Soundside

We’re talking about the future of a big job today: King County Executive.Whichever candidate is elected to this position will oversee the sheriff’s department, manage public health, transportation, public housing, and jails… according to the King County website, they’ll lead one of the largest regional governments in the United States. The last time we had an open race for King County Executive, Barack Obama was about to become President. And everyone was talking about some new Washington-based movie called “Twilight.” Today, two county leaders are vying for the job. Guests: Claudia Balducci is a member of the King County Council. She represents District 6, which includes Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Redmond. She is an attorney who previously served as Mayor of Bellevue, she was a Bellevue city council member, and Director of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention for King County. Girmay Zahilay is chair of the King County Council, representing District 2, which includes Skyway, Allentown, and the University District. He’s also an attorney and founded the non-profit Rising Leaders, which offers mentorship and leadership training for middle school students. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Major League Baseball playoffs started this week and the Mariners, once again, did not take the field. But this year, that’s actually a good thing. Your Seattle Mariners finished on top of their division for the first time in nearly a quarter century and have a first round bye in the playoffs. The team’s first ALDS game is Saturday. It has been an absolute rollercoaster of a season. Cal Raleigh led the charge and put up an impressive 60 home runs in the regular season. He’s one of the favorites to win the American League MVP. The M’s have had a few new faces join the team, notably trade deadline acquisition Josh Naylor, and the vibe got a shot in the arm as the team brought Geno Suarez back… The last time the Seattle Mariners won the American League West pennant, Ichiro was in his rookie year, the team won 116 games, and a guy named Dan Wilson was the catcher. Dan Wilson is NOW the Manager of the M’s, and he’s led the team to their first AL West championship since 2001. He sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann Thursday morning. GUEST: Mariners Manager Dan Wilson RELATED LINK: Official Seattle Mariners Website Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We didn't have time on the broadcast, but don't worry... Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows has all the events for you to enjoy this weekend. LINKS: Oktoberfest Northwest - Washington State Fair Event Center Oktoberfest - Leavenworth Washington OktoBEARfest - Woodland Park Zoo 2025 Tacoma Greek Festival OysterFest The Northwest Chocolate Festival U District Chow Down & Street Party HAUNTED HOUSES: Haunted Forest of Maple Valley Nile Nightmares Haunted House - Mountlake Terrace Georgetown Morgue - SoDo My Haunted Forest - Kitsap Stalker Farms - Snohomish Maris Farms Haunted Woods | Haunted Adventure in Buckley, WA Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who is an apology for? The answer is more obvious when the person you’re apologizing to is standing in front of you. You want their forgiveness. Or for them to feel better. Or for you to feel better. But when the people who were hurt, or those who hurt them, are long gone – what does apologizing actually accomplish? That’s one of the questions behind a recent essay in the New Yorker. It’s called “The Ritual of Civic Apology,” by Beth Lew-Williams. Lew-Williams is a Professor of History and Director of the Program in Asian American Studies at Princeton University. She begins her essay by recounting a talk she gave in Tacoma, a few years ago. It was about the forced expulsion of Tacoma’s Chinese residents in November 1885. And the city’s attempts to apologize for it, generations later. Guest: Beth Lew-Williams is Professor of History and Director of the Program in Asian American Studies at Princeton University. Her new book “John Doe Chinaman: A Forgotten History of Chinese Life under American Racial Law” published in September of this year Related stories: The Ritual of Civic Apology - The New Yorker Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s finally fall, which means the return of colorful flannels, blundstones, and the occasional raincoat. These are the clothes that have come to define Seattle fashion… which, if you haven’t heard, is bad. That’s at least according to a longheld stereotype about our city’s aesthetic. People like to make fun of the way Seattle-ites dress. They’ve labeled our fashion sense as Normie. Uninspired. Boring. We’re asking two local fashion experts to weigh in on whether Seattle is an unstylish city… or if locals just earned a bad rap in their attempt to stay warm and dry. Guest: Clara Berg, a fashion historian and Curator of Collections at the Museum of History & Industry. Andrew Hoge, a creative director and fashion writer in Seattle. Related stories: KUOW - Seattle: Do you dress like you're going to have a 'hiking emergency'? Seattle Is a Fashion Capital: The History of Its Grunge, Gorp, and Graffiti Scenes Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal government is headed for a shutdown. Congressional leaders from both parties met with President Trump yesterday at the White House. They failed to make progress towards a funding deal. Democrats say they want to reverse some Medicaid cuts that Republicans passed earlier this year – and extend tax credits for people on Obamacare plans. Meanwhile, Republicans falsely claim that their colleagues across the aisle are shutting down the government to fund healthcare for unauthorized immigrants. Barring a last minute breakthrough in the Senate, the government will shut down for the first time in almost 7 years just after midnight tonight. Guest: Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01) Relevant Links: NPR: Here's what a government shutdown could affect around the country Politico: Johnson, Jeffries dug in ahead of shutdown deadline NYT: The deadlock over funding the government is growing uglier. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump designated antifa as a domestic terrorist organization last week. He followed up with a memo directing the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate individuals and groups engaged in political violence and intimidation. Trump cited antifa as a reason to mobilize 200 Oregon National Guard troops, which are expected to arrive in Portland within the next week. The president claimed ICE facilities in the city “were under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.” So what is behind these anti-antifa moves by the White House? And what exactly is antifa? Guest Christopher Mathias, reporter, author of the upcoming book “To Catch a Fascist” Related links Trump's new anti-antifa panic is the start of something much more dangerous — MSNBC Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When homicide detective Ian Carter arrives at the scene of a murder, the victim is posed to look like Ophelia from Hamlet. Not that any of the detectives on the scene realize that...The person who will crack open that clue, and other twisted literary references, is on the other side of their Oregon college town; English professor Emma Reilly. She’s struggling to get to class on time, and sensitive about avoiding the “absent minded professor” trope. It’s the beginning of the new novel “Murder by the Book,” by author Amie Schaumberg… who lives in Spokane and happens to be an English professor herself. The narrative shifts between the perspectives of Detective Carter and Professor Reilly, and as the mystery unfolds, we see the crime through different lenses - Literary, Artistic, and Forensic… GUEST: Amie Schaumberg RELATED LINKS: Amie Schaumberg, Author Writing Neurodivergence in Crime Fiction Murder by the Book – HarperCollins Washington author’s debut novel admires and interrogates literature Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rena Priest is best known for her poetry. As Washington’s poet laureate between 2021 and 2023, she traveled around the state doing readings and spreading awareness of poetry. She was the first Indigenous poet to hold that role and is a member of the Lummi Nation. Now, she’s bringing her keen observations and sharp wit to non-fiction. She’s the author of a new collection of essays, titled Positively Uncivilized. In the book Priest explores the history of broken treaties, battles over fishing rights, and struggles with cultural erasure that compose the bedrock of the modern Coast Salish native experience. She also challenges the non-Native reader to experiment with perspective: for example, what if we maintained the kind of spiritual relationship with the natural world that put us in community with salmon, instead of above them? The title of the book itself speaks to the types of stories Priest tells. “Uncivilized” is a term that was, for generations, used to denigrate native people. But also one that had been reclaimed by Priest’s family and used in a playful way. Priest is reading at Third Place Books Ravenna on Monday September 29 at 7:00 pm. Guest: Rena Priest, author of Positively Uncivilized Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian Sidor is a professor in the UW Department of Biology and curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Burke. And for the last 18 years, he’s been traveling back and forth to Zambia and Tanzania, collecting fossils from the Permian period. The Permian lasted about 47 millions years and ended 252 million years ago with the Triassic Period. Sidor has found a lot of Permian specimens. Last month he and his collaborators co-edited a series of 14 articles on the animals they’ve discovered during their field work. So, we wanted to go check out some of these new, ancient animals. Guest: Christian Sidor: professor in the UW Department of Biology and curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Burke Related stories: Fresh fossil finds in Africa shed light on the era before Earth’s largest mass extinction - UW News Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congress is barreling toward a government shutdown and Democrats are weighing whether they should use their leverage in this negotiation. They want to extend Obamacare subsidies and potentially roll back some cuts to Medicaid. President Trump has threatened mass firings of federal workers in the event of a shutdown. All of this is going on as the country is grappling with a rise in political violence – and political rhetoric that blames the other side for the problem. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal joined Soundside to talk more about all of this. Guest: Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th Congressional District. Related stories: Arizona lawmaker calls for WA congresswoman to be executed for urging Trump protests • Washington State Standard Vance says US 'headed to a shutdown' after meeting with Democrats | Reuters Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s crush season in Washington, a time when grape growers and winemakers are usually very busy, working insane hours to make new wine. But a huge percentage of the state’s highest quality wine won't get made this year. Sluggish wine sales have meant growers are letting some of their best fruit rot, sometimes right on the vine. And Washington growers and winemakers alike are concerned about the future of their businesses. We talk about what's behind the wine glut. Guest Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mariners have made the playoffs as the AL West champs, and they're facing the Dodgers for the final games of the regular season, but hey... there's ALWAYS more to do this weekend! Check it out: LINKS: SPORTS!! Mariners vs Dodgers - Final games of the season! Fri/Sat/Sun UW Huskies vs The Ohio State Buckeyes Sat 12:30p Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps Sat 7:30pm Reign vs NC Courage Sun 5pm Kraken vs Calgary Flames - Preseason Game #2 MON 7pm Prosser Balloon Rally Festa Italiana Seattle Northwest Tea Festival Enumclaw BBQ, Brews, & Brats Bellingham SeaFeast Seattle Opera - Costume Sale Musical Migration - Crossings Danny Elfman's Music From the Films of Tim Burton with the Seattle Symphony Hitchcock Hotel 2025 — Can Can Culinary Cabaret Unicorn: Burn Relief Fundraiser | Neumos Unicorn Staff Fire Relief Fund Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're looking at the special election in Washington’s 5th Legislative District, which covers Issaquah to Enumclaw. State Sen. Victoria Hunt, a Democrat, was appointed to the seat and is running to keep her job this fall. Republicans think they could flip this district. They’d like to claw back a little power from Democrats, who currently hold majorities in both the state House and Senate. We talk with Sen. Victoria Hunt about her campaign. Guest State Sen. Victoria Hunt, Washington's 5th Legislative District Related Links On The Ballot: Chad Magendanz, 5th Legislative District - KUOUW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you catch Kimmel last night? It was his first night back after Disney pulled him off air about a week ago. Most likely, you only saw it after the fact. That's because Sinclair Broadcasting, which owns 38 ABC affiliates, including KOMO here in Seattle, announced earlier this week that they would continue to pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! until further notice. Kimmel’s show was suspended by ABC after he discussed the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an opening monologue last week, stating that a “MAGA gang” were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” Sinclair had previously demanded Kimmel apologize for his statement, and donate to Kirk’s conservative nonprofit - Turning Point USA. We asked you how you felt about Sinclair’s decision to pre-empt Kimmel’s show on their stations Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a few marathon public comment sessions last week, the Seattle City Council is considering the final version of a comprehensive plan. This is the document that dictates where and how the city will grow over the next two decades. Over the last week, balancing tree canopy with growth emerged as one of the most controversial issues in the plan. And there’s a history here: In 2023, Mayor Harrell and the Seattle City Council passed a so-called tree protection ordinance that would limit the amount of trees developers could cut down while building new housing. But, according to tree-canopy advocates, two years since the law went into effect tree-cutting has only increased. Just in August an average of 73 trees were being cut down each week. So what went wrong? Or – is the law working exactly as intended? Guest: Robert McClure is a journalist and co-founder of InvestigateWest Related stories: Developers’ tree-cutting pace surges under contested Seattle tree protection ordinance - InvestigateWest Seattle claims to ‘protect’ hundreds of trees that were never threatened - InvestigateWest Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA announced its next batch of potential astronauts this week. Out of 8,000 applicants, just ten were chosen to attend the two year training program, including Lauren Edgar from Sammamish. When those astronaut candidates complete the training, they will be eligible for missions to low earth orbit, the moon, and Mars. Guest: Lauren Edgar, NASA astronaut candidate Relevant Links: NASA Selects All-American 2025 Class of Astronaut Candidates NASA Astronaut Candidate Lauren A. Edgar Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when you become the target of hate, spread across wide swaths of the media? Of a movement that is as frightening and violent as it is just factually wrong? You might want life to go back to normal. But those who’ve experienced this know things can’t ever be the same. A Belligham resident told us about her experience. Guest: Jenn Mason, owner of WinkWink sex shop in Bellingham, sex educator, and school board director Related stories: Right-wing trolls harassed this Bellingham sex educator. Then she reached across the divide - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're looking at the special election in Washington’s 5th Legislative District, which covers Issaquah to Enumclaw. State Sen. Victoria Hunt, a Democrat, was appointed to the seat and is running to keep her job this fall. Republicans are hoping to flip a couple of seats in the legislature and claw back some lawmaking power from Democrats, who currently hold majorities in both the House and Senate Former State Rep. Chad Magendanz is challenging Hunt for the 5th district’s Senate seat. Magendanz is a Republican and served this district for two terms in the state House until he lost in 2016. We talk with him about his campaign. Guest Chad Magendanz, former state representative, and candidate for state Senate in the 5tth LD Related Links On The Ballot: State Sen. Victoria Hunt, 5th Legislative District Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Log onto Instagram and you’ll see videos of celebrity interviews, food recipes and, lately, homes for sale. These days realtors are leaning more on social media to show property listings. They take their audience on immersive tours and give details about a home’s price, features and neighborhood. These posts get plenty of attention from casual viewers, but they do also attract potential buyers. A real estate agent shares how she's using social media to sell homes around the city. Guest: Candace Hagen, a real estate agent in Seattle. Related stories: Seattle-area real estate agents go where homebuyers scroll | The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a flurry of health news happening these days: Decisions and announcements being made at federal agencies. State governments vowing to fight changes. It can be hard to know what the impacts will be at the ground level. We're going to set aside some time every now and then to check in with doctors and medical professionals about the latest developments -- and what they mean for you. In this segment, we're digging into the latest news on childhood vaccinations: Last week, a vaccine panel formed by Health and Human Services head Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met to discuss policy regarding measles, Covid-19 and Hepatitis B. There were a variety of actions taken by the panel -- some votes taken, some NOT taken. Two local doctors help us make sense of what all of this means. Guest: Dr. Helen Chu, a professor of medicine at UW Medicine. Dr. Amanda Kost, chief of service of family medicine at Harborview Medical Center. Related stories: How RFK Jr.’s hand-picked CDC advisory panel voted on COVID vaccines and more | PBS News RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Votes Down Its Own Proposal to Require Prescriptions for Covid-19 Shots | WIRED CDC's vaccine advisers add COVID vaccine rules in contentious meeting : Shots - Health News : NPR Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a disconnect between the high level of homelessness in Seattle and the high number of affordable housing units that are sitting unused at the moment. As of the end of last year, nearly 11% of affordable housing in the city were empty – more than 2700 apartments. . That’s more than five times the number of vacancies compared to 7 years ago. So what happened? Well, for many, affordable housing is, ironically, no longer the affordable option. A flattening of rents overall has made these units less desirable than many other market rate options. But even though these units are sitting empty, it’s unlikely they will be opened for Seattle’s growing homeless population. Guest: Seattle Times homelessness reporter Greg Kim Links: Why thousands of Seattle’s affordable-housing apartments became vacant Homeless people visited ER less after moving into King County’s hotels Bracing for cuts, King County Housing Authority pulls back Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, with Fall officially beginning at 11:19 on Monday morning, we’ve reached the FINAL weekend of the summer. How will YOU be celebrating the end of the season? Are you sad to see the summer slip away, or are you excited for the Autumnal goodness that the season change brings? Either way, we’ve got Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows here with nearly EVERY option available! LINKS: West End Beer Fest - Spokane Oktoberfest | Rotary Club of Edmonds Fremont Oktoberfest Whidbey Island Cider Festival | PRI Saint Demetrios Greek Festival The Seattle Pancakes & Booze Art Show Seattle's Art Walk Marathon Seattle Iranian Festival GOT SOLE - Sneaker Swap Meet Ice Cube - Climate Pledge Arena Billy Idol - Climate Pledge Arena Kraken vs Canucks - Pre-Season Seahawks vs NO Saints Savannah Bananas vs The Firefighters The Spitfire Grill - Black Box Theatre | Edmonds College Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2019, the remote plains of Harney County, Oregon made national news. Scattered amongst groves of ponderosa pine were a handful of mutilated cattle. The cows had an almost surgical removal of their tongues and other organs. But the most astounding thing is that the scenes where these cattle were found were pristine. No tracks. And not one drop of blood – the carcasses were drained dry. That detail became the inspiration for a documentary by co-directors Jackson Devereux and Lachlan Hinton, and reporter Anna King. Their documentary film – three years in the making – is titled “Not one Drop of Blood.” The documentary will screen at the Northwest Film Forum's Local Sightings film festival in Seattle on Saturday, September 20th. Guests: Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting Jackson Devereux and Lachlan Hinton, directors of "Not One Drop of Blood." Related Links: Not One Drop of Blood Local Sightings 2025 – Not One Drop of Blood 'Not One Drop Of Blood': Cattle Mysteriously Mutilated In Oregon : NPR Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A state Senate seat in Washington’s 26th district is looking like a barn burner. The district covers Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Port Orchard and the Key Peninsula. And Republicans see this race as a way to chip away at the Democratic majority in the Senate. Republican state Representative Michelle Caldier has served the district for 6 terms in the House. She’s trying to unseat Democratic state Senator Deb Krishnadasan who was appointed to the position last year. And the race is tight, 1,000 votes separated the two candidates in the primary election. Guest: State Representative Michelle Caldier, candidate for state Senate in the 26th LD Relevant Links: WA State Standard: New leader in electoral battle for WA state Senate seat WA Observer: Mostly-Microsoft money headed for hot legislative races Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington’s great outdoors are famous for breathtaking mountain views, crystal blue lakes and…. roads? You could start seeing more of that last one on your hikes and camping trips in the coming years. That’s because President Trump is trying to get rid of the Roadless Rule. It’s a 2001 federal policy that prohibits road construction and logging in protected national forests and grasslands. A repeal of the policy could impact close to 45 million acres in the United States, including around 2 million in Washington. The administration says the rule is too restrictive, gets in the way of wildfire risk management and hurts economic development in rural areas. In late August, the federal government opened a public comment period for the proposed rescission. People have until Friday, September 19th, to share their thoughts. So far, the news has ignited major backlash from wildlife advocates, outdoor enthusiasts, and tribes. But others are in favor of the federal administration's proposal to repeal the rule. A few people share why they're either backing the policy's overturn or fighting for its preservation. Guest: Alyssa Macy, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Nick Smith, public affairs director for the American Forest Resource Council Lia Brewster, Sierra Club conservation campaign strategist Related stories: Trump's push to end "Roadless Rule" could open some of Utah's wild places to logging | Axios Salt Lake City Trump agencies move to repeal roadless rule, open public lands | USA TODAY Roadless Rule repeal moves ahead; would affect 2M acres in Washington | The Spokesman-Review Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new school year has started; kids are sharpening pencils and breaking in backpacks. Many are also getting used to another new tool: Artificial Intelligence. A slew of tech companies have been offering free or low-cost AI products to schools that will purportedly engage students and help them learn, while also aiding teachers with their day-to-day responsibilities. In a survey by the Consortium for School Networking, more than 50% of districts across the nation said they were training teachers in how to use AI. But are these tools actually creating a better learning environment? And who stands to benefit from their growth in American education? We talk to reporter and author Vauhini Vara about her new deep dive into this issue. Guest: Reporter and author Vauhini Vara Related Links: How Chatbots and AI Are Already Transforming Kids' Classrooms Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In May, King County prosecutors filed sexual assault charges against a King County sheriff’s deputy. They said he raped a 17-year-old girl. Prosecutors claim the abuse started while the two were alone on a ride-along in his police SUV while she was participating in Explorers, a national youth mentorship program, with the Burien Police Department. And that allegation mirrors a disturbing pattern of abuse within Explorers programs at law enforcement agencies nationwide. We talk with a reporter who has investigated the program about what she found. Guest Lakeidra Chavis, former reporter, The Marshall Project Related Links In Police Youth Program, Abuse Often Starts When Officers Are Alone With Teens in Cars - The Marshall Project King County sheriff’s deputy charged with rape, sexual misconduct - The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Senate seat in Washington’s 26th district is looking like a barn burner. The district covers Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Port Orchard and the Key Peninsula. And Democrats are hoping to keep that district from flipping. Democratic state Senator Deb Krishnadasan is the appointed incumbent in this fight. She finished the primary about 1,000 votes ahead, setting up an incredibly tight race for this November. She’ll square off against Republican state Representative Michelle Caldier, who has served the district for 6 terms in the House. It’s a classic Republican versus Democrat race with the potential to diminish Democratic control in the Senate. Guest: State Senator Deb Krishnadasan from Washington's 26th Legislative District Relevant Links: WA State Standard: New leader in electoral battle for WA state Senate seat WA Observer: Mostly-Microsoft money headed for hot legislative races See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a story about the internet and our country’s political polarization.It’s also a story about our thirst for answers, and the race to score ideological points following a tragedy. And that rush to blame and to explain creates an environment where totally innocent people are run over by the runaway train of internet speculation, viral misinformation, and prejudice. That’s what happened to one Seattleite a few days ago. She’s a paralegal, and a trans woman – and last week, to a portion of the internet, her photo became the face of the shooter who assassinated Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Her image went viral in right-wing social media circles, along with threatening anti-trans rhetoric. Obviously all of that was a lie. But the situation also had very true consequences for her life. Guest: Michaela, Seattle resident A note: We are only using Michaela's first name because of concerns about harassment. Related stories: Conservatives falsely accused her of assassinating Charlie Kirk. It started with Dr. Pepper jokes - KUOW No, this transgender woman is not the Charlie Kirk assassin - The Advocate Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 11am on Monday, September 15th, students at high schools across Seattle walked out of class, and headed to Seattle Public Schools’ district office downtown. They were protesting changes to lunch times, announced last week by the district, that they say will negatively affect student experience at school. KUOW reporter Noel Gasca was at the Seattle Public Schools district office, where students are gathering to protest, and joined us to explain. Guest: KUOW reporter Noel Gasca Related stories: Seattle students ready to fight ‘horrendous’ schedule change - Seattle Times One lunch SPS - Student led instagram page Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since May 8, 1792, European colonists have called the large volcano just off the coast of Puget Sound "Mount Rainier." It was given that name by a British explorer, Captain George Vancouver – a gift to his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier. But prior to Vancouver’s arrival in what eventually became Washington state, the Indigenous peoples in and around the Salish Sea called it by many names. A linguistic paper from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians traced those many names for the mountain – where they came from, and what they mean. This conversation originally aired on May 5, 2025. Guests: Zalmai ʔəswəli Zahir, linguist and Lushootseed language teacher Related Links: Puyallup Tribal Language - Analysis of the Many Names of the Mountain Puyallup Tribal language consultant publishes first comprehensive analysis of the many Native names for Mount Rainier - ʔuhuyəxʷ ti dᶻixʷ pipa ʔə tiiɫ qa sdadaʔ ʔə tiiɫ skʷatač, ʔux̌alad ti ʔəswəli | Puyallup Tribe Puyallup Tribal Language - Culture Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know what time it is. It's WEEKEND WARMUP TIME! Links: SPORTS Mariners - LA Angels - 9/11-14 Sounders - LA Galaxy - 9/13 Reign - Racing Louisville FC - 9/14 Seahawks - AWAY vs Pittsburgh 10am 9/14 Wallingford Bratwurst Festival The Chehalis Flying Saucer Party Seattle — Cider Summit Hops & Crops Music and Beer Festival - Kent Sip Suds & Si - North Bend Autumn Sip & Stroll - Gig Harbor Historic Downtown Snohomish Wine Walk Vino in the Village – Magnolia Black & Loud Fest at The Crocodile Bite of PhinneyWood | The PNA Local Sightings 2025 – Not One Drop of Blood - Northwest Film Forum Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November’s general election could bring a group of new faces to Seattle City Government. Today we’re diving into the race for City Council’s Position 8 seat. That’s a city-wide post, representing ALL of Seattle, as opposed to just one geographic district. The incumbent in this race is Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck. She won the seat after a special election last year. Now, Rinck is widely seen as the most progressive voice on the council. In this summer’s primary, she got a whopping 78% of the vote. This fall, Rinck is facing off against a REPUBLICAN business owner in the general election: Rachel Savage. GUEST: Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck RELATED LINKS: Alexis Mercedes Rinck ST Editorial Board - No endorsement for Seattle City Council, Position 8 Seattle City Council Unanimously Approves "Seattle Shield Initiative" For November 2025 Vote Alexis Mercedes Rinck - Council | seattle.gov Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brand new contemporary art space opened up last month in downtown Seattle. It's called Cannonball Arts, and Soundside recently got a sneak preview. GUESTS: Brent Watanabe, a Seattle based artist who specializes in computer-controlled installations Greg Lundgren, Creative Director of New Rising Sun RELATED LINKS: Cannonball Arts Downtown Seattle’s Bed Bath & Beyond building to become an arts center Real-Deal Out-There Art - The Stranger Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November’s general election could bring a group of new faces to Seattle City Government. Today we’re diving into the race for City Council’s Position 8 seat. That’s a city-wide post, representing ALL of Seattle, as opposed to just one geographic district. Our first candidate in this Position 8 race is Rachael Savage. She’s a small business owner in Capitol Hill – she runs a crystal and incense shop on Broadway. And she’s a member of the Broadway Business Improvement Association. Savage is running the most conservative campaign in city politics this year, as she tries to upset incumbent Alexis Mercedes Rinck’s bid for reelection. Rinck is currently the most progressive member of Seattle’s City Council. While this is not Savage’s first foray into city politics, it is her first time running for office. GUEST: Rachael Savage RELATED LINKS: Savage Citizens Capitol Hill crystal shop owner and candidate for City Council says launching initiative effort to ban homeless camping in Seattle Seattle City Council Position 8 candidates outline platforms Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will it take to save the Lake City Fred Meyer? Is it even possible? Lawmakers and local shoppers are asking those questions after Kroger announced last month that the Lake City location would be part of a wave of regional closures. Local residents remain worried about where people will go for prescriptions and fresh produce, especially elderly and low-income residents, who may not have access to a car. Guest Paul Roberts, Seattle Times business reporter Related Links Lake City Fred Meyer faces closure. Lawmakers want to change that Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s back. Well, he never really left. Conservative megadonor Brian Heywood wants to put two new policy proposals in front of the Washington state Legislature next year. Both deal with kids in schools, specifically, with parents’ access to school records, and trans kids playing sports. Heywood spent millions of dollars on a slate of initiatives last year. Some of them passed the legislature, like a ban on income taxes, a loosening of restrictions on police car chases, and a law codifying parental rights to information about their kids in school. Other measures that Heywood sponsored went to the ballot last November. Voters rejected three of them. Those measures would have killed the state’s long-term care program, the Climate Commitment Act, and capital gains tax. Voters passed a fourth initiative that Heywood backed, this one was about preserving access to natural gas. But that’s been tied up in the courts and hasn’t taken effect yet. Now, Heywood and his advocacy organization Let’s Go Washington, are announcing two new initiatives involving K-12 school policy: He’ll be collecting signatures for a revamped parent’s bill of rights and a ban on trans athletes in girl’s sports. Let’s Go Washington has until January to get more than 300,000 signatures. If successful, the initiatives can appear before the Legislature during the session in 2026 and may end up on your ballot after that. Guest: Brian Heywood, hedge fund manager and funder behind Let's Go Washington Relevant Links: OPB: Washington state GOP megadonor planning new round of initiatives on taxes, parents’ rightsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost a year ago, an Israeli soldier shot and killed Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank. She was a Seattle resident and a University of Washington graduate. We spoke to her family about their memories of her and their push for an independent investigation into her killing. Guest Hamid Ali, Ayşenur's husband Ozden Bennett, Ayşenur's sister Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School starts up this week for some districts in our region, others started last week – before Labor Day! For some students, gym classes may include a surprising throwback: The Presidential Fitness Test. President Trump reestablished the program over the summer. It had been quietly phased out in 2013 by President Obama, and people are split over the value and impact of this test. Teachers and fitness experts alike have criticized the test, suggesting it’s not effective in helping students develop healthier lifestyles, and at worst – some argue it encourages bullying and anxiety over body image. We wanted to talk with an actual physical education teacher – NOT a gym teacher – about the return of the Presidential Fitness Test. GUEST: Terri Garrett, a P.E. teacher at Lindbergh High School in Renton, with over 30 years of experience teaching Physical Education, around the Puget Sound. RELATED LINKS: Fact Sheet: President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, and the Reestablishment of the Presidential Fitness Test Remember running the mile in school? The Presidential Fitness Test is coming back Can President Trump Run a Mile? | The New Yorker Trump revives the Presidential Fitness Test alongside professional athletes at White House Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All good things must come to an end, and while that includes things like MoPop's Nirvana exhibition, it also means the work week is coming to a close. With that in mind, here's Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows with all the things you could be doing this weekend! LINKS: Seahawks vs 49ers - 1:05 pm Sunday 9/7 Seattle Storm vs NY Liberty - 7:00 pm Friday 9/5 SEA-Nordic Film Festival Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival BrickCon 2025 Nirvana Exhibition Closing | Museum of Pop Culture Ai Weiwei | Seattle Art Museum Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, the parents of a 16-year-old boy who died by suicide sued OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT. They say the bot fed into their son’s suicidal ideation, giving him technical advice on how to commit the act and even encouraging him to hide his plans. The tragedy highlights the dark side of the emotional dependence some people have developed with AI. What potential power does AI hold over its users, and what safeguards will help us navigate this transitional period in tech history? Guest: Oren Etzioni, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the University of Washington Links: A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In. ChatGPT to get parental controls after teen user’s death by suicide Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.