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Axios Seattle
After powder threats, election offices look to naloxone and PPE
Election officials in Washington state and around the country are stocking up on overdose reversal medication after several election offices received fentanyl-laced letters last month.Others are looking at buying more personal protective equipment for election workers.Catch up quick: Envelopes that tested positive for fentanyl were sent to election offices in several states, including Washington, after the Nov. 7 election.That's caused Washington's secretary of state to issue new guidance allowing counties to use some of their election security money to buy personal protective equipment.It's also caused local election officials from Washington state to Georgia to start stocking naloxone, a drug to...
Bar Solea, Brendan McGill's downtown Seattle trattoria, is closing
You have less than two weeks to snag some great pizza and antipasto at Bar Solea before it closes indefinitely.Driving the news: Brendan McGill, the acclaimed chef who owns Bar Solea and Hitchcock Restaurant Group, announced last week that his downtown trattoria on First Avenue will run its last dinner service Dec. 23.After that, McGill is hopeful he can reopen the restaurant at some point — if more office workers start coming downtown again.What they're saying: McGill told Axios he's committed to the First Avenue location, which previously was home to his now-closed Roman-style pizza joint, Bar Taglio.But with low...
More older Washingtonians are using cannabis, state data shows
More and more older adults are using cannabis now, which could be a boon for Washington's estimated $1.4 billion industry.Why it matters: As more states legalize marijuana, the barrier for consuming cannabis — in all of its many forms — has become lower, sparking interest among older folks interested in pain relief and recreation.By the numbers: In Washington, the share of people 65 and older who said they'd used cannabis within the last 30 days has increased from 0.7% in 2011 (the year before weed was legalized) to 9.4% in 2021, the most recent year for which the state Department...
Washington may require more people to take driver's ed to get a license
Washington has better traffic safety laws than most states, but it can still do more to prevent fatal crashes among young drivers, a new report finds.To that end, state officials want to eventually require that all drivers 24 and under pass a driver's education course before getting licensed.Why it matters: Washington had 745 deadly crashes last year, more than any year since 1990, according to the state Traffic Safety Commission.Drivers ages 15 to 20 were involved in 15.4% of fatal crashes in Washington in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.That's the ninth-highest percentage among U.S. states.Zoom in:...
Slice Box serves satisfying East Coast-style pizza ... but in Seattle
I've been on a pizza-eating mission for a while now. And one of my favorite discoveries so far is Slice Box, which has locations in SoDo and Magnolia.The verdict: This is the pizza of my lunchtime dreams: Crust that's flavorful and not too thin or thick, with tomato sauce that has the right amount of zing.It's not so overloaded with cheese and toppings that you can't get back to work afterward, even if (like me) you eat two slices at once.I got a slice of cheese and a slice of pepperoni and both were standouts.Yes, but: The SoDo location I visited has limited operating hours — only 11am to 4pm Tuesday through Friday.The Magnolia location is open noon to 8pm Wednesday through Saturday.The bottom line: If you're looking for East Coast-style slices, give Slice Box a try.Address: 1727 First Ave. S in SoDo; 3213 W. McGraw St. in MagnoliaGet more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
Washington retail group urges merchants to report thefts
A Washington state unit focused on organized retail crime filed its first case last month, charging a 33-year-old Bremerton man with 11 thefts totaling more than $50,000 from Target stores in Kitsap and King counties.Why it matters: The unit within the state Attorney General's Office was created this year with the aim of curbing organized retail theft.In the Seattle area, Target and Rite Aid are among a string of national retailers that have shuttered stores over the last year, citing pilferage and safety issues.That's left consumers with no 24-hour pharmacies in Seattle.Residents might find themselves making a trip to Issaquah,...
4 reasons Shohei Ohtani should come to Seattle
Seattleites have made it clear how much they'd love for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani to sign with the Mariners, chanting "Come to Seattle!" repeatedly when he stepped up to the plate at the MLB All-Star Game in July.Well, Emerald City, now's our chance.What's happening: Ohtani is considering offers from several teams, and his agents have said he will take time this weekend to make a decision, Axios Chicago's Justin Kaufmann writes.Ohtani will undoubtedly get the biggest contract in baseball history, so his decision to relocate will be about more than just money.Here are a few reasons why Ohtani should head...
Holiday edition: Things to do in Seattle, Dec. 8–10
Here are a few holiday-themed events you can check out this weekend.⛸️ Ice skate for free at a pop-up ice skating rink at Occidental Square. Skates are available to borrow for free. 1–7pm Friday, noon through 6pm Saturday and Sunday.While you're there, you can also check out the Holiday Market, which will feature dozens of vendors selling crafts, arts and gifts, plus food and drink options. Friday and Saturday only.🕯️ Stroll a path lit with thousands of candles at the Pathway of Lights at Green Lake Park. Local schools and community groups will perform music along the route. Free refreshments....
Seattle-area mop-up continues after record-breaking rain
Cleanup from two potent atmospheric rivers that dumped up to 10 inches of rain over two days in some parts of the Pacific Northwest — flooding homes, closing streets and triggering landslides — could last through the week.The big picture: At least two people died in Oregon creeks during the deluge, which also prompted school shutdowns, a water rescue near Portland and a school bus rescue in Thurston County.Landslides forced Amtrak to cancel train service between Seattle and Portland and closed part of the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle.Driving the news: As much as another inch of rain could fall over...
Seattle-area mop-up continues after record-breaking rain
Cleanup from two potent atmospheric rivers that dumped up to 10 inches of rain over two days in some parts of the Pacific Northwest — flooding homes, closing streets and triggering landslides — could last through the week.The big picture: At least two people died in Oregon creeks during the deluge, which also prompted school shutdowns, a water rescue near Portland and a school bus rescue in Thurston County.Landslides forced Amtrak to cancel train service between Seattle and Portland and closed part of the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle.Driving the news: As much as another inch of rain could fall over...
How gunshot detection tech like ShotSpotter will roll out in Seattle
Seattle's mayor plans to start testing a system next year that is designed to alert police to the sound of gunfire, over the objections of critics who say the technology is ineffective.What's happening: The Seattle City Council approved $1.5 million last month in its 2024 budget to test an acoustic gunshot detection system, such as ShotSpotter or a similar technology.Why it matters: Critics of systems like ShotSpotter say they set off too many false alarms, sending police rushing into neighborhoods on high alert.That increases the chance of violent conflicts with civilians and risks overtaxing a city police force that is...
This holiday season, Seattleites are ready to spend, survey shows
Seattleites are planning to spend over $2,000 on average this holiday season, higher than the national average and up 59% from 2021, according to a recently released survey.Why it matters: Though consumer sentiment has fallen amid worries over inflation and the economy, Americans expect to spend more this year on holiday gifts and celebrations than any year since 2019, the 2023 holiday retail survey by Deloitte found.Zoom in: In Seattle, shoppers are ready to lay out the cash, with 74% saying they anticipate higher prices overall, according to data provided to Axios by Deloitte.The average consumer in Seattle expects to...
Warm up at Reckless Noodle House in Seattle's Central District
It's the perfect time of year for a comforting bowl of noodles — and I know where I'm heading first.Details: I can't quite get enough of the steaming bowls of deliciousness at Reckless Noodle House in the Central District.My favorites are the mala braised beef cheek noodle and the tamarind seafood udon, although they have plenty of other great options on the menu.Of note: Reckless has been closed for a few weeks for renovations, but reopens Thursday, Dec. 7. Address: 2519 S. Jackson St. Plus: Got another favorite noodle or soup restaurant? Send suggestions to seattle@axios.com. We may do a larger roundup of soup and noodle spots in the coming weeks, when things feel really dark and cold. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
Food insecurity is rising in Washington state, new report shows
The number of Americans who couldn't reliably afford to eat is rising, both in Washington state and around the country, according to new government data.Why it matters: The economy might've looked great in 2022 by some metrics, like the low unemployment rate, but not this one.With rising food costs and the disappearance of pandemic-era benefits that lowered food insecurity in 2021, food insecurity appears to be rebounding.Zoom in: Across Washington, an average of 8.3% of households were living with food insecurity between 2020 and 2022, compared to 7.9% from 2019 to 2021.Before the pandemic, Seattle-based Food Lifeline was serving up...
How to get help installing a heat pump at your home
If you'd like to upgrade your home heating and cooling system with an energy-efficient heat pump, several government programs exist to help — and more will be coming next year.Why it matters: Electric heat pumps use far less electricity than conventional electric heating, and don't burn fossil fuels like natural gas-powered furnaces or boilers.That makes them important tools for curbing greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change, state and federal officials say.Yes, but: Installing a heat pump isn't cheap, costing somewhere between $7,000 and $15,000 on average, depending on the system's design and the details of your home, the state...
New Washington state rules promoting heat pumps face pushback
Washington's newly approved building codes no longer mandate electric heat pumps in most new commercial and residential buildings, as was once proposed.Yet they still face pushback from the building industry, which says the rules discriminate against natural gas appliances and threaten to increase the cost of new housing.Why it matters: State officials, including Gov. Jay Inslee, have been promoting heat pumps as a way to cut emissions from the building sector, which contributes more than a quarter of the state's carbon emissions.Only transportation is responsible for a higher share of greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change, per state estimates.Catch...
How Washington and other states say Meta knowingly hurt kids
Newly unsealed court records reveal specifics of how officials in 33 states — including Washington — think social media giant Meta ignored warnings about how its platforms hurt kids' mental health.Latest: Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Thursday that the documents show the company disregarded concerns raised by experts and its own employees about how Instagram and Facebook's digital filters and notifications harm teens.Catch up quick: Washington and 32 other states filed a federal lawsuit in October against Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, alleging the company deployed addictive features that are known to harm children as it sought to...
Washington state population hits 8 million
Washington is now home to at least 8 million people, state officials estimate.Why it matters: About 1.8 million more people are expected to move here by 2050, which means the state needs to be smart about how it grows, state demographer Mike Mohrman told Axios.By the numbers: The state has been steadily gaining millions this century.It took from 2000 to 2014 for the state to grow from 6 million to 7 million people. But we jumped from 7 million to 8 million residents in just nine years.That's according to the state Office of Financial Management, where Mohrman works.The agency estimates...
Four storms in a row are heading for Seattle
A procession of increasingly intense weather systems — including two atmospheric rivers — could bring weather drama to the Pacific Northwest through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.Driving the news: The first of these, a "garden variety PNW December winter storm system," is expected to bring a half-inch of rain, stiff breezes and up to 30 inches of snow to the mountains and passes by the end of Friday, National Weather Service meteorologist Kirby Cook told Axios.The second arrives Saturday, bringing gusts of up to 30 mph in Seattle and up to 45 in some coastal areas, higher temperatures...
Things to do in Seattle this weekend
With December's arrival, the holiday whirlwind begins. We've gathered a few of our favorites among many winter-themed events in and around Seattle this weekend.🧑🎄 See Santa and an all-glass sleigh on the revolving deck at the Space Needle Sundays and Mondays through Dec. 24 from 10am to 4pm.Tickets start at $35 for adults and $26 for kids 5 and older. Admission is free under age 5.❄️ Visit an immersive Winter Wonderland with lighted trees and larger-than-life snow globes at Amazon's Day 1 Playfield.2121 Seventh Ave., right by The Spheres, through Dec. 15. Free🛥️ Catch the Des Moines Yacht Club's annual...
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