Conversation

For almost 2 years the homeless camp known as Nickelsville has been located in West Seattle. Mayor Mike McGinn has not approved the camp but has said that he has no plan to evict the camp either. Well, the unsanctioned camp that is normally relatively quiet is causing a bit of a stir this last week.

For weeks you couldn’t seem to escape the word sequester and day by day the across-the-board spending cuts that went into effect are being felt. Most recently here in Washington state the closure of five airport control towers were announced, including the Tacoma Narrows Airport control tower. Ross Reynolds discussed the potential impacts of the closing of the Tacoma Narrows Airport tower with Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy.

Charles Mitchell was a teenage slave of  Washington’s surveyor general, James Tilton. In 1860, with the help of the West’s underground railroad, Charles Mitchell escaped to Victoria, British Columbia, and won his freedom. Public historian Lorraine McConaghy tells Ross Reynolds the story and discusses how she came to write her latest book, "Free Boy: A True Story of Slave and Master."

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of food allergies in the US has more than doubled over the past decade. The New York Times recently estimated that there are now about 5.9 million children in the United States with food allergies, not to mention another 2.3 million adults. So what’s new in food allergy research? Ross Reynolds talks with Dr. Dave Naimi, board certified in pediatrics and allergies and immunology. Dr. Naimi treats patients in the Everett branch of the Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center.

This week on The Conversation we've talked cleaning, community college, citizen of the year and more. Have you been paying attention? If so, be sure to tune in and take a stab at this week's Conversation News Quiz. 

Pop culture has served up many fantastic private investigators over the years: Sherlock Holmes, Magnum P.I. and Columbo just to name a few. What is it like to be a real life private investigator and how do you get started? Ross Reynolds talks with veteran private investigator Linda Montgomery about the fact and fiction of the mysterious profession. 

There are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants now in the US – around a quarter million here in Washington state. Unlike other parts of the country, the majority of immigrants in Washington are from Asian countries. Why aren’t Asian undocumented immigrants more visible in protests and in the press? Ross Reynolds talks with We Belong Together co-chair, Pramila Jayapal.

It's crunch time in Olympia but it's been crunch time in Olympia before. What are the chances that we will have a definite state budget before the end of the legislative session?

Ross Reynolds talks budget and politics with Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins.

The White House is now accepting nominations for the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal, which is awarded to US citizens who exemplify civic responsibility. In other words, they dedicate lots of time and effort to serving the needs of their fellow citizens and actively participate in the Democratic process.The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2013, but today Ross Reynolds hears who KUOW listeners would nominate.

While policymakers debate the government’s budget, the Brookings Institute, a private nonprofit research organization, decided to host their own brainstorming session. They asked experts from all different fields to submit ideas for responsible deficit reduction.

One expert, Harvard professor Joseph Aldy, drafted a proposal eliminating oil and gas tax subsidies. A move Aldy estimates would save the US government $41 billion over 10 years.