Every month at the Washington State Penitentiary, a group of incarcerated journalists meets up to pick a theme for their news magazine.

The paper is called Top of the Mountain. It details the goings on in the prison as well as recipes for the food you can buy at the commissary, advice from long time residents, and interviews with the formerly incarcerated.

Top of The Mountain started after three people committed suicide in the unit. The goal was to be a way to form connection. It has grown into a labor of love. 

We spoke with the founder of Top of The Mountain and a reporter there about the paper and what it means to the prison community

Guests:

Jennifer Jaylee, founder of Top of the Mountain

Jeffrey McKee, writer for Top of the Mountain

Relevant Links:

Prison Journalism Project: My Job at a Washington State Prison Newsmagazine 

Every month at the Washington State Penitentiary, a group of incarcerated journalists meets up to pick a theme for their news magazine.
The paper is called Top of the Mountain. It details the goings on in the prison as well as recipes for the food you can buy at the commissary, advice from long time residents, and interviews with the formerly incarcerated.
Top of The Mountain started after three people committed suicide in the unit. The goal was to be a way to form connection. It has grown into a labor of love.&nbsp;
We spoke with the founder of Top of The Mountain and a reporter there about the paper and what it means to the prison community
Guests:
Jennifer Jaylee, founder of Top of the Mountain
Jeffrey McKee, writer for Top of the Mountain
Relevant Links:
Prison Journalism Project: <a href="https://prisonjournalismproject.org/2025/09/09/this-is-the-best-job-at-my-prison/">My Job at a Washington State Prison Newsmagazine </a>

Soundside

Every month at the Washington State Penitentiary, a group of incarcerated journalists meets up to pick a theme for their news magazine.  The paper is called Top of the Mountain. It details the goings on in the prison as well as recipes for the food you can buy at the commissary, advice from long time residents, and interviews with the formerly incarcerated.

At Washington State Penitentiary, incarcerated journalists find connection through a news magazine

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

Guest: 
Seattle Times reporter Jim Brunner

Related stories:
T.S.A. Says PreCheck Will Remain Operational at Airports - NYT
Sen. Cantwell, WA elections officials slam Trump-backed voter ID bill - Seattle Times
In Washington State, Democrats Consider Breaking a Taboo: Taxing the Rich - NYT

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.

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.
It&rsquo;s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.
Guest:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Seattle Times reporter Jim Brunner</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/us/tsa-precheck-global-entry-homeland-security-shutdown.html">T.S.A. Says PreCheck Will Remain Operational at Airports - NYT</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/sen-cantwell-wa-elections-officials-slam-trump-backed-voter-id-bill/">Sen. Cantwell, WA elections officials slam Trump-backed voter ID bill - Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/us/politics/washington-democrats-millionaires-tax.html">In Washington State, Democrats Consider Breaking a Taboo: Taxing the Rich - NYT</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Front Page: TSA pre-check, a potential Millionaire's Tax, and the latest with the SAVE act

Bruce Lee wasn’t born an icon. First, he was a baby, born in San Francisco and then a kid in Hong Kong who followed his father into acting. 

And it wasn’t a straight line from child star to groundbreaking Hollywood action star who broke stereotypes about Asian Americans.

Lee’s adult life in America started when he moved to Seattle, still a teenager –  where he studied at the University of Washington, washed dishes at a restaurant, and eventually opened his own gung fu schools. He also met his wife, Linda, once a martial arts student.

His five years in Seattle were formative for Lee both in terms of learning about America, but also about himself and honing his cross-cultural philosophy. 

That’s the subject of a new play at Seattle Children’s Theater called Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story, it runs through March 22nd. 

Guest:

Shannon Lee, founder and chair of the Bruce Lee Foundation and author of Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee

Relevant Links:

Seattle Children's Theater page

Bruce Lee Foundation website

Seattle Times: Seattle Children’s Theatre Bruce Lee play fights on after Kennedy Center canceling 

 

Bruce Lee wasn&rsquo;t born an icon. First, he was a baby, born in San Francisco and then a kid in Hong Kong who followed his father into acting.&nbsp; And it wasn&rsquo;t a straight line from child star to groundbreaking Hollywood action star who broke stereotypes about Asian Americans.
Lee&rsquo;s adult life in America started when he moved to Seattle, still a teenager &ndash;&nbsp; where he studied at the University of Washington, washed dishes at a restaurant, and eventually opened his own gung fu schools. He also met his wife, Linda, once a martial arts student.
His five years in Seattle were formative for Lee both in terms of learning about America, but also about himself and honing his cross-cultural philosophy.&nbsp; That&rsquo;s the subject of a new play at Seattle Children&rsquo;s Theater called <a href="https://www.sct.org/onstage/productions/young-dragon-2026/">Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story, it runs through March 22nd</a>.&nbsp;
Guest:
Shannon Lee, founder and chair of the Bruce Lee Foundation and author of Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee
Relevant Links:
<a href="https://www.sct.org/onstage/productions/young-dragon-2026/">Seattle Children's Theater page</a>
<a href="https://bruceleefoundation.org/">Bruce Lee Foundation website</a>
Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/theater/seattle-childrens-theatre-bruce-lee-play-fights-on-after-kennedy-center-canceling/">Seattle Children&rsquo;s Theatre Bruce Lee play fights on after Kennedy Center canceling </a>
&nbsp;

Bruce Lee's time in Seattle is the subject of a new play at Seattle Children’s Theater called Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story,  which runs through March 22nd. 

New play looks at Bruce Lee's formative years in Seattle

Many federal immigration officers are reportedly in the process of packing up and leaving the Twin Cities. Border Czar Tom Homan said Sunday that Operation Metro Surge is drawing down. 

The months-long campaign led to intense protest. Two American citizens were shot and killed by immigration enforcement officers during the operation.

Local prosecutors have been trying to investigate those shootings but they say they have been rebuffed by the federal government.

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was denied access to evidence by the FBI meanwhile, Hennepin County prosecutors in Minneapolis are crowdsourcing evidence from people who videotaped one of the shootings. 

Like local officials everywhere, King County is navigating a shifting relationship with the federal government and the possibility that an immigration enforcement surge could happen here.

Guests:

Leesa Manion, King County Prosecuting Attorney

Gary Ernsdorff, Supervising Attorney at the Special Operations Unit

Relevant Links:

KCPAO: Manion Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting King County from Unlawful Deployment of ICE

Many federal immigration officers are reportedly in the process of packing up and leaving the Twin Cities. Border Czar Tom Homan said Sunday that Operation Metro Surge is drawing down.&nbsp;
The months-long campaign led to intense protest. Two American citizens were shot and killed by immigration enforcement officers during the operation.
Local prosecutors have been trying to investigate those shootings but they say they have been rebuffed by the federal government.
Earlier this week, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was denied access to evidence by the FBI meanwhile, Hennepin County prosecutors in Minneapolis are crowdsourcing evidence from people who videotaped one of the shootings.&nbsp;
Like local officials everywhere, King County is navigating a shifting relationship with the federal government and the possibility that an immigration enforcement surge could happen here.
Guests:
Leesa Manion, King County Prosecuting Attorney
Gary Ernsdorff, Supervising Attorney at the Special Operations Unit
Relevant Links:
KCPAO:&nbsp;<a href="https://kcprosecutor.medium.com/manion-reaffirms-commitment-to-protecting-king-county-from-unlawful-deployment-of-ice-f8403755caa0">Manion Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting King County from Unlawful Deployment of ICE</a>

As Operation Metro Surge winds down in Minnesota, officials in Washington are preparing for the possibility of an immigration enforcement surge in Seattle

At Washington State Penitentiary, incarcerated journalists find connection through a news magazine

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