Latest News

King County Transportation District approves new sales tax in close vote

The 0.1% tax will fund the county’s Roads and Services Division and sends tens of thousands, if not millions, to local jurisdictions for transportation projects.

Monday Evening Headlines

Seattle hosts its first World Cup match, it's nearly 20 degrees above normal in the Northwest, and Dems push back against dismantling of ocean observatories. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.  Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW Allen School honors Ridwell and Focused Space co-founders with 2026 alumni awards

Two University of Washington alumni who built companies out of everyday frustrations — hard-to-recycle household waste and the struggle to focus while working alone — have been recognized with the Allen School's 2026 Alumni Impact Awards. Read More

Five years in, new analysis ties Seattle’s ‘JumpStart’ tax to downtown decline

A new Downtown Seattle Association report says the city's JumpStart payroll tax has helped drive jobs and office value out of downtown over its first five years, pointing to booming Bellevue as the contrast. Supporters, including Mayor Katie Wilson, call the tax a success. Read More

Amazon CEO reportedly raised Anthropic Fable concerns prior to U.S. order forcing models offline

Andy Jassy was reportedly among the tech leaders who flagged security risks in Anthropic's newest AI models to senior Trump administration officials — an awkward turn for Amazon, which has invested billions in the AI lab. Read More

COLUMN | Remembering Tyjon Stewart and Tra'Veiah Houfmuse on Graduation Day at Rainier Beach High School

Report: Seattle using AI to route certain 911 calls — without caller knowledge or public review

Denmark-based Corti's AI has been listening to all Seattle 911 medical calls and prompting dispatchers to route certain patients to a nurse-staffed Texas call center rather than send an ambulance, the Times found. Read More

Seattle Neighborhoods Throw the Best Festivals

Outside is our best side.

Coffee town meets its matcha: Robots help power ex-Axon leader’s Seattle beverage startup Vale

Luke Larson is buzzing about matcha and his plans to build Vale into a Seattle-born beverage empire — think Starbucks, but make it matcha — scaling from a handful of local cafes and mobile bars to a nationwide network of thousands of automated machines. Read More

As World Cup Kicks Off in Seattle, Beacon Hill Latinos Express Mixed Feelings

For some residents of Beacon Hill, the games are a time to celebrate with family and friends; for others, a time to keep their guard up about possible ICE enforcement.

Buoys that monitor ocean conditions, pulled from PNW waters

For the last decade, ocean observatories have been floating in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Now, the Trump Administration is dismantling them. KUOW environment John Ryan was the first to report that buoys off Washington and Oregon have already been removed. He tells about the impact for scientists and the fishing industry. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeland Security retreats on plan to get data on mail-in voters

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is walking back, for now, a plan to sweep up data on millions of Americans who vote by mail under President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting mail ballots.