17 large wildfires continue to burn across Washington state.

In Spokane, three major fires sparked on Saturday, collectively burning over 8,000 acres and 700 structures.

67,000 people are under evacuation orders.

KUOW reporter Paige Browning joined Soundside with the latest.

Guest:
KUOW reporter, newscaster, and Seattle Now host Paige Browning

Related stories:
More than 700 to 1,100 structures lost in three Spokane fires; officials searching for 14 people - Spokesman Review
‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’: Washington’s fire season off to roaring start - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

17 large wildfires continue to burn across Washington state.
In Spokane, three major fires sparked on Saturday, collectively burning over 8,000 acres and 700 structures.
67,000 people are under evacuation orders.
KUOW reporter Paige Browning joined Soundside with the latest.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>KUOW reporter, newscaster, and Seattle Now host Paige Browning</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/aug/03/between-700-and-1100-structures-lost-officials-sea/">More than 700 to 1,100 structures lost in three Spokane fires; officials searching for 14 people - Spokesman Review</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/2026-07-31/particularly-dangerous-situation-washingtons-fire-season-off-to-roaring-start">&lsquo;Particularly Dangerous Situation&rsquo;: Washington&rsquo;s fire season off to roaring start - KUOW</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

In Spokane, three major fires sparked on Saturday, collectively burning over 8,000 acres and 700 structures.

The latest on the Spokane wildfires

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 Carter, senior reporter on the law and justice team at The Seattle Times

Related Links:
Washington wildfires destroy homes, force thousands to evacuate | KUOW
Seattle mayor describes what she wants in new police chief | The Seattle Times
4 takeaways from Mayor Wilson after Seattle Center shooting, police chief's exit | KUOW
Man pinned by police at WA hospital died as doctor, nurses watched | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.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: Mike Carter, senior reporter on the law and justice team at The Seattle Times
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/npr-news/2026-08-03/washington-wildfires-destroy-homes-force-thousands-to-evacuate">Washington wildfires destroy homes, force thousands to evacuate | KUOW</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-mayor-describes-what-she-wants-in-new-police-chief/">Seattle mayor describes what she wants in new police chief | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/politics/2026-07-31/seattle-center-shooting-mayor-katie-wilson-police-chief-shon-barnes-exit-takeaways">4 takeaways from Mayor Wilson after Seattle Center shooting, police chief's exit | KUOW</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/man-pinned-by-police-at-wa-hospital-died-as-doctor-nurses-watched/">Man pinned by police at WA hospital died as doctor, nurses watched | The Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.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: Spokane wildfires, Seattle police chief resigns, man's death in a Federal Way hospital 

The future of Washington’s new “millionaires tax” is at stake this election season. And not JUST the ballot measure asking voters to weigh repealing the tax in November. The justices on the state Supreme Court will decide a separate legal challenge to that historic measure.  

In a highly unusual scenario: five of the court’s nine seats are up for election this fall. Tuesday’s primary will determine the candidates for FOUR of those races. 

Soundside's final look at the Washington State Primary Ballot takes a closer look at these four races for seats on the WA State Supreme Court.

GUEST:Jonathan Martin - Former Seattle Times editor who now writes for the Washington Observer. Also, The Cascadia Daily News recently announced he’ll be their new editor-in-chief starting in September.

RELATED LINKS: 
https://www.washingtonsupremecourt.org/ 
League of Women Voters of Washington - Supreme Court Candidates
Washington Supreme Court elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia  
The independent money comes out to play - WA Observer

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

The future of Washington&rsquo;s new &ldquo;millionaires tax&rdquo; is at stake this election season. And not&nbsp;JUST the ballot measure asking voters to weigh repealing the tax in November. The justices on the state Supreme Court will decide a separate legal challenge to that historic measure. &nbsp;
In a highly unusual scenario: five of the court&rsquo;s nine seats are up for election this fall. Tuesday&rsquo;s primary will determine the candidates for FOUR of those races.&nbsp;
Soundside's final look at the Washington State Primary Ballot takes a closer look at these four races for seats on the WA State Supreme Court.
GUEST: <a href="https://substack.com/@jonathanobserver">Jonathan Martin</a> - Former Seattle Times editor who now writes for the Washington Observer. Also, The Cascadia Daily News recently announced he&rsquo;ll be their new editor-in-chief starting in September.
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonsupremecourt.org/">https://www.washingtonsupremecourt.org/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://lwvwa.org/Supreme-Court-Candidates">League of Women Voters of Washington - Supreme Court Candidates</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Supreme_Court_elections,_2026">Washington Supreme Court elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia</a> &nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonobserver.substack.com/p/the-independent-money-comes-out-to">The independent money comes out to play</a> - WA Observer</li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a> Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Confused how to decide on state supreme court candidates? Here’s some help for WA primary voters. Four seats are on the ballot for the August Primary, with Soundside host Libby Denkmann breaking down each race with Washington Observer writer Jonathan Martin.

Washington’s Supreme Court could see big changes in 2026. Here are the candidates on your primary ballot

Here’s a number for you: 108,170. That is the number of times immigration enforcement has attempted to look up a Washington license plate number and been denied since November of last year. 

That number comes from the state and it’s one that Governor Bob Ferguson has been touting, citing the value of guarding resident’s data from the federal government. 

While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?  

Guest: 

Gustavo Sagrero, KUOW’s Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter

Relevant Links: 

KUOW: WA has blocked over 100,000 federal attempts to access license plate data 

KUOW: This Seattle-area mechanic offers free tows for vehicles left behind after ICE arrests

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Here&rsquo;s a number for you: 108,170. That is the number of times immigration enforcement has attempted to look up a Washington license plate number and been denied since November of last year.&nbsp;
That number comes from the state and it&rsquo;s one that Governor Bob Ferguson has been touting, citing the value of guarding resident&rsquo;s data from the federal government.&nbsp;
While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?&nbsp;&nbsp;
Guest: 
Gustavo Sagrero, KUOW&rsquo;s Race, Identity, and Immigration Reporter
Relevant Links:&nbsp;
KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/immigration/2026-07-24/wa-has-blocked-over-100-000-federal-attempts-to-access-license-plate-data">WA has blocked over 100,000 federal attempts to access license plate data&nbsp;</a>
KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/immigration/2026-07-23/this-seattle-area-mechanic-offers-free-tows-for-vehicles-left-behind-after-ice-arrests">This Seattle-area mechanic offers free tows for vehicles left behind after ICE arrests</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://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

While the number seems high, does it mean a difference in enforcement actions?  

The latest on the Spokane wildfires

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