News

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.

Nine states have redrawn congressional maps ahead of the midterms, shifting roughly one in ten voters into new districts. Through tactics like packing and cracking, these changes—often favoring Republicans—threaten to dilute Black voters' political influence, potentially affecting representation on healthcare, schools, and civil rights issues Black communities have long fought to secure.

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.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley announced federal job guarantee legislation proposing $25 hourly wages during a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation panel addressing Black unemployment disparities. Panelists highlighted stark income gaps affecting Black women and families, discussed healthcare coverage losses during unemployment, and emphasized community mutual aid networks as solutions to systemic economic inequities facing Black households nationwide.

Osteria la Spiga's executive chef and co-owner Sabrina Tinsley has spent over 25 years bringing Emilia-Romagna's culinary traditions to Seattle. From handmade pastas to seasonal dishes, Tinsley's Black-owned Capitol Hill restaurant blends authentic Italian cuisine with community spirit, now featured in the Pack the House campaign supporting local Black-owned businesses.

Seattle's Jack and Jill chapter is organizing an Oct. 17 postcard drive in Kent aiming to send 5,000 handwritten messages urging infrequent voters in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas to participate in midterm elections. Vice President Nicole Alston-Abel, whose father marched on Bloody Sunday, calls the effort personal, highlighting voting barriers and gerrymandering affecting Black communities nationwide.

The Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum, marking over 35 years of legal education for Seattle-area youth, expands this year into AI, social media and cybersecurity. Security architect Rodney Moseley leads a new series using real-world scenarios exploring digital identity, privacy and online responsibility. The free Nov. 14 event features keynote speaker Erin Jones in Tukwila.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Delta Upsilon Omega and Zeta Omega Omega chapters will host a free public policy forum Oct. 17 at Highline College, focusing on voter education and civic engagement. Featuring Attorney General Nick Brown, state legislators and election officials, the event aims to encourage year-round community involvement beyond presidential election cycles.

A week after a cybercriminal group claimed to steal sensitive personal data on thousands of current and former FBI employees, the bureau is still assessing the extent of the damage while facing internal criticism about the agency’s handling of the incident.

President Donald Trump’s order to levy 100% tariffs on certain patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients takes effect on Tuesday.