It’s not your average Monday when an orca swims right up next to you. 

That’s what happened at the Ballard Locks last week.

If you want to keep up on orca activity, there’s a whatsapp group that alerts you about local sightings.

We'll talk with Kersti Muul, field biologist and director of the whatsapp group Salish Wildlife Watch. 

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 or on the KUOW App.

It&rsquo;s not your average Monday when an orca swims right up next to you.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s what happened at the Ballard Locks last week.
If you want to keep up on orca activity, there&rsquo;s a whatsapp group that alerts you about local sightings.
We'll talk with Kersti Muul, field biologist and director of the whatsapp group <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/EhEFg5IES3B8Ow3yPoVjRF?s=cl&amp;p=a&amp;ilr=4">Salish Wildlife Watch</a>.&nbsp;
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
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> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</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

Ping! There's an orca nearby!

Hunger strike continues at Tacoma immigrant lockup, state lawmaker fined $15,000 in ethics case, and the Washington State Library has a new leader.

It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Vaughan Jones.

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 or on the KUOW App.

Hunger strike continues at <a href="https://www.kuow.org/immigration/2026-08-13/is-ice-about-to-take-control-of-the-privately-run-detention-center-in-tacoma">Tacoma immigrant lockup</a>, state lawmaker <a href="https://www.kuow.org/politics/2026-08-17/washington-state-lawmaker-hit-with-15k-fine-in-ethics-case">fined $15,000</a> in ethics case, and the Washington State Library has a new leader.
It&rsquo;s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Vaughan Jones.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.&nbsp;<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
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> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Hunger strike continues at Tacoma immigrant lockup, state lawmaker fined $15,000 in ethics case, and the Washington State Library has a new leader.

Monday Evening Headlines

Twenty years ago, Josh Okrent and his friends opened the first Punk Rock Flea Market in an old union hall in Belltown. Since then, the flea market has moved through empty spaces around Seattle, and now occupies the old QFC grocery store on 15th Avenue East. You can pay $1 and choose your own adventure among the crafters, collectors and performers. Josh’s exploration of vacant buildings started when he was a kid with a skateboard, a can of spray paint and a dream.
Punk Rock Flea Market Seattle
Punk Rock Flea Market Instagram 
Quality Flea Center 

Twenty years ago, Josh Okrent and his friends opened the first Punk Rock Flea Market in an old union hall in Belltown. Since then, the flea market has moved through empty spaces around Seattle, and now occupies the old QFC grocery store on 15th Avenue East. You can pay $1 and choose your own adventure among the crafters, collectors and performers. Josh&rsquo;s exploration of vacant buildings started when he was a kid with a skateboard, a can of spray paint and a dream.
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.punkrockfleamarketseattle.com">Punk Rock Flea Market Seattle</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/punkrockfleamarketseattle/?hl=en">Punk Rock Flea Market Instagram</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.punkrockfleamarketseattle.com/pages/quality-flea-center?_su_rec=-n4dlUvpkuikJZoTRob_IhBxd9xs80rx0K3CPnZ_Q_IkYUukfYzRAwS5SI_9E_ChVjTrj8iLaRpzx0iitT-SUzehF1bbdDRYP2zt4PmyyYmBbNh7WShHlxd18yrIigGjdkqMnVUUg-5s2m_Pl_jMjcer6zbuu1AyEt1_P5O_TEuPWcViT-mwJrB9bq5W_xzRfhdGslGXTgV3t9_MZR4UBoAtJ2i4KdxMTIQebPPF8WRooL6HSCahG99zckFRnK1Xb343L5JaVD59E180NujopfCbLx1CPeLmmxUNNvX4gLo&amp;_su_rec_id=6bc9ed71-ad47-4cd3-acc5-ede99b9734a1-1786735703">Quality Flea Center</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Seattle's nomadic Punk Rock Flea Market in the old 15th Avenue East QFC grocery building runs on bartered HVAC, $1 admissions, and volunteer elbow grease.

Seattle’s Punk Rock Flea Market finds a home, kind of

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom.

First, does Washington state go too easy on kids caught with guns? Some officials say yes.

Next, more on the Seattle Center shooting… The wife of Carlos Sanchez Villalba says every day is harder since losing her husband.

Next, wildfires have shut down two big segments of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington.

And finally, as millions of acres burn across Oregon, one small community in the Columbia River Gorge may adopt a proactive defense. 

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 or on the KUOW App.

Today, we&rsquo;re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom.
First, does Washington state go too easy on kids caught with guns? <a href="https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-08-10/washington-state-gun-law-could-be-rewritten-after-seattle-center-shooting">Some officials say yes.</a>
Next, more on the Seattle Center shooting&hellip; The wife of Carlos Sanchez Villalba says <a href="https://www.kuow.org/crime/2026-08-14/every-day-is-harder-dad-killed-at-seattle-center-is-laid-to-rest">every day is harder since losing her husband.</a>
Next, wildfires have shut down two big segments of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington.
And finally, as millions of acres burn across Oregon, one small community in the Columbia River Gorge <a href="https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/11/mosier-oregon-explores-prescribed-burns/">may adopt a proactive defense.&nbsp;</a>
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <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> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom.  First, does Washington state go too easy on kids caught with guns? Some officials say yes.  Next, more on the Seattle Center shooting… The wife of Carlos Sanchez Villalba says every day is harder since losing her husband.  Next, wildfires have shut down two big segments of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington.  And finally, as millions of acres burn across Oregon, one small community in the Columbia River Gorge may adopt a proactive defense. 

Washington state gun law could be rewritten after Seattle Center shooting, remembering shooting victim Carlos Sanchez Villabla, hikers are getting creative as wildfire shuts down parts of the Pacific Coast Trail, and Mosier, OR explores a proactive approach to fire

Ping! There's an orca nearby!

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