Vaughan Jones
Producer, Seattle Now
About
Vaughan Jones is a producer on the Seattle Now podcast, covering Seattle's most pressing news, and gathering some of Seattle's most interesting people for the show's weekly "Casual Friday" episodes.
Vaughan came to KUOW in 2022. Before that, they spent time as the weekend reporter at NPR Member Station KJZZ in Phoenix, where they reported on how the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic was impacting Arizonans.
Vaughan grew up in Phoenix, and has a B.A. in Journalism from the Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University. You can find Vaughan at any number of local sporting events, or playing bass at (small) concert venues.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English
Pronouns: they/he
Podcasts
Stories
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Remembering Seattle's gay country music pioneer
Seattle lost a country music pioneer earlier this week. Patrick Haggerty passed away on Monday. Haggerty wrote and recorded the first openly gay country music album in 1973, and lived as a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+, civil, and worker’s rights. Longtime KEXP DJ and LGBTQ+ community advocate Kurt B. Reighley is here to talk about his impact on Seattle art and politics.
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How Seattle celebrates Día de los Muertos
Today is Halloween, but tomorrow marks the start of the two-day holiday of Día de los Muertos. A Latinx-owned art gallery in White Center has been celebrating all month by displaying work from 40 artists inspired by the holiday. Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery co-founders Jake Prendez and Judy Avitia-Gonzalez are here to talk about Día de los Muertos’ significance, and how the holiday has grown in Seattle.
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Triple-demic???
A respiratory virus that’s dangerous for young children is on the rise. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, shows up every year. But this year, it’s much earlier than expected. UW Associate Professor Dr. Helen Chu is here to talk us through this surge and why it’s happening now.
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Wallingford is "historic." What's next?
Wallingford is historic. That’s according to the state’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Now, the neighborhood is seeking federal recognition from the National Park Service. Many 20th century architecture buffs in the neighborhood are thrilled with the news. But some worry the designation might be used to slow housing growth in the area. KUOW’s Joshua McNichols has been following this and is here to tell us what comes next for Seattle’s newest historic district.
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Voting on how we vote
Next month, Seattle residents will not only get to vote in the midterms, but they’ll also get to vote on how they vote in future primary elections. Two alternative forms of voting are on the ballot for consideration, approval and ranked choice. Or we could just keep things the same. Seattle Times Reporter Sarah Grace Taylor is here to break down these options.
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How to make Covid boosters cool again
An updated Covid-19 booster shot came out last month, but as of last week, only 1 in 10 people have gotten one. Maybe we’re all a little booster fatigued. Dr. Shireesha Dhanireddy is the director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic at Harborview, and the Clinical Lead at UW Medicine’s COVID-19 Vaccines and Therapeutics program. She’s here to tell us why people have been slow to get their next booster, and what might happen if more people don’t get theirs soon.
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Not your grandma's weed
Cannabis is a very popular subject here in Washington. It’s been legal for recreational use for almost a decade now. But this isn’t your grandma’s weed. Cannabis has changed, and demand has risen for more potent products, with much higher THC percentages than what can be grown naturally. Seattle Times reporter Hannah Furfaro is here to talk us through the concerns researchers have about this high-potency cannabis, especially its effects on inexperienced users.
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The fight for Washington's Latino voters
Donald Trump performed better than expected nationally with Latino voters in 2020. Now, Republicans in Washington are trying to build on that success for November’s primary, while Democrats are fighting to reverse a potential shift to the right. KUOW politics reporter David Hyde has been covering this, and he’s here to tell us more.
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Is Washington Protecting Outdoor Workers?
Washington’s dealt with historic heat these past two summers. So, the state’s enacted some new protections for people who work outside in the summer, in jobs like agriculture and construction. This work can be dangerous during extreme heat, but many workers are reluctant to report violations. KUOW's Eilis O'Neill will tell us why.
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Seattle’s the coolest (metro housing market)
Seattle has the fastest-cooling housing market in the country, according to real estate company Redfin. And rising interest rates could mean even more of a downturn. Seattle Times reporter Heidi Groover will tell us more.