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New Seahawks owner on moving the team: "Never say never"

The Seahawks' Lumen Field lease runs through 2032, with renewal options extending through 2062.

News

New Seahawks owner <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Vinod Khosla" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/08/27/seahawks-sale-khosla-family-9-billion-allen-ownership" data-vars-content-id="fa0271b9-06eb-4d59-a1ec-17e911e74094" data-vars-headline="New Seahawks owner on moving the team: &quot;Never say never&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/08/27/seahawks-sale-khosla-family-9-billion-allen-ownership" target="_self">Vinod Khosla</a> told Axios this week that he has no plans to move the team out of Seattle — but he &quot;will never say never.&quot; Why it matters: Seattleites, who are still stinging over the loss of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sonics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/03/26/seattle-officials-cheer-potential-return-of-sonics" data-vars-content-id="fa0271b9-06eb-4d59-a1ec-17e911e74094" data-vars-headline="New Seahawks owner on moving the team: &quot;Never say never&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/03/26/seattle-officials-cheer-potential-return-of-sonics" target="_self">Sonics</a> nearly 20 years ago, have a strong interest in keeping the reigning <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Super Bowl champs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/02/09/super-bowl-lx-results-seahawks-patriots" data-vars-content-id="fa0271b9-06eb-4d59-a1ec-17e911e74094" data-vars-headline="New Seahawks owner on moving the team: &quot;Never say never&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/02/09/super-bowl-lx-results-seahawks-patriots" target="_self">Super Bowl champs</a> in town.

Washington's sick season appears to be starting early

ER visits are climbing as flu spreads early and Seattle wastewater shows high COVID activity.

Health

Winter may be months away, but cold season in Washington doesn&#x27;t seem to be waiting.Driving the news: Emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses are rising as October begins, while COVID is also showing up increasingly in wastewater and hospitals, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state data" data-vars-click-url="https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statistical-reports/diseases-and-chronic-conditions/communicable-disease-surveillance-data/respiratory-illness-data-dashboard" data-vars-content-id="4656f36a-ef1f-45c1-8443-9b5c5d769aff" data-vars-headline="Washington&#x27;s sick season appears to be starting early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statistical-reports/diseases-and-chronic-conditions/communicable-disease-surveillance-data/respiratory-illness-data-dashboard" target="_blank">state data</a>.

UW fentanyl vaccine moves closer to human testing

Researchers are preparing for human trials after years of work on the experimental vaccine.

University of Washington researchers are closing in on a vaccine that could help prevent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fentanyl overdoses" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/05/30/fentanyl-overdoses-rise-portland-oregon" data-vars-content-id="4f39f9aa-2b80-454b-8249-0dd92987ba85" data-vars-headline="UW fentanyl vaccine moves closer to human testing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/05/30/fentanyl-overdoses-rise-portland-oregon" target="_self">fentanyl overdoses</a> by teaching the immune system to stop the drug before it reaches the brain. Why it matters: Washington has been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hit hard" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/09/27/opioid-overdoses-washington-king-county" data-vars-content-id="4f39f9aa-2b80-454b-8249-0dd92987ba85" data-vars-headline="UW fentanyl vaccine moves closer to human testing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/09/27/opioid-overdoses-washington-king-county" target="_self">hit hard</a> by the fentanyl crisis in recent years. And though overdose deaths involving the drug <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="have fallen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/05/16/washington-overdose-deaths-decline-2024" data-vars-content-id="4f39f9aa-2b80-454b-8249-0dd92987ba85" data-vars-headline="UW fentanyl vaccine moves closer to human testing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/05/16/washington-overdose-deaths-decline-2024" target="_self">have fallen</a> since 2023, they <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="remain" data-vars-click-url="https://adai.uw.edu/wadata/major_drug_deaths.htm" data-vars-content-id="4f39f9aa-2b80-454b-8249-0dd92987ba85" data-vars-headline="UW fentanyl vaccine moves closer to human testing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://adai.uw.edu/wadata/major_drug_deaths.htm" target="_blank">remain</a> well above pre-pandemic levels.

Washington ranks third in U.S. for library checkouts

Library checkouts in Washington remain far above the national average.

In case you needed more evidence that we&#x27;re a state full of bookworms: Washington ranks third in the nation for public library checkouts per person, federal data shows.Why it matters: Libraries remain a heavily used public resource in Washington, whether readers are borrowing from shelves or screens.

Seattle's most checked-out library books so far in 2026

"Heated Rivalry" leads Seattle's library rankings with more than 8,600 digital checkouts in 2026.

Below are the most popular titles checked out from the Seattle Public Library from January to August.All were e-books or electronic audiobooks, reflecting the increased popularity of digital borrowing.

13 of 18 Washington ferries sidelined after workers call out sick

Several major Puget Sound routes stopped running Monday, upending commutes and travel plans.

Most of the Washington State Ferries fleet was out of service Monday after engine-room workers called in sick, canceling sailings across the system, state officials said.Why it matters: With 13 of the state&#x27;s 18 ferries out of service, the disruptions left some routes at a standstill and upended commutes, appointments and other travel plans.

Seattle's peak fall colors may not arrive until November

Explore Fall puts Seattle's peak at Nov. 1–7, after leaves are expected to crest elsewhere nearby.

Fall has arrived in Seattle, but peak displays of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="autumn leaves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/26/fall-foliage-mapped-peak-colors-2026" data-vars-content-id="80c4e6b6-8ce5-40fd-b681-192d7696ea59" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s peak fall colors may not arrive until November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/26/fall-foliage-mapped-peak-colors-2026" target="_self">autumn leaves</a> aren&#x27;t expected here just yet.The big picture: Seattle is expected to see its most vibrant foliage <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nov. 1–7," data-vars-click-url="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-forecast?place=Seattle%2C+WA&amp;lat=47.60323&amp;lon=-122.33028" data-vars-content-id="80c4e6b6-8ce5-40fd-b681-192d7696ea59" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s peak fall colors may not arrive until November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-forecast?place=Seattle%2C+WA&amp;lat=47.60323&amp;lon=-122.33028" target="_blank">Nov. 1–7,</a> a bit later than most of the country, according to a map on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Explore Fall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" data-vars-content-id="80c4e6b6-8ce5-40fd-b681-192d7696ea59" data-vars-headline="Seattle&#x27;s peak fall colors may not arrive until November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" target="_blank">Explore Fall</a>.

Seattleites walk and bike less than you might think

Seattleites bike the national average of 23 miles a year and walk only slightly more than average.

Seattle may be an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="especially fit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/09/29/seattle-fitness-index-parks-health-ranking-2026" data-vars-content-id="efd1cae1-ace8-4faa-8e8a-411d2bc5d7ba" data-vars-headline="Seattleites walk and bike less than you might think" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/09/29/seattle-fitness-index-parks-health-ranking-2026" target="_self">especially fit</a> city — but the average resident isn&#x27;t logging huge numbers of miles on foot or by bike, a new analysis finds. By the numbers: Seattle ranked 42nd among 100 large cities for miles biked per resident, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="StreetLight" data-vars-click-url=" https://learn.streetlightdata.com/measuring-walking-and-biking-miles-traveled-ebook" data-vars-content-id="efd1cae1-ace8-4faa-8e8a-411d2bc5d7ba" data-vars-headline="Seattleites walk and bike less than you might think" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href=" https://learn.streetlightdata.com/measuring-walking-and-biking-miles-traveled-ebook" target="_blank">StreetLight</a>, a transportation data firm.<ul><li>Seattle residents bike an average of 23 miles a year, exactly the same as the national average. </li></ul>

Seattle ranks No. 4 among America's fittest cities

Seattle's parks, recreation access and residents' health helped put the city near the top.

Seattle ranks among America&#x27;s fittest cities, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="latest report" data-vars-click-url="https://acsm.org/american-fitness-index-rankings-2026/" data-vars-content-id="0a684bc5-4556-48d9-b4f6-45920ce7bdb8" data-vars-headline="Seattle ranks No. 4 among America&#x27;s fittest cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://acsm.org/american-fitness-index-rankings-2026/" target="_blank">latest report</a> from the American College of Sports Medicine and the Elevance Health Foundation.The big picture: The rankings assess parks and recreation infrastructure, environmental conditions, residents&#x27; health indicators and other factors across the nation&#x27;s 100 biggest cities. <ul><li>Seattle came in at No. 4, </li></ul>

Seattle targets "AI-assisted price gouging" at grocery stores

The rules bar grocers from using personal data to charge different prices — a 1st for a U.S. city.

Seattle is set to become the first U.S. city to ban <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grocery stores" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/01/27/inside-seattles-grocery-price-spike" data-vars-content-id="53453252-f4d8-4d67-ae2d-cf744a68e5f1" data-vars-headline="Seattle targets &quot;AI-assisted price gouging&quot; at grocery stores" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2026/01/27/inside-seattles-grocery-price-spike" target="_self">grocery stores</a> from using personal data to charge customers different prices for the same items, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Consumer Reports" data-vars-click-url="https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/seattle-city-council-votes-to-ban-surveillance-pricing-in-sale-of-groceries/" data-vars-content-id="53453252-f4d8-4d67-ae2d-cf744a68e5f1" data-vars-headline="Seattle targets &quot;AI-assisted price gouging&quot; at grocery stores" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/seattle-city-council-votes-to-ban-surveillance-pricing-in-sale-of-groceries/" target="_blank">Consumer Reports</a>.Why it matters: Supporters of the ban say companies are using algorithms to charge shoppers different prices, driving up costs for some without their knowledge.<ul><li>Opponents argue the new rules will keep retailers from offering individually tailored discounts.</li></ul>

Sea-Tac makes biggest jump in airport satisfaction rankings

Sea-Tac rose from 17th to 11th among mega airports as travelers gave its terminals and dining higher marks.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has improved the most among the nation&#x27;s largest airports, according to J.D. Power&#x27;s latest rankings.Why it matters: Sea-Tac&#x27;s jump in customer satisfaction comes after years of construction projects throughout the airport.

News 🗞

Seattle's most checked-out library books so far in 2026

13 of 18 Washington ferries sidelined after workers call out sick

Seattle's peak fall colors may not arrive until November

UW fentanyl vaccine moves closer to human testing

New Seahawks owner on moving the team: "Never say never"