🗓️ Happy Monday. How can it be November already?

⛅ Today's weather: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

🍂 Situational awareness: Seattle transportation officials are asking residents to clear fallen leaves from sidewalks and storm drains to help prevent flooding and falls.

Today’s newsletter is 1,004 words — a 4-minute read.

Seattle Public Schools is considering merging as many as 21 schools across the city.

Why it matters: The potential mergers could force students to change schools, disrupt neighborhood school communities and reshape access to educational programs across the district.

State of play: The district is grappling with declining enrollment and a persistent budget crisis that forced it to make cuts and tap reserves to close an $87 million shortfall for the 2026-27 school year.

• "Everything has to be on the table," Superintendent Ben Shuldiner told KIRO Newsradio in May.

Zoom in: The district confirmed to KUOW that the following schools are being considered for mergers, with each line showing which schools could be combined:

• Licton Springs K-8 School/Salmon Bay K-8 School
• Sacajawea Elementary School/John Rogers Elementary School
• Rainier View Elementary School/Rising Star Elementary School
• John Hay Elementary School/Queen Anne Elementary School
• Stevens Elementary School/Montlake Elementary School
• Orca K-8 School/MLK Jr. Elementary School/Mercer International Middle School
• Decatur Elementary School/View Ridge Elementary School
• Sanislo Elementary/Highland Park Elementary School
• Sand Point Elementary School/Laurelhurst Elementary School
• Cedar Park Elementary School/James Baldwin Elementary School

Driving the news: Shuldiner outlined the merger process in a letter to families last week, saying the district hopes to improve educational opportunities by combining smaller schools.

• The district says consolidating schools could reduce split-grade classrooms, improve learning spaces and give more students access to specialist teachers.

Catch up quick: In 2024, the district proposed closing as many as 21 schools to help address a projected $94 million budget deficit.

• After widespread opposition, officials scaled the plan back to four schools before abandoning it altogether.
• Three of those four schools — Sacajawea, Sanislo and Stevens — are again being considered for mergers.

What they're saying: Parents are expressing mixed reactions, from frustration to acceptance.

What's next: Staff and family meetings will run through December, followed by public hearings in January and February with the School Board potentially voting by early March.

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The Democrat who flipped Washington's 3rd Congressional District blue four years ago faces a different kind of challenger this year: A more moderate Republican than the far-right candidate she defeated twice.

Why it matters: U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has been held up as a model for Democrats trying to win in Trump-voting districts. But her race this year against state Senate Minority Leader John Braun (R-Centralia) puts her political approach to a new test.

• The contest in the Southwest Washington swing district is one of about 50 races that are expected to determine control of the U.S. House.

Flashback: In 2022 and 2024, Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Skamania County) defeated Republican candidate Joe Kent, who had claimed without evidence that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged and stolen."

• Kent also characterized the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as "an intelligence operation" and the defendants being held in connection to it as "political prisoners."

What they're saying: By contrast, Braun — a 13-year-veteran of the state Legislature and president of an ambulance manufacturing company — has painted himself as a Republican in a more traditional mold.

• On the campaign trail, he's expressed support for lower taxes, while disagreeing with Trump's tariff policies and questioning some of the administration's recent immigration enforcement actions.

The other side: Gluesenkamp Perez, who ran an auto shop with her husband before heading to Congress, has attacked Braun for supporting H.R. 1, which cut Medicaid spending in part by imposing new work requirements.

• She's touted herself as an independent voice for the district while breaking with Democrats on several key issues in Congress, including by opposing President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan.

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⚽ Seattle Reign FC clinched a playoff berth with a 1-0 win over Orlando Pride, giving Jess Fishlock a triumphant sendoff in her final regular-season home match. (Seattle Times)

🏘️ Seattle's largest tiny house village opened in South Park, with 90 units housing about 100 people as part of the city's push to expand shelter for people experiencing homelessness. (The Urbanist)

🎓 The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Seattle University after a complaint from a conservative advocacy group alleging three scholarship and fellowship programs unlawfully favor students from underrepresented groups. (KING 5)

✈️ Alaska Air Group says it will cut 125 jobs in Washington. (KIRO 7)

Amazon shares fell sharply in extended trading last week after it reported plummeting free cash flow tied to its heavy investments in AI.

Why it matters: Investors are scrutinizing the heavy costs of AI infrastructure investments.

Driving the news: Amazon reported Thursday that its free cash flow was negative $42.4 billion over the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2026, compared with a positive $14.8 billion in the year ended Sept. 30, 2025.

• The company attributed the swing primarily to a $94.8 billion increase in purchases of property and equipment connected to its AI investments.

The impact: Amazon shares were down 6.5% in after-hours trading.

Yes, but: Demand for its cloud services remains strong: AWS' backlog of contracted business has grown to $578 billion, CEO Andy Jassy said Thursday.

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🗳️ Your local reporters are working to help you understand the races, candidates and issues shaping your community.

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The sweet smell of winning? Washington's Lottery has rolled out a $5 scratch ticket that smells like hot chocolate.

The snowman-themed Warm Winter Wishes Tripler is one of five new holiday games, with 15 chances to win and a top prize of $50,000.

Just don't try drinking them!

🍕 Melissa is thinking about what pizza to order tomorrow night.

🧤 Clarridge is clearing out gutters and drains.

This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz.