It’s officially summer, and it’s looking like it might be a hot one. Low snowpack and a developing El Niño pattern could mean an earlier, stronger wildfire season. Seattle Times climate reporter Amanda Zhou has been watching the wildfire forecast and is here to bring us an update.

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.

It&rsquo;s officially summer, and it&rsquo;s looking like it might be a hot one. Low snowpack and&nbsp;a developing <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/what-a-very-strong-el-nino-could-mean-for-wa/">El Ni&ntilde;o pattern</a> could mean an <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/was-wildfire-season-forecast-drought-and-el-nino-spell-concern/">earlier, stronger wildfire season</a>. Seattle Times climate reporter Amanda Zhou has been watching the wildfire forecast and is here to bring us an update.
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.&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">&nbsp;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

It’s officially summer, and it’s looking like it might be a hot one. Low snowpack and a developing El Niño pattern could mean an earlier, stronger wildfire season. Seattle Times climate reporter Amanda Zhou has been watching the wildfire forecast and is here to bring us an update.

We're not blowing smoke, wildfire season could be bad in WA

Maybe you’ve heard of sword ferns or salal.

Those are a couple native plants that are common around here.

But there’s a vast array of native flowers, trees, and shrubs that can offer big benefits to your garden.

Seattle Now stopped by a local demonstration garden to see what’s in bloom.

Thane Williams is demonstration garden manager for the Washington Native Plant Society, and he gave us a tour.

Learn more about native plants: 

Washington Native Plant Society

Green Seattle

King County Native Plant Resources

UW Native Plant Guide for Seattle and Bellevue

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.

Maybe you&rsquo;ve heard of sword ferns or salal.
Those are a couple native plants that are common around here.
But there&rsquo;s a vast array of native flowers, trees, and shrubs that can offer big benefits to your garden.
Seattle Now stopped by a local demonstration garden to see what&rsquo;s in bloom.
Thane Williams is demonstration garden manager for the Washington Native Plant Society, and he gave us a tour.
Learn more about native plants:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wnps.org/native-plant-directory">Washington Native Plant Society</a>
<a href="https://greenseattle.org/native-plants-attracting-native-pollinators/">Green Seattle</a>
<a href="https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/yard-garden/native-plants/native-plant-resources-nw">King County Native Plant Resources</a>
<a href="https://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Chapters/SeattleBellevue.htm">UW Native Plant Guide for Seattle and Bellevue</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.&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>

Local native plants draw bees, butterflies, and birds to the garden

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

First, when it comes to Xbox, Microsoft is doing a hard reset. This week, the company began reducing its gaming division by 3,200 jobs. Microsoft calls it the most significant restructuring in Xbox history.

Next, instead of watching fireworks to commemorate America's 250th birthday last weekend, about 400 people went on a pilgrimage to the site of a former camp where Japanese-Americans were imprisoned during World War II.

And finally, one of the most endangered sea creatures of the Pacific Ocean is getting a leg up in the kelp forests of the San Juan Islands. It’s a twenty-four-armed sea star called the sunflower star.

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.

Today, we&rsquo;re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom.
First, when it comes to Xbox, Microsoft is doing a hard reset. This week, the company began reducing its gaming division by 3,200 jobs. <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/what-xbox-s-layoffs-massive-reboot-says-about-the-gaming-industry">Microsoft calls it the most significant restructuring in Xbox history.</a>
Next, instead of watching fireworks to commemorate America's 250th birthday last weekend, about 400 people <a href="https://www.ijpr.org/history/2026-07-09/eighty-years-later-survivors-say-tule-lake-still-has-lessons-for-america">went on a pilgrimage to the site of a former camp where Japanese-Americans were imprisoned during World War II.</a>
And finally, one of the most endangered sea creatures of the Pacific Ocean is getting a leg up in the kelp forests of the San Juan Islands. <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-a-northwest-tribe-and-an-endangered-sea-creature-are-helping-each-other">It&rsquo;s a twenty-four-armed sea star called the sunflower star.</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.&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>.

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom.  First, when it comes to Xbox, Microsoft is doing a hard reset. This week, the company began reducing its gaming division by 3,200 jobs. Microsoft calls it the most significant restructuring in Xbox history.  Next, instead of watching fireworks to commemorate America's 250th birthday last weekend, about 400 people went on a pilgrimage to the site of a former camp where Japanese-Americans were imprisoned during World War II.  And finally, one of the most endangered sea creatures of the Pacific Ocean is getting a leg up in the kelp forests of the San Juan Islands. It’s a twenty-four-armed sea star called the sunflower star.

Weekend Listen: Microsoft is doing a hard reset of its XBOX gaming division, survivors say Tule Lake still has lessons for America eighty years later, and how a Northwest tribe and an endangered sea creature are helping each other

Revive I-5 returns this weekend, a Seattle City Councilmember is asking Mayor Katie Wilson to turn SoDo's security cameras back on, and thousands of cyclists are preparing to race from Seattle to Portland 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 or on the KUOW App.

Revive I-5 returns this weekend, a Seattle City Councilmember is asking Mayor Katie Wilson to turn SoDo's security cameras back on, and thousands of cyclists are preparing to race from Seattle to Portland this weekend.
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> 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>

Revive I-5 returns this weekend, a Seattle City Councilmember is asking Mayor Katie Wilson to turn SoDo's security cameras back on, and thousands of cyclists are preparing to race from Seattle to Portland this weekend.  It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning.

We're not blowing smoke, wildfire season could be bad in WA

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