Latest News

Spectator 2026-06-04

Casual Friday with Danny Ball and Michael Wong

This week… Thousands of Seattle residents are lining up to volunteer during the World Cup. An iconic local karaoke spot is re-opening its doors. And why does Lumen Field just say "Field" right now? Simply Seattle’s Danny Ball and Asian Verified founder Michael Wong are here to break down the week. And make sure to join us this Saturday for a live taping of Seattle Now where Patricia Murphy will interview King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival. Get tickets 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Evening Headlines

Hotel workers near Lumen Field could go on strike, Mayor Wilson is no longer boycotting Starbucks, and Seattle delays its plan to reduce pickleball courts. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. And make sure to join us this Saturday for a live taping of Seattle Now where Patricia Murphy will interview King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival. Get tickets here. Use promo code SEATTLENOW to access a 20% discount. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After rocket explosion, Kent's Blue Origin falls further behind in the space race

When Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded last week, it affected NASA’s space aspirations, and private companies like Amazon. The New York Times’ Karen Weise will tell us about the fallout from the Kent-based company’s launchpad disaster. Read Karen’s reporting here. And make sure to join us this Saturday for a live taping of Seattle Now where Patricia Murphy will interview King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival. Get tickets here. Use promo code SEATTLENOW to access a 20% discount. 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.

Wednesday Evening Headlines

Seattle one step closer to emergency ban on large data centers, 1,400 kids will get free tickets to the World Cup, and two veteran Seattle police officers are suing the department. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. And make sure to join us this Saturday for a live taping of Seattle Now where Patricia Murphy will interview King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival. Get tickets here. Use promo code SEATTLENOW to access a 20% discount. 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.

King County Transportation District nears finalizing new sales tax

Board members agree cities should receive a portion of the $100 million in expected revenue, but are now debating minimum and maximum amounts.

Seattle’s years-long social housing dreams are being put to the test

Seattle’s social housing test will soon become a reality. The city’s voter-approved Social Housing Developer is working to fill an apartment near Pike Place Market with mixed income tenants. The deadline to apply for a spot in the housing lottery is this Friday. Seattle Times real estate reporter Heidi Groover is here to fill us in. And make sure to join us this Saturday for a live taping of Seattle Now where Patricia Murphy will interview King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival. Get tickets here. Use promo code SEATTLENOW to access a 20% discount. 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.

World Cup vs. Seattle area traffic | Cartoon by Frank Shiers

This cartoon by Frank Shiers references how road construction will be limited when the World Cup comes to town.

Tuesday Evening Headlines

The Trump administration has removed ocean observation stations from waters off the WA coast, Mayor Wilson asks voters to renew the Seattle Transit Measure, and the Allen Institute makes major investments to treat brain diseases. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. And make sure to join us this Saturday for a live taping of Seattle Now where Patricia Murphy will interview King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival. Get tickets here. Use promo code SEATTLENOW to access a 20% discount. 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.

Final 2 victims recovered from site of southwest WA mill implosion

The two remaining victims who went missing after a chemical tank implosion in Longview, Washington earlier this week have been recovered, raising the confirmed death toll to 11.

L7’s last North American hurrah isn’t about nostalgia

“The cost of a tour bus is like a down payment on a house.”

After a pandemic spike, traffic deaths are trending down in WA

Roads in Seattle and in Washington state can be dangerous places - for pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers. After peaking in 2023, traffic fatalities around the state are slowly trending down. We’ll hear from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission about why, and where the state can go from here. And make sure to join us this Saturday for a live taping of Seattle Now where Patricia Murphy will interview King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival. Get tickets here. Use promo code SEATTLENOW to access a 20% discount. 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.