For weeks, Seattle Public Schools families have been waiting for news about school closures. In May, the district announced plans to close 20 elementary schools to shore up its budget.

And that left parents, and students, wondering if their local school was on the chopping block. Last night was supposed to be the night they would learn which schools will close, but they’ll have to wait just a little longer to find out.

Guest:
Sami West, KUOW education reporter

Relevant Links: 
KUOW: Families won't know which Seattle schools may close until fall
KUOW: Will closing schools really balance the budget for Seattle Public Schools? Parents have their doubts

For weeks, Seattle Public Schools families have been waiting for news about school closures. In May, the district announced plans to close 20 elementary schools to shore up its budget. And that left parents, and students, wondering if their local school was on the chopping block. Last night was supposed to be the night they would learn which schools will close, but they’ll have to wait just a little longer to find out.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Sami West, KUOW education reporter</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links: 
<ul>
<li>KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-public-schools-will-have-to-wait-until-fall-to-learn-which-schools-will-close">Families won't know which Seattle schools may close until fall</a></li>
<li>KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/will-closing-schools-really-balance-the-budget-for-seattle-public-schools-parents-have-their-doubts">Will closing schools really balance the budget for Seattle Public Schools? Parents have their doubts</a></li>
</ul>

Soundside

Seattle delays decision on which schools will close

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: Cat Smith, KUOW politics editor 

Related links:
Public Safety Committee 4/28/2026 | Seattle Channel
Washington state says Geo Group refuses to let health inspectors into detention facility | KING 5
Behind Meta’s Huge Layoffs Is a Relentless Shift Toward AI | WSJ

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;Cat Smith, KUOW politics editor&nbsp;
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aASppjEKc8M">Public Safety Committee 4/28/2026 | Seattle Channel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.king5.com/article/local/associatedpress/washington-state-says-geo-group-refuses-to-let-health-inspectors-into-detention-facility/616-5673983a-4cd5-4878-a0d1-e198a188ad87">Washington state says Geo Group refuses to let health inspectors into detention facility | KING 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/behind-metas-huge-layoffs-is-a-relentless-shift-toward-ai-97d99b54?mod=WSJ_TJPOD">Behind Meta&rsquo;s Huge Layoffs Is a Relentless Shift Toward AI | WSJ</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: Tacoma ICE facility, AI tech layoffs, City Council on public drug use

A plethora of social media influencers and affordable, high-quality products means the quest for so-called “perfect skin” seems more attainable than ever.

Poreless, plump, unwrinkled, acne-free: Companies are ready to sell you something to make those attributes a reality for you.

But does anyone really need a 20-step skincare routine? And when do our efforts start to do us harm – either physically or mentally?

Guests

Dr. Sarah Sung, The Perq Dermatology

Arabelle Sicardi, beauty writer, author of You've Got Lipstick on Your Chin and The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry

Related Links

The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich - Amanda Mull, The Atlantic

The Classist Implications of ‘Bad Skin’ - Jaya Saxena, Racked


The House of Beauty: Arabelle Sicardi exposes the dark side of the industry- Dazed

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. 

A plethora of social media influencers and affordable, high-quality products means the quest for so-called &ldquo;perfect skin&rdquo; seems more attainable than ever. Poreless, plump, unwrinkled, acne-free: Companies are ready to sell you something to make those attributes a reality for you. But does anyone really need a 20-step skincare routine? And when do our efforts start to do us harm &ndash; either physically or mentally? Guests
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drsarahsung/">Dr. Sarah Sung</a>, The Perq Dermatology
Arabelle Sicardi, beauty writer, author of <a href="https://arabellesicardi.substack.com/">You've Got Lipstick on Your Chin</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-house-of-beauty-lessons-from-the-image-industry-arabelle-sicardi/51510cd8198e11f5">The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry</a> Related Links
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/skin-care-secret-wealth/579337/">The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich</a> - Amanda Mull, The Atlantic <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190322195347/https://www.racked.com/2018/4/12/17169846/bad-skin-classist">The Classist Implications of &lsquo;Bad Skin&rsquo;</a> - Jaya Saxena, Racked 
<a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/68934/1/the-house-of-beauty-arabelle-sicardi-exposes-the-dark-side-of-the-industry">The House of Beauty: Arabelle Sicardi exposes the dark side of the industry</a> - Dazed 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;

The way to get "perfect" skin for all? "An unbothered existence, universal healthcare and a billion dollars."

Ask A Doc: What is perfect skin, anyway? 

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. 

Seattle delays decision on which schools will close

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