News
Tax on Short-Term Rentals like Airbnb Again Under Discussion
In Washington, the legislation would allow cities and counties to tax the rentals to fund affordable housing.
The Washington Legislature is again considering empowering local governments to tax short-term housing rentals, much to the irritation of homeowners who rent out their properties on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. House Bill 2559 would allow cities and counties, starting in April 2027, to impose a tax up to 4% on short-term rentals to raise…
We’re in a Pickle
Kings of the court.
Unlike some trends, the popularity of pickleball has only increased with time. Here in Washington, the birthplace of the game, we’ve seen a recent wave of new facilities dedicated to the state’s official sport. Last October, Sideout Tsunami Pickleball Center opened in Mt. Baker with 26 state-of-the-art courts that offer instant video replays sent straight…
Holding the Line
Skijoring’s wild mix of skiing and horsepower is pulling new crowds across the West and giving Washington’s winter a rush of its own.
The thousand-pound horse barrels forward, muscles flickering under its winter coat as its rider leans forward, urging the animal to go faster. Snow explodes in every direction. A skier grips the 33-foot rope trailing behind, his skis skimming the surface as they surge over a 750-foot course at 40 miles an hour. “It’s the biggest…
Welcome to the Moll House
Meet Amanda and Hana—twin University of Washington students and pole vaulting champs coming to a Wheaties box near you.
“I got this.” This simple mantra, uttered by Amanda Moll, is accompanied by a deep breath to ground herself. It sounds laughably modest, considering that Amanda’s pre-competition ritual has allowed her to do what most of us would find impossible: fly with the grace of a gazelle and the height to clear a full-grown giraffe….
Rebuilding From The Studs
Niche? Nonprofit? And a print publication? All signs pointed to an uphill battle. But ARCADE’s Leah St. Lawrence is showing how stability, growth, and experimentation can coexist within one organization.
“Greetings. the new publication ARCADE, which you are holding in your hands, is an experiment in integration.” These words welcomed readers to the first issue of a new publication declaring itself to be “Seattle’s calendar for architecture and design.” Selling for one dollar and printed across four pages of 11×17, black-and-white newsprint with a single…
Northwest Enters Winter After Warmest Fall on Record
Unseasonably high temperatures and rain instead of snow have pushed regional snowpack to record lows for this point in the season.
Across the Northwest, a record-warm fall and lack of snowpack going into the winter is putting more drought pressure on Oregon, Idaho, Washington and western Montana. Despite record rain in western Washington recently, and earlier this year in central and southern Oregon, the showers are filling up already overdrawn reservoirs in many areas, scientists said…
82 Million Tons of E-Waste by 2030. Now What?
Smart ways to handle old electronics after a holiday upgrade.
Every holiday season, our houses fill with upgraded gadgets and the promise that we’ll deal with the old stuff later. Meanwhile, the drawer of mystery cords multiplies, and some items just get tossed out. Most of us mean well, but those castoff electronics often end up somewhere they really shouldn’t. And with about 59% of…
Future Thinking
Leaning into lessons from her past, including the embrace of new technologies, Ava Van Snow launched her full-service PR firm with the goal of helping others tell their stories.
Public Relations specialist Ava Van Snow has always had big ambitions. Despite a series of challenges during her childhood in Renton—a father who walked out when she was young, being raised by her immigrant grandparents who fled Vietnam during the war, and depending on government assistance to survive—she set her sights on pursuing a career…
Going to the Mountains This Winter? Read This.
A new online tool breaks down avalanche basics for anyone planning snowy fun off the beaten path.
I’m a rule follower when it comes to the outdoors. This summer, my family did some backcountry hiking in Whistler and made sure to do everything by the book—texting friends our plan and location, and wearing a bear bell even though it felt a little dorky. It’s reassuring to know you’ve covered the basics before…
Historic Flooding Prompts WA Governor to Declare Emergency
Rivers are surging around the state amid days of heavy rainfall.
As floodwaters swelled around Washington, threatening low-lying communities along rivers, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a statewide emergency declaration on Wednesday. Ferguson says he’ll also seek an expedited emergency declaration from the federal government in response to the flooding, which is the result of an atmospheric river that has dumped multiple inches of rain in parts…
Seattle’s Call to Protect the Endangered Species Act
A key wildlife law faces major rollbacks as the public comment period ticks down.
There’s plenty to do this season—lights, shows, markets, food—but here’s one more important thing worth putting on your list. The Endangered Species Act (ESA), the federal law that helped bring back the bald eagle and gray wolf, is now facing changes that could weaken its protections. The Trump administration has proposed updates to four ESA…
How a Local Teen Explained Auto-Tune to the World
High school senior Jason Zhou is among 30 teens recognized for a standout science explainer video.
A two-minute film on the math behind Auto-Tune has put 17-year-old Jason Zhou of Redmond in the running to win the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an international contest where students explain complex scientific ideas with clarity and creativity. The challenge is open to students ages 13 to 18, and each video must come in at two…
Holiday Hunt in Pioneer Square
A daily ornament drop turns December into a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt.
The holidays tend to bring out the kid in all of us. And if opening presents and eating too many treats weren’t enough, there’s also a scavenger hunt in Seattle’s oldest neighborhood. Pioneer Square’s Holiday Ornament Scavenger Hunt has returned for its third year. Twenty-five handblown glass ornaments—all made at Glasshouse Studio—are hidden across 25…
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