Seattle Now

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom… Federal Medicaid cuts are causing anxiety for a Bellevue family whose son has a disability. Local governments in Washington are using ChatGPT to do a lot. You can find it in social media posts, speeches, and even policy. And Washington’s beloved reptile zoo is closing this October. Families are rushing to say a final goodbye or a first hello to the favorite cold bloodied friends. 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 update on the firefighters arrested at the Bear Gulch fire yesterday, a forecast of the future of lightning in the region, and some suggestions for some local long weekend fun. 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 governments in Washington are outsourcing all kinds of things to generative AI. Dogs are now free to roam around Washington state ferries, sort of. And more speed cameras in school zones might make school drop-off and pick up a little less intense. Factal Editor Joe Veyera and Comedian Phil Burton 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.

Two firefighters arrested by Border Patrol in WA, Microsoft fires two employees involved in protests, and the Seahawks unveil a new alternate uniform. 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.

Big Tech companies are powerful, influential, and often hard to holdaccountable. But No Azure for Apartheid is trying to get Microsoft to make changesthrough protests. Those protests have escalated recently. There’s lots to talk about and Geekwire reporter and co-founder Todd Bishop ishere to discuss. 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.

Pressure builds against Microsoft's ties with Israel, WA leaders say health insurance costs will surge next year, and Paul Allen's estate promises $500 million in science grants. 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 got a soft spot for Fred Meyer, this one's gonna sting. Kroger says it plans to close five Fred Meyers and one QFC in the Seattle area. We’ll hear from Seattle Times business reporter Paul Roberts about why. 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.

LGBTQ community urges Mayor Harrell to cancel permit for Christian activist group, WA officials move to protect more forestland, and Uber Eats to pay $15 million in labor settlement. 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.

Stabilizing someone after a drug overdose is critical to their survival, but that’s often not the end of their struggle with opioid use disorder. A new recovery option is opening in Seattle this week. We’ll learn more about it with UW medicine’s Dr. Caleb Banta-Green. 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.

Extreme heat warning extended to Wednesday, FBI leads renewed search for fugitive Travis Decker, and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh makes history, again. 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.

UW Medicine researchers reached an extraordinary milestone this summer. They successfully implanted a device onto the brain of a Seattle-area man who suffered multiple strokes. They believe the device can help him recover movement in his arm and hand. KUOW editor and producer Stephen Howie tells about what this could mean for the future of stroke recovery. 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... The August primary election has been certified, meaning Sara Nelson and Dionne Foster are the two official candidates for Seattle’s 9th city council seats. Their strategies to address drug addiction are quite different. Canadians are continuing to feel upset with America’s most recent political actions. Being right on the Canadian border, businesses in Blaine Washington are really feeling the pain. And data centers are coming to Central Washington towns. With them comes an economic boost, but also skepticism about what the centers can actually deliver for residents and how much harm they are causing the environment. 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.

Most of WA is under a heat advisory, downtown light rail service will be disrupted on Saturday morning, and President Trump's Border Czar visits the PNW. 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.

Kroger announced upcoming closures to 4 Fred Meyers in the Seattle area. Washington’s only hybrid electric ferry isn’t working. And people are acting up in public. UW Professor Jeff Shulman and Geekwire Co-Founder Todd Bishop 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.

UW researchers detail human rights abuses by ICE, neighbors dedicate benches to dog walker killed in car jacking, and a heat advisory for Seattle begins Friday morning. 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.

Labor Day is almost here. In Seattle, that means Bumbershoot. The local music festival has been around for more than 50 years. Crowds love the mix of local bands in the lineup. KEXP music journalist Martin Douglas gives us a rundown. 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.

Protestors take over plaza at Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, efforts to reintroduce grizzlies in the North Cascades go into hibernation, and Seattle gets a new contemporary arts space. 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.

Becoming a mental health professional can take years of training and education. The licensing process is supposed to be quick. though. But lately, it’s been taking months instead of a few weeks. Hannah Furfaro from the Seattle Times dives into how this affects future mental health care workers and patients seeking care. 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.

Gov. Ferguson doubles down on WA's sanctuary status, Covid reaches its highest point in a year in King County, and Fred Meyer is closing more stores. 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 Enchantments are one of Washington State’s most popular hiking destinations. But right now, the alpine wilderness area is far from the pristine escape visitors are hoping for. Bathroom pits are overflowing, there’s garbage on the trails, and it’s overcrowded. There’s only one forest ranger to patrol more than 900 miles of terrain in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The problems stem from federal budget cuts. Seattle Times outdoors reporter Gregory Scruggs is here to tell us more. 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.

Only a King County Council vote can make First Hill's proposed behavioral health center a reality, last week's rain slowed the Bear Gulch Fire, and the first WNBA statue is in Seattle and is of Sue Bird. 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.

Meaningful Day was a Washington State program that was considered a major success since it started ten years ago. It provided outings, workshops and other enriching activities for about a thousand residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But the need for severe budget cuts erased all of Meaningful Day’s funding. We look at what that means for caretakers and residents. 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… After years of legal battles, the city of Seattle has disclosed the names of all of the Seattle Police officers who attended President Trump’s rally on January 6th, 2021. It’s been almost a year since the statue Sadako and the Thousand Cranes was stolen from a park in the University District. The city has seen an uptick in other public art being tampered with. And T-Mobile Park has a new plaque - one that honors Ichiro Suzuki, and retires his number #51… We’ll hear from people who attended his jersey retirement game on why he means so much to Seattle. 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.

Heavy rain in store for Seattle, Nike co-founder Phil Knight makes a record donation for cancer research, and T-Mobile announces layoffs. 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… A new study shows the average Seattle renter makes about $10,000 less than they need to comfortably afford a one-bedroom apartment. A “Performative Male Contest” took over Cal Anderson Park. And Snohomish County may have to say goodbye to a beloved roadside attraction full of rare reptiles. Author Geraldine DeRuiter and South Seattle Emerald Founder Marcus Harrison Green 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.

Costco won't sell mifepristone, staffer in Hilary Franz's office claims retaliation after reporting domestic violence, and heavy rain is on the way. 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.

Jumping rope can be a low tech way to spend a summer afternoon. But it’s also an international sport. We’ll hear from a local youth jump rope team who represented the US this summer in Japan. 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 Harrell wants new law to curb predatory homebuying, more Washingtonians are getting concealed carry permits, and Paul Allen's estate has sold the Portland Trail Blazers. 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.

Higher education in Washington state faces an uncertain future, due to state and federal budget cuts.And it goes beyond four-year research institutions.Community and technical colleges are facing their own obstacles, as they try to remain affordable in an increasingly unaffordable world. 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 primed to get more surveillance cameras, concert organizers cancel Latin music festival due to ICE concerns, and look up tonight for the Perseids! 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.

It’s been more than a month since President Trump signed his Big Beautiful Bill into law. There’s been a lot of conversation about how this law will affect things like Medicaid, the national debt and immigration enforcement. But this law may also affect the cost of energy for Washingtonians. Seattle Times climate reporter Conrad Swanson explains why. 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.

Heat advisory in effect until Tuesday night, WA sues Trump for withholding climate change funds, and charges are dropped against a Seattle man charged with murder and arson. 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.

The votes are still being counted. But if the primary is any indicator, Seattle voters are looking to shake things up. We’ll talk about who's moving on to the November election, what they might need to win, and what it all says about Seattle politics. Seattle Times reporter David Kroman is here to explain. 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… Transgender people in Washington’s state prisons are still fighting for better treatment, years after the Department of Corrections agreed to make changes. Now that Congress has cut funding for the federal food assistance program SNAP, hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians who use the program are trying to figure out what this means for them. And even after 50 years, Dungeons and Dragons is still growing in popularity, thanks to “actual play podcasts” like Dimension 20, which stopped by Climate Pledge Arena last month. 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.

Images from space are helping scientists better understand river temperatures, President Donald Trump is calling on the C-E-O of Oregon’s biggest private employer to resign immediately, and people in Seattle are celebrating the $800 million dollar makeover of the waterfront. Is the same true for residents and visitors under the surface of Elliott Bay? 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… The pilot program to make Pike Place Market car-free is extending into next year… which makes us wonder at what point does a “pilot program” become more than just a pilot? A new study from Microsoft says AI will change how we do our jobs… unless you went to trade school. And we had an election this week, but about 65% of King County voters were apparently busy doing something else. Stranger News Editor Vivian McCall and Your Last Meal host Rachel Belle 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.

City to install nude beach barrier at Denny Blaine Park, ferry trips to get more expensive, and gray wolves could get more protections. 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.

One of the greatest hitters to ever play professional baseball will be immortalized by the Mariners this weekend. The team is retiring number 51 for outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. He's the first-ever Japanese player to be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. Seattle Now senior producer Andy Hurst is here to talk about Ichiro’s massive global impact on baseball, and his legacy as a Seattle Mariner. Find a highlight reel of Ichiro's greatest moments, 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.

Another ballot drop means more local election results, Pierce County health officials are investigating a potential case of locally acquired malaria, and are you enjoying today's rain? Firefighters working on the Bear Gulch Fire sure are. 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.

King County Metro’s 8 bus line is rarely on time. The bus runs behind schedule so often that regulars have nicknamed the eight bus the “The L8.” Now, a dedicated group of transit advocates say they want more done to speed things up. To draw attention, they recently challenged 8 riders to come up with fun ways to race the bus through one of its slowest sections. We’ll hear from jugglers, leapfroggers, and more. 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.

One last thing about today's primary election, an update about the Titan submersible, and news about two Seattle murals. 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.

For decades, Denny Blaine Park on Lake Washington has been a nude beach and a gathering space for Seattle’s LGBTQ community. After a recent lawsuit by a neighborhood group, the future of nudity at Denny Blaine is up in the air. A new plan from the city would split the park into two sections – clothing optional and clothing required. It’s part of a legal case which continues in a King County courtroom on Wednesday. KUOW’s Noel Gasca is here to catch us up on what’s going on. 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.