Soundside

This November, Washington voters will be asked to weigh in on complicated policies like a capital gains tax and a long-term care fund. Maybe the most complex one is the future of the Climate Commitment Act, an initiative on the November ballot seeks to repeal the key part of this 2021 law: the “cap-and-invest” system.  It’s essentially an auction for major polluters where companies can purchase carbon allowances – kinda like permission slips for emitting planet-warming carbon dioxide.  Over the next two days, we’ll hear from both a supporter of the initiative to repeal the cap and trade system and a defender of the Climate Commitment Act. Yesterday, we heard from a defender of the CCA: State House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon. Today, we talk to a proponent of the initiative, who wants to dismantle the state's carbon auction: Washington Policy Center's Todd Myers. 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: Todd Myers, Vice President of Research at the Washington Policy Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This November, Washington voters will be asked to weigh in on complicated policies like a capital gains tax and a long-term care fund. Maybe the most complex one is the future of the Climate Commitment Act, an initiative on the November ballot seeks to repeal the key part of this 2021 law: the “cap-and-invest” system.  It’s essentially an auction for major polluters where companies can purchase carbon allowances – kinda like permission slips for emitting planet-warming carbon dioxide.  Over the next two days, we’ll hear from both a supporter of the initiative to repeal the cap and trade system and a defender of the Climate Commitment Act. Today, we hear the defender of the CCA: State House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon.  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: Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, State House Majority Leader, who helped create the Climate Commitment ActSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week (September 8th to 14th) is National Suicide Prevention Week. Deaths by suicide in young people have risen by more than 60% in recent decades. And in 2022, it was the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-14.  Behind that tragic statistic is a lot of nuance, though.  For example: Alaska Natives, American Indians, and White youth are more likely to take their own lives than their Asian American peers. But researchers say even that statistic masks the reality of suicide rates in Asian American young people, and that rates vary greatly by subgroup.  Soundside spoke with Dr. Anthony L. Bui, lead author of a study that looked at suicide rates in Asian American youth. Dr. Bui is also an acting assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a researcher at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute. He believes that by better understanding the background of individuals at risk, we can develop culturally specific and more effective approaches to youth mental health care. Dr. Bui's study was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics.  During our conversation Dr. Bui noted the importance of reaching out to professionals like school therapists when you are concerned about the youth in your life.  Soundside called up one of those school-based, child mental health specialists -- Ana Short -- to learn more about what culturally appropriate health care for young people may look like in practice. Correction notice, 2:13p.m. on Thursday, 9/12/2024: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Ana Short worked for Internal Community Health Services. This story has been amended to the correct employer: International Community Health Services. Guests: Dr. Anthony L Bui, acting assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.  Ana Short, child mental health specialist with International Community Health Services.  Related Links:  Suicide rates differ in subgroups of young Asian Americans - UW Medicine | Newsroom  More Asian young people are dying by suicide — and some subgroups are faring worse than others (nbcnews.com)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the turn of the 20th century, Asahel Curtis was a prolific photographer who traveled throughout Washington. His work captured the state as it underwent big changes, owing to rapid industrialization. For decades, a massive collection of Asahel’s glass plate negatives has been held at the Washington State Historical Society in Tacoma. The plates, however, are aging. In the 1980s, historians and staff were able to digitize around 3,000 of his most essential photographs. That left about 58,000 to go. Now, thanks to renewed interest and funding, historians are working on preserving the rest of the Curtis images.   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: Margaret Wetherbee, Head of Collections at the Washington State Historical Society Recommended Links: Asahel Curtis Collection - Washington State Historical Society (washingtonhistory.org) ASAHEL: The Curtis Collection | Cascade PBS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If someone asked you to name three Rock musicians that are Black, could you? Some people might be able to, but in general there aren’t a lot of them. This is despite the fact that the genre traces its roots back to Black blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues artists in the United States. The rock music industry and academic scholarship of the genre instead tend to focus on white voices. That’s according to research from the University of Ottawa.  Cameron Lavi-Jones says that’s part of what inspired him to create the band King Youngblood, which he fronts. It’s also why, along with co-founder Anthony Briscoe, Lavi-Jones created Black & Loud Fest. The Fest celebrates Black-fronted bands - especially those in genres that don’t  typically feature many Black performers. And it’s returning to Seattle for its third year: next Saturday, September 14th at the Crocodile.   Guests: Cameron Lavi-Jones, frontman of King Youngblood, and co-founder of Black & Loud Fest   Relevant Links: Black & Loud Fest Website See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new wrinkle in the debate over homelessness policy in the city of Burien.  Last September, Burien passed a controversial ordinance banning camping in much of the city, Meanwhile, a local church decided to step in and offer its property as a temporary encampment for the homeless. Burien requested that the church, the Oasis Home Church, get a “temporary use permit” for the encampment.   They declined to do that and are now bringing another lawsuit against the city, arguing that Burien was infringing on their religious freedom to provide a place for homeless residents to stay.  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: Anna Patrick, reporter on the Seattle Times’ Project Homelessness team Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Burien faces another homelessness lawsuit, this one about religion Seattle Times: SCOTUS homelessness decisions’ impacts in Washington could be unique Seattle Times: Burien poised to kill King County-funded shelter project See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spokane County Commissioner Al French is facing a recall effort over his handling of disclosures of contaminated groundwater in the West Plains.  The “Clean Water Accountability Coalition” is sounding the alarm about PFAS—sometimes called 'forever chemicals’—in well water.  And let's not forget to mention that French is also running for re-election this year, adding another layer to the already heated debate.  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: Nate Sanford, staff writer at Inlander Relevant Links: Inlander: Spokane County Commissioner Al French faces recall attempt over PFAS controversy  Inlander: EPA, Ecology and Spokane officials urge West Plains residents to sign up for free PFAS testingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the best coffee spots in Bellingham isn’t a cafe, at least according to some of the folks in the city’s unhoused population. Instead, it’s a casual coffee cart that pops-up twice a week, at a free lunch program, known as the Maple Alley Inn. While the coffee is decent, the main attraction is the person running the cart. 85 year-old Ursula DeWit is known for her easy smile and exceptional listening skills. Her kindness has made a significant impact in the lives of people she serves coffee to, including seniors, veterans and families. We’ll also hear from April Ballard who is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at Georgia State University about the importance of treating vulnerable populations of people with dignity. 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:  Dr. April Ballard, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at the Georgia State University School of Public Health Ursula DeWitt, volunteer at the Maple Alley Inn in Bellingham RELATED LINKS:  Background info on Maple Alley Inn Free Lunch Program Striving for dignity in homelessness research and outreach Ballard Kindness Cafe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Riders packed trains on Friday to see four new stations on the One Line, which now stops in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood. At the 148th Street Station, Shoreline celebrated the occasions with a marching band, speeches, and bubble machines. The suburb has been planning for this moment for years, that’s apparent when you step off the train.  Across I-5 from the light rail station, new apartment buildings are going up. Townhomes line a couple blocks near Meridian Avenue. There’s also road work to add larger sidewalks and traffic-calming roundabouts.  The city is encouraging density and building infrastructure to support more pedestrians, and this is an effort most every city in the state is struggling with. 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: Mayor Chris Roberts, City of Shoreline Relevant Links: KUOW: Light rail is helping Mountlake Terrace find its heart The Urbanist: South Shoreline Light Rail Brings Suburban Retrofit with Thousands of Homes Seattle Times: Lynnwood light rail is opening. Here’s what you’ll find at 4 new stationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being a sports fan in Washington State is akin to riding the Extreme Scream at the fair: big highs, and REAL SUDDEN LOWS.  Yes, I’m looking at you, Seattle Mariners… With the Seahawks kicking off their regular season at home this weekend against the Denver Broncos, hope springs eternal! And it felt like a good time to check in on what’s been cooking at VMAC all summer. The team has a new head coach, and a new slate of players… so, what should we expect?  To answer that question, we’re talking to an expert. GUEST: Michael-Shawn Dugar RELATED LINK: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/michael-shawn-dugar/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.