Politics Week in Review: the legislative session, a plan for growth, and a judge disqualified Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with PubliCola’s Erica Barnett, Washington Policy Center’s Paul Guppy, and Earth Finance’s Reuven Carlyle. Bill Radke Kevin Kniestedt Play AudioListen 51 mins
Government Police pursuit, parent rights, income tax initiatives poised for final vote in Olympia Lawmakers are plowing ahead with three high-profile voter initiatives. The Legislature plans to take a final vote on the measures Monday, despite concerns from members of the Democratic majority. Jeanie Lindsay
Business Strippers' bill of rights one step closer to becoming law in Washington state A bill that would grant strippers’ some of the broadest workplace protections in the country cleared a key hurdle Tuesday on its way to becoming law in Washington state. Monica Nickelsburg
Government Puget Sound counties want modernized ferry fleets. Voters decide their fate this fall Soundside host Libby Denkmann sits down with correspondent Tom Banse to talk about the finances behind replacing Washington's "other" ferries. Libby Denkmann Tom Banse Jason Burrows Play AudioListen 19 mins
Education Banning books in Washington state schools could get harder if bill passes Efforts to ban books across the country reached an all-time high in 2022, according to the American Library Association. Now, some Washington lawmakers are trying to prevent more bans here. Sami West
Government Micro-apartments are poised to become legal in Washington state A bill that would allow “micro-apartments” anywhere normal apartments are built has passed both chambers of the Washington Legislature. Joshua McNichols
Government Will it be illegal for fertility doctors to secretly inseminate patients in Washington state? Washington could become the 10th state in the country to make it illegal for doctors to use their own genetic material to inseminate patients without their consent. Diana Opong
Can WA legislators fix high rents? It’s no secret that Seattle is an expensive place to live. A big part of the problem is high rent costs. In the past few years, local housing activists have pushed the idea of a rent cap. One version is getting a hearing in Olympia today on its way to potentially becoming state law. Mike Wilkerson, an urban economist and thedirector of analytics at ECOnorthwest, breaks down the different kinds of rent caps and where the proposed law would fit in. Patricia Murphy Clare McGrane Play AudioListen 14 mins
Politics Strippers say Washington state is terrible for dancing. They want a 'bill of rights' to fix that Washington’s ban on alcohol in strip clubs made it difficult to attract customers. That meant dancers paid higher “house fees” or “rent” to use the stage. Monica Nickelsburg
Government Washington's ferry system has a trust problem Officially, the Washington State Ferries had a 99% reliability rating in January. But in waterfront communities hurt by too few boats and ferry-run cancellations, people remain skeptical. During the legislative session, elected leaders are working to address the problem. Joshua McNichols
