Seattle Now

The Washington state legislative session is over… After just 60 days, 267 bills passed through the legislature and are headed for the Governor’s desk. And the so-called “millionaire’s tax” caused a stir every step of the way. KUOW State Government Reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan is here to talk about the tax, and what other bills made the cut. 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.

A roundup of breaking local headlines, from a juvenile arrest in the Rainier Beach killings to federal orders keeping a coal plant open. They cover heated political moves in Washington and a surprising surge in bridge costs. Scientists unravel the mystery of three transient orcas moving through busy Puget Sound waters.

Erin Shigaki, a Seattle artist who creates public work about Japanese American incarceration and social justice, joins to discuss her mural 'Never Again Is Now.' She talks about the mural's erasure controversy, the decision to permanently rededicate and protect the piece, and plans to expand interpretation and campus outreach. Short reflections on trust, vandalism risk, and using the work for teaching conclude the conversation.

A roundup of breaking local news from a military death linked to the Middle East conflict to state leaders signing new laws. Coverage of moves that could bring the NBA back to the city and changes to auto dealership rules. Reports on weather and snowpack, fishery management rollbacks, college sports seeding, a new anti-litter marmot mascot, and a beloved bagel shop suddenly closing.

Ryan Burns, President of Responsible AI Washington who advises on safe AI deployment, unpacks a DOL phone-line glitch that played English with a Spanish accent. He explores likely configuration and rollout failures. He lays out safeguards, monitoring steps, and why systemic fixes matter. The conversation also highlights accessibility risks for Spanish speakers and cautious uses of AI in public services.

Today, we’re bringing you the best from newsrooms around the PNW… First, computer science researchers at the University of Washington are testing if a phone app can accurately monitor a fetus' heart rate during pregnancy. Next, Washington State University’s Nuclear Science Center is ramping up research and training to meet the increasing need for energy. And finally, Oregon came within one day of announcing it was feral-swine free – and then another wild pig appeared. 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.

Snowfall snarls travel across the Cascades, Seattle’s community college district declares a financial emergency, and mystery orcas are spotted in the Salish Sea. 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.

This week… State legislators had a 24-hour marathon meeting to pass the "Millionaire's Tax.” Seattle might install some temporary public bathrooms ahead of the World Cup. And a local vegan restaurant sparked outrage by adding chicken and eggs to the menu. Arts reporter Jas Keimig and Seattle Met Food and Drink Editor Naomi Tomky are here to break down the week. Read Naomi’s piece on the best fries in Seattle here. 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.

King County immigration arrests increased 300% last year, negotiations stall for REI union efforts, and it's been the worst PNW ski season in years. 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.

Seattle has a Paralympic Nordic skier competing in Milan. When she’s not training for competitions, she’s working at Seattle Children’s Hospital as a nurse.  We’ll chat with Seattle's own Paralympian Erin Martin about what it takes to be great at para-Nordic skiing. Here's the Seattle Center pop-up performance application. 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.