News

Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans launched Connection Court, a diversion program offering social services to low-level misdemeanor defendants, alongside HiPRO, a stricter policy targeting repeat offenders. The reforms also add specialized prosecutors for human trafficking and firearm violence, expanding cooperation with King County and reflecting a broader public safety strategy balancing rehabilitation with accountability.

The US Treasury Department has imposed a more than $1.2 billion fine on Bank of America, accusing it of violating anti-money laundering and sanctions laws.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan’s firing squad execution will not be livestreamed, reversing an announcement from the Pentagon last week.

King County Council approved a 0.01% sales and use tax to fund child care, shelter, rental assistance and family support services starting Jan. 1, 2027. Despite Councilmember Reagan Dunn's objections over taxing without voter approval amid ongoing fraud oversight concerns, sponsors cited rising family homelessness as justification, with allocation decisions to be determined through the county's budget process.

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.

A Center for American Progress analysis warns that the Trump administration's use of the federal SAVE system to flag noncitizens on voter rolls has produced numerous false matches in Nevada, Missouri and Texas, wrongly identifying eligible citizens. Researchers urge election officials to verify discrepancies before removing voters ahead of November's midterms.

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.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley announced federal job guarantee legislation at the CBC Foundation's conference, highlighting racial unemployment gaps and financial pressures on Black families. Panelists discussed how Black women's unemployment affects household income, health coverage, and children, while emphasizing community resilience and systemic policy failures requiring urgent action.

Scholar Michael Eric Dyson delivered his inaugural lecture as Livingstone College's new Visiting Scholar in Residence, urging HBCU students to continue the "unfinished fight" for justice. Speaking at the 2026 convocation, Dyson cited civil rights icons like Thurgood Marshall and MLK as examples, emphasizing Black excellence as the norm while launching a four-part series on Black thought, faith, hip-hop and democracy.