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Where Washington's college football players come from
More of Washington's elite college football players have hailed from California than Washington in recent years, an Axios analysis finds.What's happening: About 39.5% of football players at the University of Washington and Washington State University came from California between 2009 and 2022, according to recruiting data.That's slightly higher than the 35.7% of players at UW and WSU who hailed from Washington in those years.Why it matters: College football programs nationwide are increasingly recruiting from out of state, as the growing professionalization and commercialization of college athletics reshapes the recruiting landscape.Zoom out: Washington's share of homegrown recruits is higher than in many places.Only 24% of players from Indiana's top football programs came from in-state over the period analyzed, for instance.Meanwhile, Massachusetts had the lowest share of football players hailing from in-state, at just 20%.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
Election offices evacuated in Washington state after fentanyl powder found
Four county elections offices in Washington state, including in King County, were evacuated Wednesday after workers received envelopes containing "unknown powdery substances," according to the Secretary of State's office.In each case, the substances were discovered as workers were busy counting ballots from Tuesday's election.Zoom in: In King County, a staff member in the mailroom of the county elections office in Renton opened an envelope and discovered white powder, spokesperson Halei Watkins told Axios.Preliminary testing showed a presence of fentanyl, Watkins said. But it wasn't immediately clear if the envelope carried a trace of the drug "or something more concentrated," she...
Election offices evacuated in Washington state after fentanyl powder found
Four county elections offices in Washington state, including in King County, were evacuated Wednesday after workers received envelopes containing "unknown powdery substances," according to the Secretary of State's office.In each case, the substances were discovered as workers were busy counting ballots from Tuesday's election.Zoom in: In King County, a staff member in the mailroom of the county elections office in Renton opened an envelope and discovered white powder, spokesperson Halei Watkins told Axios.Preliminary testing showed a presence of fentanyl, Watkins said. But it wasn't immediately clear if the envelope carried a trace of the drug "or something more concentrated," she...
3 Seattle council incumbents trail as more election results are counted
Seattle elections are known for big turnarounds in late vote counts, but it will take a major leftward swing for City Council incumbents Tammy Morales and Andrew Lewis to keep their seats.What's happening: After two days of vote counting from Tuesday's election, Lewis trailed challenger Bob Kettle, a retired naval officer, by more than 11 percentage points Wednesday.Morales, meanwhile, was almost 9 percentage points behind Tanya Woo, a community advocate for the Chinatown-International District who works for the hotel her family owns there.Council member Dan Strauss was down by about two percentage points on election night to challenger Pete Hanning;...
3 Seattle council incumbents trail as more election results are counted
Seattle elections are known for big turnarounds in late vote counts, but it will take a major leftward swing for City Council incumbents Tammy Morales and Andrew Lewis to keep their seats.What's happening: After two days of vote counting from Tuesday's election, Lewis trailed challenger Bob Kettle, a retired naval officer, by more than 11 percentage points Wednesday.Morales, meanwhile, was almost 9 percentage points behind Tanya Woo, a community advocate for the Chinatown-International District who works for the hotel her family owns there.Council member Dan Strauss was down by about two percentage points on election night to challenger Pete Hanning;...
3 Seattle council incumbents trail as more election results are counted
Seattle elections are known for big turnarounds in late vote counts, but it will take a major leftward swing for City Council incumbents Tammy Morales and Andrew Lewis to keep their seats.What's happening: After two days of vote counting from Tuesday's election, Lewis trailed challenger Bob Kettle, a retired naval officer, by more than 11 percentage points Wednesday.Morales, meanwhile, was almost 9 percentage points behind Tanya Woo, a community advocate for the Chinatown-International District who works for the hotel her family owns there.Council member Dan Strauss was down by about two percentage points on election night to challenger Pete Hanning;...
Business-backed Seattle council candidates lead in early election returns
In at least three Seattle City Council races in Tuesday's election, centrist candidates who garnered greater support from business interests and third-party PACs had strong leads in early returns. Meanwhile, the three council incumbents running for re-election were trailing their challengers, but not by insurmountable margins.Yes, but: With only about half of the ballots counted, it's too early to draw sweeping conclusions. What's happening: More mailed-in ballots will be tallied in the coming days, clarifying the results.Seattle City Council races have been known to swing by as much as 12 percentage points from the initial results on election night.Here's where...
Washington's violent crime rate rises, nearing national rate
Washington state's violent crime rate is no longer far below the national rate, as it was for most of the past four decades, according to the latest FBI data.Why it matters: Washington's violent crime rate was roughly 1% below the U.S. rate in 2022, per the FBI. That's a big shift from 2012, when the state's rate was about 23% below the U.S. rate, and 1985, when it was about 24% below.Driving the news: There were 375.6 reported violent crimes for every 100,000 people in Washington last year, compared to 380.7 violent crimes per 100,000 people nationally, according to the...
What Seattle orders on UberEats
Seattle may have a reputation as a foodie, vegan, health-conscious place to eat, but our Uber Eats orders show we still like apple pie and burritos.Driving the news: Spicier foods, fewer onions and a rise in non-alcoholic beverages are among national trends noted in the food delivery service's 2023 "cravings" report.Across the country, the most ordered items are French fries, garlic naan, pad Thai, miso soup and California rolls.Zoom in: In Seattle, the most popular item is Chipotle's burrito bowl, per Uber Eats data shared with Axios.The most popular condiment: fire sauce.Most frequent special instruction: no utensils. (Same as Portland.)7-Eleven's...
Business-backed groups are spending big on Seattle City Council races
Outside groups have poured about $1.4 million so far into Tuesday's Seattle City Council elections, with more than $1 million coming from committees backed by business and real estate interests.Why it matters: Groups looking to influence elections can pack a greater punch through independent expenditure committees, which — unlike candidates' campaigns — can raise and spend unlimited amounts of cash.Zoom in: In Seattle council races, the candidates who are considered the most centrist and business-friendly have benefited the most from outside dollars.Maritza Rivera, the former deputy director of Seattle's Office of Arts and Culture, is so far the biggest beneficiary...
BBB warns of scams in Washington amid rising consumer debt
With a recent survey showing that consumer debt in the Evergreen State is up, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Washington is sounding an alarm about shady debt relief and credit repair companies.Why it matters: The national rate of new credit card delinquencies has surpassed its pre-COVID level, clocking in at 7.2% in the second quarter of this year, and some Americans may be starting to panic as they fall behind on payments, writes Axios' Emily Peck.While there are ethical credit and debt assistance companies and apps, there are also some that prey on people in distress, Logan Hickle of...
How Seattle's new civilian 911 response team will work
A new civilian team can now respond to some 911 calls in Seattle, but its scope is fairly limited for now.Why it matters: Since the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Seattle officials have been working to have unarmed responders take on some 911 calls traditionally handled by police, including certain mental health-related calls.Yes, but: Officers haven't been cut out of the picture — at least not yet.Here's a brief rundown of Seattle's new dual-dispatch program, which is projected to cost the city about $1.8 million in its first year.Cops will still show upUnder the pilot program, police will still go...
We've located Idaho, and it's not in the Midwest
A few weeks ago, we posed a question to Axios Seattle readers: How the heck do a quarter of Idaho residents (according to a recent poll) think they live in the Midwest?They had a range of opinions about where exactly Idaho is. But all agreed: Midwest, it is not.What they're saying: Reader Susan A. described the state as "mentally Midwest, physically PNW."Others said they consider Idaho part of the Northwest, but not the Pacific Northwest, as it doesn't border the ocean. (Fair point.)A few more readers identified the state as part of the Mountain West, which struck us as accurate.Plus: Some had questions about what exactly they're teaching people over there."It's definitely NOT part of the Midwest. Not even a little bit. Do they have U.S. maps in Idaho?" asked reader Kathryn C.A few more people concluded it's more about mindset than actual maps."Just maybe the folks in ID feel closer to the folks in IN, but politics ain't geography," David M. wrote, using the state abbreviations for Idaho and Indiana.The bottom line: Idaho isn't a Midwestern state. Axios Seattle readers — including some former Idahoans — have spoken.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
OL Reign heads to NWSL semifinals against San Diego Wave FC
Seattle's OL Reign have made the playoffs every year since 2019, but they've yet to clinch the National Women's Soccer League championship — something they hope to change if they can make it through the semifinals this weekend.Driving the news: The Reign head down to San Diego to take on the Wave FC at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday in pursuit of their first NWSL Championship trophy.Why it matters: This could be the final NWSL game for World Cup and Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoe, who is retiring.Her final regular season home game against the Washington Spirit on Oct. 6 not...
What to do this weekend in Seattle (Nov. 4–6)
Here are a few fun events to check out this weekend in Seattle.🎶 Enjoy live music, children's activities and a pop-up mercado at El Centro de la Raza's Dia de los Muertos celebration. There will also be food and an ofrenda exhibit. 11am–6pm Saturday at the Centilia Cultural Center, 1660 S. Roberto Maestas Festival St.🪩 Soak up the glow of the Neon Night Market, which will light up Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park from 4–10pm Saturday. Visitors can browse vintage clothing booths, sip cocktails and join a '90s-themed dance party, all illuminated by neon and phosphorescent lights.🌳 Give back by...
Daylight saving time sends Seattle into the dark
Despite a state law to make daylight saving time permanent, the clocks still need to be rolled back one hour on Sunday. For Seattle, that means the beginning of the season known locally as "The Big Dark."Why it matters: For Seattleites, "fall back" is not just a time change; it means we'll soon start and end our workdays in darkness (with only a desktop happy lamp to cut the gloom) and hibernation begins.What to watch: The sun will set at 4:45pm when we reset the clock on Nov. 5 and we won't see a post-5pm sunset again until Jan. 26.Because...
Seattle debates gunfire detection technology — again
Seattle officials are once again debating whether to install gunshot detection technology such as ShotSpotter, which is designed to alert police to gunfire.Why it matters: Critics, such as the ACLU of Washington, say the technology has a history of falsely identifying unrelated sounds as gunfire, potentially sending police into neighborhoods on high alert and increasing the likelihood of violent encounters between officers and the people living there.Meanwhile, ShotSpotter's parent company, SoundThinking, says the technology has a 97% accuracy rate and can help first responders arrive more quickly to collect evidence or render first aid, even when no one calls 911.What's...
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