A festival celebrating the city’s only river won't happen this year. 

The organization hosting the Duwamish River Festival shut the August celebration down, due to concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in South Park, the neighborhood where the festival usually takes place. 

We talk about the decision with the head of the Duwamish River Community Coalition, the organization that usually runs the festival.

Guest

Paulina Lopez, executive director of the Duwamish River Community Coalition

Related links
Seattle festival canceled due to ICE concerns, The Seattle Times
Envisioning a cleaner Duwamish River in South Park, Soundside (2022)

A festival celebrating the city&rsquo;s only river won't happen this year.&nbsp;
The organization hosting the Duwamish River Festival shut the August celebration down, due to concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in South Park, the neighborhood where the festival usually takes place.&nbsp;
We talk about the decision with the head of the Duwamish River Community Coalition, the organization that usually runs the festival.
Guest
Paulina Lopez, executive director of the Duwamish River Community Coalition
Related links
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattles-duwamish-river-festival-canceled-due-to-ice-concerns/">Seattle festival canceled due to ICE concerns</a>, The Seattle Times</li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/envisioning-a-cleaner-duwamish-river-in-south-park">Envisioning a cleaner Duwamish River in South Park,</a> Soundside (2022)</li>
</ul>

Soundside

Amid aggressive ICE activity across the country, organizers canceled the August festival.

Why this year's Duwamish River Festival is canceled 

It's not a spoiler to say someone gets murdered in T Kira Madden's new book, "Whidbey." But what happens next? You'll have to read and find out.

Whidbey is expansive, detailed and visceral. It makes readers wonder about questions of justice, forgiveness, belief and unconditional love.

We talk with Madden about how the island inspired her new literary thriller. 

Guest

T Kira Madden, author of "Whidbey"

Related Links
Somebody Killed Her Assailant. Was Justice Served? - The New York Times

T Kira Madden Casts a Spell - Elle


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.

It's not a spoiler to say someone gets murdered in T Kira Madden's new book, "Whidbey." But what happens next? You'll have to read and find out.
Whidbey is expansive, detailed and visceral. It makes readers wonder about questions of justice, forgiveness, belief and unconditional love.
We talk with Madden about how the island inspired her new literary thriller.&nbsp; Guest
T Kira Madden, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/whidbey-a-novel-t-kira-madden/48258f7008b1c293">author of "Whidbey"</a> Related Links <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/books/review/whidbey-t-kira-madden.html">Somebody Killed Her Assailant. Was Justice Served?</a> -&nbsp;The New York Times
<a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a70679469/t-kira-madden-whidbey-interview-2026/">T Kira Madden Casts a Spell</a> - Elle
 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&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

T. Kira Madden's new novel challenges the reader to ask: Who gets believed?

A ferry ride and an unsettling offer launches us into the new novel, "Whidbey"

Last month, Olympia became the first city in Washington, and one of just a handful in the country, to pass explicit protections for polyamorous families.

The city passed two ordinances in late February that establish protections for people in diverse family and relationship structures. 

Supporters say the changes are aimed at protecting these community members against discrimination and unfair housing practices. 

Similar efforts are underway in multiple cities across the west coast. 

More than 60% of people who responded to a 2025 survey on non-monogamy said they experienced discrimination or stigma in at least one domain, like healthcare or employment. 

We spoke to an advocate who backed these ordinances -- and who's hoping to bring similar change to Seattle. 

Guests:
Jessa Davis is the executive director for the Seattle Coalition for Family and Relationship Equity

Related links:
First WA city with protections for polyamorous families | The Olympian
In the Northwest, polyamory finds something new: legal protection | The Seattle Times
Polyamorous protections moving ahead in Portland as council reaffirms LGBTQ safe harbor status | oregonlive.com
2025 Community Survey Report | OPEN (Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy)

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.

Last month, Olympia became the first city in Washington, and one of just a handful in the country, to pass explicit protections for polyamorous families.
The city passed two ordinances in late February that establish protections for people in diverse family and relationship structures.&nbsp;
Supporters say the changes are aimed at protecting these community members against discrimination and unfair housing practices.&nbsp;
Similar efforts are underway in multiple cities across the west coast.&nbsp;
More than 60% of people who responded to a 2025 survey on non-monogamy said they experienced discrimination or stigma in at least one domain, like healthcare or employment.&nbsp;
We spoke to an advocate who backed these ordinances -- and who's hoping to bring similar change to Seattle.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Jessa Davis is the executive director for the Seattle Coalition for Family and Relationship Equity</li>
</ul>
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article314855142.html">First WA city with protections for polyamorous families | The Olympian</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2026/02/portland-moves-to-extend-discrimination-protections-to-polyamorous-people.html"></a><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/in-the-northwest-polyamory-finds-something-new-legal-protection/?block=ebnightcap&amp;utm_source=marketingcloud&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Evening+Brief+03-02-26_3_2_2026&amp;utm_term=">In the Northwest, polyamory finds something new: legal protection | The Seattle Times</a><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2026/02/portland-moves-to-extend-discrimination-protections-to-polyamorous-people.html"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2026/02/portland-moves-to-extend-discrimination-protections-to-polyamorous-people.html">Polyamorous protections moving ahead in Portland as council reaffirms LGBTQ safe harbor status | oregonlive.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.open-love.org/blog/2025-community-survey-report">2025 Community Survey Report | OPEN (Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy)</a></li>
</ul>
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&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Olympia recently became the first city in Washington to pass explicit protections for polyamorous families. We sat down with someone who was involved in that effort.... and who hopes to bring a similar change to Seattle. 

The push to protect polyamorous families in the Puget Sound

Residents of Tehran were warned to stay indoors yesterday [SUN], as black smoke blanketed parts of the Iranian capital city. It comes after Israel attacked dozens of fuel depots in the city of 10 million people.  

The U.S. and Israel continued to launch airstrikes against Iran over the weekend.

And the conflict continues to impact many nations. Today, NATO member Turkey said it shot down a second Iranian missile. 

Closer to home: two men have been charged with attempting to support the Islamic state after they tried to set off homemade bombs at a far-right protest near Gracie Mansion, the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

None of the devices detonated.

Obviously, this continues to be a fast-moving situation. This morning, Congressman Adam Smith sat down with Soundside to share his thoughts on what’s been happening so far in Iran and across the globe.

Guest:


Adam Smith represents Washington's 9th congressional district and is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. 

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.

Residents of Tehran&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d08d89bb-89f5-41c2-9835-e3ac59b67cfa">were warned to stay indoors</a> yesterday [SUN], as black smoke <a href="https://time.com/7383099/iran-news-oil-strikes-tehran/">blanketed parts of the Iranian capital city</a>. It comes after Israel attacked dozens of fuel depots in the city of 10 million people.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The U.S. and Israel continued to launch airstrikes against Iran over the weekend.
And the conflict continues to impact many nations. Today, NATO member Turkey said it shot down a second Iranian missile.&nbsp;
Closer to home: two men have been <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/09/nyregion/gracie-mansion-bomb-investigation-nyc">charged </a>with attempting to support the Islamic state after they tried to set off homemade bombs at a far-right protest near Gracie Mansion, the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.&nbsp;
None of the devices detonated.
Obviously, this continues to be a fast-moving situation. This morning, Congressman Adam Smith sat down with Soundside to share his thoughts on what&rsquo;s been happening so far in Iran and across the globe.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
Adam Smith represents Washington's 9th congressional district and is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
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&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

This morning, Congressman Adam Smith sat down with Soundside to share his thoughts on what’s been happening so far in Iran and across the globe.

Why this year's Duwamish River Festival is canceled

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