Local

Seattle is advancing safety improvements along Beacon Avenue South, a high-injury corridor with 242 crashes since 2021, by designing central and southern segment upgrades including protected bike lanes. SDOT invites Beacon Hill residents to share input through an online survey, pop-up event, open house and virtual meeting throughout October.

Walter Washington, owner of Wally's NW Soul Experience in Seattle's Central District, starts each day with prayer before cooking scratch-made soul food like smoked turkey, red beans and rice, and candied yams. Beyond the kitchen, he mentors youth through academic incentives and community programs, making his restaurant a gathering place featured in the Pack the House campaign.

Seattle barbers Jabari Hayes and Jameel Shabazz lead Fades of the Future, a free Tuesday program at Garfield Community Center teaching young people barbering skills, professionalism and mentorship. Beyond haircuts, the initiative aims to build confidence and career pathways, with the pair working toward opening a Black-owned barber and cosmetology school in Seattle's Central District.

Seattle Municipal Court judges have re-elected Anita Crawford-Willis as presiding judge and Damon Shadid as assistant presiding judge for a two-year term through 2028. Judge Pooja Vaddadi joins the Executive Committee, succeeding retiring Judge Willie Gregory. The court highlighted recent growth, including new pro tem judges, an expanded magistrate team, and preparations to onboard three incoming judges in January.

Garfield High School's Reclaiming the Village initiative brings parents, students, alumni and educators together to rebuild community ties strained by the pandemic and gentrification. Led by Principal Dr. Tarance Hart and community leaders Nichelle Page and Arika Townsend, the effort focuses on family engagement, student advocacy, and teacher development to strengthen the historically significant Central District school's culture.

Seattle's minimum wage will climb to $22.14 an hour on January 1, 2027, continuing annual inflation adjustments under the city's 2014 ordinance. While workers gain purchasing power, small business owners like Fat's Chicken and Waffles' Erika White face mounting payroll costs. The Seattle Medium examines this ongoing tension, featuring insights from Office of Labor Standards director Steven Marchese on wage calculations and enforcement.

Fat's Chicken and Waffles, owned by Erika White, has served Southern and New Orleans-inspired soul food in Seattle's Central District since 2015. Known for scratch-made biscuits, chicken and waffles, and a loyal decade-long staff, the restaurant embodies family and community. Now featured in The Seattle Medium's Pack the House campaign supporting Black-owned restaurants.

Washington may receive over $12 million from a proposed $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals, accused of conspiring to inflate generic drug prices. Attorney General Nick Brown joined 43 states seeking court approval. Consumers and businesses who purchased affected drugs between May 2009 and December 2019 may qualify for compensation via AGGenericDrugs.com.

Seattle Medium's Rhythm News Podcast host Christopher B. Bennett speaks with Navy veteran and community advocate B. Maurice Ward about his commentary on youth gun possession and its hidden risks. The discussion ties into the upcoming Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum, which educates young people on legal rights, responsibilities, and life-altering consequences.

B. Maurice Ward examines why many King County youth underestimate the risks of firearm possession, warning that a gun's hidden history and legal consequences can alter lives even without violence. He urges adults to address fear and pressure driving young people toward weapons, build trust, and offer safe alternatives, emphasizing informed decisions over judgment.