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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

Sophon Appears to Shuttered

Almost exactly a year ago, the Phinney Ridge restaurant and bar Sophon was hosting a James Beard Foundation event showcasing Khmer cuisine and culture. Since its opening in 2024, Sophon had become one of Seattle’s most celebrated restaurants and a demonstration of what Cambodian food and drink could be.  In a complete turnaround, Sophon appears […] The post Sophon Appears to Shuttered appeared first on The Stranger.

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

Nobody Is Safe From the Rumba

This story originally appeared in The Stranger’s 2026 Queer Issue. It’s easy to glamorize the life of a record store owner. Just look at High Fidelity (both the original and the remake). Shooting the shit all day with your similarly music-obsessed friends while you mercilessly judge the tastes of customers—what more could you ask for? […] The post Nobody Is Safe From the Rumba appeared first on The Stranger.

Zahilay Rolls Out Updated Transit Plan, as Budget Woes Cloud Metro's Future

The Metro's Next Stop plan rolled out last week by King County Executive Girmay Zahilay eyes a 12% increase in bus service by 2038. But a presentation this week at the county council paints a more dire picture of Metro's financial outlook over the near term.

Join The Urbanist at Our Annual Summer Endorsement Party

Support The Urbanist, connect with endorsed candidates, and celebrate the hard work of the Endorsements Committee as we approach the primary.

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

Slog AM: Another Ceasefire, Trump’s 80th Birthday, and Seattle’s First World Cup Game

Good morning! Are you hot? I’m hot. But I’m happy to report that we’re more than halfway through this heatwave. It’ll hit 88 today, but tomorrow it’s smooth sailing with a high of 72. For today, the name of the game is light fabrics and air-conditioned activities. And if you need some AC that you […] The post Slog AM: Another Ceasefire, Trump’s 80th Birthday, and Seattle’s First World Cup Game appeared first on The Stranger.

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

Stranger Suggests: Your Agenda This Week, June 15–21

MONDAY 6/15 Disappearance at the Rocky Mountain Leatherdyke Snowpicnic (THEATER) I’ve been saying it for years: Pride month needs more ski slope murder mysteries. Thankfully, the good people at the Annex Theatre have listened. Writer Monty Rozema and director Adrian Prendergast have teamed up for the perfect lesbian whodunnit in Disappearance at the Rocky Mountain Leatherdyke […] The post Stranger Suggests: Your Agenda This Week, June 15–21 appeared first on The Stranger.

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

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