(Airdate: February 3, 2026) We’re in Xinjiang province in the town of Turfan, and we’re visiting the Emin Minaret at the east edge of town. The minaret was built in 1777 by the local ruler, Emin Khoja, as a monument to Uyghur support for the Qing dynasty and its dispute with other nomads to the north. Translated into current lingo, the minaret stands as a shining symbol of the centuries-old friendship between the Uyghurs and the Han Chinese…
County Connections
(Airdate: February 6, 2026) This week on County Connections as part of International Clash Day, Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette and Jim Burke welcome Richard Davies, with the non-profit Jefferson Associated Council, who provide public defense for those who can’t afford an attorney who are charged with a crime.”Know Your Rights” being the theme of International Clash Day, Richard tells us what some of those rights are from arrest through the court system. Richard also explains what he does, a little bit about his background, and his 30 years of experience as a public defender. Plus, he is a CLASH fan, so he quotes from the song “Know Your Rights”
Brewocracy Now ~ 2/05/26
KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro were joined by AJ Feit, who is the PT Police Department’s Navigator, and whose job is to connect with people who may be overwhelmed or in distress and to help them ‘navigate’ the system. He is part of the police department, but is not an armed or uniformed officer. He is a trained mental health professional and a good one. He has been with the city since October 2025. The position is funded (in part) by a grant from WASPC (Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Local News for 2/05/26
February 5, 2026: Diane Walker – Government funding extended 2 weeks more; Douglas fir on golf course is dedicated (TRANSCRIPT)
(Airdate: February 5, 2026) In our February episode, Dianna and Mary Beth talk about starting seeds indoors using heat mats and grow lights. Barbara is joined by special guest Master Gardener Doug van Allen, co-manager of the PTHS Culinary Garden and volunteer pruner at the Blue Heron School Orchard. Doug shares the principles of pruning trees in winter for health, structure, and fruit production. The show airs Thursday from 6-6:30 pm. To read more about pruning, find a free publication “PNW400” from the Pacific Northwest Extension: Training and Pruning Your Home Orchard
#759 Bluffs of North Beach
(Airdate: February 4. 2026) The bluffs of Fort Worden loom over any walks along North Beach. Lift your eyes away from the sea and up to the bluffs or across the waters. The geological stories of our area are laid out in front of you and on the horizon. Can you read or imagine those stories of deep past times and more recent glacial periods? Join Nan Evans as she talks with Tim Lawson, local Port Townsend geologist, to explore clues and knit the patterns together.
Local News for 2/04/26
Community Tides ~ 2/03/26
On alternate weeks each month, KPTZ’s Chris Bricker joins co-host Siobhan Canty, President & CEO of Jefferson Community Foundation, to explore new developments and paradigms with our vibrant community of creative and innovative citizens who do good work. Following increased Border Patrol activity on the Olympic Peninsula in 2007, when several people in Forks were suddenly deported, and when Trump’s election in 2016 led to a vast increase in the number of people concerned with the broader issue of immigration, activists Katie Franco, Libby Palmer, and Jim Buckley founded a small group of concerned citizens now known as Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates, or JCIRA. Joining us are two of JCIRA’s Co-founders Katie Franco and Libby Palmer, along with Francisca Velasquez, board member of Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers, who are committed to ensuring access to justice for low-income residents by providing civil legal aid through volunteer attorneys.
#279 Michael McCutcheon: Fighting Addiction
(Airdate: February 3, 2026) Maryanne interviews Michael McCutcheon, founder of Reach Out, a non-profit that helps feed those in need of food. Michael’s a recovering addict who wants to help others who have decided to free themselves from drugs. No one knows how difficult it is to end years of addiction than someone who is doing it himself. At times Michael works closely with law enforcement or city officials to find housing or medical assistance. He believes that there’s a fine line between compassion and enabling and he’s definitely against enabling. His volunteers take weekly truckloads of food to certain known locations, such as the bus station or skate park. He’s there — sharing his own story and offering help to those who actually listen.
Silk
(Airdate: January 27, 2026) We’re visiting Turfan’s most famous site, the Emin Minaret at the east edge of town. The word “minaret” comes from the Arabic word “minara,” meaning lighthouse, which is what a minaret looks like. But the minaret serves to summon rather than to warn away We’ve seen minarets before, but nothing quite like the Emin Minaret. It’s easily the most impressive piece of Islamic architecture in all of China.
