
Local News for 10/28/25


(Airdate: October 28, 2025) We’re in Xinjiang, China’s so-called Uyghurs Autonomous Province. The Uyghurs are the largest ethnic group in the province, with 45 percent of the population, and the Han Chinese are close behind with 40 percent. Still, 99 percent of the power is in the hands of the Chinese….

(Airdate: October 27, 2025) Nigel O’Shea from the Jefferson County Beacon was joined by reporter Scott France, photographer Heather Johnson, and editor Nhatt Nichols to talk about the Beacon‘s article on Food Insecurity in Jefferson County, which is especially important in light of the government shutdown and the impact on SNAP benefits which are going to lapse.
The Beacon’s article on this is located here.

This week, In a special Fund Drive edition of County Connections, Jim Burke and co-host Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour welcome Jefferson County Department of Public Works Director/County Engineer Al Cairns and Tracy Grisman, Chair and District #1 Citizen Representative on SWAC (Solid Waste Advisory Commitee). They discuss solid waste, recycling, the upcoming plans for county-wide solid waste curbside service, and the relocation of the Transfer station.
Also. on Monday, October 27 at the Transfer Station from 5-7 pm is the unveiling of artwork developed through the A.I.R.E. program (Artist In Residency and Education) which brings focus to recycling and uses actual trash for the assemblage.


(Reprise airdate: October 22, 2025) Nature Now host Nan Evans talks with University of Washington marine biologist and research, Dr. Jason Hodin about the mysteries of the endangered Sunflower Sea Star. If we can understand these intricacies, perhaps humans can help restore the endangered Sunflower Sea Star population in the Salish Sea by learning how to raise and take care of baby sea stars.

(Airdate: October 21, 2025) We’re in Xinjiang Province, and we’ve just arrived In the town of Hami. Up to now we’ve seen people in every Silk Road Town wearing skull caps of various colors. Usually they’re white, and occasionally black or dark green. Such caps are part of the Muslims’ traditional dress. In Hami, the amount of people wearing such caps approaches the number of uncapped. That is because we’ve entered a region where until recently the Chinese have been in a minority….