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

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: Marcus Harrison Green, founder of the South Seattle Emerald and co-host of the podcast “In the Meanwhile." 

Related links:
Live updates: 3 dead in Seattle Center shooting; 1 suspect in custody as police search for another | KUOW
Live: Seattle police say third shooting suspect among deceased | 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: Marcus Harrison Green, founder of the South Seattle Emerald and co-host of the podcast &ldquo;In the Meanwhile."&nbsp;
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/live-updates/live-updates-multiple-victims-shot-at-seattle-center">Live updates: 3 dead in Seattle Center shooting; 1 suspect in custody as police search for another | KUOW</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/updates-on-seattle-center-shooting-victims-and-search-for-suspects/">Live: Seattle police say third shooting suspect among deceased | 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: Seattle Center shooting 

Wanna go see a movie? 

We could check out what’s playing at The Beacon…. Or  Majestic Bay… 

…. Or…. 

We could pop by the old QFC on 15th Avenue on Capitol Hill. 

That’s where a local community group has been hosting movie nights for the past few months. 

This QFC stands for the “Quality Film Club.” It convenes every other Thursday… in the Quality Flea Center. (You can see how they’re keeping the spirit of QFC alive). 

This club is just one of the many ways that its co-organizers are creating community. And all of it is facilitated by their access to this abandoned grocery store. 

Guest: Josh Okrent, a co-organizers of the Quality Film Club. He’s also the “Big Cheese” of the Punk Rock Flea Market.

Related links: 
The Quality Film Club: Capitol Hill’s newest movie theater is in an abandoned grocery store | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News
Two Seattle QFC Redevelopments Run Into Concerns Around Height and Parking | The Urbanist
Can the Punk Rock flea market save the soul of Seattle? | Seattle | The Guardian

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.

Wanna go see a movie?&nbsp;
We could check out what&rsquo;s playing at The Beacon&hellip;. Or&nbsp; Majestic Bay&hellip;&nbsp;
&hellip;. Or&hellip;.&nbsp;
We could pop by the old QFC on 15th Avenue on Capitol Hill.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s where a local community group has been hosting movie nights for the past few months.&nbsp;
This QFC stands for the &ldquo;Quality Film Club.&rdquo; It convenes every other Thursday&hellip; in the Quality Flea Center. (You can see how they&rsquo;re keeping the spirit of QFC alive).&nbsp;
This club is just one of the many ways that its co-organizers are creating community. And all of it is facilitated by their access to this abandoned grocery store.&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;Josh Okrent, a co-organizers of the Quality Film Club. He&rsquo;s also the &ldquo;Big Cheese&rdquo; of the Punk Rock Flea Market.
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2026/07/the-quality-film-club-capitol-hills-newest-movie-theater-is-in-an-abandoned-grocery-store/">The Quality Film Club: Capitol Hill&rsquo;s newest movie theater is in an abandoned grocery store | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/two-seattle-qfc-redevelopments-run-into-concerns-around-height-and-parking/">Two Seattle QFC Redevelopments Run Into Concerns Around Height and Parking | The Urbanist</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/12/seattle-punk-rock-flea-market">Can the Punk Rock flea market save the soul of Seattle? | Seattle | The Guardian</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.

The "Quality Film Club" is just one of many ways that co-organizers are creating community in an old grocery store on Capitol Hill. 

How this empty QFC became a hub for punk rock, movie lovers and more 

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan has hit a snag. 

The plan is the set of zoning changes that plans the city’s future growth – the current one in the works outlines a lot more housing density in the city. State law requires such a plan be in place, but Seattle’s has been delayed by administrative appeals from two groups.  

On Wednesday, we spoke with Seattle councilmember Eddie Lin about his proposal to eliminate one of the paths people have to appeal the plan under the State Environmental Policy Act. Jennifer Godfrey filed one of the appeals currently delaying implementation, and formed the group Orca Nexus, which is advocating for more environmental review of Seattle’s zoning changes. 

They claim the Comprehensive Plan’s Environmental Impact Statement did not fully evaluate the environmental impact of greater housing density on trees and runoff. They say removing trees will increase pollutants that could harm humans, salmon and especially endangered Southern Resident killer whales. 

Guest:

Jennifer Godfrey 

Related Links: 
Conservation Groups Join Push Against Seattle Growth Plan
This change will let Seattle address climate change, housing shortage
Seattle Poised to Remove SEPA Review Hurdle for Most Housing Projects
Residents and activists clash over plan to curb SEPA appeals at Seattle hearing

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.

Seattle&rsquo;s Comprehensive Plan has hit a snag.&nbsp;
The plan is the set of zoning changes that plans the city&rsquo;s future growth &ndash; the current one in the works outlines a lot more housing density in the city. State law requires such a plan be in place, but Seattle&rsquo;s has been delayed by administrative appeals from two groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On Wednesday, we spoke with Seattle councilmember Eddie Lin about his proposal to eliminate one of the paths people have to appeal the plan under the State Environmental Policy Act. Jennifer Godfrey filed one of the appeals currently delaying implementation, and formed the group Orca Nexus, which is advocating for more environmental review of Seattle&rsquo;s zoning changes.&nbsp;
They claim the Comprehensive Plan&rsquo;s Environmental Impact Statement did not fully evaluate the environmental impact of greater housing density on trees and runoff. They say removing trees will increase pollutants that could harm humans, salmon and especially endangered Southern Resident killer whales.&nbsp;
Guest:
Jennifer Godfrey&nbsp;
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/conservation-groups-join-push-against-seattle-growth-plan/">Conservation Groups Join Push Against Seattle Growth Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/this-change-will-let-seattle-address-climate-change-housing-shortage/">This change will let Seattle address climate change, housing shortage</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/seattle-poised-to-remove-sepa-review-hurdle-for-most-housing-projects/">Seattle Poised to Remove SEPA Review Hurdle for Most Housing Projects</a></li>
<li><a href="https://komonews.com/news/local/residents-and-activists-clash-over-plan-to-curb-sepa-appeals-at-seattle-hearing-state-environmental-policy-act-city-council-action">Residents and activists clash over plan to curb SEPA appeals at Seattle hearing</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!&nbsp;If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<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.

Housing is complicated, and residents care about it! Soundside heard from Jennifer Godfrey, who has filed an appeal which has delayed the city's implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.

What justice might look like after the deadly implosion in Longview

Soundside

In 1 playlist(s)

Soundside

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips