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Axios Seattle
Washington's 2023 graduating seniors had high ACT scores
Washington's graduating seniors continue to perform better on the ACT college admissions exam than their counterparts across most of the U.S., according to data from the nonprofit that administers the test.What's happening: Nationwide, the class of 2023 had the worst ACT performance in more than three decades.By contrast, Washington students' performance on the test is higher than it was a decade ago.By the numbers: Washington seniors had an average composite ACT score of 24.5 in 2023. That's up from 21 in 2014.Nationally, the average composite ACT score among 2023 graduating seniors was 19.5, significantly lower than in Washington.What they're saying:...
Your guide to the 2023 Seattle City Council election
Your ballot for the Nov. 7 election is on its way, if it hasn't already arrived in your mailbox.Why it matters: This year's election will decide seven of nine seats on the Seattle City Council, along with dozens of other local government positions across the county and state.Four Seattle City Council incumbents aren't running for re-election, leaving their seats up for grabs.Plus: Seattle voters are being asked to approve a $970 million property tax levy for affordable housing.Here's how to participate and what to know about the major races on the ballot.Registering to voteYou can register to vote or update...
Seattle-area commutes have gotten shorter
The share of Seattle-area workers with relatively speedy commutes has increased since the pandemic, per a new Axios analysis of census data.Why it matters: Quicker commutes are linked to better mental health, greater job satisfaction and a host of other personal benefits.And driving less is better for the environment. (Of course, many people commute via public transit.)Zoom in: A larger share of people in the Seattle metro area had commutes lasting less than 30 minutes last year, compared to before the pandemic.That includes people who traveled to work by any means, including walking, transit, driving or bicycling, according to census...
Weekend events in Seattle, Oct. 20–22
Most of our event picks for this weekend are food- and drink-related. What can we say? We're hungry people.🥃 Sip some spirits at Proof, a festival featuring products from more than two dozen distilleries. 4–8pm Saturday at Westland Distillery, 2931 First Ave. S in SoDo.🍷 If wine is more of your thing, check out the Ballard Wine Walk, where you can explore local shops while sampling pours from 15 Northwest wineries. 5–8pm Saturday. Tickets are $35 and include 10 tastings.🧟 Navigate an obstacle course while being chased by zombies at the Survive Seattle Zombie Run, where you can also donate blood (after you're done being chased, that is). 9–5pm Saturday. Meet at Jefferson Park Skate Park.🍽️ Try some new places to eat with Seattle Restaurant Week, which kicks off Sunday and runs through Nov. 4. Dozens of local restaurants are offering curated tasting menus at different price points, ranging from $20 to $65.🥕 For non-carnivores who want to explore Pike Place Market, try a plant-based food tour, which features 12 food tastings for $76. You can take the 2.5-hour tour on Saturday or other dates next week.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
You now need $215K a year to afford a typical Seattle-area home
You need to earn a cool $215,000 a year to afford a typical home in the Seattle area, a new report finds. That's an increase of 18% from last year — and about $100,000 more than the U.S. average.Why it matters: High interest rates and home prices have put homeownership out of reach for many locals.The median annual household income in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area was about $107,000 last year, per census data.Details: Of 100 metro areas, Seattle requires the eighth-highest income for a person to afford a median-priced home, according to data Redfin released this week.San Francisco leads the pack,...
Seattle District 7 council candidates Lewis and Kettle spar over public safety
The two candidates vying to represent Seattle's downtown core on the City Council both say the city needs to improve public safety, but they disagree about which of them can best deliver those results.What's happening: In District 7, first-term City Councilmember Andrew Lewis faces a challenge from Bob Kettle, a retired Navy officer who has served on the board of the Queen Anne Community Council.Lewis, a former city prosecutor, was elected in 2019 to represent the district, which includes Queen Anne, Belltown, downtown and South Lake Union.State of play: Both candidates say the city needs to hire more police.They also...
Why many Seattle-area millennials can't afford homes
When young people buy homes, they're often doing it with help from their parents, a new report finds — and a local realtor says the Seattle area is no exception.Why it matters: Nearly three-quarters of aspiring homebuyers say affordability is the No. 1 obstacle to owning a house, per a Bankrate study.Plus: A Redfin report on "nepo-homebuyers" found 38% of recent buyers under age 30 received family money in order to afford their down payment.Zoom in: Among U.S. millennials (ages 27 to 42) who don't already own a home, 44% said not having enough income was their No. 1 barrier...
Where Seattle's District 2 council candidates stand on key issues
South Seattle's current City Council member is defending her seat against a community activist who recently opposed a plan to expand a homeless shelter in the area.Driving the news: City Councilmember Tammy Morales faces a challenge from Tanya Woo, who works at her family's hotel in the Chinatown-International District.Woo is a leader of the Chinatown-International District Community Watch, which conducts night walks and outreach in the neighborhood.Morales was elected in 2019 and was previously a community organizer with the Rainier Beach Action Coalition.Here are some notable policy differences between the two candidates in District 2.SoDo shelter proposalWoo led protests against...
How the UW and WSU football coaches' salaries compare
The head football coaches at the University of Washington and Washington State University are two of the three highest-paid people on the state's payroll.Yet their salaries are only middle-of-the-pack compared to other college football coaches, according to a recent analysis by USA Today.Details: UW football coach Kalen DeBoer is the 44th highest-paid coach in NCAA college football, with a total annual pay of $4.2 million, USA Today found.Meanwhile, Jake Dickert, WSU's head football coach, takes home $2.7 million in a year, making him the 61st highest-paid college football coach nationwide.Why it matters: Dickert and DeBoer each make more than 10...
Opt out or pay more with T-Mobile automatic plan changes
T-Mobile will begin automatically moving users on some of its older unlimited plans to more expensive plans this week, the Bellevue-based carrier confirmed.Why it matters: Customers on affected plans — including One, Simple Choice, Magenta and Magenta 55 Plus — who do not opt out can expect to see higher bills starting in November.Of note: The move comes three years after T-Mobile merged with Sprint in a deal that was fought by a coalition of state attorneys general and had some critics predicting that prices would ultimately rise for customers.Driving the news: The carrier confirmed to CNET that starting today, notices will be sent to T-Mobile users on older plans about the upcoming changes.T-Mobile told CNET that "there will be an increase of approximately $10 per line with the migration."People who sign up for autopay can save $5 per line, a spokesperson told CNET.T-Mobile did not immediately respond to requests for information from Axios.What to do: People who don't want to change plans can opt out, but will have to call T-Mobile's customer support line (1-800-TMOBILE or 1-800-866-2453) to make that happen.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
Opt out or pay more with T-Mobile automatic plan changes
T-Mobile will begin automatically moving users on some of its older unlimited plans to more expensive plans this week, the Bellevue-based carrier confirmed.Why it matters: Customers on affected plans — including One, Simple Choice, Magenta and Magenta 55 Plus — who do not opt out can expect to see higher bills starting in November.Of note: The move comes three years after T-Mobile merged with Sprint in a deal that was fought by a coalition of state attorneys general and had some critics predicting that prices would ultimately rise for customers.Driving the news: The carrier confirmed to CNET that starting today, notices will be sent to T-Mobile users on older plans about the upcoming changes.T-Mobile told CNET that "there will be an increase of approximately $10 per line with the migration."People who sign up for autopay can save $5 per line, a spokesperson told CNET.T-Mobile did not immediately respond to requests for information from Axios.What to do: People who don't want to change plans can opt out, but will have to call T-Mobile's customer support line (1-800-TMOBILE or 1-800-866-2453) to make that happen.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
Where Seattle's District 5 council candidates differ the most
Voters in North Seattle's District 5 will soon decide who they want to be their next City Council member: an ex-judge who favors a new law that lets the city prosecute low-level drug crimes or a former social service worker who opposes the new policy.What's happening: Cathy Moore, who has served as a King County judge and a public defender, is running for City Council against ChrisTiana ObeySumner, the CEO of a social equity consulting firm who has previously worked at organizations that help people experiencing homelessness.Why it matters: Whoever wins will be one of four new faces to join...
Seattle cycling trends remain high after pandemic
Pandemic-era cycling fever appears to be lingering in the Seattle area, but the region still trails cities like Portland, San Francisco and Salt Lake City.Driving the news: The number of average daily bike trips per 1,000 people increased in the Seattle metro area from 27 to 33 between 2019 and 2022, according to new mobility data firm StreetLight Data.That translates to 6,000 more trips daily and nearly 2.2 million more trips annually per 1 million people.Why it matters: The city has made significant progress building protected bike lanes in the last five years, said Tom Fucoloro, the editor of Seattle...
Seattle aims to attract more food trucks by waiving fees
When it comes to Seattle's food truck scene, locals have long envied Portland, which boasts an eclectic collection of tiny restaurants slinging noodles, pizza, burritos and more.Now, as part of Mayor Bruce Harrell's plan to enliven downtown, Seattle will waive fees for food trucks and food carts through 2026, in hopes that more of them will start popping up around the Emerald City.Driving the news: An ordinance that Harrell signed on Wednesday will waive street permit fees for food trucks and food carts — as well as some public outdoor events — through Jan. 1, 2026.The fee waiver could save...
Seattle aims to attract more food trucks by waiving fees
When it comes to Seattle's food truck scene, locals have long envied Portland, which boasts an eclectic collection of tiny restaurants slinging noodles, pizza, burritos and more.Now, as part of Mayor Bruce Harrell's plan to enliven downtown, Seattle will waive fees for food trucks and food carts through 2026, in hopes that more of them will start popping up around the Emerald City.Driving the news: An ordinance that Harrell signed on Wednesday will waive street permit fees for food trucks and food carts — as well as some public outdoor events — through Jan. 1, 2026.The fee waiver could save...
When to catch the "ring of fire" eclipse in Seattle
The chances may not be great for Seattleites to see the rare "ring of fire" eclipse on Saturday morning, since rain is expected, but it's still worth setting your alarm.Why it matters: If there's anything we know about the weather here, it's that forecasts can change and sometimes we can see celestial wonders peeking out from the clouds.Driving the news: In Washington, the eclipse will start around 8:10am with the Moon blocking about 81% of the Sun, Patrick Koehn, NASA heliophysicist, told KING 5.That means we'll see a thin crescent of sun at the edge of the Moon.The eclipse will...
Weekend events to scope out in Seattle, Oct. 13–15
Here are a few ideas for things to do this weekend in Seattle.🎨 Browse the work of more than 100 artists at the Belltown Art Walk Friday from 6 to 9pm. Check out a map of participating locations and plan your route.💀 Get creeped out at the Seattle Oddities & Curiosities Expo, which will showcase "all things weird," from taxidermy and quack medical devices to funeral collectibles. 10–6pm Saturday and 10–4pm Sunday at the Seattle Convention Center. Admission tops out at $15; kids 12 and under are free.🎭 Take in the words of several local playwrights at "Best Kept Secrets,"...
Weekend events to scope out in Seattle, Oct. 13–15
Here are a few ideas for things to do this weekend in Seattle.🎨 Browse the work of more than 100 artists at the Belltown Art Walk Friday from 6 to 9pm. Check out a map of participating locations and plan your route.💀 Get creeped out at the Seattle Oddities & Curiosities Expo, which will showcase "all things weird," from taxidermy and quack medical devices to funeral collectibles. 10–6pm Saturday and 10–4pm Sunday at the Seattle Convention Center. Admission tops out at $15; kids 12 and under are free.🎭 Take in the words of several local playwrights at "Best Kept Secrets,"...
Washington's birth rate fell 22% over 15 years
Washington state's birth rate fell dramatically between 2007 and 2022, mirroring a national trend.Driving the news: The state's rate dropped from 13.77 births per 1,000 people to 10.70 — a decline of more than 22%.In King County, the birth rate dropped by a similar percentage from 2011 to 2022, according to the state health department.The big picture: From 2007 to 2022, the national birth rate declined from 14.3 births per 1,000 people to 11.1, Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report based on new CDC data. That's a nearly 23% drop.It fell particularly far in parts of the West and Southwest,...
Seattle's District 4 candidates clash over drugs and taxes
Taxes and the city's response to the drug crisis are among the issues that divide the candidates in the race for the Seattle City Council's District 4 seat.Why it matters: The November election will ensure the City Council gets at least four new members, a level of turnover that may bring big changes to the nine-member body.Driving the news: Maritza Rivera, former deputy director of Seattle's arts and culture department, is campaigning on a platform of hiring hundreds more police, frugal budgeting and cracking down on drug dealers.Meanwhile, tech entrepreneur Ron Davis emphasizes the need for expanded drug treatment, denser...
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