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Washington Attorney General’s Office looking into complaints about Brown Paper Tickets owing artists money


Earlier this year, clients of the Seattle-based online ticket broker — many of them artists and small-business owners — said they haven't been paid for events, some dating back to last year. Some, still unpaid, have been turning to Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson for help.




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Seattle-area cultural organizations projected to lose up to $135 million in revenue because of coronavirus


ArtsFund on Monday announced new projections about pandemic-related losses in regional arts, cultural and scientific nonprofits, as well as its first round of coronavirus-related relief grants.




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Mother’s Day cards you can color, cut out and give to mom


Here are some Mother's Day cards you can download and make.




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Seattle man selling art on his sidewalk. The price? A donation to help the hungry.


Montlake resident Aaron Hooley said he has made 50 to 60 metal sculptures and has raised $13,500 so far — and he has no plans to stop.




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In one month, the meat industry’s supply chain broke. Here’s what you need to know.


With closures in meat processing plants across the country because of the spread of the coronavirus among workers, food analysts are forecasting shortages of beef, pork and poultry on store shelves. Here's a Q&A on what is happening to the food supply chain.




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Starbucks sales tumble as global shutdowns caused by coronavirus hit its stores


In the U.S., Starbucks has temporarily closed half its 8,000 company-owned stores. It's planning to reopen 90% of those with modifications by early June.




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Costco to require masks for shoppers to protect against coronavirus


Costco will require shoppers to wear masks that cover their mouth and nose while in the store starting Monday, the company says.




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Amazon prepares first earnings report from coronavirus era, as pandemic accelerates retail trends in its favor


The company’s first-quarter earnings report will provide a view of how the pandemic has accelerated trends already working in its favor, and the extent to which coronavirus restrictions on businesses and consumers have boosted Amazon’s sales.




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Macy’s plans to reopen all of its 775 stores in 6 to 8 weeks


Macy’s made its announcement the same week documents from Simon Property Group, the country’s biggest mall operator, outlined plans to reopen 49 shopping centers across 10 states between Friday and Monday.




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Amazon, Instacart workers launch May Day strike to protest treatment during the coronavirus pandemic


The onset of the coronavirus and the subsequent classification of many of these workers as "essential" have heightened some existing tensions. Workers have accused companies of being slow to provide protective gear and implement precautions, something that may put them in danger.




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Pike Place Market mentors advise crafters on staying afloat during coronavirus shutdown


When the crafts market at Pike Place Market was forced to temporarily shut down, vendors are turning to online sales and getting help in doing that from their fellow workers.




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Whole Foods to provide face masks for shoppers to prevent spread of coronavirus in stores


Amazon-owned Whole Foods will provide grocery shoppers with free single-use masks at all its stores beginning this week, in keeping with the chain's "request" that all shoppers wear masks.




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J.Crew files for Chapter 11 as pandemic chokes retail sector


NEW YORK (AP) — Struggling fashion brand J.Crew has filed for bankruptcy protection, the first major retailer to do so since the coronavirus pandemic forced most stores across the United States to close their doors. More retail bankruptcies are expected in coming weeks, with Neiman Marcus and J.C. Penney also facing problems. Gap Inc. has […]




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J. Crew files for bankruptcy in coronavirus pandemic’s first big retail casualty


J. Crew announced that its parent company, Chinos Holdings, had filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.




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Amazon wins business from reluctant brands after coronavirus closes stores


Before the pandemic, many brands and wholesalers kept Amazon at arm's length. Now, consultants that help brands navigate Amazon's marketplace say the company is attracting a broad range of vendors that sold at physical stores.




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Where’s the beef? Production shutdown leads to shortages


The effects of the coronavirus pandemic have moved beyond meat processing plants and are now hitting dinner plates.




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Starbucks will reopen 85% of its coffee shops, but with new protocols


Starbucks this week started reopening stores in Seattle that had been closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.




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Nordstrom permanently closing 16 full-line stores as it adapts to coronavirus era


The Seattle-based company also said Wednesday it will make changes to how its stores function when they do open in a “market-by-market” approach.




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Mask or no mask? New social tension splits Seattle-area residents in coronavirus era


Since health officials began recommending (but not requiring) that everyone cover their faces in public to reduce the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, a new divide has emerged over who wears a mask and who doesn't.




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Neiman Marcus files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy


Neiman Marcus Group, the 113-year-old chain known for its high-end department stores, filed for bankruptcy on Thursday, making it the second major retailer to do so during the coronavirus pandemic. The Dallas-based retailer has struggled to pay down nearly $5 billion in debt, much of it from leveraged buyouts in 2005 and 2013. The pandemic […]




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Store workers become enforcers of social distancing rules


Even if a security guard is posted at the store, employees complain they are often left to stand up to defiant shoppers.




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2% of Puget Sound households received grocery delivery last year, before coronavirus changed shopping


The most popular online grocery category was packaged foods such as breakfast cereal and pasta; followed by toiletries, personal care products and diapers; household cleaners and paper products; and frozen food.




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Supermarket chains begin terminating ‘hero’ pay to workers as coronavirus pandemic continues


Kroger-owned QFC and Fred Meyer will discontinue their $2-an-hour "Hero Bonus'' premiums paid to workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Ohio-based Kroger has set May 16 as the program's final date while other large grocery retailers ponder the future of similar bonuses.




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Details emerge on which Nordstrom stores will be shuttered


Locations are emerging around the country as the retailer informs its landlords and its employees.




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County has highest rate of COVID-19 cases on West Coast


SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The highest rate of coronavirus cases of any county on the U.S. West Coast is in Washington state’s Yakima County. Health experts point to a large number of essential workers, a large number of cases in long-term care facilities and a large agricultural workforce living and working in close quarters as […]




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Washington’s barbers, hair salons, some in-store retail could restart June 1 amid coronavirus crisis


Those businesses are part of phase two in the four-phase gradual reopening plan released Friday by Gov. Jay Inslee.




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Seattle to provide eviction protection for 6 months after coronavirus moratorium expires


The city council, however, rejected a proposal to exempt landlords with four or fewer housing units.




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Vote-by-mail debate raises fears of election disinformation


WASHINGTON (AP) — A bitterly partisan debate unfolding on whether more Americans should cast their votes through the mail during a pandemic is provoking online disinformation and conspiracy theories that could undermine trust in the results, even if there are no major problems. With social distancing guidelines possibly curtailing in-person voting at the polls in […]




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Seattle City Council authorizes $8M to buy and prep site for new Fire Station 31


The new Fire Station 31 will replace an existing station that shut down last June, due to concerns about unhealthful conditions, including mold.




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Unofficial numbers show $7 billion hit to Washington state revenue through 2023 from coronavirus downturn


In the unofficial forecast numbers, Washington would lose $3.8 billion in revenue this current budget cycle. An additional $3.27 billion would be sheared off the 2021-23 budget cycle.




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Snohomish County to pay fourth settlement over former prosecutor


The lawsuit echoed allegations made by other former employees claiming Mark Roe spoke and acted inappropriately while serving as the county’s top prosecutor from 2009 until his retirement in 2018.




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Four Republican lawmakers sue Inslee over coronavirus stay-home order, contending ‘the emergency has been contained’


Plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim Gov. Inslee has not adequately considered targeted measures to protect that population, while allowing others to return to work and school.




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Some tribal casinos reopen amid coronavirus pandemic, despite Washington state’s stay-home order


Tribes operate their facilities on their lands, where they retain decision-making authority -- despite Gov. Jay Inslee's stay-home order, in place until the end of May.




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Gov. Inslee connected personal contacts with Washington state officials in hunt for coronavirus supplies


Amid a national frenzy to buy medical supplies for use in the COVID-19 outbreak, Washington state suspended competitive bidding and recruited help from the private sector. Gov. Inslee connected personal contacts with state buyers.




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Mask or no mask? New social tension splits Seattle-area residents in coronavirus era


Since health officials began recommending (but not requiring) that everyone cover their faces in public to reduce the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, a new divide has emerged over who wears a mask and who doesn't.




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Oregon Gov. Kate Brown presents plan to reopen amid coronavirus


Brown said that on May 15 she will loosen restrictions statewide on day cares and on retail shops that were previously closed, including furniture stores, boutiques, jewelry stores and art galleries.




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Proposal to tax big businesses will be shelved by Seattle City Council during coronavirus emergency


The decision by Council President M. Lorena González and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda will stall the big-business tax championed by Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Tammy Morales, which already faced opposition from Mayor Jenny Durkan.




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Seattle, Department of Justice ask judge to release police from remaining consent decree oversight


Along with a 2018 ruling by the court that the city had reached full compliance with a 2012 consent decree, the request would dissolve virtually all remaining oversight of the police department regarding its use of force and other issues.




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A flurry of activity, confusion as Washington continues phase one of reopening amid the new coronavirus


Gov. Jay Inslee this week continued lifting restrictions included in his stay-home order meant to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, part of phase one in his four-phase plan to reopen the state. Some outdoor recreation opened earlier this week.




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Inslee: Retail stores can do curbside pickup, 5 counties on faster track to reopen amid coronavirus


Phase two is expected to begin for most areas on June 1, provided public-health data still looks favorable.




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GOP’s Freed withdraws request for court order; lawsuit over coronavirus ban on religious gatherings continues


Inslee's stay-home order, initially issued in March, bans church and religious services, but permits one-on-one "religious counseling," state lawyers argued.




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At a Republican candidate forum for Washington governor, the coronavirus barely exists


In the middle of a pandemic, the subject of the public's health never came up during a 90-minute GOP candidates for governor forum. It's like a metaphor for the alternate realities of our politics — and also why the GOP may be in more trouble than usual in the local elections this year.




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Fraudsters are faking Washington unemployment claims amid coronavirus joblessness surge


As Washington grapples with a tsunami of legitimate unemployment claims — more than 100,000 last week — the state also is seeing a rise in attempts by fraudsters to siphon off a portion of the benefits.




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Snohomish County will not pay for sheriff’s legal defense in recall effort over his refusal to enforce state’s stay-home order during pandemic


Prosecutor Adam Cornell likened the decision by Sheriff Adam Fortney to publicly question and refuse to enforce the stay-home order "to yelling 'fire' in a crowded theater."




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A team effort by Mariners, Bloodworks Northwest to donate blood


The Mariners teamed with Bloodworks Northwest for the appointment-only donor event to help ensure the region's blood supply is maintained during the coronavirus outbreak.




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MLB employees — from players to execs — become the subjects of a huge coronavirus study


MLB employees, from players to stadium workers to executives, are participating this week in a 10,000-person study aimed at understanding how many people in various parts of the United States have been infected with the coronavirus.




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With MLB shut down due to coronavirus, Mariners host video roundtable on Jackie Robinson Day


The Mariners have 10 African-American players on the 40-man roster — the most in MLB.




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Replay: Watch our writers’ roundtable chat on WNBA draft, MLB and Seahawks


Seattle Times writers Ryan Divish, Mike Vorel, Bob Condotta, Larry Stone, Jayda Evans and Matt Calkins got together for a roundtable discussion about the latest news in the Seattle sports world. Watch the replay here.





world news

Where the major sports stand amid the coronavirus pandemic


Nearly every sporting event, major and minor, has been canceled, moved or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s a look at where things stand with many of the top sports.