KUOW Blog
News, factoids, and insights from KUOW's newsroom. And maybe some peeks behind the scenes. Check back daily for updates.
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Stories
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New law would make sexual misconduct by corrections staff a felony
A proposed bill in Olympia would impose harsher sentences for corrections officers or staff who are convicted of sexual misconduct against inmates.
The measure is called Kimberly Bender’s law. It would significantly increase the maximum sentences for those convicted.
The bill is named after a woman who was held at the Forks jail in 2021. Bender claimed a guard named John Gray sexually harassed and stalked her. Bender's mother, Dawn Reid, said she knew that her daughter was in trouble.
“Had Kimberly not spoken up, John Gray could have assaulted more women,” she said.
The jail’s internal review found Bender’s claims unsubstantiated. Bender later died by suicide.
But her warning kicked off further investigation. That led to Gray being convicted of sexual misconduct involving four women at the Forks correction facility. Gray served 13 months of a 20-month sentence.
“It’s a gross miscarriage of justice that a man could have taken advantage of a position of power and exerted that power over women in their most vulnerable state,” said Gabriel Galanda, a lawyer who worked with Bender's family in a 2021 lawsuit.
They later won the case against the City of Forks, who the family said failed to stop the abuse of their daughter. Both Galanda and family members believed that offenders like Gray should serve more time.
A house committee is set to look at the bill tomorrow.
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How should Seattle look? Like art?: Today So Far
In his most recent Words in Review, KUOW's Bill Radke asks us to consider: Should Seattle be a work of art? He explores this question in a conversation with The Stranger's Charles Mudede.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for March 14, 2023.
Reader beware: Today's newsletter might make some folks irate.
There are two buildings in Seattle, right next to each other. One building is nearly 100 years old and looks far more aesthetically pleasing than most any building going up in Seattle today. The location next to it appears much newer, and mostly matches the architectural stylings of modern Seattle. Given the choice, I would live in the old building — likely lacking any modern conveniences — largely because of the aesthetic living environment it offers. I would find its neighbor rather stale and depressing.
But I can't live in either of these buildings, and not because they are located in pricey South Lake Union. These buildings are Public Storage facilities, located on Fairview Avenue, and one of them appears more appealing to live in than most any new housing units in town. It should probably say something, too, that a modern storage warehouse provides the same aesthetic impression as a newer apartment building. Seriously, look at this building, and then this one, or whatever the heck this thing is.
In his most recent Words in Review, KUOW's Bill Radke asks us to consider: Should Seattle be a work of art? He explores this question in a conversation with The Stranger's Charles Mudede, who recently commented to the New York Times about Seattle's bland appearance these days. It's refreshing because, for once, it's not just me giving the city a hard time for its lack of taste. While I have tried to avoid pointing too many fingers around Seattle, Mudede has no problem calling out the Urbana in Ballard as an example of a "monstrosity."
"I’ve even said, if the (design review) board was made of beavers, we would get a better building than what we have in Ballard. The Urbana is stunningly, I mean, it is the ground zero of all that you could imagine … in a city where, you know, we live together, we should be a little more cosmopolitan, right? We should have a little more taste, right? Flair! When you look at that building, you think, 'My goodness!'"
The thing about the Urbana is that it is efficient and serves its purpose, which is what a lot of people are arguing for in Seattle. This argument is why I figure today's newsletter will rub people the wrong way. There is a divide around the city when it comes to housing. It's probably safe to say most everyone agrees that more housing, and affordable housing at that, is needed. Among that agreement is the "tsk tsk" crowd when it comes the appearance of the city, which is pretty snobby. And then there is the "We desperately need housing now! Build like the wind! Down with NIMBYs!" crowd, which can also be pretty snobby. And honestly, Seattle, no matter where you land on this spectrum, a lot folks seem to speak up any time a change is proposed for their corner of the city, despite an awareness more housing is needed — admit it.
Our state will need more than 1 million homes over the next couple decades. Being the economic engine that it is, Seattle is at the center of this. This need is also emerging as the region faces severe homelessness. It is understandable that someone could get a little miffed when a critic (including the minimally educated like myself) comes along and says that housing looks bad. "Who cares what it looks like?! We desperately need to house people!" But this is a false option, according to Mudede.
"I do believe that housing and art do not have to be separated," Mudede told Radke.
"I am for aesthetics. Some of the stuff that's come out of the (city's) review boards cannot be looked at. Come on, when I use the word 'abomination,' I'm serious."
Environment matters. Aesthetics matter. Consider motorcycles. BMW motorcycles of the 1950s through about the 1970s looked pretty cool. You'd feel pretty cool riding on one. Today, however, I would not use the word "cool" to describe them (sorry BMW). "Efficient," sure. "Well-engineered," obviously. They're great for lengthy, rambling road trips, but not so much for instilling a sense of "this motorcyclist is happening." A similar sentiment could be said for many modern apartment buildings. A 2010 Gallup / Knight Foundation survey found that "social offerings, openness, and aesthetics" contributed most to a feeling of attachment in a community. It wasn't one issue or another. The University of Washington has also found that our everyday environment can influence our mental health. There is a value for everyone in our surroundings.
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Everett is the latest community to open a Bezos-funded free preschool
A new tuition-free Montessori-inspired preschool is open in downtown Everett, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. It’s called Bezos Academy.
The school offers year-round Montessori-inspired education to children ages 3-5 years old, five days a week.
"As with all of our schools, this one has been nearly a couple of years in the making. So it takes us a while between when we first have a conversation with an organization, in this case the city of Everett that was excited to bring a full-day tuition-free preschool to the community," said Katie Ford, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Bezos Academy.
Located downtown at Everett Station, the tuition-free learning center opened its doors on March 2, 2023. It serves about 54 students. The new school takes up about 3,800 square feet, where they have three classrooms that can accommodate 20 students each.
Such schools are open in under-resourced communities, but admissions eligibility isn’t just determined by family income.
"We give preference to children who are in foster care or whose families are experiencing homelessness; about 13% of our enrolled students are in that category," says Ford.
Teaching time is from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. During that time preschoolers are exposed to a mix of music, art, and playtime, but that’s not all.
“We do everything from hiring and training the teachers to providing breakfast and lunch snacks," Ford said. "And for families who want it, we'll send dinner home as well." The program also includes before and aftercare, which allows students to be on-site from 8am-5pm.
Ford said the academy's program is designed to serve students who come from families who earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that's about $110,000 a year.
Families can apply for a lottery to attend a new school, but there’s a waitlist for students interested in joining midway through the academic year.
All available slots are currently full at the Everett station school, however, families can sign up to join the waitlist at BezosAcademy.org.
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Teachers, lawmakers, and cherry blossom trees: Today So Far
- The rate of teachers leaving the job is at a 38-year high in Washington state.
- Lawmakers in Olympia passed a key deadline last week, marking which bills are moving forward, and which ones are being filed under "maybe next time."
- A solution to Seattle's cherry blossom drama may have emerged.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for March 13, 2023.
The rate of teachers leaving the job is at a 38-year high in Washington state. That adds up to 9%, recorded at the end of the 2021-22 school year. The state's teacher turnover rate is at 20% — which includes teachers moving to different schools, going into non-teaching roles, and those leaving the profession altogether.
The past few pandemic years seem to have exacerbated the issue, and it appears that this trend is more severely felt in high-poverty schools. KUOW's Sami West has the full story here.
Lawmakers in Olympia passed a key deadline last week, marking which bills are moving forward, and which ones are being filed under "maybe next time."
Northwest News Network's Jeanie Lindsay has a great roundup of such bills. Some have gone through smoothly with a bipartisan thumbs up, such as support for nurse staffing and increasing the supply of housing. But there are other bills moving forward that aren't as widely supported, many of which (unsurprisingly) fall along party lines. Public safety is one divisive issue. The effort to ban the sale of assault rifles, and implement a standard 10-day waiting period to purchase a firearm, has proven successful so far in the House. Now it's working through the Senate. Expect pushback, primarily from Republicans. There's another effort in the Senate that aims to hold gun sellers liable if weapons they sell are later used illegally.
There is also the issue of police pursuits that is proving to be a hot topic. After some drama last week, a bill that would ease up on some recently implemented restrictions around pursuits is moving forward. Republicans want more out of it, and many Democrats are hesitant to change course. Lawmakers changed the law in 2021, stating that police can only pursue for suspicion of DUI, and with probable cause for violent and sexual assault crimes. The proposal up for consideration now would lower the bar from "probable cause" to "reasonable suspicion" for such offenses, and add escape, domestic violence, and vehicular assault to the list. I previously covered the big difference in TSF.
And those are just the bills around public safety. Lawmakers are also chatting about health care, housing, environment, and changes to various drug laws. Check out the full story here.
A solution to Seattle's cherry blossom drama may have emerged last week. The city wants to remodel the sidewalks near Pike Place Market, along Pike Street. To do this, crews will have to cut down cherry blossom trees that line the street, a move that proved controversial for local tree lovers. Mayor Bruce Harrell has stepped in and ordered that the trees be cut down anyway, but unlike the previous plan (which was to replace them with elms), the city will now replace the eight cherry blossoms with 24 cherry blossoms. They'll be placed both along the remodeled stretch of Pike Street, as well as other parts of Seattle's waterfront.
This move comes alongside the city's current effort to increase its tree canopy, which has been on the decline in recent years. Read the full story here.
AS SEEN ON KUOW
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Washington's free Covid test program comes to an end
Washington state's free at-home Covid-19 test program is winding down, now that President Biden has declared an end to the public health emergency. That means things will be changing after Monday.
Washington's free Covid test program relied on federal support, which has been phasing out. The state's residents can still order free Covid tests through Monday, March 13. Between then and May 11, only people in high-risk areas can order free Covid tests. High-risk areas are determined by zip code.
Check this website to determine eligibility.
Also, keep in mind you can still order free rapid home tests from the federal government while supplies last.
Since launching January 2021, Washington has provided free Covid-19 tests to a million households.
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Words In Review: Should Seattle be a 'work of art'?
A Seattle writer says living in a city should feel like a work of art. Can our buildings be “art” and still be affordable?
The Stranger columnist Charles Mudede chooses words for a living. He knows that our words influence our perception, our opinions, our actions. So after reading his recent interview with the New York Times, I asked him whether “work of art” is a realistic, or elitist, way to characterize a necessity of life.
Charles Mudede: I do believe that housing and art do not have to be separated.
Bill Radke: As you know a lot of people in Seattle want homes to be cheaper. Can a residential building be a work of art and still be affordable?
Mudede: As long as you don't expect an immediate return on an investment on a building.
Radke: OK, then in the actual system, in the real world, in the capitalist system we have now, are you saying then cities cannot be and residential buildings cannot be works of art?
Mudede: You hit the ground of my Marxism, I'm saying this system sucks.
Radke: So then would it be fair to say living in cities should be a work of art, but under our current system, it should be cheap?
Mudede: OK, now you're putting words in my mouth!
Radke: I'm asking! It should be a work of art in some world that doesn't exist, but in the real world … the sense I get from The Stranger, your paper, is constantly criticizing people who use aesthetics to block housing. So in the world we live in...
Mudede: No, but they negate aesthetics. I am for aesthetics. Some of the stuff that's come out of the review boards cannot be looked at. Come on, when I use the word “abomination,” I'm serious.
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Former tribal police chief convicted of sexually abusing young children
A 69-year-old member of the Lower Elwha S'Klallam Tribe was convicted Friday of nine federal counts related to the sexual abuse of minors, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.
A jury convicted Joseph Anthony Turrey of Port Angeles, Washington, following a seven-day trial. The jury deliberated for about two days before returning the guilty verdicts.
Turrey, a former Lower Elwha S'Klallam tribal councilmember and police chief, was remanded to federal custody to await sentencing, which is scheduled for June 5.
According to records filed in the case, three victims reported that they were abused by Turrey between 2008 and 2016. Two of the victims were as young as 6 and 7 years old when the sexual abuse began.
The assaults occurred on tribal land, which triggered federal jurisdiction over the case.
Turrey was convicted of six counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, two counts of sexual abuse of a minor, and one count of abusive sexual contact. The aggravated sexual abuse charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Sexual abuse of a minor also has a maximum sentence of life in prison. The final count, abusive sexual contact, is punishable by up to 15 years behind bars.
The FBI teamed up with the Lower Elwha S'Klallam Police Department to investigate the case, with assistance from the National Park Service.
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Former Sonics star Shawn Kemp fired in self-defense, lawyers say
Former Seattle SuperSonics forward Shawn Kemp acted in self-defense when he exchanged gunfire in a Washington parking lot while trying to retrieve a stolen cell phone and other items, his attorneys said Thursday.
Kemp, 53, was arrested by Tacoma police Wednesday for investigation of a drive-by shooting but was released from jail Thursday afternoon without charges having been filed. The Pierce County Prosecutor's Office said it would not file charges pending further investigation.
“We’re grateful they didn’t rush to judgment,” said Seattle criminal defense lawyer Tim Leary, who is representing Kemp.
In a written statement, another Kemp attorney, W. Scott Boatman, said Kemp's vehicle was broken into Tuesday night and several items were taken — including an iPhone. Kemp tracked the phone's location to an occupied car at the Tacoma Mall, and when Kemp confronted the individuals inside, they shot at him, and he returned fire, Boatright said.
“There was not a drive by shooting as previously reported and Mr. Kemp's actions were reasonable and legally justified,” Boatman said. “Mr. Kemp met with law enforcement at the scene in an attempt to assist in the matter.”
Tacoma police said they recovered a gun at the scene.
Kemp, who has two licensed cannabis stores in Seattle, was a six-time NBA all-star and played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997. He also played for Cleveland, Portland and Orlando.
Kemp debuted in the NBA during the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who had never played college basketball. He became known for his high-flying, athletic dunks.
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Where should Seattle put a new dog park?: Today So Far
- Seattle is looking into its parks to find space for new off-leash dog parks.
- The FBI is offering a total of $50,000 for information about two attacks on substations in the Northwest.
- Hollywood hairstylist chats with KUOW about Oscar nomination.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for March 10, 2023.
Cosmo is a smart dog. He's pretty great on the leash, very social, and wants to wrestle with just about every other dog around, whether they want to or not.
But Cosmo is also a runner, which means once the leash is off, he launches like a rocket. There is a trail nearby my place where I can take him and let him fly. And he does fly. There's also an actual dog park in our area, but that involves a car ride that takes about 15 minutes. I say all that because a lot of dog families are in a similar spot.
A lot of dogs in Seattle long for a nearby dog park, to make friends or at least get the energy out. The city currently has 14 off-leash parks, which for a major city like Seattle, with tens of thousands of pets, is not a lot. Perhaps that is why the officials are looking at about 30 parks with the potential of establishing more off-leash areas. In the end, however, only two new off-leash areas will be produced. The city aims to spend $3.46 million on the two sites, which seems like a lot. So to any Seattle officials out there, for a lot cheaper, I will go out and put up some fencing, poop bags, and water bowls, and even post on Facebook saying, "Hey look, it's a new dog park." Again, for cheaper ... like a million bucks. Feel free to reach out.
The new dog parks could come along "soonish," according to KUOW's Casey Martin, who has the full story here. My Dyer prediction, however, is that any timeline is going to be pushed back a bit. No matter what site the city gets its paws on, there will be some anti-dog park folks who will say they're barking up the wrong tree, and things could get ruff.
The FBI is offering a total of $50,000 for information about two attacks on substations outside of Olympia and Portland back in November 2022. It's $25,000 for each incident.
The attacks were similar. Someone used a firearm to shoot at the substations, damaging them and knocking out power in the area. One was a Puget Sound Energy facility in Tumwater. The second was at a Bonneville Power Administration substation in Oregon City, a couple days after the Tumwater attack.
“This was not an accident. It wasn't just someone conducting mischief,” said Richard Collodi, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Seattle office. “They made a deliberate and nefarious decision to use that weapon to cause damage to the infrastructure and the power grid.”
Check out the full story here.
You've likely seen Camille Friend's work, which is featured in films spanning Marvel movies to Jordan Peele and Quentin Tarantino productions. Her work has been on screen going back to the '90s on shows like "3rd Rock from the Sun," but such work doesn't garner the same attention as a director, editor, or actor. Yet, Friend's work helps set the scene and the vibe of a movie.
Friend is a Hollywood hairstylist featured in the credits for 64 films. This year is the first time she has been nominated for an Oscar, for "Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling." KUOW arts reporter Mike Davis got an opportunity to chat with Friend about her work over the years, and how it goes beyond the type of hairstyle work you might expect from your local salon or barber.
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Seattle will save cherry blossom trees on Pike Street, but the old ones still have to go
Eight cherry blossom trees near Pike Place Market were saved from the axe this week after locals spoke up, urging a sakura salvation. Now, the trees are on the chopping block again. But recent developments spurred the city to make new plans for this stretch of Seattle, and 24 new cherry blossom trees will eventually replace the old ones.
The 100 block of Pike Street is slated for a sidewalk redesign, which means the cherry blossom trees that line this street have to go. Seattle officials wanted to replace them with hybrid elms that would grow to arch over the street. The cherry blossoms have been blooming there since 1980. The city was planning to cut them down this week to get the job going, but Seattleites rushed to protect them, and the city paused.
On Friday, Mayor Bruce Harrell ordered that the eight trees be cut down to get the sidewalk job done. But, change of plans: They will replaced by 24 new cherry blossom trees.
“Cherry blossom trees are more than a symbol," Mayor Harrell said in a statement. "They invoke heartfelt feelings and represent decades of history — both the good and the bad — as part of our city’s deep connection to Japan. My own understanding of this is rooted in the experiences of my Japanese-American family, who were incarcerated at an internment camp at Minidoka, and their reverence for these trees and their magnificent bloom."
The mayor's office is pointing to an executive order issued this week which aims to increase Seattle's tree canopy. This will involve planting thousands more trees across the city. The mayor's office adds that 16 additional cherry blossom trees will be part of this effort and could be placed elsewhere along Seattle's waterfront, not far from Pike Place Market.
The new effort to increase the number of trees in Seattle comes shortly after a report stating that the city lost a tree canopy area roughly the size of Green Lake between 2016 and 2021. That adds up to about 255 acres of canopy. Seattle has a goal of 30% tree cover. It is currently at 28%.
RELATED: Emerald City keeps losing its greenery
“As I announced earlier this week through a new executive order and a proposal for a strengthened tree ordinance, we are committed to planting more trees — this allows us to act on that priority," Harrell said. "In listening to advocates of preserving existing trees, we weighed the trees’ declining health against a compelling vision of a new and safe corridor for the next 40 years and agreed on the importance of capturing their historical significance. The Pike Pine Streetscape Improvement project is a cornerstone in our efforts to rebuild downtown, and this commitment will ensure cherry blossom trees reach new generations of Seattleites for years to come.”
Cherry blossom trees, "sakura" in Japanese, are often a symbol of Japanese culture. Seattle's annual anime and Japanese pop culture event is called "Sakura-Con." The cherry blossom trees also have a reputation around the city. When the trees blossom at the University of Washington each year, it is big event, drawing considerable crowds, and producing a plethora of Instagram photos. The Washington Park Arboretum features a collection of cherry blossom trees, as does Jefferson Park and Green Lake Park. Seattle's Seward Park was the original location of the city's Cherry Blossom Festival (which now takes place at Seattle Center). The trees at Seward Park were first planted in 1929.
“We are so pleased Mayor Bruce Harrell and the city of Seattle are honoring the strong bond between Seattle, Japan, and Japanese-American communities with this commitment to plant 24 cherry blossom trees,” said Karen Yoshitomi, executive director of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. “Together, we will continue to commemorate and uplift our shared values and cultural history for decades to come.”
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FBI offers $50k reward to catch Northwest grid's armed attackers
The FBI is offering two $25,000 rewards in hopes of catching whoever shot up two electrical substations near Olympia and Portland in November.
In each incident, unknown actors shot a firearm or firearms at a high-voltage facility, damaged expensive equipment, and caused coolant oil to spew out of bullet holes and onto the ground, according to the FBI.
“This was not an accident. It wasn't just someone conducting mischief,” said Richard Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle office. “They made a deliberate and nefarious decision to use that weapon to cause damage to the infrastructure and the power grid.”
Early on the morning of Nov. 22, someone shot multiple holes in a transformer at Puget Sound Energy’s Barnes Lake substation in Tumwater, about 2 miles from the Washington State Capitol building. More than 5,000 customers lost power, according to Puget Sound Energy, and between 500 and 1,000 gallons of coolant oil spilled on the ground, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.
Two days later, infrared security cameras captured grainy outlines of two people inside a Bonneville Power Administration substation in Oregon City early Thanksgiving morning.
One suspect is shown pointing a weapon toward high-voltage equipment.
“We are looking for at least two suspects in this case, both roughly 6 feet tall,” FBI-Portland spokesperson Joy Jiras said by email.
According to a Bonneville Power Administration email obtained by Oregon Public Broadcasting and KUOW in December, two people cut through a fence surrounding the Oregon City substation, then “used firearms to shoot up and disable numerous pieces of equipment and cause significant damage.”
Whether the shooting incidents are connected is unknown, but they were just two of at least 15 physical attacks on Northwest substations in 2022 documented by a KUOW and Oregon Public Broadcasting investigation.
RELATED: FBI warned of neo-Nazi plots as attacks on Northwest grid spiked
Most of the incidents took place in rural locations.
The Tumwater substation, nestled between a Walgreen’s drug store and a debt collection agency, just off an Interstate 5 interchange, was one of the more urban targets.
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Mike's adventures in art: A letter from Evan Hansen
If you're looking for tips on how to experience art in the Seattle area, you're in the right place. In this weekly post, KUOW arts reporter Mike Davis has suggestions for what to do around Seattle over the weekend so you can have your own adventures in arts and culture.
THEATRE
"Dear Evan Hansen" is playing at the Paramount Theatre. This is my pick of week and it came as a surprise. I expected this to be a typical high school musical, but the depth of emotion and turns in the story took me by surprise.
I never read plot or synopsis before enter a theatre. I like to be surprised. So early on, I was convinced I knew where the story was going. But I didn't! I won't spoil the plot here, but I will say, Evan writing a letter to himself in the school library launched into a story that shoots sky high before taking a gut-wrenching crash.
The first thing I noticed when I saw the stage for Evan Hansen was the unique set design. This story is about a high schooler, but the set is designed to put you into one of the most important aspects of modern day high schoolers - screens! They implemented screens that surround and at times engulf, the characters. Social media plays a key part in telling the story. That was clever.
The highlight for me, was the dramatic level of highs and lows throughout the story. At moments, the theatre erupts in laughter at the inappropriate, often sexual, jokes that you can expect from a teenager. But the lows are extreme and emotional as the play explores themes of isolation, friendship (or the lack of), relationships, and suicide. And the journey is a roller-coaster! You go from rooting for Evan, to feeling sorry for him, to hating him, to wanting to give him the biggest hug.
"Dear Evan Hansen" is playing at the Paramount Theatre March 7 - 12
FILM
The 28th Seattle Jewish Film Festival starts this weekend with showings at AMC Pacific Place 11 downtown. Opening night features "Karaoke," a comedy about a suburban couple getting swooped into the world or their charismatic neighbor who hosts karaoke nights.
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