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OSU and WSU weighing Pac-12 options

Officials say they expect to have  more information within about a month.

News

Washington's paid family leave program could see more delays

The agency that runs the program  says it needs more staff to keep up with surging application numbers.

How earthquake research can help save the PNW from "The Big One"

A new center aims to answer questions like how high tsunami waters could go and how long shaking might last.

Seattle City Council passes plan for prosecuting drug use

Treatment and diversion should be offered first in most cases, according to the new law.

Remote work in Seattle remains above U.S. average

About a quarter of people in the Seattle metro area said they worked mostly from home last year.

Business

By the numbers: Among metro areas, Seattle had the fifth highest share of people who said they mostly worked from home in 2022 (tied with Washington, D.C.)The percentage of Seattle-area residents working from home is down from its pandemic-era peak, but it&#x27;s still higher than in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most metro areas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/16/work-from-home-offices-remote-work-census" data-vars-content-id="31fe9bc9-aacf-4d11-a5b0-4185ad9b383d" data-vars-headline="Remote work in Seattle remains above U.S. average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/16/work-from-home-offices-remote-work-census" target="_self">most metro areas</a>, according to new census data.Driving the news: A little over 25% of people in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area worked mostly from home last year, per American Community Survey data released last week.

Seattle is welcoming more self-driving car companies

Two robotaxi companies are already testing in the city, and a third plans to start next week.

Seattle is becoming a bigger testing ground for self-driving cars, with two companies already testing here and a third planning to start next week.Yes, but: It&#x27;s likely to be some time before locals can hail a driverless robotaxi, due to state rules that don&#x27;t allow that right now.

Illustration of a steering wheel with an exclamation point in the center with hands on either side

New business applications in Seattle lag pre-pandemic levels

There were 7,710 applications for new businesses in 2022, down 42% from the pre-pandemic average.

New business applications in Seattle last year remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels, in one sign the local economy has not yet rebounded.Why it matters: New business applications are one measure of an area&#x27;s perceived economic health, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Kavya Beheraj and Alex Fitzpatrick report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/13/new-business-hot-spots" data-vars-content-id="2b4be462-66fc-47ce-9d74-e686995bb675" data-vars-headline="New business applications in Seattle lag pre-pandemic levels" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/13/new-business-hot-spots" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Kavya Beheraj and Alex Fitzpatrick report</a>.

A bar chart showing the number of new business applications from 2012 to 2022 in Seattle, with the biggest spike in 2017 and the lowest numbers in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Washington gas prices are no longer the nation's highest — but they're still up

In June, the Evergreen State briefly surpassed California as having the costliest gas.

Washington&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gas prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/02/gas-prices-heat-wave-us" data-vars-content-id="719362b4-ee6f-40de-a20d-f42f6a31b831" data-vars-headline="Washington gas prices are no longer the nation&#x27;s highest — but they&#x27;re still up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/02/gas-prices-heat-wave-us" target="_self">gas prices</a> are no longer the highest in the nation, but they&#x27;re still more than 20 cents per gallon above where they were a year ago.Details: A gallon of gas cost $4.96 per gallon on average in Washington state as of Aug. 1, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data from GasBuddy" data-vars-click-url="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/dxQ6I/1/" data-vars-content-id="719362b4-ee6f-40de-a20d-f42f6a31b831" data-vars-headline="Washington gas prices are no longer the nation&#x27;s highest — but they&#x27;re still up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/dxQ6I/1/" target="_blank">data from GasBuddy</a>.

A line graph showing that the Seattle metro area's gas prices were at $5.10 on Aug. 1, higher than the national average of $3.76, and have trended higher than the national average over the past 12 months.

Seattle's downtown recovery has continued to lag other metros

But the return of Amazon workers to the office might be turning the tide.

Foot traffic in downtown Seattle from March to May was at roughly 46% of pre-pandemic levels, making Seattle&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="downtown recovery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/04/downtown-recovery" data-vars-content-id="5ee6829a-a682-41da-9f81-dc0cd09e4483" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s downtown recovery has continued to lag other metros" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/04/downtown-recovery" target="_self">downtown recovery</a> one of the weakest among <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="63 cities analyzed" data-vars-click-url="https://downtownrecovery.com/charts/rankings" data-vars-content-id="5ee6829a-a682-41da-9f81-dc0cd09e4483" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s downtown recovery has continued to lag other metros" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://downtownrecovery.com/charts/rankings" target="_blank">63 cities analyzed</a> by researchers at the University of Toronto.Yes, but: Downtown boosters and businesses have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="noted a rise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/07/19/amazon-workers-downtown-activity" data-vars-content-id="5ee6829a-a682-41da-9f81-dc0cd09e4483" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s downtown recovery has continued to lag other metros" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/07/19/amazon-workers-downtown-activity" target="_self">noted a rise</a> in foot traffic and credit card transactions since early May, when Amazon workers began returning to the office — a timeframe not fully covered by the University of Toronto analysis.

A bar chart showing foot traffic in Seattle by season, compared to foot traffic numbers in the same months in 2019, before the pandemic hit. In Spring 2023 Seattle's toot traffic was about 46% of pre-pandemic levels. 

Seattle council discusses ideas to reduce organized retail theft

More than half of Washington state retailers have reported a rise in theft in the past year, according to a new report.

Within the past year, more than half of Washington state retailers have reported an increase in theft, resulting in $2.7 billion in estimated losses in the state, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/CityAuditor/auditreports/ORC_Audit_20230721.pdf" data-vars-content-id="6ebbcaec-ff6a-458c-9e58-129d66f04ae4" data-vars-headline="Seattle council discusses ideas to reduce organized retail theft" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/CityAuditor/auditreports/ORC_Audit_20230721.pdf" target="_blank">a new report</a> from the Seattle Office of City Auditor.Driving the news: Members of the City Council&#x27;s Public Safety and Human Services committee this week discussed the report, requested by Councilmembers Andrew Lewis and Lisa Herbold and released last week. The report <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cited a survey" data-vars-click-url="https://cdn.nrf.com/sites/default/files/2022-09/National%20Retail%20Security%20Survey%20Organized%20Retail%20Crime%202022.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sanfrancisco&amp;stream=top#_ga=2.7102966.59656897.1690286569-1875484701.1665863808" data-vars-content-id="6ebbcaec-ff6a-458c-9e58-129d66f04ae4" data-vars-headline="Seattle council discusses ideas to reduce organized retail theft" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cdn.nrf.com/sites/default/files/2022-09/National%20Retail%20Security%20Survey%20Organized%20Retail%20Crime%202022.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sanfrancisco&amp;stream=top#_ga=2.7102966.59656897.1690286569-1875484701.1665863808" target="_blank">cited a survey</a> ranking Seattle <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eighth in the nation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-seattle-b3dc68a3-0269-42b6-8d3c-dd29a7c29f70.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_seattle&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="6ebbcaec-ff6a-458c-9e58-129d66f04ae4" data-vars-headline="Seattle council discusses ideas to reduce organized retail theft" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-seattle-b3dc68a3-0269-42b6-8d3c-dd29a7c29f70.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_seattle&amp;stream=top" target="_self">eighth in the nation</a> in 2021 among cities impacted by organized retail theft.

Illustration of a burglar in a ski mask holding a giant sack 

Washington's June unemployment rate tied for lowest ever

The last time the state's jobless rate was this low was right before the pandemic.

The June <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unemployment rate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/24/states-jobs-unemployment-rate" data-vars-content-id="b1463d86-1b4c-41fe-a484-dc66cb9bbf20" data-vars-headline="Washington&#x27;s June unemployment rate tied for lowest ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/24/states-jobs-unemployment-rate" target="_self">unemployment rate</a> in Washington state hit a low not seen since before the pandemic, matching the record for lowest statewide unemployment ever.Why it matters: The dip in the jobless rate shows that Washington&#x27;s economy appears to be rebounding, despite <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="layoffs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/01/19/microsoft-cuts-seattle-area-workers" data-vars-content-id="b1463d86-1b4c-41fe-a484-dc66cb9bbf20" data-vars-headline="Washington&#x27;s June unemployment rate tied for lowest ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/01/19/microsoft-cuts-seattle-area-workers" target="_self">layoffs</a> in the tech industry <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/20/amazon-layoffs-march-2023-announcement" data-vars-content-id="b1463d86-1b4c-41fe-a484-dc66cb9bbf20" data-vars-headline="Washington&#x27;s June unemployment rate tied for lowest ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/20/amazon-layoffs-march-2023-announcement" target="_self">announced</a> in the past year.

Seattle extends COVID-era rules for home-based businesses

The measures initially aimed to give businesses flexibility while adhering to COVID safety regulations.

Seattle has permanently adopted another COVID-era tweak, this time one aimed at helping home-based businesses.Driving the news: The Seattle City Council recently passed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bill 120520" data-vars-click-url="https://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6051996&amp;GUID=ECF134A9-93B0-4AA5-91C9-0CB9179A069C" data-vars-content-id="29818b9c-42e1-465a-a121-c2906a280bbd" data-vars-headline="Seattle extends COVID-era rules for home-based businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6051996&amp;GUID=ECF134A9-93B0-4AA5-91C9-0CB9179A069C" target="_blank">Bill 120520</a>, also known as &quot;Bringing Business Home.&quot;

Illustration of office chair on a “welcome” home mat

Black Coffee Northwest to replace closed Central District Starbucks

The location at 23rd Avenue and Jackson Street used to be an important gathering place in the historically Black neighborhood.

Black-owned coffee shop Black Coffee Northwest is taking over the Central District building where a Starbucks used to be.Why it matters: Black Coffee Northwest aims to fill a void created when Starbucks closed the location at the corner of 23rd Avenue and Jackson Street, which had become a gathering place in the historically diverse neighborhood.

Photo of the old Starbucks at the corner of 23rd and Jackson in Seattle.

Seattle area unemployment rate declined in April

But it was still slightly higher than it was a year earlier.

Preliminary unemployment numbers show the Seattle area jobless rate was 3% in April, down slightly from the 3.2% jobless rate seen the previous month, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="latest data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/data/xg-tables/ro9xg02.htm#ro9xg02unemp.f.r" data-vars-content-id="9de42665-5547-4b74-9151-5e54a26a7565" data-vars-headline="Seattle area unemployment rate declined in April" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/data/xg-tables/ro9xg02.htm#ro9xg02unemp.f.r" target="_blank">latest data</a> from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Yes, but: The local jobless rate was still 0.2 percentage points above where it was a year earlier, when it was 2.8%.

A line chart showing the unemployment rate in the Seattle area at 3% in April, slightly below the national rate of 3.1%.

Business 🏦