Washington is facing new coronavirus restrictions
OLYMPIA, WA — As of 11:59 p.m. Monday night, a new suite of coronavirus restrictions have been implemented across Washington state, limiting customer capacity at stores, and banning social gatherings with people from outside the household, among other changes. The new restrictions, announced by Gov….
Seattle businesses are going to get hit by $200M head tax
SEATTLE, WA — Seattle City Council has passed a progressive payroll tax on the city’s largest businesses with a vote of 7 – 2. That margin makes it veto-proof, an important note considering that Mayor Jenny Durkan has signaled opposition to the tax. The tax,…
The Seattle City Council has unanimously voted to repeal two separate loitering ordinances
SEATTLE, WA — The Seattle City Council has unanimously voted to repeal two separate loitering ordinances over concerns that both were rooted in racism and had disproportionately negative effects on minority and marginalized communities. The first ordinance repealed Monday was Seattle’s drug traffic loitering law,…
King County ready for phase 2 reopening
KING COUNTY, WA — Monday, the King County Council unanimously voted to approve Resolution 20-09, a resolution supporting King County’s application to enter Phase 2 of Gov. Inslee’s Safe Start plan. The move essentially finalizes the county’s Phase 2 application and means King County could…
Seattle woman goes to jail for protesting and never gets a hearing
SEATTLE, WA — Last Sunday, May 31, Joan Fochs got the call to shut down early at the Interbay grocery store where she works, as the city braced for another night of protests against police violence. She closed up shop, packed up water bottles and…
Amtrak is asking for funding to keep running
WASHINGTON — Amtrak is asking Congress for $1.475 billion in funding to help keep their rails running in 2021. The company says the pandemic has drastically cut ridership, and without those riders, they’ll need the extra funding to keep their services running through the next…
Washington state just approved CARES Act that will help residents with rent
SEATTLE, WA — The city council on Monday approved a proposal to accept millions in federal CARES Act funds, $4 million of which will be allocated to assist renters who are behind on their payments due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a news release, Mayor…
Nordstrom closing stores and cutting budgets in Seattle
SEATTLE, WA — Retail giant Nordstrom announced store closures and budget cutbacks Wednesday as the company tries to adapt to business lost due to the coronavirus outbreak. In total, Nordstrom says it will close 16 full-line stores. Which stores will be closed has not been…
Construction get the green light to continue working in Washington
OLYMPIA, WA — Washington has reached the first step in the state’s plan to begin reopening the economy, allowing for existing construction projects to resume with added precautions, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday. Most commercial and residential construction projects were halted under the governor’s “Stay…
Seattle declared a state of emergency after heavy rain
SEATTLE, WA — Flood concerns continue Thursday in Puget Sound as heavy rain continues to pour throughout the region. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Issaquah Creek through Thursday night, and high waters were causing fresh problems on roads in King and…