Local

Naomi Dancer, a senior at Renton High School, has been awarded the 2026 Shareece S. Hayes Finer Womanhood Scholarship by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, for her leadership, academic achievement, and commitment to community service.

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay is highlighting early progress in a broad effort to strengthen financial oversight, improve accountability and increase transparency across county government, following a series of reforms launched during his first 100 days in office.

Seattle City Council members Debora Juarez, Eddie Lin, and Council President Joy Hollingsworth have introduced legislation for a 365-day emergency moratorium on new data center development, citing concerns about rising utility costs, environmental impacts, and infrastructure strain, with a focus on conducting impact studies and addressing disproportionate burdens on communities such as South Seattle.

Washington State's Candidate Filing Week is scheduled to commence on May 4, offering residents the opportunity to declare candidacy for more than 16,700 elected positions. The filing period, which includes options for online and in-person submissions, will conclude on May 8.

The Seattle Medium, the Pacific Northwest’s largest minority-owned and operated newspaper, has launched its inaugural “Best of the Best Northwest” Reader’s Choice Awards, inviting community participation to recognize and celebrate businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders. This initiative, employing a public nomination and voting process, aims to highlight those making significant contributions to the region by empowering others, enhancing culture, and improving the quality of life.

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of April 27.

What's been happening with home prices in Seattle, WA, in 2026, and how do they compare to previous years? Redfin Real Estate analyzed the city's January-March average median sale price over the last four years to find out.

Seattle Public Schools will implement a new districtwide cellphone policy on May 4, mandating that students keep phones off and out of sight during the school day, with regulations varying by grade level. This measure aims to standardize enforcement, reduce classroom distractions, and promote equitable learning environments across all schools.

Black women in Washington's public sector have reported widespread workplace harm, limited support, and systemic inequities, with 99.8% of respondents experiencing some form of harmful behavior and 75% of respondents reporting negative effects on mental health.

Seattle leaders and Ghanaian officials met to explore how the region can serve as a gateway for U.S. companies looking to engage with one of Africa's most stable and rapidly growing economies, emphasizing trade, investment and shared economic growth as the foundation for future collaboration.