-
1 week ago | 
m.kuow.org | Monica Nickelsburg |Joshua McNichols |Lucy Soucek |Alec Cowan
Washington state is known for its cherries. We produce more sweet cherries than any other state in the country, and we export them all over the world. But to supply the world with cherries, Washington farmers need a lot of workers to show up for a very short harvesting window. Usually they do, but not this year. High profile ICE raids are keeping migrant workers from the fields. Today, how a culture of fear is pushing Washington cherry growers to the brink.
-
2 weeks ago | 
m.kuow.org | Monica Nickelsburg |Joshua McNichols |Lucy Soucek |Alec Cowan
After years of heated arguments, Seattle just passed a law allowing up to four houses per residential lot -- and six, in some cases. The hope is that building a lot more homes will keep prices from becoming dramatically more expensive than they are now. But there’s a tradeoff. Togain more housing, we’re going to lose something else people care a lot about: trees. On the latest episode of Booming, could there be a way to have both?
-
1 month ago | 
m.kuow.org | Monica Nickelsburg |Joshua McNichols |Lucy Soucek |Alec Cowan
It's graduation season. When today’s grads started college four years ago, an entry-level job in tech was a sure bet. Now, it's anything but. And it's not just tech. Internship openings across the country are the lowest they've been in 6 years. On today's episode, entry-level jobs are supposed to be the first rung of the career ladder. So why is that ladder breaking? And is there anything that new grads hoping to enter the workforce can do about it?
-
1 month ago | 
m.kuow.org | Joshua McNichols |Lucy Soucek |Alec Cowan |Carol Smith
In Seattle's Central District, the number of Black homeowners has reached a historic low. And across Seattle, less than half as many Black households own homes as white families. But there's a new law that could help turn that around. The law expands the Covenant Home Ownership program, a state program that helps first-time Black and other marginalized home buyers cover their down payments and closing costs.
-
2 months ago | 
kuow.org | Joshua McNichols |Monica Nickelsburg |Lucy Soucek |Carol Smith
If you've got tariff whiplash, you're not alone. The Trump administration's on-again, off-again tariffs are meant to protect domestic businesses and bring industry back to the US. So tariffs should be good for the iconic local industries we're so proud of here in the Pacific Northwest...right? On today's episode we'll dig into three of these Northwest industries: salmon, craft breweries, and aerospace parts, to see how they could be affected by rising tariffs.
-
2 months ago | 
kuow.org | Monica Nickelsburg |Joshua McNichols |Lucy Soucek |Carol Smith
When it comes to the white-collar workforce, alarm bells are starting to go off. The tech industry is seeing widespread layoffs, and a lot of those laid off workers are struggling to find new gigs. Some experts speculate that these are early signs of AI moving into the workforce and replacing jobs. Microsoft is one company at the center of this debate, so Monica sat down with its president Brad Smith to ask: is AI already taking our jobs? And if so, what can we do about it?
-
Mar 26, 2025 | 
kuow.org | Monica Nickelsburg |Joshua McNichols |Lucy Soucek |Carol Smith
Experts say kids are spinning out online. Can Washington lawmakers help by putting seatbelts on social media? Parents, tech workers and even kids are asking for social media regulation, and there’s a bill moving through the Washington State Legislature that could make it happen. Senate Bill 5708 would block apps like Instagram and Snapchat from using addictive algorithms to keep kids scrolling. It would also require apps to stop sending push notifications late at night and during school hours.
-
Mar 5, 2025 | 
kuow.org | Monica Nickelsburg |Joshua McNichols |Carol Smith |Lucy Soucek
For months, Seattle's tech industry has been reeling from layoffs. Microsoft, Amazon, Expedia and Starbucks are just a few of the companies who've recently let corporate employees go. And that's left many tech workers in a tough spot. But could there be a silver lining? With so many people suddenly out of a job, could these layoffs lead to a startup baby boom? On today's episode, Monica sits down with Geekwire co-founder Todd Bishop to find out.
-
Feb 27, 2025 | 
kuow.org | Tan Vinh |Jim Gates |Lucy Soucek
Our town was made for soup. The sooty dusks of December. The dampness of March. We dive into caldrons of smoking pho and ramen. So, why not udon? On today’s episode, Tan ventures out to find some of the best udon in Seattle. He visits Azuki in Madison Valley to learn about how Chef Ryuji Miyata makes his noodles by hand. Later, Tan recommends some more casual and budget-friendly udon places. Read more about Tan’s udon picks. Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW.
-
Feb 26, 2025 | 
kuow.org | Monica Nickelsburg |Joshua McNichols |Lucy Soucek |Carol Smith
Skiing has never been cheap, but it used to be accessible to families and casual skiers. Now the slopes seem to have turned into a playground for the rich. Tickets are costly...and large companies are buying out smaller ski hills. On today's episode, why is it so expensive? And is there a way for everyone to access the mountains? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes.
