On Thursday, August 21, Mayor Bruce Harrell, joined by Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones at Rainier Beach High School, announced a $14.55 million investment plan to enhance student safety and mental health in Seattle Public Schools. Addressing an audience of press, families, students, and school staff, Harrell emphasized that this initiative is a response to the rise in gun violence as the new school year approaches.

From his first performance at a church camp to building a treehouse studio and ultimately creating his debut album, Reed's journey has been relentless growth. With the release of his 2024 EP, Retrovision, in June, his rise has been nothing short of meteoric, firmly establishing him as a force in the Pacific Northwest's hip-hop scene and beyond. Converge Music recently spoke with the Shoreline-raised musician about his latest work, the creative process behind his biggest hits, and the next step in his journey.

On Thursday, August 1, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison unveiled a new public safety initiative to curb drug-related crime in the city. The proposed legislation, titled "Stay out of Drug Area" or SODA, seeks to empower King County Courts to issue exclusion orders, barring individuals convicted of drug-related offenses from re-entering designated high-risk zones.

The Nooksack 306, a group of over 300 Nooksack Native individuals descended from Annie George, have faced a long and arduous battle as they have been systematically disenrolled from their tribe. These disenrollments have disrupted the lives of families who have been part of the Nooksack tribe in Deming, Washington—just 16 miles from Bellingham—for generations.

Mayor Bruce Harrell, in collaboration with representatives from the King County Council, the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and community-based organizations such as Urban Family, Alliance for Gun Responsibility, and Community Passageways, launched an initiative on Wednesday called "100 Days of Action." This new blueprint is dedicated to combating gun violence throughout Seattle.

This Wednesday, June 26, Mayor Bruce Harrell made an announcement at Seattle University that Seattle's Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) team will expand its staff and presence throughout the city.

The City of Seattle will invest $1.2 million across three organizations—API Chaya, Collective Justice, and Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center—to support community-led initiatives and programs addressing domestic violence throughout 2024 and 2025.

On Friday, June 7th, Mayor Bruce Harrell, city officials, and community leaders reflected on the recent surge in gun violence and commemorated a new garden in memory of victims of gun violence at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. This event comes in the wake of a shooting at Garfield High School, where 17-year-old Amarr Murphy-Paine was shot and killed while attempting to break up a fight between the shooter and another person.

On Wednesday, May 29th, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced at a press conference that Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz will relinquish his role as head of the department. In his place, Mayor Harrell appointed former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr as interim chief. Diaz's departure follows multiple lawsuits alleging gender discrimination and harassment by several female officers within the department and another lawsuit filed against the department last week. These legal challenges have prompted Mayor Harrell to appoint an independent investigation of the department.

On Thursday, May 9, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced plans to finance an initiative launched by the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) to establish a facility dedicated to supporting individuals in their recovery from post-drug overdoses, particularly of fentanyl. The announcement occurred at the DESC Morrison Hotel building, poised to become the facility's future home, aptly named the Overdose Recovery and Care Access Center (ORCA). 

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell convened a second public safety forum on Tuesday, April 30, to address gun violence and explore comprehensive solutions to community safety concerns. Held at Garfield High School's gymnasium, the event brought representatives from 14 city departments, offering citizens an interactive opportunity to discuss public safety and related concerns directly with officials.

As a digital reporter and producer, Justine Baker has made her mark in the media landscape. As the on-camera host of FOX 13's I've Been Influenced, she highlights the online journeys of content creators and influential social media figures. An author, she’s written books like Major Tips for the Micro-Influencer, a guide to the ins and outs of social media, where she taught everything from online influencing to branding techniques for businesses. Earlier this year, she achieved another milestone—being crowned Miss Black Washington. 

Rise Above, an organization dedicated to empowering Native American children by providing various sports events, cultural activities, and mentorship programs, recently held one of its basketball clinics at the Nisqually Youth Center in Olympia as part of its ongoing efforts to provide youth outreach for Native communities throughout the United States.

Reverend Harriett Walden, an influential figure in Seattle known for her activism and work with police accountability, has announced the launch of Virtues Healing Reflection Cards. Having partnered with the Seattle Human Service Department (HSD), Reverend Walden will distribute the cards throughout Seattle in an endeavor focused on community healing. 

On Thursday, January 24, Mayor Bruce Harrell, joined by members from the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects, Alliance for Pioneer Square, and Seattle City Council members, announced the beginning of construction for the Pioneer Square East-West Pedestrian Improvements project at a groundbreaking ceremony.

Fat Con, a convention focused on body acceptance and highlighted as "the biggest Fat celebration of the year," premiered last weekend at the Hyatt at Olive 8.

The Convention is arranged by Puckduction, an arts and culture organization headed by Mx. Pucks A'Plenty, a well-known burlesque performer based in Seattle, and five other directors. While Fat Con had its inaugural event in 2024, the foundation of the event has been in the works since before the pandemic.

On Thursday, February 24, Inside hosted "Black Tech Night," the first of multiple events focused on networking within Seattle's Black tech community. In addition to a night of food, drinks, live music, and connections, Mayor Bruce Harrell spoke at the event.

On Wednesday, January 25, a three-person panel hosted by United Way of King County highlighted the importance of local BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) businesses in the community. The panelists, all active in supporting local BIPOC businesses, included former Seahawk wide receiver Doug Baldwin.