Seattle Now

In late 2023, Seattle International Film Festival took a big swing - reopening the Cinerama, bringing back the chocolate popcorn, and rebranding the building as SIFF Cinema Downtown. But how is it working out? New reporting suggests that the restored theater hasn’t been meeting expectations, as the organization tries to find financial footing. We’ll hear from arts reporters Margo Vansynghel and Chase Hutchinson. 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 to sign executive orders on potential troop deployments, Starbucks lays off nearly 370 WA workers, and WA signature gatherers for GOP-backed initiatives say people are interfering with the process. 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 the years following the pandemic, the city of Seattle leaned into a strategy to convert hotels into shelters. At one point, the Civic Hotel was full of residents. But later, many of the rooms sat empty, even though the City of Seattle was still paying the rent. KUOW investigative reporter Ashley Hiruko is here to tell us what happened. Her new story is co-published by ProPublica. 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.

Oregon and President Trump continue to fight over federal troop deployment, workers in Bremerton want pay during the government shutdown, and Yakima basin water is getting rationed. 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.

Dr. Quintard Taylor was a legendary scholar of Black history in Seattle and the American West. He passed away last month at 76 years old. We’ll hear about him and his impact from a mentee and a friend. 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 our KUOW Newsroom… Sometimes a species becomes so rare that you may not know it still exists - like puffins in the northwest. Catch up with the researchers trying to help them bounce back. And colleagues remember Dr. Quintard Taylor, a pioneering historian and former UW Professor Emeritus. 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.

National historic sites close in WA due to federal shutdown, Harrell and Wilson debate, and it's an event-palooza in Seattle this weekend. 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… Starbucks is making major changes, including closing the ever-busy Reserve Roastery on Capitol Hill. We had ‘sliving’ in SLU this week… as in, a DJ set in South Lake Union that woke up the neighbors, by the person who coined the term sliving… by Paris Hilton, And it’s Fall in Seattle… Can we add some items to your autumn bucket list? Author Geraldine DeRuiter and Arts Reporter Jas Keimig 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.

Trump Administration cancels a hydrogen hub for the PNW, UW investigating after intruder disrupts a class with slurs, and a Christian fundamentalist group is suing Seattle. 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.

Bartell Drugs has been on the decline for years and now it’s gone for good. The last three Bartell stores closed over the weekend. We’ll talk about what this means for pharmacy-goers with Seattle Times business reporter Paul Roberts. 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's Redfin and Zillow sued by the FTC, new AI platform led by Fred Hutch aims to speed up cancer breakthroughs, and Hanford's nuclear waste treatment plant is almost ready for prime time. 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.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Attorney General Nick Brown are warning President Trump not to deploy federal troops here. They don’t want the situation that’s unfolding in Portland, where 200 National Guard troops have been authorized to deploy. Conrad Wilson with Oregon Public Broadcasting tells us what's happening in the Rose City. 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's elected officials prepare for a looming federal government shutdown, Washington's program that administers free Covid vaccines to uninsured people has hit a snag, and it's the end of an era for a certain Seattle-area drug store chain. 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.

Violent incidents against trans women in Seattle have increased in the past year. They’ve happened to people while strolling through Queen Anne in daylight, and to people on Capitol Hill hanging out with friends. And this is all happening against the backdrop of anti-trans rhetoric and policy from the federal government. We’ll hear from Stranger News Editor Vivian McCall. 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 tells Trump to "stay out of Seattle," Oregon files suit over federal troop deployment to Portland, and WA gets closer to gaining access to the ICE detention center in Tacoma. 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.

Seattle's media landscape is shifting, again. KING5 may soon be under new ownership as Nexstar Media Group intends to buy Tegna Inc. Media critic and professor Eric Deggans will tell us what it may mean for local coverage. 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 important stories from our public radio newsroom colleagues. As closure of their Fred Meyer draws closer, Lake City community advocates are raising the alarm that the neighborhood is transforming into a food desert. Immigration policies are affecting farm workers in central Washington, who say they’re losing hours and losing ground. And it’s wine harvesting season across the country, but with a slow market, Washington’s winemakers are bracing for what could be their worst year in decades. 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.

Microsoft cuts off Israel's military from some services, Jimmy Kimmel to return to KOMO TV, and the Mariners are shuttering ROOT Sports. 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… Late night TV drama overflowed into Seattle. New placards will go up at local restaurants warning patrons if there’s a wage violation. And a 40-year-old Sammamish woman is one of NASA's newest astronauts. Stranger News Editor Vivian McCall and Film and TV Critic Chase Hutchinson 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.

Travis Decker's remains have been confirmed, Starbucks is closing stores and rolling out layoffs, and Lynnwood is allowing cannabis sellers. 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.

Seattle will soon have one less newsroom. Cascade PBS announced this week they are getting out of the business of local longform journalism. We’ll talk about what that means for local news consumers. 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 goes to trial in Seattle, EV sales in WA are lagging behind expectations, and the Seattle Mariners are headed back to the playoffs. 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.

Amazon and Microsoft employ a lot of workers with H-1B visas… Some of them faced chaos after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation last week that dramatically increased the H-1B application fee. New York Times reporter Karen Weise is here to give some insight into what it could mean for companies who use the H-1B program and its workers. 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.

Jimmy Kimmel supporters protest Sinclair outside KOMO-TV, Mayor Harrell unveils 2026 budget proposal, and the Mariners are on the verge clinching the postseason. 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.

How will Seattle grow over the next two decades? The city’s roadmap for density took a big step forward on Friday, when a city council committee approved the Comprehensive Plan. It creates 30 neighborhood centers where denser housing could be built. We talk with Seattle Times reporter David Kroman about what it means for the future of housing in 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 onlineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cascade Public Media just did massive newsroom layoffs, Mayor Bruce Harrell got some new big name endorsements, and check your seafood because it may have been recalled. 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 Seattle Opera has a massive costume collection. And this week a small portion of it is going on sale. Seattle Now brings you a preview of the sale and some pieces. The Seattle Public Library Community Survey 2025 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 city of Seattle is backing away from planned safety measures on Lake Washington Boulevard after the Mayor’s office weighed in. The ice that gives Glacier Peak its name is disappearing. And a new Buddha Hall that can host hundreds underscores the growth of the religion in northeastern Washington. 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.

Four Army soldiers die in helicopter crash near JBLM, Mayor Harrell proposes sales tax increase to boost public safety, and Hanford's radioactive waste treatment plant is nearly ready for action. 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… It’s noisy in this city. Just ask the people in line at Mariners games or near our local pickleball courts. Speaking of the Mariners, they’ve been using a little bit of witch-y magic to keep their playoff hopes alive. And how bad is your local grocery store parking lot? We’ve got the details on the worst ones in Seattle. Seattle Met’s Naomi Tomky and KUOW’s Zaki Hamid 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.

West Coast alliance releases vaccine recommendations, Army helicopter crashes in Thurston County, and Seattle Children's Hospital announces layoffs. 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 Seattle Symphony has a new music director… And she’s breaking new ground. Xian Zhang is the first woman and the first person of color to direct the Symphony in its more than 120-year history… And she’s here to talk about what brought her to Seattle after conducting orchestras around the 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.

Bothell principal under investigation for post about Charlie Kirk, UW breaks ground on renovating the Shell House, and the Seattle Storm rally in the WNBA playoffs to stay alive. 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.

Hundreds of Seattle high school students walked out of class this week to protest changes to the lunch schedule. District officials want to split a single lunch period in two. They say the goal is to lessen crowds and lunch lines. But students are worried about not being able attend clubs, and socialize with their friends. We learn more from Seattle Times education reporter Claire Bryan. 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.

A Seattle woman wrongly accused of killing Charlie Kirk speaks out, 45-year-old ash from Mount St. Helens blows around, and Seattle Reign FC will finish their next match without an audience. 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.

A car-free experiment at Pike Place Market is well underway. Host of Cascade PBS's Mossback's Northwest, Knute Berger, talks about the market's move to be car-free, what it has meant to generations of Seattleites and how else it has changed over the years. 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.

Orca mom carries her dead calf in San Juans, Seattle students protest lunch schedule changes, and health insurance rates will spike next year in WA. 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.

Seattle police will soon have more eyes on the city than ever. The city council approved a plan to increase the number of cameras in the city’s CCTV and Real Time Crime Center network. The move is supposed to help curb crime. But it’s also raised concerns about privacy and data security. We'll talk about what the expansion means for public safety and privacy. 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… A federal program that supports local farms abruptly ended in March, leaving Washington farmers looking for solutions. A Washington state farmworker and organizer talks about life in Mexico after being deported by ICE. The town of Forks was once the self-proclaimed 'logging capital of the world,’ but that industry has waned… and now there’s a booming Twilight economy, 20 years after the first book’s release. 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.

Elected leaders from Washington state are praising the arrest of a suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Washington's Attorney General has unveiled a new website to help people keep tabs on the legal challenges coming from our state, and this weekend kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month.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… Sound Transit made history by driving a train over the I-90 floating bridge. An engineering feat! Lake City’s Fred Meyer, and several other Kroger stores across the Seattle area, are confirmed closing for good despite efforts from lawmakers and local residents. And the New York Times’ 50 best restaurants list came out… but where’s Washington? Author Danielle Marie Holland and transit advocate Alex Hudson 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 student test scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, Fred Meyer will move ahead with Seattle area closures, and King County forges ahead to build a walk-in mental health crisis center on Capitol Hill. 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.