won the season finale at the Skagit Speedway in 1980, took the Pacific Northwest racing world by storm, and had serious aspirations of racing in the Indy 500. Even today, Glass remains one of the most well known Black female race car drivers in U.S. history. But after a series of accidents and setbacks, she left the racing world. Her life came to a tragic end in 1997. Soundside spoke with author Bill Poehler about his new book "The First Lady of Dirt: The Triumphs and Tragedy of Racing Pioneer Cheryl Glass." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 29, 2024 · 8 min

    Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz is being dismissed

    Seattle’s Chief of Police, Adrian Diaz, has been dismissed from his job. Diaz and the department have endured a flurry of allegations and lawsuits from employees over the past year. including claims of discriminatory behavior by Diaz toward women and people of color, and rumors of a relationship with an employee that roiled the department. Hanging over all of this is the department’s ongoing struggle to recruit and retain officers. Soundside spoke with KUOW Online Managing Editor Isolde Raftery to break down the latest. Raftery and KUOW’s Ashley Hiruko have been out in front doing watchdog reporting about Seattle’s Police Department and its chief. Related: Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz out; former Sheriff Sue Rahr interim ‘Appearance of segregation’ at Seattle Police Department, captain says in lawsuit Seattle cop accuses Chief Diaz of ‘predatory behavior’ and ‘grooming’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 29, 2024 · 12 min

    Ransomware attackers target Seattle Public Library

    Seattle Public Library’s services remain limited today after a ransomware attack took much of the library’s technology systems offline. In a blog post, the Library said it had been preparing to take computer systems down for maintenance over Memorial Day Weekend when workers discovered a ransomware event affecting the entire network. At this point, it is unclear what the ransomware attackers are after, or how long it will take for the Seattle Public Library’s systems to be back to full operation. Ransomware attacks against large institutions have multiplied in recent years. This week, a hacker group claimed credit for an attack on the auction house Christie’s. The group has threatened to release sensitive information about art collectors unless demands were met. Soundside is joined by Quentin Hodgson, a senior researcher specializing in cybersecurity at RAND, a non-profit, non-partisan research organization, to discuss the proliferation of ransomware attacks in recent years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 28, 2024 · 10 min

    There’s bird flu RNA in grocery store milk. How sequencing it may help fight avian influenza

    The H5N1 bird flu continues to spread to U.S. dairy cows – affecting dozens of herds in at least ten states. The dairy industry has been hesitant to test cows for the virus. The FDA says pasteurized milk is safe to drink. A team of University of Washington and Fred Hutch Cancer Center researchers is working to track the avian influenza by sequencing the virus’ RNA found in milk from the grocery store. Guests: Pavitra Roychoudhury, research assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine who also works at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Related links: STAT: Move over, wastewater. Store-bought milk could be another way to track the bird flu outbreak in cows USDA: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Livestock NPR: Limited testing of raw milk for bird flu leaves safety questions unanswered FDA: Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 28, 2024 · 27 min

    Understanding the music of migration in Noé Álvarez’s new memoir, "Accordion Eulogies"

    When author Noé Álvarez was growing up in Yakima, WA he remembers hearing accordion music wafting in the orchards where his parents picked fruit, at dance halls, and at house parties. But his grandfather Eulogio – a traveling accordion player – remained a figure steeped in mystery and infamy. The path to understanding that “ancestral tragedy” sent Álvarez across state and country borders in search of his family’s history and a deeper knowledge of the music that propelled it. That journey is detailed in Noé Álvarez’s new book, “Accordion Eulogies: A Memoir of Music, Migration, and Mexico." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 28, 2024 · 12 min

    Why hasn't Seattle activated its emergency shelter plan for migrants in Tukwila?

    Over the last 18 months, thousands of asylum-seeking migrants have found a temporary home at the Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila. The church isn’t set up to be a long term shelter - but with few beds open in King County’s family shelters each night - this temporary solution has become a lifeline for asylum seekers. But how did this church become a de facto shelter for so many people? A new report from the Seattle Times found that the first asylum seekers to seek shelter at the church were sent there by Seattle city workers, and while Seattle has a plan in place for an emergency shelter to house migrants in the city, Mayor Harrell has so far refused to implement it. Soundside host Libby Denkmann talked to Seattle Times reporter David Kroman about what's behind this breakdown to get migrants the housing they need. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 23, 2024 · 12 min

    Almost all of the 300 mountain goats moved from Olympics to the Cascades have died

    Starting in 2018, state and federal officials began moving over 300 mountain goats from the Olympic Peninsula to the North Cascades.It was a joint project with local tribes, the Olympic National Park, Washington Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Forest Service. Now, more than five years later, reporting from the Everett Herald indicates the project has had mixed success. Hundreds of goats were successfully moved from the park. But it appears that most of them have since died. GUEST: Ta'Leah Van Sistine, Everett Herald We can only make Soundside because listeners support us. Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/soundside See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.