The Conversation Podcast

Misspent Funds In Seattle Schools Nearly Doubles: A state audit has found that Seattle Public Schools misspent $1.3 million in public funds on construction projects from 2005 to 2009. That nearly doubles the size of the financial scandal that resulted in the firing of former Superintendent Maria Goodloe–Johnson. KUOW's Ann Dornfeld reports. King County Sheriff To Give Monthly Reports: The King County Council voted to require the King County Sherriff to report monthly regarding improvements to the office. KUOW's Deb Wang and Patricia Murphy have more. The Health Impacts Of Forest Fires: The persistent smoke from wildfires has gotten so bad in the Wenatchee and Ellensburg areas that county health departments are telling everyone to stay indoors if possible. Tom Banse reports on the fight to contain the fires across Eastern Washington and the health impacts of the smoke and ash in the air. Amazon Vs. Microsoft And The Future Of Mobile Computing: Although nearly 85 percent of all mobile devices are either Apple– or Android–powered, Seattle is home to two major competitors in the mobile field: Amazon and Microsoft. We ask Xconomy's Curt Woodward what the future of Seattle–based mobile computing holds. Does The Governor Have Executive Privilege? On Thursday the Washington State Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of Freedom Foundation v. Gregoire on whether Governor Chris Gregoire has an executive privilege to withhold internal documents from the public. In 2010, Freedom Foundation requested 11 memos from Gregoire's advisers, and her office withheld three of them. The governor claimed executive privilege, but no such privilege exists in state statute. Ross Reynolds talks to an attorney for the Allied Law Group about the case.

Washington state's 2nd Congressional District stretches south from the Canadian border to encompass all of San Juan and Island counties, and portions of Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties. It is home to Naval Station Everett, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and The Boeing Company. For the last 11 years Democrat Congressman Rick Larsen has represented this district, and now he faces Republican challenger Dan Matthews in the coming election. Ross talks to the two candidates for the 2nd.

In Washington state, 1 in 6 adults doesn't have the basic reading, writing, or math skills required to get a job, but only about 5 percent of those adults have access to education that would enable them to earn a living wage. These adults will make up almost all of the growth in Washington's workforce over the next 20 years. Today Ross talks to advocates who are working to ensure that Washington's adult learners get a chance to succeed on the job, at home and in the community.

The Ethics Of Solar Power: One of the Northwest's leading solar power advocates likely used his state position to help a company he was working for get an unfair tax designation. KUOW's Austin Jenkins has more. The 99 Percent, A Year Later: Today marks a year since the onset of the Occupy movement. The demonstrations that started in New York quickly spread across the country and to the Northwest. KUOW's Liz Jones reports on the state of the 99–percenters in Western Washington. 'Top Talent' Have Applied To Monitor Seattle Police: City Attorney Pete Holmes says many highly qualified people have applied to be the new Seattle Police Department monitor. The position was mandated in a settlement between SPD and the Department of Justice to correct problems including excessive use of force. Amy Radil reports. Ben Gibbard Loves The Smith Tower: Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard just released a new song about Seattle and the Smith Tower. Get your first listen here on The Conversation.

The UW's Board of Regents is the head governing body for the school. They appoint the president of the university, as they did with current UW president Michael Young, and they have the power to adjust tuition levels, which was given by the state Legislature in May of last year. Today on The Conversation, we'll talk with Joanne Harrell, the newly appointed chair of the Board of Regents.

For some, fall means football or the kick off of new seasons of your favorite television shows. But there's another season that starts in September: performances by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Ross Reynolds talks with the Maestro that now leads these musicians, Ludovic Morlot.

Emerging Contaminants Feminizing Puget Sound Fish: The Clean Water Act was created 40 years ago and it has been largely successful at reining in industrial pollution and improving water quality. But there are some contaminants the Clean Water Act was never designed to control, and they're having adverse affects on Puget Sound's fish populations. Ashley Ahearn has the latest installment in our ongoing EarthFix series "Clean Water: The Next Act." Tongan Family's Foreclosure Struggle Highlights Cultural Gap: People in the South Pacific island nation, the Kingdom of Tonga, have a strong cultural value of making sure "no one is homeless and no one goes hungry." A Tongan woman in Seattle tries to hold onto that tradition, even as she faces home foreclosure. KUOW's Liz Jones brings us the story.

Two members of the King County Council, Democrat Bob Ferguson and Republican Reagan Dunn, are competing for the job as the state's top legal officer. Ross Reynolds was a panelist for the candidates' debate that took place Wednesday, September 12, at The Seattle Times. We bring you highlights from that lively exchange.

Eagle Scouts Tell Boy Scouts, It's All or Nothing When It Comes To Tolerance: A number of Eagle Scouts, the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve, have decided to return their prestigious awards in response to the Boy Scouts of America upholding their policy to exclude gay members from their organization. Ross Reynolds talks to a local Seattle Eagle Scout keeping track of the returned badges. 'Reinventing Discovery: The New Era Of Networked Science' The American system of science is highly competitive, but is all that competition holding us back? Scientist and author Michael Nielsen thinks so. He joins us to discuss his new book, "Reinventing Discovery: The New Era Of Networked Science."

English journalist Lindsey Hilsum has written a new account of the Libyan revolution and the decline and fall of Muammar Gaddafi. She joins David Hyde to share details about the chaos and the Colonel from "Sandstorm: Libya in the Time of Revolution."

Dan Ariely is a behavioral economist and the author of "Predictably Irrational." His new book is "The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone — Especially Ourselves."

Washington D.C. is a fiercely partisan town. But when Republican Richard Nixon died, Democrat Bill Clinton compared the death to losing his mother. Our guests today say the relationships between presidents and former presidents have been surprisingly close. And behind the scenes, those relationships have shaped the course of modern history.

Which comes first: belief or the reasons why we believe? According to Michael Shermer the question is much easier to answer than the chicken or the egg question. Founding publisher of Skeptic Magazine and author of "The Believing Brain" is here to discuss how we decide what we believe.

Sidney Rittenberg is the only American citizen who has been a member of the Chinese Communist Party. He personally knew Chairman Mao Zedong and participated in the Cultural Revolution. Rittenberg fell in and out of favor in China and was eventually jailed twice and put in solitary confinement for a total of 16 years. Rittenberg shares his story with Ross Reynolds.

City Academy in St. Paul, Minn., became the nation's first publicly funded, privately run charter school when it opened its doors in 1992. Its founders, all veteran public school teachers, had tried but failed to create new programs for struggling students in their own schools. Washington voters will be voting on an initiative this November that would allow for charter schools here. In a two part series education reporter, Claudio Sanchez looks at how the charter school movement first started and where it is today.