Weekday

  Canada, Culture And Commerce
Vancouver Sun political correspondent Vaughn Palmer brings us the latest news about the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. Then, the craft of filmmaking is celebrated during the Seattle International Film Festival.  “Professor” Fred Hopkins celebrates film every day of his life with one catch: He loves the bad movies best.  Hopkins selects the five worst movies of all time, and explains why you should watch them.  Then, Jon Talton talks about China's expanding economic reach and marks the four year anniversary of the end of the recession.

What’s The Fate Of The M’s Leadership?
Five years ago, Seattle Mariners’ General Manager Jack Zduriencik was hired to completely revamp a struggling franchise. Half a decade on, progress has been hard to find. The team is sitting near the bottom of their division. They’ve scored the second fewest runs in the American League. And their core of young hitters has been a huge disappointment. Weekday discusses the future of the Mariners with help from Larry Stone, who covers major league baseball for The Seattle Times.

Khaled Hosseini: "And The Mountains Echoed"
In 2003, Afghan-born author Khaled Hosseini set the literary world ablaze with his best-selling novel “The Kite Runner.” Along with his 2007 follow-up “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” Hosseini has sold more than 38 million books around the world. His latest novel, “And The Mountains Echoed,” which spans six decades and several continents, tells the story of an Afghan family torn apart by time and distance. Told from the perspective of many characters, the sprawling narrative delves deep into what it means to be bonded by family.

 State To Seattle Public Schools: Fix Problems In Special Ed
Seattle Public Schools receive $11 million per year from the federal government designated for special education. The district is now in a danger of losing that money if they don’t fix a number of problems identified by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The mandate came down last week. Where is Seattle Public Schools’ special ed program falling short? And what solutions are the state proposing? We’ll get some answers this morning from education reporter Ann Dornfeld.

The Interfaith Amigos On Religious Practices That Could Benefit The Non-Religious
Many people in our region are religious, and many are not. The Interfaith Amigos share the teachings, meditations and practices from their religious traditions that would be a positive addition to all of our lives, even the non-religious.

Greendays Gardening Panel
Our gardening panel includes a flower expert, native plant expert and vegetable gardening expert. They answer your gardening questions every Tuesday.   

 Snohomish County's New Executive
Former Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick has been sworn in as the new Snohomish County Executive. He replaces former executive Aaron Reardon who left the office amid a series of scandals. Lovick said he hopes to “change the tone and tenor of county government” in his term. He talks about the challenges and opportunity awaiting him as Snohomish County Executive.

New Music Recommendation
Are you stuck in a music listening rut?  We are surrounded by new music and innovative artists.  Branch out! Ma'Chell Duma LaVassar shares thoughts on the women of Northwest music, past and present. 
     
Elwha: River Reborn, A Conversation With Lynda Mapes
After decades of debate, the two dams on the Elwha River are down.  Scientists are watching to see if the traditional salmon runs return and how that will impact the ecosystem near this river on the Olympic Peninsula.  Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes has followed this story.  Her new book, “Elwha: River Reborn,” chronicles the history, the controversy and the aftermath of the dam removal.

The Weather And Hike Of The Week
Michael Fagin suggests a hike that matches the week’s weather forecast.

If you are looking for a good biography to read, Nancy Pearl recommended a few on Weekday with Marcie Sillman.

Book commentator Nancy Pearl recommends her favorite biographies: David McCullough's "Mornings on Horseback," Robert Massie's "Catherine the Great," and Robert Caro's "The Years of Lyndon Johnson."

This Week In Olympia
The state legislature begins week four of the special session today. Everett Herald reporter Jerry Cornfield joins us with a  look at what to expect.

An Interview With Actor Kyle MacLachlan
“Who Killed Laura Palmer?” You may remember that phrase from the 1990 TV show "Twin Peaks" – which was set and filmed here in the Northwest. The short-lived series was a cultural phenomenon during its two year run – due in part to eccentric FBI agent Dale Cooper, played memorably by Yakima-native Kyle MacLachlan. In the 1980s, MacLachlan began his career starring in the David Lynch films "Dune" and "Blue Velvet." His other credits include "The Doors," "Showgirls," "Sex and the City" and "Desperate Housewives." More recently, he’s portrayed the mayor of Portland, in the sketch comedy series "Portlandia."

"The Boys In The Boat" Author Daniel James Brown
In 1936, as the US was starting to recover from the Great Depression, a group of University of Washington students won the right to represent the country at the Berlin Olympic Games. The story of how the Husky varsity crew team beat the competition and took home a gold medal has become legend in rowing circles.  Writer Daniel James Brown looks behind the news event to the story of how this group of young men came together as a unified crew.

It’s Friday—time to talk over the week’s news. We review what the legislature plans to do with state infrastructure following the collapse of the Skagit River Bridge. The Seattle Police Department acknowledged it broke public record laws when it withheld an internal memo from the Seattle Times following the 2012 May Day demonstrations. Fast food workers across Seattle went on a 24-hour strike in solidarity with fast food workers from around the country.

What stories caught your attention? What hasn’t been covered enough? Tell us your take on the news by writing to Weekday.

Science News: Understanding Scientific Data
Earlier this year research conducted by epidemiologist Katherine Flegal suggested that people who are “overweight” might live longer than those who are considered “thin” or “obese.” Her paper angered many in the public health sector whose research has long suggested that extra weight hurts a person’s health. One in particular, Dr. Walter Willett, the head of nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health, called Flegal’s study a “pile of rubbish.” Science writer Virginia Hughes explains the study and why it is being criticized.

Stone Gossard's New Album: "Moonlander"
Ten weeks prior to its release date, Seattle musician Stone Gossard began releasing songs off his new album "Moonlander" one week at a time. It is his second solo album since 2001. In addition to his solo career, Gossard continues to make music with Pearl Jam. Gossard joins us to discuss music, his career and his new album.

Kenyan Truth Justice And Reconciliation Report
Last week a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission delivered a report on 2007 post-election violence in Kenya that killed more than 1,000 people and left 600,000 homeless. Seattle University law professor Ronald Slye was one of three international commissioners. He joins us with a look at the findings.

Understanding Developmental Outcomes In Children With Autism
By studying brain pattern responses to words in 2-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder, researchers have been able to predict a child's linguistic, cognitive and adaptive skills at age 4 and 6. Dr. Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Science, studies early language and brain development. She lead the study and explains its implications.  

Radio Retrospective: The Rules Of Writing Radio Drama
At the start of radio’s Golden Age, people didn’t know how to write for radio.  They remade stage plays and movies, but that didn’t really work. Rules for writing a good radio drama developed over time. We explore the main rules scriptwriters followed.

Restaurant Recommendation
Food writer Sara Dickerman joins us with a lunch recommendation. Prefer to cook for yourself? She also has a pick for a great cookbook!