Erin Hennessey

Who came up with the idea for Earth Day? Depends who you ask.

If you ask Tom Paulson, founder and editor of Humanosphere.org, he’ll tell you it was he and his childhood friend who gave the idea to President Lyndon B. Johnson. And he’s got a presidential letter—and his mother’s word—to back him up.

Born in 1957, Paulson was 9 years old when he penned the Earth Day letter to the president with his neighbor, friend and fellow Cub Scout Brad Jones, who is now an attorney in Tacoma.

Making your own vinegar is not complicated, thank goodness, but it does require a  good starter. Seattle Times food writer, Nancy Leson, tells KPLU's Erin Hennessey how she makes her own red wine vinegar and why it's so special.

Downtown Seattle's Westlake Park filled up with hundreds of people Sunday who came out to show their support for gun-control legislation. One of those attending was Jack Severns from Kent who wants to see a ban on assault weapons.

"I've owned guns since I was 12 years old but I want to see them used correctly."

Many at the rally talked about revisiting the second amendment.

The rally, called StandUp Washington, included speakers, music and remembrances for those lost in the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

If you've seen sepia images of Native American Indians, you've probably seen Edward Curtis's work.

A new biography, "Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher, The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis," pays tribute to the Seattle photographer. KPLU's Erin Hennessey walked around Seattle's Pioneer Square with  author Timothy Egan to see where Curtis took some of his early photos, including his first portrait of an American Indian, Princess Angeline, the last surviving child of Chief Seattle.

There are not many places on the West Coast where you can find house boats. That means the supply is limited so they are usually in high demand. And don't forget the slips for the homes. Those can go for a pretty penny, too. A recent ad in the Seattle property listings featured  a piece of property on Lake Union that's 14 x 30 feet, 35 feet of water, with an asking price of $95,000.

Weeks have passed since the May Day protests, but Seattle police are still asking for help identifying the individuals who damaged property. The violence was largely attributed to people who've been called anarchists. So what is anarchy anyway?

From Mayor Mike McGinn worrying about violence to a guy on the street wondering if the ferries will run, tensions in Seattle are mounting over May Day protests.

Groups are planning May Day marches in Seattle to protest capitalism, immigration laws and labor practices, but the most consistent rallying cry is for a “general strike.” How many people will go on “strike,” how many will show up to rally and whether there will be an outbreak of violence on the streets are unknowns.

And that uncertainty appears to be jangling some nerves in the city.

President Obama has announced the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among the honorees is William Foege. The Vashon Island doctor developed a vaccination plan that wiped out small pox.

Seattle has always been a city that likes to read. But if the Seattle Public Library's growing e-book collection and its high usage is any indication, even more people are reading more books. And, we're also outpacing New York.

The Seattle Public Library now has just over 100,000 digitized books compared to the New York Public Library which has about 88,000.

About a dozen women testified in favor yesterday of the Seattle City Council proposed rule to add protection for breastfeeding mothers.

A committee considering the new law voted 3-0 to pass it onto the full council, which will vote on the bill on Monday. The committee is expecting unanimous support of the bill.

Western Washington University is offering summer session classes for the first time in King County starting this June. The classes will be held at North Seattle Community College.

Paul Cocke, Director of university communications, says the goal is to help students graduate in a timely manner.

According to the Website for the St. Patrick's Day Dash in Seattle, the event began 27 years ago as a race between bars and as a training event for an Irish Olympian. Now it’s Seattle’s largest single-distance run/walk, jog or crawl where the winners cross the finish before the last person starts.  The Dash covers nearly 4 miles of city streets with a 15,000 person ribbon of green. 

We'd love to see your photos – please post them in the comments section below. Cheers!

A 34-foot totem pole honoring slain First Nations woodcarver John T. Williams was carried from the Seattle Waterfront to Seattle Center and raised by some 90 people on Sunday. The pole was carried to its final destination with traditional singing, drumming, and dancing. 

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn delivered his third State of the City Address today focusing on education, public safety, and the economy – noting that the city was knocked down pretty hard during the recession.

He said Seattle lost 35,000 jobs with unemployment peaking at 8.2 percent. But progress has been made.

Any dedicated public radio listener has probably wondered what it's like to be a foreign correspondent for NPR. Reporter Gerry Hadden gives us a glimpse into that world in his memoir, Never the Hope Itself.