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Axios Seattle
Washington's most beautiful colleges
While the University of Washington shows up regularly on lists of America's most beautiful college campuses, it's not our state's only stunner. Driving the news: The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma was just named the nation's third loveliest campus in a new report from College Rover, an online college selection tool that analyzed Yelp and TripAdvisor reviews to create the list.
Tour Bruce Lee's favorite spots in Seattle's Chinatown-International District
The Wing Luke Museum is offering guided tours of places in the Chinatown-International District that were pivotal to action star Bruce Lee's life in Seattle.Details: The walking tours will take small groups to the site of Lee's early martial arts studio, his old practice space and to the restaurant Tai Tung — where the actor was a regular and known to order the beef in oyster sauce.The tour price includes a meal featuring Lee's favorite dishes, as well as guided access to the Wing Luke's exhibit dedicated to Lee, "Be Water, My Friend."Details: Pre-registration is required. The tours, which each are limited to 15 people, are currently scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 12, Saturday, Aug 26 and Saturday, Sept. 9.
The Eagle Bluff fire near the Canadian border is among Washington's active fires
With drought declared in 12 Washington counties, several large fires and dozens of smaller ones burning in the state and temperatures predicted to climb, officials fear what the coming months may bring.Why it matters: Wildfire season across the West Coast has become longer, hotter and drier as climate change leads to larger, more frequent wildfires. Studies show that these contemporary fires are exhibiting more extreme behavior, making them more difficult to contain.Driving the news: Though El Niño's impacts are felt in the Pacific Northwest more during the winter, current conditions increase our chances for a warmer and drier than normal...
Seattle City Council rejects rent control proposal
Seattle's City Council voted down a proposal Tuesday that sought to enact citywide rent control.Why it matters: Rent prices in the Seattle area have outpaced inflation by a wide margin in recent years, fueling a housing affordability crisis.A city analysis of census data found that rent prices in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area rose about 92% from 2010 to 2020, while inflation was only about 21%, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Details: The rent control proposal, sponsored by City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, would have attempted to limit annual rent increases to the rate of inflation.Yes, but: A state law dating to...
Zoning plan to protect Seattle's ports and maritime industry unanimously passed
A broad rezoning plan approved in July by the Seattle City Council will limit large, non-industrial businesses such as grocery stores and big box retailers in some industrial areas, a move officials said was key to preserving the city's industrial and maritime heritage.Why it matters: With the cost of land skyrocketing across the region, the interest in using land in industrial zones for housing and commerce has dramatically increased, putting pressure on industrial businesses and pitting them against developers in some cases.Driving the news: The legislation — signed by the mayor on July 25 — is the first major overhaul...
Seattle moves toward installing cameras to ticket drag racers
A recent vote by the Seattle City Council sets the stage for traffic cameras to start automatically ticketing people who illegally race cars on 10 Seattle roadways.Yes, but: The city Transportation Department has to complete several steps — including a detailed equity analysis — before installing the cameras, meaning street racers likely won't be getting automatically ticketed for some time.Why it matters: Supporters of authorizing the cameras say high-speed racing has generated complaints in many Seattle neighborhoods, while posing a risk of death and injury to drivers and pedestrians alike.Plus: Violent confrontations can sometimes erupt during illegal street racing events,...
Ford and Chevy pickups, Honda sedans top list of stolen vehicles in Washington state
While the thefts of Hyundais and Kias have gotten the lion's share of attention recently, full-sized pickups and Hondas were actually the most stolen vehicles in Washington last year, according to a new report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).By the numbers: According to the insurance bureau's analysis, the four most stolen vehicles in our state were full-size Ford and Chevrolet pickups, Honda Civics and Accords.Rounding out the top 10 were Honda CR-Vs, small-size Ford pickups, Toyota Camrys, Subaru Legacys, full-size Dodge pickups and Hyundai ElantrasDriving the news: Nationally, full-size pickups were the most stolen vehicles, making up more...
3 things we're watching in Seattle's City Council primary Aug. 1
Tuesday's primary election will determine the matchups for this fall's Seattle City Council races, winnowing the 45 candidates on the ballot down to 14.Why it matters: The November election will bring at least four new faces to the nine-member City Council, which could substantially alter the city's political direction.The primary will signal which races are competitive and which aren't, shaping where outside groups decide to spend their money heading into November, political consultant Ben Anderstone told Axios.State of play: Seven of the City Council's nine seats are on the ballot. Four are open races with no incumbent running.Here are some...
Jackson Street Pizza Lounge opens in the Central District
A new pizza joint recently opened in the spot that formerly housed a Central District favorite, Central Pizza.Details: The newly opened Jackson Street Pizza Lounge serves what a staff member described as a marriage of Neapolitan and New York style pies.One 14-inch pie was about the right size to feed two adults who were moderately hungry (you might want a second if you and your eating partner are really ravenous).The verdict: I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the pizza. The Classic Red was topped with a bright tomato sauce and fresh basil while the pepperoni (my kid's choice) was addictively cheesy without feeling overly heavy.Plus: I was impressed by the cocktail and drink list, which features house twists on a Negroni and Manhattan, as well as fun options like the 411, a mixture of mezcal, chili liqueur, cucumber, lime and serrano.Details: 2901 S. Jackson Street.Hours are 4-11pm Sunday through Thursday, 4 to midnight Friday and Saturday.
Alzheimer's prevalence estimated at 10% among Washintonians aged 65+
Data: Dhana, et al., 2023, "Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease dementia in the 50 US states and 3142 counties"; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosAbout 10% of the approximately 1.3 million Washington residents aged 65 and older — or about 126,700 people — have Alzheimer's disease, per a new study.Why it matters: It's critical for public health officials, policymakers and others to have a clear look at the number of Alzheimer's cases in a given area, the authors say — in part because caring for those with the disease cost an estimated $321 billion nationwide last year, much of which came via Medicare and...
Below-average athletes and weekend warriors, Seattle's Lard Butts 1K is for you
Do personal bests leave you cold? Do you need an antidote to a world where overpaid athletes pout over million dollar contracts? Well then, this "race" is for you.Driving the news: The fifth annual Lard Butt 1K, a .62 mile event dedicated to below-average athletes and weekend warriors, is coming to Seattle next weekend at Magnuson Park.Instead of traditional water stations and orange slices, this event — on flat terrain, of course — features thousands of doughnuts placed at 250-meter intervals along the way and a well-stocked beer garden at the end.Those with the "audacity to run" may be heckled...
Southern Resident killer whale calf named "reason for hope child" in Samish ceremony
Put aside despair for now; there is "reason for hope" in the Salish Seas.Driving the news: The Samish Indian Nation held a naming ceremony this week for one of the newest members of the endangered Southern Resident orcas.The female calf, believed to have been born in February or March of 2022, was named Sxwyeqólh (Swee-a-kosh) meaning "reason for hope child," according to a statement from the Indian Nation.J59, as she is also known, is the second offspring of J37 or Hy'Shqa and a member of the JPod, one of three Southern Resident killer whale family groups known to visit Washington waters.The big picture: Southern Resident killer whales were listed as endangered in 2005 under the Endangered Species Act and are considered depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.Earlier this year, the Marine Mammal Commission reported the species' population at 74.But according to a July 3 update from the Center for Whale Research, photos and drone footage confirmed two new calves this year: L126, a male, and L127, a female. Both appear to be about two months old, the center said.
Judge finds parts of Seattle’s encampment removal policy unconstitutional
A King County judge has ruled that some of Seattle's protocols for removing homeless encampments are unconstitutional and can amount to "cruel punishment." City officials, however, say the legal issue is far from resolved.What's happening: In a partial summary judgment earlier this month, King County Superior Court Judge David Keenan wrote that Seattle officials have defined "obstruction" of public property "so broadly that the City can invade unhoused people's privacy rights without notice, offers of shelter, and property preservation" — steps that would normally be required.Why it matters: The judge's order may end up limiting one of the administrative tools...
Refunds coming in thousands of overturned drug cases in Washington state
It will soon be easier for Washingtonians with past drug convictions to get reimbursed for fees and fines they paid under the state's now-overturned drug law.Driving the news: A new online portal will let people check whether they are eligible to get money back for court fines and penalties tied to old drug possession convictions in Washington state, after a 2021 court ruling struck down the state's felony drug possession law as unconstitutional.The new statewide portal, which is slated to go live Saturday, also will create a centralized place where people can apply for reimbursement online.Why it matters: State officials...
Retirement feels out of reach for many, including in Washington state
Most Americans want to retire, but only half feel like they're able to save for the future, according to a new Axios-Ipsos poll. Why it matters: Many Americans who haven't yet retired say they are unprepared for retirement, unsure how to prepare and unsure if they even want to fully retire, the poll found.
Seattle council discusses ideas to reduce organized retail theft
Within the past year, more than half of Washington state retailers have reported an increase in theft, resulting in $2.7 billion in estimated losses in the state, according to a new report from the Seattle Office of City Auditor. Driving the news: Members of the City Council's Public Safety and...
Take a luxury magic mushroom retreat in Vancouver
For Seattle-area folks looking for a different kind of "trip," a company in British Columbia is offering inclusive wellness packages with "luxury guided magic mushroom retreats." Details: Featured in publications as varied as FOX Business and Bloomberg, the The Journeymen Collective in Vancouver was started by partners Rob Grover and...
Washington ties record for lowest-ever unemployment rate
Data: BLS; Map: Axios VisualsThe June unemployment rate in Washington state hit a low not seen since before the pandemic, matching the record for lowest statewide unemployment ever.Why it matters: The dip in the jobless rate shows that Washington's economy appears to be rebounding, despite layoffs in the tech industry announced in the past year.Yes, but: The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area didn't see the same employment gains year over year.Details: Washington's June unemployment rate was 3.8%, down from 4.1% in May, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.That equates to about 11,900 jobs gained statewide over the course...
Watch out for this invasive Japanese beetle, state officials ask
Washington residents are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for the invasive Japanese beetle, a highly destructive pest that attacks hundreds of ornamental and agricultural plants.Driving the news: The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) confirmed the finding of a Japanese beetle in Pasco on July 12.Popillia japonica are about one-half inch long with metallic green heads and thoraxes, copper-brown wing covers and little tufts of white hair on their sides.Catch up quick: Native to Japan, the Japanese beetle was first found in the United States in 1916 in New Jersey and since then has spread to 28 states...
Researchers learn gender of 1-year-old killer whale in Puget Sound
Whale watchers aboard a Puget Sound Express whale watching vessel out of Edmonds got a surprise Monday in the form of an unexpected gender reveal. Driving the news: Kyla Bivens, a naturalist on board the "Swiftsure," was able to snap a photo of the underside of a 1-year-old Bigg's killer whale that showed the calf was a boy.
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