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Qualtrics Announces Global Job Cuts Following $6.75 Billion Acquisition

Qualtrics Announces Global Job Cuts Following $6.75 Billion Acquisition

Qualtrics Announces Global Job Cuts Following $6.75 Billion Acquisition
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Magic Mouse Toys Closes Permanently After 49 Years in Seattle's Pioneer Square

Magic Mouse Toys Closes Permanently After 49 Years in Seattle's Pioneer Square

Magic Mouse Toys Closes Permanently After 49 Years in Seattle's Pioneer Square
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Tom Mandrake Returns to 'Vampire: The Masquerade' for New Titan Comics Miniseries

Tom Mandrake Returns to 'Vampire: The Masquerade' for New Titan Comics Miniseries

Tom Mandrake Returns to 'Vampire: The Masquerade' for New Titan Comics Miniseries
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Seattle Police Investigate South Lake Union Hit-and-Run, Skateboarder Severely Injured

Seattle Police Investigate South Lake Union Hit-and-Run, Skateboarder Severely Injured

Seattle police are actively searching for the driver of a red, newer-model Acura sedan involved in a hit-and-run incident in South Lake Union. The incident, which occurred approximately a week ago around 5:30 a.m. on Harrison Street near 8th Avenue, left 20-year-old skateboarder Jordan Brito severely injured. Brito was struck while crossing Harrison Street mid-block, rendering him unconscious in the roadway. A bystander called 911 for emergency assistance. Brito is currently hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center with 14 injuries, including brain bruising and bleeding, and significant facial damage requiring reconstructive surgery. His mother, Kelly McDonald, has expressed the profound impact of the incident on her son's future and urged the driver to come forward. No arrests have been made in the case, and the Seattle Police Department is appealing to witnesses or anyone with camera footage of the crash to contact investigators.
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Seattle Police Investigate Fatal Shooting in First Hill, Suspect Remains at Large

Seattle Police Investigate Fatal Shooting in First Hill, Suspect Remains at Large

One person is dead following a shooting in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood on Tuesday evening, according to the Seattle Police Department. Officers responded to the incident in the 900 block of Eighth Avenue. Seattle Fire Department crews also arrived at the scene and pronounced a man, estimated to be 25 years old, deceased. Authorities have not yet released any additional information about the victim or a description of the suspect. The suspect remains at large, and police have advised the public to avoid the area while the investigation is ongoing. This incident marks another instance of gun violence in the city, prompting a police manhunt and an active investigation to apprehend the individual responsible for the fatal shooting.
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Add-On Utility Fees Lead to Evictions for U.S. Tenants, Sparking Legal Challenges and Tenant Strikes

Add-On Utility Fees Lead to Evictions for U.S. Tenants, Sparking Legal Challenges and Tenant Strikes

Tenants across the U.S. are increasingly facing eviction due to unpaid 'ratio utility billing system' (Rubs) fees, which are add-on utility charges billed by landlords or third-party companies rather than directly by utility providers. These fees, often not clearly disclosed in leases or apartment listings, can significantly increase housing costs and are calculated using formulas based on factors like unit size or occupancy, not individual usage. For low-income tenants, falling behind on Rubs can lead to eviction, even if rent is paid. Constance Soule, an 81-year-old disabled tenant in California, faced eviction over these charges despite having paid her rent. Jaslyn Cosey in Las Vegas also faced eviction after her state assistance for back rent was applied to fees instead of rent. Tenant advocates and attorneys report a rise in utility-related eviction cases nationwide, with some studies showing utility fees as the most common charge on top of rent for tenants facing eviction.
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New Model Predicts Tsunami Impact on Puget Sound from Alaskan Earthquake

New Model Predicts Tsunami Impact on Puget Sound from Alaskan Earthquake

State experts in Washington have developed a new model illustrating the potential impact of a massive 9.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska on Puget Sound. The model indicates that such an event could generate a tsunami reaching various parts of Washington state. Specifically, water levels could rise by two feet in Seattle, four feet in Olympia, and as high as 24 feet along the coast at Westport. This scenario is based, in part, on the deadly 1964 Alaskan earthquake that also sent a tsunami to Washington State. Elyssa Tappero, Tsunami Program Manager with the Washington State Emergency Management Division, emphasized that even distant seismic events can significantly affect all of Washington. Harold Tobin, Director of the Pacific NW Seismic Network, explained that tsunamis are generated when underwater earthquakes suddenly lift the seabed, pushing water upwards and creating waves that disperse across the ocean.
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New Cafe, Taproom, and Oyster Bar to Open in Former Theo Chocolate Space in Fremont

New Cafe, Taproom, and Oyster Bar to Open in Former Theo Chocolate Space in Fremont

New Cafe, Taproom, and Oyster Bar to Open in Former Theo Chocolate Space in Fremont
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Pike Place Market Pedestrian Pilot to Scale Back for Winter Months in Seattle

Pike Place Market Pedestrian Pilot to Scale Back for Winter Months in Seattle

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is proposing to scale back the pedestrian pilot program at Pike Place Market for the fall and winter months, specifically from October to March. Under the new proposal, 'soft closures' of Pike Place between Pike Street and Virginia Street would only be implemented from 11 am to 4 pm on Fridays through Sundays, with 'hard closures' for full barricades reserved for special events. On Mondays through Thursdays during this period, all vehicles would be permitted to use the corridor without restrictions, though new signage would instruct drivers to yield to pedestrians. This adjustment follows a successful summer pilot that saw increased business and visitor numbers, but also generated mixed feedback from merchants. The proposal, which will be presented to the Pike Place Market Historical Commission, aims to balance pedestrian safety and experience with the needs of businesses that rely on vehicular access, particularly local shoppers during the winter.
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Seattle's Wealthiest Neighborhoods Face $2 Billion Bill for Aging Buried Power Lines

Seattle's Wealthiest Neighborhoods Face $2 Billion Bill for Aging Buried Power Lines

Residents in some of Seattle's most affluent neighborhoods, including Laurelhurst, Madison Park, Magnolia, and Queen Anne, are facing a potential $2 billion bill to replace aging underground power lines. These lines were originally buried over 60 years ago at the request of residents who wanted to beautify their areas by removing visible poles and wires. The cables were installed directly into the wet Seattle soil without protective conduits, and are now deteriorating, leading to frequent and prolonged power outages. Seattle City Light estimates that replacing the 330 miles of faulty cable could cost $2 billion. KIRO host Gee Scott highlighted that this situation exemplifies a pattern where gains are privatized, but problems become socialized, meaning the cost of repairs would likely be spread across all Seattle City Light customers through higher rates, regardless of whether they benefited from the original decision to bury the lines.
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Seattle Faces $2 Billion Bill for Deteriorating Underground Power Lines, Sparking Debate on Funding

Seattle Faces $2 Billion Bill for Deteriorating Underground Power Lines, Sparking Debate on Funding

Seattle is confronting a potential $2 billion cost to replace deteriorating underground power lines, a problem stemming from decisions made over 60 years ago. In the 1960s, residents in affluent neighborhoods like Laurelhurst, Madison Park, Magnolia, and Queen Anne petitioned the city to bury their electrical lines for aesthetic reasons. These cables were installed directly into the wet Seattle soil without protective conduits, leading to their current state of decay and causing frequent, prolonged power outages. Seattle City Light estimates that replacing the 330 miles of aging underground cable could cost $2 billion. This substantial expense has ignited a debate among KIRO hosts Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin about how the repair costs should be covered. Gee Scott highlighted the historical context, noting that the 'bill is due' for decisions made decades ago, while Ursula Reutin argued that the neighborhoods that benefited from the initial burial should bear the cost through a special neighborhood-specific...
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Seattle Residents Rally Against Surveillance Cameras, Citing Privacy Concerns and Potential Federal Misuse

Seattle Residents Rally Against Surveillance Cameras, Citing Privacy Concerns and Potential Federal Misuse

A group of Seattle residents, including members of Seattle Indivisible and the Communities Not Cameras Coalition, rallied at Seattle City Hall to protest the city's use of real-time closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and automated license plate readers (ALPR). The protest followed a tour of the Seattle Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center, after which critics expressed increased concerns about the transparency and privacy implications of the surveillance system. Speaker Cliff Cawthon described the system as 'Swiss cheese,' riddled with holes despite promises of transparency and safety. The groups are advocating for the nullification of existing contracts and the removal of all cameras to safeguard the privacy of Seattle residents. This comes after Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson temporarily turned off CCTV cameras in the Stadium District following the FIFA World Cup matches, fulfilling a commitment to limit their use to the event's duration.