Seattle Today

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is proposing to double the city’s transit sales tax from 0.15% to 0.30% as part of a 10-year measure that would renew and expand transit funding first approved by voters in 2020.

City officials say the measure would generate an average of about $138 million annually to fund additional bus service, transit access programs, streetcar operations, and other transportation improvements across Seattle. The current Seattle Transit Measure, which passed with roughly 80% support in 2020, is set to expire in March 2027.

The proposal would increase the transit portion of Seattle’s sales tax from 15 cents to 30 cents on a $100 taxable purchase. While supporters argue the funding is needed to improve transit reliability and expand service, opponents are likely to question whether Seattle residents can afford another tax increase amid ongoing concerns about the cost of living.

The proposal now goes to the Seattle City Council, which will take public comment and decide whether to place it on the ballot. If referred, voters would likely decide the measure in November, and it would not take effect unless approved.

A massive fire destroyed a landscaping business in Redmond early Wednesday morning, burning two buildings and approximately 15 vehicles.

Fire crews from multiple agencies responded to the scene on Redmond Fall City Road after the blaze broke out around 3 a.m. Officials said the fire spread across the property, damaging buildings, vehicles, and nearby vegetation. Firefighters also reported hearing explosions from fuel tanks and other materials during the response.

No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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SeattleToday PublicSafety

Sound Transit’s 1 Line experienced delays Tuesday evening after a vehicle ended up on the tracks near Mount Baker Station, disrupting service for riders traveling through South Seattle.

Crews responded to the incident while trains moved through the area at reduced speeds, causing delays in both directions. The cause of how the vehicle reached the tracks was not immediately clear.

Mount Baker Station sits approximately 35 feet above ground, raising questions about how the vehicle reached the tracks. The car appears to have traveled along the guideway before eventually coming to a stop near the station platform.

Despite the disruption, Sound Transit continued limited service, with trains operating between Lynnwood City Center and Stadium stations, as well as between Federal Way Downtown and Othello stations.

Photo Credit: Reddit user u/nupuflupu

Washington is now one of the first states in the country to formally address menopause in the workplace.

On Monday, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Executive Order 26-01, directing state agencies to strengthen policies around a life stage affecting an estimated 38 per cent of working women in Washington aged 40 to 59. Symptoms like hot flushes, insomnia and difficulty concentrating can affect productivity and careers.

Mayo Clinic research puts the cost of untreated symptoms at around 1.8 billion dollars in lost productivity nationally each year, with two in five women having considered leaving their jobs as a result.

“We are losing women in the workforce with tremendous knowledge and experience because we are not doing enough to prepare for a natural stage of life,” Ferguson said.

The order calls for low-cost accommodations including flexible schedules, temperature control and relaxed dress codes, and directs the Washington State Women’s Commission to develop guidance for public and private employers.

Salt & Straw, the Portland-based ice cream company with several popular scoop shops in Seattle, is reportedly exploring a sale that could value the business at more than $200 million, according to Reuters.

The brand has grown from a Northwest favorite into a major West Coast name, with around 50 locations and expanded grocery sales.

No buyer has been announced, and no deal has been finalized, but the report is drawing attention as one of the region’s best-known food brands weighs its next chapter.