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Axios Seattle
In Seattle, fall foliage peaks around Oct. 2, prediction maps show
Data: SmokyMountains.com; Map: Simran Parwani/AxiosFall is just around the corner and that means Western Washington's peak foliage viewing days are here.Driving the news: Using historical weather reports, tree species info and user data, travel brand SmokyMountains.com put together 2023 foliage prediction maps for the U.S.In King County, fall colors are expected to peak on Oct. 2. That's sooner than in the surrounding counties, which are expected to see peak color on Oct. 9.All of Washington state will likely be past the height of the season by the end of October.Why it matters: Our window to the brightest hues might be...
Trial to begin of 3 officers charged in Manuel Ellis killing in Tacoma
A five-year-old Washington state law that makes it easier to prosecute police accused of wrongfully using deadly force is getting its first test, as the trial begins Monday for three officers charged in connection with the killing of Manuel Ellis in Tacoma.Why it matters: Only four officers to date have been criminally charged under Washington's 2018 voter-approved law, which revised an earlier state statute that made it almost impossible to criminally charge police who kill in the line of duty.Driving the news: The three Tacoma officers are the first to go to trial under the new law, which, unlike the...
One in four Seattle seniors are working past the age of 65
Roughly 1 in 4 Seattle seniors are working past the age of 65, a decision senior advocacy groups say is often driven by fear and financial insecurity.Why it matters: At an age when people could historically retire and get full social security benefits, 25.4% of Seattle seniors — or 23,421 people — remain in the workforce, according to a new study.That's above the national average of 1 in 5, per the study which looked at U.S. Census Bureau numbers for the percentage of people aged 65 and over actively employed in the last 12 months.What they're saying: Many find meaning...
Things to do in Seattle this weekend, Sept. 15-17
Summer's last weekend is upon us. Here are some fun ideas that jumped out at us.🎹 Sounds in the Square: Jazz at City Hall Park in Pioneer Square brings local jazz artists together on Saturday from 12 to 7pm. A showing of La La Land will occur prior to the music starting. Free.🏓 Come cheer on the players at the Pickleball for All event, a tournament that will bring 10 pickleball courts to downtown Seattle. Registration is closed but there is still drop-in play, plus food trucks, musical acts and a beer garden. Saturday and Sunday. Free.🐟 Join the Seattle Aquarium at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard on Saturday between 11am and 3pm to learn more about spawning salmon from trained naturalists. Free.🏃 Walk, jog, run or just watch the 5K Des Moines Creek Park Run starting at 9am Sunday and then grab a post workout coffee with the gang at the Quarterdeck. Free.💃🏽 Celebrate Latin American food, live music, traditional dancing and performances at Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias at Seattle Center on Saturday from 1-9pm and Sunday 11am to 6pm. Free.
Seattle officer's remarks on dead pedestrian spark outrage
Public outrage is mounting after a Seattle police officer was recorded on camera laughing and saying that a pedestrian struck and killed by another officer in January had "limited value."Driving the news: Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales said in a statement this week that Officer Daniel Auderer "should not be on the force" after his remarks, which appeared to make light of the death of 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula.Catch up quick: Kandula was in a marked crosswalk when she was struck and killed by an officer, Kevin Dave, who was driving to an emergency call in January.The news website PubliCola, citing...
Incomes in the Seattle area dipped throughout the pandemic
Data: U.S. Census; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosThe median Seattle-area household made slightly less last year than before the pandemic, per new census data.Why it matters: The latest numbers reflect the pandemic's lasting economic impact, even after COVID-related business closures and stay-at-home mandates were lifted.By the numbers: The median household income across the Seattle metro area fell 1.6% between 2019 and 2022.In 2022, the median income in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area was $106,909, compared to $108,693 in 2019, adjusted for inflation.That's according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates, which were released Thursday.Zoom out: Nationally, the median household...
New push underway to cover fertility treatments for military vets
A renewed effort is underway in Congress to get the government to cover more infertility treatments for veterans and active duty service members.Driving the news: U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, Democrats from Washington state, are reintroducing a measure Thursday that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense to expand their coverage for treatments like in vitro fertilization.The proposal would similarly cover freezing of service members' eggs and sperm before deployments.U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) are also lead sponsors of the bill.Why it matters: Current VA and...
Annual beerfest returns to Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood on Saturday
Founded before Washington was even a state, Rainier Beer is throwing a party this weekend to celebrate late summer blue skies and beer-loving fun.Why it matters: R-Day is a big party in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood.Details: The free street festival for people 21 and over will feature the music of Helms Alee, Cherry Glazerr, Parisalexa and KEXP's Larry Mizell, Jr as well as a "herd of Wild Rainiers" (mascots in beer costumes).Starts on Saturday at 4pm.Plus: It's the 10-year-anniversary of the return of the iconic "R" sign, visible from Interstate 5, to the old brewery building. The original red "R", which is now displayed in the Museum of History & Industry, was temporarily replaced with a green "T" when the building was used by the former Tully's Coffee as a roasting plant. Be smart: The current sign is a replica of the original and the Rainier beer brand is actually owned and operated by the Pabst Brewing Company. Sign up for Axios Seattle for free.
Washington's homeschooling boom is here to stay
Among Washington families who took up homeschooling during the pandemic nearly half are sticking with it, according to state data. Why it matters: While some families say homeschooling is a lifeline for kids who struggled in public schools, it's contributed to enrollment drops, budget shortfalls and potential cuts in many districts, David S. Knight, an assistant professor of education finance and policy at the University of Washington, told Axios.
How to get accused domestic abusers to turn over their guns
A specialized enforcement unit in King County has made a big difference in getting people accused of domestic violence to surrender their guns, a new study has found.Why it matters: Federal law and more than 20 state laws ban people under certain domestic violence protection orders from owning firearms. But there's often no system for enforcing those prohibitions, the authors of the study wrote.Of note: Researchers have found that domestic abusers who have access to firearms are much more likely to kill their intimate partners.Details: The system used in King County could serve as "a powerful model" for other jurisdictions,...
Seattle's seen its last 8pm twilight for a while
Seattle's days are getting shorter, fast.Driving the news: We won't be seeing evening light after 8pm again until March 25.Why it matters: Seattle is currently losing about three to four minutes of usable light each day, according to Time and Date, a loss that accelerates as we approach the equinox. In less than two months, it will be dark by 5pm.Seasonal affective disorder is real and Seattleites experience it more than residents of many other cities due to our geography and long winter nights, experts say.Be smart: There's a difference between the official time of sunset, which today is at 7:27pm, and civil twilight, which occurs when the sun is between 0 degrees and 6 degrees below the horizon.That's when the sky is fully dark and the ordinary person perceives that the day is over.
Snag one of Moto Pizza's hard-to-get pies at its new Belltown location
Moto Pizza just opened a new location in Belltown, offering Seattleites another way to get their hands on the company's often sold-out pies.Details: Moto Pizza, which bills its pies as a "delightfully odd mix of Detroit, New York, Roman, and Filipino goodness," mostly operates by taking online orders for pickup.Yes, but: Right now, orders are sold out through at least October at the West Seattle location, and preorders often sell out at the Edmonds location as well.While you can always hit up a Mariners' game to try and score one of the thick-crusted square pies, the Belltown restaurant doesn't require...
Climate risks worry home buyers, especially on the West Coast
Potential climate disasters are a major worry for people buying homes in Washington, as well as elsewhere along the West Coast, according to new research from Zillow.Why it matters: Recent extreme weather events — from heat waves to wildfires to heavy rain — are pushing more homebuyers to consider the effects of climate change when they search for a place, Manny Garcia, senior population scientist with Zillow, told Axios.Driving the news: Of roughly 4,600 prospective homebuyers surveyed nationwide between April and July, more than 80% said they consider at least one climate risk when purchasing a home.In Pacific states —...
Washington state students show improvements in test scores
Math scores for Washington students rebounded slightly from last year's lows, according to data released by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).Driving the news: A statewide assessment, taken each spring by students in grades third through eighth and 10th, is one way of assessing the depth of each student's knowledge and abilities in math and English language arts.Why it matters: While test scores are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, this year's results show improvement over last year, according to OSPI.At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in fall 2021, assessment scores in Washington dropped by several percentage...
Things to do in Seattle this weekend, Sept. 8-10
🎞️ Catch an outdoor movie at Freeway Park along Seneca Street downtown. Friday's showing is "The Mitchells vs. The Machines." Movie starts at dusk; free popcorn, snacks and drinks provided.🍺 Sip cider with a view of Lake Union at Cider Summit Seattle. The event will feature more than 150 ciders from more than 50 producers. 3-8pm Friday and 12-5pm Saturday at Lake Union Park. No kids allowed; it's 21+.🎉 Join an Italian street fest in Georgetown. The Festival of San Gennaro runs Friday through Sunday, highlighted by the procession of the saint at 11am tomorrow. The weekend will feature vendors...
Rigid return-to-office mandates may backfire, experts say
Some remote work experts warn that strict return-to-work mandates adopted by local companies like Amazon could backfire, leading to a loss of top talent and less diverse workplaces. Why it matters: Seattle tech workers are among those pushing back on hardline return-to-office policies that, according to one local remote work...
Traces of fentanyl and meth linger on Seattle public transit, study finds
Researchers are recommending upgrading air filters on buses and trains after finding trace amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine on public transit in and around Seattle. The big picture: Public health officials say the drug levels weren't high enough to pose a risk to the public — but the long term-effects on drivers working in such conditions haven't been thoroughly studied, the researchers said.
King County officials propose $18.99 minimum wage
King County officials are proposing a new minimum wage of $18.99 per hour in certain parts of the county, which supporters say will better match the existing minimum wages in local cities such as Seattle and SeaTac. While only the largest employers would have to pay that hourly wage to...
Hate crimes fell in Seattle last year, while rising elsewhere
Seattle saw a decline in hate crimes last year, bucking a trend seen in most major cities, according to a new analysis.Driving the news: The number of reported hate crimes in Seattle declined 14% from 2021 to 2022, for 19 fewer annual incidents, according to Seattle police data.Meanwhile, hate crimes — typically defined as violence stemming from victims' race, color, sexuality, religion or national origin — rose by 10% across 42 major cities.That's according to an unpublished report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.Why it matters: Despite the downtick in...
Hopes are high for the Seahawks with Geno Smith at the helm
Many pundits expected the Seahawks to tumble last season after trading franchise quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver and replacing him with veteran castoff Geno Smith.What happened next instead changed the trajectory of the franchise.Why it matters: The soon-to-be 33-year-old Smith was not only serviceable last season, but played well enough to keep Seattle's contention window open.So instead of having to use the picks from the Wilson trade on a young QB, the Seahawks have been able to completely reload their roster with young, exciting talent.What we're watching: The potential boost from two rookies, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back...
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