Spokane County Commissioner Al French is facing a recall effort over his handling of disclosures of contaminated groundwater in the West Plains. 

The “Clean Water Accountability Coalition” is sounding the alarm about PFAS—sometimes called 'forever chemicals’—in well water. 

And let's not forget to mention that French is also running for re-election this year, adding another layer to the already heated debate. 

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.

Guest:

Nate Sanford, staff writer at Inlander

Relevant Links:

Inlander: Spokane County Commissioner Al French faces recall attempt over PFAS controversy

Inlander: EPA, Ecology and Spokane officials urge West Plains residents to sign up for free PFAS testing

Spokane County Commissioner Al French is facing a recall effort over his handling of disclosures of contaminated groundwater in the West Plains.    The “Clean Water Accountability Coalition” is sounding the alarm about PFAS—sometimes called 'forever chemicals’—in well water.    And let's not forget to mention that French is also running for re-election this year, adding another layer to the already heated debate. 
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.
Guest:
Nate Sanford, staff writer at Inlander
Relevant Links:
Inlander: <a href="https://www.inlander.com/news/spokane-county-commissioner-al-french-faces-recall-attempt-over-pfas-controversy-28529314">Spokane County Commissioner Al French faces recall attempt over PFAS controversy</a> 
Inlander: <a href="https://www.inlander.com/news/epa-ecology-and-spokane-officials-urge-west-plains-residents-to-sign-up-for-free-pfas-testing-27585343">EPA, Ecology and Spokane officials urge West Plains residents to sign up for free PFAS testing</a>

Soundside

PFAs in Spokane's well water? Maybe recall a County Commissioner

Sound Transit is looking at potential cuts and readjustments to its ST3 plan. Voters approved the vision for the next phase of regional transit nearly a decade ago. 

But last year, Sound Transit announced it was somewhere between 30 and 40 billion dollars in the hole. At a Sound Transit retreat in March, board members were presented with the reality that they may need to drop planned stations or entire lines in Ballard, Issaquah, Everett, and Tacoma. 

So what happens next? And how will affected communities respond?

Guest:

Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist

Kristina Walker, Tacoma City Councilmember, Chair of the Sound Transit Board Rider Experience and Operations Committee, and chair of Pierce Transit

Mark Mullet, Issaquah Mayor

David Scott, board chair of Seattle Subway

Relevant Links: 

The Urbanist: Three More Takeaways from a Pivotal Sound Transit Board Retreat

The Urbanist: Snohomish County Has Sound Transit's Regional Rail Spine Top of Mind

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. 

Sound Transit is looking at potential cuts and readjustments to its ST3 plan. Voters approved the vision for the next phase of regional transit nearly a decade ago.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-transit-plans-major-program-reset-in-face-of-30-to-40-billion-shortfall/">But last year, Sound Transit announced it was somewhere between 30 and 40 billion dollars in the hole</a>. At a Sound Transit retreat in March, board members were presented with the reality that they may need to drop planned stations or entire lines in Ballard, Issaquah, Everett, and Tacoma.&nbsp;
So what happens next? And how will affected communities respond?
Guest:
Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist
Kristina Walker, Tacoma City Councilmember, Chair of the Sound Transit Board Rider Experience and Operations Committee, and chair of Pierce Transit
Mark Mullet, Issaquah Mayor
David Scott, board chair of Seattle Subway
Relevant Links:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/three-more-takeaways-from-a-pivotal-sound-transit-board-retreat/">The Urbanist: Three More Takeaways from a Pivotal Sound Transit Board Retreat</a>
<a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/snohomish-county-rail-spine-top-of-mind/">The Urbanist: Snohomish County Has Sound Transit's Regional Rail Spine Top of Mind</a>
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.&nbsp;

Last year, Sound Transit announced it was somewhere between $30 and $40 billion in the hole.  At a Sound Transit retreat in March, board members were presented with the reality that they may need to drop planned stations or entire lines in Ballard, Issaquah, Everett, and Tacoma. 

What does the future of Sound Transit light rail look like in the region?

The Trump Administration is changing federal cannabis policy.

On Thursday acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. 

That puts the drug in the same category as substances like ketamine and anabolic steroids.

Now, this doesn’t mean cannabis is legal nationwide, and people with convictions related to marijuana won’t see their charges dropped. But officials say it’ll allow for more research into cannabis for medical use.

For distributors in the 40 states that have medical marijuana systems already in place, it could mean tax benefits and less hoops to jump through when selling cannabis.

This reclassification does not impact recreational marijuana. But advocates say it could be a sign of bigger changes to come.

Guest:
 Dr. Susan Ferguson, Director of the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute at the University of Washington

Related links:
Justice Department Places FDA-Approved Marijuana Products and Products Containing Marijuana Subject to a Qualifying State-issued License in Schedule III, Strengthening Medical Research While Maintaining Strict Federal Controls
Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Will End Discrimination In Housing, Healthcare And Employment For Medical Cannabis Patients (Op-Ed) - Marijuana Moment
SAM CONDEMNS IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ILLEGAL DIRECTIVE ON MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING - Smart Approaches to Marijuana

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 Trump Administration is changing federal cannabis policy.
On Thursday acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.&nbsp;
That puts the drug in the same category as substances like ketamine and anabolic steroids.
Now, this doesn&rsquo;t mean cannabis is legal nationwide, and people with convictions related to marijuana won&rsquo;t see their charges dropped. But officials say it&rsquo;ll allow for more research into cannabis for medical use.
For distributors in the 40 states that have medical marijuana systems already in place, it could mean tax benefits and less hoops to jump through when selling cannabis.
This reclassification does not impact recreational marijuana. But advocates say it could be a sign of bigger changes to come.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;Dr. Susan Ferguson, Director of the Addictions, Drug &amp; Alcohol Institute at the University of Washington</li>
</ul>
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-places-fda-approved-marijuana-products-and-products-containing-marijuana">Justice Department Places FDA-Approved Marijuana Products and Products Containing Marijuana Subject to a Qualifying State-issued License in Schedule III, Strengthening Medical Research While Maintaining Strict Federal Controls</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-marijuana-rescheduling-will-end-discrimination-in-housing-healthcare-and-employment-for-medical-cannabis-patients-op-ed/">Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Will End Discrimination In Housing, Healthcare And Employment For Medical Cannabis Patients (Op-Ed) - Marijuana Moment</a></li>
<li><a href="https://learnaboutsam.org/2026/04/sam-condemns-in-the-strongest-possible-terms-the-trump-administrations-illegal-directive-on-marijuana-rescheduling/">SAM CONDEMNS IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION&rsquo;S ILLEGAL DIRECTIVE ON MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING - Smart Approaches to Marijuana</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.

On Thursday acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.  Advocates say it could be a sign of bigger changes to come.

Marijuana research may reach new heights as Trump Administration reclassifies medical cannabis

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: David Kroman - Seattle Times City Hall Reporter

Related Links:
Lawmakers call for dissolving King County homelessness agency following audit
Seattle, county officials demand reform to homeless authority, file for dissolution
Analysis adds to debate over Seattle’s delivery driver wage law
Spokane Valley teen takes it upon himself to create sensory aid for blind classmate

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: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/author/david-kroman/">David Kroman</a> - Seattle Times City Hall Reporter
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/audit-critical-of-king-county-homelessness-agencys-fiscal-practices/">Lawmakers call for dissolving King County homelessness agency following audit</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-county-officials-demand-reform-to-homeless-authority-file-for-dissolution/">Seattle, county officials demand reform to homeless authority, file for dissolution</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/analysis-adds-to-debate-over-seattles-delivery-driver-wage-law/">Analysis adds to debate over Seattle&rsquo;s delivery driver wage law</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/apr/24/its-incredible-spokane-valley-teen-takes-it-upon-h/">Spokane Valley teen takes it upon himself to create sensory aid for blind classmate</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.

PFAs in Spokane's well water? Maybe recall a County Commissioner

In 1 playlist(s)

Soundside

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips