It's Tuesday. Nothing about this deserves an exclamation mark.

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Today's newsletter is 993 words, a 3.5-minute read.

Sound Transit's light rail line over Lake Washington appears to be killing fish, despite the agency's efforts to prevent that outcome.

The big picture: Constructing light rail along the Interstate 90 floating bridge was considered a major feat of engineering — but it may have come with some unwanted side effects.

State of play: An estimated 2,000 fish have died near the bridge since early August, when Sound Transit first learned about the issue, Sound Transit spokesperson Rachelle Cunningham wrote in an email to Axios.

Zoom in: The fish deaths appeared to be concentrated near anode strings that hang from the bridge, Cunningham said.

• Those strings are part of a cathodic protection system that manages low-level electrical current from the bridge and the light rail system.
• Similar systems are used on bridges "both locally and throughout the world" without hurting fish populations, Cunningham wrote
• Late last month, the agency raised several anode strings that had been touching the lake bottom, "which we believe addresses the issue," she added.

Yes, but: That was only a first step, the agency says.

• "We don't yet know why or how the cables touching the lakebed could have impacted the fish — that's still being investigated," Cunningham told Axios.
• The bridge poses no risk to the public, state transportation secretary Julie Meredith said Thursday, according to KOMO.

Context: Protecting fish from electrical current was among the technical requirements Sound Transit considered while designing the cross-lake light rail line, the Seattle Times reported.

• Sound Transit said in planning documents that stray current from light rail would not have a significant effect on fish, per the Times.

What's next: Sound Transit is continuing to monitor the area around the bridge and hopes to "begin implementing a permanent solution" in the coming weeks, Cunningham wrote.

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I got to Rolled Flour about 10 minutes after it opened Friday, and the line to buy its cinnamon rolls already stretched down the block.

Someone behind me pulled out their phone and began playing the "Saturday Night Live" skit "Big Dumb Line," which skewers scenes like this.

• We stayed anyway, committed to the quest.

What to expect: Rolled Flour has been drawing crowds since opening a pop-up window last month inside Miero Coffee Bar in the International District.

• The bakery serves soft milk bread cinnamon rolls with rotating flavors, which this month include Biscoff cookie butter, apple cider and maple chai. (They also have a classic version.)

But is this spot worth the hype — and the hour you may spend in line?

• I wasn't sure until I got the apple cider sticky bun home and sliced into it with my fork. It was gooey, nicely spiced and not as heavy as its frosting-laden siblings.
• After testing each variety, this is the one I completely devoured.

The bottom line: Go with a group of friends and be prepared to wait.

• You'll likely leave pretty happy — although the cinnamon rolls you were eying for breakfast might end up being eaten at lunchtime instead.

Stop by: 665 South King St. (inside Miero Coffee Bar).

• Friday through Sunday, 10am to 2pm (or until they sell out).

Tell a foodie

🏙️ A record 44% of Seattle households are now just one person, squeezing the city's housing supply even as population growth slows. (Seattle Times)

⚾️ Bryan Woo threw a career-high eight scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out nine as the Mariners beat the A's 2-0 Sunday. (MLB)

🏘️ Pallet Shelter, which manufactured the 75 tiny shelter units at Seattle's newly opened Interbay site, abruptly shut down Friday. (PubliCola)

The University of Washington will pay $600,000 to settle a four-year First Amendment fight with a computer science professor who parodied the school's Indigenous land acknowledgment practices.

Why it matters: The settlement ends a closely watched academic free speech case and follows a 9th U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that UW violated professor Stuart Reges' First Amendment rights.

What they're saying: "I find it absurd that the university can't come up with anything they might have done wrong," Reges told Axios Friday.

• He pointed to UW's claim that his conduct had driven a student to leave the university. The appeals court said the student apparently didn't exist and accused UW of relying on "phantom evidence of disruption."
• UW told GeekWire it acted appropriately and said the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing.

Catch up quick: The dispute began in 2022 after UW's Allen School encouraged faculty to include a land acknowledgment in their syllabi.

• Reges instead wrote: "I acknowledge that by the labor theory of property the Coast Salish people can claim historical ownership of almost none of the land currently occupied by the University of Washington."
• After students complained, UW removed the statement from Reges' online syllabus and opened an investigation.

The bottom line: Under the settlement, UW will pay $600,000 in damages, attorneys' fees and costs.

• UW also agreed "in perpetuity" not to remove the parody from Reges' syllabi.

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That splash of color in Denny Triangle we asked you about last week is Fantasy Unlimited, the adult shop at that feels increasingly like a holdout from another Seattle.

Why we love it: Readers remembered it as a remnant of the neighborhood before the towers moved in, as well as a place to find cute club clothes back in the day.

Fun fact: The 1924 building last sold in 1985 for $538,400.

💚 Clarridge is looking back on a pretty perfect summer.

Melissa is basically made of cinnamon rolls now, after sampling so many over the weekend.

This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz.