KUOW News Podcast

Backers of the 1962 World's Fair wanted Seattle to be known as the city of the Space Needle, the Monorail and the Bubbleator: space, technology and the future. But the conductor of the Seattle Symphony had his own vision for the World's Fair: It was a grand opera staging of "Aida," and it marked Seattle's transition to a more cosmopolitan city.

An operator at the wastewater treatment plant at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park has pleaded guilty to dumping sewage into the Nisqually River. James Barber admitted to violating the Clean Water Act Friday in federal court in Tacoma.

Bus riders in King County are in for some major transition. On Saturday, Metro Transit will flip the switch on its biggest service change in recent history. It includes dozens of route changes and the end of the ride–free zone in downtown Seattle.

Latinos are a younger demographic. And younger people — no matter what their ethnicity — are much less likely to vote than older people. But one issue that's energized many young Latinos is the DREAM Act. It would create a path to citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.

One of the most active Northwest chapters of Toastmasters International is in a place where its members can't actually go out in public. It's based at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem and the inmates who participate get the chance to practice their communications skills with a university debate team.

Research in the Northwest is finding new evidence that a chemical used to harden plastics can damage female reproductive systems.

The nation's largest water–bottling plant could go up in Anacortes. The Anacortes City Council voted Monday on a key provision in the process towards bringing in some sort of new manufacturing facility. KUOW's Sara Lerner reports.

A lofty vision is becoming a reality in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Volunteers are about to dig up a large grassy hillside and make it into the nation's largest food forest on public land. Seven empty acres will soon be planted with fruits and vegetables for the community to enjoy.

According to a database of the Northwest's elected officials, just a handful of Latinos hold state office in the region. But this year, Latino voters have an edge for the first time in one of the Northwest's major Hispanic hubs. Redistricting gave them a majority. You might think the Latino candidate there would now be a shoo–in. Not so. Jessica Robinson has our latest story on why the region's largest minority group has so little clout in the political arena.

The Washington Supreme Court could decide by the end of this year whether a voter–approved two–thirds requirement for tax hikes is constitutional. But first, the justices must determine who has the right to challenge the law. That technical question was the focus of oral arguments Tuesday.

About one out of five Medicare patients returns to the hospital within a month after being discharged. Those readmissions are often preventable. KUOW's Ruby de Luna reports that starting in October Medicare will penalize hospitals with high readmission rates.

The family of a 77–year–old man who was shot to death by Seattle police told the Seattle Times he suffered from dementia. Neighbors say the man's name is Henry Lee. Last night Seattle Police offered a few more details on the shooting. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports.

Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen thanked the Seattle City Council for approving his plan to build a new sports arena in the city's SODO neighborhood. He said that brings the arena "one step closer to reality." The Council voted 6–2 Monday to provide up to $200 million in bonds for the project. KUOW's Deborah Wang reports.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn Monday rolled out his budget plan for next year. It sets aside more money for new police officers, librarians and for the city's rainy–day fund. And, it calls for a lot fewer layoffs than in recent years, as KUOW's Liz Jones reports.

According to an estimate from a database of Hispanic officeholders in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, nearly nine out of 10 city councils across the Northwest have no Latino councilmembers.