Seattle Now

Legal challenges move quickly against WA's new requirements for elected sheriffs, Seattle opens its first warehouse for salvaged lumber, and the Mariners will retire Randy Johnson's number this 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 local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week… Washington state is suing Albertson’s for deceptive BOGO deals. New stats from Pike Place Market say the car-free pilot could be helping increase business. And a “good samaritan” from Richland turned in a couple of overdue library books 64 years late. Too Beautiful to Live Co-Host Andrew Walsh and author Geraldine DeRuiter are here to break down the week. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judge pauses new law creating standards for sheriff candidates, health officials fear measles is spreading undetected, and WA gas prices hit an all time record. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington state is going back to court with the Northwest ICE Processing Center. The state argues they should be able to inspect the facility. But the federally contracted detention center owners disagree. We’ll unpack what’s going on with the Washington State Standard’s Jake Goldenstein-Street. Read more about it from Jake here. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon launches new AI tools, smartphone rules to get stricter for Seattle students, and Starbucks says it's turning things around. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1953, Life Magazine published a widely read story titled “Mystic Painters of the Northwest.” It put Seattle in the spotlight as a creative hub of modernist art. A new exhibition at Seattle Art Museum explores modernist art in the Northwest, beyond the major artists. Theresa Papanikolas curated “Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest.” We met recently at the museum to get a tour of the exhibition. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State officials are demanding that health inspectors be allowed inside an immigration detention facility in Tacoma, Seattle police have increased drug-possession arrests despite a recent law meant to bring arrests down, and WSU researchers are fighting bacteria that's threatening our apple orchards. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some city and county leaders are calling for an end to a regional effort to solve homelessness after an audit found overspending and weak financial controls. KUOW’s Amy Radil is here to help us understand what is going on with the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. Read more of Amy Radil’s reporting here and here and here. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WA sues Albertsons over sales promotions, homelessness agency vows to tighten purse strings after scathing audit, and a longtime Seattle karaoke venue is closing down. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington has six national forests, making up approximately nine million acres of land in our state… Those lands are managed by the US Forest Service, which also does research to help lessen the severity of our wildfire seasons. Now, a new directive from the Trump Administration could change how our forests are managed. We’ll hear more from KUOW Reporter John Ryan. Read John's story here. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re bringing you the best from newsrooms across Washington… First, President Joe Biden announced an executive order that created the first-ever national assessment of nature, but President Donald Trump rescinded the effort on his first day in office. The team that had started the work – led by a professor at the University of Washington – refused to give it up. Read more here. Next, doctors at UW Medicine’s Long Covid Clinic are beginning to see patterns of how Long Covid is impacting various communities, including Latino farmworkers. Read more here. And finally, you heard about it on Casual Friday - The notoriously late number 8 bus in Seattle is finally getting fixed. Read more here. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Free pop-up health clinic sees high demand, credit rating agency puts Washington on notice, and your sewer bill could be going up. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week… Mayor Katie Wilson has a plan to fix Seattle's least reliable bus. Watch your tail… The city is ramping up its off-leash dog enforcement. And people got way too close to some sea lions hanging out in Ballard. Stranger Editor Vivian McCall and Seattle Now Producer Vaughan Jones are here to break down the week. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local officials call for homelessness agency to be dissolved, WA unveils climate action plan, and some campgrounds will close due to budget cuts. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rental houses are becoming scarcer in the city. Renters and landlords say a lot has changed and the math isn’t working. The Seattle Times’ Alexis Weisend will tell us why. King County Metro customer satisfaction survey 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle unveils plan to speed up the Route 8 bus, advocates say salmon runs will keep declining without more funding, and Alaska Airlines says higher fares are here to stay. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An iconic local carpentry program is facing the axe. The Wood Technology Center, a program of Seattle Central College, is the starting point for many of our region’s carpenters, contractors, and boat builders. But budget issues plague community colleges across the state. And now, Wood Tech’s future is up in the air. We’ll hear from three graduates, including one who’s now teaching. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King County Council calls for Assessor John Arthur Wilson to resign, DOJ to investigate how UW handles antisemitism, and Microsoft steps back from carbon removal. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual Seattle/King County Health Clinic is expecting an increase in patients this year. This Thursday through Sunday at Seattle Center, people can get free medical, dental, and vision care -- no questions asked. Julia Colson is the clinic’s founder, and she talks with us about why demand is up this year. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King County is looking into a box of abandoned ballots found in Renton, Washington's grey wolf population went up in 2025, and we're in peak migration season for birds. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent moves from Starbucks executives suggest the company is trying to uproot from its Seattle origins. Does it make more sense for them to stay or for them to go? Seattle Times business reporter Paul Roberts will spill the beans. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re bringing you the best from another KUOW podcast, Booming… The middle class economy is quintessentially American. It’s a whole range of businesses that cropped up to serve the growing middle class after World War II. Think coffee and apple pie at your neighborhood diner. Or back-to- school shopping at Sears. But companies that cater to the middle class are cratering under the weight of the affordability crisis. Why is the middle economy disappearing? And what does it mean for the businesses we love? 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pedestrian deaths increasing in Seattle, legal scholars call for stronger efforts to protect judges, and Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are separating. 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week… King County Metro's fare enforcement program is showing unimpressive financial returns. Bike-only weekends on Lake Washington Boulevard are getting a tune-up. And in patented Mariners fashion, the reveal of Ichiro's new statue went wrong. Comedian Phil Burton and Simply Seattle’s Danny Ball are here to break down the week. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WA's unemployment rate increased for the fourth straight month, Connie Ballmer makes a record donation to NPR, and Tacoma-Seattle fast ferry 'unlikely' to launch ahead of World Cup. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Excitement for the World Cup is building around the SODO neighborhood. Sure, there are good vibes, but also the monumental challenge of hosting an estimated 750,000 visitors. We’ll learn more about how SODO businesses are getting ready for the summer’s World Cup crowds. Fill out the Seattle Now focus group survey, here. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor Wilson's homelessness proposals move forward, student uses 'AI attorneys' to sue UW over alleged racial discrimination, and WA prevails in lawsuit against Live Nation. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. Fill out the Seattle Now focus group survey, here. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think of data centers in Washington state, you probably think of those in rural areas - outside small towns like Quincy and Prosser. But as demand grows for data centers, companies are looking to the city… some have started to request space in Seattle. We’ll hear more from Seattle Times Climate Reporter Greg Kim. Fill out the Seattle Now focus group survey, here. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle library levy will head to voters this summer, residents of Pacific sue King County over flood preparation, and the Seattle Storm get high marks for their new draft picks. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. Fill out the Seattle Now focus group survey, here. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tax season is when many of us take stock of our finances. Our debt, our spending habits, and how much we’re bringing in. And those things look different, by gender. Here in Washington, the gender wage gap is the second largest in the country. We some practical financial advice from Tori Dunlap. She's a Seattle-based author and founder of Her First $100K. Her podcast on personal finance is called “Financial Feminist." Fill out the Seattle Now focus group survey, here. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washingtonians recovering from last December's flooding can apply for federal relief, an infant in King County has measles and may have exposed others, and the Seattle Storm are at a high stakes WNBA draft tonight. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve been thinking about moving to Canada, you might want to check if you have any forgotten Canadian ancestors. That’s because back in December, it became much easier to inherit Canadian citizenship. We’ll talk about what’s changed and why with immigration consultant Cassandra Fultz. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom… First, Washington's Legislature works just a few months per year, which means most lawmakers have day jobs on the side. And finally, a story about a traditional whale hunt for Washington’s Makah tribe. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SeaTac Airport expects big crowds this weekend, Seattle battery manufacturer fined for exposing employees to toxic lead dust, and the Mariners unveil Ichiro statue, which immediately breaks. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week… Washington's summer weather outlook is dangerously dry. A very small local restaurant got a glowing review from the New York Times. And why did the Greenwood Fred Meyer take the handles off of their paper bags? Seattle Times Food Writer Tan Vin and Factal Editor Joe Veyera are here to break down the week. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New lawsuit challenges millionaires tax, Mayor Wilson announces new shelter site in Interbay, and Seattle Storm broadcaster Elise Woodward is leaving for Portland. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sumo tournaments in Seattle have a long history. And they’re growing in popularity. We’ll take a trip to a Rain City Sumo practice and meet some wrestlers. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WA declares an emergency drought, masked ICE agents arrest man at Seattle Immigration Court, and legendary mountain climber Jim Whittaker dies. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gambling in Washington state can be a challenge - if you want to bet on your favorite sports team, you have to physically go to a casino. But prediction markets like Kalshi and Robinhood are just a download away. They say they’re different from traditional gambling apps and are willing to go to court to prove it. We’ll hear more from KUOW’s Clare McGrane. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iranian Americans protest at Seattle City Hall, Snohomish County says the months-long measles outbreak has ended, and the Seattle Japanese Garden will temporarily close this summer. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the pandemic, you could take a Washington State Ferry from Anacortes to Sidney, British Columbia. We’ve just entered the 7th season without service. Now, some ferry riders are suing. We talk with journalist Tom Banse who's written about this for the Washington State Standard. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Gray whales died over the last few days, Tacoma wants Sound Transit to expand light rail service south, and the fire season forecast is smoky. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. 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 story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.