The Conversation Podcast

Garbage Strike Is Over: Waste Management and the Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement. We check with Waste Management about when your trash pickup will resume and whether you might get rebates for the days when your trash wasn't removed. The Debate Over Citizens United: New York Times reporter Matt Bai recently told "The Conversation" that the impact of the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United ruling has been overstated. UC Irvine Law Professor Rick Hasen joins us today to counter that argument. Washington State Lawmakers Want Tougher Decency Act: Last week US Judge Ricardo Martinez ruled in the Backpage.com suit that online publishers can't be held responsible for content posted to their websites by third–party users. Now Washington state lawmakers want to strengthen the federal Communications Decency Act to prevent child sex trafficking online. Sara Lerner brings us this story.

Seattle–area home prices are inching higher — 0.6 percent higher than a year ago, according to the latest Case–Shiller home–price index. Are you currently in the market for a house, or is your house on the market? What are you seeing out there? We get the latest data from the head analyst for the Seattle–based real estate website Redfin, and we take your phone calls.

Seafair Weekend begins this Friday. It's the culmination of an eight–week festival that also includes a pirate landing, a marathon, a milk carton derby and a parade. How did Seafair start? In what ways does this annual event celebrate Seattle? Ross discusses the festival with Seafair president and CEO, Beth Knox.

Free Dump Trips During Trash Strike: Today Seattle can start imposing up to $1.2 million in fines on Waste Management for not picking up the garbage. The truck drivers' strike is in its seventh day with no sign of a settlement. KUOW's Ann Dornfeld gives us the details. Tacoma's New Plan For Medical Marijuana: Last night the Tacoma City Council passed legislation that tightens restrictions on marijuana growers and sellers. Basically, if a collective garden isn't bothering anyone, they will be left alone. But the measure isn't good news for pot dispensaries. McKenna's Solution For Education: Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna announces he'll cap all state spending to pay for more funding for K–12 and higher education. Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports the details. Purdy Inmate Suit: A female inmate at the women's prison in Purdy, Wash., claims the Department of Corrections didn't protect her from retaliation after she reported an alleged sexual assault by a corrections officer. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports. Most Schools Chief Candidates Oppose Charter Initiative: The initiative to allow charter schools in Washington has qualified for the fall ballot. But four of the five candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction oppose the measure. KUOW's Ann Dornfeld reports.