Seattle Now

Atmospheric rivers can be very destructive. But they don’t have to be a surprise. There are weather scientists whose mission is to improve atmospheric river forecasting. Today, we’ll hear from one of those scientists. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re bringing you the best from another KUOW show, Soundside…  It’s been a busy year for the Seattle Police Department.  A new chief was sworn in, the longstanding federal consent decree ended and the city reached a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild that changes how it can approach unarmed crisis response. Plus, a new mayor will take office in January. Mayor-elect Katie Wilson announced this week that she planned to retain Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, despite some rumors to the contrary.  Soundside's Libby Denkmann talked with Barnes last week. Listen to more Soundside interviews here. The Soundside team includes Sarah Leibovitz, Jason Burrows, Hans Anderson, Gabrielle Healy, Maleeha Syed, and Jed Kim. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gov. Ferguson proposes new investments in roads, bridges, and ferries, the Seahawks clinch a playoff spot, and more snow is expected in the mountains. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week… Washington was rocked by what Governor Bob Ferguson is calling “one of the worst natural disasters in state history.” But luckily, people are stepping up to help. A West Seattle holiday light display is back on track after being knocked out by last year’s bomb cyclone. And the Stranger’s December issue is full of complaints about Seattle - we have some ideas. Film Critic Chase Hutchinson and Seattle Now Producer Vaughan Jones are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flu season has arrived in WA, local farmers overwhelmed with flood damage, and Gov. Ferguson signs an executive order on housing. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, KUOW field reporter Casey Martin shares insights on the extensive flooding in Western Washington. With firsthand accounts from affected residents, he discusses harrowing evacuation stories, including a dramatic kayak rescue. Casey describes the challenges faced, such as failed levees and damaged infrastructure, while highlighting community efforts to support each other during this crisis. He also touches on the response from the National Guard and the need for long-term solutions as recovery from the floods may extend into 2026.

King County crews working to shore up damaged levees, Highway 2 closure has Leavenworth businesses worried about tourism, and Rep. Dan Newhouse to retire. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas Works Park is a national landmark.  But it comes with danger– several people have been injured or killed climbing its towers.  Like 15-year-old Mattheis Johnson, who fell to his death while climbing this summer. A new lawsuit filed by the teen’s family is the latest effort to challenge the resistance to any changes to the structures.  We’ll hear more from New York Times Pacific Northwest Bureau Chief Anna Griffin. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First death reported in WA flooding, Highway 2 could be closed for several months, and the UW Men's soccer team wins their first national championship. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the UW, hundreds apply each year for the astronomy department’s graduate program, and a maximum of seven are accepted. But for the next year, they won’t be accepting any graduate students, due to state and federal funding cuts. To learn about the impact, we talk with UW astronomy professor Emily Levesque, who's author of the book "The Last Stargazers." We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.