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Articles by Deborah Wang
7 Washingtonians share their views on Trump's immigration policy
The Trump administration's immigration crackdown continues to divide Americans, and polls show declining support for the president’s mass deportation campaign. A recent poll by Fox News found President Donald Trump’s approval rating on immigration now stands at 43%, down five percentage points from last summer. A majority of respondents said immigration enforcement has gone too far. A September poll by Politico found mass deportations are causing wider divisions within Trump’s base.
8 Washingtonians weigh in on how they view the political parties
As Americans prepare to vote this November, many will be casting their ballots with complicated feelings about their political choices. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that 58% of Americans have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party, and 59% of Americans view the Democratic Party unfavorably. Those negative ratings are about 5% higher than in 2020.
FAQ for the Community Voices Network
What is the Community Voices Network? The Community Voices Network is a group of Western Washingtonians who share their thoughts with KUOW and our audience on some of the big issues of the day. It’s meant to be a broadly diverse group that more accurately reflects our community. We are aiming to include people with different identities, political views, cultural backgrounds, geographic locations, educational levels, jobs, etc.
10 Washingtonians weigh in on initiative to ban trans girls from girls' sports
This November, Washingtonians will vote on an initiative intended to ban trans girls from playing on girls’ school sports teams. It’s a sensitive and contentious issue. We wanted to know what people are thinking about the measure, so we asked a diverse group of local residents in KUOW’s Community Voices Network to weigh in. Our group was almost equally divided— for, against, and somewhere in between. By way of background, Initiative 638 is sponsored by the conservative group Let’s Go Washington.
Fairer taxes or ‘slippery slope’? 7 Washingtonians weigh in on the 'millionaires tax'
Washington voters will decide this November whether to repeal the state’s new income tax on high earners. We wanted to know what people are thinking about the issue, so we turned to KUOW's Community Voices Network, a new project that aims to showcase what regular people think about the big issues of the day. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed what supporters are calling the “millionaires tax,” which levies a 9.9% surcharge on individual or household income over $1 million.
'Preposterous.' 6 Washingtonians on how the high cost of living affects their lives
The cost of living is weighing on many Washington state residents' minds. It’s a top concern cited by people who responded to a survey from KUOW’s Community Voices Network, a new effort that showcases what regular people think about the big issues of the day. Many respondents told us they feel the pinch of higher prices whether they pay for gas, food, and rent. Even some families that consider themselves middle or upper middle class say they struggle to make ends meet.
Brawny, Materially Driven Designs Dominated at NYCxDesign 2025
It takes a bold personality to stand out in New York. That held especially true during May's busy NYCxDesign festival, which included both the International Contemporary Furniture Festival (ICFF) and plenty of off-site events that led me along the Hudson River, deep into Brooklyn, and even into the residence of the Consul General of Sweden. At each stop, major brands and independent designers had to compete with the city to capture fairgoers' attention - and imagination.
5 Highlights from NYCxDesign 2025
In the global calendar of international design debuts, New York always follows Milan. Yet, while Salone del Mobile remains a dominant global force, New York's design week, NYCxDesign, is more than a mere stateside follow-up, offering up an expansive collection of offsite shows and a trade fair in one of the world's most dynamic cities. This year, there was no shortage of shows to see, talks to attend and neighbourhoods to explore.
Lou Whittaker, mountaineering legend, dies at 95
Published March 26, 2024 at 3:13 PM PDT Lou Whittaker, a mountain climber, guide and identical twin to Jim Whittaker, the first American to climb Mount Everest, died this week. He was 95. Whittaker summited Mount Rainier first when he was 16, and then more than 250 times throughout his lifetime. His close friend Penny LeGate told KUOW that the Whittaker twins went into the mountains because they had asthma, and had been told to get out into the fresh air.
Bill would protect runaway youth seeking gender-affirming care
OLYMPIA - 'The state made a promise. They failed. They should be on the hook for that failure, not the farmers,' said Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax. When Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's cap-and-trade proposal passed the Legislature in 2021, he and many of the Democrat lawmakers who endorsed his plan assured the agriculture community that fuels used in the production and transport of agriculture products would be exempt.
Bill on runaways and gender-affirming care prompts huge response
KUOW Blog If a teenager runs away from home, and ends up in a shelter, are shelter staff required to inform parents? In Washington state, the answer is yes. But a bill now before the state Legislature would make a few exceptions to this rule, including if the child has run away to seek gender-affirming care. RELATED: Trans patients often travel out of state, pay more for gender-affirming care, study finds State Sen.
‘Yes’ vote in favor of Seattle election reform now leading
The latest King County ballot count shows the ‘yes’ vote prevailing on a measure that would change the way the city of Seattle elects its leaders. On Saturday, for the first time since election night, the ‘yes’ vote overtook the ‘no’ vote 50.35 % to 49.65 %. More than a quarter million votes have been counted. The measure asked Seattle voters if they approve of making changes to the city's primary elections.
Most Western Washington Democrats poised to return to Congress
Aside from a close race in the 8th Congressional District, western Washington’s Democratic incumbent members of Congress are decisively beating back challenges from Republicans, and the party might even pick up a seat in the House. The Associated Press has declared winners in eight of the state’s 10 congressional districts. In heavily Democratic Seattle, incumbent Pramila Jayapal trounced Republican challenger Cliff Moon. She leads in the vote count 85% to 15%.
Northern lights make appearance over Washington
2 slides Northwest astronomy fans got a treat Monday night as clear skies provided an excellent view of the northern lights over Washington state. Even as an astronomy professor at the University of Washington, James Davenport has never witnessed the northern lights. But on Monday evening around 8:30 p.m., he started hearing that something was happening in the sky above Bellingham, nearly 80 miles away. So he stepped outside to investigate the horizon over Edmonds.
Avoiding Covid-19 vaccines: A religious group gives Washingtonians tips on how to do it
A group called One Washington is holding seminars around the state to instruct people on how to ask for a religious exemption from the Covid-19 vaccine. KUOW’s Deborah Wang recently attended one of their sessions. S tate employees and health care workers are among those in Washington who will soon be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition of their employment.
Who's leading in Seattle races on primary night
With a clap of thunder, the polls closed at 8 p.m. on Tuesday in Seattle, marking the end of seemingly sleepy races. Some of the results, however, were a jolt. Bruce Harrell, the former Seattle city council member, leads a pack of 15 candidates seeking to replace Mayor Jenny Durkan. Durkan is not running for reelection. Harrell received 38 percent of the vote counted as of Tuesday night. Lorena Gonzalez, current council president, had 29 percent of the vote.
In Darwinian vaccine system, helpers step to the front
There are more than 1,000 approved vaccine providers in Washington state, using more than 100 different appointment systems. If you can’t find an appointment at first, you might have to keep going back again and again to try to find that elusive open slot. If you are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine and you have been trying to get one, you might have discovered that it’s not easy. Vaccines are in very short supply right now, and making an appointment is tough.
Can't get a Covid-19 vaccination appointment? Here are some tips - if you're eligible
Hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses have been administered so far in Washington state. But vaccine supplies are now extremely tight, and many people say they are having a tough time getting an appointment. The process requires access to and savvy with a computer, and often times, superhuman amounts of patience. We've got some tips for securing a vaccination appointment.
The tale of the Black birders and ruffled feathers on Facebook
When Armand Lucas goes out looking for birds, he doesn’t immediately bring his binoculars to his face. “I think bird watching is a little bit of a misnomer," he said. "Bird listening is usually what prompts seeing birds. And so I’m always listening for birds way before I am seeing them." Lucas is an environmental scientist who works for a very large Seattle company. When he moved here from the East Coast about a year and a half ago, he wanted to connect with the local birding community.
The tale of the Black birders and ruffled feathers on Facebook
When Armand Lucas goes out looking for birds, he doesn’t immediately bring his binoculars to his face. “I think bird watching is a little bit of a misnomer," he said. " Bird listening is usually what prompts seeing birds. And so I’m always listening for birds way before I am seeing them." Lucas is an environmental scientist who works for a very large Seattle company. When he moved here from the East Coast about a year and a half ago, he wanted to connect with the local birding community.
The honeymoon’s over: Welcome to the disillusionment stage of Covid-19
People in Washington state are likely to see a worsening of their behavioral health throughout the rest of the year because of Covid-19. That’s according to a June behavioral health forecast from the state’s Department of Health. It relies heavily on research on how people have responded to previous disasters and pandemics. According to the report, the pandemic and lock-down have caused a “surge in behavioral health symptoms” across the state.
Trouble concentrating? Forgetting things? Our brains are doing strange things during this time of crisis.
Leading brain experts talk with KUOW's Deborah Wang and Ross Reynolds to explore tips for well-being as we move into the acceptance phase of this "new normal." Do you keep reading the same paragraph over and over again in that book you can't seem to get through? Is finding the toilet paper aisle in the store you've always shopped at suddenly baffling? Does the news make you feel like you can't breathe? You're not losing your mind.
Reelin dorsal horn neurons co‐express Lmx1b and are mispositioned in disabled‐1 mutant mice
RESEARCH REPORT Patricia E. Phelps Corresponding Author E-mail address: pphelps@physci.ucla.edu Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA, Terasaki Life Science Building, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095‐7239 USA Correspondence: Patricia E. Phelps, Ph.D., Dept.
King County tested 240 dead people for Covid-19. 58 were positive
Newly released data show about 10 percent of people who died from Covid-19 in King County had never been tested for the disease while they were alive. Since the end of February, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office has been reviewing the death certificates of everyone who dies in King County before the bodies are buried or cremated. Medical examiners have been on the lookout for any causes of death that could be associated with Covid-19.
Who will heal the healers when coronavirus is over?
Preethi Balakrishnan is a doctor at Swedish Hospital and you might say she has a lot going on right now. She works the night shift—from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.— rotating through six Swedish intensive care units, where most of her patients are very sick with Covid-19. "It's tough. I think everyone has their personal way of dealing with it,” she said. When caring for Covid-19 patients, Balakrishnan and other healthcare workers must be suited up in protective gear.
Is your family's mental health taking a hit from COVID-19? Take this class
Not long ago, Jim Mazza’s wife, Lizz, received a text from a good friend. “I am going to ring my kid’s neck, you know, I'm going to go to jail because that kid is not going to survive,” Jim recalls the friend writing. The text was meant to be funny, but there was some truth to it. A lot of parents are struggling with their emotions right now.
Washington, Oregon see unprecedented surge in unemployment claims
Mirroring the national trend, Washington and Oregon are experiencing an unprecedented spike in unemployment claims caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last week, 133,464 Washingtonians and 76,500 Oregonians filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits. In Oregon, that represents a 15-fold increase in claims from the previous week. In Washington, the increase was more than eight-fold.
Washington, Oregon see unprecedented surge in unemployment claims
Mirroring the national trend, Washington and Oregon are experiencing an unprecedented spike in unemployment claims caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last week, 133,464 Washingtonians and 76,500 Oregonians filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits. In Oregon, that represents a 15-fold increase in claims from the previous week. In Washington, the increase was more than eight-fold.
Washington, Oregon see unprecedented surge in unemployment claims
Mirroring the national trend, Washington and Oregon are experiencing an unprecedented spike in unemployment claims caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last week, 133,464 Washingtonians and 76,500 Oregonians filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits. In Oregon, that represents a 15-fold increase in claims from the previous week. In Washington, the increase was more than eight-fold.
Washington, Oregon see unprecedented surge in unemployment claims
Mirroring the national trend, Washington and Oregon are experiencing an unprecedented spike in unemployment claims caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last week, 133,464 Washingtonians and 76,500 Oregonians filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits. In Oregon, that represents a 15-fold increase in claims from the previous week. In Washington, the increase was more than eight-fold.
First 'panic,' then a battle to keep the National Archives in Seattle
Chelsea Craig says that when she heard that the building housing the National Archives in Seattle was set to be sold, her first reaction was “panic.” “We better get here and get as much information as we can,” she remembers thinking. Craig is a teacher and member of the Tulalip Tribe. She had been planning for some time to make a trip to the archives, across Sand Point Way from Magnuson Park, to search for materials related to the tribe’s history.
Jayapal: Border agents admit 'enormous mistakes' in stopping Iranian Americans
A U.S. customs official admitted "enormous mistakes" were made when agents subjected dozens of people of Iranian descent to long questioning last month at the Blaine border crossing, according to two congress members. “It was extremely gratifying for the first time to hear from CBP that in fact something very serious went wrong that weekend, there were enormous mistakes made,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Seattle. Jayapal and Rep.
How prohibition forever changed policing in Seattle
On a recent SoundQs segment we learned about legendary Seattle figure Roy Olmstead. Olmstead was a former cop who became the most successful bootlegger in the country in the 1920s. On this episode we do a deeper dive into what prohibition looked like in Seattle and how it played out differently for another larger-than-life figure: black business owner and community leader Doc Hamilton. He ran a booming barbecue joint and was Olmstead's biggest customer.
How safe are the bridges in the Puget Sound region?
There are more than 8,000 bridges in the state of Washington. Some, like the state Route 520 floating bridge across Lake Washington, are brand new and state-of-the-art. Others, like the Aurora Bridge on state Route 99, are aging and well past their original life expectancy. 332 bridges in the state are rated in "poor" condition, meaning they have advanced deficiencies. Several listeners want to know: How safe are the region's bridges? And how will they fare if we have a major earthquake?
This king of bootleggers was one of Seattle's biggest employers
6 slides Roy Olmstead was a former cop who became the most successful bootlegger in the country in the 1920s. He was considered one-part hero, one-part criminal. Learn about his wild story on this SoundQs episode where we take over KUOW's daily show, The Record. On this special episode of SoundQs we also look at how the Burke Museum is grappling with its colonial past and re-imagining its relationship with Native American artists.
What’s with Seattle bumper stickers these days?
On this episode of SoundQs a listener asks us to explore the patterns and messages of bumper stickers in the Pacific Northwest. There’s a personal reason she wants to better understand this form of automotive art. Sometimes, you go back home and don’t even recognize the place. That’s what happened with listener Susi Johnston. She’s an art historian who was born and raised in Seattle. She’s spent much of her life traveling the globe, including spending the last 20 years in Indonesia.
How do those holiday lights get on construction cranes?
Who puts holiday lights up on all those cranes in Seattle? In this archive episode of SoundQs, we send producer Matt Martin up ... and up ... and up ... for the answer. Listen to the episode by clicking the play button above or on your favorite podcast app. SoundQs is a weekly podcast where our KUOW reporters tackle questions submitted by our listeners. Have a question about the Seattle region for us to answer? Drop it here :
Is Seattle a target for nuclear attack?
Probably. Sorry. Our region is home to global companies like Amazon and Microsoft - and it's home to large cache of nuclear weapons and military assets. In the second part of our two-part series (listen to part one here), we answer listener questions about whether Seattle is a likely target for nuclear attack. And we learn about a 40-year-old state law that has effectively stopped all state emergency planning in the event of a nuclear attack.
What should you do in the event of a nuclear attack?
In the first part of a two-part series, we take a deep dive into what happens if another country fires a nuclear missile at Seattle. And we look into why so few people know what to do in the event of a nuclear attack. Listener Tim Rutledge grew up during the Cold War, so he heard a lot about how to prepare for a possible nuclear attack. But he hadn't thought much about that as an adult. Then, in 2017, North Korea successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile.
How is Amazon changing our lives?
Over the last year or so, the SoundQs team has gotten a lot of questions about one Seattle-based company: Amazon. How green are Amazon's shipping practices? How has Amazon affected Seattle’s economy and politics? How might Amazon’s smart speaker and other A-I software be invading our privacy? They’re all great questions. And happily, we have friends at KUOW who have been trying to find answers. The podcast Primed just launched their third season, looking at how Amazon is changing life as we know it.
Has any city figured out public toilets?
On this episode we try and figure out if any city in the world has figured out public toilets and what Seattle can learn. We went on the search. Listeners sent in their reviews of potties around the world. We discovered that the key to good public toilets isn't necessarily the toilets themselves — it's us. Listen to the episode by clicking the play button above or on your favorite podcast app. SoundQs is a weekly podcast where our KUOW reporters tackle questions submitted by our listeners.
Why are those food safety posters smiling at me?
You might have seen the green and white food safety posters inside one of your favorite restaurants. But what do they mean? Food inspectors rate local restaurants using one of four emojis. A SoundQs listener wanted to know more about them. The listener asked, “Recently my favorite Korean BBQ joint received a merely 'Good' rating — should I be worried?” We dive into the world of food safety on this week's SoundQs episode with help from reporter Ruby de Luna.
Finding love is hard. In Seattle it's even harder
This week on SoundQs, a single professional in her 30s asks why it's so hard to date in Seattle. Keita Williams is an extrovert's extrovert. She travels the country for her job running her own company, Success Bully. She makes easy conversation with people wherever she goes. But in Seattle, her extrovert self is often met with a cool reaction. Like on a recent Thursday night when she and a friend went out to a bar, dressed to the nines and feeling good.
Why do Seattleites complain so much?
Over the summer, the SoundQs team has gotten some questions that double as complaints about the Seattle region. So we're re-playing one of our favorite episodes from the last year - about Seattleites and complaining. Here's a couple of examples of complaint/questions: "Why is Seattle the only place in the nation that requires drivers to carry a compass to know how to park?" "The freeway exchange in Tacoma. WTF?!" This archive episode was made back in February 2019, during the big snowstorm.
More SIM swapping stories, and news from the cybersecurity underground
SIM swapping is when hackers impersonate you, take over your cellphone, and then hack into your financial, social media, or other accounts. Thousands of people fall victim to the scheme every year. Earlier, we brought you the story of Ruby, a Seattle woman whose cool, "O.G." Instagram username @ruby was hijacked by SIM swappers. We'll tell you how her Instagram saga ends. [Read about what happened to Ruby.] We also bring you the story of a Twitter employee who was SIM swapped.
Her SIM card was jacked, and here's why that should make you nervous
“I just post photos of myself, my dog, my friends,” she said. “I’m a typical Instagram user. I just had a very special name.” What was Ruby’s very special name? It was … Ruby. Ruby is what’s known as an “OG username” in insta parlance. Short usernames, like Ruby, nouns like rainbow, and single letters, are coveted. Ruby happened into this username five years ago, and once she got it, something interesting started happening … Every day, 10 to 20 new people would follow her account.
How safe is urban foraging?
On this week's episode of SoundQs we look at the safety and etiquette of foraging fruits and other plants in the city. Its blackberry season in the Pacific Northwest. You can find them growing everywhere in the city: in yards, alleyways, on the side of the road. But plants absorb some metals and contaminants in the soil and in the air. Foraging expert Melany Vorass Herrara explains what to watch out for when it comes to picking berries in Seattle. Here's a couple of resources to check out.
Ruby was a typical Instagram user. Then something strange started happening…
...and she got hacked. Ruby was a young working woman living in Seattle who enjoyed using Instagram. “I just post photos of myself, my dog, my friends,” she said. “I’m a typical Instagram user. I just have a very special name.” What was Ruby’s very special name? It was … Ruby. Ruby is what’s known as an “OG username” in insta parlance. Short usernames, like Ruby, nouns like rainbow, and single letters, are coveted.
What's that screeching? Maybe a hungry young Cooper's Hawk
Have you noticed lately a lot of high-pitched screeching in your neighborhood? Well, it could be a family of Cooper’s Hawks. Volunteer researchers say there are 44 active Cooper’s Hawks nests in the city of Seattle right now, and the nesting pairs are raising more than 200 young. Young Cooper's Hawks have been making a racket in my neighborhood. And what are they saying when they screech? "I’m here. I’m hungry. Feed me," said Martin Muller from the Urban Raptor Conservancy. "They are food begging.
"It's not your fault." The pitfalls of parenting an anxious child
Anya Davis says she has been anxious for as long as she can remember. On the first day of kindergarten, she remembers panicking when her mom, Jennifer Davis, dropped her off and then left. “I’m like, why is she leaving? Somebody call 911! Somebody call CPS! Like, I am being left in the care of these people that I don’t know,” she said. Whenever Anya got stuck in a cycle of worry, Davis believed it was on her, as Anya's mother, to step in.
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