KUOW News Podcast

Researchers in Washington are trying a new approach to the growing problem of childhood obesity. They plan to teach kids to be more media savvy — and less susceptible to all those junk food ads.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. The event gave visitors a peek at how they might communicate and use something called a computer in the 21st dentury. In the third part of our series on the fair, produced with Jack Straw Productions, Harriet Baskas looks at some of technological innovations unveiled at Seattle's Space Age World's Fair.

A 130–year–old mental institution might seem like an odd place for a museum. But historians and mental health advocates have fought to preserve and tell the Oregon State Hospital's long and sordid history. Starting this month, the public can tour a section of the restored main hospital building which was featured in the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

The issue of pay raises for public employees is quickly becoming an issue in Washington's race for governor. There's much to debate including: a cost of living increase for teachers, a dollar–an–hour pay hike for unionized homecare workers. And an end to a 3 percent pay cut for state workers. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

The director of Washington's Fish and Wildlife Department Friday said he hopes never again to have to order the killing of an entire wolf pack, as happened last month. In Olympia Friday, cattlemen and wolf lovers offered the agency radically different ideas for how to avoid a repeat. Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

The Washington gubernatorial candidates are in the final weeks of campaigning. Republican Rob McKenna and Democrat Jay Inslee are touring the state for photo opportunities and debates. There's usually a question thrown in about environmental issues, but overall, the environment hasn't been a major focus in this election. KUOW's environment reporter Ashley Ahearn has our story.

Dryer than normal conditions prompted Washington Governor Chris Gregoire to declare a State of Emergency and extend a ban on outdoor fires. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports.

The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission has agreed to investigate a case of alleged retaliation by the Seattle Police Department. It's the first time the city's ethics commission has looked at police conduct.

Parts of Washington and Oregon are in the midst of silent earthquakes this week. You can't feel this so–called slow–slip quake and it doesn't cause damage. Still, scientists want to learn more about the recently discovered phenomenon.

The "world's most comprehensive collection" of opium smoking paraphernalia has a new home; it's at the University of Idaho. A writer and collector, originally from San Diego, donated the exquisite antiques.

The Washington State Supreme Court has unanimously upheld the state's toxic cleanup tax. A ruling issued Thursday turns aside a challenge from gas station owners.

This year marks the 150 anniversary of the University of Washington. Today the UW is a respected institution of higher learning, serving more than 92,000 students on campuses in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma. But it didn't quite start out this way. Feliks Banel explains.

Both candidates for Washington governor have pledged to drive more money into education — without raising taxes. But the state faces a $1 billion shortfall in the next two year budget cycle. Plus, a recent Supreme Court ruling requires the state to come up with another $1 billion for schools.

A federal nuclear watchdog is pushing Hanford managers to come up with a fix for flammable gas that may be building up in underground waste tanks. This is the latest round of criticism of the nuclear reservation in southeast Washington.

Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn has asked for an additional $4.1 billion for basic education in his biennial budget proposal. KUOW's Ann Dornfeld reports.