Washington’s waters aren’t as clean as you might think.

One big reason for this is hundreds of abandoned boats and ships floating in them.

The boats themselves are trash, and they may be leaking toxins.

So why can’t we just get rid of them?

Aspen Ford investigated the issue and explains.

Read her reporting: 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.

Washington&rsquo;s waters aren&rsquo;t as clean as you might think.
One big reason for this is hundreds of abandoned boats and ships floating in them.
The boats themselves are trash, and they may be leaking toxins.
So why can&rsquo;t we just get rid of them?
Aspen Ford investigated the issue and explains.
Read her reporting: <a href="https://www.investigatewest.org/investigatewest-reports/the-us-government-sold-off-these-aging-ships-leaving-states-in-the-pacific-northwest-to-pay-the-price-17946129">here</a>.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> 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&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or<a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback"> leave us feedback online</a>.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now

Washington’s waters aren’t as clean as you might think.  One big reason for this is hundreds of abandoned boats and ships floating in them.  The boats themselves are trash, and they may be leaking toxins.  So why can’t we just get rid of them?  Aspen Ford investigated the issue and explains.

Derelict boats are polluting WA waters

Measles cases are on the rise. Washington state has had 26 confirmed cases this year. That’s more than double all of the cases in 2025.To find out what’s happening we’re joined by Dr. Helen Chu, infectious disease specialist with UW Medicine.

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.

Measles cases are on the rise.&nbsp;Washington state has had <a href="https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/measles-remains-growing-concern-washington-us-surpasses-1100-cases-2026">26 confirmed cases</a> this year.&nbsp;That&rsquo;s more than double all of the cases in 2025.To find out what&rsquo;s happening we&rsquo;re joined by <a href="https://www.uwmedicine.org/bios/helen-chu">Dr. Helen Chu</a>, infectious disease specialist with UW Medicine.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a>&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or<a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">&nbsp;leave us feedback online</a>.

Measles cases are on the rise. Washington state has had 26 confirmed cases this year. That’s more than double all of the cases in 2025.To find out what’s happening we’re joined by Dr. Helen Chu, infectious disease specialist with UW Medicine.

WA has already doubled its measles cases from 2025

SPD chief Shon Barnes says that officers who help ICE violate policy and will face consequences, the Cascades might get a blizzard, and the Washington Supreme Court will get its first justice of Middle Eastern descent.

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.
Backannounce, weather

SPD chief Shon Barnes says that officers who help ICE violate policy and will face consequences, the Cascades might get a blizzard, and the Washington Supreme Court will get its first justice of Middle Eastern descent.
It&rsquo;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. <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a>&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or<a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">&nbsp;leave us feedback online</a>. Backannounce, weather

SPD chief Shon Barnes says that officers who help ICE violate policy and will face consequences, the Cascades might get a blizzard, and the Washington Supreme Court will get its first justice of Middle Eastern descent.  It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning.

Monday Evening Headlines

In 2022, the city of Seattle began sending less-urgent 911 callers to speak with nurse navigators who decide the next steps. 

The city says it’s going well and reduces strain on emergency rooms and ambulances.

Now, a wrongful death lawsuit is raising concerns about response times. 

Seattle Times reporter Daniel Beekman’s been investigating. He'll talk about what he found. Read more here.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.

In 2022, the city of Seattle began sending less-urgent 911 callers to speak with nurse navigators who decide the next steps.&nbsp;
The city says it&rsquo;s going well and reduces strain on emergency rooms and ambulances.
Now, a wrongful death lawsuit is raising concerns about response times.&nbsp;
Seattle Times reporter Daniel Beekman&rsquo;s been investigating. He'll talk about what he found. <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/seattle-womans-911-calls-reveal-gaps-in-ambulance-service/">Read more here</a>.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> 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&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or<a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback"> leave us feedback online</a>.

In 2022, the city of Seattle began sending less-urgent 911 callers to speak with nurse navigators who decide the next steps.   The city says it’s going well and reduces strain on emergency rooms and ambulances.  Now, a wrongful death lawsuit is raising concerns about response times.   Seattle Times reporter Daniel Beekman’s been investigating. He'll talk about what he found.

Derelict boats are polluting WA waters

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