Soundside

The Urban Raptor Conservancy's Ed Deal and Patti Loesche are running a decades long study on the population health of Cooper's Hawks in Seattle. What does that involve? Spending a lot of time looking for and observing the city's hawks. Guests: Patti Loesche, co founder of the Urban Raptor Conservency Ed Deal, co founder of the Urban Raptor Conservancy Relevant Links: Urban Raptor Conservancy Website KUOW: What's that screeching? Maybe a hungry young Cooper's Hawk   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.

This election season we’re bringing you conversations on all of the statewide initiatives on this November’s ballot.  This week, we’re taking a deep dive into I-2124, it’s the initiative that would give WA voters the option to OPT-OUT of the WA Cares long term services insurance program. Yesterday, we talked to Elizabeth New from the WA Policy Center, who urged listeners to vote YES on I-2124. TODAY, we’re talking to the NO side. Gov. Inslee signed the bill that created WA Cares back in 2019. It’s a kind of “social insurance plan,” which would extend a one-time benefit of $36,500 to people who pay into the program, to help them cover the cost of long-term care. Right now, most Washington workers pay about 58 cents into the program for every 100 dollars earned. If you make $50,000 a year, that’s about 24 dollars a month.  There was a delay in getting the payroll deduction started because of COVID, then an opt-out period, so payroll deductions for the plan didn’t actually kick in until July of last year.  The first claims for WA Cares benefits can be filed starting July 1st, 2026.  A “NO” vote on I-2124 would maintain the WA Cares program as is, without an opt-out. It also preserves the legislature’s ability to revise and improve the program.   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.   GUEST: Cathy MacCaul is a member of Washington State’s Long-Term Services & Supports Trust Commission that helps oversee WA Cares, along with being the policy & advocacy director for AARP Washington. RELATED LINKS: Washington Initiative 2124, Opt-Out of Long-Term Services Insurance Program Initiative (2024) - Ballotpedia No On I-2124 Vote ‘no’ on I-2124 and keep WA Cares participation mandatory | The Seattle Times Editorial: Opt-out of WA Cares would cost most more later | HeraldNet.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This election season we’re bringing you conversations on all of the statewide initiatives on the November ballot.  Most recently, we looked at both sides of the Capital Gains Tax Repeal.  This week, we’re taking a deep dive into I-2124: it’s the initiative that would give Washington voters the option to OPT-OUT of the WA Cares long term services insurance program. Gov. Inslee signed the bill that created WA Cares into law back in 2019. It’s a kind of “social insurance plan,” which would extend a one-time benefit of $36,500 to people who pay into the program, to help them cover the cost of long-term care. Right now, most Washington workers pay about 58 cents into the program for every 100 dollars earned. If you make $50,000 dollars a year, that’s about 24 dollars a month.  There was a delay in getting the payroll deduction started because of COVID, then an opt-out period, so payroll deductions for the plan didn’t actually kick in until July of last year. The first claims for WA Cares benefits can be filed starting July 1st, 2026.  A vote of "Yes" on Initiative 2124 would make the program optional, instead of a payroll tax applying to most workers with a W-2.  We’ll hear both sides of I-2124 this week: TODAY, we’re talking to the YES side.    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.   GUEST: Elizabeth New - Policy Analyst and the Director of the Centers for Worker Rights and Health Care at the Washington Policy Center RELATED LINKS:  Washington Initiative 2124, Opt-Out of Long-Term Services Insurance Program Initiative (2024) - Ballotpedia  Vote ‘yes’ on I-2124 and make WA Cares participation optional | The Seattle Times  The Seattle Times editorial board recommends: Vote ‘yes’ on Initiative 2124 and give residents more choice on WA Cares   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world premiere of Jubilee debuted at Seattle Opera with its inaugural performance over the weekend. Jubilee is a new opera honoring the Fisk Jubilee singers, a group of groundbreaking Black American singers from Fisk University, in Tennessee. Soundside's Diana Opong sat down with creator and director Tazewell Thompson, who reflected on how the seeds of the opera Jubilee were sown in his early years living in New York. It was during his formative years that he was introduced to the rich tapestry of spirituals through old recordings, a discovery that ignited a profound sense of connection in his life.  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.  Guests: Tazewell Thompson, creator and director of the new opera, Jubilee Marlette Buchanan, Seattle vocalist and former Fisk Jubilee singer Dr. Agenia Clark, president of Fisk University Related Links: Seattle Opera - Jubilee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think of the wild west, you might imagine a sheriff, keeping watch over a small, dusty town he calls home. And a posse of locals: ready to be called up to fight off cattle rustlers or moonshine smugglers who threaten to cause trouble. It’s hard to imagine something like that now, in 2024 Washington State. But, in Klickitat County, down south on the Columbia River, a sheriff's posse has been making the news for its growing size and the number of responsibilities it’s taking on within the community. Advocates say the posse is filling shortfalls within the Sheriff’s budget.  Critics say it’s empowering citizens to take the law into their own hands – and allowing the sheriff to choose which laws he’ll enforce and which ones he’ll ignore. 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.  Guest: Paul Kiefer, a freelance reporter who covered this story for Investigate West Related Links: In a rural stretch of Washington, a ‘constitutional sheriff’ and his growing volunteer posse provoke controversy - Investigate West See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the 1963 Gideon decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the right to a lawyer has been guaranteed to defendants facing criminal charges – even if they can’t afford to pay.  Advocates say that guarantee is in  jeopardy in our state because of a lack of personnel. Washington State public defenders are in short supply and that’s having cascading effects on the criminal legal system.  The Washington State Bar Association is recommending a counterintuitive solution to the shortage: they want to cap the number of cases that public defenders can take on in a year, but the plan has its detractors.  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.  Guests: Jason Schwarz, Director of Snohomish County Office of Public Defense and Chair of the Washington State Bar Association, Council on Public Defense Russell Brown, executive director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Relevant Links: Washington State Standard: Can smaller caseloads help Washington fill its public defender ranks? Seattle Times: WA’s public defender system is breaking down, communities reeling See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are rising as negotiations between Boeing and the IAM District 751 hit a stalemate. This comes amid a month-long strike, impacting 33,000 workers.  After contract discussions collapsed last week, both sides have traded accusations, leaving the future uncertain. Adding to the conflict, Boeing announced layoffs affecting around 17,000 employees – nearly 10% of its workforce – in a bid to cut costs.  With financial pressure mounting and workers seeking temporary employment, the big question that remains is: how close are we to a resolution, and what will it mean for the future of both the company and its workers? Soundside was joined by Harry C. Katz, professor of collective bargaining within Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR). 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.  Guests: Harry C. Katz, professor of collective bargaining within Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR). Related Links: Boeing and Workers Dig In for a Long Fight, Despite Strike’s Cost - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Boeing Will Cut 17,000 Jobs in Bid to Slash Costs - The New York Times (nytimes.com) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Among the many races Seattle voters will weigh in on during the upcoming election, there’s a city council seat up for grabs. Current Position 8 Councilmember Tanya Woo is looking to defend against challenger Alexis Mercedes Rinck. While Woo and Rinck try to differentiate themselves down the home stretch, they have at least one thing in common. Both are the latest candidates to take part in an election experiment meant to level the financial playing field for office-seekers: Democracy Vouchers. If you live in Seattle, there’s a good chance you opened up your mailbox during this election cycle, and pulled out an envelope containing these vouchers. The bright blue slips of paper are kind of reminiscent of Kohl’s cash. Or Monopoly bucks. But instead of exchanging them to buy a new sweater or to capture Park Place, you can use them to donate to candidates running for local office, like the city council, mayor, and the city attorney. Next year, democracy vouchers are turning 10 years old.  Back in 2015, advocates made some ambitious promises about the potential of democracy vouchers: they would revolutionize campaign financing and inspire nontraditional candidates to run for office Voters will get to decide next year if they want to extend the democracy voucher program.  So - have democracy vouchers delivered on those promises?  Soundside host  Libby Denkmann sat down with one expert, Dr. Jennifer Heerwig, an associate professor at Stony Brook University in New York, to find out.  Dr. Heerwig has explored the impact of democracy vouchers in Seattle with a new book she co-authored, called Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle.   Guest Dr. Jennifer Heerwig, associate professor at Stony Brook University, and co-author of Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle. Related links:  3 Big Ways Democracy Vouchers Changes Seattle's Elections at Town Hall Seattle  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, few Washington races have grabbed as much attention as the one for Commissioner of Public Lands.  The commissioner heads the state Department of Natural Resources, which oversees more than $450 million in revenue and more than 5.5 million acres of public land. The agency is in charge of wildfire preparedness, forest management, and the protection of critical habitat throughout the state.  After a crowded primary and a recount decided by just 49 votes, the top two candidates voters will be asked to decide on are Republican Jaime Herrera-Beutler and Democrat Dave Upthegrove. Jaime Herrera-Beutler is a former congresswoman representing Washington’s 3rd congressional district in the southwest part of the state. She served from 2011 to 2023.  Dave Upthegrove is chair of the King County Council, which he has served on for 10 years.  They both joined Soundside host Libby Denkmann this week for a lively debate on the future of public lands.  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.  Guests: Jaime Herrera-Beutler, former congresswoman and Republican candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands. Dave Upthegrove, chair of the King County Council and Democratic candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, the Seattle Children’s Theatre has introduced young people from all over King County to the joy and wonder of live theater.  You can take your little ones to their first play or musical like “Cat Kid Comic Club,” or maybe an interactive dance performance.  There’s a lot going on there each year. It’s part of what makes the Children’s Theatre such a beloved institution. The theater is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall. Soundside talked with Managing Director Kevin Malgesini about what SCT has coming up this season, along with the steps they've taken to keep the theater strong for years to come. Host Diana Opong also chats with Karan Hanan, Executive Director of the WA State Arts Commission, about the overall health of Seattle's theater ecosystem. 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.  GUESTS: Kevin Malgesini - Managing Director of Seattle Children's Theater Karen Hanan - Executive Director of the Washington State Arts Commission RELATED LINKS:  Seattle Children's Theatre ArtsWA Washington- National Endowment for the Arts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.