Government

Last week we invited six members of our source community, KUOW’S Public Insight Network, to our studios in the University District to talk politics. We had a range of views including a self-described Socialist-Independent, a fiscal conservative, a right-leaning Democrat among others. Ross Reynolds sat down with Rob Franco, Rick Wear, Pam Okano, George Robertson, Reena Koshy and Linda Carlson and discussed federal and state issues. 

This story has been updated since it was first published.

A member of the Christian Brothers religious order who served as principal at Seattle’s O'Dea High School has resigned. Brother Karl Walczak is being accused of sexually abusing a minor in Chicago about 40 years ago.

The school is operated by the Christian Brothers but owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle.

Young adults aged 18 to 29 currently account for 21 percent of the eligible voting population. In the last four presidential elections, voter turnout among this population has slowly but steadily risen to almost 51 percent in 2008. Here in Washington state, there are 982,000 eligible youth voters for the 2012 election.

Ross Reynolds talks with Tufts researcher Abby Kiesa about what is getting out the youth vote in this year's election.

Washington ranchers who can show that wolves are making their cattle lose weight could get reimbursed under a new proposal. The rule before the Fish and Wildlife Commission would expand a compensation program for ranchers living in wolf country.

Washington’s cattle ranchers aren’t the first to complain about skinny livestock. Ranchers in Idaho and Oregon also say the reintroduction of wolves has made sheep and cattle move more and eat less.

That translates into the bottom line, says Dave Ware. He’s the game manager with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Businesses have poured millions of dollars into political contributions this election season. But you may be surprised to learn that in Democratic-leaning Washington, the state’s three largest employers tend to favor Republican candidates.

Procrastinators. That’s how a lot people described themselves while waiting in line Monday for voter registration. It was the final deadline for Washington residents to register for the Nov. 6 election. Hopeful voters had to fill out the paperwork in person since the deadline had already passed to register by mail or online.

With just over a week to go, news outlets are inundated with polling results gaging voter sentiment in the presidential election — up to 20 state and national polls are coming out every day, often with different results. Which ones can you trust? How are they conducted? Washington Post polling director Jon Cohen helps us separate the signal from the noise.

The city of Seattle is seeking citizens for its new Community Police Commission. The commission is being established as part of an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to reform the Seattle Police Department. Federal and local officials have expressed hopes that the commission will play a strong role in police oversight. But it faces some limitations that could hamper its abilities, as the members of another police review board have already found.

The stakes in this race are high for both political parties. There are three open Congressional seats in the state this year, and Republicans say the 1st District is their best chance to win one.

Candidates John Koster (R) and Suzan DelBene (D) sit down with KUOW's Ross Reynolds for a debate. The candidates address the economy, women's reproductive issues and each other's campaigns thus far.