Kirsten Kendrick

Seattle's Youth Poet Laureate has just published her first book of poetry. "Motherland" is Bitaniya Giday's exploration of Blackness, womanhood and family history as an Ethiopian-American youth.

Expect more personnel moves from the Seattle Kraken soon, as the team continues to build its roster. The Kraken added 30 players this week in the National Hockey League's expansion draft. KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel was at the draft party at Gas Works Park and talked with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

Washington has one of the lowest COVID-19 death tolls and highest vaccination rates in the country. But not all counties have kept the same pace. Gov. Jay Inslee is pushing for residents to get vaccinated now before COVID-19 variants become a big problem here. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins talked about this – and more – with KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

The Seattle Mariners begin the second half of their season with a weekend series against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif. So far, the Mariners have done better than expected – but will it continue? KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

COVID-19 numbers may be flattening in Washington – but wildfires are sweeping across the region and the official death toll from the state's record heat wave has risen. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins joined Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick to talk about those issues and many more.

A lot has happened in Washington over the past week. The state has fully reopened, endured a record heat wave and begun its wildfire season. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins talked about all of that - and more - with KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

It's a new day for college sports. This week, student athletes were granted the right to earn money from their names, images and likenesses. KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel tells KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick this spells the end of amateurism in college sports. 

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) thinks big tech has gotten a little too big. She’s proposing a bill that would break up tech monopolies, including the Big Four: Google, Facebook, Apple and Washington’s biggest employer, Amazon. If passed, the federal government would be able to sue and force the companies to sell off lines of business they determined were a conflict of interest. 

Fans of Seattle's new professional hockey team, the Kraken, are getting to know their first head coach. Dave Hakstol was announced as the leader of the expansion franchise this week. It's only his second head coaching job in the National Hockey League. We learn more about him – and what's next for the team – in this week's conversation between KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

We're just over a week away from fully reopening in Washington on June 30. We still don’t know if the state will hit the 70 percent vaccination benchmark before then – but right now, it’s looking pretty close. That same day, the state's eviction moratorium is scheduled to end. 

Seattle Seahawks players have left team headquarters in Renton. They spent the past two weeks on the practice field. And, off the field, quarterback Russell Wilson tried to put an offseason controversy behind him. More from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

Washington state is in an ambiguous place with COVID-19. The state plans to fully reopen once 70% of the population over the age of 16 initiates vaccination. Current estimates suggest the state won’t hit that number before June 30, but the state plans to reopen on that day anyway.

We also aren't sure how well Washington’s COVID-19 lottery is working yet. And there’s a new strain of COVID-19 that’s deadlier and more contagious.

The Mariners' top prospect Jarred Kelenic is once again playing in Triple-A Tacoma. He was sent down this week after going hitless in his last 39 plate appearances for a batting average of .096. Here is some perspective from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel in his conversation this week with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick. 

The state lottery to incentivize more people in Washington to get COVID-19 vaccines begins today (Tuesday). It will be the first of four weekly drawings leading up to a $1 million grand-prize drawing July 13. The incentives include cash prizes, tuition assistance, airline tickets, electronics and gift cards. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins talked about that and state's overall pandemic response with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

The Seattle Mariners have led Major League Baseball in the number of players injured this season. Injuries are up all across baseball this year. We learn more from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

Washington is supposed to be fully reopened by the end of this month. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins talked with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick about the state's latest pandemic response efforts and how some of those are receiving pushback.

The Seattle Sounders host Austin FC Sunday night at Lumen Field. With a 5-0-2 record, the Sounders are enjoying their best start ever. They're also at the top of Major League Soccer's overall standings. More from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick. 

There are new laws about police reform and accountability in Washington. The bills that have now been signed by Gov. Jay Inslee grew out of protests for racial justice last summer that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which happened one year ago Tuesday.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee caused some controversy while signing environmental bills into law on Monday. He vetoed portions of some of these bills, drawing criticism and talk of legal action from lawmakers. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins talked about that and more with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick. 

The Seattle Storm begin their 2021 season Saturday afternoon at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. They're playing the Las Vegas Aces - the team they beat in the finals last year to win their fourth WNBA championship. We learn more about the Storm's season from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

The Seattle Mariners are on the road for their next five games. They're in second place in the American League West, despite being on the losing end of a no-hitter on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles. The M's bats are a problem right now. More from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

Friday is Ruth Dickey's last day as head of Seattle Arts and Lectures. Dickey has been at the helm of the literary arts organization since 2013. She will soon be the new executive director of the National Book Foundation, which is the presenter of one of the most prestigious awards in the literary world — the National Book Awards.

The NFL draft is underway. The Seattle Seahawks have three picks this year - the fewest in franchise history. We did hear from Seahawks general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll this week. But the main topic wasn't the draft: It was quarterback Russell Wilson. More from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

With the legislative session now over, Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins talked with KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick about what's next for some of the key legislation that was passed.

The Seattle Sounders are on the road for their second Major League Soccer match this season. They play Los Angeles FC Saturday afternoon. The Sounders won their first match last week at Lumen Field. We learn more from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick. 

State lawmakers are in the final week of their legislative session, and there is still a lot to address: budget, capital gains, climate issues, drug possession laws and more.

The Seattle Seahawks continue to make moves ahead of the NFL draft later this month. The latest acquisition happened this week with the signing of defensive end Aldon Smith. We learn more from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick. 

Changes are happening on the COVID front in Washington this week. Three counties are moving back to Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan. That announcement comes as all Washingtonians age 16 and older are about to become eligible for the COVID vaccine.

The Gonzaga men's basketball team came close this week to being the first undefeated national champions since 1976. But they lost to Baylor in the title game. KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick  have a look at the history of this successful program and what's in store for its future.