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The (no longer) Living Computers Museum
The Living Computers: Museum/Labs in SoDo is closing its doors for good. It was the creation of the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. He built it to preserve some of the important artifacts in computing history, a history he played an important role in. Now, years following his death, his estate is auctioning off its artifacts.
Tuesday Evening Headlines
Conservative activists want to prevent a natural gas ban, Seattle finalizes its transportation levy, and a PNW bird is declared a threatened species. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Ruby de Luna. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback.
Most of Western Washington will see a rise in 2024 property values, but not everywhere
Home values across Western Washington are generally up for 2024, but how much depends on the community. Meanwhile, many office spaces and condos are showing a decline in value. "After dramatic fluctuations in the residential market during the Covid years, values have returned to a steady level of increase," King County Assessor John Wilson said in a statement. "The volatility now is in the commercial sector and among condominiums." RELATED: Seattle's surprising place for housing bargains — downtown Western Washington property owners will soon learn how much their values have gone up or down over the past year, as county assessors begin mailing out notices. This updated information is sent over each summer to determine upcoming taxes — 2024's property values will be used for 2025's tax bills (there are more than 720,000 property owners in King County alone).
Producer picks: tracing family lineage and searching for hermits
The Soundside team is on a break this week for the 4th of July holiday, so we’re revisiting some of our favorite segments of the year. First up, when Seattle writer and illustrator Tessa Hulls started drafting the story of her grandmother’s life, she wanted to take on the role of neutral narrator, but that didn't last long. We’ll hear about her graphic novel, Feeding Ghosts, and the complicated family history she unraveled. And then, we'll speak with the director of a documentary about renowned translator Bill Porter aka Red Pine.
What's left of your paycheck after housing?
We all know that it’s really expensive to buy a home in the Seattle area. But the amount of money you need to get in the door in this market is probably more than you imagined. Even renters who earn a good living are feeling the squeeze. Seattle Times reporter Heidi Groover is here to explain.
The wildlife super dog (reprise)
Karelian Bear Dogs were bred in Finland hundreds of years ago for hunting. From bears to moose, these fearless dogs were on the frontline. Now, ironically, they are being used to save bears and other species. In some remote parts of the country grizzly bears have been known to wander into town, presenting a danger of encounters with humans. Now these Karelian Bear Dogs are being used to scare bears away and prevent future returns. We'll head to Montana to talk to the woman whose brainchild it was to bring this breed to North America to help with wildlife research,...
Inheriting (Special Episode)
This is an episode from a podcast called Inheriting from our friends at LAist Studios and the NPR Network. Hosted by NPR's Emily Kwong. Inheriting is a show about Asian American and Pacific Islander families, exploring how a single event can ripple through generations. Bảo Trương’s parents both fled Vietnam in 1975 following the war. His father Thuận was a pilot for the South Vietnamese Air Force and left the day before the Fall of Saigon, evacuating almost 100 people to Thailand on a plane. Thuận has now been settled in the U.S. for decades, but he still writes songs mourning the Vietnam of his childhood – a country that, to him, no longer exists because it is still under a communist government. On the flipside, his son Bảo wants to live in the Vietnam of today, a yearning his father doesn’t understand. In this episode, the father and son sit down for a frank conversation about the country they both long for, in different ways.
Monday Evening Headlines
Undocumented people can now apply for professional licenses, another WA athlete is headed to the Olympics, and McMenamins is sticking with Tacoma, despite losses. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Gustavo Sagrero. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback.
Undocumented Washingtonians can now work as doctors, teachers under new professional licensing law
Starting Monday, undocumented people in Washington can apply for professional state licenses and certifications, such as those held by doctors, teachers, and engineers. That’s because of a bill passed earlier this year. “Immigration status is really a federal matter,” said State House Rep. Amy Walen (D-Kirkland), who sponsored the bill. “It's not relevant to whether you can do a job that you need a license for in the state of Washington. So why would we put that up as a barrier to work?” The new law opens the door to dozens of new career options for undocumented people. But some state agencies have already been issuing professional licenses to that demographic. Last year, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry began allowing people to apply for contractor licenses using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, federal tax processing numbers commonly used by people who don’t have federal work authorization or Social Security numbers. The State Department of Health said in an email that the agency already doesn’t collect immigration or citizenship status from applicants.
Producer picks: An Oscar nominee and Coast Salish Punk share the power of Indigenous stories
The Soundside team is taking some time off this 4th of July week; some of us are on vacation, and others are working on upcoming shows. We’re going to revisit some of our favorite segments, and the hardworking producers who make Soundside, will be making the picks. Producer Noel Gasca's picks: Guests:
Before you spark up, know where fireworks are banned in western Washington
The Fourth of July means fireworks for many people across Western Washington. That translates to a lot of anxiety for the region's fire departments and emergency rooms, which is why many cities and counties have banned them, such as Seattle, Tacoma, and unincorporated King County. RELATED: Where to see 4th of July fireworks shows around Western Washington 2023 See a larger list of places where fireworks have been banned below. Fireworks sales began in Washington state on June 28 and will continue through July 5. While consumer sales are allowed during this time, rules for discharging fireworks vary around the state.
Why McMenamins is sticking with Tacoma, despite losses at popular Elks Temple
The century-old Elks Temple in downtown Tacoma cost $30 million to turn into a hotel/restaurant/bar/concert venue. It opened right before the pandemic. Since then, it's been a consistent money-loser for the company that restored it. But the McMenamins company made its name by taking the long view. Company co-founder Mike McMenamin has no intention of changing that now.
An historic verdict for police accountability
Six years ago, Washington voters put a new law on the books that makes it easier to charge law enforcement officers with murder. Last week, Auburn police officer Jeffrey Nelson was the first person convicted under the law, making history in Washington's work towards police accountability. KUOW investigative reporter Ashley Hiruko breaks down the trial and tells us what the ruling means for police accountability in WA. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow
Friday Evening Headlines
SCOTUS rules in favor of public camping bans, pay equity campaign launches, and WA ferries are about to get real crowded. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback.
Biden failed to wow in the first presidential debate. WA Dems want voters to focus on November
Democratic party leaders in Washington state focused not on President Joe Biden's lackluster performance but rather on the stark ideological contrast between him and former President Donald Trump.
Does the US Supreme Court ruling on public camping bans criminalize homelessness?
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that cities can ban camping and sleeping in public, even if there is no shelter to send them to, overturning a previous ruling that has guided cities' approaches to homelessness for years.
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