State regulators are still investigating the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant to see what went wrong and whether the catastrophe that killed 11 workers in Longview could have been prevented. 

The investigation is expected to be concluded by the end of the year ans it’ll determine whether the facility could face penalties or even criminal charges. It will also likely face civil lawsuits on behalf of workers and families. 

Guest:

Vanessa Waldref, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington who is representing families and workers affected by the disaster.

Related links:

‘Something dramatically wrong’: Questions but few answers after Longview mill tragedy

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/pay-longview-workers-implosion

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.

 

State regulators are still investigating the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant to see what went wrong and whether the catastrophe that killed 11 workers in Longview could have been prevented.&nbsp;
The investigation is expected to be concluded by the end of the year ans it&rsquo;ll determine whether the facility could face penalties or even criminal charges. It will also likely face civil lawsuits on behalf of workers and families.&nbsp;
Guest:
Vanessa Waldref, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington who is representing families and workers affected by the disaster.
Related links:
<a href="https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/30/what-caused-longview-mill-chemical-plant-questions/">&lsquo;Something dramatically wrong&rsquo;: Questions but few answers after Longview mill tragedy</a>
<a href="https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/pay-longview-workers-implosion">https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/pay-longview-workers-implosion</a>
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 is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
&nbsp;

Soundside

State regulators are still investigating the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant to see what went wrong and whether the catastrophe that killed 11 workers in Longview could have been prevented. 

What justice might look like after the deadly implosion in Longview

Here on Soundside, we're covering Washington’s most competitive races ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election. 

Historically, one of the tightest in the state is the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington. This area includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County.

It’s one of the few swing districts left in the country. Voters there have gone for Trump, but they have also repeatedly chosen a Democrat to represent the district in the House.... over a Republican. 

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez currently holds the seat and is running for re-election. She faces a few challengers, like Brent Hennrich. He's campaigning to her left as a progressive alternative. 

Guest: Brent Hennrich, a progressive challenger running to represent Washington's 3rd Congressional District

Related links:
Minority Democrats in 20th District endorse progressive alternative for Congress | The Daily Chronicle
What’s fueling the far-left surge? ‘Democrats themselves hate the party’ | The Seattle Times
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez challenged from left, right, center | The Columbian

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 on Soundside, we're covering Washington&rsquo;s most competitive races ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election.&nbsp;
Historically, one of the tightest in the state is the 3rd Congressional District in Southwest Washington. This area includes Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties. It also covers a small part of Thurston County.
It&rsquo;s one of the few swing districts left in the country. Voters there have gone for Trump, but they have also repeatedly chosen a Democrat to represent the district in the House.... over a Republican.&nbsp;
Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez currently holds the seat and is running for re-election. She faces a few challengers, like Brent Hennrich. He's campaigning to her left as a progressive alternative.&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;Brent Hennrich, a progressive challenger running to represent Washington's 3rd Congressional District
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.chronline.com/stories/minority-democrats-in-20th-district-endorse-progressive-alternative-for-congress,404711">Minority Democrats in 20th District endorse progressive alternative for Congress | The Daily Chronicle</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/whats-fueling-the-far-left-surge-democrats-themselves-hate-the-party/">What&rsquo;s fueling the far-left surge? &lsquo;Democrats themselves hate the party&rsquo; | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/jul/18/rep-marie-gluesenkamp-perez-challenged-from-left-right-center/">Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez challenged from left, right, center | The Columbian</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.

Brent Hennrich is running as a progressive challenger to unseat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in the 3rd Congressional District, which is one of the most competitive races in Washington. 

 Primary Elections 2026: Brent Hennrich, candidate for Washington's 3rd Congressional District 

After a lull earlier this year, we’re seeing a surge of immigration arrests in recent weeks across the U.S. 
In the wake of two fatal shootings by ICE agents this month, the Trump administration has issued conflicting policies about how officers will conduct arrests.

Fears of detainment and deportation remain high among immigrants – especially in Washington’s agricultural communities.

The situation has pushed some undocumented immigrants to consider voluntarily leaving the United States. It’s an act the Trump administration calls “self deportation”.

A recent story by RANGE Media documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico – and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County’s farming community.

Guests:
Hal Bernton - an independent journalist based in Portland. He reported for the Seattle Times for over 20 years. 
Daisy Zavala Magaña - a reporter with Range Media

Related stories:
For a Yakima Valley farmworker, Trump’s immigration crackdown prompts a wrenching decision to self-deport - RANGE Media

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.

After a lull earlier this year, we&rsquo;re seeing a surge of immigration arrests in recent weeks across the U.S.&nbsp; In the wake of two fatal shootings by ICE agents this month, the Trump administration has issued conflicting policies about how officers will conduct arrests.
Fears of detainment and deportation remain high among immigrants &ndash; especially in Washington&rsquo;s agricultural communities.
The situation has pushed some undocumented immigrants to consider voluntarily leaving the United States. It&rsquo;s an act the Trump administration calls &ldquo;self deportation&rdquo;.
A <a href="https://www.rangemedia.co/yakima-valley-farmworker-self-deports/">recent story by RANGE Media </a>documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico &ndash; and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County&rsquo;s farming community.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Hal Bernton - an independent journalist based in Portland. He reported for the Seattle Times for over 20 years.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Daisy Zavala Maga&ntilde;a - a reporter with Range Media</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.rangemedia.co/yakima-valley-farmworker-self-deports/">For a Yakima Valley farmworker, Trump&rsquo;s immigration crackdown prompts a wrenching decision to self-deport - RANGE Media</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://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

A recent story by RANGE Media documented the journey of one orchard worker based in Sunnyside, Washington who chose to return to her home country of Mexico – and the impact immigration enforcement has had on Yakima County’s farming community.

Why one Yakima Valley farmworker decided to "self deport"

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: KUOW state government reporter, Sarah Mizes Tan

Related Links:
Trump again makes unverifiable claims of noncitizen voting
Appeals court allows USPS to move forward with Trump’s anti-mail voting order, for now
Could the agricultural city of Yakima go blue this year? WA Democrats are hopeful
What Seattleites and others had to say about ‘Jimothy’ the raccoon 

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: KUOW state government reporter, Sarah Mizes Tan
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-julio-rodriguez-unlikely-to-return-from-concussion-il-before-all-star-break/"></a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/us/politics/trump-again-makes-unfounded-claims-of-noncitizen-voting.html">Trump again makes unverifiable claims of noncitizen voting</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/appeals-court-allows-usps-to-move-forward-with-trumps-anti-mail-voting-order/">Appeals court allows USPS to move forward with Trump&rsquo;s anti-mail voting order, for now</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/2026-07-13/could-the-agricultural-city-of-yakima-go-blue-this-year-wa-democrats-are-hopeful">Could the agricultural city of Yakima go blue this year? WA Democrats are hopeful</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/what-seattleites-and-others-had-to-say-about-jimothy-the-raccoon/">What Seattleites and others had to say about &lsquo;Jimothy&rsquo; the raccoon </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://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
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.

What justice might look like after the deadly implosion in Longview

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