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How Seattle's democracy vouchers are working

Some still worry about the influence of third-party super PAC spending.

Politics

Two-thirds of the Seattle City Council will be new in 2024

Six of nine council members won't be returning, and that could mean a major political shift.

How Seattle readers are handling student loan payments resuming

Some are putting off saving for retirement and cutting other costs, or even weighing second jobs.

Education

Orca sightings around Washington break records

The increased presence of Bigg's killer whales signals that conservation efforts are working.

News

The challenge in mandating electric heating in Washington state

Recent efforts to require electric heat pumps in new buildings were shelved amid legal concerns.

Climate

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has pledged — along with other governors — to quadruple the number of electric <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat pumps" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/03/02/washington-state-heat-pump-rules-electric" data-vars-content-id="27fa8817-a99d-409f-8c1e-3741c372a536" data-vars-headline="The challenge in mandating electric heating in Washington state" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/03/02/washington-state-heat-pump-rules-electric" target="_self">heat pumps</a> in U.S. homes by 2030, calling them &quot;almost a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="miraculous solution" data-vars-click-url="https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/efficient-heating-ac-units-initiative-by-2030/507-f1d08d4a-1d94-4cbd-a951-6f8c586fe92a" data-vars-content-id="27fa8817-a99d-409f-8c1e-3741c372a536" data-vars-headline="The challenge in mandating electric heating in Washington state" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/efficient-heating-ac-units-initiative-by-2030/507-f1d08d4a-1d94-4cbd-a951-6f8c586fe92a" target="_blank">miraculous solution</a>&quot; in the fight against climate change.<ul><li>But here in Washington, efforts to require heat pumps in new buildings have faced a bumpy road, in part due to legal concerns.</li></ul>

Illustration of fingers turning a knob with a superimposed Earth on the front, up towards a higher heat. 

El Niño may bring extreme weather to West Coast, models suggest

Here's what that could look like, based on what region you're in.

Climate models are suggesting that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="El Niño" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/17/el-nino-ciimate-change-extreme-weather" data-vars-content-id="7bd7609e-07d9-4a39-bb20-b71587b2103e" data-vars-headline="El Niño may bring extreme weather to West Coast, models suggest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/17/el-nino-ciimate-change-extreme-weather" target="_self">El Niño</a> could become a &quot;strong&quot; or even &quot;super&#x27;&#x27; strong event this winter, potentially bringing a wide range of extreme weather to the West Coast.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Never before" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/13/el-nino-extreme-weather-noaa" data-vars-content-id="7bd7609e-07d9-4a39-bb20-b71587b2103e" data-vars-headline="El Niño may bring extreme weather to West Coast, models suggest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/13/el-nino-extreme-weather-noaa" target="_self">Never before</a> have we gone into an El Niño event with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="global ocean" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/07/el-nino-oceans-extreme-weather" data-vars-content-id="7bd7609e-07d9-4a39-bb20-b71587b2103e" data-vars-headline="El Niño may bring extreme weather to West Coast, models suggest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/07/el-nino-oceans-extreme-weather" target="_self">global ocean</a> and air temperatures as high as they are now, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Daniel Swain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/@WeatherWest" data-vars-content-id="7bd7609e-07d9-4a39-bb20-b71587b2103e" data-vars-headline="El Niño may bring extreme weather to West Coast, models suggest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@WeatherWest" target="_blank">Daniel Swain</a>, a climate scientist at UCLA, told Axios.

Illustration of overlapping caution icons with exclamation points and severe weather imagery

Seattle just had its sixth-hottest summer on record

The city also got about half the usual amount of rain from June to August.

Seattle just saw its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sixth-hottest summer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/23/summer-2023-record-heat-map" data-vars-content-id="9341e520-bb2c-4fa1-a30d-f903b929166f" data-vars-headline="Seattle just had its sixth-hottest summer on record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/23/summer-2023-record-heat-map" target="_self">sixth-hottest summer</a> on record, according to data from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/city/time-series/USW00024233/tavg/3/8/1895-2023?base_prd=true&amp;begbaseyear=1981&amp;endbaseyear=2020" data-vars-content-id="9341e520-bb2c-4fa1-a30d-f903b929166f" data-vars-headline="Seattle just had its sixth-hottest summer on record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/city/time-series/USW00024233/tavg/3/8/1895-2023?base_prd=true&amp;begbaseyear=1981&amp;endbaseyear=2020" target="_blank">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>.Details: Between June and August, Seattle&#x27;s average temperatures were about 2.2°F higher than the average from 1981 to 2020, per NOAA.

Seattle residents asked to cut water use amid dry weather

Officials want people to stop watering their lawns and take shorter showers, even with rain in the forecast.

Seattle Public Utilities is asking the 1.5 million people it serves to reduce their water use, citing &quot;an unprecedented stretch of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dry weather" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/02/drier-summer-washington-wildfire" data-vars-content-id="3d522f94-4ed0-464f-b6ab-a8c752ebd1fd" data-vars-headline="Seattle residents asked to cut water use amid dry weather" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/02/drier-summer-washington-wildfire" target="_self">dry weather</a>&quot; that has drawn down local reservoirs.Driving the news: The utility, which provides water not just for Seattle but also surrounding communities, issued <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an advisory Thursday" data-vars-click-url="https://atyourservice.seattle.gov/2023/09/21/use-less-water-to-stretch-regions-water-supply/" data-vars-content-id="3d522f94-4ed0-464f-b6ab-a8c752ebd1fd" data-vars-headline="Seattle residents asked to cut water use amid dry weather" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://atyourservice.seattle.gov/2023/09/21/use-less-water-to-stretch-regions-water-supply/" target="_blank">an advisory Thursday</a> asking local residents to take shorter showers and stop watering their lawns, among other measures.

Illustration of a faucet with a drop of water with a sad face.

Climate risks worry home buyers, especially on the West Coast

More than 90% of buyers in Pacific states are considering risks like wildfires, heat waves or flooding.

Real Estate

Potential <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="climate disasters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/07/08/pacific-northwest-heat-wave-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="bd258915-ac37-47da-82f9-3705059a73fd" data-vars-headline="Climate risks worry home buyers, especially on the West Coast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/07/08/pacific-northwest-heat-wave-climate-change" target="_self">climate disasters</a> are a major worry for people buying homes in Washington, as well as elsewhere along the West Coast, according to new research from Zillow.Why it matters: Recent extreme weather events — from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat waves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/28/climate-change-heat-wave-northwest-warning-sign" data-vars-content-id="bd258915-ac37-47da-82f9-3705059a73fd" data-vars-headline="Climate risks worry home buyers, especially on the West Coast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/28/climate-change-heat-wave-northwest-warning-sign" target="_self">heat waves</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/wildfire-smokes-pacific-northwest-seattle-air-quality" data-vars-content-id="bd258915-ac37-47da-82f9-3705059a73fd" data-vars-headline="Climate risks worry home buyers, especially on the West Coast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/wildfire-smokes-pacific-northwest-seattle-air-quality" target="_self">wildfires</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heavy rain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/28/west-coast-flooding-atmospheric-rivers-power-outages" data-vars-content-id="bd258915-ac37-47da-82f9-3705059a73fd" data-vars-headline="Climate risks worry home buyers, especially on the West Coast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/28/west-coast-flooding-atmospheric-rivers-power-outages" target="_self">heavy rain</a> — are pushing more homebuyers to consider the effects of climate change when they search for a place, Manny Garcia, senior population scientist with Zillow, told Axios.

Illustration of a "For Sale" sign post flooded in water. 

Washington had some of the nation's worst power outages in 2021

That year was marked by an unprecedented heatwave.

Washington customers experienced some of the worst power outages in the country in 2021, a year marked by an extreme <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pacific Northwest heatwave" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/28/climate-change-heat-wave-northwest-warning-sign" data-vars-content-id="7bb080f4-4079-4060-af6b-0b2e1615f997" data-vars-headline="Washington had some of the nation&#x27;s worst power outages in 2021" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/28/climate-change-heat-wave-northwest-warning-sign" target="_self">Pacific Northwest heatwave</a>.By the numbers: The average Washington state electricity customer experienced about 8.8 hours of power outages in 2021 — up from about 4.4 hours in 2020 and more than triple the average from 2013.

People cause most of Washington's wildfires

State officials estimate between 85% and 90% of the state's wildfires in recent years were human-caused.

People caused the vast majority of wildfires in Washington state over the past three decades, and the trend shows no sign of letting up, according to national data and state officials.Why it matters: With climate change <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="increasing wildfire risk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/02/climate-change-wildfires-main-cause-us-west" data-vars-content-id="672fba81-8a36-4d66-b0c9-b1d9965dfacd" data-vars-headline="People cause most of Washington&#x27;s wildfires" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/02/climate-change-wildfires-main-cause-us-west" target="_self">increasing wildfire risk</a> throughout the West, human-caused fires can easily rage out of control, destroying buildings and threatening lives.

A map of Washington state depicting wildfire starts in orange if they were caused by humans, with Western Washington especially full of orange dots.

How to protect your plants from heat and smoke

Removing ash and providing shade can help ensure the health of your garden.

<figure><img alt="About eight ducks sit in a row on a green embankment on the edge of a lake, looking out into a distance that is hazy and smoky over the lake." height="2333" id="a648a276-b2f2-4c61-8ada-38e732e23b99" src="https://images.axios.com/iBGwP4ksDmjAyvUFk31eluJ7T10=/2023/08/15/1692128423387.jpg" width="3500"/><figcaption>Ducks sit next to Green Lake as smoke from wildfires fills the air in September 2020. Photo: Chona Kasinger/Bloomberg via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>While we can head inside, close the windows and use air purifiers to protect ourselves from wildfire smoke and scorching heat, our plants and trees don&#x27;t have that choice.Driving the news: Withering sun like what we&#x27;re <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="experiencing this week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/11/hazardous-heat-pacific-northwest-seattle-portland" data-vars-content-id="502ae33f-3054-4a9d-81a8-b9d69113a6b7" data-vars-headline="How to protect your plants from heat and smoke" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/11/hazardous-heat-pacific-northwest-seattle-portland" target="_self">experiencing this week</a> can burn plants, while smoke blocks sunlight and can clog the pores on leaves, journalist and Western director of Garden Communicators International Erica Browne Grivas tells Axios.

Eight birds sit on the edge of an embankment at the edge of a lake, with smoky skies in front of them.

Hazardous heat comes to the Pacific Northwest

Temperatures near 100 expected in Oregon and parts of Washington, says National Weather Service.

Potentially <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hazardous heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/21/extreme-heat-health-consequences" data-vars-content-id="463db01b-1b5d-441d-a707-53f1a50b9c7d" data-vars-headline="Hazardous heat comes to the Pacific Northwest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/21/extreme-heat-health-consequences" target="_self">hazardous heat</a> that could break daily records, with high temperatures in the 90s or even triple digits, is expected in the Pacific Northwest starting Sunday, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Weather Service" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/NWSWPC/status/1689365318148435970/photo/1" data-vars-content-id="463db01b-1b5d-441d-a707-53f1a50b9c7d" data-vars-headline="Hazardous heat comes to the Pacific Northwest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/NWSWPC/status/1689365318148435970/photo/1" target="_blank">National Weather Service</a> (NWS).Driving the news: An upper-level ridge of high pressure over western Washington and Oregon will likely continue to bring temperatures near or over 100 to the Portland and Vancouver area for the next several days, National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Reedy told Axios.

Illustration of the sun with rays coming out of it.

Seattle summers are almost 3°F warmer than in 1970

Last summer was the seventh hottest on record locally, on the heels of a deadly heat wave in 2021.

Wednesday&#x27;s somewhat mild weather on the first day of summer may not make Seattleites feel like they&#x27;re in for a hot one. Yet temperature data shows Seattle summers have trended warmer over the past 50 years.Driving the news: The city&#x27;s average summer temperatures increased by almost 3°F between 1970 and 2022, per a new<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2023-summer-package" data-vars-content-id="8451ed6b-cf2b-49f4-8a57-c24117aa4b85" data-vars-headline="Seattle summers are almost 3°F warmer than in 1970" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2023-summer-package" target="_blank"> analysis</a> by climate research group<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Climate Central" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/what-we-do" data-vars-content-id="8451ed6b-cf2b-49f4-8a57-c24117aa4b85" data-vars-headline="Seattle summers are almost 3°F warmer than in 1970" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/what-we-do" target="_blank"> Climate Central</a>.

A line chart showing increasing average summer temperatures in Seattle from 1970 to 2022, with the trend line at about 63 degrees Fahrenheit in 1970 compared to about 66 degrees Fahrenheit in 2022. 

George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress

The House is slated to vote to expel Santos on Friday.

Politics & Policy

Ahead of a vote that could make him the first House lawmaker to be expelled in more than 20 years, Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) is introducing an expulsion resolution on Thursday targeting a House lawmaker from his own state. Why it matters: Santos — who faces an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="uphill battle in a vote" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" target="_self">uphill battle in a vote</a> to remove him from office following a scathing House Ethics report — is seeking an expulsion vote on Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jamaal Bowman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" target="_self">Jamaal Bowman</a> (D-N.Y.), who pulled a fire alarm in one of the House office buildings.

George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers

Rep. Robert Garcia encouraged fellow Democrats to support Republicans' expulsion measure.

House Democrats and Republicans finally have something they agree on: booting Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" data-vars-content-id="4eec0a24-5338-46c4-8b6e-5526cda73c0f" data-vars-headline="George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) from Congress.Driving the news: In an email sent to Democratic congressional offices on Thursday, Rep. Robert Garcia&#x27;s (D-Calif.) office advocated for Republicans&#x27; resolution to expel the embattled Long Islander.

GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early

Multiple GOP lawmakers expect former House Speaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kevin McCarthy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" data-vars-content-id="dbdacc28-b2ed-40c2-a4cb-3bf4792a4d9b" data-vars-headline="GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" target="_self">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-Calif.) to step down from his seat before the end of the year, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The potential exit of McCarthy — who privately told donors he is looking to &quot;get the hell out,&quot; according to a source familiar with the conversation — could leave the House GOP with an even narrower majority.

Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social

Trump warned that his indictments have opened up a "very big and dangerous Pandora's Box."

Former President Trump has spent the last 24 hours on Truth Social unleashing a torrent of grievances, vengeful promises and links to online conspiracy theories about his political rivals.Why it matters: Trump&#x27;s online rhetoric has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="frequently dipped into violent extremism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" data-vars-content-id="4ce9173c-4439-425e-8986-ec54c92037e6" data-vars-headline="Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" target="_self">frequently dipped into violent extremism</a> since he left office, escalating as his legal troubles have mounted. Public fatigue and the pro-Trump echo chamber created by Truth Social have at times softened the shock value of the GOP front-runner&#x27;s daily musings.

Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote

Santos is the first Republican to be expelled from the House.

The House on Friday voted to expel Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) over his many fabrications on the 2022 campaign trail and his two federal indictments.Why it matters: The vote makes Santos just the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sixth lawmaker" data-vars-click-url="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" target="_blank">sixth lawmaker</a> – and first Republican – to be expelled from the House in U.S. history.

Climate 🌿