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Seattle Council and Mayor Butt Heads Over Universal Free School Meals

Seattle City Council is weighing an amendment that would delay Mayor Katie Wilson’s proposal for universal free school meals in favor of a more cautious expansion and a voucher food assistance program.

Weekend Listen: WA Democrats are hopeful Yakima could go blue this year, Snohomish County looks to its residents for AI policy, and when school’s out, this King County program keeps kids fed for free

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom. First, Democrats are working to flip a few Republican seats in the state legislature this year. One of them is in farm country in central Washington. Next, artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, and many local governments are trying to figure out how, or if, they should be using it. In Snohomish County, local leaders are trying a new experiment by convening what’s known as a “civic assembly.” And finally, while many families can access free lunches during the school year, experts say summer creates a hunger gap. 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.

Friday Evening Headlines

Washington officials are responding to President Trump's claims of election fraud, Boeing is now allowed to certify its own planes for the first time since 2019, and a look into Amanda Knox's one-woman show. 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. 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.

Jenks and Kang Offer Differing Views at D5 Seattle Council Forum

Seattle’s D5 Council frontrunners Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang diverged around the issues of surveillance cameras, Aurora “stay out” orders, and relative enthusiasm for the mayor’s Taller Denser Faster housing proposal.

Street Cheese Goes for (Dairy) Gold

Courtney Johnson brings championship cheesemongering to Beacon Hill.

Indigenous Violence Survivors See Fewer Services After Federal Cuts

Wilson's Transit Measure Advances Out of Council Committee Intact

While amendments from the Council did make a mark on the Seattle Transit Measure renewal, it still largely resembles Wilson's initial proposal. Amendments that would have scaled it back in scope and duration were both defeated Thursday.

Casual Friday with Rachel Horgan and Phyllis Fletcher

This week… Tourism numbers are in for the World Cup and Pioneer Square is celebrating the win. The city of SeaTac wants to build an identity outside of the airport.  And the Seattle Kraken are looking for lookalikes for their mascot, Buoy. The Weekly Seattle Podcast Host Rachel Horgan and KUOW Editor Phyllis Fletcher are here to break down the week. 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.

Cyclospora: Public Health – Seattle King County issues update

Public Health – Seattle & King County issued the following information July 16 about a national outbreak of Cyclospora, aka explosive diarrhea:

2026 Primary Election Endorsements

The Urbanist Elections Committee is excited to announce our 2026 primary election endorsements. Check out our great slate of leaders. Be sure to vote by August 4.

Thursday Evening Headlines

Keeping or killing the so-called millionaire's tax will be on Washington ballots in November, wildland firefighters get new authorization about masking, and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority says Seattle and King County owe it millions of dollars. 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. 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.

It’s official: WA voters will get to weigh in on new income tax

Washington voters will get their chance in November to embrace or reject the state’s new income tax on households with earnings greater than a million dollars a year.