Seattle Now
Seattle Now is a smart, daily news podcast for a curious city, from KUOW and the NPR Network. New episodes every weekday morning and evening.
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Episodes
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A windows update for Seattle’s International District
For years, businesses in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District have been dealing with broken shop windows… and living with the plywood used to fill the gaps. But now, they’re getting some help.
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Laid off? Tech workers are job hunting
The numbers keep going up. Layoffs in tech have put Seattle workers on edge. But the region’s shifting labor market is still looking pretty good for job seekers. UW Policy Professor Jacob Vigdor is here to help explain.
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How the implosion of WA’s drug possession law could spell disaster for addiction support services
The State Legislature session ended Sunday. One bill that didn't make it into law: a replacement for the state’s drug possession law, which times out in July. That means drug possession could soon be legal at the state level. It also means a system of support for people with substance use disorder is in hanging in the balance. We’ll learn more about the potential impact from UW Research professor Caleb Banta-Green.
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On the ballot: Stabilizing King County's mental health crisis
King County has a big plan to make it easier for people in a mental health crisis to get care. But it hinges on voters approving a new tax to make it happen. Ballots are due tomorrow. KUOW public health reporter Eilis O’Neill is here to help suss out the proposal and explain the impact it could have for people in crisis.
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Casual Friday with Sami West and Mike Davis
This week… The Seattle Police Department received recommendations on how to change their protest response. A ferry running aground reminded us we need to fix our aging fleet. And the Seattle season of the popular reality show Love is Blind is over - and it was a bit of a mess. KUOW Reporters Sami West and Mike Davis are here to break down the week.
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Seattle mayor has BIG plans for downtown
The to-do list to revitalize downtown is long… in the short term Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and his administration have some short term plans to get more people visiting, living and working downtown. TAPE “Fundamentally, downtown runs on people. So our downtown activation plan is focused on how do we get more people downtown” And so far, safety is taking a front seat. The city is cracking down on the fentanyl crisis and the shake up is imminent. KUOW reporter Casey Martin is here. He’ll fill us in on some of the key items to anticipate.
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Seattle PTAs redistribute the wealth
Funding for public schools is a perennial problem in Seattle. PTAs are one solution, but they don’t work for the schools most in need of support. A group of schools in Southeast Seattle are banding together to help fix that inequity with a radical new model for fundraising... plus, they're having some fun along the way.
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Limiting when police can lie
Police are legally allowed to lie as part of their jobs. But sometimes, those lies cross a line. Two incidents from the past five years have prompted city officials in Seattle to try and make a change. We’ll hear more about proposed limits to police deception from Seattle Times Reporter Sarah Grace Taylor.
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Tan Vinh, 500 tacos later
Never underestimate the taco. Especially ones you can get in a gas station parking lot or maybe filled with spicy grasshoppers. Today we’re heading out with Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh to find out what he learned after eating 500 tacos in western Washington. We visit two taquerias along the way, Taqueria Los Potrillos #1 in Rainier Valley and Casa Mixteca in Burien
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Casual Friday with Marcus Harrison Green and Clare McGrane
This week…A middle housing bill passed the state senate and is on the way to changing Washington’s housing landscape. Amazon wants workers back in the office starting next month… if they can get their offices ready. And Starbucks says save your pennies from now on they’re gonna stop up charging you for some of that non-dairy milk. Writer and Seattle Times Columnist Marcus Harrison Green and KUOW’s Clare McGrane are here to break down the week.
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Coming Soon: Middle housing in WA
Duplexes, fourplexes, sixplexes… oh my.
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The Kraken did WHAT?
Hold on to your hockey skates, because the Kraken made the playoffs. That’s right, from 30th place last season to this year’s NHL postseason, the Seattle Kraken is the scrappy underdog of the hockey world. In case you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, we’ll get you some help. Kraken radio play-by-play announcer Everett Fitzhugh is here to break the ice for first time fans.