Inside Olympia

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State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Executive Director May 26, 2022

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She's spent four decades in Washington's community and technical college system. Now, she's stepping down as leader of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. What are the challenges and opportunities facing this system of nearly three dozen colleges spread across Washington state? We talk with outgoing SBCTC Executive Director Jan Yoshiwara.

State Auditor Pat McCarthy May 19, 2022

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Over the past year, the Office of the State Auditor has released performance audits on long-term care worker training, voting ballot rejection rates, and K-12 student behavioral health issues. Coming soon: audits on customer service at the WA Employment Security Department, the backlog in sexual assault kit testing, and the state's road toll collection system. This week we sit down for the full hour with State Auditor Pat McCarthy.

K-12 Public Schools May 11, 2022

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We discuss the state of the state's K-12 public schools with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. Plus, the view from inside the classroom with Pamella Johnson, an academic and behavioral intervention specialist at Rochester High School.

Youth and Young Adult Homelessness May 04, 2022

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This week: Homelessness among school-aged youth and young adults in Washington -- the scope of the problem, and what state government and one private organization are doing to address the problem. Host Austin Jenkins interviews Kim Justice, executive director of the state's Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection, and Julie Patino, executive director of A Way Home Washington.

Retiring CEO of the Health Benefit Exchange and Retiring State House Majority Leader May 04, 2022

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Pam MacEwan is retiring as CEO of Washington's Health Benefit Exchange, after a career spent focused on expanding access to health care. We'll hear her thoughts on health care in our state. Representative Pat Sullivan is stepping down from the State House after nearly two decades in office, much of it as Democratic Majority Leader. He's played a key role in budget negotiations, education funding with the McCleary decision, and more.

A COVID update with Dr. Scott Lindquist and a discussion with WA State Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck. Apr 15, 2022

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After a long downward trend, there's a recent uptick in COVID cases. Should we be concerned? We ask State Epidemiologist Scott Lindquist. Plus, he worked on the issue in Washington D.C., and now he's made housing affordability and availability one of his signature issues in this Washington. We talk housing, the 2022 legislative session and more with Washington State Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck.

A discussion on the state's capital gains tax and a conversation about the cannabis industry Apr 13, 2022

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Will Washington's new capital gain's tax survive the courts? We debate that question with two University of Washington law professors. And we check in with the chair of the Liquor and Cannabis Board on the State of Washington's cannabis industry.

A conversation with State Treasurer Pellicciotti and retiring state Rep. Jesse Johnson Mar 31, 2022

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In-depth interviews with State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, and retiring State Rep. Jesse Johnson. The State Treasurer is pressing Congress to pass new banking laws that would help prevent robberies at cannabis stores. And, he wants the state to provide "baby bonds" to children from low-income and marginalized communities. Rep. Jesse Johnson is stepping down for family reasons after three years in the state House of Representatives, years in which he played a key role in enacting changes to policing laws. He discusses his decision to step down, and possible future plans.

An interview with the President and Executive VP of The Evergreen State College Mar 24, 2022

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The Evergreen State College is 50 years old. But recently it has struggled with declining enrollment. So how is the school celebrating its past and planning for its future? Austin Jenkins sits down with the college's Interim President John Carmichael and Executive VP Dexter Gordon.

A conversation with long-time senior political reporter Essex Porter Mar 17, 2022

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In honor of Sunshine Week, host Austin Jenkins sits down for the full-hour with recently retired, long-time KIRO 7 Senior Political Reporter Essex Porter. His thoughts on the importance of covering politics and government, the future of local news, and more.

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