Steve Scher

It’s Friday — time to talk over the news with Knute Berger, Joni Balter and Eli Sanders. A new AP-GfK poll finds support for tighter gun laws as President Obama announces his plan for action and the NRA digs in for a fight. Lawmakers in Olympia get down to business and Governor Jay Inslee takes office in the first full week of the state legislative session. Plus, Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell joins the race for mayor. What stories caught your attention this week? Write to us at weekday@kuow.org.

The comedy “In Living Color” turned David Alan Grier into a well-known comic actor, but he started his career singing on Broadway. Last year, he returned to Broadway to play Sporting Life in “Porgy and Bess.” David Alan Grier has performed for over 30 years, from stand-up comedy to competing on "Dancing with the Stars." He joins us in the KUOW studios.

The debate over guns moved ahead in Washington, D.C., this week as President Obama called on Congress to strengthen America’s gun laws. In Seattle, officials are aiming to get illegal guns off the street by holding a buyback. Do buybacks work? We talk with King County Executive Dow Constantine about the push to reduce gun violence. Plus, the saga of the Sacramento Kings basketball team continues. Will they or won’t they come to Seattle? King County’s Executive Dow Constantine joins us. Have a question? Email us at weekday@kuow.org.

Vancouver Sun political correspondent Vaughn Palmer brings us the latest news from Canada, film critic Robert Horton joins us with a look at the movies, and Geekwire's Todd Bishop talks Windows 8, Amazon's new mp3 offer and the region's top tech startups.

Just over one month after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama and Vice President Biden are set to announce their plan for action on reducing gun violence. We'll carry the President's remarks live from the White House and hear what Beth Flynn of Washington Ceasefire and Phil Watson of the Second Amendment Foundation have to say about his proposals.

Think you’ve seen a healthy ocean in your lifetime? You probably haven’t. National Geographic's explorer-in-residence Dr. Enric Sala studies marine ecosystems to understand the past and present ocean, and to plan for the future. He also works to protect pristine seas that still exist. How are the world's oceans doing? And what can be done to reverse the damage? We’ll find out what’s missing from the ocean landscape.

Religion is changing. In recent years we’ve seen the rise of evangelical and nondenominational churches, and the Internet has turned charismatic religious leaders into celebrities as famous and revered as rock stars. Among them is Pastor Rob Bell, who has captured the attention of millions with his hip look, presentation and inclusive teachings. Some Evangelical Christians consider him “dangerous,” but Time Magazine voted him one of "2011’s Most Influential People." Who is Rob Bell and what does his ministry say about the future of the evangelical and Christian church? We talk with the University of Washington's James Wellman about "Rob Bell and a New American Christianity."

Today marks the start of the Washington State Legislature’s 2013 regular session. Lawmakers have their sights set on education as a top priority — they'll be looking at both funding and measuring student success. They’ll also be working with a new governor, Jay Inslee, and a new balance of power in the state Senate. Publicola's Josh Feit joins us with a preview.

It's official — Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is running for reelection. At a campaign kickoff last week, he laid out his vision of Seattle as the “city of the future,” and promised to work harder on job training, public safety, early education and transit. We’ll get into those details with Mayor McGinn. We'll also discuss the city’s new gun buyback program and, of course, those Sonics rumors. Have a question for the mayor? Call us at 206.543.5869 or write to weekday@kuow.org.

It’s Friday — time to talk over the news with Joni Balter, Eli Sanders and Knute Berger. Rumor erupts online about a near-deal to bring the SuperSonics back to town and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn makes it official — he's running for a second term. Lawmakers in Olympia get ready for next week's start of the state legislative session. Plus, Seattle and King County announce a gun buyback program as the national conversation on guns intensifies. What stories caught your attention this week? Write to us at weekday@kuow.org.