Ross Reynolds

A new state law will go into effect January 1st requiring households in Washington to be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. Who actually needs to buy one? If you need one, where can you get it? Ross Reynolds talks with Seattle Fire Department’s education specialist Dana Catts.

State Auditor Brian Sonntag’s performance audits have pointed out how government agencies could save money and avoid fraud. Sonntag leaves office next month and he sits down with Ross Reynolds for a discussion about what he was and wasn't able to accomplish as the Washington state auditor.

Eric Stowe’s Seattle-based nonprofit Splash works to provide clean water to children in China and the developing world. Ross Reynolds talks with Eric Stowe about how he got involved in clean water and the struggles he faces in his work .

"We're building a budget assuming everybody works their problems out in the best interest of the nation." That's how Stan Marshburn, outgoing director of Washington State's Office of Financial Management is planning for the fiscal cliff.

He says we're likely to suffer either way. If we go over the cliff, we can expect 50 percent cut to state military spending. To avoid the cliff, federal lawmakers might agree to reduce Medicaid spending -- another precious source of federal money.

Marshburn tells Ross his biggest concern is consumer confidence, since Washington gets so much of its money from sales tax.  He says reduced consumer spending could impact Washington's economy 10 times more than the actual fiscal cliff itself.

It’s estimated that about 8.2 percent of US households don’t use bank accounts. Not only that — 20.1 percent of households are considered “underbanked,” meaning they use bank accounts but still opt for payday loans, check-cashing services and other alternatives. This is according to a recent survey by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

So why aren’t people using banks? Ross Reynolds talks to some of the un- and underbanked.

It’s now legal to possess marijuana in Washington state. What’s that mean for you? Ross Reynolds tries to shed light on the logistics of the law and hears from listeners.

Coming up on The Conversation, December 7 at noon.

December 14 kicks of the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count and volunteers that have dubbed themselves as the Binocular Brigade are hoping to see some rare species. Here in Seattle there have been reports of snowy owl sightings. What is this large white owl doing here in Washington? Ross Reynolds talks with Seattle Audubon Conservation Director Matt Mega.

As of 12:00 a.m. this morning, same-sex marriage is legal in Washington state. Ross Reynolds hears from listeners who have decided to marry now that they can.

On September 29, King County Metro ended the Ride Free Area in downtown Seattle. A 2010 study conducted by Metro estimated that of the 8 million riders boarding buses each year almost 35 percent did not have a pass or transfer. This was costing the agency $2 million annually. In the last few months, what changes have you seen in revenues and ridership since the end of the Free Ride Area? Ross Reynolds talks with King County Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond about these changes and more.

Marine microbes are not as cute as sea otters, but they do produce about half the oxygen on the planet.  Meaning you have microscopic marine microbes to thank for every other breath you take.  And University of Washington oceanographer Ginger Armbrust just received a multi-million dollar grant to study marine microbial ecology from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.  

Ross Reynolds talks with Professor Armbrust about the latest science on the microbes that we can thank for every other breath.