We’re headed back to Washington’s 3rd Congressional District – which includes the southwest corner of the state, from Long Beach to Mount Adams, and from Yelm down to Vancouver.

It’s expected once again to be the site of one of the closest House races in the country – the Cook political report rates it as one of only 22 “tossup” contests in 2024.

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez flipped the seat in 2022 by a slim margin: she defeated Republican Joe Kent by roughly 2600 votes.

Kent is back vying for the seat, along with another Republican challenger:

GUEST: Leslie Lewallen, a city councilmember in Camas, WA and a former King County Deputy Prosecutor.

RELATED LINKS: 
Leslie Lewallen sets sights on Washington’s 3rd Congressional District seat - The Columbian
One of 2022's closest House races is primed for a rematch — with a fight over the GOP's future first - NBC
YVYV: Republican Leslie Lewallen running in Washington's Third Congressional District  - KATU TV

We’re headed back to Washington’s 3rd Congressional District – which includes the southwest corner of the state, from Long Beach to Mount Adams, and from Yelm down to Vancouver.
It’s expected once again to be the site of one of the closest House races in the country – the Cook political report rates it as one of only 22 “tossup” contests in 2024.
Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez flipped the seat in 2022 by a slim margin: she defeated Republican Joe Kent by roughly 2600 votes.
Kent is back vying for the seat, along with another Republican challenger:
GUEST: Leslie Lewallen, a city councilmember in Camas, WA and a former King County Deputy Prosecutor.
RELATED LINKS: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/nov/02/leslie-lewallen-sets-sights-on-washingtons-3rd-district-seat/">Leslie Lewallen sets sights on Washington’s 3rd Congressional District seat</a> - The Columbian</li>
<li><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/one-2022s-closest-house-races-primed-rematch-fight-gops-future-first-rcna147035">One of 2022's closest House races is primed for a rematch — with a fight over the GOP's future first</a> - NBC</li>
<li><a href="https://www.katu.com/news/local/yvyv-republican-leslie-lewallen-running-in-washingtons-third-congressional-district-joe-kent-marie-gluesenkamp-perez-clark-county-washington">YVYV: Republican Leslie Lewallen running in Washington's Third Congressional District</a>  - KATU TV</li>
</ul>

Soundside

The Race for District 3: Leslie Lewallen

There has been an onslaught of news in Seattle’s theater community. 

Earlier this year, Seattle Rep announced it was laying off the majority of its artistic staff. The non-profit theater’s subscription base is half of what it was before the pandemic.

And that isn’t the only change in the theater world: The 5TH Avenue Theatre is shutting down its new works program. ACT Theatre is exploring a merger with Seattle Shakespeare.

Now, to be clear, these aren’t the only theaters in town, there are many, many smaller theaters throughout King County, like Second Story Repertory in Redmond, and Green Lake’s Seattle Public Theater which has merged with Matcha Theatre Works.

But for major players like the Rep, 5TH Ave, Village Theatre, and ACT, the climb out of the pandemic has been tough.

Guests:
John Langs, Artistic Director of ACT Theatre
Sheila Daniels, Assistant Professor at Cornish College of the Arts
Aviona Rodriguez Brown, Associate Director of Engagement at 5TH Avenue Theatre and founder and CEO of ARB Consulting Arts.

Relevant Links: 
Seattle Times: Seattle Rep layoffs to include majority of its artistic staff 
Seattle Times: ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Company may merge soon 
Seattle Times: John Langs, artistic director of Seattle’s ACT Theatre, to step down 

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Seattle Theater Group merged with Matcha Theater Works; the organization that merged with Matcha Theater Works is called Seattle Public Theater. 

An earlier version of this podcast also stated that Seattle Rep and Seattle Children's Theatre merged. This overstates the recently announced partnership between these two theaters. Seattle Children's and Seattle Rep have instead combined forces on a few functionalities like box office, IT, and database administration.

There has been an onslaught of news in Seattle’s theater community. 
Earlier this year, Seattle Rep announced it was laying off the majority of its artistic staff. The non-profit theater’s subscription base is half of what it was before the pandemic.
And that isn’t the only change in the theater world: The 5TH Avenue Theatre is shutting down its new works program. ACT Theatre is exploring a merger with Seattle Shakespeare.
Now, to be clear, these aren’t the only theaters in town, there are many, many smaller theaters throughout King County, like Second Story Repertory in Redmond, and Green Lake’s Seattle Public Theater which has merged with Matcha Theatre Works.
But for major players like the Rep, 5TH Ave, Village Theatre, and ACT, the climb out of the pandemic has been tough.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://acttheatre.org/about/leadership/">John Langs</a>, Artistic Director of ACT Theatre</li>
<li><a href="https://www.cornish.edu/staff/sheila-daniels/">Sheila Daniels</a>, Assistant Professor at Cornish College of the Arts</li>
<li><a href="http://www.arbconsultingarts.org">Aviona Rodriguez Brown</a>, Associate Director of Engagement at 5TH Avenue Theatre and founder and CEO of ARB Consulting Arts.</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links: 
<ul>
<li>Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/theater/seattle-rep-layoffs-to-include-majority-of-its-artistic-staff/">Seattle Rep layoffs to include majority of its artistic staff </a></li>
<li>Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/theater/act-contemporary-theatre-and-seattle-shakespeare-company-may-soon-merge/">ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Company may merge soon </a></li>
<li>Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/theater/john-langs-artistic-director-of-seattles-act-theatre-to-step-down/">John Langs, artistic director of Seattle’s ACT Theatre, to step down </a></li>
</ul>
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Seattle Theater Group merged with Matcha Theater Works; the organization that merged with Matcha Theater Works is called Seattle Public Theater. 
An earlier version of this podcast also stated that Seattle Rep and Seattle Children's Theatre merged. This overstates the recently announced partnership between these two theaters. Seattle Children's and Seattle Rep have instead combined forces on a few functionalities like box office, IT, and database administration.

Amid mergers and layoffs, how is Seattle's theater scene doing?

August is right around the corner and that means schools are getting ready for the academic year.

While kids are hanging onto a few more weeks of summer, voters are getting ready to determine who will oversee Washington’s public schools. 

The incumbent, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, is facing some challengers in the primary on August 6. 

Guest:
Washington State Standard reporter Grace Deng

Relevant Links: 
Washington State Standard: Six quotes to sum up the second WA schools chief candidate debate

Ballot drop box locations

August is right around the corner and that means schools are getting ready for the academic year.
While kids are hanging onto a few more weeks of summer, voters are getting ready to determine who will oversee Washington’s public schools. 
The incumbent, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, is facing some challengers in the primary on August 6.  
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Washington State Standard reporter Grace Deng</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links: Washington State Standard: <a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/09/six-quotes-to-sum-up-the-second-wa-schools-chief-candidate-debate/">Six quotes to sum up the second WA schools chief candidate debate</a>
<a href="https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/return-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxes">Ballot drop box locations</a>

WA race for head of public schools is heating up

The scene opens on a dusty street. Weathered wooden buildings with false fronts line either side of the street, as two gunslingers line up at high noon.

A lone tumbleweed drifts across the street… which, actually, is the problem we’re here to discuss today. 

Tumbleweeds, also known as Russian thistle, are an invasive plant here in the United States. And for people in Central and Eastern Washington, they’re a nuisance that can clog roads and pose a potential fire hazard. 

So when reporter Anna King found that these invasive plants were being sold online as elegant decor – she was understandably curious about why. She joined Soundside to discuss her recent reporting on how tumbleweeds are managed, and how they spread so far.

Guests:
Anna King, reporter for the Northwest News Network covering Washington and Oregon mainly East of the Cascades.

Related Links:
Tumbleweeds sold for big bucks on popular home decor website causes chuckles in the Northwest - Northwest Public Broadcasting (nwpb.org)

The scene opens on a dusty street. Weathered wooden buildings with false fronts line either side of the street, as two gunslingers line up at high noon.
A lone tumbleweed drifts across the street… which, actually, is the problem we’re here to discuss today. 
Tumbleweeds, also known as Russian thistle, are an invasive plant here in the United States. And for people in Central and Eastern Washington, they’re a nuisance that can clog roads and pose a potential fire hazard. 
So when reporter Anna King found that these invasive plants were being sold online as elegant decor – she was understandably curious about why. She joined Soundside to discuss her recent reporting on how tumbleweeds are managed, and how they spread so far.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Anna King, reporter for the Northwest News Network covering Washington and Oregon mainly East of the Cascades.</li>
</ul>
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nwpb.org/2024/07/18/tumbleweeds-sold-for-big-bucks-on-poplar-home-decor-website-causes-chuckles-in-the-northwest/">Tumbleweeds sold for big bucks on popular home decor website causes chuckles in the Northwest - Northwest Public Broadcasting (nwpb.org)</a></li>
</ul>

The Race for District 3: Leslie Lewallen

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