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)

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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)

Washington Observer
Deep cuts loom for human services (Farivar, Wilson)

West Seattle Blog
TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC: Wednesday watch

Tuesday, October 6

Puget Sound ferry service returns after Monday shut down
The disruption was the result of 23 engine room employees calling in sick. According to Washington State Ferries, dispatchers attempted to call substitutes, but any employees qualified to step in for the day declined to do so. The result was the cancelation of various sailings and entire routes across the system. Continue reading at KUOW. (Casey Martin)

Washington lawmakers look to close ‘gaps’ in state arson laws
State and local officials are working to close “gaps” in Washington’s arson law that punishes offenders the same even when their fires are drastically bigger or more destructive. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Tyler Tjomsland)

US Supreme Court orders another look at how WA political maps are drawn
On the first day of its new session, the court accepted a legal challenge to the boundaries, then remanded it to a lower court to determine if the way a federal judge drew the lines in 2024 complies with a ruling earlier this year in a Louisiana redistricting case. Monday’s action will not affect next month’s election. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Ashley Murray)

Print

Axios
13 of 18 Washington ferries sidelined after workers call out sick

Bainbridge Island Review
WSF routes facing cancelled, reduced service due to crew shortages

The Daily News
LCC officials say Head Start rewrite could hurt families
School vaccination rates reveal hidden measles outbreak risks. But access depends on where you live.

Islands’ Weekly
Washington, multistate coalition victory protects social services for low-income families

Kitsap Sun
WSF service back on most routes after series of cancellations
Union representing ferry workers says it didn’t coordinate absences
Thune says no ‘path forward’ for permanent daylight saving time bill

News Tribune
South Sound ferries canceled. ‘Major service disruptions’ across the region
Walmart delivery drones coming to Federal Way. What’s up with Tacoma project?

New York Times
U.S. Trade Deficit Hits 17-Month High Despite Trump’s Tariffs

Northwest Asian Weekly
12th and Jackson among hot spots for felony drug cases in Seattle

Olympian
WSF service back on most routes after series of cancellations

Puget Sound Business Journal
These are the most selective schools in WA
UW tops ranking of WA universities with the most staffers
Why ‘serious’ delinquencies are spiking for a vulnerable class of homebuyers

Seattle Times
New Skagit Valley flood maps show worsening conditions
Most Washington State Ferries routes back to regular service Tuesday
Opinion: More transparency needed around latest King County sales tax increase
U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Snohomish firefighters’ COVID vaccine appeal
Alito says Supreme Court can’t stem emergency appeals and voices concern over Trump’s rhetoric

South Seattle Emerald
Neighbors Seek to Save a South Brandon Street Willow From Proposed Development

Spokesman Review
Washington lawmakers look to close ‘gaps’ in state arson laws (Riccelli)
Spokane Housing Authority grants available for Spokane Complex, Upriver fire victims
Fire investigators unable to determine cause of Upriver fire, but they believe it started in a vacant home

Washington Post
Paramount closes deal with Warner Bros. Discovery after months of wrangling

WA State Standard
Democrats more trusted on healthcare costs, survey shows
Prediction markets spend millions to influence state, federal governments
US Supreme Court orders another look at how WA political maps are drawn
Nonprofit recruits volunteers to help track wildlife impacted by Oregon’s roads
Sickout devastates WA ferry system; Ferguson urges workers to return Tuesday

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Passengers scramble to make backup plans Monday after ferry disruptions halt service
Closer to normal operations expected after ‘sick-out’ disrupts Washington State Ferries
Over half of illegal drone flights near wildfires nationwide occurred in Washington state
‘Taxes are going one way, jobs are going the other,’ Seattle business leader says of new analysis

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Ferry worker call-outs lead to continued cancellations, delays Tuesday
Seattle residents have a chance to weigh in on Mayor Katie Wilson’s proposed $9.1 billion budget

KUOW Public Radio
Puget Sound ferry service back after Monday shut down

KXLY (ABC)
Stricter rules on foreign-mailed medications starting October 22
Lincoln County holds public hearing after a 6-month emergency moratorium pauses data center permits

NW Public Radio
Student dental clinics help bridge cost gap for patients on a budget

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham police drones will assess emergencies before humans arrive on scene

Geekwire
Seattle’s tax burden shifted to business as jobs slipped away, new report finds

InvestigateWest
Prison overcrowding is keeping Idaho women behind bars even after they’re granted parole

MyNorthwest
Seattle Mayor Wilson signs first-of-its-kind grocery pricing law
Seattle taxes grew 172% since 2013, far outpacing jobs and population, report finds
Washington State Ferries still face lingering disruptions after 23 engineers call out sick
Seattle mayor says city is ‘absolutely aiming’ to recover $13.1 million in police overpayments

Monday, October 5

Judge permanently blocks WA sheriff standards law
The decision from Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller permanently blocks the most controversial pieces of the Democrat-sponsored policy, pending an appeal by the state. A formal court order outlining the ruling is expected later this month. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Jake Goldstein-Street)

WA pays record sums to pricey private lawyers amid lawsuit explosion
Over the past fiscal year, the state spent $43.6 million for outside legal help. The tab for such contracts has quintupled since 2023, when it totaled $8.7 million. In 2020, the state paid just $283,000, public records show. Those private lawyers bill at rates that in some cases exceed $300 an hour, making them far more costly than the assistant attorneys general employed directly by the state, who do essentially the same work. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Erika Schultz)

Washington nonprofit that runs ICE reporting hotline lays off more than half its staff
The staff and funding cuts come at a time when immigration arrests across Washington and the country are facing new highs, with more calls coming into the hotline. Former employees report receiving a thousand calls a week. Continue reading at KUOW. (Jenny Kane)