Aurora Avenue North has been the site of escalating gun violence that police say is driven by sex trafficking.

Last week, Mayor Katie Wilson, City Attorney Erika Evans, and Council President Joy Hollingsworth held a news conference to announce next steps. 

They include using civil orders to take guns away from sex traffickers and closing side streets.

Hanging over all of this is whether the city should use stay out of areas of prostitution or SOAP law. 

Guest: 

Former Seattle City Council member and King County Superior Court Judge Cathy Moore

Relevant Links:

KUOW: How three key players view the narrative about sex work and gun violence on Aurora Avenue

Seattle Times: Seattle moves to take guns from traffickers on Aurora as mayor closes streets

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.

Aurora Avenue North has been the site of escalating gun violence that police say is driven by sex trafficking.
Last week, Mayor Katie Wilson, City Attorney Erika Evans, and Council President Joy Hollingsworth held a news conference to announce next steps.&nbsp;
They include using civil orders to take guns away from sex traffickers and closing side streets.
Hanging over all of this is whether the city should use stay out of areas of prostitution or SOAP law.&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;
Former Seattle City Council member and King County Superior Court Judge Cathy Moore
Relevant Links:
KUOW: <a href="https://m.kuow.org/stories/how-three-key-players-view-the-narrative-about-sex-work-and-gun-violence-on-aurora-avenue">How three key players view the narrative about sex work and gun violence on Aurora Avenue</a>
Seattle Times:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-moves-to-take-guns-from-traffickers-on-aurora-as-mayor-closes-streets/">Seattle moves to take guns from traffickers on Aurora as mayor closes streets</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Last week, city officials held a news conference to announce their plan for addressing public safety issues on Aurora.  Hanging over all of this is whether the city should use stay out of areas of prostitution, or SOAP, laws.

Former Councilmember Cathy Moore on Aurora Avenue North, public safety, and SOAP orders

The green card application process has become more confusing in recent weeks.

In May, the Trump administration sent out a memo saying applicants inside the U.S. would need to leave the country and apply from their home country. 

The change could have affected tens of thousands of Washington residents, some of whom have waited years to complete the last step to become a U.S. citizen.

But then, the week following that announcement – the Trump administration appeared to partially walk back the change.

The back-to-back announcements panicked many hoping to get their green cards. A lot of unanswered questions remain, so Soundside spoke with a Seattle immigration attorney about how she's working through this moment. 


Guest

Tahmina Watson, founding immigration lawyer with Watson Immigration Law

Related Links

Actually, Most Immigrants Won’t Need to Leave U.S. to Get Green Cards, D.H.S. Says - The New York Times

Stephen Miller’s New Attack on Green-Card Applicants Is Simply a Scare Tactic - Slate

What Trump’s dramatic green card announcement means for WA - The Seattle Times

'Confusion and uncertainty.' Washington green card hopefuls react to new policy hurdle - 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.

The green card application process has become more confusing in recent weeks. In May, the Trump administration sent out a memo saying applicants inside the U.S. would need to leave the country and apply from their home country.&nbsp;
The change could have affected tens of thousands of Washington residents, some of whom have waited years to complete the last step to become a U.S. citizen.
But then, the week following that announcement &ndash; the Trump administration appeared to partially walk back the change. The back-to-back announcements panicked many hoping to get their green cards. A lot of unanswered questions remain, so Soundside spoke with a Seattle immigration attorney about how she's working through this moment.&nbsp;
 Guest 
<ul>
<li>Tahmina Watson, founding immigration lawyer with Watson Immigration Law</li>
</ul>
Related Links <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/us/politics/green-cards-dhs.html">Actually, Most Immigrants Won&rsquo;t Need to Leave U.S. to Get Green Cards, D.H.S. Says</a> - The New York Times
<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/06/stephen-miller-green-card-application-process-fail.html">Stephen Miller&rsquo;s New Attack on Green-Card Applicants Is Simply a Scare Tactic</a> - Slate <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/what-trumps-dramatic-green-card-announcement-means-for-wa/">What Trump&rsquo;s dramatic green card announcement means for WA</a> - The Seattle Times <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-green-card-hopefuls-face-new-questions-about-legal-status">'Confusion and uncertainty.' Washington green card hopefuls react to new policy hurdle</a> - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Back-to-back announcements from DHS have caused confusion and worry for some green card applicants in Washington.

A Seattle immigration lawyer reacts to green card application policy changes

Burrowing Shrimp dig into the sand and make tunnels underground. In doing so they kick up about a handful of sand up to the surface everyday, and bury clams and oysters. 

That’s a problem for shellfish farmers. Researchers at the University of Washington found a new way to get rid of the pests with the help of concrete vibrators. 

Guests: 
Jennifer Ruesink, a biology professor at the University of Washington and the senior author of a recent paper on the technique. 


Ken Wiegardt, a 5th generation oyster grower with Jolly Roger Oysters in Willapa Bay. 

Links: 

A new method could help Washington shellfish farmers control a pesky shrimp - UW News 

Immobilization of Burrowing Shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis) by Vibrocompaction as a Pest Control Strategy for Shellfish Farms -  Journal of Shellfish Research

Shellfish growers’ request to use neonicotinoid pesticide too risky for Washington’s environment - Department of Ecology of Washington State 

Jennifer L. Ruesink - University of Washington 

Burrowing Shrimp dig into the sand and make tunnels underground. In doing so they kick up about a handful of sand up to the surface everyday, and bury clams and oysters.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s a problem for shellfish farmers. Researchers at the University of Washington found a new way to get rid of the pests with the help of concrete vibrators.&nbsp;
Guests:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Jennifer Ruesink,&nbsp;a biology professor at the University of Washington and the senior author of a recent paper on the technique.&nbsp;</li>
<li>
Ken Wiegardt, a 5th generation oyster grower with Jolly Roger Oysters in Willapa Bay.&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
Links:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.washington.edu/news/2026/05/14/a-new-method-could-help-washington-shellfish-farmers-control-a-pesky-shrimp/">A new method could help Washington shellfish farmers control a pesky shrimp</a> - UW News&nbsp;
<a href="https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-shellfish-research/volume-45/issue-1/035.045.0116/Immobilization-of-Burrowing-Shrimp-Neotrypaea-californiensis-by-Vibrocompaction-as-a/10.2983/035.045.0116.full">Immobilization of Burrowing Shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis) by Vibrocompaction as a Pest Control Strategy for Shellfish Farms </a>- &nbsp;Journal of Shellfish Research
<a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2018/apr09-request-to-use-imidacloprid-pesticide-denied">Shellfish growers&rsquo; request to use neonicotinoid pesticide too risky for Washington&rsquo;s environment</a> - Department of Ecology of Washington State&nbsp;
<a href="https://biology.washington.edu/people/jennifer-l-ruesink">Jennifer L. Ruesink</a> - University of Washington&nbsp;

University of Washington researchers use concrete vibrators to get rid of problematic burrowing shrimp that are haunting the shellfish industry

Researchers at the UW are using concrete vibrators to kill pesky shrimp. Why?

Even in one of the U.S.'s most non-religious areas, early data suggests more people in the Seattle area are converting to Roman Catholicism.

The archdiocese of Seattle keeps tallies on catechumens, which refers to a person who will be baptized, confirmed and receive Holy Communion. In 2026, the archdiocese already reports over 1070 catechumens, across more than 130 parishes, a 17 percent increase over last year and a 40 percent increase since 2024.

We spoke with a handful of recent converts to Catholicism from around the Seattle area about why each of them converted, and what role faith plays in their lives now.


Guest

Kevin Brown, Graduate Program director and a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University. He also currently serves as the editor of the Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America.   

Related Links

Roman Catholic Churches See a Surge of New Converts - The New York Times

National Rise in Catholicism Conversions Makes its Way to the Puget Sound - The Seattle Spectator

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.

Even in one of the U.S.'s most non-religious areas, early data suggests more people in the Seattle area are converting to Roman Catholicism.
The archdiocese of Seattle keeps tallies on catechumens, which refers to a person who will be baptized, confirmed and receive Holy Communion. In 2026, the archdiocese already reports over 1070 catechumens, across more than 130 parishes, a 17 percent increase over last year and a 40 percent increase since 2024.
We spoke with a handful of recent converts to Catholicism from around the Seattle area about why each of them converted, and what role faith plays in their lives now. Guest Kevin Brown, Graduate Program director and a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University. He also currently serves as the editor of the Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America. &nbsp;&nbsp; Related Links <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/us/catholics-converts.html">Roman Catholic Churches See a Surge of New Converts</a> - The New York Times <a href="https://seattlespectator.com/2026/04/15/national-rise-in-catholicism-conversions-makes-its-way-to-the-puget-sound/">National Rise in Catholicism Conversions Makes its Way to the Puget Sound</a> - The Seattle Spectator Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

At Mass, new Catholics probably don't slip up on "and with your spirit" instead of "and also with you." 

Former Councilmember Cathy Moore on Aurora Avenue North, public safety, and SOAP orders

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