Soundside

For 150 years, the United States government operated boarding schools that separated Native American children from their families and communities. The government's goal was to eradicate native languages and culture. At least 17 US Indian boarding schools existed in Washington State. A new report from the Department of Interior outlines the scale and impact of the government's effort. It identifies by name almost 19,000 native children who were sent to boarding schools across the US and roughly 1000 children who died in the boarding school system, including 60 in Washington State. While the report is among the first of its kind, native leaders are saying it's just a start towards understanding the impact of these schools. Deborah Parker, a citizen of the Tulalip tribes and Chief Executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, talks about where things stand in light of the new report. Guests: Deborah Parker, Chief Executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Relevant links: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/60-native-children-from-northwest-died-in-u-s-boarding-schools-among-nearly-1000-deaths-nationwide/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/us/politics/native-american-boarding-schools.html 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new show from Cascade PBS looks at the way artists in the Pacific Northwest incorporate their surroundings into drawings, tapestry, and pottery.  ‘Art by Northwest’ showcases local artists inspired by the landscapes and culture of their communities. Each episode explores the stories behind their work, reflecting the unique essence of the Pacific Northwest.  "What I hope for the series is that people see how artists are translating their landscape into their work," says host Brangien Davis. 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. Guest: Brangien Davis, host of Art by Northwest and Crosscut's arts and culture editor Relevant Links: Art by Northwest Episode 1 - Leaving the Loom: Tininha Silva Art by Northwest Episode 2 - Collaborating With Trees: Todd Horton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a lot of stories about the financial challenges facing schools right now: Seattle School District has a $100 million budget gap they need to close and they’re going to be shuttering schools to make ends meet.  Bellevue School District also closed schools to shore up its budget last year. Other districts are looking at million dollar shortfalls and considering school closures or ending programs.  But Marysville School District is facing a particularly challenging landscape. "They have a critically declining financial condition," said Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy. Her office reviews the finances of all 295 school districts in the state. Their report on Marysville’s finances made headlines when it was published last week. McCarthy compared Marysville's situation to Vader School District, which dissolved in 2007 because of severe financial problems. So what is going on at Marysville and how does it fit into the larger landscape of budget challenges at districts statewide?  Guest: Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab and a Research Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy Relevant Links: Washington State Standard: Why WA school budgets are getting tighter, and what can be done about it KUOW: Could Marysville schools have to close amid 'uniquely perilous' financial troubles?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two NASA astronauts named Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are currently stuck in space. The pair launched in the Boeing Starliner earlier this year.  Malfunctions have delayed their return from what was originally meant to be an 8 day trip to the International Space Station. Now, they may not be back on Earth until February. And – most galling for Boeing: They may have to hitch a ride with its competitor, SpaceX. So, what exactly happened with Boeing’s new spacecraft? And what will it take to get the Boeing Starliner back on Earth? Guests: Jim Hermanson, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington Dr. Wendy N. Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies  Relevant links: AP News: Could 2 NASA astronauts be stuck at the space station until next year? Here’s what to know The Conversation: Boeing’s Starliner launches toward the International Space Station − an important milestone for commercial spaceflight See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While ballots are still being counted, most of the races in last week’s primary election have been decided. But one contest in particular – the race to become the next Commissioner of Public Lands for Washington state – has become surprisingly close.  The Commissioner of Public Lands runs the state Department of Natural Resources – think forest and wildfire policy, along with issues like fish hatcheries and salmon restoration. As of last week, just a few thousand votes separated the two candidates fighting for the final spot in this November’s general election -- and even now, the race is a toss-up. For the latest, Soundside was joined by Seattle Times' Amanda Zhou and Isabella Breda. Both Zhou and Breda are reporters for the Seattle Times Climate Lab. Guests:  Amanda Zhou and Isabella Breda, Seattle Times staff reporters covering climate and the environment.  Related Links:  Democrat Upthegrove moves into No. 2 spot in WA lands commissioner primary | The Seattle Times Here’s where candidates for WA lands commissioner stand on key issues | The Seattle Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We wanted to round out today’s show by remembering a man described as the greatest music journalist Seattle ever had - Charles R. Cross. For over 40 years, Cross tracked the pulse of Seattle through its music. He was also known for his biographies of local rock legends: Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. Cross’ family confirmed in a statement that he died on Aug. 9 of natural causes at his home in Shoreline. He was 67.  Charles was also a regular guest on KUOW. .  Our last conversation was back in January. Charles invited me over to his house to pour over archives of The Rocket - the scrappy biweekly music magazine he owned and edited. The paper published from 1979 to 2000, and its writers were tastemakers for the whole music industry  during grunge’s dizzying heights in the ‘90s. When we sat down to talk, Cross had just announced that all 336 issues of The Rocket were available online, a painstaking process that exemplified the deep love he had for the journalism and artists who helped build Seattle culture .  Here’s that conversation. Guest: Seattle-based music journalist Charles R. Cross   Relevant Links: Variety: Charles R. Cross, Music Journalist Who Wrote Heralded Kurt Cobain Biography and Edited Seattle’s Alt-Weekly the Rocket, Dies at 67 The Seattle Times: Charles R. Cross, influential Seattle music journalist, dead at 67 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Primary election results continue to roll in. And sure, your head may have been turned by that flashy State Lands Commissioner race. But if you’re a Seattle resident, a very consequential city council contest should also be on your radar.     The at-large 8th district seat is up for grabs this November. The citywide position was formerly held by Teresa Mosqueda. Last year, she won a spot on the King County Council.  Tanya Woo, a business owner and community organizer in the Chinatown International District, was appointed to the vacated city council seat earlier this year.  She is now running to win that seat outright. But a progressive challenger Alexis Mercedes-Rinck had a dominant showing in last week’s primary. And she may be on track to make Woo’s stint on the council a short one. Guests: David Kroman, Seattle Times staff reporter covering Seattle City Hall Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Seattle incumbent’s lagging primary results signal warning for general Seattle Times: New Seattle City Council members sprint to catch up after slow start Seattle Times: Seattle council delays vote on social housing funding initiative See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.