Seattle Now

Seattle's Freeway Park celebrated its 50th birthday this summer. It was created as a lid over I-5 to connect First Hill and downtown. Over the years it's faced challenges with public safety and maintenance. But park advocates have big plans for the future. Riisa Conklin is executive director of the Freeway Park Association. We met recently in Seneca Plaza, surrounded by the park’s waterfall and freeway traffic, to talk about the future of the park.

Learn more about Freeway Park's 50th anniversary party, here.

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson issues an executive order to increase housing construction, the Trump administration has moved to open up more public lands to logging and other development, and Matthews Beach has reopened while 3 others are closed.

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tacoma’s Northwest ICE Processing Center is one of the largest in the country.

But while ICE uses the center for processing and detention, they don’t actually own it.

That may change as the agency looks to expand its footprint in the Seattle area.

KUOW’s Gustavo Sagrero will tell us more.

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor Wilson faces increased pressure over police cameras, hunger strike ends at Tacoma immigrant lockup, and we explore why orcas are making so many appearances this summer.

It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy.

The interview in today's episode was produced by Natalie Newcomb.

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last decade, power outages in Seattle have gotten twice as long, on average.

They’re also getting more frequent

One of the driving forces are underground power lines from the 1960s.

Meanwhile, rates are going up.

Soundside co-host David Kroman is here to talk about it.

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hunger strike continues at Tacoma immigrant lockup, state lawmaker fined $15,000 in ethics case, and the Washington State Library has a new leader.

It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Vaughan Jones.

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s not your average Monday when an orca swims right up next to you. 

That’s what happened at the Ballard Locks last week.

If you want to keep up on orca activity, there’s a whatsapp group that alerts you about local sightings.

We'll talk with Kersti Muul, field biologist and director of the whatsapp group Salish Wildlife Watch. 

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty years ago, Josh Okrent and his friends opened the first Punk Rock Flea Market in an old union hall in Belltown. Since then, the flea market has moved through empty spaces around Seattle, and now occupies the old QFC grocery store on 15th Avenue East. You can pay $1 and choose your own adventure among the crafters, collectors and performers. Josh’s exploration of vacant buildings started when he was a kid with a skateboard, a can of spray paint and a dream.

• Punk Rock Flea Market Seattle
• Punk Rock Flea Market Instagram 
• Quality Flea Center 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom.

First, does Washington state go too easy on kids caught with guns? Some officials say yes.

Next, more on the Seattle Center shooting… The wife of Carlos Sanchez Villalba says every day is harder since losing her husband.

Next, wildfires have shut down two big segments of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington.

And finally, as millions of acres burn across Oregon, one small community in the Columbia River Gorge may adopt a proactive defense. 

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound Transit says the West Seattle Light Rail line will be completed later than expected, Seattle approves money to assist transgender and queer Seattleites, and 80 cats are headed to Tacoma Humane Society from two separate incidents.

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 [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.