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Washington is *still* one of the top states in the country for business, CNBC’s updated 2026 rankings say

It's once again narrative-busting time. Business network CNBC's latest Best States for Business rankings just got updated, and Washington remains a top state for business, coming in at number eleven. Washington ranked ahead of every other Left Coast state and every other state in the Pacific Northwest, including Republican-run Idaho, Republican-run Montana, and Republican-run Alaska. Washington is *still* one of the top states in the country for business, CNBC’s updated 2026 rankings say is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

ShibShib and Sushi Yoin Open and More Food News

Plus more restaurants to look forward to, including Gohan, Max's Burgers, and a Donna's sibling.

COLUMN | Seattle Had No Homicides in June. Don't Use It to Justify More Policing.

After Seattle's first homicide-free June in 56 years, Marcus Harrison Green asks who gets credit for safety — and who keeps getting cut.

June Sets Record for Zero Homicides, Pro Tips for Ballard Seafood Fest, and a "Life Skills" Class for WA High Schools

Today on the podcast, host Jane C. Hu is joined by contributors Marcus Harrison Green and Chase Hutchinson. The trio talk about the Seattle Police Department declaring last month to be “homicide free” for the first time in decades. Then they get into how Washington’s superintendent has proposed a mandatory “life skills” class for high school seniors and what they wish we’d all learned before graduating. Plus, updates from Harbor Island Studios, our weekend recommendations, and for our City Cast Seattle Neighbors, a crash course in the beauty of cyberdecks.  Learn more about the sponsors of this July 10th episode: pFriem Beer Grand Central Bakery Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931. For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle. Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

REVIEW | In Hillman City, a Menu that Spotlights Northern Mexico Includes a Surprise: Hot Dogs

How Science Is Rewriting Cruising in Antarctica

Can a few scientists turn an end-of-the-world vacation into the world’s best field trip?

Anti-ICE Protest Convictions, FBI Phone Data Grabs, and Is Spokane Beating Seattle on Urbanism?

Today, on the podcast, host Jane C. Hu speaks with two reporters about the federal conspiracy charges brought against three protestors in Spokane, what conspiracy charges actually mean in practice, and what it signals for protesters everywhere. Erin Sellers, a staff reporter at RANGE Media, takes us through the story from the anti-ICE protests last summer to the nine indictments and the three protestors who ultimately were found guilty in June. Then Schuyler Mitchell, assistant editor at Mother Jones, explains how the FBI in Seattle secretly extracted data from the phones of at least a dozen of the protesters and what this means for data privacy going forward. Finally, producer Sam J. Leeds joins Jane and Erin to discuss the similarities and differences between Seattle and Spokane and what the two cities can learn from each other.  Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931. For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle. Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Graham Platner drops out of Maine’s U.S. Senate race

Platner announced his campaign was suspending operations and he was filing paperwork to withdraw his candidacy in a video posted on Wednesday, July 8th to social platforms. The Maine Democratic Party has until July 27th to name a replacement nominee. The party says it will stage a nominating convention to do so. Graham Platner drops out of Maine’s U.S. Senate race is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

COLUMN | Why Was Tyran Stokes Presumed Guilty Over a 5-Second Video?

Glenn Nelson connects an unfounded amateur-standing complaint involving Rainier Beach’s star to the same rush to judgment that surrounded Brandon Roy at Garfield.

Washington’s Republican legislators keep showing everyone that they are running on empty and unworthy of people’s trust

In this open letter to Republican state lawmakers like Senator Judy Warnick, NPI's founder asks why they are fixated on suspending a law that voters already told them overwhelmingly they don't want to overturn, instead of belatedly standing up to Donald Trump. Washington’s Republican legislators keep showing everyone that they are running on empty and unworthy of people’s trust is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

How the World Cup Failed the CID. Plus, I-5 Closes Again

Seattle has hosted its final World Cup match, and on today’s episode, host Jane C. Hu reflects on some of the wins and losses of one of the biggest events in recent Seattle history. First, she is joined by Vince Vu of Anh Ơi Bakery to talk about how the World Cup hurt small businesses in the CID and the distance between visiting sports fans and local culture. Then Seattle Times Social Justice columnist Naomi Ishisaka and contributor Brett Hamil join Jane to talk about their World Cup experience in Seattle and how it challenged their cynicism. Finally, the three go through a medley of news, including Mayor Wilson shutting down the Stadium District cameras, Snohomish County’s experiment in AI policy, and I-5 shutting down…  again. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931. For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle. Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/seattle Looking to advertise on City Cast Seattle? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Is this the end for Graham Platner?

The implosion of Platner's campaign, which happened rapidly after the oyster farmer was credibly accused of sexual assault, may end up being a gift for Democrats, contrary to the "Dems-in-Disarray" narrative that Beltway reporters are so enamored with. Is this the end for Graham Platner? is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.