Saxophonist and composer Kate Olson brought her original music to this month's Art of Jazz concert presented by Earshot at The Seattle Art Museum. She is part of a cadre of Seattle musicians who've been drawn to the area by the freedom to explore new forms of expression in music and theater.

We meet a comedian who lived with an all deaf family, and learned how to do impressions by watching television. Then, a shop teacher reflects on some of his students constructing a casket for a fallen fellow student. Finally, a cab driver shares what it was like to dress like Elvis on the clock.

In the basement of Franklin High School in South Seattle there is a sprawling room full of lathes, band saws and sanding equipment. In one of the room’s closets, tree stumps wait to be turned into polished bowls, guitar stands and bookcases.

Before he was gunned down last year on June 2 in Martha Washington Park, 17-year-old Ryan Dela Cruz made things in this wood shop.

An impressive storm was looming offshore Friday morning, promising to bring significant rain and wind to the Puget Sound region. But KNKX weather expert Cliff Mass says it won’t hit too hard and should give way to a relatively quiet weekend, with plenty of breaks to get outside.

OLYMPIA — Joe Nguyen doesn’t look like your typical lawmaker. He’s the first Vietnamese member in the state Senate. And at 35, he’s one of the youngest.

“People are realizing that I’m a senator and not a staffer,” Nguyen said. But, he added, people do sometimes ask "who do you work for?" 

A state House committee will hold a public hearing next week on a bill to allow college athletes to receive compensation. The athletes wouldn't be paid a salary but would be able to benefit from the marketing of their talents. The bill has been proposed by Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn).

KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked about the legislation — and the bigger issue it addresses — with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.