Soundside

Seattle may have to say goodbye to a longstanding vintage shop in the new year.  Red Light Vintage & Costume sits in the heart of the University District. It has been a fixture in Seattle’s fashion scene since it opened in the mid 90s. Now the shop could close because owner Niz Marar is retiring. He’s hoping to sell the business before his lease expires at the end of January. If he can’t find a buyer, fashion lovers will have to let go of this cherished spot.  We talk to Marar about his final few weeks at Red Light... and hear from the person who's trying to keep it alive by buying the shop before the lease ends.   GUESTS: Niz Marar, owner of Red Light Vintage & Costume Tacee Webb, co-founder of Red Light Vintage & Costume RELATED LINKS:  Red Light Vintage – vintage & costume Red Light Revival: New classes, events, & memberships! — Kickstarter Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are only a few weeks left in 2025. That means for those of you who resolved, at the beginning of the year, to do more reading — it's crunch time.  Did you actually put down your phone long enough to get through a book this year? It's not too late.  Many great books came out this year. If you need suggestions for something to read or to give to someone who really ought to be reading more, we've got you covered.  GUESTS: Misha Stone, reader services librarian, Seattle Public Library Spencer Ruchti, author events manager, Third Place Books RELATED LINKS:  Our list of books we loved! Yes, it's a Google Doc. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end of the year is just around the corner, and with the next two Thursdays each being holidays, this is the final Weekend Warmup of the Year! LINKS: TNF! Seahawks vs Rams Thurs 12/18 The 29th Annual Model Train Festival - Washington State Historical Society Opens Fri 12/19 - runs through Jan 1, 2026 2025 Winter Beer Fest – WA Brewers Guild  Fri/Sat - 12/19-20 Hell’s Belles at the Croc Sat 12/20 United Indians Native Art Market » United Indians of All Tribes Foundation - Daybreak Star Sat/Sun - 12/20-21 Seattle Torrent vs Boston Fleet Sun 12/21 - 2pm Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skagit County has been hit by multiple waves of catastrophic flooding over the past week.    Amid the devastation, there is a bright spot: A floodwall in Mount Vernon successfully held off the Skagit River as it rose to a record 37.7 feet. That floodwall only exists because it sits in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be at highest risk of flooding.  Many residents of Skagit county might be unaware of the current flooding risk to their homes or businesses –  because, according to The Seattle Times, Skagit County’s flood maps haven’t been updated in 40 years.  We'll hear from Lulu Ramadan, who reported on these flood maps, before turning to Kristiana de Leon, who had to evacuate malamutes amid flooding along the Puyallup River last week.    GUESTS: Lulu Ramadan, an investigative reporter at The Seattle Times  Kristiana de Leon of the Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League RELATED LINKS:  Skagit County flood maps showing high-risk areas are 40 years old | The Seattle Times  Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League – We pull for them  Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Approximately 10,000 people are still under evacuation notice after multiple levee failures across Western Washington. In King County: flood controls have breached in the last 48 hours. As of this morning, residents in the city of Pacific, east of Tacoma, are under a "go now" evacuation order after a flood control breach on the nearby White River. A levee was breached yesterday in Tukwila and Kent, the evacuation order for the area is no longer in effect.  Guests: Casey Martin, KUOW reporter Josh Baldi, water and land resources division director for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Relevant Links:  KUOW live updates  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Department of Homeland Security may be shifting its approach to deportation flights by ICE.  According to reporting by the Washington Post, DHS recently signed a contract to purchase six Boeing 737 planes. Currently, ICE primarily uses charter planes for deportations. This purchase suggests the agency has plans to expand its capacity to deport people using its own fleet. What implications does this have for immigration enforcement and the way detainees are moved in and out of the United States?  GUEST: McKenzie Funk - Reporter at ProPublica covering immigration, privacy and climate change RELATED LINKS:  DHS inks contract to create its own fleet of 737 jets for deportations Inside ICE Air: Flight Attendants on Deportation Planes Say Disaster Is “Only a Matter of Time” At Seattle’s Boeing Field, Real-Time Video Offers a Rare Glimpse of America’s Troubled Deportation Flights Avelo Airlines, a New ICE Air Contractor, Faces Backlash in Connecticut Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. GUEST: KUOW Politics Editor Cat Smith TODAY'S TOPICS: Flooding Live updates: Western Washington braces for more rain and flooding this week - KUOW Canlis A market of extremes: How 2026 will impact restaurant winners and losers - Restaurant Dive Grandpa Rivers & the Indianapolis Colts Philip Rivers hadn't played an NFL game in 5 years. The grandfather nearly upset a Super Bowl contender. - NBC Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 on the morning of Thursday, December 11th, about the incoming administration, the recent policing shooting in Othello, and more.  Note: Starting at 7:45 in the interview, Barnes cites several statistics about a drop in crime. We asked SPD for more information about the decreased crime percentages, and they said Barnes is referencing the first 11 months of 2025 compared to 2024. But in reference to homicides, the information SPD gave us cites 2019 as the last comparable year, and the reduction is actually 36 percent, instead of 35 percent, as Barnes states.  GuestSeattle Police Chief Shon Barnes Related Links Seattle City Council approves new police contract, boosting pay and expanding crisis response -KUOWSeattle police video shows officers fatally shooting allegedly armed man - The Seattle Times Seattle City Council Approves Police Contract as South End Mourns Killing in Othello - South Seattle EmeraldThank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catastrophic flooding continues to threaten Washington.  Around 100,000 people in Western Washington have been advised to evacuate.  Hundreds of Washington National Guard members have been tapped to help with response efforts. And Gov. Ferguson declared a statewide emergency in response to the flooding.  We talked to three KUOW reporters about what they're seeing on the ground and what we need to know about this weather event.  CORRECTION: As of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, approximately 100,000 people were advised to evacuate across Western Washington. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Skagit County issued immediate evacuation orders to 100,000 residents. GUESTS: KUOW Reporter Joshua McNichols KUOW Reporter John Ryan KUOW Reporter Casey Martin RELATED LINKS:  KUOW - Live updates: 100,000 evacuated in historic Skagit Valley flood in Washington state KUOW - Western Washington faces 'catastrophic' flooding as two atmospheric rivers dump heavy rain Live: Flooding in WA’s Skagit, Snohomish rivers prompt road closures, evacuations | The Seattle Times Skagit River creeps toward Mount Vernon flood wall | The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Soundside Listeners! Because our entire show was focused on flood coverage with the Governor's press conference, and live conversations with KUOW reporters Joshua McNichols, John Ryan, and Casey Martin, we decided to skip the Weekend Warmup on the air this week, and drop it here on the podcast feed instead. Stay safe, check KUOW.org for updates, and look in on your neighbors.  With that said, please enjoy this podcast exclusive Weekend Warmup! LINKS: SPORTS! Seahawks vs Indianapolis Colts - Sun 1:25pm Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken - Sun 5pm Seattle Torrent vs Ottawa Charge - Wed 7pm WildLanterns: Night Owls (21+) - Fri 12/12 Mozart & Mutts: Annual Holiday Concert - Fri 12/12 Jurassic Quest | Washington State Fairgrounds  The Naughty Novel Social Club: Krampus Edition DEAF SANTA CLAUS - Sun 12/14 Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.