Seattle Now

This week… Washington was rocked by what Governor Bob Ferguson is calling “one of the worst natural disasters in state history.” But luckily, people are stepping up to help. A West Seattle holiday light display is back on track after being knocked out by last year’s bomb cyclone. And the Stranger’s December issue is full of complaints about Seattle - we have some ideas. Film Critic Chase Hutchinson and Seattle Now Producer Vaughan Jones are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flu season has arrived in WA, local farmers overwhelmed with flood damage, and Gov. Ferguson signs an executive order on housing. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, KUOW field reporter Casey Martin shares insights on the extensive flooding in Western Washington. With firsthand accounts from affected residents, he discusses harrowing evacuation stories, including a dramatic kayak rescue. Casey describes the challenges faced, such as failed levees and damaged infrastructure, while highlighting community efforts to support each other during this crisis. He also touches on the response from the National Guard and the need for long-term solutions as recovery from the floods may extend into 2026.

King County crews working to shore up damaged levees, Highway 2 closure has Leavenworth businesses worried about tourism, and Rep. Dan Newhouse to retire. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas Works Park is a national landmark.  But it comes with danger– several people have been injured or killed climbing its towers.  Like 15-year-old Mattheis Johnson, who fell to his death while climbing this summer. A new lawsuit filed by the teen’s family is the latest effort to challenge the resistance to any changes to the structures.  We’ll hear more from New York Times Pacific Northwest Bureau Chief Anna Griffin. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First death reported in WA flooding, Highway 2 could be closed for several months, and the UW Men's soccer team wins their first national championship. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the UW, hundreds apply each year for the astronomy department’s graduate program, and a maximum of seven are accepted. But for the next year, they won’t be accepting any graduate students, due to state and federal funding cuts. To learn about the impact, we talk with UW astronomy professor Emily Levesque, who's author of the book "The Last Stargazers." We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Desimone Levee failed today, the next atmospheric river will bring more snow than rain, and Washington is suing the Trump administration over an H1B visa policy. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The damage from last week's flooding is catastrophic. Thousands of people have been displaced and are unsure of what remains.  For Washington farmers, water and rivers are essential. But uncontrolled, water can also quickly destroy much of their hard work. We’ll hear more about the flood’s effect on Washington’s small farms. Correction: This episode includes information from the Washington State Insurance Commissioner's Office stating that FEMA's declaration of emergency allows individuals / households affected by floods to apply for federal funds to make repairs or pay for temporary housing. According to a FEMA spokesperson, this declaration does not allow for that funding. Rather, "FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency." Patricia Murphy's winter vegetable recipe suggestion. She says you can just add beets. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re bringing you the best from another KUOW show, Soundside. A disturbing image shared by Senator Patty Murray has been reverberating across the internet… It shows a man’s torso, his right side covered in wounds - lacerations, scratch marks, bite marks - after he was mauled by an immigration agent’s canine. Blood splatters the sheets below him. The man, Wilmer Toledo-Martinez of Vancouver, Washington, was detained outside his home last month by federal agents.  Senator Murray and Wilmer’s family are calling for his release – and calling out the violent treatment he received at the hands of immigration officers. Soundside’s Libby Denkmann spoke to Toledo-Martinez’s attorney, Olia Catala. Listen to more Soundside interviews here. The Soundside team includes Sarah Leibovitz, Jason Burrows, Hans Anderson, Gabrielle Healy, Maleeha Syed, and Jed Kim. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.