Columbus
Axios Seattle
Democratic socialist leads in central Seattle legislative race
Democratic socialist Shaun Scott emerged from last week's primary far ahead in the race to replace state Rep. Frank Chopp (D-Seattle), who is retiring after 30 years in the Legislature. Why it matters: Chopp's departure has set up a November battle between Scott, a progressive anti-poverty activist, and Democrat Andrea...
9 things to do in Seattle this weekend: Block parties, outdoor movies and more
It wouldn't be an August weekend in Seattle without plenty of events to help you soak up these fleeting days of sun.Friday🥳 Savor the summer at the South Lake Union Block Party, which will feature lawn games, food trucks, two music stages and beer and cocktail options. 11am–10pm Friday near the corner of Denny Way and Westlake Avenue North. All ages. Free admission.🍿 Catch an outdoor screening of the 1984 version of "Dune" at the Mural Amphitheater at Seattle Center. Starts at 8pm. Free.Saturday🍩 Walk, don't run, to Seattle's last Lard Butt 1K "race" at Magnuson Park Sports Meadow. Dedicated...
Too few Seattle-area kids are vaccinated, officials warn
King County public health officials are urging families to vaccinate their kids before a new school year starts in the coming weeks, citing low immunization rates among Seattle-area children.Why it matters: Only 92% of incoming kindergartners in King County last year were vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella — about 3 percentage points below what the CDC estimates is necessary to ensure herd immunity, public health officials said this week.What they're saying: "We are able to protect our children and community from serious illnesses because of childhood vaccinations," Eric Chow, the county health department's lead immunization official, said in a news release.He cited routine vaccines' power to prevent diseases like childhood measles, polio and whooping cough.By the numbers: Vaccination rates among young children dipped after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the state health department said.In the 2019–20 school year, 92% of incoming kindergartners in King County were up to date on their required vaccinations, per state data.Last year, the rate was only 88%.State of play: Public health officials are promoting free vaccination events this month in South King County.Families can also get free or low-cost vaccinations through health care providers that take part in the state's childhood vaccine program.
Super active sunspots could bring auroras to Seattle
An extra active solar cycle this year and heightened sunspot activity this week means Seattle-area aurora seekers should be on alert for upcoming shows, one expert recommends. Why it matters: One of the strongest solar flares in decades produced jaw-dropping views throughout the continental U.S. in May. Driving the news:...
Gluesenkamp Perez and Kent set for rematch in Washington's 3rd Congressional District
Democrat U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who flipped a Republican-held district in Washington state two years ago, will once again face Trump-backed Republican Joe Kent this fall, The Associated Press reports.Why it matters: The toss-up race in Washington's 3rd Congressional District is one of this year's most competitive U.S. House races, central to Democrats' and Republicans' battle for control of the chamber.The latest: Gluesenkamp Perez and Kent captured the most votes in early results from Tuesday's top-two primary in Washington state, causing the AP to call the race shortly after polls closed.Both candidates are now set to appear on the...
How to see a trio of meteor showers in the Pacific Northwest
Right now is a great time for stargazing, with a waxing crescent moon, mostly clear skies in the Pacific Northwest and three meteor showers in play.Why it matters: Meteor showers are perhaps the most accessible of cosmic events.You don't need telescopes or binoculars to see them, just a comfy place to lie down and look up under relatively cloudless, dark skies.Driving the news: The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak late Sunday night, Aug. 11, through early Aug. 12.The shower, which appears as Earth passes through the dust left by the comet Swift-Tuttle, is best viewed from about 11pm...
Nearly 11% of Washington state is multiracial
Data: Census Bureau; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosFormer President Trump's false attack last week against Vice President Kamala Harris, questioning if she can identify with more than one race, comes at a time when more people in Washington state and around the country are identifying as multiracial.Why it matters: Trump's comments illuminate how some Americans misunderstand the complexities of people from multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds and how those identities shape their lives.Catch up quick: In an exchange with reporters at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention last week, Trump suggested falsely that Harris "became a Black person" after identifying...
Washington governor election sees $7 million spent ahead of primary
Data: State Public Disclosure Commission; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios. Note: Totals do not include independent spending by third-party PACs. Candidates for statewide office in Washington are shelling out big money ahead of Tuesday's primary election, with about $7 million spent by the candidates for governor alone in recent weeks.Why it matters: The top-two primary decides which two candidates in each race will advance to the November election, making it do-or-die for many campaigns.Yes, but: Even candidates who are almost certain to make it through have been busy writing big checks.By the numbers: Democrat Bob Ferguson, the state's attorney general, spent about...
Two shark species found in the Sound for first time
Two species of sharks have been found in Puget Sound for the first time, according to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and Oregon State University researchers. Why it matters: The recent confirmation of broadnose sevengill sharks and an endangered soupfin shark near Olympia could signal how climate...
How WA attorney general candidates compare on policing, drug laws and more
Two Democrats and a Republican are fighting to become Washington's next attorney general, a job that hasn't been wide open in more than a decade.Why it matters: Tuesday's top-two primary will decide which two of the three candidates move on to the general election in November.State of play: For the first time in 12 years there's no incumbent running. Democrat Bob Ferguson, the current attorney general, is campaigning for governor.Competing to replace him are Democrat Manka Dhingra, a state senator and former prosecutor from Redmond; Democrat Nick Brown, a former U.S. attorney for Western Washington; and Republican Pete Serrano, a...
Wildfire smoke from Oregon and California arrives in Seattle
Smoke from Oregon and eastern Washington wildfires is expected to be in Seattle by early Friday, according to local meteorologists.Driving the news: On Thursday, smoke from eastern Washington could be seen on satellite drifting over the Cascade Mountains, National Weather Service Seattle meteorologist Matthew Cullen told Axios.Then, a shift in wind direction is predicted to bring several days of smoke from Oregon and California into Western Washington, he said.Threat level: Because the smoke is expected to remain at higher levels of the atmosphere, the initial impact is likely to be bright sunsets and hazy conditions in the mountains, Michael Fagin of West Coast Weather told Axios.But air quality could drop to moderate or worse, according to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. That depends, in part, on how much smoke comes out of Oregon, how high the plumes get and the speeds of the wind, Cullen said, all of which are difficult to anticipate.What they're saying: "The big question is whether the smoke will stay aloft or reach the surface," Cullen said.Sign up here for air quality alerts.
Your guide to Seafair events this weekend — plus, some free concerts
It's Seafair Weekend! So get ready to rumble — literally.🛩️ You can watch hours of boat races and soaring (sometimes roaring!) aircraft during the festival, which runs Friday through Sunday. All three days, there will be a food court, beer garden, kids' zone and live music at Genessee Park. The Blue Angels are scheduled to take to the skies at 3:35pm each day. View the full schedule here.General admission is free on Friday. Single-day passes for Saturday or Sunday are $45 for adults, $15 for kids and seniors. Yes, but: If jets and hydroplanes don't float your boat, we've...
Fleet Week brings sailors to Seattle
Sailors in whites, Marines and Coasties in uniforms, and a slew of military vessels along the waterfront mean one thing in summer: It's Seafair's Fleet Week.Why it matters: Started in San Diego in 1935, Fleet Week began as a way to showcase the nation's naval prowess, but in our increasingly high-tech city, it's also one of our last high-profile links to our maritime heritage and seafaring history.Driving the news: Tours of the USS Sampson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer home-ported at Everett Naval Station, and a Coast Guard vessel will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm Thursday through...
How to check if something's really compostable in Washington state
State officials are looking for the public's help to identify "greenwashed" takeout boxes, bags and other items that look like they might be compostable but actually aren't. Why it matters: A new state law took effect in January requiring that compostable products be clearly labeled as such, while also banning vague labels like like "biodegradable," "degradable" and "decomposable."The big picture: Incompatible items contaminate loads of compost, creating plastic pollution that costs time and money to remove, per Washington state's Department of Ecology.How it works: Under the new law, all compostable items sold and distributed in Washington must bear a certification logo...
Axios Seattle
1K+
Posts
7M+
Views
Axios Seattle is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.