​Seattle's love affair with pickleball has hit a snag as a city plan to build new courts faces pushback from environmental groups and neighbors worried about noise and potential harm to wildlife.

Why it matters: The debate over courts at Magnuson Park is part of a broader challenge cities face as parks and other public agencies work to balance recreation and conservation priorities.

What's happening: Seattle Parks and Recreation is proposing to build the courts at the Children's Hospital park-and-pool lot north of NE 65th St. — near restored wetlands — by the end of next year.

• The initial plan covers the planning, design and construction of eight to 10 lighted courts, according to the parks department.
• Plans call for expanding to 25 courts if additional funding becomes available.

Friction point: Some local residents and environmental groups, notably Birds Connect Seattle, argue that the proposed pickleball courts threaten a key urban habitat.

• The 30-acre restored wetlands, one of Seattle's largest freshwater habitats, support more than 100 native species.
• The bird advocacy group warns pickleball's distinctive pop sound, which can reach up to 120 decibels courtside, threatens the park's tranquility and wildlife.

What they're saying: "Pickleball is famously noisy and we are hoping the city finds a more suitable location that protects taxpayer investment and habitat," Joshua Morris, urban conservation manager for Birds Connect Seattle, told Axios.

The other side: Pickleball is booming in Seattle, and after years of studies, Magnuson Park was deemed the best spot for dedicated courts to meet demand, parks spokesperson Karen O'Connor told Axios via email.

Fun fact: Pickleball, which was invented on Bainbridge Island in 1965, is Washington's official state sport.

Flashback: An earlier Seattle Parks and Recreation proposal to convert disused tennis courts in Lincoln Park into six pickleball courts was halted due to community opposition.​

• Just like at Magnuson, residents and conservationists argued that the noise from pickleball would disrupt the park's natural habitat, which supports over 160 bird species.

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King County prosecutors want state legislators to tweak how Washington defines a hate crime, which they say would make the anti-bias law easier to enforce.

Why it matters: Local prosecutors say that they've struggled to get a conviction in some cases that involve racial or anti-LGBTQ bias simply because the perpetrators may have had other motives, too.

What they're saying: "Jurors are interpreting the law to require that a defendant's bias be the only motive," Yessenia Manzo, a prosecutor who handles hate crimes in the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, told a panel of state senators this month.

• That's a problem "because most hate crimes are mixed-motive," Manzo said.
• Even in cases where bias is the driving factor, "every defendant comes up with some sort of other excuse for their violence," Manzo told members of the state Senate Law & Justice Committee during a public hearing last week.

The latest: House Bill 1052 would amend state law so a hate crime wouldn't be defined as a crime committed "because of" a victim's race or identity, but "in whole or in part because of" such factors.

• The bill, which the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is supporting, passed out of the Senate committee yesterday.

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⛹️‍♂️ The Gonzaga men's basketball team is advancing in the NCAA tournament, after defeating Georgia 89-68 in the first round. (KXLY)

⛹️‍♀️ The University of Washington women's basketball team, however, lost its First Four game against Columbia yesterday 63-60, ending the Huskies' tournament run. (AP)

Ralph Munro, Washington's longest serving secretary of state, died yesterday at 81. (Washington State Standard)

💰 Democrats in the state Senate are proposing new taxes on the wealthy and large corporations as part of their strategy to address a multibillion-dollar state budget shortfall. (KING 5)

💸 The sale of the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion clears a key hurdle for NBA expansion, with Seattle and Las Vegas as the top contenders for a potential new basketball team. (Seattle Times)

The most wish-listed Airbnb escape in Washington state is a hilltop retreat with sweeping views of mountains and the Columbia River, the company tells Axios.

The intrigue: The open-concept home, designed for two guests, is surrounded by windows and features a hot tub where you can watch the sun descend.

• Guests can explore wild trekking paths in spring and summer or snowshoe through the hills in winter, per the listing.
• Despite the property's secluded feel, the historic town of Waterville is just 15 minutes away, with Wenatchee, Chelan, and Leavenworth all within an hour's drive.

Yes, but: The villa is accessible by most cars in warmer months, but from November through March, four-wheel or all-wheel drive is required due to snow.

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📡 Get these events on your radar.

Pearl Gala, Anniversary + Auction at Grand Hyatt Seattle on April 26: Join the Alliance for Education for a joyful evening to reflect on 30 years of community partnership and care, celebrate the current excellence across our school district, and raise funds to further our mission of advancing racial equity and educational justice for Seattle Public Schools students.

Promoting your event? Email [email protected].

Statewide, Washington has only had one team make it to the Final Four in the NCAA women's basketball tournament, according to data from sports-reference.com.

• That was the University of Washington women's team in the 2015-16 season.

Go deeper: Which states have the most Final Four appearances