Local

The Washington state House has approved House Bill 2355, known as the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, by a vote of 57 to 39. This legislation seeks to enhance workplace protections for domestic workers, including house cleaners, nannies, and caregivers, by ensuring minimum wage, overtime pay, and other essential benefits. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Brianna Thomas, D West Seattle, addresses long-standing inequities in the domestic labor industry and now awaits consideration by the Senate.

In a concerted effort to address potential human rights violations, Seattle and King County officials have introduced emergency legislation aimed at halting the expansion of ICE detention facilities. This move responds to federal plans for increased funding and expansion of such centers, which have raised significant concerns about the treatment of detainees.

The Seattle City Council has unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the Seattle Social Housing Developer, transferring $115 million to acquire and develop publicly owned, permanently affordable housing for working residents across the city. This vote marks the first major funding milestone for the agency, which was established by voter-approved Initiative 135 in 2023.

Boon Boona Coffee celebrated the grand opening of its new café on Seattle's waterfront, bringing together friends, family, community members, city leaders and Seattle sports figures to reflect the heart of Boon Boona's journey.

Odessa Brown Children's Clinic has completed the second phase of its expanded Central District campus, offering full-spectrum primary care, immunizations, behavioral and mental health services, and trauma recovery programs in partnership with local organizations.

Black women serving in the Washington State Legislature face persistent barriers shaped by both race and gender, despite working in a state often considered progressive, and must navigate systems that remain structurally exclusionary.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has unveiled a proposal for a "millionaire's tax," aimed at generating revenue to address key affordability issues in Washington. The plan includes funding for two years of free tuition at public universities, universal school meals, enhanced K-12 education funding, and the removal of state property taxes on the first $300,000 of home value.

Seattle is set to honor the Seahawks' Super Bowl LX victory with a grand parade on February 11th, anticipating a turnout of 750,000 to one million fans. Extensive transit planning has been implemented to manage the large crowd effectively.

Hundreds of Seattle students from schools across the district walked out of classes and protested against ICE and immigration injustice, demanding justice for immigrant communities and calling for the agency to be dismantled.

On Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 6346, known as the "millionaire’s tax," which would impose a 9.9% income tax on Washington residents earning more than $1 million annually. The bill aims to direct revenue toward expanding the Working Families Tax Credit, providing tax breaks for small businesses, eliminating the sales tax on personal hygiene products, and boosting K–12 education funding.