Tuesday, October 13

After a sickout and cancellations, what’s next for WA State Ferries?
Washington state’s struggle to operate aging boats is well known to the public, but the nation’s largest ferry fleet, serving 20 million people a year, is also vulnerable if more than a few people cancel their shifts. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

These are the cities most vulnerable to AI automation
Topping the list is San Jose, California, with nearly 29% of its total workforce most vulnerable to AI automation. That metro area is followed by Washington, D.C., at 27.7%; Durham, North Carolina, at 26.7%; Seattle at 26.6%; and Austin at 25.4% to round out the top five. The cities that boast high concentrations of professional services and tech jobs are generally also the most vulnerable to AI automation, whereas the cities that cater more toward service or hospitality jobs are among the least vulnerable. Continue reading at Puget Sound Business Journal. (Malte Mueller)

Seattle ranks third among U.S. metros for young professionals, new study finds
The study looked at how much money entry-level workers have left after paying rent. According to JobLeads, Seattle’s median entry-level wage is about $49,000 a year, with nearly $28,000 remaining after rent. Seattle ranked behind Portland and San Jose. Continue reading at MyNorthwest. (Courtesy of ESBProfessional)

Monday, October 12

Elwha River dam removal project nears capstone with land transfer to tribe
Twelve years ago, the last piece of two Elwha dams came down, in what was at the time the world’s largest dam removal project. It was hard-won by the tribe after generations of declining salmon runs and community health. Now, the so-called project lands, where the dams were blasted and a river freed, are slated to return to the tribe, marking the capstone of the federal project. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Columbia City Will Be Home to Nation’s First Native-Owned Birth Center
In Washington State, Indigenous maternal mortality rates are more than seven times higher than rates for white mothers. The majority of these cases are preventable through better access to culturally responsive medical care and support services. Hummingbird offers culturally congruent support and care for Indigenous moms. Continue reading at South Seattle Emerald. (Courtesy Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services)

Election betting is booming as the midterms near. Do states have the power to curb it?
Prediction markets have emerged as a flashpoint in state and federal relations, as a host of states struggle with the Trump administration over who has authority to regulate the platforms and whether state laws restricting gambling apply to them. While much of the fight centers on the future of sports betting, a growing number of state officials fear the sites are opening the door to a new era of gambling on elections — a practice many states have long prohibited. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Katie Adkins)

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Aberdeen Daily World
Pump prices remain at record highs for autumn
Opinion: The dead beat remains journalism’s greatest challenge
Chehalis Tribe’s fishing permits more nuanced than WDFW’s recent description

Capital Press
WA water year sees floods, puny snowpack, irrigation cutbacks

The Daily News
Opinion: All hands on deck for a more civil America | Lynn Walker Gendusa

Everett Herald
SnoCo PUD proposes 2027 budget with no electric rate increase
Everett’s Walter E. Hall Park playground to get $1.25M overhaul

Kitsap Sun
Acting Navy chief tours Kitsap, recognizes service members
Will a film made in Bremerton answer a secret about Bigfoot?

News Tribune
Do child sex-abuse claims pose ‘existential’ threat to Pierce County budget? (Farivar)

Northwest Asian Weekly
Four-day pilgrimage brings awareness against ICE

Seattle Times
Elwha River dam removal project nears capstone with land transfer to tribe

South Seattle Emerald
What to Expect at Seattle’s People’s Tribunal on U.S. Complicity in Gaza
Seattle Budget Hearing Draws Calls for Shelter Expansion and Arts Funding
Columbia City Will Be Home to Nation’s First Native-Owned Birth Center: Q&A With Camie Goldhammer

Spokesman Review
Spokane to host fire rebuilding resource fairs, offer free asbestos surveys

WA State Standard
Washington among 4 states with highest rate of whale entanglements, report shows
Election betting is booming as the midterms near. Do states have the power to curb it?

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Flu season arrives early in western Washington, with 2 deaths reported this fall
State commission apologizes for racist remarks made during public comment session

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington commission apologizes after racist remarks disrupt PSE rate hearing
New visitor center to open at Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial
Many GOP states have imposed new voting rules this year, some mirroring Trump’s midterm proposals

KUOW Public Radio
Microsoft workers stunned by federal accusations of visa fraud
The feds are using AI to deny care to WA seniors, Sen. Murray says
Scammers used AI to impersonate me, a KUOW reporter. Here’s how to avoid such traps

KXLY (ABC)
WSDOT search crews locate missing plane near Tonasket
Community Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in Riverfront Park on Monday

Web

Geekwire
From H-1B to CEO: How Satya Nadella traveled the path the U.S. just cut off for Microsoft workers
Microsoft makes ‘biggest bet yet’ on its own silicon, unveils new AI chip to reduce reliance on Nvidia

West Seattle Blog
WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Monday info with Avalon crash/fire, bridge truck backup

Friday, October 9

OpenAI fires 3 safety researchers in dispute over AI risks
OpenAI said on Friday that it fired three safety researchers for a “breach of trust,” defending the dismissals after the trio accused the company of putting its corporate interests before safety as the reason for removing them. The ChatGPT maker said in a post on X that it “parted ways” with the researchers after an investigation found “they violated clear policies on handling sensitive information.” Continue reading at KIRO 7. (Jeff Chiu)

Microsoft faces foreign worker crackdown as Vance blasts layoffs
The Trump administration’s crackdown on foreign workers landed squarely in Seattle’s backyard Thursday, with Microsoft, Adobe and six other firms targeted for suspension from a federal green card program.The big picture: Vice President JD Vance and Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the new restrictions Thursday. Continue reading at Axios. (Getty Images)

King County Holds Heartbreakingly Vast Funeral for People With Nobody to Bury Them
There are 626 people, the most King County has ever interred at one time through its indigent remains program, stacked neatly beneath a fresh marble grave marker, each with cremains in their own plastic urn within a weathertight concrete crypt. It’s also the biggest jump the county has seen from a previous ceremony to the next; the last one, held in June 2025, honored 405. The ceremonies are not annual—they occur whenever there are enough remains to bury. Continue reading at The Stranger. (Madison Kirkman)

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Axios
Microsoft faces foreign worker crackdown as Vance blasts layoffs

Capital Press
Bird flu detected in two dairy cow herds in Washington
WA water year sees floods, puny snowpack, irrigation cutbacks

The Daily News
PHOTOS: Longview leaders edit messages about Mark Morris case

Everett Herald
Mukilteo mayor proposes 2027-28 budget with new staff

Kitsap Sun
Costco owes $14 million to eligible Washington shoppers in marketing emails settlement

Puget Sound Business Journal
Microsoft suspended from green card program by Trump administration

Seattle Times
Seattle mayor signs grocery ‘fair pricing’ into law, bans surveillance
4 WA gas pipeline expansions are proposed. Here’s where they stand
As Microsoft is cut from green card program, workers have questions
US hits International Criminal Court with sweeping sanctions as part of drive to dismantle tribunal

Spokesman Review
As flu season ramps up, why should you get vaccinated?
Sen. Patty Murray meets with state policymakers to discuss AI regulations as federal action sputters

Tri-City Herald
Fusion energy developer plans to manufacture in Tri-Cities, create 100s of jobs

WA State Standard
Oregon’s Merkley, Utah’s Curtis propose extending military death benefits to fallen firefighters

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Man faces assault, machine gun charges after Tacoma shooting
Graham girl mauled to death by dog, Pierce County Medical Examiner finds
Seattle Convention Center, Seattle police launch new downtown public safety hub

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
OpenAI fires 3 safety researchers in dispute over AI risks
King County names FBI veteran as first taxpayer watchdog
Costco to pay Washington shoppers $14M to settle email lawsuit
Mayors gather for community conversation about fentanyl crisis
Local leaders issue statements on Microsoft green card restrictions
Trump administration suspends Microsoft’s use of green card program
Seattle working to clear massive Rainier Beach encampment; property owners file claim against city
The Latest: NYC Mayor Mamdani calls on Trump to halt ICE operations in the city after man is shot

KNKX Public Radio
Record-breaking El Niño comes with extra intensity along the coast

Web

Geekwire
From H-1B to CEO: How Satya Nadella traveled the path the U.S. just cut off for Microsoft workers

MyNorthwest
Edmonds police investigate scams involving fake Microsoft and FTC agents
Washington millionaires tax debate: Initiative 645 contrasts $3B in revenue v. fears of broader taxes

The Stranger
King County Holds Heartbreakingly Vast Funeral for People With Nobody to Bury Them

The Urbanist
Tug-of-War Over New Transportation Funding Heats Up in Bellevue

Thursday, October 8

Washington’s legislative map may get redrawn — again
Washington’s political maps may have to be redrawn again after an order handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court this week. Why it matters: Although the legal fight centers on Latino voting power in the Yakima Valley, changes to the map could ripple across the state’s legislative districts, including in King County. While the high court’s order won’t affect this fall’s election, it could lead to Washington’s political boundaries being redrawn for the third time this decade — a process that normally takes place once every 10 years. Continue reading at Axios. (Brendan Lynch)

Costco to pay Washington shoppers $14M to settle email lawsuit
Costco is paying Washington shoppers more than $14 million to settle a lawsuit over allegedly misleading marketing emails. According to The Seattle Times, the court has approved 313,275 claims. The settlement agreement applies to all Washington residents who received the emails from Costco between June 2, 2021, and July 7. The lawsuit accused Costco of falsely advertising deals as “last day” or “five days only.” Costco denies any wrongdoing. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)

Recent SPD Surveillance Audits Highlight Overreach, Vulnerabilities
Last week, two newly released reports highlighted the vulnerabilities and sloppy implementation surrounding the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) real-time crime center. Issues discovered included unauthorized Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) cameras being streamed through the center, federal access to SDOT camera data, and a lack of requirements and safeguards for private cameras incorporated into SPD’s system. Continue reading at The Urbanist. (Amy Sundberg)

Print

Axios
Washington’s legislative map may get redrawn — again
Seattle home prices fall, but housing costs stay stubborn
Trump’s foreign worker crackdown comes for Microsoft, Adobe, IT firms

Everett Herald
Rep. Larsen wants new naval ships sent to Everett

International Examiner
Left in the dark: City Light communication about CID power outages causes confusion

Kitsap Sun
South Kitsap’s $76M levy offers mix of upgrades, including turf fields
USS Abraham Lincoln completes deployment, no date set for Kitsap move
Planned Parenthood adds OB-GYN to stem Kitsap’s severe provider shortage
New poll tracker shows Donald Trump’s approval rating by state. See where Washington stands

News Tribune
Flu, COVID and RSV are surging early in Pierce County. How to stay safe
These are the safest states in the US. See where Washington state ranked
These are Washington state’s richest residents. See how much they’re worth
Fall razor clam season postponed for WA coastal beaches. Here’s what we know

Puget Sound Business Journal
See where Seattle lands on national pay raise scale
Starbucks lays off more WA workers amid store closures
As the Seattle-area housing market rebalances, sellers lose leverage
Higher ed’s management surge leaves instructional staff in the dust
College athletic departments employ WA’s highest-paid public employees

Seattle Times
King County memorial sets grim record
Costco to pay WA shoppers $14M to settle lawsuit
Microsoft pushes back on Vance’s H-1B visa claims
Girl asks Supreme Court to block WA state rules allowing trans athletes

Spokesman Review
WSU turns to artificial intelligence to assist sports communications
Patty Murray launches initiative to restore trust in public health, starting with event at WSU
Ferguson asks for another $13.2 million in FEMA funds to repair damaged public infrastructure
Advisory committee prepares recommendations as lawmaker worries abuse survivors being excluded (Farivar)

Washington Post
NFL tells Supreme Court prediction markets are gambling, not investing
Trump prods parents to claim child investment accounts as auto-enrollment begins

WA State Standard
Trump auto-enrolls 10s of millions in child investment accounts
WA officials consider steep cut to developmental disability services
Research suggests women living in states with abortion bans bear higher health insurance costs

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
How to watch the I-645 ‘millionaires tax’ debate
Parents arrested after toddler found dead in Mount Vernon home
‘Burden on families:’ PSE customers push back on proposed $1.5B rate hike
Tenants vanish after Irish construction scam exposed in western Washington
Unauthorized homeless encampment in Seattle being cleaned up following emergency order

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Report shows jobs are fleeing downtown Seattle
Costco to pay Washington shoppers $14M to settle email lawsuit
King County Council names former FBI agent as first inspector general
Copper wire thefts lead to overnight closures, repairs on West Seattle Bridge
King County audit flags $261K in potential double-billing by nonprofit Urban Family
Puget Sound Energy customers weigh in on proposed double-digit energy rate increases
VP says Microsoft is being suspended from program to apply for green cards for H-1B visa workers

Web

Cascadia Daily News
$335,000 and counting: Another WA local government settles Flock lawsuit
Dilapidated stretch of road the last hangup before Blaine’s massive de-annexation

The Urbanist
Recent SPD Surveillance Audits Highlight Overreach, Vulnerabilities

West Seattle Blog
TRANSIT, WEATHER, TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK: Thursday info

Wednesday, October 7

Amazon’s Walla Walla data center plan sparks tension between protesters, local officials
More than four hundred Washingtonians across 19 locations took to the streets Sunday to demand a statewide moratorium on data centers. In Walla Walla, where a $4.8 billion Amazon data center project is planned, the tension among opponents and local officials was palpable. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Aspen Ford)

Sen. Maria Cantwell outlines six-point plan to regulate frontier AI as concerns escalate
Last month, Cantwell took to the Senate floor to demand urgent federal regulations and mandatory independent safety testing for frontier AI models before their release. She warned that recent incidents in which autonomous AI agents carried out unauthorized cyberattacks show that dangerous threats are already here, well before the arrival of superintelligence. The framework proposed Wednesday includes six principles for regulating frontier AI development and deployment. Continue reading at GeekWire. (Dan DeLong)

Another grieving orca mom carries dead calf on her nose off Washington state
The female, a 31-year-old known as J31 or Tsuchi, had previously been photographed carrying a dead newborn on her nose in 2016. J31 has one living offspring, a 7-year-old daughter, but has lost at least eight other calves before or just after birth. Continue reading at KUOW. (Courtesy of Center for Whale Research)