Choose your location
Axios Seattle
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.
Wildfire smoke threatens Washington's billion-dollar wine industry
Smoke season hasn't hit Washington in force yet this year, but the wine industry is preparing.Why it matters: While grapevines are themselves quite resilient to fire, smoke can have a quick and devastating effect on vignerons, vintners and the larger billion-dollar wine industry.Washington is the nation's second-largest wine-producing state, with more than 1,000 wineries and an annual $8 billion impact on the state.If no wine were produced for a year due to smoke or any other reason, it would not only jeopardize the wine industry directly, but also the industries tied to it, including restaurants, hotels and more, Drew Pauk,...
Seattle committee votes 3-2 against rent control
A Seattle City Council committee has voted against a proposal that seeks to enact citywide rent control. Yet the measure is still expected to come before the nine-member City Council next month. State of play: On Friday, members of the City Council's Sustainability and Renters' Rights Committee voted 3-2 not...
Look up, Seattle! Three meteor showers begin their summer shows
With a waxing crescent moon this weekend, it may be a good time to catch a glimpse of the annual Delta Aquariids meteor shower. But even if you miss it now there may be another chance to see it, as well as the more dramatic Perseids, at the next new moon.Driving the news: There are three meteor showers gracing the skies — and potentially visible from Seattle — between the middle of July and the end of August.The Delta Aquariids shower began its often subtle light show on July 18 and will continue through August 21. Seen from Seattle, the...
These are the Seattle area's most common ice cream chains
Data: Yelp, Axios research; Note: Includes stores categorized as "ice cream" on Yelp that have reviews. Chart: Kavya Beheraj and Erin Davis/Axios VisualsDairy Queen is the most common ice cream chain across the Seattle metro area, with Baskin-Robbins and Menchies (which serves frozen yogurt) as runners-up.That's according to a new Axios analysis of Yelp data.The big picture: Dairy Queen is king of the country — it's the most dominant chain in nearly 75% of U.S. counties, suggesting people really like their Blizzards.Yes, but: Within the Seattle city limits, there's not a single DQ to be found. You're more likely to stumble on local chain Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, which has six Seattle locations (plus three elsewhere in King County).Reality check: Just because one particular chain is the most dominant in a given area doesn't necessarily make it the best.And local institutions that only have one or a handful of shops won't crack this kind of ranking.(Fainting Goat, which has two Seattle locations serving gelato, isn't captured, for instance.)What's your favorite local ice cream (or gelato, or yogurt) joint? Let us know by emailing seattle@axios.com.We hope to compile a list of readers' best spots for frozen treats.
Seattle expects big tourism jolt from Taylor Swift's Eras Tour
Seattle businesses are expecting a huge influx of visitors for Taylor Swift concerts this weekend, which could shatter the city's previous records for hotel stays and create a tangle of traffic.Driving the news: Swift's Eras Tour at Lumen Field — which runs two nights — is expected to bring more than 100,000 people to the area around the stadiums between Saturday and Sunday, said Lisa Howard, executive director of the Alliance for Pioneer Square.On top of that, the Mariners home games against the Toronto Blue Jays are expected to draw another 100,000 or so people to the area over the...
U.S. House takes pro-Israel vote following Jayapal comments
The U.S. House voted Tuesday on a Republican-led resolution affirming the nation's support for Israel, a direct response to comments made by U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle).Catch up quick: Jayapal, who represents Washington's 7th Congressional District, told a group of anti-Israel protesters on Saturday that she is "fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state."The remarks spurred condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats, Axios' Andrew Solender reported.Jayapal walked back the comments on Sunday in a statement, saying: "Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist."Latest: The resolution approved Tuesday says "the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state“ and that "Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia."It also declares that "the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel."Jayapal voted in support of the resolution.What they're saying: Jayapal told The Seattle Times that she and other politicians of color have been unfairly singled out for criticizing Israel's treatment of Palestinians.Read more: Republicans "salivating" over Democrats' Israel comments
What to know about Seattle's Aug. 1 primary election
Ballots have arrived in mailboxes for the Aug. 1 primary election, which will whittle down a field of more than 40 Seattle City Council hopefuls to 14. Why it matters: The primary decides which candidates will go head-to-head this November, making it key to shaping the future of city government.
Seattle's still big on car travel, new study finds
The average Seattle metropolitan area household travels a total of 30,235 miles by car annually, which is just under the national average of nearly 30,500, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution.The study explores household auto, biking, mass transit and walking data for the 110 largest U.S. metro areas to measure how close people are to where they work, eat, play, shop and more.Why it matters: "Helping people live closer to the centers of economic activity ... should reduce the distances people need to travel for many of their essential trips," the analysts wrote.Shorter trip distances, in turn,...
Mortgage rates lock up Seattle's housing supply in "golden handcuffs"
More than two-thirds of mortgage holders in Washington state had rates below 4% as of late last year, locking homeowners in place and leaving buyers with few homes to choose from, according to an analysis from Redfin.Why it matters: Homeowners are experiencing the "golden handcuffs" phenomenon, meaning they might have a great rate now, but likely can't move without spending a lot more cash, explains Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather.By the numbers: In the Seattle metro area, buying the median-priced home in 2021 at a 3% rate would have cost about $3,553 monthly, per Redfin.At 6.4% — the U.S. average...
See the goats that help clear brush from around Seattle roads
A herd of goats was helping clear vegetation Thursday under I-5 in Seattle. The state and city transportation departments have both used goats to access places where people and machinery cannot go safely — like this sloping area off of North 40th Street, under the Ship Canal Bridge. These...
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.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. 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. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.