News

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced a plan to transfer most homelessness service contracts from the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) back to the Seattle Human Services Department and King County's Department of Community and Human Services, with transfers commencing in January 2027. This restructuring addresses significant financial management and oversight concerns identified in an independent forensic evaluation, aiming to strengthen accountability and preserve critical services.

Seattle and King County officials have unveiled a comprehensive plan to restructure the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA), aiming to enhance financial oversight and ensure uninterrupted services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Seattle Councilmember Dionne Foster has introduced legislation to protect homeowners from predatory real estate solicitation by creating a "Do Not Solicit List" that allows homeowners to opt out of unwanted communications.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s Delta Upsilon Omega Chapter and its Dynamic Urban Opportunities Foundation (DUOF) organized a Community Cash Mob to support Black woman-owned business KeenEye & Co. during Black Dollar Days, encouraging community members to make intentional purchases and promoting economic empowerment.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Washington's vote-by-mail system, allowing states to count mail-in ballots received after Election Day if they are postmarked on or before Election Day.

Seattle's 'Buying With Purpose' initiative is investing $1.3 million in annual food purchases from local farms and BIPOC-owned food producers to strengthen the regional food system and expand opportunities for historically underrepresented growers.

The City of Seattle will invest $8 million in homelessness prevention services in 2027 to provide rental assistance, eviction prevention, legal services, case management and a centralized application process to help residents avoid eviction and remain housed.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the President may remove leaders of independent federal agencies without cause, overturning a 1935 precedent and significantly expanding executive power. However, the Court blocked the Trump administration's immediate attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, emphasizing the requirement for due process amid contested mortgage fraud allegations. In a separate decision, the justices upheld state laws allowing the counting of mail-in ballots received after Election Day, a ruling that counters former President Trump's stance on voting restrictions.

The Supreme Court has mandated that law enforcement obtain a warrant for the use of "geofence warrants" to capture cell phone location data, a ruling that redefines Fourth Amendment protections against governmental intrusion into personal privacy. This decision requires officers to secure judicial approval for such data requests, addressing concerns about police access to vast quantities of personal information stored by companies.

The State of the Nation's Housing 2026 report, released by Harvard's Joint Center on Housing Studies, reveals that Black America faces a comprehensive housing crisis. This crisis, stemming from issues including affordability, homelessness, climate change, and discrimination, demands coordinated action across federal, state, local, private, and nonprofit sectors.