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Washington considers lowering legal BAC limit to .05%
Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Washington could become the second state in the nation after Utah to lower the legal limit of a driver's blood alcohol content (BAC) from .08% to .05%.
- State lawmakers are currently considering a bill — which has bipartisan sponsors, a nod from the governor and the support of the Washington State Patrol — that would move the rate within the range of zero tolerance laws that currently apply to those under age 21.
Soundgarden nominated for Rock Hall of Fame
Chris Cornell at Lollapalooza in 1992. Photo: Steve Eichner/WireImage
Soundgarden may make it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year.
Driving the news: The grunge-rock band, which formed in Seattle in the 1980s and is known for tracks like "Black Hole Sun" and "Rusty Cage," was one of 14 acts nominated for the Rock Hall Wednesday.
Washington may lower mandatory school age from 8 to 6
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Washington is the only state in the nation that doesn't require kids to go to school until age 8 — but that could change this year.
What's happening: A bill in Washington's Legislature would lower the state's compulsory age for school attendance from 8 to 6.
2 Seattle CEOs rank among the nation's 3 best paid
Seattle was home to two of the three highest paid CEOs in the S&P 500 in 2021, according to a new analysis released this week.
Zoom in: Expedia Group's Peter Kern topped the list of best-paid CEOs, making $296.2 million in total compensation in 2021, S&P Global Market Intelligence found.
Black History month events to check out in Seattle
Cast of "History of Theatre", one of several events taking place in Seattle during Black History Month. Photo: Robert Wade courtesy of ACT Theatre
Columbia City Theater is doubling as a Black History Month Museum all of February, starting today.
- Elsewhere in the city, the Museum of Pop Culture is displaying photographs of hip-hop's most influential artists and the Museum of History and Industry is spotlighting the work of Black architects and designers.
Bill would limit traffic stops to try to prevent police killings
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Police in Washington would be barred from pulling over drivers for minor issues like broken tail lights or expired tabs under a measure now before the state Legislature.
Why it matters: It's part of an effort to limit low-level traffic stops, which critics say too often escalate into violence — especially against Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people.
The Station plans to open a new Columbia City location
The Station's existing Beacon Hill location. Photo: Melissa Santos/Axios
The Station, a popular coffee shop and community hub on Beacon Hill, plans to open a second location in Columbia City by the end of spring.
Why it matters: Co-owner Luis Rodriguez tells Axios his goal has always been to provide a place where people can meet their neighbors and beat the fabled Seattle Freeze. He has the same idea in mind for the Columbia City location.
How to see a once-in-a-lifetime comet
This picture of C/2022 (the brighter object in the center-left of the frame) was taken on Saturday from the top of the National Weather Service forecast station in Seattle. Photo: Courtesy of Dustin Guy
A newly discovered astral body, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will reach the closest point to Earth in its orbit — 27 million miles away — on Wednesday and Thursday.
- The comet — also known as the "Green Comet" — was last seen in our skies 50,000 years ago.