Soundside

The long saga of whether Seattle can or should allow housing to be built near the stadiums in Sodo is ... still going.  This wrestling match has to do with a couple blocks to the south of T-Mobile Park. The debate was restarted in 2025, when the Seattle City Council passed a bill from then-Seattle City Council president Sarah Nelson. It allowed residential use in the small strip of land next to the baseball stadium.   The idea quickly drew backlash from port workers and truckers who operate in Sodo and Nelson’s bill eventually suffered a double-whammy of being declared illegal by a state board and later being repealed by her former colleagues on the council.   So… conversation over, right? Turns out, no…  Guest:  Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist Relevant Links: The Urbanist: Legal Appeal from MLB Stadium Authority Restarts Stadium District Housing Saga The Urbanist: Council Committee Greenlights SoDo Housing Proposal Despite Strong Port Opposition   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’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: Mike Lewis - Journalist and owner of the Streamline Tavern in Seattle Related stories: Soccer beacon Seattle shines on the World Cup stage - The Athletic Empty Rooms and Plunging Prices: World Cup Tourism Is Off to a Slow Start - NYT Public entities across the state are spending around $120 million to host the World Cup, according to a KUOW analysis - KUOW A huge WA immigration law firm rises and falls: The inside story - Seattle Times Why Did Every Starbucks Barista in Korea Have to Take a History Lesson? - 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.

We’ve been having a lot of fun with the World Cup, and with Team USA taking on Australia on Friday at Seattle Stadium, things are going to be BUSY in downtown Seattle…  But, if you’re looking to get out of the city, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with a bunch of options for your Juneteenth & Father’s Day weekend! LINKS: WORLD CUP - Juneteenth Match Day Mariners vs Boston JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS June 19 — Seattle, Jimi Hendrix Park June 19 — Seattle, NW African American Museum June 19 — Shoreline, Shoreline City Hall June 19 — Tacoma, Haub Family Field June 19 — Tukwila, Sullivan Center June 20 — Kent, Morrill Meadows Park June 20 — Lynnwood, Martha Lake Park June 20/21 — Seattle, Arte Noir Gorge Blues and Brews Edmonds Arts Festival Marysville Strawberry Festival Rhubarb Days 2026 Brinnon ShrimpFest Revel Revolution Women & Nonbinary Ride 2026 Fremont Solstice Parade - Seattle Fremont Fair 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’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: Melissa Santos Related Links:  Displaced residents react to Upriver Fire - KHQ Rare black bear attack on Mount Si injures hiker, shuts down mountain - King 5 WA falls again in national education ranking - Washington State Standard More Washington kids are uninsured as child well-being slips - Axios World Cup 2026: Tiny ‘designated protest zones’ pop up around Seattle Stadium - Seattle Times 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.

Have you ever taken a close look at the University Bridge? Specifically those little towers on either side? Earlier this year, depending on which one you looked at, you might have seen a person hanging out. Maybe you waved at her.    That was Vivian Cho. She was one of two people that Seattle picked to serve as this year’s Bridge Artists in Residence.   It’s a program that the city runs annually. Artists are invited to hang out in a bridge tower for months, either on the Fremont or the University Bridge. At the end of these stints, they showcase art that they created during their residencies.  Vivian's artwork went up at King Street Station in early June.... so we took a trip back to November, when we visited her in the bridge tower studio.  Guest: Vivian Cho, one of Seattle's Bridge Artists in Residence Related links:  Big News from the Bridges: Meet the 2025 Bridge Artists in Residence! - Art Beat 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.

For Sonia Raman, becoming head coach of a WNBA basketball team wasn’t originally in the plans. Sure, she grew up playing the sport. But when her college career ended, she went on to earn a JD/a degree from Boston College Law School. And then, she did what many of us do: she got a regular office job. So how do you go from working for the US Department of Labor, to starting this year as head coach for the Seattle Storm? Guest: Seattle Storm head coach Sonia Raman 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.  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.

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.

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 

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.

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: Soundside Producer Maleeha Syed Related Links: Was the World Cup win over Paraguay the best in USMNT history? At Gonzaga, a glimpse of Salah and a city's day of wonder After Somali referee denied entry, Seattle organization returns World Cup tickets Seattle moves to take guns from traffickers on Aurora as mayor closes streets WA weather: Highs in Seattle area could touch 90 on World Cup game day 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.

If you’ve ever walked around First Hill in Seattle, you might have noticed the Stimson Green Mansion on the corner of Seneca and Minor Avenue.  The house is celebrating its 125th year. It used to be home to some of the most influential and first families of Seattle.  Guest: Chris Moore - Executive Director of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation Abby Armato - Public Programs Specialist of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation Related Links:  Stimson-Green Mansion - Washington Trust for Historic Preservation   Stimson-Green Mansion - History Link Joshua Green - History Link First Hill Park - First Hill Improvement Association 

For the first time in 16 years, a new King County Executive gave a state of the county address. Executive Girmay Zahilay was in Federal Way last night to outline the work he has done in his first six months in office and look forward to what he plans to accomplish in the next 3 and a half years of his term. Zahilay spoke about new investments in childcare, homelessness, and mental healthcare, amid the rapidly shifting federal environment over the last year and a half.  He also acknowledged the need to build trust after recent troubling audits looking into  KCRHA and the county’s Department of Community and Human Services. Guest: King County Executive Girmay Zahilay Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Zahilay wants more King County childcare funding, bus service, housing

There's so much to do this weekend, so LET'S GET TO IT: LINKS: Salmon Bay FC vs FC Olympia - Public Radio Night! Brass Screw Consortium Seattle Pride Classic 2026 Pride Ice Skate Lifelong Pride Gala Washington Brewers Fest 2026 Beacon Arts Street Fairs Viking Tour – Poulsbo Rotary Club Furry 5K 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’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. Note: Microsoft is a financial supporter of KUOW, but we cover them like we do any other company. Guest Catharine Smith, KUOW politics editor Related Links Seattle data center ban heads to Mayor Wilson's desk- KUOW Transgender ballot initiative could require genital exams for WA secondary school students- KUOW School cellphone ban proposed by WA governor, superintendent - The Seattle Times 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

We’re just over six months into Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's tenure, which means the honeymoon period’s in the rear view mirror. Voters have gotten a look at how her administration is handling  some of the biggest issues facing the city: How ready is Seattle to host its first World Cup game on Monday? What happened to those 500 shelter beds that were supposed to be added before the games How is the Mayor taking criticism from the business community over some of her progressive messaging? How will Wilson, as a former transit rider organizer, prioritize moving people throughout the city? Guest: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Mayor Wilson agrees to turn on stadium-area cameras ahead of World Cup  Politico: The World Cup’s biggest policy bet Seattle Times: Seattle mayor pitches sales tax increase to boost bus service  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.

In Washington, many families that have children with disabilities are supposed to have help with care. Actually finding that help, though, can be incredibly difficult. The struggle some families have experienced and the lengths they're going to to try to make it better.   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.

If you’re a TV news viewer in  Seattle, there’s a REALLY good chance you know this signoff: “Lori Matsukawa, KING 5 News”  Lori spent 36 years as one of KING 5’s most celebrated news anchors, before retiring in 2019. Now, she has written a memoir which takes readers from rural Oahu, to Stanford University, and from the skies above Mt. St. Helens as it erupted to the Imperial Palace of Japan.  Lori Matsukawa’s book is titled “Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist.”  GUEST: Lori Matsukawa LINK:Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist by Lori Matsukawa 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’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 Chase Hutchinson, film critic and journalist Related Links Sound Transit study suggests fare gates at 14 busy stations by 2030 - The Seattle Times Sound Transit Recommends Fare Gates at 14 Stations for Initial Pilot - The Urbanist ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ Boost Movie Theaters to Major Win at May Box Office - The Hollywood Reporter SIFF bringing back 70mm screenings for Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ - The Seattle Times 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.

On Saturday night, more than 100 people who live around Aurora Avenue North in Seattle marched to protest gun violence in their neighborhood. It was organized to call attention to the escalating number of shootings neighbors and law enforcement say are related to sex trafficking in the Aurora corridor.   In desperation, some neighbors recently took matters into their own hands and put up makeshift street barriers to try to stop people from driving through neighborhoods.  The city council has begun working on legislation that would allow the city to close off streets at the discretion of the chief of police. The hope is that this would help curb violence. But on Saturday, neighbors expressed anger that the city isn’t doing more to stop shootings and to help the victims of sex trafficking.  So what’s happening on Aurora? And what is being done to fix it? Guests: Alex Voorhees, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for King County.  Audrey Baedke, executive director of SAFE in Washington. Amber with Green Light Project.  Related links:  Seattle officials introduce bill to help residents battle gun violence | The Seattle Times Seattle City Council proposal would use street closures to curb gun violence | KUOW Why Sex Trafficking Persists on Aurora | Seattle Met North Seattle businesses demand action after Aurora Avenue shooting leaves community shaken | KING 5 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.

It’s Thursday, and like we do every week, we like to look ahead at what there is to do over the weekend. And we do that by turning to the biggest nerd in the business, Soundside Producer Jason Burrows... LINKS: Seattle Pride in the Park Paws & Pride Dog Walk Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show NORTHWEST NOIR: NWFF's 2026 Annual Gala DubSea Fish Sticks 2026 Cascade PBS Ideas Festival Kent Nerd Party 2026 Duvall Days 2026 Anacortes Waterfront Festival Point Defiance Flower & Garden Festival The "Sound of Sunshine" Steel Orchestra Concert 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.

For 16 years, Ada’s Technical Books in Capitol Hill was THE place to find eclectic books, grab a coffee and co-work with other folks in the neighborhood, play a game out on the street side tables, or just hang out and read a book.  But like a lot of our favorite books, the ending often arrives before you’re ready,  and Ada’s story is no different. The bookstore and cafe will be closing at the end of the week, and many Ada’s faithful will MOURN its loss.  Ada’s was built to be a place of community that encouraged curiosity and learning.  You learn a lot yourself, when you run a business for so long, and Soundside is happy to have the chance to glean wisdom from the co-owner of Ada’s Technical Books.  GUEST:Danielle Hulton RELATED LINK:Capitol Hill bookstore Ada’s will close; Fuel coffee chain up for sale 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.

Washington is more than five months into a new pilot program that has been using AI to screen requested procedures for people enrolled in Medicare. It’s called the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) program, which incentivizes private companies to deny procedures.  Washington lawmakers and medical professionals say the program has led to denials and delays in care for older residents.  All of this is covered in a new story from KUOW that looks at the pushback to this pilot program.  Guest: Stephen Howie, a senior online editor and reporter at KUOW Related links: Washington seniors face denied, delayed care under AI Medicare review program | 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.

We won’t have a full explanation for the implosion at a Longview paper processing mill for a while. The disaster left 11 people dead, and released thousands of gallons of white liquor, which is a highly corrosive chemical used to break down wood chips into pulp.  The tragedy highlights the risks when people work in close proximity with large quantities of dangerous chemicals. The plant is one of several big industrial facilities in the area. Reporter Kyra Buckley looked into the pulp and paper mill industry and its safety record for Oregon Public Broadcasting.   Related Links Longview mill tragedy highlights dangerous nature of wood product manufacturing - Kyra Buckley, Oregon Public Broadcasting After Explosion, Mourning Mixes With Dread Over a Paper Mill’s Future - Anna Griffin, Aaron West The New York Times WA agencies lacked role inspecting failed chemical tank in Longview mill disaster - Washington State Standard 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’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 stories: Bob Kettle says Mayor Wilson is legally required to turn on CCTV cameras - Seattle Times Mayor Katie Wilson pitches sales tax increase for transit - Seattle Times Giant warehouse planned for Wild Waves property in Federal Way - Federal Way Mirror Car drives onto elevated light rail tracks in Seattle - KING5 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

Just like many other celebrities, Bill Gates has a stylist. His sweaters, button-downs and glasses are meant to portray someone calm and approachable, current and former employees say. His clothing choices show how carefully he's crafted an image as a global philanthropist, in the decades since co-founding Microsoft. But maintaining Gates’s image has become more difficult, due to persistent inquiries about his relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That relationship is also affecting his major philanthropic efforts with the Seattle-based Gates Foundation. Reporter Emily Glazer investigated the mounting backlash against Bill Gates over revelations in the Epstein files and the ways Gates’s team has tried to manage his image. Guest Emily Glazer, enterprise reporter at The Wall Street Journal Related Links Bill Gates Spent Years Crafting His Image. Now It’s Cracking. - The Wall Street Journal Bill Gates Apologizes to Foundation Staff Over Epstein Ties - The Wall Street Journal Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. Tell us where we could improve, or what you've enjoyed at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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 dream of light rail to Ballard just took a big hit. The Sound Transit Board voted last week on how to move forward with expanding the system and how to cover a $34 billion dollar budget shortfall over the next two decades. After a marathon voting session, the board moved forward with several major projects. Those include: finishing rail to Everett and Tacoma, building a West Seattle extension, adding a new station at Graham Street, and making a new line between Issaquah and Kirkland (though, the delivery target is now 2050). You may have heard the board did not, however, prioritize getting light rail to Ballard. Instead, under the new plan, the line will stop at Seattle Center. Guest: Seattle City Council Member Dan Strauss Relevant Links: The Urbanist: Sound Transit Board OKs Major ST3 Update, Casting Ballard into Limbo KUOW: Sound Transit board shelves Ballard extension, saves South Seattle stations Seattle Times: Ballard light rail idea rejected while Sound Transit OKs other lines  Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you like, what you hate: Tell us your hot takes. kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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’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 Angela Poe Russell, a veteran journalist and the playwright behind "Aviatrix."  Related Links Seattle Times: Seattle officials introduce bill to help residents battle gun violence  Axios: Seattle's economic engine is starting to sputter Aviatrix | Seattle Public Theater Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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 men’s FIFA World Cup starts next week! Seattle will host six games, including one featuring the U.S. team.  Soundside has discussed the politics of the World Cup, how these giant events can impact a city, and other weighty FIFA-related topics. You can find all of those conversations below. But we haven't talked about the actual game yet. Who’s playing, who’s expected to do well and could our own US team actually pull out a better-than-expected this year? Guest Leander Schaerlaecken, author, The Long Game - U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts. Related Links As the World Cup arrives in Seattle, so do the contradictions - Soundside Is it worth it to host the World Cup? It depends. - Soundside How Good Is This World Cup Squad, Really? - The New Yorker Leander Schaerlaecken's columns for The Guardian Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you like, what you hate: Tell us your hot takes. kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.

This case was seen as a test case for harsher enforcement by the Trump administration against protestors, and now there’s a verdict. Three anti-ICE protestors have been found guilty of federal conspiracy charges. The case had to do with a demonstration outside of the Spokane ICE office last June.  The protest was part of a wave of anti-immigration actions that popped up across the country. The day after the protest in Spokane, the Trump Administration started cracking down on immigration protests by instructing prosecutors to charge non-violent demonstrators with conspiracy.  So what happens now to these convicted protestors? And what does this mean for future political marches or demonstrations? Guest: Erin Sellers, reporter with RANGE Media, a media organization that covers the Inland Northwest. Related Links: Jury finds Spokane 3 protesters guilty of federal conspiracy charges - Range Media Inside the federal trial of 3 Spokane anti-ICE protesters - KUOW Conspiracy Trial Will Test Trump’s Aggressive Tactics Against Protesters - New York Times Six of the Spokane 9 accept plea deals - Range Media Prosecutors told to prioritize, publicize cases tied to Trump immigration protests - Reuters Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.

What do you think of when you see Mount Rainier?  Some of us think, "Oh wow, I can see Mount Rainier. Must be really clear out today. Pretty." Some people, though, look at its snow-capped peaks and see a challenge, a life goal -- something they may climb one day, braving cold and oxygen deprivation. To able to say they've done it.  And then there is Simon Kearns, who looks at Mount Rainier as something to absolutely dominate.  That's what he did in early May, when he set a new speed record for climbing Washington state’s tallest peak on foot. He traveled the nearly 9,000 vertical feet to the summit and back in three hours, 43 minutes and 52 seconds.  Kearns joined Soundside to talk about what it was like shattering the previous record by more than half an hour.  Guest: Simon Kearns, a mountain guide at RMI Expeditions. Related links: Mount Rainier climber sets new speed record | The Seattle Times Simon Kearns Smashes Mount Rainier FKT by Over 30 Minutes | Outside Magazine Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.

As many as 11 people are dead in Longview, Washington after a chemical tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Plant earlier this week.  Officials also confirmed yesterday that the Columbia River is contaminated due to the disaster.  Washington’s governor is calling this the deadliest industrial tragedy in the state’s modern history.  Guest:  Erik Neumann, the Southwest WA Bureau Chief for Oregon Public Broadcasting Related Links: Longview paper mill disaster could be ‘deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,’ governor says - OPB Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.

It’s the FINAL Thursday in May, meaning that we’re just mere MOMENTS away from the BEST WEEKEND OF YOUR LIFE, so far, this week. Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with more stuff than we can fit in a normal Weekend Warmup: LINKS: Bark! The Musical HONK! Fest West Mason County Forest Festival Glazer's PhotoFest Battle on the Bank Sally Ride: A New Opera About Queer Love and the First American Woman in Space Pollinator Fest 2026 Run to End Weekend Hunger 5K THE STUFF WE DIDN'T GET TO: Brandi Carlile - Echoes Through the Canyon 14th Annual Seattle Asian American Film Festival Trae Crowder at Emerald City Comedy Club Seattle Mariners vs Arizona D-Backs Stamp & Scrapbook EXPO Seattle Spring - Renegade Craft 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.

It’s a drug you see doctors on “The Pitt” give patients in the ER for pain relief or sedation.  It’s also what cast members on the reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” take to connect with their spouses.   And it's what some Americans use to treat their depression.  Ketamine has gotten negative press in the past few years, like in 2023, when “Friends” co-star Matthew Perry died from “the acute effects of ketamine.” We sat down with a doctor to learn more about this substance that’s showing up more and more in popular culture …and in Seattle, which is home to several ketamine clinics. This is part of our recurring “Ask a Doctor” segment, where we ask medical professionals to help us understand health news and trends.  Guest: Dr. Nathan Sackett, an assistant professor in the University of Washington School of Medicine and addiction psychiatrist Related links:  She Hoped Ketamine Would Rewire Her Brain. She Didn’t Live to See It Work. | WSJ Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry As ketamine clinics emerge in Seattle to treat mental illness, so does debate about safety and regulations | The Seattle Times Ketamine Use on the Rise in U.S. Adults; New Trends Emerge | UC San Diego Today Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.

In Spokane, an ongoing federal trial is raising questions about the Trump administration’s legal strategy regarding political protesters. Three people are charged with conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers during an anti-ICE protest last June.  They were part of a demonstration that was trying to stop ICE agents from moving two Venezuelan immigrants from the ICE office in Spokane to the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center. If convicted, each of the three could face up to six years in federal prison. It’s a test case for the use of conspiracy charges against protestors. The Trump administration has used the tactic several times recently in prosecutions of anti-ICE protestors.  Guest Erin Sellers, reporter at RANGE Media, a media organization covering the Inland Northwest Related Links All of RANGE Media's trial coverage - Erin Sellers,  Conspiracy Trial Will Test Trump’s Aggressive Tactics Against Protesters - Anna Griffin, The New York Times Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. Fill out our survey! We want to know what you want to hear, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. 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.  

This whole thing started because Sedro-Woolley high school teacher Linsey Kitchens saw the people in her life struggle with the Internet. Specifically, she saw them struggle with what to believe and how to engage their critical thinking skills. Whether that was a teenager in her classroom, convinced that if they bought a protein powder from their favorite influencer, it would make them stronger and more popular. Or the senior citizens in her life, who went down rabbit holes of conspiracy theories online. Or fell for online scams. So Kitchens became obsessed with teaching media literacy to people of all ages. She even won a fellowship at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public where she studied how teachers can incorporate media literacy into their classrooms. This past spring, she created a day-long event where teens and seniors could spend the day together, at what you might call a “giant skills swap.” The teenagers gave presentations about how AI scrapes information from reliable and unreliable sources.While the seniors gave presentations about animal rescue and how to fix a flat tire. But the event almost didn’t happen, because one of those groups was scared to engage with the other group. SoundSide’s Kyle Norris was at the event, called “Ageless Intelligence,” and has this story. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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 organization charged with managing the regional response to homelessness is facing an existential crisis. Some local elected leaders have called for the dissolution of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority after a damning forensic audit from consulting firm Clark Nuber released last month. The audit reported the agency has lost track of at least $8 million dollars, incurred $4 million of questionable administrative costs, and at one point operated with a negative cashflow of $44 million dollars. The review found the $200 million dollar agency, which started operations in 2021, didn’t have the necessary oversight, accounting practices or internal financial controls to handle large amounts of public money appropriately.   King County and the City of Seattle fund the bulk of KCRHA. Now, the city and county are at a decision point: reform the agency or shut it down. And that decision is likely to come this summer.  KCRHA released a corrective action plan on Friday that outlines steps the agency will take over the next 60 days in response to the audit.   Guest: Kelly Kinnison, CEO of King County Regional Homelessness Authority Relevant Links: KUOW: King County homelessness agency board votes to tighten purse strings following damning audit AXIOS: Seattle-area homelessness agency at risk after audit KCRHA Corrective Action Plan 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’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 Todd Bishop, editor and co-founder of Geekwire Related stories Meta cuts nearly 1,400 jobs in Seattle area, 20% of local workforce, in sweeping AI revamp - Geekwire Pope Leo Warns of Risks From A.I. in 42,300-Word Encyclical - NYT SpaceX is churning out 70 Starlink satellites a week in Redmond, and other tidbits from its IPO filing - Geekwire A viral video says booking a flight at a library is cheaper. We investigated. - Washington Post 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.

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. But we aren’t supposed to eat them. At least, that’s the current discourse around these foods, which can include soda, instant oatmeal and sliced bread.  Research has found that diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease and many cancers.  That's a hard pill to swallow, considering that roughly 70% of our grocery store products are ultra-processed, according to the Yale School of Public Health. So we want a little more clarity on what these foods are, how they could impact us and if it’s really so bad to snack on a granola bar (or order the occasional hot dog at a baseball game).  Guest: Dr. Neelendu Dey, a gastroenterologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and associate professor of gastroenterology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Related links:  Ultra-Processed Foods Information Sheet | Yale School of Public Health Ultra-processed food: Five things to know | Stanford Medicine News Center  What Are Ultra-Processed Foods? | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health 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.

What a week, right? But hey… We’ve got a long weekend ahead of us, and since Memorial Day is the unofficial start of Summer, it’s exciting to see that there’s… rain in the forecast for Monday.  Well, either way - rain or shine, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with a ton of fun stuff to do this weekend! LINKS: Inaugural Ballard Book Crawl Lost the Plot Mobile Books Bremerton by the Book Page 42 BookstoreSmut & Sips Book Recommendations thanks to @beckybooksandbeads! Trailhead Direct - Begins Saturday! Whidbey Ren Faire Festival | Northwest Folklife 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.

Black women face higher rates of uterine fibroids compared to white women. They’re less likely to get accurate diagnoses for endometriosis.  And they’re twice as likely to die from uterine cancer than white women.  Dr. Kemi Doll considers these disparities part of the evidence for a broader health crisis in gynecological care for Black women. Why hasn’t the medical community done more to address these problems? And how can patients and practitioners navigate a system that consistently overlooks Black women?  Doll's new book, "A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing,” works to answer those questions.  Guest: Dr. Kemi Doll, aprofessor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington and the author of "A Terrible Strength." Related links: A Terrible Strength by Kemi Doll | Penguin Random House  Spotlighting a common female cancer, and a health disparity - UW Medicine Newsroom Why Black women are at greater risk for fibroids and endometrial cancer | Scientific American Understanding the gynecological health crisis facing Black women | Science Friday 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’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 Jim Brunner, political reporter for The Seattle Times Related Links Duffy Defends Road Trip Reality Show In Tense Senate Hearing Foes of WA high-earners income tax launch repeal initiative Meet the Seattle woman behind a national effort to end same-sex marriage Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets his trophy — but for wrong award 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.

Sports superfans may seem to have been born bleeding their teams’ colors, but really, they’re created.  It happens around formative events: a buzzer-beating come-from-behind win, a once-in-a-generation athlete or a championship season.  This year probably saw a few Seattle uberfans get converted during the Seahawks’ dominating Superbowl performance.  Tonight, some more sports fanatics may be formed. Game 4 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League finals begins in a few hours, and new champions could be crowned.  Sadly, Seattle’s PWHL team, the Torrent, is not among those vying for the title. But the team still managed to capture its own share of superfans during their inaugural season. One of those is our producer Jason Burrows. If you’ve noticed that we mentioned the Torrent a lot this year, it’s because of him.  We decided to let him have one more go, talking about his new favorite team. We were more than a little surprised to learn how far he has fallen.  RELATED LINKS:  Seattle Torrent | Home | PWHL Season Ticket Memberships | Seattle Torrent Seattle Torrent • Instagram Gloves Off Seattle | Instagram 365 HOCKEY GIRL | Instagram 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.

Tacoma author Tamiko Nimura's father died when she was just 10 years old.  Among the things he left behind was an unpublished manuscript about his family’s incarceration at the Tule Lake camp for Japanese Americans.  Nimura ultimately made a pilgrimage to Tule Lake in 2014, to see where her father was forced to spend part of his childhood. She used her father's manuscript and her own experience to write a new book called “A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return to Tule Lake,” which is out now.  Guest Tamiko Nimura, author, “A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return to Tule Lake” Related Links Exploring Tamiko Nimura’s New Book “A Place For What We Lose” - Densho Nimura's event in Seattle on June 6th 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.  

In April 2024, the Everett School District launched a third-party investigation into a teacher at Henry M. Jackson High School over allegations of an inappropriate physical relationship with a student.  Later that year, the teacher resigned. Not long after, he voluntarily gave up his K-12 teaching license. That decision stopped further investigation and the gears of oversight meant to provide transparency about problem teachers. And the teacher soon got a faculty job at a nearby community college. Guests Moe Clark, investigative reporter for InvestigateWest Eliza Aronson, investigative reporter for The Daily Herald in Everett Related links InvestigateWest: An Everett teacher resigned over a relationship with a student. Shoreline Community College hired him months later. 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.

From high ticket prices to questions about how the games are used by authoritarian leaders to bolster nationalism, the World Cup coming to town raises questions about the organization running the event. FIFA has also been dogged by scandal over host country selection and TV marketing rights.  But, it's the World Cup – probably the biggest sporting event of all – and one that is so fun to watch.  So how do we relate to a game that is both beautiful and run by an entity as complicated as FIFA? Guest: Jules Boykoff, professor of Political Science at Pacific University and the author of the forthcoming book Red Card:The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine Relevant Links: Red Card: An excerpt from Jules Boykoff's new book on the 2026 FIFA World Cup Jules Boykoff’s ‘Kicking’ Is Clear-Eyed And Warm-Hearted ‘Green card for the planet’? Fifa’s World Cup is on pace to be a climate catastrophe 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’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:Melissa Santos - Axios Related Links: UW student Juniper Blessing, 19, remembered as ‘full of life’ Seattle weighs pause on large data centers An AI hate wave is here Five large data centers eyed for Seattle His daughter called him crying, and then another voice got on the phone. Only one of them was real 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.

Ben Shuldiner just hit 100 days in his role as the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.... and he’s had to tackle some pretty big issues in that short window.   Like a budget deficit, which could be as much as $100 million. And student safety, after two Rainier Beach High School students were shot and killed at a bus stop in January.  And screen time in the classrooms (Shuldiner recently implemented a new cell phone policy limiting student screen time during the school day) Shuldiner sat down for a live interview to answer a whole bunch of questions from us here on Soundside and from our listeners. Guest: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner  Related links:  Can new superintendent Shuldiner the burden of Seattle Public Schools? | KUOW 100 days for Seattle’s new superintendent. How is he doing? | The Seattle Times Seattle’s new superintendent takes aim at administrative bloat | The Seattle Times Why U.S. Test Scores Are in a ‘Generation-Long Decline’ | The New York Times 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.

It might not be the prettiest weekend, but there ARE a lot of things to do! Go enjoy your weekend! LINKS: Seattle International Film Festival GeekCraft Expo Viking Fest Seattle Pierogi Fest 2026 – Polish Home Association The Seattle Super Saunter U District Street Fair Mariners vs San Diego Padres Reign vs NJ/NY Gotham FC Sounders vs LA Galaxy Storm AWAY vs Indiana Fever 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.

If you’re planning to head across the border to Canada for a weekend trip this summer, you've got to pack the essentials. Keys, wallet and of course your phone. But you may want to also consider something new – who might want to take a look at that phone as you cross the border. Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16% increase in searches of digital devices compared to 2024. Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data? In February, Soundside broadcast a conversation with New York Times reporter Gabe Castro-Root and talked about some of those questions. GUEST:Gabe Castro-Root, New York Times RELATED LINKS:  Phone Searches at the Border Are Up: How to Protect Your Privacy Traveling to the U.S. Under Trump: Visas, Border Control and What to Know Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry 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.