Axios Seattle

May 13, 2026
It's Wednesday! We're back to being our damp, mossy selves today, with yesterday's heat nowhere to be found.
🌧️ Today's weather: Rain, with a high of 62 and a low of 51.
Today's newsletter is 677 words, a 2.5-minute read.
1 big thing: 🚔 Officers lag on training
Most Washington police officers have yet to complete required deescalation and cultural awareness training, according to a new state audit.
Why it matters: The training is required by Initiative 940, a police accountability law Washington voters approved in 2018.
- The law's stated intent is to reduce officer uses of force and improve trust between police and communities.
By the numbers: Only 14% of new officers and 16% of veteran officers had finished the mandatory 40 hours of continuing training as of last May, the most recent data analyzed by the State Auditor's Office shows.
- New officers must complete the training within three years of graduating from the police academy, while officers who graduated before May 2020 have until 2028 to comply.
What they're saying: "We found that, for the most part, officers in the state are not meeting the requirements established in state law," according to the audit, which was released last month.
- At the current rate, about half of all officers will not complete the required patrol tactics training by 2028, the audit states.
Catch up quick: The training includes 24 hours of patrol tactics lessons, plus 16 hours of cultural awareness courses.
- The cultural courses are mostly online and self-guided, covering topics such as mass incarceration and the intersection of race and policing.
Zoom in: Seattle's completion rates are stronger than the statewide average, though the department still has gaps.
- About 93% of Seattle police officers had completed the required patrol tactics training as of last year, department spokesperson Patrick Michaud told Axios. SPD offered the three-day course through its own training division.
- But only 534 of the department's 969 sworn officers — about 55% — had completed one or more cultural awareness courses, Michaud said. He did not specify how many officers had fully completed that requirement.
What's next: The audit recommends the Legislature convene a working group to address compliance and clarify consequences for agencies and officers that don't meet the requirements.
- The group should also explore funding options to help agencies send officers to training, the audit says.
2. ⏱️ Amazon escalates retail speed war
Amazon is pushing deeper into "instant retail" with a new 30-minute delivery service, escalating its speed race with Walmart, Target and delivery apps.
Driving the news: Amazon said this week it's expanding "Amazon Now," offering thousands of groceries, household essentials and other items across dozens of U.S. cities.
- The service is widely available here and in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Philadelphia, with expansion underway in cities including Austin, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Oklahoma City and Phoenix.
The big picture: The push reflects a broader shift toward "instant commerce," where retailers and delivery platforms increasingly aim to get an item to shoppers faster than they could go get it themselves.
3. Morning Buzz: 🦠 Possible hantavirus exposures
Three King County residents are being monitored for hantavirus after potential exposure linked to a cruise ship outbreak, though none have tested positive and officials say the public is not at risk. (KIRO 7)
🏕️ Washington's Department of Natural Resources is asking campers for patience this season as budget cuts strain staffing and services at public lands. (KUOW)
🗳️ Opponents of Washington's newly passed income tax announced yesterday that they'll try to repeal the tax through a citizen ballot measure this November.
- They'll need to gather 308,911 valid voter signatures by July 2 to get the measure on the ballot. (Seattle Times)
4. 🍜 Noteworthy pho
I've been a fan of Phở Bắc Sup Shop for years.
- But somehow I hadn't ever ordered their beef rib pho (pictured above) until this past weekend.
🍲 Go try it if eating meat off giant rib bones sounds like your idea of a perfect lunch.
🧳 Clarridge has switched countries and is now is fighting against the wind in Iceland.
🛁 Melissa is puzzled by her older child's sudden aversion to eating and other basic aspects of life.
This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz.
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