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Axios Seattle
Seattle rent rises 21% in two years
Despite softening demand in the Seattle real estate market and a brief period of rent declines, it's still much more costly to rent here than it was earlier in the pandemic.Driving the news: Rent in Seattle is up 21% in 2023 compared to 2021, according to an analysis released this month by QuoteWizard, an online insurance platform that analyzed median rent for new leases across the nation.Why it matters: Seattle already has some of the nation's highest rates of inflation, and housing costs make up a large share of the average person's budget — making any increase hit hard.Lack of...
These were Washington's top baby names in 2022
Washington state certainly loves its Olivers and Olivias.Driving the news: Oliver and Olivia were the top names given to baby boys and girls in Washington in 2022, according to data released Thursday by the Social Security Administration.Details: While Olivia has been the state's No. 1 name for baby girls for six years in a row, Oliver dethroned Liam this year to claim the top spot.The next most popular names for boys born in Washington in 2022 were: Noah, Theodore, Henry, Lucas, Benjamin, William, James and Elijah.For girls, the runners-up were: Emma, Evelyn, Amelia, Charlotte, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Luna and Ava.Flashback: Oliver moved up from third place last year.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Seattle.
These were Washington's top baby names in 2022
Washington state certainly loves its Olivers and Olivias.Driving the news: Oliver and Olivia were the top names given to baby boys and girls in Washington in 2022, according to data released Thursday by the Social Security Administration.Details: While Olivia has been the state's No. 1 name for baby girls for six years in a row, Oliver dethroned Liam this year to claim the top spot.The next most popular names for boys born in Washington in 2022 were: Noah, Theodore, Henry, Lucas, Benjamin, William, James and Elijah.For girls, the runners up were: Emma, Evelyn, Amelia, Charlotte, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Luna and Ava.Flashback: Oliver moved up from third place last year.Sign up for Axios newsletters for free.
These were Washington's top baby names in 2022
Washington state certainly loves its Olivers and Olivias.Driving the news: Oliver and Olivia were the top names given to baby boys and girls in Washington in 2022, according to data released Thursday by the Social Security Administration.Details: While Olivia has been the state's No. 1 name for baby girls for six years in a row, Oliver dethroned Liam this year to claim the top spot.The next most popular names for boys born in Washington in 2022 were: Noah, Theodore, Henry, Lucas, Benjamin, William, James and Elijah.For girls, the runners-up were: Emma, Evelyn, Amelia, Charlotte, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Luna and Ava.Flashback: Oliver moved up from third place last year.
Seattle area sees increase in bike deaths per capita
Data: The League of American Bicyclists via NHTSA; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios (edited)There were 2.8 fatal bicycle crashes on average for every million Seattle-area residents between 2017-2021 — a 15% increase over the previous five years, per data from the League of American Bicyclists via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Why it matters: Bicycle use exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many cities scrambling to install new bike lanes and adopt other measures to keep riders safe and encourage cycling.Such projects have gained renewed urgency as bike-sharing platforms such as Lime in Seattle and Divvy Bikes in Chicago have become popular...
Voter registration is getting simpler in Washington state
It's about to become even easier for Washington residents to register to vote.Driving the news: A new state law means people no longer need a driver's license or state-issued ID to register to vote online, as long as they have a Social Security number.Plus: A second measure will automatically register people to vote when they apply for an enhanced driver's license or enhanced ID, both of which require proof of citizenship. Why it matters: The goal is to eliminate barriers to voter registration, so that people who don't drive or who don't have state-issued IDs aren't barred from using the...
Seattle Storm are suddenly without star power
The superteam era has officially hit the WNBA, which kicks off its 27th season Friday with four games.A crazy offseason full of former MVPs and All-Stars joining forces sets the table for what could be an epic summer of basketball.Why it matters: The Seattle Storm enter this new landscape without a rudder after Sue Bird retired at the end of last season. Bird's retirement felt like more than just a star hanging it up — it felt like the end of an era. One of the WNBA's greatest players of all time, Bird played all 19 of her seasons in...
Take a Rad ride in Seattle
E-bikes are increasingly seen as key additions to attaining personal mobility while addressing climate change.Driving the news: With more than 600,000 sales, the most popular e-bike company in the U.S. is based right here in Seattle.Rad Power Bikes founder and chairman Mike Radenbaugh began selling custom-built electric bicycles from his parents' woodshed when he was 15. The company launched officially in 2015 after a round of crowdfunding on Indiegogo.In addition to direct-to-consumer sales, the company has 10 retail locations, including the one in Ballard.Bikes range from about $1,399 to $2,299, but most people add $400 to $600 worth of accessories,...
Best Day Ever with Rad Power Bikes' Mike Radenbaugh
We asked Rad Power Bikes founder and chairman Mike Radenbaugh what would constitute the best day ever in our beautiful Emerald City. Here's what he told us:🌅 Weather: A sunny, dry, warm day in late summer.🛶 Early morning activity: Paddleboarding on Lake Union while the sun is coming up and the water is glassy.🫖 Breakfast: Portage Bay Cafe, farmer's hash bowl and a black tea.📚 Mid-morning activity: Reading and journaling and then a ride to PCC on my RadWagon.🥪 Lunch: A sandwich and salad at PCC and eating on the patio.🚴♂️ Afternoon activity: Long e-bike ride on the Burke-Gilman Trail to Golden Gardens for sunset with my tea thermos.🍜 Dinner: Night ride through downtown to the international district for pho at Tamarind Tree.🛌🏼 Evening activity: Ride home and early to bed!
New law means Washington state won't decriminalize drugs
Washington state has adopted a new criminal drug law, avoiding the statewide decriminalization of drug possession this summer.Driving the news: A law signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday would make possessing or publicly using drugs a gross misdemeanor offense — a higher penalty than what exists under the state's current law, which is set to expire July 1.Why it matters: The Legislature adjourned last month without coming up with a new drug possession law, with lawmakers disagreeing about how substance use disorder should be handled by the criminal justice system.The stalemate could have led to cities and counties...
Anti-robocall law to take effect in Washington state
A new Washington state law will make it easier to sue scammers who engage in illegal robocalling — and hold cell phone providers accountable if they knowingly allow the scam calls on their networks.Why it matters: State officials estimate that about 1.1 million Washingtonians lost money to scam robocalls last year, an increase of 265,000 people from 2021.What they're saying: "This legislation will give the attorney general's office more tools to enforce the law, and hold scammers accountable for violating our statutes," Gov. Jay Inslee said when signing the measure into law last month.Details: The measure makes it a violation...
Seattle drops 45 spots in "Best Places to Live" rankings
Seattle is no longer among the nation's best places to live, according to U.S. News & World Report.Driving the news: The publication's latest annual rankings rate Seattle as the 81st best place to live in the U.S., out of 150 metro areas analyzed.That's a big drop from Seattle's 36th-place ranking last year — and a far cry from the No. 19 position the Emerald City enjoyed the year before that.Context: Seattle's fall from grace follows Washington state as a whole recently losing its position as U.S. News & World Report's best state in the nation.While the rankings are separate and...
"Sip 'n strolls," board games and pickleball part of mayor's plan to revive Seattle
Ever experienced the ghost town that is downtown Seattle after hours and wondered where the party was? You're not the only one.Why it matters: For all of its world-class draws, the Emerald City has remained relatively bereft of 24-hour options. And low office worker foot traffic after the pandemic didn't help things. Zoom in: But when the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) unveiled new numbers this year showing the city is attracting more residents than ever before, mindsets began to pivot.The numbers suggest the city core and its businesses can thrive, DSA said, if Seattle can capitalize on residents and their...
So long, phone COVID-19 exposure notifications
If you got an alert saying you'll no longer get COVID-19 exposure notifications on your phone, don't bother checking your settings. It's not your device — it's the government.Driving the news: The end of the federal public health emergency last Thursday also meant the end of federal funding for some state programs, Lacy Fehrenbach, chief of prevention for the Washington state Department of Health, said at a news conference last week.One of the programs that lost funding was WA Notify, the system that alerts people they may have been exposed to COVID-19 by sending a message to their phones.After launching in November 2020, the technology was used by nearly 4 million devices in Washington, and sent more than 2.5 million exposure notifications, according to the health department.The bottom line: "Your phone will no longer notify you if you were near someone who tested positive for COVID-19," Fehrenbach said.What's next: Public health officials are urging anyone who feels sick to promptly test for COVID-19, and to stay up to date on vaccinations and boosters."Though the public health emergency is over, the pandemic is not over," Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, the health department's chief science officer, said at last week's news conference.
Seattle's waterfront rebuild moves forward with opening of new road
Seattle's new waterfront is starting to take shape — and, while some are critical of what's been built so far, supporters maintain that the project will be a major downtown asset when it's complete.Why it matters: The long-planned removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in 2019 made way for big changes on Seattle's waterfront. Now, those updates are actually happening.Latest: At the start of May, a new street opened linking Belltown with the waterfront. The new connector road includes new bike lanes and sidewalks connecting Elliott Avenue to Alaskan Way, and will eventually support four lanes of traffic (two in...
Seattle's longer allergy season, in one chart
Data: Climate Central. Chart: Axios VisualsWe told you last month that our local allergy season was getting worse — now, we have additional numbers to back that up.By the numbers: Allergy season in Seattle increased by 17 days on average between 1970 and 2021, per an analysis from Climate Central, a nonprofit climate news organization.That's based on the number of days between the last day of freezing temperatures each spring and the first day of freezing temperatures each fall — essentially, the annual window when seasonal allergy sufferers are most likely to rely on their antihistamine of choice to get...
Seattle's longer allergy season, in one chart
Data: Climate Central. Chart: Axios VisualsWe told you last month that our local allergy season was getting worse — now, we have additional numbers to back that up.By the numbers: Allergy season in Seattle increased by 17 days on average between 1970 and 2021, per an analysis from Climate Central, a nonprofit climate news organization.That's based on the number of days between the last day of freezing temperatures each spring and the first day of freezing temperatures each fall — essentially, the annual window when seasonal allergy sufferers are most likely to rely on their antihistamine of choice to get...
Using a lifejacket and other tips for staying safe in Seattle-area waters
With hot weather on tap for this weekend, Puget Sound residents are likely to head for their favorite body of water. One thing they shouldn't forget: a life jacket.Driving the news: Even when temps peak, the water remains icy cold especially in lakes, rivers and streams fed by snowmelt, according to the Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program, which ramps up its water safety message every year in May.Even strong swimmers can be hijacked by "cold water shock" that can cause involuntary physical reactions such as gasping, hyperventilation and panic — which may lead to water inhalation and...
Using a lifejacket and other tips for staying safe in Seattle-area waters
With hot weather on tap for this weekend, Puget Sound residents are likely to head for their favorite body of water. One thing they shouldn't forget: a life jacket.Driving the news: Even when temps peak, the water remains icy cold especially in lakes, rivers and streams fed by snowmelt, according to the Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program, which ramps up its water safety message every year in May.Even strong swimmers can be hijacked by "cold water shock" that can cause involuntary physical reactions such as gasping, hyperventilation and panic — which may lead to water inhalation and...
Hot temperatures could set a new Seattle record
A high-pressure ridge over the northern West Coast is forecast to bring temperatures in the 80s and perhaps even 90s to Seattle over the weekend and possibly into next week.Why it matters: If the mercury hits 90 degrees or above in Seattle before Tuesday, it will break the record for the earliest 90-degree day of the year.The current record was set on May 17, 2008, according to Jacob DeFlitch of the National Weather Service in Seattle.Catch up quick: In June 2021, a heat dome smothered the Pacific Northwest from Canada to Oregon, raising temperatures 30 degrees above normal and shattering...
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