Seattle Now

Tan Vinh, Seattle Times food writer and critic, shares rapid-fire tips for dining out on a busy Valentine’s Saturday. He explains how restaurants handle service, what makes a place feel romantic, smart procrastinator strategies like bar seating and waitlists, and offbeat, budget-friendly alternatives around the city.

Coverage of Washington’s new tax proposal targeting incomes over $1 million and the political debate around it. Reports on record-low Pacific Northwest snowpack and the risks for water and wildfire. Local college leadership changes amid a large budget shortfall. Updates on voting deadlines, transit maintenance, and a proposed ban on a tire chemical harming salmon.

Joshua McNichols, KUOW growth and development reporter and Booming co-host, covers housing, transit, and regional economy. He explains the new light rail link across I-90 and its route. He outlines service changes and ridership expectations. He discusses how the connection reshapes jobs, housing access, recreation, and regional economic ties.

Coverage of a school shooting and police response in Rainier Beach. Downtown immigration enforcement protests and city reactions. Nurses at a children’s hospital secure a new contract with better pay. Eddie Bauer may face bankruptcy and store closures. Mount Baker road repairs halt skiing. Local sports news and a Groundhog Day weather outlook are also discussed.

Amy Radel, KUOW courts and politics reporter who explains legal and legislative developments, breaks down Washington’s bid to limit masked federal agents. She outlines the mask-ban bill, its exceptions, and who could sue. She walks through the law’s origins, supporters and opponents, and the likely courtroom fights over federal preemption and enforcement.

Eilish O'Neill, an investigative reporter for KUOW, digs into Washington's child welfare law changes and their fallout. She traces families torn apart, policy shifts that limit removals, and heartbreaking cases tied to substance exposure. The story weighs reforms meant to prevent harm against reports of rising child deaths and strained social workers.

Protests and student demands push for protections against ICE and records access. Local businesses join a national shutdown or donate profits in solidarity. Lawmakers consider banning post-2017 ICE hires and proposals to tax million-dollar households. Ski resorts face thin snowpacks and event cancellations. A large statue casting and a Groundhog Day film marathon add local color.

Phil Burton, local comedian who brings sharp, funny Seattle takes, and Andrew Walsh, cultural commentator and co-host of Too Beautiful to Live. They riff on tap-to-pay arriving on buses and trains. They debate rising grocery prices and store closures. They celebrate a new all-ages music venue and trade takes on ticketing reform and quirky local stories.

A jury ruling over a CHOP-era killing and the city’s liability headline the news. New local rules limit federal immigration enforcement on city property and schools set ICE reporting guidance. State lawmakers debate a mask ban for federal agents and lowering the DUI limit. A fin whale sighting and a class-action over preservative-free rotisserie chickens add lighter and stranger notes.

Monica Nickelsburg, KUOW’s AI and economy reporter and Booming co-host, covers Amazon’s recent 16,000-person cut and what it signals for the company’s future. She lays out which roles and regions were hit, how pandemic hiring and AI pressures shaped the moves, and the local ripple effects on Seattle’s jobs and businesses.