Washington State University's MT James Entomological Collection is the largest insect museum in the state, it holds around three million specimens. 

In 2022, state legislators allocated $50,000 for the collection to digitize pollinators,  like bees, moths, flies, butterflies and other insects that carry pollen.

Adding the 30,000 pollinators in WSU’s collection to a digital database will open up collaboration for researchers worldwide.

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. 

Guests:
Elizabeth Murray, Telford Family Professor of Entomology and the director of the MT James Entomological Collection at Washington State University

Relevant Links:
Spokesman Review: WSU makes strides in digitalizing 3 million insect collection
M.T. James Entomological Collection website

Washington State University's MT James Entomological Collection is the largest insect museum in the state, it holds around three million specimens. 
In 2022, state legislators allocated $50,000 for the collection to digitize pollinators,  like bees, moths, flies, butterflies and other insects that carry pollen.
Adding the 30,000 pollinators in WSU’s collection to a digital database will open up collaboration for researchers worldwide.
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. 
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Elizabeth Murray, Telford Family Professor of Entomology and the director of the MT James Entomological Collection at Washington State University</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li>Spokesman Review: <a href="https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/aug/08/wsu-makes-strides-in-digitalizing-3-million-insect/">WSU makes strides in digitalizing 3 million insect collection</a></li>
<li><a href="https://museum.entomology.wsu.edu/">M.T. James Entomological Collection website</a></li>
</ul>

Soundside

WSU researchers are on a quest to digitize over 30,000 bees, butterflies and other pollinators

The Democratic party is riding the Good Vibes Express after its Chicago convention. 

And a look at polling averages gives them reason to celebrate: Since becoming the nominee, Vice President Harris has shaken up a relatively static presidential race: She’s now running slightly ahead of former President Trump nationwide. 

In swing states, she has pulled even in key areas of the sun belt like Georgia and North Carolina. 

Some analysts say you have a more concrete expression of the electorate’s mood coming from right here in Washington State. 

In fact, in the last several presidential and midterm elections, Washington state’s primary has developed a reputation as a reliable bellwether for the outcome of national general elections. 



Guest:


Armin Thomas is a political analyst at Split Ticket, a nonpartisan election analysis firm

Relevant Links:
A Very Detailed Examination Of The Washington Primary - Split Ticket

The Democratic party is riding the Good Vibes Express after its Chicago convention. 
And a look at polling averages gives them reason to celebrate: Since becoming the nominee, Vice President Harris has shaken up a relatively static presidential race: She’s now running <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/national/">slightly ahead</a> of former President Trump nationwide. 
In swing states, she has pulled even in key areas of the sun belt like Georgia and North Carolina. 
Some analysts say you have a more concrete expression of the electorate’s mood coming from right here in Washington State. In fact, in the last several presidential and midterm elections, Washington state’s primary has developed a reputation as a reliable bellwether for the outcome of national general elections. 
 
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
Armin Thomas is a political analyst at Split Ticket, a nonpartisan election analysis firm
</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://split-ticket.org/2024/08/22/a-very-detailed-examination-of-the-washington-primary/">A Very Detailed Examination Of The Washington Primary</a> - Split Ticket</li>
</ul>

Why Washington is a bellwether for the presidential election

Last year, the Yakima City Council made a landmark decision by passing a proclamation to designate the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride month. 

Less than a year later, the council voted to reverse that decision. 

The move was celebrated by far right religious leaders like Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk and Sean Feucht, who took to X to applaud the decision. 

And while pride celebrations defiantly went on in the city, it’s raised a lot of concerns about the ties between public officials and prominent Christian Nationalist figures. 

GUESTS: 
Mai Hoang - Central and Eastern Washington reporter for Cascade PBS.
Dominick Bonny - investigative journalist based in Wenatchee.

RELATED LINK: “Under God: How Christianity Permeates Yakima City Politics.”

Last year, the Yakima City Council made a landmark decision by passing a proclamation to designate the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride month. 
Less than a year later, the council voted to reverse that decision. 
The move was celebrated by far right religious leaders like Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk and Sean Feucht, who took to X to applaud the decision. 
And while pride celebrations defiantly went on in the city, it’s raised a lot of concerns about the ties between public officials and prominent Christian Nationalist figures. 
GUESTS: 
<ul>
<li>Mai Hoang - Central and Eastern Washington reporter for Cascade PBS.</li>
<li>Dominick Bonny - investigative journalist based in Wenatchee.</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINK: “<a href="https://www.cascadepbs.org/politics/2024/08/under-god-how-christianity-permeates-yakima-city-politics">Under God: How Christianity Permeates Yakima City Politics.</a>”

Christian Nationalism and its effect on Yakima city politics

MIDROLL

For many Washington students, and parents, the school year is just about to start - if it hasn’t already.

And they're not the only ones gearing up for the new year. Teachers and school staff are about to step into a new year with all sorts of new questions about how their respective school systems will be run.

So, we wanted to check in with a panel of education experts, to hear about how they’re preparing for both an incoming class  of students, and the realities of working in the Washington education system right now.

Guests:


Ibijoke Idowu, a special education teacher with Seattle Public Schools


Hilda Lail, Vancouver Public Schools Bilingual Family and Community Engagement Partnership Coordinator


Julianna Dauble, president of the Renton Education Association

Relevant Links:
Cell Phone and Smart Device Use in Schools - OSPI
SPS, city of Seattle announce safety plan before new school year - Seattle Times
Seattle school closures: Why almost every student would be affected - Seattle Times
More school resource officers coming to Renton - Kent Reporter

For many Washington students, and parents, the school year is just about to start - if it hasn’t already.
And they're not the only ones gearing up for the new year. Teachers and school staff are about to step into a new year with all sorts of new questions about how their respective school systems will be run.
So, we wanted to check in with a panel of education experts, to hear about how they’re preparing for both an incoming class  of students, and the realities of working in the Washington education system right now.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
Ibijoke Idowu, a special education teacher with Seattle Public Schools
</li>
<li>
Hilda Lail, Vancouver Public Schools Bilingual Family and Community Engagement Partnership Coordinator
</li>
<li>
Julianna Dauble, president of the Renton Education Association
</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2024-08/cell-phone-and-smart-device-use-schools.pdf">Cell Phone and Smart Device Use in Schools </a>- OSPI</li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/sps-and-city-announce-safety-plan-before-new-school-year/">SPS, city of Seattle announce safety plan before new school year</a> - Seattle Times</li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/seattle-school-closures-why-almost-every-student-would-be-affected/">Seattle school closures: Why almost every student would be affected</a> - Seattle Times</li>
<li><a href="https://www.kentreporter.com/northwest/more-school-resource-officers-coming-to-renton/">More school resource officers coming to Renton</a> - Kent Reporter</li>
</ul>

WSU researchers are on a quest to digitize over 30,000 bees, butterflies and other pollinators

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