Free Seattle-area outdoor cafe street use permits extended through January 2023

The goal, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation, is to ensure that approximately one to two spaces will be open and available on each block throughout the day, helping people to find parking near their destination.

Luckily, the adjustment doesn’t necessarily mean your favorite spot will see higher prices as on-street parking rates in Seattle overall are remaining at or below $2 per hour at 95% of locations and times of day. Of the 90 total different paid parking rates and times in Seattle, SDOT is making 37 adjustments.

Four locations will see a rate decrease of $0.50 an hour at some times of the day, including sections of the Chinatown-International District, the Waterfront, Pioneer Square, and South Lake Union. Many areas will continue to see low rates of $0.50 per hour at some point in the day. The highest hourly rate in Seattle after the March 28 adjustment will be $3 per hour.

Following the March adjustment, SDOT will be making two additional rate adjustments in 2022, currently planned for the summer and fall.

Seattle council raises street parking rates in Uptown to as much as $12 for large events

The city collected and analyzed parking date from late-January 2022 and found that parking occupancy data for each paid area and time of day is between 70-85% capacity, which means there are usually one to two spaces available on each block. When the occupancy is below 70%, the rates are decreased. When it’s over 85%, the rate is increased.

Find more details on SDOT’s 2022 Paid Parking Rate Changes web page .

5-year project around Green Lake finishes with new bike lanes, paved roads

Green Lake, a popular park in Seattle, has a 2.8 mile path around the lake. Based on community feedback to add more travel options, and to be in line with the city’s Vision Zero safety goals, the new outer loop project will build off two recently completed projects — the , and the new path for West Green Lake Way North.

Once complete, there will be an outer loop for people to walk, bike, and roll safely around the lake.

The first segment of the outer loop project will be a new path between North 63rd Street and West Green Lake Drive North along the on-ramp and Aurora Avenue North. Vehicle access will be maintained along the on-ramp.

The second segment will maintain the existing street parking along West Green Lake Drive North, but will remove the northbound vehicle travel lane and add a two-way walking and biking path on the lake side of the street.

More than 300 people participated in the online open house and neighborhood community meetings for this project. The presentation from the open house can be viewed . Additionally, there were 4,345 respondents for a November 2021 survey about the project, and the summary is available .

Should Seattle take a traffic lane for an outer loop at Green Lake?

As the city explains, the construction and design funding for this project comes from the Vision Zero Program, “which prioritized the project due to its safety benefits and potential to address recent collisions in this area.” The final cost is not yet determined.

View a map of the proposed walk and bike facilities and the two project segments .

Jay Dumas — who is now the head football coach at — coached Kupp in high school, from his freshman year in 2009 through his senior year in 2012. At the time, Dumas was the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.

He knew he had a special player in Kupp well before the Eastern Washington native made it to the NFL.

“He was certainly one of the most driven kids that I’ve ever coached, if not the most driven — he always had a purpose in terms of his desire to be great,” Dumas told ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio.

“He was always the first one in, last one out of the weight room. He was always the first one watching film, last one watching film,” he added. “He would walk around school with the vertical jump platform shoes and ankle weights. You just knew when you saw the little wiry 135-pound frame that he had a chance to do something special.”

Dumas says he does still keep in touch with Kupp, and he was able to connect with him to wish him luck before the big game and let him know his hometown was rooting for him.

“He hasn’t forgotten where he comes from and the people that are important to him, so he’ll certainly make time for us,” he said.

Dumas says he’s so happy for Kupp and all that he has achieved.

“I know where he’s come from, I know how hard he’s worked, and I know how good of a person he is,” he said. “I think that’s what is going to be special about him as he’s on this national stage.”

After graduating high school, Kupp played for Eastern Washington University in Cheney. The Los Angeles Rams selected Kupp in the third round (69th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Kupp caught two touchdowns for the Rams in the victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, including the game winning grab late in the 4th quarter.

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio’s Aaron Granillo contributed to this story.

Seattle teenager wins gold in first ever Olympic women’s 200m canoe sprint

With COVID-19 still a threat in China and across the world, the Olympics are again — like in the summer — a little different. In Beijing, the games are in a “bubble,” restricted to athletes, coaches, officials, and media, so no families were able to attend. There are, however, a small number of spectators from China.

On Team USA, four of the athletes competing in 2022 are from Washington state.

Katie Hensien

From Redmond, Washington, competes in alpine skiing. This is the 22-year-old’s first time at the Olympics, and she took 26th place in slalom earlier this week.

Hensien was the second-highest scoring American in the event behind Paula Moltzan in eighth. Fellow Team USA athlete AJ Hurt finished the run in 34th, and Mikaela Shiffrin did not finish the event and therefore did not place.

Novie McCabe

A 20-year-old cross-country skier from Winthrop, Washington, is also a first time Olympian.

In the women’s 10km individual event this week, she took 24th place, coming in behind USA teammates Jessie Diggins (8th) and Rosie Brennan (13th). Up next, McCabe will compete in the Women’s 4x5km Relay on Friday, Feb. 11, at 11:30 p.m. PST.

Jean-Luc Baker

, 28, calls Edmonds, Washington, his hometown, and he attended Kamiak High School in Mukilteo. He, too, is a first-time Olympian in 2022.

Baker is competing in ice dance with partner Kaitlin Hawayek. The rhythm dance competition will be Saturday, Feb. 12, at 3 a.m. PST. Baker and Hawayek are among three U.S. teams in the event, set to compete against Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, and Madison Chock and Evan Bates.

Corinne Stoddard

, who competes in speedskating, was born in Seattle and lists Tacoma as her hometown, though the Team USA bio says she now lives and trains in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In her Olympic debut, Stoddard failed to finish her 500m preliminary heat after a crash, which eliminated her from that competition. She but was cleared to skate, and was involved in the mixed team relay later that day where Team USA did not make the finals. Stoddard did make the finals in the 1000m event, but did not medal.

Stoddard is set to compete 3000m relay event on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 3:35 a.m. PST.

A future Kraken?

One more athlete who has Washington ties is U.S. hockey center Matty Beniers. He was the first-ever draft selection in the Seattle Kraken’s franchise history after he was drafted second overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Beniers, 19, still plays for the University of Michigan. He has not yet signed a contract with the Kraken, but is expected to join the team after his college season is over.

‘Keep Moving Street’ at Green Lake reopens to drivers with walk-bike path

One of those “Keep Moving Streets” is a 3-mile segment of Lake Washington Boulevard. The street was closed all summer in 2020, and was extended to more weekends in the summer of 2021 after positive community feedback. It also closed to pass-through traffic while Seattle Public Schools were on Thanksgiving break in November 2021.

People who used the street shared their thoughts via phone calls, emails, surveys, and even videos, and SDOT says “a substantial number of people shared their joy at having a flat, intuitive space to walk, roll, and bike alongside one of Seattle’s most beautiful parks.”

Thanks to Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales, SDOT explains, the department secured $200,000 through the 2022 budget to “explore the right balance of closures and possible permanent changes to promote more walking, rolling, and biking on Lake Washington Blvd.”

The next phase of community engagement is expected in spring 2022.

For now, the city will consider closing Lake Washington Boulevard to pass-through traffic and opening it to people during the February and April breaks for Seattle Public Schools.

Find more information about the Lake Washington Boulevard Keep Moving Street .

Seattle Symphony creates ‘hospital grade environment’ to bring back the music

The nomination is for Music Director Thomas Dausgaard and the symphony for the live recording of Richard Strauss’ “Also sprach Zarathustra” and Alexander Scriabin’s “The Poem of Ecstasy.”

“It is exciting and rewarding for us at the Seattle Symphony to see that the orchestra’s great work is being recognized again,” said Krishna Thiagarajan, symphony president and CEO, in a written release. “The honor is especially gratifying as we emerge from the disruption of the pandemic, and it is testament to Thomas Dausgaard’s brilliance on stage. We are happy for it to add to the Symphony’s history of Grammy recognition over these past years.”

The album that’s nominated was recorded live in Benaroya Hall and produced by Grammy Award winning recording engineer Dmitriy Lipay.

This latest nomination marks the second time that the partnership between Dausgaard the Seattle Symphony has been recognized by the Grammy Awards. The Danish conductor and symphony were nominated for a 2019 award for their work on Nielsen’s Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4.

The Seattle Symphony has garnered five Grammy Awards, 26 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. They in downtown Seattle from September to July.

King County vaccine requirement for indoor businesses takes effect Oct. 25

Indoor service at bars, restaurants, and other indoor recreation facilities, including theaters, fitness facilities, as well as outdoor events with 500 or more people, require proof of vaccination for everyone 12 or older. Those who are unvaccinated or are unable to verify their vaccine status can show proof of a negative COVID test within the last three days in order to gain entry.

“This vaccine verification requirement is an extension of the vaccine verification policies that many restaurants, professional sports teams here in Washington state, our universities and businesses already had in place,” Dr. Duchin said in a .

There has been some confusion heard from business owners, Duchin says, that this order is optional or voluntary for businesses to comply with, but he says that’s not the case.

“I just want to clarify: This vaccine verification policy is required and not voluntary for businesses who are covered under the order,” Duchin said.

“I’m very grateful for those businesses and their staff who have been putting in the time to try and make this work in your settings,” he added. “So thank you very much, and we look forward to hearing from you how it’s going over time.”

State to ‘monitor’ King County vaccine requirements, as it preps new verification tool

Find more information about the county’s policy .

Northgate light rail station opens as Sound Transit forges ahead on expansion

The ST Express routes 566, 577, 578, 580, 590, 592, and 594 will all have some reductions in their schedule, but it will only affect weekday service. Weekend service remains unchanged.

All other Pierce Transit operated routes remain unchanged (560, 574, 586, 595, 596).

Further changes may be made depending on driver availability. Sound Transit says it is working with operating partner Pierce Transit to restore service when staffing levels allow.

Transportation providers across the state — and across the country — have been experiencing driver shortages. For Pierce Transit, that’s often resulted in missed or delayed trips. Since Pierce Transit doesn’t have the drivers to make the runs, and rather than cancelling them as they come up, the agency will move to a reduced schedule to provide some stable service.

“By reducing service frequency along some routes, we’re better able to provide a schedule you can rely on, even if it temporarily offers fewer trip options,” Sound Transit explains on its website.

This driver shortage is not due to a COVID vaccine mandate as Pierce Transit is not under a mandate. The agency has about 61 unfilled positions at this time.

Fare ambassadors replace officers on Sound Transit trains

Find more details of the service change . View the revised schedules for Routes 566, 577, 578, 580, 592, and 594 .

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Chris Sullivan contributed to this report.

The COP26 summit will bring parties together from around the world to “accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.” As the , the biggest names — including President Joe Biden — take the stage Monday, and then they will leave. That’s when other government officials will work on the details.

Local, state leaders warn of climate change threat amid record heat wave

Over the weekend, on MSNBC, Gov. Inslee was asked if he sees the upcoming global climate summit in Glasgow as a “make-or-break moment.”

“You cannot overstate the depth of this crisis,” Gov. Inslee said. “I really think that we need two things now to fight this crisis. Number one, we need to have a sense of imagination to really understand what we’re facing. It’s very difficult to imagine a different world — one where we don’t have forests, one where our shorelines are inundated, one where we are hit by floods — it’s hard to imagine but we got a taste of that last summer.”

He pointed to wildfires that struck along the West Coast, along with unusually high temperatures, droughts, and flooding in the Midwest.

“We got a taste of what the future is. But it’s just a taste of the looming, unfortunately, disaster movie that we face,” he said.

“But number two [of] what we need is a sense of optimism that we can bring these new technologies to bear to grow jobs and grow economic growth in our country and our state, because we’re doing it,” he added.

There are 25 states that are part of a climate alliance, including Washington, which Gov. Inslee says have adopted measures that go beyond what will happen in the reconciliation work from Congress. Those states have some of the largest economic growth as well, he noted.

“This is a moment to really understand that we need to adopt both an understanding of the criticality of this and a can-do attitude. In Glasgow, you’re going to see that,” the governor said.

You cannot escape the depth of the climate crisis.

We need two things to address it:
1). Imagination
2). Optimism

We will bring both to Glasgow next week.

— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee)

Gov. Inslee unveils plan to use fight against climate change to grow WA economy

On Monday, Mayor Durkan announced directing departments in the City of Seattle to accelerate action toward net zero emission buildings, healthy and equitable transportation, and clean energy workforce development. These actions are projected to reduce the city’s building carbon emissions by an additional 27% by 2050.

“From a new normal of smoky summers and dangerous heat in Seattle, I have never seen the impacts of climate change that we are now facing,” Durkan said. “We’ve invested billions to support green transportation, efficient buildings, and other policies to mitigate climate change, but we know we need to do more to reach net zero. Cities are leading the way to take real action — our work in the last four years is making a commitment to reduce our building emissions by nearly 50% and lead the nation on climate justice and equity.”

Included in the order from the mayor is an expansion of free transit for Seattle Public Schools students, and an expansion of Seattle’s Stay Healthy Streets, as well as taking legislative and permitting action to incentivize electrification, and launching a $1 million pilot to convert heavy-duty diesel trucks operating in the Duwamish Valley to electric.

The announcement was made in a virtual press conference with Durkan speaking from COP26, where she is representing the city of Seattle.

TODAY: announced an Executive Order directing dept's to accelerate action toward net zero emission buildings, healthy and equitable transportation, and clean energy workforce development to advance

— Seattle OSE (@SeattleOSE)

Nearly 90% of Washington’s public school employees vaccinated against COVID

That option offers students a chance to return on the eighth day if they’ve also had a negative test.

“We will be requiring schools to offer families the seven-day with negative test quarantine option so that students can return to class more quickly,” said Lacy Fahrenbach, deputy secretary for COVID response with the Washington State Department of Health.

Schools have had that option before, but now it must be offered.

Quarantine is when someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 stays home and away from others in case they were infected and are contagious. For close contacts in a school setting who are not exempt from quarantine, there are . In the latest update, schools and districts now must use one or a combination of the first two options.

Option one is the seven-day with negative test quarantine for students and staff. Quarantine can end after seven full days beginning after the last close contact if no symptoms have developed and after receiving a negative test result. Option two is a seven-day “test to stay” modified quarantine, which is available to schools or districts with an approved “test to stay” protocol in place.

For those who choose not to test or do not get tested, the options are a 10-day or 14-day quarantine.

So far this school year, Fahrenbach says about 6% of all Washington state’s public and private schools have reported COVID outbreaks, and reports have been dropping this month.

Between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30 of this year, a shows that 189 COVID outbreaks occurred in K-12 schools. Of those, 42 were in August and 147 in September.

The median size of an outbreak was five individuals. The majority of outbreaks were in public schools (167) versus private schools (22). The most outbreaks were associated with grade schools at 120, with 48 in middle schools, and 55 in high schools. Of Washington’s 39 counties, 18 counties have reported outbreaks associated with schools this fall.

For the 2021-2022 school year, the state DOH updated the school outbreak definition. Previously, the case count threshold to meet outbreak definition was two epidemiologically linked cases. In order to better align with national standards, the threshold has been raised this year to three cases or 10% of a specified core group as defined in the K-12 School Outbreak Report.

FDA paves way for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations in young kids

“While we never want to see an outbreak occur in a school setting, the relatively small size of outbreaks is an indication that schools are working very hard to respond when there are cases among students, teachers, staff,” Fahrenbach said in a written release. “Getting young children vaccinated as soon as we are able will add the strongest protection possible. Everyone who is able to get vaccinated should do so now to offer protection to young kids who are not yet eligible.”

The ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.

Washington health leaders say not enough people getting vaccine as cases plateau

“Unfortunately, the recent week or two, we’ve experienced a plateauing of the numbers rather than a decline,” Gov. Inslee said. “This is very worrisome.”

On average, the governor says, there are still more than 2,000 cases reported each day statewide.

“We know many are suffering due to this pandemic, including those who now are still in the waiting line to get elective surgery because our hospitals remain stressed, with high occupancy rate, as much as 90%,” he said. “Most systems are just now getting back to trying to do elective surgery.”

If case counts and hospitalizations were to rise again, besides the inevitable death and disability of COVID-19, Inslee says, there will also be people who are unable to get surgeries and care they need.

“We still have an extremely dangerous pandemic on our hands,” he said.

As Inslee sees it, Washington has reached a fork in the road.

“Are we going to accept COVID, allow it to continue to run wild, or are we going to continue to fight it? That’s a definite decision for the state of Washington,” he said. “Every day, I believe we should fight it. We should not surrender to it. We should continue our efforts to utilize this life-saving vaccine. We know we have the tools to beat this virus, and we ought to use them.”

Gov. Inslee did say that the state has made real progress in vaccinations, and he could “not be more delighted in the progress we’ve made with public employees becoming vaccinated.”

State reports 92% compliance after vaccine mandate deadline

Looking ahead, Inslee says he does not have a crystal ball and can’t predict the course of the virus.

“We are hopeful that more people will get vaccinated and we will not experience a sixth wave,” he said. “But today I’m very concerned about experiencing a sixth wave this winter as people are coming indoors, becoming more exposed to transmission as they come closer indoors.”

As to whether or not there could be a COVID vaccine mandate statewide — similar to what is now in effect in King County — the governor says that doesn’t make sense for the state at this time. There is, however, a statewide vaccine requirement for large events, which was announced a couple of weeks prior and will take effect in mid-November.

“We’ve not added [vaccine verification] to restaurant activities at that date because we don’t think, at the moment, that makes sense for the state of Washington,” Inslee said. “But we’re looking at the experience of King County to see if it’s positive, and we’ll continue to monitor that situation.”

Weekend storm knocks down trees, power lines

Fallen utility poles, on East Marginal Way South during this weekend’s storm. This also resulted in a closure of the South Park Bridge, which can only be accessed from East Marginal Way South.

East Marginal Way South in Tukwila is back open as of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday after it was closed on Sunday afternoon when severe winds knocked down 15 utility poles and connected power lines. On the bridge, crews had cleared a safe path as of 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. The remaining section of East Marginal Way South southeast of 16th Avenue South, however, remained closed overnight to in order to keep repairing damaged traffic signal equipment.

Both routes are now open and safe to drive on.

Drivers should be careful and give any remaining crew members space to work safely as they restore permanent power connections to some traffic signals that are running on generators.

Two dead after tree crushes car in Fall City

In addition to closing these two routes, the windstorm caused widespread power outages throughout Seattle, impacting about 44,000 customers at its peak. The Seattle Department of Transportation says it also received more than 175 reports of storm damage affecting roads, mostly fallen trees and branches.

The ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.

Booster doses of COVID vaccines available in Washington for eligible individuals

At this clinic, eligible vaccinated individuals can receive booster shots of Pfizer, Moderna, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Once approved by federal and state officials, the clinic will also offer first and second Pfizer doses to children ages 5-11.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, Seattle has led the way on COVID-19 with the fewest cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of any major U.S. city, and we did that by following the science,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan in a written statement. “Science is telling us today that the best way to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our community from COVID is to get vaccinated. As we move into the holiday season and join with friends and family more frequently indoors, vaccinations become even more important.”

“The new West Seattle Vaccination Clinic will add capacity to provide thousands of vaccines and boosters to the West Seattle and South Park communities, supporting equitable access in one of our more diverse parts of the city,” Durkan continued. “I’m grateful to Neighborhood House and Pliable, who continue to rise to the occasion to support our neighbors all throughout the pandemic. Through our partnership we can continue to ensure the City of Seattle remains one of the highest vaccinated cities in the country.”

The new West Seattle clinic will have the capacity to give up to 1,600 shots per week. Pliable nursing teams are helping to operate the clinic. It will open Friday, Oct. 29, and will operate Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Proof of insurance and identification are not required; proof of vaccination is recommended for those receiving second or booster doses.

Seattle to open COVID vaccination hub downtown, relaunch mobile teams

Earlier in October, the city relaunched the Seattle Fire Department Mobile Vaccination Teams to help fill gaps in vaccine administration with the capacity to provide up to 200 vaccinations per week. The West Seattle clinic announcement also follows the launch of a high-capacity vaccination clinic over the weekend in downtown Seattle, at the Amazon Meeting Center.

Find a vaccine near you with the state’s tool, or call 833-VAX-HELP. For a list of vaccines offered in Seattle and more details, visit the city’s .

Seattle mayor announces $7.5 million in funds for neighborhood recovery

The “Seattle Relief Fund” is a $16 million program to low-income residents and their households who have been impacted by the pandemic.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan made the announcement at 11 a.m. at Lake City Collective.

You may apply to the relief fund if you are low-income and if you or a member of your household live within the boundaries of the city of Seattle; is a Seattle Promise student; is a Seattle Public Schools students; or is an artist/cultural workers with an art studio or rehearsal space in Seattle.

It’s not first-come, first-served but rather applicants will be prioritized based on a set of vulnerability criteria. Eligible adult applicants filing for themselves will be able to receive a one-time payment of $1,000. Applicants with dependent children can receive a on-time payment up to $3,000.

Immigrants both documented and undocumented are also eligible. Any recipients of the 2020 Seattle COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund for Immigrants financial aid are not eligible.

King County rent relief dollars expected to start flowing faster

The application will be available online and in seven languages other than English. Community based organizations will be able to help over the phone and in-person to complete the online form. Applications will be open from Monday, Oct. 25, to Nov. 15.

The airport first earned the Salmon Safe certification in 2019 “for its long-running efforts to maintain water quality and natural habitat that supports the environmental needs of salmon.”

United Airlines will pull its last route out of Paine Field in October

In order to maintain its certification, Paine Field participates in a third-party verification process. That includes a site inspection to evaluate airport environmental programs, like landscape practices, stormwater treatment, and review of documentation on water quality and flow.

“Polluted runoff is the single biggest threat to Puget Sound, and through its recertification commitment, Paine Field is committing to ongoing actions to protect downstream water quality,” said Molly Ray, the Puget Sound director with Salmon Safe. “We look forward to working closely with the airport as it continues to raise the bar for environmental management within the aviation industry.”

“It is our belief that we can have a clean environment while continuing to be a leading economic engine that supports over 158,000 jobs with an annual economic impact of almost $60 billion,” said Arif Ghouse, the airport director.

Testing out the newly-opened Paine Field Airport in 2019

The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Allen Institute, the University of Washington, and Husky Stadium are other local examples of infrastructure and projects that have earned certification.

Seattle area groups asking for volunteers to help arriving Afghan refugees

Gov. Jay Inslee spoke Friday from the airport’s to celebrate the arrival of Afghans evacuating from their home country.

“Today I’m here to declare that Washington state is a welcoming state for the people from Afghanistan, leaving the chaos of Afghanistan to come to the fertile fields of Washington state, to help build our state,” Inslee said.

Our work is not done. The newly arriving Afghans still need our community to rally on their behalf.

— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee)

The governor said about 340 refugees have already arrived in Washington, and another 1,400 people are expected to arrive in the weeks and months ahead.

“We are a compassionate state,” Inslee said, noting that there are three reasons to celebrate this and look at it as a joyous occasion.

The first reason, he explained, is because welcoming refugees is an expression of who we are as a state, and has been part of the state’s history for decades. He says 150,000 refugees have come to Washington from around the world since 1975.

“This is a statement of our values of caring for other people,” he said Friday.

Second, it’s an expression of commitment to our allies in Afghanistan. Third, Inslee said, is because “we are bringing people to our state to help build our state, to build our high-tech companies, to build our medical core, to build our educational system.”

“We know that’s what happens when we bring refugees here,” he said.

Gov. Inslee called on people to help with the volunteer efforts to help refugees rebuild their lives, and condemned the recent local acts of Islamophobia.

King County to repurpose homeless hotel to house Afghan refugees

As the refugees come to Washington to seek safety from the Taliban, health leaders also want to make sure they’re safe from COVID. State Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah said when they arrive, Afghan refugees get access to health care, and are given the vaccine if they haven’t already been able to get it.

“We do everything we can to protect not just the Afghani who is coming in, the families of Afghanis, but also the community at large,” Shah said.

A number of local groups, including the Muslim Association of Puget Sound and CAIR Washington, have stepped up to help refugees as they arrive and start to make a home in Washington. Local businesses are providing housing, helping financially, and assisting in transportation, including Airbnb, Microsoft, Alaska Airlines, and others.

Visit to find out how you can donate funds, supplies, or time as a volunteer.

Watch the full press conference .

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio reporter Nicole Jennings contributed to this report.

The held a public hearing Thursday about repealing the law, which requires all bicyclists to wear a helmet.

New protected bike lane through downtown Seattle opens on Fourth Avenue

According to the proposed resolution in support of repealing the law, data shows that cyclists of color receive tickets more frequently than white cyclists under the current helmet regulation, and that it is a common reason for law enforcement to engage with unhoused people.

Ultimately, the board decided to delay a vote on the repeal until at least late November in order to get more information and allow for further discussion from relevant stakeholders.

The vote Thursday would have involved a proposed repeal of the helmet regulations, and a resolution that affirms the board’s position that helmets save lives and can prevent head and brain injuries.

“This is not a conversation about the value of helmets,” King County Councilmember Joe McDermott said. “We know helmets save lives.”

Echoing McDermott’s statement and the affirmation in the resolution, it was made clear during public comment that the question is not whether to wear a helmet or if a helmet provides additional safety, but rather that the law is unequally enforced.

Multiple commenters spoke against a repeal of the helmet law, emphasizing that traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are very common in accidents when people don’t wear a helmet. Speakers included parents of children with TBI, attorneys representing people with TBI, as well as doctors and public health officials.

“We’re asking for a delay so we have more dialogue to come up with a real solution,” one commenter said. “Helmet laws prevent traumatic brain injury — it’s that simple.”

A commenter whose husband suffered a TBI that could have been much worse had he not been wearing a helmet, pointed out that while some people choose to wear helmets — and would always choose to wear helmets — that’s not universal. This person said a law like what is on the books is a sure way to get more people to wear a helmet while biking.

Others argued the helmet law hasn’t actually changed whether or not people wear helmets, and does more harm to marginalized communities due to the unequal enforcement.

“The helmet law is not serving its purpose. For one, it’s minimally enforced at the discretion of police officers,” said one commenter who supports the repeal.

This person added that when it is enforced, records from police show that it’s predominately used as a pretext to ask someone questions, run their ID, check for warrants, or other things that are not related the helmet regulation, “not good faith, public education.”

“As long as the law remains on the books, police will continue to misuse it in this way,” they said.

Rantz: Seattle activists claim bicycle helmet laws are racist, council may repeal

UW Medicine’s noted in public comment that if the helmet law is repealed, “BIPOC communities will be more adversely effected because TBI is disproportionally represented in BIPOC communities. More Black and brown children and adults will die.”

“I know that preventing TBI is way more effective than treating TBI,” Vavilala said.

She says part of her work is to reduce the TBI burden in the region through a health equity lens, and she knows helmet enforcement is inequitable.

“You may wonder, how do I reconcile my pro-helmet, anti-brain injury, and anti-racist views into a constructive path forward? How can my comments help the board of health today? As an immediate step, I would humbly request the board of health urgently commission a third party to conduct a diverse, stakeholder engaged, and data-driven assessment of the genesis, current state, and impact of repealing the helmet law, with two outcomes in mind: safety and equity,” she suggested. “This work then would inform the intermediate and long-term goals and upstream strategies and tactics needed.”

Dr. Vivilala supported delaying the vote.

Seventeen jurisdictions within King County have their own helmet laws, and any change to the helmet requirement from the county board of health would not impact the regulations in those jurisdictions.

This is the 10th year Washington state has participated in .

Washington’s new earthquake warning system is live

At 10:21 a.m. on Oct. 21, you are invited to drop, cover, and hold on, wherever you are, whether that’s at work, at home, or at school. At the same time, Washington’s 122 coastal tsunami sirens will be tested.

That network of coastal tsunami sirens emit a wailing sound, which is different from the Westminster Chimes that are used during monthly tests. Plus, the state says many of the sirens are new, so you may be hearing them coming from new directions. Some new sirens are still being worked on and may not be used during the test. Washington Emergency Management Division asks that you do not call 911. NOAA Weather Radios will also sound an alarm.

If you’re on the coast, the department suggest walking your evacuation route or at least figuring out where you would need to go to evacuate. If you hear tsunami siren wailing any other time than during this drill on Oct. 21, follow the closest evacuation route inland or to high ground.

If you’re working from home, Emergency Management says this is a good time to look at your environment for hazards and to talk to your family about where you would gather if your home was hit by an earthquake. If you’re at work or have kids in school, they recommend asking what plans are in place if an earthquake happens.

Study shows impact of Cascadia tsunami on Puget Sound communities

More than 1 million Washington residents have registered to participate in the drill Thursday. Registration isn’t required, but it’s available .

During the event, use #ShakeOut on social media to join others across the country posting pictures of themselves under desks or using proper earthquake protection techniques. Download a free “Prepare in a Year” guide to find steps to take each month to get prepared .

The ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.

Trick or Street Blocks in Seattle allow for socially distant Halloween

The Seattle Department of Transportation says you can apply for a free Trick or Street permit for Halloween celebrations in your neighborhood, or to celebrate Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos).

The permit allows neighborhoods to close their residential street to vehicles for safer trick-or-treating and community-building festivities. The street closures can last until 10 p.m.

Follow the instructions and guidelines to apply . In the “Project Name” field, SDOT says to enter “Trick or Street” or “Day of the Dead” in order to be prioritized. Applications should be submitted by 5 p.m. on Oct. 15 for guaranteed timely review and approval, but applications will be accepted after that.

For those who live on a street already designated as a “Stay Healthy Street,” it’s even easier to host an event since your street already has barricades and street closed signs. No additional permits are needed to host a Trick or Street on an existing Stay Healthy Street, but you will need to follow the guidelines, and you can out to let people driving by know about your activity.

Dr. Fauci says fine to trick-or-treat this year

Participants are encouraged to wear a mask and maintain six feet of distance from others.

Play Street and Block Party permits are also available to individuals, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout the year.

Northwest Carpenters Union votes to approve new contract

As part of the accepted agreement with the Associated General Contractors of Washington, the existing parking zone in Seattle for which expenses will be covered has been expanded. It now includes First Hill and a first-ever parking zone to be established in Bellevue by June 2022.

Sawant, however, wants that to go further. She unveiled legislation this week requiring contractors in Seattle to pay the cost of parking for construction workers and called on the City Council to enact it.

The councilmember’s bill would mandate that contractors reimburse 100% of the parking expenses of construction workers in the city. According to a press release from Sawant’s office, some workers currently have to pay $100-150 a week or more for parking near jobs downtown, and many contractors either do not provide free parking or they limit reimbursement.

There are some building trades union members, however, who have won paid parking in their union contracts, which a release about the councilmember’s new legislation says demonstrates that contractors “can indeed provide free parking.”

“Shamefully, construction industry contractors, who have made billions in profits off the backs of workers, have refused to cover the cost of parking for carpenters and many other construction workers,” Sawant said in a written release.

She also noted that parking costs were one of the main reasons for the recent strike by the Northwest Carpenters Union, along with a demand for better wages and benefits.

Sawant demanding that the city council adopt fully-paid parking for construction workers that she says has been signed by more than 1,000 people so far.