On occasion, we welcome field recordists from the area to share a sound they think is exemplary of the Pacific Northwest. 

Today, we have a sound from frequent contributor Gordon Hempton aka the Sound Tracker

On occasion, we welcome field recordists from the area to share a sound they think is exemplary of the Pacific Northwest.&nbsp;
Today, we have a sound from frequent contributor Gordon Hempton aka <a href="https://soundtracker.com/">the Sound Tracker</a>

Soundside

On occasion, we welcome field recordists from the area to share a sound they think is exemplary of the Pacific Northwest.   Today, we have a sound from frequent contributor Gordon Hempton aka the Sound Tracker

Sounds of the Northwest: Pacific chorus frogs

This segment includes discussion about sexual assault.

Washington state’s Special Commitment Center sits on McNeil Island in the Puget Sound. It’s operated by the Washington Department of Health and Social Services and houses about 150 people who were detained or committed there – sometimes for decades – after they committed acts of sexual violence. 

It isn’t a criminal facility, but a civil one. There used to be a prison on the island but that closed in 2011.

Today, many of the people at the facility on McNeil have developmental or other disabilities. They’re supposed to be receiving sex offender treatment. Some lack the ability to understand that treatment or the implications of their actions.  

While the state keeps people on McNeil Island for fear they will re-offend, some people at the center have become victims of sexual assault while under state care. 

A recent investigation by the Seattle Times looked at so-called vulnerable adults at the Special Commitment Center and how the state decides who warrants protection when someone is both a perpetrator and victim. 

Guest:

Rebecca Moss, investigative reporter at the Seattle Times who writes about McNeil Island in a series called “Uncommitted”

Relevant Links:

The Seattle Times: For 23 years, WA has detained a man for a crime he can’t understand

The Seattle Times: Behind The Seattle Times’ investigation into McNeil Island abuses 

This segment includes discussion about sexual assault.
Washington state&rsquo;s Special Commitment Center sits on McNeil Island in the Puget Sound. It&rsquo;s operated by the Washington Department of Health and Social Services and houses about 150 people who were detained or committed there &ndash; sometimes for decades &ndash; after they committed acts of sexual violence.&nbsp;
It isn&rsquo;t a criminal facility, but a civil one. There used to be a prison on the island but that closed in 2011.
Today, many of the people at the facility on McNeil have developmental or other disabilities. They&rsquo;re supposed to be receiving sex offender treatment. Some lack the ability to understand that treatment or the implications of their actions. &nbsp;
While the state keeps people on McNeil Island for fear they will re-offend, some people at the center have become victims of sexual assault while under state care.&nbsp;
A recent investigation by the Seattle Times looked at so-called vulnerable adults at the Special Commitment Center and how the state decides who warrants protection when someone is both a perpetrator and victim.&nbsp;
Guest:
Rebecca Moss, investigative reporter at the Seattle Times who writes about McNeil Island in a series called &ldquo;Uncommitted&rdquo;
Relevant Links:
The Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/for-23-years-wa-has-detained-a-man-for-a-crime-he-cant-understand/">For 23 years, WA has detained a man for a crime he can&rsquo;t understand</a>
The Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/behind-the-seattle-times-investigation-into-mcneil-island-abuses/">Behind The Seattle Times&rsquo; investigation into McNeil Island abuses </a>

Today, many of the people at the facility on McNeil have developmental or other disabilities. They’re supposed to be receiving sex offender treatment. Some lack the ability to understand that treatment or the implications of their actions.  

Detained over reoffense concerns on McNeil Island, some face victimization

Andy Juris grew up on a wheat farm in Klickitat County, in southern Washington near the Oregon border, watching his dad and his grandpa work together on the farm. 

Andy is a fourth generation farmer – he understands the difficulties of the industry.

But he says, in the past few months, things have changed.

Andy’s farm machinery uses a lot of diesel, so, like everyone, he’s feeling the pain at the pump. Since the U.S. and Israel started their bombing campaign against Iran, and Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, diesel prices have hit record highs in Washington state.

More than diesel, though, he’s really worried about the global fertilizer supply – much of which comes through the Strait. 

Guests:


Andy Juris, a fourth-generation wheat farmer in Klickitat County, Washington
Randy Fortenbery, the Thomas Mick Endowed Chair in Small Grain Economics at Washington State University

Related stories:


Washington ranks last in farmer take-home pay in 2024 - Capital Press
Farmers see fertiliser price surge as Iran war blocks exports, threatening losses - Reuters

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.

Andy Juris grew up on a wheat farm in Klickitat County, in southern Washington near the Oregon border, watching his dad and his grandpa work together on the farm.&nbsp;
Andy is a fourth generation farmer &ndash; he understands the difficulties of the industry.
But he says, in the past few months, things have changed.
Andy&rsquo;s farm machinery uses a lot of diesel, so, like everyone, he&rsquo;s feeling the pain at the pump. Since the U.S. and Israel started their bombing campaign against Iran, and Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, diesel prices have hit record highs in Washington state.
More than diesel, though, he&rsquo;s really worried about the global fertilizer supply &ndash; much of which comes through the Strait.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
Andy Juris, a fourth-generation wheat farmer in Klickitat County, Washington
</li>
<li>Randy Fortenbery, the Thomas Mick Endowed Chair in Small Grain Economics at Washington State University</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://capitalpress.com/2025/12/04/washington-ranks-last-in-farmer-take-home-pay-in-2024/">Washington ranks last in farmer take-home pay in 2024 - Capital Press</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/iran-war-threatens-asia-fertiliser-supplies-ahead-planting-season-2026-03-05/">Farmers see fertiliser price surge as Iran war blocks exports, threatening losses - Reuters</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.

Since the U.S. and Israel started their bombing campaign against Iran, and Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, diesel prices have hit record highs in Washington state. And so have fertilizer prices.

"We tend to feel it first" - WA farmers are facing a fertilizer and fuel shock

This year we’re trading in our smartphones for corded landlines and dial-up internet! Right? 

Well, maybe not. But people have definitely been trying to use their phones less.

Digital cameras and refurbished iPods have gotten more popular in the past few years, especially in younger generations.  

And on TikTok there’s the trend of “analog bags” – people filling their bags with knitting sets, books and other screen-free activities to avoid the temptation of reaching for their phones.

All of that sounds nice. But at the end of the day it’s really hard to get away from our phones because they do everything for us! And those algorithms are so good at drawing us in. 

Meta and YouTube were recently found liable in a landmark case after a woman accused the companies of fueling her social media addiction, beginning when she was a child. 

But what’s it like, and how hard is it, to give up on digital convenience? We’re going to ask a couple of experts for tips on how to use our phones a little less. 

Guests:
Julianne Bell is a staff culture writer at The Stranger.
Jordan McMahon is a technology writer for The Strategist. He also writes a newsletter called “Rebooting.” 


 

Related links:
My So-Called Luddite Life | The Stranger
Rebooting | Jordan McMahon | Substack
What Is an Analog Bag? Inside the TikTok Trend Fighting Digital Burnout | Business Insider
Why people are buying iPods again | Axios 

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 year we&rsquo;re trading in our smartphones for corded landlines and dial-up internet! Right?&nbsp;
Well, maybe not. But people have definitely been trying to use their phones less.
Digital cameras and refurbished iPods have gotten more popular in the past few years, especially in younger generations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
And on TikTok there&rsquo;s the trend of &ldquo;analog bags&rdquo; &ndash; people filling their bags with knitting sets, books and other screen-free activities to avoid the temptation of reaching for their phones.
All of that sounds nice. But at the end of the day it&rsquo;s really hard to get away from our phones because they do everything for us! And those algorithms are so good at drawing us in.&nbsp;
Meta and YouTube were recently found liable in a landmark case after a woman accused the companies of fueling her social media addiction, beginning when she was a child.&nbsp;
But what&rsquo;s it like, and how hard is it, to give up on digital convenience? We&rsquo;re going to ask a couple of experts for tips on how to use our phones a little less.&nbsp; Guests:
<ul>
<li>Julianne Bell is a staff culture writer at The Stranger.</li>
<li>Jordan McMahon is a technology writer for The Strategist. He also writes a newsletter called &ldquo;Rebooting.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.thestranger.com/culture/my-so-called-luddite-life-80507166/">My So-Called Luddite Life | The Stranger</a></li>
<li><a href="https://rebooting.substack.com/">Rebooting | Jordan McMahon | Substack</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/analog-bags-tiktok-trend-replacing-screen-time-2025-11">What Is an Analog Bag? Inside the TikTok Trend Fighting Digital Burnout | Business Insider</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/21/ipods-music-genz-nostalgia">Why people are buying iPods again | Axios</a>&nbsp;</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.

It’s really hard to get away from our phones because... They do everything for us! A couple of experts give us tips on how we can cut back on our screen time.

Sounds of the Northwest: Pacific chorus frogs

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