Soundside

Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island is the site of the worst commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history. The nuclear plant near Harrisburg officially closed in 2019, but now, Microsoft is making a deal to restart the facility and buy all of its electricity for the next 20 years. How likely is this to actually happen? And what does this say about the future of energy and tech?  Guests: Evan Halper, business reporter covering the energy transition for the Washington Post Relevant Links: Washington Post: Microsoft deal would reopen Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power AI Washington Post: Three Mile Island owner seeks taxpayer backing for Microsoft AI deal   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 Seattle School District is now planning to close just 5 schools next year. That’s down from the 21 possible closures the district had proposed earlier. The district has been teasing school closures for months as a part of its “Well Resourced Schools” plan. Seattle Schools faces a $94 million dollar budget deficit and Superintendent Brent Jones proposed closing schools to help cover that gap. After the announcement of which schools would close last month, the push back from parents was swift. And the School Board? Well, they weren’t on-board either. Now, with a scaled back plan, the district will need to explore other options to cover its fiscal deficit.  Guest: Liza Rankin, President of the Seattle School Board Links: KUOW: Seattle Schools' proposed closures trimmed from 21 to just 5 schools after backlash KUOW: Seattle families brace for school closures. What can we learn from last time?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since Hamas militants attacked Southern Israel on October 7, taking roughly 1200 lives, and capturing hundreds of hostages, the Israeli military has responded with overwhelming force in Gaza. Bombs and other military actions have killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Most of the homes, businesses, schools and mosques in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed – and millions have been displaced.And there is no end in sight to the bombardment. The U.S. State Department says Hamas has refused for weeks to engage in cease-fire talks. Previously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly stalled a cease-fire and hostage deal by adding new conditions to negotiations.For the past 12 months, Palestinian Americans and the wider Muslim community in the Seattle area have been urging the U.S. to halt weapons transfers and funding to Israel. On Saturday, roughly 500 protesters gathered at Pier 62 on Seattle’s waterfront to demand change.  Yesterday, we spoke with members of Seattle’s Jewish community about how they’re remembering the first anniversary of the October 7th attack on Israel. Today, we’re speaking with members of Seattle’s Palestinian and Muslim communities about the effects of the war in Gaza. Guests: Akram Baioumy, an Imam with MAPS (Muslim Association of Puget Sound)  Yaz Kader, a Palestinian American and an uncommitted delegate from Washington state at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He’s also the author of a new Op-Ed in Real Change News, called “Silencing the Palestinian voice at the local and national levels”. Relevant Links: Silencing the Palestinian voice at the local and national levels - Real Change See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can personal tragedy inspire the most unlikely of people to become activists? This question is at the heart of Norita, a new documentary screening Oct. 8 at the Seattle Latino Film Festival. Norita takes a moving look at the life and journey of an Argentinian woman, Nora Cortiñas. She was a mother who became caught in the crosshairs of Argentina’s military dictatorship, which stretched from 1976 to 1983. Norita’s fearless protest against the government, and search for justice, played a role in toppling the dictatorship, and she spent the rest of her life as a leading voice for human rights. She died earlier this year in May at the age of 94.  Soundside producer Noel Gasca caught up with Melissa Daniels, a producer of Norita, about the documentary's exploration of Norita's life and legacy.  You can purchase tickets to the Seattle Latino Film Fesitval's screening of Norita here. Guest: Melissa Daniel, Norita producer Related links: Norita film homepage Norita trailer Nora Cortiñas, 94, a Founder of Argentina's Mothers of the 'Disappeared,' Dies - The New York Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle area gets a bad rap for its “frosty” social climate.  But how can that be true when we live with so many “best friends”? Furry ones, at least. There are more dogs than children in the city.  With all those canines sharing space, things can get a bit tense. Complaints run rampant about dog behavior in public, businesses that do or don’t allow animals, and, of course, politeness when picking up and disposing of their poop. And let’s be real, this is not a conversation about dogs; it is about people who own dogs.  Today, we have two experts with us to talk about how dogs (and people) navigate space, together.  Guests: Farrah Branson, certified trainer and the animal training manager at the Seattle Humane Society. Alexis Devine, certified professional dog trainer and the author of the book “I Am Bunny: How a Talking Dog Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Being Human” Links: I Am Bunny Instagram Seattle Humane SocietySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One year ago, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took hundreds more hostage.  Israel’s military response has killed more than 41-thousand Palestinians in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry says more than half were women and children.  A second front has opened in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli military has been bombarding Iran-backed Hezbollah… which began firing rockets into Israel after October 7th.  Today, destruction, hunger, grief and displacement are the only certainties for millions of people in the path of this widening war. This week also marks the middle of the Jewish High Holy Days.  In Jewish tradition, it’s a time meant for reflection and consideration of the year before, and preparation for the year ahead. Today, we’re speaking with members of the Seattle-area Jewish community to hear how they’re marking the anniversary of October 7th. Tomorrow, we’ll hear how the local Palestinian community is reflecting on a year of war in Gaza. Guests: Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum leads the Kavana Cooperative, an independent Jewish community in Seattle Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Senior Rabbi of Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle Kate Raphael, a member of Jewish Voices for Peace Seattle Relevant Links: October 7 One Year Later: Seattle's Community Commemoration - Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle October 11th ritual and rally for Yom Kippur at the Federal Building - Jewish Voices for Peace Seattle Instagram page Prayer of Mothers for Life and Peace - Open Siddur See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In June, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis. "Gun violence has become the leading cause of death among kids and teens," Murthy said. "That was not true a decade or two decades ago, but it is true today." And like many other communities across the country – Seattle is feeling the ripple effects of this crisis.  First Response  — a new series from Cascade Public Media’s podcast Northwest Reports — takes a deeper look at how the medical professionals on the front line of this crisis are handling the influx of patients with gunshot wounds, and treating the long-term impacts of gun violence. It also looks at the impact on those medical professionals’ mental health. Soundside caught up with the co-hosts and producers of Northwest Reports to talk about the series, and how it deepened their understanding of gun violence.  Guests: Sara Bernard, senior producer and co-host of Northwest Reports Maleeha Syed, producer and co-host of Northwest Reports Related links:  First Response: The medical professionals treating gunshot wounds (Episode 1) First Response: The hospital working to cure the gun violence cycle (Episode 2) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you go to vote this November, it won’t just be for President or Governor. You’ll also be voting on a group of initiatives - and these things are complicated. So we’re breaking all of them down here on Soundside this election season. And this week, we’re turning to I-2109: aka, the measure that seeks to Repeal the Capital Gains Tax. Passed by the legislature back in 2021, the tax took effect two years ago. It charges a 7% tax on the sales of some types of assets - things like stocks, bonds, and some types of businesses. The tax kicks in on profits exceeding $262,000. Real estate, retirement accounts, and certain small businesses are exempt. Revenue from the tax goes towards education: the first $500m raised is earmarked for schools, early learning, and child care programs. The rest goes towards school construction and renovation. This is a tax that’s only paid by an extremely small percentage of Washington taxpayers (.001%). 4,000 people paid Washington state capital gains taxes in 2022 - producing $786m dollars in revenue. Last year, that amount decreased to $433m. Yesterday, we spoke with former Google engineer Vijay Boyapati about the case to vote “Yes” and repeal the capital gains tax.  Today, we’re speaking with someone from the vote “NO” on I-2109 campaign. Guest: Treasure Mackley is executive director of Invest in WA Now, a Seattle-based organization advocating for progressive revenue measures in Washington State - including the Capital Gains tax Relevant Links: Ditch Washington's Capital Gains Tax? The case for Yes on I-2109 - KUOW Washington Initiative 2109, Repeal Capital Gains Tax Initiative (2024) - Ballotpedia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month -- a chance to educate people about the disease and the importance of high-quality care. Public awareness of breast cancer has greatly improved over the past few decades. For a long time, people diagnosed with the disease tended to keep their experiences to themselves. That’s why it was groundbreaking, 30 years ago, when NPR health reporter Joanne Silberner profiled a woman named Toby Quitsland, who was experiencing a recurrence of breast cancer. Her story not only helped build awareness of the disease, it also helped create a special bond between Joanne and Toby’s family.  Toby’s husband Jon recently discovered that he and Joanne both now live on Bainbridge Island. He heard her being interviewed on KUOW, and he decided to mail a letter to the station in hopes of reaching her. The Washington State Department of Health has launched Vital, a free mobile app tailored for cancer survivors. It provides valuable tools to help patients build skills for their cancer journey and recovery. You can download the Vital app now on iPhone and Android Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotesSoundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. GUESTS: Jon Quitsland Joanne Silberner RELATED LINKS: https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/introducing-vital-free-mobile-app-designed-support-cancer-survivors  https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When tech companies began announcing advanced artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, there was widespread enthusiasm. AI was going to make mundane jobs more efficient; it was going to reshape entire industries and creative processes; and it was going to free up time for humans to do things that were, well, more human – things like creating art.  But in the last few years, it’s been artists themselves raising the alarm around automation. Some see AI as a cool new tool, or another color on the palette; others argue it’s an existential threat to industries that were already struggling to stay afloat.  For local theater director Ryan Guzzo Purcell, the bleeding edge of AI in art is something we can’t approach from an either/or point of view. His latest production with The Feast is a reinterpretation of “The Adding Machine,” a 100 year old play about automation by playwright Elmer Rice. A new version of the play at Seattle University’s Lee Performing Arts Center updates that notion for modern times, leaning into the question of dealing with automation by incorporating AI at practically every level: the stage design, the production – even the performances.  Soundside producer Alec Cowan spoke with Purcell to learn more about the intersection of technology and stagecraft after attending a recent showing. Curious about seeing the play yourself? The show runs through Sunday, Oct. 6. You can find tickets here. 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: Ryan Guzzo Purcell, artistic director at The Feast, a Seattle theater company, and director of "The Adding Machine: A Cyborg Morality Play." Related Links:  What's Next | The Feast (the-feast.org) The Adding Machine: A Cyborg Morality Play - Seattle University How Seattle theater company The Feast’s play using AI turned out | The Seattle Times KUOW - Artists vs. AI: where innovation meets unwelcome imitation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.