Soundside

The last few weeks, Seattle commuters have been weathering I-5 maintenance on the Ship Canal Bridge. The traffic is bad, the timeline is long … yeah, it’s not fun.  Maybe this will help ease the frustration while you wait in traffic. It could be worse: we could need a whole new bridge. That’s the situation for the I-5 span over the Columbia River, at the border of Washington and Oregon. Parts of the crossing are over 100 years old, and local leaders have discussed a replacement for decades. Planning between Washington and Oregon started twenty years ago … the project hasn’t broken ground yet, and cost estimates have recently ballooned. But the I-5 bridge replacement got good news from the Coast Guard this month that could make it a tad less pricey. Guests:  Carley Francis, Interim Program Administrator for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program Related links:  Interstate Bridge Replacement Program Washington State Is Losing Control of the Columbia Interstate Bridge Replacement Megaproject » The Urbanist Coast Guard OKs new I-5 bridge over Columbia River without movable span • Washington State Standard 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.

We’re a week away from the start of the OLYMPICS! It’s the final week of January, and I’m amazed that it feels simultaneously like New Year’s Eve was just yesterday, but also that this month has felt like an entire year long. Let’s do something FUN this weekend! Here with all the stuff to do is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows!! LINKS: Washington Sportsmen's Show Tacoma Home + Garden Show Heated Rivalry Rave | Neumos sQuatch Fest + Galactic Fest 2026 For Your Consideration - SIFF The Chronology of Water - SIFF Battle of the Sound: Seattle Thunderbirds vs Everett Silvertips Tacoma Tattoo Expo 2026 Seattle Wedding Show Drag Queen Bingo - Chuck’s Hop Shop Seward Park 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.

Seattle’s new city attorney, Erika Evans has been on the job for a little over 3 weeks – one of several newly elected officials moving the city in a more progressive direction.    We’re discuss a range of topics - from drug laws and diversion, to federal immigration enforcement in the city.  And a quick reminder about the city attorney’s duties: They enforce Seattle’s laws, prosecute misdemeanor crimes and defend the city in court. Guest:  Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans Related storieS: Seattle doubles down on diversion — not charges — for public drug use - KUOW Ferguson, Brown pledge legal action if ICE violates WA residents’ rights - Seattle Times 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.

The Trump Administration might be dialing down some of its most confrontational immigration enforcement operations focused on the Twin Cities. Alex Pretti, a 37 year old VA nurse, was shot and killed on Saturday by Customs and Border Patrol agents. It was the second deadly shooting in one month by immigration officers in Minnesota.  Federal officials said Pretti “approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun.” Pretti did have a gun on him, which he was legally licensed to carry.  Video of the scene does not show him brandishing the weapon and he appeared to be disarmed before he was shot by CBP.  After several members of his administration spent the weekend defending the agents’ actions, President Trump on Monday relieved Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino of command duties in Minnesota and put border czar Tom Homan in charge. Governor Tim Walz said in a statement that he spoke with Homan this morning and they agreed to the need for “an ongoing dialogue.” Since the Pretti killing, some Republicans in congress have signaled rare criticism of the President’s policies. Some called for an  independent investigation and appear to be pushing to de-escalate the situation in Minnesota.  Meanwhile, there is a showdown in Congress this week over funding for DHS – fueled by outrage over the events in Minneapolis – and it’s all leading to a potential federal government shutdown looming on Friday. Guest:  Rep. Pramila Jayapal - U.S. Representative from Washington's 7th District Relevant Links: NPR: In the wake of Alex Pretti's death, Congress appears on track for a partial shutdown NPR: Tensions escalate in Minnesota after another killing 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.

Minnesota courts are reportedly overwhelmed by the number of civil rights lawsuits being filed by immigrants and observers interacting with ICE and CBP during “Operation Metro Surge.” Politico has documented more than 2,400 cases across the country, in which judges have rejected the administration’s detention policy.   Across our own state local police departments have put out statements about what they can and cannot do when ICE comes to their communities. In the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, many Police Departments were challenged to renew their focus on civil rights – to avoid the kinds of shootings, injuries, and lawsuits we see around ICE and Border Patrol right now.  According to reporting by The Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal, that’s led to a rift between federal agents and police officers, as they see ICE using tactics previously denigrated by the Justice Department in the wake of George Floyd.  But what are police officers able to do when confronting potential civil rights violations by federal agents? Guest: Tahir Duckett is the Executive Director of the Center for Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Law. The center runs the ABLE project, which teaches police how to intervene during civil rights violations by fellow law enforcement officers Related stories: Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project - Georgetown Law Police and ICE Agents Are on a Collision Course - The Atlantic Police Who Once Backed ICE’s Mission Are Losing Faith in Its Tactics - Wall Street Journal 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.

The federal government wants parents to breastfeed more.  In a press conference last month, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. argued that infant formula falls short in comparison to breast milk.  And in a strategy report published last September called “Make Our Children Healthy Again," the White House said it would “work to increase breastfeeding rates.”  In some corners, these initiatives and comments have ruffled feathers – with critics arguing the emphasis was tantamount to shaming women who can’t or choose not to breastfeed.  But they also got us thinking about the science behind the breast milk versus infant formula debate ….  and why it’s still so controversial when people have been feeding their babies since, well… forever.  Guests:  Janelle Guirguis-Blake, a practicing family physician in Tacoma and clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Related links:  The-MAHA-Strategy-WH.pdf RFK Jr. is investigating infant formula. Here’s what’s at stake | CNN Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children: A Systematic Review | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics HHS, FDA Announce Operation Stork Speed to Expand Options for Safe, Reliable, and Nutritious Infant Formula for American Families | FDA 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.

At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. Guest: Seattle Times reporter David Kroman Related stories: 'Not our America.' Washington state leaders condemn federal shootings in Minnesota - KUOW Super Bowl 60 is set and it's a rematch from 11 years ago: Patriots vs. Seahawks - KUOW 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.

You know what they say... where there's a weekend, there's a warmup.  And here with all the random stuff you can do this weekend is Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows! LINKS: Edible Books — Shorelake Arts GameSymphonic with Eímear Noone | Seattle Symphony Pacific NW Reptile & Exotic Animal Show Jet City Roller Derby 20th Anniversary Season Game 1 5th Annual Viking Beard Competition Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken - Fri 1/23 - 7pm New Jersey Devils at Seattle Kraken - Sun 1/25 - 12pm Seattle Torrent vs Vancouver Goldeneyes - Sun 1/25 - 3pm IN DENVER Seahawks NFC Championship Game - Seahawks vs LA Rams - Sun 1/25 - 3:30 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.

When you visit the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, you’ll see a red circular structure with a four-letter phrase written across the top: “This Is Native Land.”  It’s the name of the museum’s permanent exhibit that opened in October. The phrase is a reminder that you’ve probably seen many times... But don’t be lulled into thinking you’ll know what to expect. It has been given a new lens.  We went to Tacoma a few months ago to talk with the curators behind "This Is Native Land" about how the exhibit came together... and how it challenges the typical ways that museums portray Indigenous people.  Guests: Todd Clark, tribal liaison for the Washington State Historical Society and co-curator of “This Is Native Land.” Danica Sterud Miller, associate professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington Tacoma and co-curator of "This Is Native Land."  Related links This Is Native Land - Washington State Historical Society Washington State History Museum opens new exhibit, 'This is Native Land' | Puyallup Tribe ‘This is Native Land' explores Washington state history through contemporary art | KNKX Public Radio 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.

For over 30 years (since 1995) Ira Glass has been one of, if not THE voice of public radio.  His show, This American Life, has won Peabody awards, the first ever audio journalism Pulitzer. And it’s also shaped generations of listeners and audio makers. As an early adopter of podcasting (2006), the show was for many a first foray into digital listening. It spawned major hits like Serial, which led to a boom in documentary podcasting. But the world of audio has changed a lot in recent years.  Ira Glass shares his thoughts with Soundside. And he’s coming to the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham this weekend (Saturday, January 24th) to share some of his secrets: the show is called  “An Evening with Ira Glass: Seven Things I've Learned” Guest: Host and executive producer of This American Life, Ira Glass Related Links: Mount Baker Theatre Presents An Evening with Ira Glass: Seven Things I've Learned Ira Glass Explains Why I’m Listening to Podcasts Wrong | SubwayTakes Uncut - Youtube Ira Glass plays a nicer version of himself on the radio - NPR 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.

There’s not a lot of places like Seattle Center...Where else can you take in the opera, a professional hockey game, and an iconic tourist attraction (y’know, the pointy one with a disk on top,) plus a world-famous radio station, and Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning on a six story movie screen… all in the same place? The 13 square block campus draws over 10 million visitors each year, but supporters argue that the city has been taking Seattle Center for granted. The campus is scattered with aging buildings and creaky infrastructure… And it’s unclear where money to fix up the center will come from. In short, Seattle Center is in the middle of a crossroads. David Kroman reports for the Seattle Times. Along with Margo Vansynghel, he co-bylined a story about the issues facing Seattle Center and a proposed path forward. GUEST: David Kroman RELATED LINK: Seattle Center is fraying. Will the city pay to fix it? 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.

At the start of every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. Guest: KUOW reporter Casey Martin Related stories: ICE Arrest of a Citizen, Barely Dressed, Sows Fear in Twin Cities - NYT Seattle police directive clarifies officers’ role as ICE rumors rise - Seattle Times In act of ICE resistance, Seattleites make hundreds of ‘whistle kits’ - Seattle Times Mayor Wilson Announces Executive Orders to Accelerate Shelter and Improve Transit - Office of the Mayor A more clean and comfortable ride: Why Link is moving to vinyl seats - Sound Transit Seahawks had ‘right intent’ with 49ers ticket resale notice that upset fans - Seattle Times 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.

Seismic activity at sporting events is nothing new to Seattle fans.  Many of us remember Marshawn Lynch’s 2011 BEAST-QUAKE. Seahawks fans revel in Lumen Field’s reputation for noise when opposing teams are on offense…  Even T-Mobile Park has experienced its fair share of shaking. Earlier this year when the Mariners made it to the playoffs, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network was on site to measure the bone rattling when the M’s hit home runs. And this past weekend, they were at the 49ers game with a live stream where fans could keep tabs on how much shaking was going on... GUEST: Harold Tobin - Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and WA State Seismologist RELATED LINKS:  PNSN 2026 Seahawks vs 49ers PNSN - Seahawks on Instagram Seahawks fans’ roar over 49ers rivaled ‘Beast Quake,’ scientists say 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.

In recent years, Washington state has made two major policy changes to keep more birth families together. Since then, fewer kids in Washington have been taken from their birth families, especially infants. But over the same time period, more babies and children from families who’ve been investigated by child welfare workers have died. That’s why critics say those changes have made children less safe and should be reversed. Read the full story: Washington made it harder for CPS to separate families. Critics say kids are less safe 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.

How comfortable are you with AI in your news?  The Tacoma News Tribune, Tri-City Herald, Bellingham Herald, the Olympian. For over a century all of these local papers have brought in-depth reporting and local news to their communities. But new policies instituted by publisher McClatchy Media have left reporters at the papers worried that the company is adopting artificial intelligence tools for efficiency’s sake, at the cost of  accurate information. Union members from the Idaho and Washington State Newsguild, a group of five McClatchy owned papers in the region (that includes the four from WA and The Idaho Statesman), are demanding that the publisher change its policy on how it uses artificial intelligence to produce and collate content.   Guests: Kristine Sherred is the food reporter at the Tacoma News Tribune, and chair of the WA state newsguild   Links: To our readers: How we are using AI in our newsrooms - Miami Herald The McClatchy News Group Is Pushing AI. Their Union Is Pushing Back. - The Stranger   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.

Another week down, only... 50 left to go in 2026.  If you need a bit of distraction from your doom scrolling, we’ve got just the thing…  Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with local events you can check out over the next few days, plus some really great stuff coming up to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day… LINKS: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS vs San Francisco 49ers - Saturday 5pm Seattle Torrent vs Boston Fleet - Sun 7pm Seattle Kraken vs Pittsburgh Penguins - Mon 2pm Seattle Retro Fest Monster Jam | Tacoma Dome Fat Con Kidstock! 2026 | Edmonds Center for the Arts Follow the Yellow Brick Road: An Oz Film Festival 2026 Winterhop Brewfest MLK Day Events: Annual Community Celebration of MLK | Seattle Colleges - Fri 1/16 2026 MLK Day March & Celebration on January 17 - Parkways - Sat 1/17  26th Annual Expansions MLK Unity Party and Live Broadcast - Sun 1/18 MLK Celebration 2026 - Bainbridge Island Museum of Art - Sunday 1/18 Events | SCBHC - Everett, WA Sun 1/18 - Celebration + Mon 1/19 - March & Rally MLK Day — Seattle MLK Jr Organizing Coalition - Mon 1/19 NAAM | Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration 2026 - Mon 1/19 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.

The state’s general fund budget is in trouble, as is its transportation budget. Inflation, higher than expected costs, lower than anticipated revenues, state services scheduled to expand. If you listen to KUOW, you’re probably aware of why the state is facing budget shortfalls.  This next segment is about a bright spot in the state’s budget: the money generated from the cap and invest system. That’s part of the Climate Commitment Act which voters upheld in 2024.  Here’s how it works: The state sets a limited amount of emissions allowed each year by major companies that’s the cap. Companies that emit more than they’re supposed to have to buy an allowance in a state-run auction. The latest auction generated $394 million dollars. The money is supposed to go towards climate investments like air quality monitors, electric vehicle chargers, and public transportation projects.  But Governor Ferguson recently proposed using more than half billion dollars of that money to fund another program: The Working Families Tax Credit. It’s a refund that gives money back to low-and-medium income state residents.    Meanwhile, Republicans, perhaps seeing an opening with the governor’s proposal, want to use the money to offset utility costs for schools. Environmental groups are already pushing back against the Governor’s proposal.  The budget fight has come for this big pot of money and we’re going to hear two perspectives on this issue today.  Guests: Todd Myers, Vice President of Research at Washington Policy Center Reuven Carlyle, Founder of Earth Finance, former state senator, and architect of the Climate Commitment Act Relevant Links: Seattle Times: A budget ‘rat hole’? Political fight over WA climate money intensifies Washington State Standard: WA governor calls for tapping reserve fund and climate law cash to fill budget hole 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.

Tensions across the country remain high one week after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. The shooting has sparked nationwide protests, including in the Seattle area. Accounts of what happened have split along political lines. Since the shooting, the administration is doubling down on its immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. The number of federal immigration enforcement agents deployed to Minnesota is expected to reach 3,000 in the coming days, the largest operation in U.S. history, according to DHS.   U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal joined us to share her thoughts on the events that unfolded this past week.   Guests: Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th Congressional District.  Related links:  How 3,000 federal agents would compare to 10 largest Twin Cities police forces - The Minnesota Star Tribune New poll reveals voter sentiments on fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good - USA TODAY  Trump officials defend federal agents after ICE shooting - The Hill  Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump's Deadly Assault on Minnesota - Rep. Pramila Jayapal's Youtube page 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.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in two cases challenging state bans on trans athletes competing in girls' and women's sports.Twenty-seven states have bans on trans girls and women competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity.  But Washington passed a law in 2007 that protects trans athletes' participation in school sports. It was the first state to do so. For more than a decade, that law received very little attention. But in recent years, questions about fairness, the athletic advantages conferred by testosterone, and the sanctity of women’s sports have become fiery political issues.  And for the first time, a few trans athletes have won competitions, including Verónica Garcia, a runner from Spokane Valley.  In May, she repeated as the state 2A high school girls champion in the 400 meters. Last month, she was the subject of an extensive profile in the Washington Post that explored her life as she was finishing high school and competing in track and field for the last time Reporter Casey Parks followed Verónica for a year. We spoke to them both for almost two hours. This episode is the condensed version of that conversation.  Guests  Verónica García, college student and runner Casey Parks, reporter, The Washington Post Related Links For young transgender runner, racing wasn’t the hardest thing  - The Washington Post (Casey's piece) Heywood you sign this? Let's Go WA is working on two new initiatives - Soundside, KUOW WA Democrats won’t hold hearings on parental rights, trans athlete initiatives - Washington State Standard 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.

Doctors have long recommended regular cervical cancer screenings. Traditionally doctors perform these exams using a speculum, which often say is uncomfortable and, for many, quite painful.  Some recent developments could make a large number of these screenings easier. In early January, the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, updated its guidelines to say that self-administered tests are an acceptable way to screen for human papillomavirus. HPV is a sexually-transmitted disease that causes the majority of cervical cancer cases.  OB-GYNs are hopeful that at-home testing will make cervical cancer screenings  easier to access…. and significantly more comfortable.  Guests: Dr. Linda Eckert, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine Related links:  New Guidelines Endorse Self-Swab Alternative to Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer Testing - The New York Times Cervical Cancer Risk Factors | Cervical Cancer | CDC The FDA has approved an at-home HPV test. What you need to know : NPR 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.