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State gas tax going up by 1.1 cents to 56.5 cents per gallon

Washington state’s gas tax, already among the highest in the nation, is going up next week.

PhinneyWood’s breakfast scene just got a serious upgrade at Mr. Gyros

By Dominique Sabins, Special to the Blog. PhinneyWood’s beloved Mr. Gyros returns after 10 years, and this time they brought breakfast with them. Don’t worry, their gyros and kabobs are back […]

Nickelsville to Open Rainier Valley Tiny House Village After Long Delays

After years of delays and political battles, Nickelsville's Brighton Village will soon welcome its first residents, bringing 14 tiny homes and a self-governed shelter community to Rainier Valley.

WA child welfare deaths drop significantly after record year

Deaths and critical injuries among children in Washington’s child welfare system fell steeply in the first quarter of 2026, state officials reported June 24.

Beer Judge Certification program offered at Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery

Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery (8570 Greenwood Ave. N) is holding a BJCP Exam Preparatory Course beginning on July 11.  This course will consist of ten classes over multiple dates that […]

Draft Profile 2k26: Carson Carels brings a relentless work ethic, scoring touch to the blueline

I read about and watched a lot of Mr. Carels game in the lead up to this article, and I must legally inform you like the entire rest of the internet that Carson Carels is from a cattle farm. 500 head Cattle farm out in Manitoba. I promise to you this is the only time you will hear me reference anything about that. I have read it enough, and I don’t need to keep harping on it. This player is good enough you don’t need to add on more because he knows how to shovel cowpies and probably grew up hearing auctioneers spit white hot fire. Who is he? Carson Carels is a Manitoba-born Defender who is 6’2, 198 pounds and shoots left. He played last year with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, and is committed to the University of North Dakota for the upcoming season. What’s he good at? Skatin’, scorin’ and playmakin’. Carels is one of the more impressive skaters in this draft; not just fast but good in motion laterally and with the ability to get the most out of momentum on the rush and from explosive first steps that get him to almost full speed. Carels moves around the offensive zone and defensive zone with a calm and control that can allow him to warp a . To have that on the back-end anywhere is good news; it means that rush chances against will have at least one person back. What makes him truly special is the level of production he was able to get out of that skating skill. Carels is a damn good shooter. His stick skills are already well above average for a defenseman, but supplementing them with his laser accurate shot and the power he can generate with that stick has turned him from a potential power play quarterback to a lethal setup and finish man for the Cougars. When he himself isn’t leading a rush, he often can be the man who sets up the initial pass with a silky smooth delivery that his teammates often cash in on. On the back-end, that agility and explosive skating is paired with the willingness and full ability to get nasty in order to lock up passing and shooting lanes…usually by putting all 6’2 of himself directly in the way or into a full on collision, making him a force to be feared if he’s properly pressed. Otherwise, he’s using that speed to cut lanes down and keep them closed when he can’t bring the pain on a good hit. When he’s at his best, his shifts can completely overtake the momentum of any game Prince George, and soon the University of North Dakota, happen to be playing, and almost always for the better. What’s he not so good at? Decision-making, or rather…being consistent about the decisions made with the puck. For all of Carels’ strengths, if there’s a repeated issue that he faces it is 100% his decision-making sometimes crossing a wire. The scenario given is this; for every ten plays he makes that features nine good read or a strong choice with the puck, there will be at least one truly boneheaded decision mixed in. This usually manifests as a pass to absolutely nowhere or even worse, to the other team. Alternatively, it manifests as an exploratory shot that squibs away from his stick, or a shot that is blocked easily and read by a defender who is ready to pounce on the deflected puck. Granted, Carels is very fast, so he immediately tries to correct for the error and at the junior level of the game he’s usually able to get back in time to shut things down from becoming a problem, but these moments stand out in a player that feels like he’s a slam dunk in every other respect. Hockey can often be a series of interconnected moments, and for an otherwise good player to occasionally struggle making reads on what the offense is doing when it’s also a major selling point of the player can often combine to create very memorable moments for all the wrong reasons. Of course, part of it is that Carels is a very young 18; one of the youngest in this draft with a June birthday. Getting put on the World Junior team sort of put a target on Carels as we watched a kid learn in real time that the difference between U18 and U20 hockey is often night and day, especially at the very highest levels of the sport. It’s an even bigger jump in College, where the reads become much tighter overall, especially in the ultra-competitive NCHC conference, compared to the more free-wheeling junior hockey. Locking that down with experience and reps will be a major part of his upcoming development as a player when he heads to Grand Forks this fall. Draft Rankings Ranked 3rd by NHL Central Scouting for North American Skaters Ranked 4th by EliteProspects.com Ranked 3rd by TSN’s Craig Button Ranked 16th by THN’s Tony Ferrari Ranked 5th by McKeen’s Hockey Ranked 5th by FloHockey’s Chris Peters Ranked 4th by DailyFaceoff.com Ranked 5th by SportsNet’s Sam Cosentino Ranked 12th by Smaht Scouting Ranked 8th by DobberProspects Should the Kraken Take him? If he’s available? Absolutely. The Kraken desperately need a defender who is like Carson Carels; fast, agile, willing to shoot, and willing to create offense where none previously exists. The only part I would be hesitant on is if, for some reason, one of the other blueliner prospects like Keaton Verhoeff, Daxon Rudolph, or even Chase Reid were available. If Reid was available I would 1000% say pick him. If not? Well, between him, Šmits, Rudolf, and Verhoeff… I’d probably be flipping a coin on Šmits and Carels several times to see which one I’d pick over the other, and I don’t think I’d be mad about either of them.

SPD May Slow Hiring in 2026 Amid Budget, Training Challenges

Seattle police hiring could slow despite rising officer numbers, as budget pressures and training bottlenecks reshape staffing plans that could affect response across neighborhoods, including the South End.

Speed camera fines to increase in work zones beginning July 1 | WSDOT

Infraction penalties have risen from $0 to $125; second and subsequent penalties remain at $248.

Discounts and a deciduous disaster | The Compleat Home Gardener

Also, tips on gravel gardens for a lower water bill.

Overwhelmed? It’s time to focus on just a few | In Focus

The temptation to block everything out is strong. Now’s not the time to bury your head in the sand.

COLUMN | In Rainier Beach, Not Every Gunshot Means Danger - But It Feels Like It

Caravan of Care Brings Free Health Services to Goodwill on Dearborn

From dental cleanings to ORCA card help, Evergreen Goodwill's outdoor resource fair on Dearborn aims to meet community needs in one place.