KUOW News and Information

Justice In Kenya, Science News And The Folklife Festival

Weekday — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Coming up on Weekday, May 23 at 9:00 a.m.

Justice In Kenya
This week a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission delivered a report on the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya that killed more than 1,000 people and left 600,000 homeless. Seattle University law professor Ronald Slye was one of three international commissioners. He joins us with a look at the findings.

Science News
Alan Boyle is science editor for NBC News Digital. From 3-D printed pizzas to the effects of climate change on tornados, he brings us the latest news in the world of science.

Northwest Folklife Festival
The 42nd annual Northwest Folklife Festival kicks off today. What are the can't-miss performances, exhibits and events? We'll get a preview from Folklife's head of programming Debbie Fant. We'll explore the history of organized labor in Washington state with labor archivist Conor Casey. And we'll hear the tunes of Celtic fiddle music duo Brandon Vance and Mark Minkler.

Highline District Offers Free Full-Day Kindergarten To All Students

Ann Dornfeld — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:23:20 +0000

Highline School District plans to offer free, full-day kindergarten to all students next school year.

Currently, half-day kindergarten is the norm: two and a half hours a day. Most Washington parents have to pay tuition if they want their kids in full-day kindergarten.

Your Take On The News

Weekday — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:36:03 +0000

Coming up on Weekday, May 24 at 10:00 a.m.

In a major policy speech Thursday, President Obama defended his administration's use of unmanned drones, but vowed to scale back their use in the future. He also renewed efforts to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. What are the unanswered questions about President Obama's counter-terrorism policy? What can we expect from the President moving forward?

The Seattle Mayor's race got a big shakeup recently when Tim Burgess abruptly dropped out of the contest. How will this affect the rest of the candidates? Who does it help and who does it hurt?

And on his first day on the job, interim Seattle Police Chief Jim Pugel made some changes to his staff. Does this signal more changes to come at the SPD?

What stories that caught your attention this week? Call us at 800.289.5869, email weekday@kuow.org or send us a tweet @WeekdayKUOW.

Portion Of Interstate 5 Bridge Collapses Over Skagit River

The Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:55:06 +0000

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) -- An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.

The four-lane bridge over the Skagit River collapsed about 7 p.m., Trooper Mark Francis said. There was no immediate estimate of how many people were in the water or whether there were any injuries or deaths, he said.

I-5 Bridge Collapses Over Skagit River

The Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:41:27 +0000

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.

Boy Scots Vote To Allow Gay Members, But Not Leaders

Kathy Lohr — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:23:00 +0000

Members of the Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to allow gay members.

Washington Delegation Supports Vote To Allow Gay Members Into Scouts

Jim Gates — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:05:03 +0000

For the first time in 22 years, openly gay members will be allowed to join the Boy Scouts. Leaders of the Boy Scouts of America voted 61 percent in favor of eliminating sexual orientation as criteria for youth membership.

Abortion Opponents Try to Spin Murder Case Into Legislation

Julie Rovner — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:03:00 +0000

As predicted, abortion opponents on Capitol Hill are wasting no time in their efforts to turn publicity over the recent murder conviction of abortion provider Kermit Gosnell to their legislative advantage.

Their latest goal: a federal ban on most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Rep.

Head Of IRS Tax-Exempt Division Reportedly Placed On Leave

Scott Neuman — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:03:00 +0000

Lois Lerner, the IRS official who oversees the branch of the agency that targeted conservative groups, has been placed on administrative leave a day after she refused to answer questions in a congressional probe of the scandal.

Lerner, who invoked the Fifth Amendment in refusing to testify at a House hearing on Wednesday, is effectively suspended from her job as head of the exempt organizations division, according to a congressional aide who spoke to The Associated Pres

Boy Scouts Vote To Admit Openly Gay Members

Scott Neuman — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:02:00 +0000

The Boy Scouts of America has agreed for the first time to allow openly gay boys as members, but a vote of the organization's National Council left in place a ban on gay Scout leaders.

The Associated Press reports that of the local Scout leaders voting at their annual meeting in Texas, more than 60 percent supported the proposal. The policy change approved by the 1,400-member National Council would take effect Jan.