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Axios Seattle
Consider adopting a rescue from a Seattle-area animal shelter
It's National Rescue Dog Day and even if you can't take home a permanent companion, making a donation to a shelter or volunteering to walk a dog at one can help.Why it matters: Even with Seattle's reputation for being one of the nation's best cities for dogs, many shelters in the region are crowded.By the numbers: As of last week, the Seattle Animal Shelter had 71 dogs, 38 of which were in foster care, said city spokesperson Melissa Mixon.Overall, the shelter's intake numbers are going up, mirroring national trends, Mixon told Axios.Last year, the shelter took in 2,465 dogs, compared...
King County homeless count rises
More than 16,000 people experienced homelessness in King County on any given night this year, 23% more than were counted two years ago, according to new data released this week.Why it matters: Washington had the sixth-highest rate of homelessness among states last year, with a rate that was 27% higher than in 2019, per a separate 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).During that same period, the nationwide homelessness rate rose by about 18%, per the HUD report.Zoom in: The latest data, released Wednesday by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, comes from a 12-day...
Segregation is still an issue in Seattle schools
Data: Stanford Education Data Archive; Note: Index ranges from 0 to 1, where 0 implies no segregation (all schools have identical proportions of Black and white students) while 1 implies complete segregation (no Black student attends a school with any white students, and vice versa); Map: Axios VisualsFriday is the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision that made segregation policies in public schools illegal, but racial segregation continues to grow in U.S. schools, including in Seattle.Why it matters: In 1978, Seattle became the first major city in the nation to actively integrate its schools,...
King County raises minimum wage to highest in the country
The King County Council approved a minimum wage increase this week, bringing it to $20.29 an hour, the highest in the country.Why it matters: The wage hike builds on a long history of minimum wage increases in Washington. The state's minimum wage went from $15.74 to $16.28 in January, a 3.4% increase.While Washington's statewide minimum wage is the highest in the U.S., it falls just below the District of Columbia's $17.The federal standard is $7.25.Yes, but: Without a standard countywide minimum wage, communities in King County have had a patchwork of different minimum wage thresholds.Tukwila already had a $20.29 minimum...
8 things to do in Seattle this weekend
Whether you're into film, sports, music or art, there's something for nearly everyone to enjoy this weekend in the Seattle area.Thursday🎧 Lean into millennial nostalgia with LCD Soundsystem, who bring their many synthesizers to the Paramount Theatre. Tickets from $78.50. Additional shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday.🍿 The Seattle International Film Festival is in full swing with a lineup of independent films, documentaries and more from around the world.Check the festival schedule for showtimes and venues. Tickets can be bought individually or in passes.Friday🎤 Sing along with Crowdsource Choir at Town Hall Seattle. Doors open at 6pm, with the program beginning...
Seattle is among the top cities for pet-friendly rentals
Data: Zillow/Bark; Chart: Axios VisualsSeattle is one of the friendliest rental markets for pet owners, though the number of rentals has dropped slightly since last year, according to a new study by Zillow and dog subscription box service Bark.Why it matters: Trying to find housing can be challenging in a city with a widening affordability gap.When landlords won't accept dogs and cats, it makes the process even harder for the estimated 50% of Seattle households that own pets.State of play: But with 70% of rentals that are pet-friendly, Seattle is the nation's ninth most welcoming city for renters with dogs...
Ferry hell begins in May
You may think you know ferry hell, but even with all the breakdowns, slowdowns and delayed and canceled trips we're used to, peak tourist season adds a further level of purgatory.Why it matters: May marks the start of the summer season, when ferries routinely carry up to twice as many passengers per month as during winter, Washington State Ferries spokesperson Ian Sterling told Axios.Friction points: The post-pandemic rebound in tourism is a bright spot for Seattle businesses, per the Downtown Seattle Association, but something of a bummer for daily commuters and people who hate crowds and congestion.Ferry waiting times in...
Jewell Loyd and Caitlin Clark are star athletes. Why aren't they paid like it?
Data: Spotrac; Chart: Axios VisualsSeattle's top WNBA star, the Storm's Jewell Loyd, may be the highest earner on her team but her salary still falls significantly short of high-profile male athletes on the Seahawks, Mariners and Kraken.By the numbers: Loyd makes $245,508 annually. The Seahawks' Geno Smith makes $25 million, the Mariners' Luis Castillo makes $21 million and the Kraken's Vince Dunn makes more than $7.3 million.Axios used Spotrac, which tracks professional sports contracts, to review the average annual salaries of Seattle's top-paid players from four teams from the recent year.Driving the news: Fans of No. 1 draft pick Caitlin...
UW student protesters refuse to leave encampment
Pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Washington say they will not disband their encampment unless the school cuts ties with Boeing, divests from Israel and ends alleged repression of pro-Palestinian students and faculty. State of play: The university asked protesters last week to remove their tents, saying its response to calls for change would "not be based on an encampment." The encampment, called Popular University for Gaza, includes more than 100 tents, per university student paper The Daily. On Sunday, more than 500 pro-Israel counterprotesters organized a non-denominational church on campus, gathering on Red Square and around the perimeter of the fortified encampment, The Daily reported. The intrigue: The university has so far been reluctant to cut ties with Boeing, the Seattle Times reported. Since 1917, Boeing has donated more than $100 million to the university, including $12.5 million in endowments.Boeing's website says the aerospace company provides nine distinct products to the Israel Defense Forces.The school has not specified whether there will be special security for commencement on June 8. Get the rundown of the biggest stories of the day with Axios Daily Essentials.
A banner year for northern lights could be in store
Seattle skywatchers who missed the chance to see the aurora borealis this past weekend need not despair; there may be other opportunities to catch the phenomenon sooner than you think.Why it matters: 2024 is setting up to be potentially one of the best years for auroras in two decades, some experts say.Driving the news: One super active sunspot, AR3664, has just rotated away from Earth but could create more auroras when it reappears in a few weeks, per the National Weather Service.What's happening: The Sun is approaching the peak, or solar maximum, of its roughly 11-year cycle, when more sunspots,...
Road rage shootings are rising in Washington state
Data: The Trace via Gun Violence Archive; Map: Axios VisualsNew gun violence data shows that road rage shootings in Washington have spiked since 2014.Why it matters: Road rage shooting incidents have skyrocketed nationally over the past decade, increasing by 450% between 2014 and 2023, according to a new analysis of data from the Gun Violence Archive (GVA) by The Trace.The big picture: The findings mirror a broader increase in gun violence.Zoom in: Shootings in cars resulting in injury or death per million people rose in Washington state from .14 in 2014 to 1.28 in 2023, The Trace analysis found.By the...
Washington's pets need more vets
Data: Census Bureau; Chart: Axios VisualsNew veterinary clinics are popping up in Washington, but many more clinics, vets and support staff may be needed to meet demand amid an ongoing national shortage.Why it matters: The pandemic pet adoption boom aggravated an existing shortage, which contributed to provider burnout.State of play: Due to a "severe workforce shortage," the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association earlier this year asked legislators for $5 million to fund 20 additional spots for in-state students at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine."Not enough veterinarians are being trained to care for either our farm or companion animals,"...
Fewer new grads are seeking jobs in Seattle
Data: Handshake; Chart: Axios VisualsThe Emerald City is no longer the dream destination it once was, with a new survey showing that Seattle saw the fourth-largest drop in job applications from recent grads this year compared to other cities.Why it matters: Just two years ago, Seattle's superstar tech-hub status, green-energy embrace and music and art scene made it America's most desired post-graduation destination for college students, according to the Axios-Generation Lab Next Cities Index.By the numbers: The share of 2024 grads who said they applied for jobs in Seattle this year is 1.6%, a .35 percentage point drop from the...
Cold water safety tips ahead of the warm weekend
With hot weather expected this Mother's Day weekend, local water safety experts are sounding the alarm about two of the most important tools in the water safety arsenal: life jackets and cold water awareness.The big picture: Last year there were 23 recreational fatalities reported in Washington's waters, Rob Sendak, boating recreation programs manager at Washington State Parks, told Axios.15 occurred on human-powered vessels like canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, and 14 of those were not wearing life jackets, he said.Driving the news: Most drownings in Western Washington happen in May and June, when warm weather draws people to the water, said...
Here come 80° days in Seattle
Lift up your hearts and rejoice, sun-loving Seattleites — our first 80° days since September are on their way.Why it matters: For many Seattleites, the return of the sun can have a positive impact on our mental and physical wellbeing. We are less likely to feel the effects of seasonal affective disorder and more likely to spend time outdoors, which studies show boosts wellness.Driving the news: A high-pressure system — typically associated with warmer temperatures and clearer skies — is at the coast today, National Weather Service meteorologist Anna Lindeman told Axios.The high in Seattle is expected to be in...
Two Seattle brunch spots named in Yelp's top 100
Two Seattle spots — one known for elevated brunch options like salmon toast, the other for sweet and savory Dutch babies — made Yelp's top 100 brunch joints in the nation.State of the plate: Seattle's Tilikum Place Cafe (No. 81) and the Fat Hen (No. 84) made the list, and further afield, Tacoma's Tibbitts @ Fern Hill (No. 52) and Bistro 76 (No. 75) in Edmonds also got shout-outs.Why it matters: The rankings arrive just in time for the Mother's Day brunch rush on Sunday.Yes, but: The Fat Hen and Tilikum Place Cafe are just two of the city's many...
Where to spend Mother's Day in Seattle
A sunny weekend is headed our way, and it's a great time to get out of the house and celebrate the end of false spring with a glut of arts and culture. Here's to getting out there — whether you're in the mood for flowers, jazz or zombies.Thursday🎞️ Dress up in gold for the Seattle International Film Festival, which opens with a screening of "Thelma," the June Squibb vehicle that melds justice against phone scammers with "Mission: Impossible"-style action, plus an afterparty. It all starts at the Paramount Theatre at 6pm. Tickets are $86.50.Friday🧟 Mother's Day plans focusing on flowers...
Here are the top 9 public high schools in Washington
Data: U.S. News & World Report; Map: Tory Lysik/Axios VisualsRedmond's Tesla STEM High School is the top public school in the state and third best in the nation, per U.S. News & World Report's recently released 2024 Best High Schools rankings.The big picture: Nine schools in Washington, nearly half in the Bellevue School District, are listed among the top 500 public schools nationally, a list that includes traditional public schools, charter schools and magnet schools.How it works: The rankings include data on nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia based on six factors, including performance on state assessments.Zoom in: After Tesla STEM, the other eight Washington schools in the top 500 are the Bellevue School District's International School, Interlake Senior High School and Newport Senior High School, ranked second, third and fourth, respectively, in the state.Highline School District's Raisbeck Aviation High School came in fifth in the state in the nation, per the report.Coming in at sixth and seventh in the state are Bainbridge High School and Mercer Island High School.With Issaquah High School and Bellevue High School rounding out the state's top nine.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
Where to find Seattle's cheapest apartments for rent
For the cheapest rents in the Seattle area, head south to Tacoma and steer clear of those pricey Eastside suburbs, a Zillow economist told Axios.Why it matters: Soaring housing prices and high mortgage rates are pushing homeownership increasingly out of reach for many, leading more to put off homeownership in favor of renting.But even renting can be prohibitively steep in Seattle, one of the nation's most expensive cities.The big picture: An analysis this month of data for all types of rentals shows that the most expensive ZIP codes in the Seattle area are in the suburbs, mostly on the Eastside,...
Who kidnapped George Weyerhaeuser?
Here's a look at some of the May historical events in the city and beyond, sourced from state history encyclopedia HistoryLink and local newspaper and agency archives.May 7, 1936: William Dainard was arrested by the FBI in San Francisco for his role in kidnapping George Weyerhaeuser Sr., then a 9-year-old and the son of forestry tycoon John Philip Weyerhaeuser Jr.George was safely returned after his family paid a $200,000 ransom. He lived to be 95."I think that incident forced him to reckon with who he really was at a very young age, and he realized how he could get through it," his daughter, Leilee Weyerhaeuser, told the Seattle Times after his death in 2022.May 7, 1993: Washoe the chimpanzee arrived with her family at Central Washington University's Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute in Ellensburg. Washoe had previously lived with humans, who communicated with her using American Sign Language.Washoe died in 2007, and her remaining family members now live in a chimp sanctuary in Quebec.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
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