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. 

Washington State Standard reporter Grace Deng is here to help break down the race. 

RELEVANT LINKS: https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/09/six-quotes-to-sum-up-the-second-wa-schools-chief-candidate-debate/

https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/return-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxes

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. 
Washington State Standard reporter Grace Deng is here to help break down the race. 
RELEVANT LINKS: <a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/09/six-quotes-to-sum-up-the-second-wa-schools-chief-candidate-debate/">https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/07/09/six-quotes-to-sum-up-the-second-wa-schools-chief-candidate-debate/</a>
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/return-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxes

Soundside

WA race for head of public schools is heating up

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. 

The Seattle Rep also merged with the Seattle Children’s Theatre to cut costs. 

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. 

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. 
The Seattle Rep also merged with the Seattle Children’s Theatre to cut costs. 
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.

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

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>

Tumbleweeds, a Northwest nuisance, are taking home decor by storm

For generations, native Chinook salmon have made their spring migration up the Columbia River…

But over the past few decades, as their population has dwindled, salmon have been overtaken by a non-native species of fish hailing from the East Coast - THE SHAD.

Shad runs now number in the millions, while just about 700 thousand native Chinook make the trip up the Columbia each year. 

What’s behind the rise of this East Coast interloper? Humans, of course. 

But the effects of Shad on the local ecosystem? Well, that’s a bit more complicated.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes to find out more about the "Chrome Tide."

GUEST: Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes

RELATED LINK:There’s a new top fish of the Columbia River — and it doesn’t mind the warm water | The Seattle Times

For generations, native Chinook salmon have made their spring migration up the Columbia River…
But over the past few decades, as their population has dwindled, salmon have been overtaken by a non-native species of fish hailing from the East Coast - THE SHAD.
Shad runs now number in the millions, while just about 700 thousand native Chinook make the trip up the Columbia each year. 
What’s behind the rise of this East Coast interloper? Humans, of course. 
But the effects of Shad on the local ecosystem? Well, that’s a bit more complicated.
Soundside host Libby Denkmann sat down with Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes to find out more about the "Chrome Tide."
GUEST: Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes
RELATED LINK: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/theres-a-new-top-fish-of-the-columbia-river-and-it-doesnt-mind-the-warm-water/">There’s a new top fish of the Columbia River — and it doesn’t mind the warm water | The Seattle Times</a>

WA race for head of public schools is heating up

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