Have your friends been canceling on you because they’re sick? Coworkers on prolonged absence because your entire team came down with a bug? Feeling a sniffle yourself lately? 

This summer, The CDC says more than a dozen states across the US are seeing “very high” spikes  in COVID cases. But now that we’re a few years past the pandemic, what’s the responsible amount of time to stay home from work, avoid the grocery store, or get the latest booster? 

To help answer those questions and get the latest in covid-ettiquette, Soundside reached out to an expert.

GUEST:Dr. Amanda Casto - Infectious Disease Specialist with the University of Washington School of Medicine

RELATED LINKS: 
Most people don't care about COVID anymore. That's good — and bad. 
The Science Behind Why COVID-19 Tends to Spike During Summer Months

Have your friends been canceling on you because they’re sick? Coworkers on prolonged absence because your entire team came down with a bug? Feeling a sniffle yourself lately? 
This summer, The CDC says more than a dozen states across the US are seeing “very high” spikes  in COVID cases. But now that we’re a few years past the pandemic, what’s the responsible amount of time to stay home from work, avoid the grocery store, or get the latest booster? 
To help answer those questions and get the latest in covid-ettiquette, Soundside reached out to an expert.
GUEST: <a href="https://aid.uw.edu/people/faculty/infectious-diseases/Amanda-Casto">Dr. Amanda Casto</a> - Infectious Disease Specialist with the University of Washington School of Medicine
RELATED LINKS: 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-summer-surge-relaxed-precautions-masking-vaccines-doctors-2024-7">Most people don't care about COVID anymore. That's good — and bad. </a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.health.com/covid-surge-summer-2024-8686898#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20see%20a%20surge%20in,an%20increase%20in%20new%20infections.%E2%80%9D">The Science Behind Why COVID-19 Tends to Spike During Summer Months</a></li>
</ul>

Soundside

What to know about Covid and the Summer Surge

Across vast stretches of rural Washington, large boxy warehouses have popped up between fields of potatoes. They contain the humming infrastructure that the tech industry and users rely on to store documents in the cloud, access streaming videos, or perform internet searches. 

It’s easy to see why companies put data centers in this part of the state: cheap hydro electricity, available land, and a friendly legislature in Olympia that provides tax breaks.

But now, all those data centers are gobbling up electricity, which will only intensify with the growth of AI technology. 

And the growing demand is stretching the grid in rural counties, moving them farther away from green energy mandates from the state.  

Lulu Ramadan and Sydney Brownstone are reporters at the Seattle Times who looked into the effects of data centers on the electrical grid and rural communities in a two part series.

Guests:
Lulu Ramadan, investigative reporter at The Seattle Times and a distinguished fellow with ProPublica's Local Reporting Network
Sydney Brownstone, investigative reporter at The Seattle Times

Relevant Links:
Seattle Times: Data centers guzzle power, threatening WA’s clean energy push
Seattle Times: Data centers got a huge tax break to create WA jobs. Is it paying off?

Across vast stretches of rural Washington, large boxy warehouses have popped up between fields of potatoes. They contain the humming infrastructure that the tech industry and users rely on to store documents in the cloud, access streaming videos, or perform internet searches. 
It’s easy to see why companies put data centers in this part of the state: cheap hydro electricity, available land, and a friendly legislature in Olympia that provides tax breaks.
But now, all those data centers are gobbling up electricity, which will only intensify with the growth of AI technology. 
And the growing demand is stretching the grid in rural counties, moving them farther away from green energy mandates from the state.  
Lulu Ramadan and Sydney Brownstone are reporters at the Seattle Times<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/power-hungry-how-the-data-center-boom-drained-wa-of-hydropower/"> who looked into the effects of data centers on the electrical grid and rural communities in a two part series.</a>
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Lulu Ramadan, investigative reporter at The Seattle Times and a distinguished fellow with ProPublica's Local Reporting Network</li>
<li>Sydney Brownstone, investigative reporter at The Seattle Times</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li>Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/power-hungry-how-the-data-center-boom-drained-wa-of-hydropower/">Data centers guzzle power, threatening WA’s clean energy push</a></li>
<li>Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/data-centers-got-a-huge-tax-break-to-create-wa-jobs/">Data centers got a huge tax break to create WA jobs. Is it paying off?</a></li>
</ul>

Data centers put WA clean energy goals in jeopardy

Summer is in full swing with clogged hiking trails, packed ferries, and the smells of backyard barbeques. 

But while many of you might be visiting tourist towns in the Cascades or near a Puget Sound Island, one Washington tourist town has been struggling: Point Roberts, our favorite local exclave.

It’s a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides, and its fourth side borders Canada. Summers are usually the high points for Canadian tourists who flock to "The Point’s" beaches, or maybe they just want the cheaper gas. 

But since the pandemic closed down the border, traffic and tourism has struggled to rebound.

A lot’s been written about Point Roberts and its predicament. Soundside producer Alec Cowan wanted to know how locals see the situation. He took a trip across the border and back to see how this isolated town is dealing with the dip – and all the stories about its decline.

Guests: 
Brian Calder, president of the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce
Neil King, co-owner of Kora's Corner in Point Roberts
Emma Jones, Point Roberts local
Rick Hoole, Point Roberts local with the Bald Eagle Golf Club
Tracy Evans, Point Roberts local with the Bald Eagle Golf Club
Dave Duncan, manager at the International Market in Point Roberts

Related Links: 
KUOW - After two years of isolation, Point Roberts is open for business — sort of
KUOW - Ferry service boosted to U.S. exclave of Point Roberts, which is cut off by Canada

Summer is in full swing with clogged hiking trails, packed ferries, and the smells of backyard barbeques. 
But while many of you might be visiting tourist towns in the Cascades or near a Puget Sound Island, one Washington tourist town has been struggling: Point Roberts, our favorite local exclave.
It’s a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides, and its fourth side borders Canada. Summers are usually the high points for Canadian tourists who flock to "The Point’s" beaches, or maybe they just want the cheaper gas. 
But since the pandemic closed down the border, traffic and tourism has struggled to rebound.
A lot’s been written about Point Roberts and its predicament. Soundside producer Alec Cowan wanted to know how locals see the situation. He took a trip across the border and back to see how this isolated town is dealing with the dip – and all the stories about its decline.
Guests: 
<ul>
<li>Brian Calder, president of the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce</li>
<li>Neil King, co-owner of Kora's Corner in Point Roberts</li>
<li>Emma Jones, Point Roberts local</li>
<li>Rick Hoole, Point Roberts local with the Bald Eagle Golf Club</li>
<li>Tracy Evans, Point Roberts local with the Bald Eagle Golf Club</li>
<li>Dave Duncan, manager at the International Market in Point Roberts</li>
</ul>
Related Links: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/after-two-years-of-isolation-point-roberts-is-open-for-business-sort-of">KUOW - After two years of isolation, Point Roberts is open for business — sort of</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/ferry-service-boosted-to-u-s-enclave-of-point-roberts-which-is-cut-off-by-canada">KUOW - Ferry service boosted to U.S. exclave of Point Roberts, which is cut off by Canada</a></li>
</ul>

Community of Point Roberts divided as tourists are slow to return

Yesterday, thousands of Washingtonians dug through the pile of mail sitting on their hallway table. They found their primary ballot - maybe even their voter pamphlet - and took time to vote.

Congratulations to all who did. Wear that new “I voted” sticker with pride.

Because there were a lot of important things to consider in this year’s primary election: come January we’ll have a new Governor, a new Attorney General, and a new Commissioner of Public Lands, to name just a few of the big jobs up for grabs. 

Today, we’re going to figure out: what we know so far about how yesterday’s primary went, and what we're still waiting to learn.



Guests:
Former Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna
Democratic political consultant Cathy Allen

Relevant Links:
Washington Primary Election Results

Yesterday, thousands of Washingtonians dug through the pile of mail sitting on their hallway table. They found their primary ballot - maybe even their voter pamphlet - and took time to vote.
Congratulations to all who did. Wear that new “I voted” sticker with pride.
Because there were a lot of important things to consider in this year’s primary election: come January we’ll have a new Governor, a new Attorney General, and a new Commissioner of Public Lands, to name just a few of the big jobs up for grabs. 
Today, we’re going to figure out: what we know so far about how yesterday’s primary went, and what we're still waiting to learn.
 
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Former Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna</li>
<li>Democratic political consultant Cathy Allen</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/2024-washington-primary-election-results#Federal">Washington Primary Election Results</a></li>
</ul>

What to know about Covid and the Summer Surge

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