Conversation

Over 5,000 children’s products contain toxic chemicals like lead or cadmium according to a list compiled by the Washington Toxic Coalition. Under Washington’s Children’s Safe Products Act, companies are required to report any use of 66 chemicals named in the act.

Ross Reynolds gets one perspective from Erika Schreder, Science Director of the Washington Toxics Coalition.

A student advisory group at the University of Washington says it's time for faculty to get raises after a 4-year wage freeze. But if state lawmakers don't fund a raise, the Provost’s Advisory Committee for Students would support a 3 percent tuition increase to pay for it. Evan Smith, who is the President of the Associated Students of the University of Washington, tells KUOW's Ross Reynolds why he supports a tuition increase.

Fire, air, water and earth; or as author Michael Pollan experienced it: barbeque, bread, braise and beer. In his latest book, “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation,” Pollan challenges himself to master the basic technologies that have allowed people to turn raw into cooked.  

The impetus of his journey was to highlight the possibility and importance of mastering the preparation of personal meals. His book explores the cultural shift of food responsibility from the home to corporation via packaged or prepared foods, and how this directly correlates with the rise in American obesity issues.

Ross Reynolds gets a preview of next week's special legislative session from Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins.

What is short and sweet and fun all over? This week's Conversation news quiz! Tune in and hear a listener play for the chance to be crowned the Conversationalist of the Week!

Mother’s Day is Sunday! Ross asks listeners about advice from their mothers.

Tomorrow is Amtrak’s National Train Day, a holiday that was started back in 2008 to celebrate US passenger trains. Here in Seattle, the King Street station was recently renovated with the help of funds from the federal government. But starting in October, the feds are cutting funding to Amtrak lines that are less than 750 miles long. The effects of the change will be felt here. Ross gets the details from Ron Pate of the state Transportation Department’s rail division.

We also hear from Sound Transit spokeswoman Kimberly Reason about the Sounder Train and Light Rail projects. Plus, Ross talks trains with Seattle Times economics columnist Jon Talton.

Dementia care expenses totaled $109 billion in 2010, more than either cancer or heart disease. The research, conducted by the RAND Corporation, predicts dementia costs and the number of people with dementia will more than double by 2040.

Ross sits down with Dr. Jim Leverenz, investigator at the University of Washington’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, to talk about how families can plan.

Washington State’s Developmental Disabilities Administration helps people with disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy and down syndrome find work. The DDA serves nearly 9,000 adults over the age of 21.

Ross Reynolds interviews Dr. Pat Brown, director of the University of Washington’s employment program. Ross also talks with Doug Wilson, a sales manager at Copiers Northwest, who employs people with developmental disabilities and Shawn Christensen, a man with cerebral palsy who works at Regal Cinemas in Renton.

Overall, the United States has more top-performing students than any other developed nation. That’s according to new research by the Economics Policy Institute. Our problem, however, is a massive education gap.

Ross talks with Professor Hal Salzman from Rutger’s School of Planning & Public Policy about why this is and what should be done.