The Conversation Podcast

Are Sea-Tac Wages Fair? And Pilot Program Cuts Garbage Pickup In Half

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

Sea–Tac Wages Drop: Wages for workers at Sea–Tac airport have declined since 2005. They've gone from about $15 per hour to around $10, according to a new report by a pro–labor group. We talk to the author of the report, David Mendoza.

Pilot Program Cuts Garbage Pickup In Half: How would you handle having your garbage pickup cut in half? Some Seattle residents are about to find out. Seattle Public Utilities is running a test pilot this summer in some Seattle neighborhoods to test every–other–week trash collection. We speak with Carl Woestwin from Seattle Public Utilities for more.

Native American–Themed Mascots No Longer Allowed In Oregon Public Schools: Native American–themed sports mascots will no longer be allowed in Oregon public schools after a decision Thursday by Oregon's state Board of Education. Correspondent Colin Fogarty reports from Salem.

Chihuly Garden And Glass Opens At Seattle Center: The Seattle Center continues its 50th anniversary celebration on Monday with the opening ceremonies for a new exhibition devoted to Dale Chihuly's glass art. KUOW's Marcie Sillman got a sneak peek at the exhibit.

Paging Dr. Google

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

Around 6 in 10 American adults now use the Internet to get medical information. Is that a good idea? We'll get some guidance on how and how not use the Web to self–diagnose.

Best (Or Worst) Graduation Advice

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

This graduation season we hear from listeners about the best and worst graduation advice they got and gave.

New Information On The Penn Cove Oil Leakage, And Will Seattle Schools Allow Advertising?

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

New Information On The Penn Cove Oil Leakage: Last Saturday, a derelict fishing vessel caught fire and sank in Penn Cove and how much oil was leaked into the water may be much higher than previously reported. Environmental reporter Ashley Ahearn joins Ross Reynolds for an update.

Dow Constantine On Plans For New Sports Arena: King County Executive Dow Constantine gave more details on plans for a new Seattle sports arena yesterday. We hear Constantine's comments on the plan from his appearance on KUOW's "Weekday" earlier today.

Seattle Files Response On Police Reform To DOJ: Seattle officials say they have submitted their response to the US Department of Justice regarding police reform, after several days of rancorous accusations from both sides. Amy Radil reports on calls from community groups for an independent monitor to be brought in.

CDC Lowers Threshold For Lead Poisoning: The new standard from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nearly doubles the number of children considered to have lead poisoning. One out of 40 American kids has what's deemed a dangerous level of lead in their blood. KUOW's John Ryan reports.

Washington Candidates For Governor Cite Different Jobs Figures: Gubernatorial candidates Rob McKenna and Jay Inslee disagree on what figure to use for unemployment in the Evergreen state. Correspondent Austin Jenkins has the story.

New Proposal May Allow Ads In Seattle Schools: The Seattle School Board has introduced a proposal that would allow commercial advertising on school athletic fields, stadiums, scoreboards and calendars to pay for high school student government.

What Do You Think Of Plans For A New Sports Stadium?

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

What do you think of the memorandum of understanding to proceed with plans for a third sports stadium in Seattle's SODO neighborhood? Ross Reynolds talks about the project with involved community members and takes your calls.

John Irving On His New Novel: 'In One Person'

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

In his 13th novel "In One Person," John Irving tells the story of a bisexual man's life as a "sexual suspect," from his youth at a boys' school in the 1960s to old age in 2010. It's one of his most political novels yet. Ross Reynolds asks Irving about his newest book and 44–year career.

Sports Stadium Plans Continue, As Concerns Grow About How It Will Affect SODO

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

Sports Stadium Plans Continue, As Concerns Grow About How It Will Affect SODO: Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine just announced a memorandum of understanding to proceed on a new sports stadium for basketball and hockey in the SODO neighborhood. We hear from KUOW's Patricia Murphy about the new memorandum and Seattle Port Commission President Gael Tarleton about how it might affect the neighborhood.

Report Inconclusive On What Killed Orca L112: Scientists are still trying to pinpoint the cause of death for a young female orca that washed up near Long Beach, Wash., in February. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report today with details from the whale's necropsy. Ashley Ahearn reports.

Clean Up Continues At Penn Cove: It's been three days since an abandoned crab boat caught fire and then sank in Penn Cove off Whidbey Island. That's put a stop to shellfish harvesting, a big business in Penn Cove. The Coast Guard and clean–up crews have pumped more than 2,000 gallons of oil out of the sunken vessel. KUOW's Deborah Wang has the story.

Walk It Off: Urban sprawl has changed the way we live — we're driving more to places and walking less. But some cities are trying to change that. Des Moines received a federal grant to put more sidewalks and make street improvements to encourage people to walk more. The city is part of a national effort to reduce obesity in adults and children by making healthy choices an easy choice. KUOW's Ruby DeLuna reports.

Seattle Filmmaker Lynn Shelton On 'Your Sister's Sister'

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

Thursday is a big night for Lynn Shelton. The Seattle filmmaker's fourth feature, "Your Sister's Sister" opens the Seattle International Film Festival. We talk with Shelton about her filmmaking career, SIFF, and her newest film.

Here Comes The Pun

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

Did you hear about the Buddhist who went to the dentist but refused Novocain? He wanted to transcend dental medication.

Critics deride puns as the lowest form of humor. Punsters say that means puns must be the foundation of all humor. We'll speak with champion punsters John Pollock and Gary Hallock.

Resort Tax Exemption In Question, And Transgender Youth At Nova High School

webhelp@kuow.org (KUOW 94.9 Public Radio) — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:05:00 -0700

Great Wolf Resort — Tax Exemption In Question, Part 2: The Great Wolf resort's Washington location was considered tax exempt when it opened here because of a partnership with the Chehalis tribe. Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports on the internal state documents that question that tax–free status.

Nova High School Takes Steps To Include Transgender Teens: Nova High School in Seattle has a solution: gender–neutral bathrooms that anyone can use. KUOW's Ann Dornfeld reports on the many supports the school offers to kids who don't fit the usual gender mold.