In a recent interview with Brian Callanan on the Seattle News, Views and Brews podcast, Seattle City Council-elect Alexis Mercedes Rinck shared her insights on a range of topics, from her priorities upon taking office to the challenges of navigating a politically diverse council. Rinck, who won a commanding victory in the recent election, expressed her humility and gratitude for the trust placed in her by Seattle voters.

Seattle City Council continued the work of finalizing the City’s budget yesterday by holding public comment. Councilmember Dan Strauss released a budget amendment tracker to help the community follow the process and upcoming votes on the amendments. The final votes on the amendments will conclude on November 15.

A powerful and moving event recently unfolded in Seattle, celebrating the release of the Huy/Eighth Generation/Louie Gong butterfly blanket, a poignant symbol of transformation and hope for Indigenous people impacted by incarceration.

The Nooksack 306, a group of Indigenous families in Washington state, are facing an impending humanitarian crisis according to Gabe Galanda, an Indigenous rights lawyer representing the Nooksack 306, who has been sounding the alarm for twelve years, warning of human rights violations and imminent displacement of these families from their ancestral homes on Nooksack tribal lands.

The Washington State Department of Commerce has made a groundbreaking commitment to addressing systemic inequities and fostering economic empowerment in communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. Through a substantial investment of $39.8 million in grants to 19 organizations and institutions, the Community Reinvestment Project (CRP) is set to make a tangible difference in the lives of Washingtonians.

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.

Besa Gordon, the beloved host of the show Back2Besa on FOX 13 Seattle, recently opened up about her ongoing struggle with eczema and topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). In a heartfelt blog post, she shared the physical and emotional toll these conditions have taken on her, revealing the embarrassment and discomfort she has experienced due to her skin's appearance.

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.

In a new segment of Off The Clock, Converge Media's Omari Salisbury hosted a conversation joined by Washington state GOP’s gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird. Born in East Oakland, California, Bird moved to Seattle at six years old. Despite dropping out of high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, earned a diploma, and later a bachelor's degree. After serving in the military again as a Special Forces member, he transitioned to federal employment. Now, as the first Black American endorsed by the Washington GOP in state history, he seeks to become the next governor.

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.

KD Hall, a businesswoman, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and the founder of The KD Hall Foundation, is airing the inaugural episode of her new talk show, Conversations with KD Hall, this Saturday on KING 5. With Newport High School 11th-grader Portia Polo joining as her junior cohost, Hall's show will bring audiences an array of compelling stories and discussions with various guests. Highlighting local and global issues, Conversations with KD Hall delves into numerous topics, from sports and women to health and wellness, all areas Hall has worked in for the entirety of her career.

On this segment of The Day With Trae, host Trae Holiday sat down with Christine Alar, a Senior Transportation Planner for the Seattle Department Of Transportation (SDOT), to discuss SDOT's Rainier Ave S Bus Lane Project and the implementation of safety measures throughout the corridor.

On Tuesday, January 13, Mayor Bruce Harrell, in collaboration with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) leadership, unveiled a new alliance to bring the NMSDC's Minority Business Economic Forum to Seattle from May 14 to 16, 2024. This event aims to assemble 500 U.S. policymakers, business figures, academics, and community leaders to dismantle obstacles hindering Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) from wholly participating in the U.S. economy. Harrell emphasized Seattle's suitability as the forum's host.

A decade-long journey culminated in a momentous occasion on January 18th, as the Skyway community in West Hill celebrated the groundbreaking of the Skyway Resource Center. This milestone comes after an inclusive Community Center Visioning Process and years of local engagement in comprehensive planning.

Boon Boona Coffee, owned by Efrem Fesaha, celebrated five years of being in their Renton location on Sunday, January 14th. The event was not just a celebration of their success, but of the community and local businesses that have supported them along the way. During the event, Fesaha expressed his gratitude towards everyone who has contributed to their growth over the years, including five local breweries that have used their coffee in brews. Among the breweries were Holy Mountain, Fast Fashion, Four Generals, Métier, and Hellbent.