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King County officials propose $18.99 minimum wage

The higher hourly wage would be phased in over time for smaller employers.

Politics

Traces of fentanyl and meth linger on Seattle public transit, study finds

Samples from buses and trains in the Pacific Northwest almost all showed small traces of drugs.

News

From Seattle to Westminster Abbey, the Slow Flower movement grows

Connecting flower lovers to growers, florists and designers specializing in locally-grown blossoms.

Seattle-area hikes for kids

In addition to parks and preserves, some small cities and towns are built to explore by foot.

Things to Do

You can now order free COVID tests by mail again

COVID cases and hospitalizations increased over the summer in King County.

Free COVID-19 tests are again available by mail to households that request them, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="starting Monday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/20/covid-test-program-mail" data-vars-content-id="f348a489-4c1f-4366-b57e-d60fbff6f408" data-vars-headline="You can now order free COVID tests by mail again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/20/covid-test-program-mail" target="_self">starting Monday</a>.What&#x27;s happening: Households can order four free tests through <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVIDTests.gov" data-vars-click-url="https://www.covid.gov/tests" data-vars-content-id="f348a489-4c1f-4366-b57e-d60fbff6f408" data-vars-headline="You can now order free COVID tests by mail again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.covid.gov/tests" target="_blank">COVIDTests.gov</a>.

Illustration of a covid rapid test with a change symbol in the results panel

Clinical hypnosis study raises hopes for people with chronic pain

Researchers looked at the effect of clinical hypnosis in treating people with new spinal cord injuries.

Clinical hypnosis can <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reduce pain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/21/americas-problem-chronic-pain-addiction-crisis" data-vars-content-id="55c38c0f-d602-4bd8-8a05-5c1695ca9cae" data-vars-headline="Clinical hypnosis study raises hopes for people with chronic pain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/21/americas-problem-chronic-pain-addiction-crisis" target="_self">reduce pain</a> in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly 90% of people" data-vars-click-url="https://newsroom.uw.edu/news/hypnosis-shows-promise-ease-pain-spine-injuries" data-vars-content-id="55c38c0f-d602-4bd8-8a05-5c1695ca9cae" data-vars-headline="Clinical hypnosis study raises hopes for people with chronic pain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newsroom.uw.edu/news/hypnosis-shows-promise-ease-pain-spine-injuries" target="_blank">nearly 90% of people</a> with new spinal cord injuries, according to one University of Washington study, but the results have wider implications for all who suffer chronic pain.Why it matters: More than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="51 million people" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7215a1.htm" data-vars-content-id="55c38c0f-d602-4bd8-8a05-5c1695ca9cae" data-vars-headline="Clinical hypnosis study raises hopes for people with chronic pain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7215a1.htm" target="_blank">51 million people</a> — or about 20% of US adults — have chronic pain, and 17 million have pain that impedes their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Illustration of a collage of a person in profile talking, with neurons seen inside the head, and concentric circles emanating from the mouth.

Tacoma makes list of 15 happiest places to live in U.S.

The city's parks and breakfast spots were highlights for the folks at Outside Magazine.

It may surprise some old-school Seattleites who have long looked down on their neighbor to the south, but Tacoma has been named one the 15 happiest places to live in the country.What&#x27;s happening: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Outside Magazine" data-vars-click-url="https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/north-america/happiest-places-to-live-us/?utm_medium=organic-social&amp;fbclid=IwAR0wgffeBCQzBTKX_G91HpwCKhLZn2xnjYtmH1ZrVlMZlX44AxVOP8GwFLg_aem_AaP_53ajMbBH7eSIXXkJlEl8APElE66bbwJHNkfaJf1XCMnaV0DXozUCzJQqb5NMaq0&amp;utm_source=Outside%20Magazine-facebook&amp;mibextid=Zxz2cZ" data-vars-content-id="5a1991af-f8b3-4d45-8f0f-fc6be1990a6d" data-vars-headline="Tacoma makes list of 15 happiest places to live in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/north-america/happiest-places-to-live-us/?utm_medium=organic-social&amp;fbclid=IwAR0wgffeBCQzBTKX_G91HpwCKhLZn2xnjYtmH1ZrVlMZlX44AxVOP8GwFLg_aem_AaP_53ajMbBH7eSIXXkJlEl8APElE66bbwJHNkfaJf1XCMnaV0DXozUCzJQqb5NMaq0&amp;utm_source=Outside%20Magazine-facebook&amp;mibextid=Zxz2cZ" target="_blank">Outside Magazine</a> this week honored Tacoma as one of the country&#x27;s &quot;happiest towns.&quot;

Dune Peninsula adjacent to Point Defiance Park is shown in an aerial photo.

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.

Climate

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.

Giant spiders are on the move in Seattle

Best thing to do? Leave them alone and wave hello as they go by.

Take note Seattle <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="arachnophobes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/15/video-games-phobias" data-vars-content-id="c7ab2e71-d49f-4410-a05e-4ef9b452e99f" data-vars-headline="Giant spiders are on the move in Seattle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/15/video-games-phobias" target="_self">arachnophobes</a>: those <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spiders" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2022/03/09/giant-joro-spiders-east-coast-may" data-vars-content-id="c7ab2e71-d49f-4410-a05e-4ef9b452e99f" data-vars-headline="Giant spiders are on the move in Seattle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2022/03/09/giant-joro-spiders-east-coast-may" target="_self">spiders</a> you see running around in your house right now are year-round tenants.What&#x27;s happening: The giant house spider, or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Eratigena atrica" data-vars-click-url="https://spiderid.com/spider/agelenidae/eratigena/atrica/" data-vars-content-id="c7ab2e71-d49f-4410-a05e-4ef9b452e99f" data-vars-headline="Giant spiders are on the move in Seattle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://spiderid.com/spider/agelenidae/eratigena/atrica/" target="_blank">Eratigena atrica</a>, that is commonly found in Washington homes west of the Cascade Mountains reaches sexual maturity this time of year, Rod Crawford, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="curator of arachnids" data-vars-click-url="https://staff.washington.edu/tiso/" data-vars-content-id="c7ab2e71-d49f-4410-a05e-4ef9b452e99f" data-vars-headline="Giant spiders are on the move in Seattle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://staff.washington.edu/tiso/" target="_blank">curator of arachnids</a> at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Burke Museum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.burkemuseum.org/" data-vars-content-id="c7ab2e71-d49f-4410-a05e-4ef9b452e99f" data-vars-headline="Giant spiders are on the move in Seattle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.burkemuseum.org/" target="_blank">Burke Museum</a> in Seattle, told Axios this week.

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.

State officials say they need to hire dozens of workers to avoid months-long delays in getting people paid family leave benefits.What&#x27;s happening: Since Washington launched its paid family and medical leave program in 2020, the state Employment Security Department has had trouble meeting its initial goal of processing applications in two weeks, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Washington State Standard reports" data-vars-click-url="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/09/19/as-paid-family-leave-claims-rise-in-washington-the-wait-for-benefits-gets-longer/" data-vars-content-id="76f85c08-2128-44f4-8f99-67682367f400" data-vars-headline="Washington&#x27;s paid family leave program could see more delays" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/09/19/as-paid-family-leave-claims-rise-in-washington-the-wait-for-benefits-gets-longer/" target="_blank">Washington State Standard reports</a>.

Illustration of a stroller with a "help wanted" sign hanging from the push handle. 

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.

It&#x27;s hard to plan a tsunami evacuation route if you don&#x27;t know the size of the wave you&#x27;re dealing with, or to design an earthquake-proof bridge when you don&#x27;t know how long the shaking could last.What&#x27;s happening: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new research center" data-vars-click-url="https://uonews.uoregon.edu/uo-lead-new-earthquake-research-center" data-vars-content-id="a2132a15-37e7-4df8-be3b-119030623d47" data-vars-headline="How earthquake research can help save the PNW from &quot;The Big One&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://uonews.uoregon.edu/uo-lead-new-earthquake-research-center" target="_blank">new research center</a> in the Pacific Northwest aims to answer those questions and others, to help the region prepare for a possible magnitude 9 earthquake that is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="predicted to happen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/03/01/disaster-infrastructure-pandemic" data-vars-content-id="a2132a15-37e7-4df8-be3b-119030623d47" data-vars-headline="How earthquake research can help save the PNW from &quot;The Big One&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/03/01/disaster-infrastructure-pandemic" target="_self">predicted to happen</a> along the West Coast sometime in the future.

 A map showing the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle City Council passes plan for prosecuting drug use

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

The Seattle City Council has passed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an ordinance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/03/seattle-drug-use-prosecution-proposal" data-vars-content-id="5948780e-a2c7-485b-99d2-4cbb1786115f" data-vars-headline="Seattle City Council passes plan for prosecuting drug use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/08/03/seattle-drug-use-prosecution-proposal" target="_self">an ordinance</a> that will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="allow the city attorney" data-vars-click-url="https://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6315522&amp;GUID=989F68B7-7761-4BDF-9998-7598270AA166" data-vars-content-id="5948780e-a2c7-485b-99d2-4cbb1786115f" data-vars-headline="Seattle City Council passes plan for prosecuting drug use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6315522&amp;GUID=989F68B7-7761-4BDF-9998-7598270AA166" target="_blank">allow the city attorney</a> to prosecute people for knowing possession of drugs and public use of illegal drugs.Why it matters: This gives the city prosecutorial authority over these kinds of drug crimes for the first time in Seattle&#x27;s history. Previously, they were sent to the county prosecutor.

Illustration of Seattle City Hall with lines emanating from it. 

Seattle's disappearing neon history

LED lights and plastic tubing contributed to its decline, but neon is enjoying a renaissance.

Seattle is believed to have one of the best collections of historic and contemporary <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="neon signs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/07/20/chicago-vintage-sign-ordinance" data-vars-content-id="370f5f34-eaa6-4e30-9ebb-2e23ffb836f5" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s disappearing neon history" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/07/20/chicago-vintage-sign-ordinance" target="_self">neon signs</a> in the country but that heritage is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fast disappearing" data-vars-click-url="https://crosscut.com/2019/09/neon-symbol-seattles-past-what-will-illuminate-its-future" data-vars-content-id="370f5f34-eaa6-4e30-9ebb-2e23ffb836f5" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s disappearing neon history" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crosscut.com/2019/09/neon-symbol-seattles-past-what-will-illuminate-its-future" target="_blank">fast disappearing</a>.Why it matters: While Seattle&#x27;s not known for neon the way cities like Singapore and Las Vegas are, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city&#x27;s collection is recognized" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/why-neon-lights-are-glowing-again-across-the-us" data-vars-content-id="370f5f34-eaa6-4e30-9ebb-2e23ffb836f5" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s disappearing neon history" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/why-neon-lights-are-glowing-again-across-the-us" target="_blank">city&#x27;s collection is recognized</a> as important due in part to the influence of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="early neon artist Bea Haverfield." data-vars-click-url="https://mynorthwest.com/1702575/seattle-neon-signs-bea-haverfield/" data-vars-content-id="370f5f34-eaa6-4e30-9ebb-2e23ffb836f5" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s disappearing neon history" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/1702575/seattle-neon-signs-bea-haverfield/" target="_blank">early neon artist Bea Haverfield.</a>

Trial to begin of 3 officers charged in Manny Ellis killing

The three officers are the first to go to trial under a new state law that makes it easier easier to prosecute police accused of wrongfully using deadly force.

A five-year-old Washington state law that makes it easier to prosecute police accused of wrongfully using deadly force is getting its first test, as the trial begins Monday for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="three officers charged" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/27/manuel-ellis-tacoma-police-murder-charges" data-vars-content-id="fca5128d-d6e9-4e39-82cd-a05856f33f6d" data-vars-headline="Trial to begin of 3 officers charged in Manny Ellis killing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/27/manuel-ellis-tacoma-police-murder-charges" target="_self">three officers charged</a> in connection with the killing of Manuel Ellis in Tacoma.Why it matters: Only four officers to date have been criminally charged under Washington&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2018 voter-approved law" data-vars-click-url="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/initiative-940-modifying-law-regulating-police-use-of-deadly-force-holds-strong-lead-in-tuesdays-returns/" data-vars-content-id="fca5128d-d6e9-4e39-82cd-a05856f33f6d" data-vars-headline="Trial to begin of 3 officers charged in Manny Ellis killing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/initiative-940-modifying-law-regulating-police-use-of-deadly-force-holds-strong-lead-in-tuesdays-returns/" target="_blank">2018 voter-approved law</a>, which revised an earlier state statute that made it <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="almost impossible" data-vars-click-url="https://projects.seattletimes.com/2015/killed-by-police/" data-vars-content-id="fca5128d-d6e9-4e39-82cd-a05856f33f6d" data-vars-headline="Trial to begin of 3 officers charged in Manny Ellis killing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://projects.seattletimes.com/2015/killed-by-police/" target="_blank">almost impossible</a> to criminally charge police who kill in the line of duty.

Candles surround a sign that says #Justice4Manny, with flowers.

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