In the 2026 fiscal year alone, the state paid out over $600 million in judgements, settlements and legal costs. It’s an issue that goes way beyond dollars on a spreadsheet – and gets to the heart of who should be held responsible when someone suffers harm? And how far should that responsibility go?

Plus: What a new Native-owned birthing center means for south Seattle.

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Every month, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson sits down with Soundside to discuss the latest news and answer your questions. This month: Housing policy, the budget, the search for a new Seattle police chief, and as always, your questions.

Plus: Libby and David break down today’s top headlines.

Today on the show: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Kitsap County relies on Puget Sound Energy for it's electricity. The private, investor owned utility is looking at a 30% rate increase over the next three years. So, the Kitsap PUD is asking voters whether they should consider leaving PSE to start their own electric utility.

Plus: Libby and David read your responses to Initiative 638, the initiative banning trans girls from competing in K-12 sports.

Guests

Fran Korten, Unplug PSE

Matt Steuerwalt, PSE

Angela Bennink, Kitsap PUD

Randy Hardy, former head of Bonneville Power Authority and Seattle City Light

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are bombarded every day with headlines about the latest in artificial intelligence.

There’s a battle between AI doomers: the people warning of the technology’s capability to end humanity, and the techno-optimists who see AI ushering in a post-disease, post-scarcity world.

As news consumers (and civilians!) most of us fall somewhere in the uneasy, confused middle.

How should we separate the hype from reality?

We're trying to figure it out on our new monthly segment, Aye Yai AI.

What's behind the name? Throw up your hands and think Ai Yai Yai.

Plus: Libby and David discuss potential closures at some Seattle elementary schools, affordable housing, and who is "hopping mad" over being included in an ad in favor of repealing the income tax.

Guests

• Destiny Muller, AI reporter at The Seattle Times
• Chirag Shah, professor in the Information School at the University of Washington, where he studies how to build intelligent and responsible AI for information access, author of Raising AI: How Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping Us—and How We Shape It
• Rolanda Fu, investor at Madrona, a venture capital group based in Seattle and Palo Alto

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, Washington voters will decide if they want to ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports. Initiative 638 has become one of the state's most contentious topics and it reflects a broader cultural divide on this issue across the country.

Parents, lawmakers and more share their thoughts on what this initiative would mean for girls' sports.

Guests

• Verónica García, a former high school athlete
• Elizabeth Wilson, a parent who supports I-638
• Lauren Hipp, a parent who opposes I-638
• Senator Yasmin Trudeau, a lawmaker who opposes I-638
• Representative April Connors, a lawmaker who supports I-638

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington voters will weigh in on three initiatives this year: a repeal of the high earners income tax, a ban on trans girls competing in K-12 girl's sports, and a Parents' Bill of Rights. That last initiative, I-001, is probably the least understood. At its core is this question of how entitled parents are to know about their children’s lives while they’re at school.

Plus, Microsoft announced it is offering buyouts to nearly 60,000 employees, what does that mean for workers in Redmond?

Guests
Melissa Santos, reporter at Axios Seattle

Courtney Normand, Director of Washington State Planned Parenthood Alliance

Travis Reep, fifth grade teacher

Relevant Links:

Axios Seattle: What's at stake in Washington's parental rights initiative

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's going on with Snohomish County's charter proposals? Five proposals to amend the county charter are on the ballot this year. The usually sleepy process has gotten more attention this year. That's in part due to a conservative advocacy organization's vocal support for each proposal. The group is called Future 42, and this year's votes could have implications for the county's government for years to come. We got into it with a reporter covering the story.

Plus, we check in on the close Democrat on Democrat race for Washington's 29th Legislative District

Guests
Jamie Holter, a reporter for MyEdmondsNews

Krista Perez, candidate for WA's 29th LD

Related Links

Snohomish County Commission Charter proposals mired in controversy as voting begins

Statement from Future 42's co-founder and co-leader, Dann Mead Smith

"It’s always exciting when people volunteer to serve their community like the 15 individuals who were elected by voters last November to serve on the non-partisan Snohomish County Charter Review Commission, which takes place every ten years in the county.

This election, the same voting public will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to approve the propositions placed on the ballot by the citizen-elected commissioners.

A “YES” vote is a vote to bring greater accountability, tax relief, and financial transparency to Snohomish County Government."

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans is nearly one year on the job. Just this week, she announced a new sentencing alternative “Connections Court.” Her office has also been in the midst of heightened community concerns about sex trafficking and violence on Aurora. Soundside’s David Kroman and Cat Smith sit down with Evans and take your calls.

Plus: David and Cat discuss their top stories of the day.

Guests:

• Erika Evans, Seattle City Attorney
• Jenna Robert, Criminal Division Chief at the city attorney's office

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible. If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.