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Sound Transit sues longtime ally Microsoft in effort to condemn land for Redmond light rail


Sound Transit is suing Microsoft for land and access to build light rail from Overlake to downtown Redmond, and even claimed the software giant was creating risks of missing the agency's August 2024 goal to complete the project. The institutions differ by $17.5 million over how much Sound Transit should pay to buy land next to Highway 520, plus easement rights for worker access and equipment storage.




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Bill Gates, in rebuke of Trump, calls WHO funding cut during pandemic ‘as dangerous as it sounds’


Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend funding to the World Health Organization as “dangerous,” saying the payments should continue particularly during the global coronavirus pandemic. “Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds,” Gates tweeted early Wednesday. “Their work is […]




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Pentagon watchdog, in probe limited by White House, clears Microsoft’s $10 billion cloud-computing win over Amazon


The 317-page report by the inspector general also found that giving the contract to a single company — Microsoft — rather than dividing it among competitors was "consistent with applicable acquisition standards."




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Tech giants are profiting — and getting more powerful — even as the global economy tanks


As the pandemic wreaks havoc on the economy, tech giants Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft are benefiting enormously from a potentially permanent shift in consumer habits, leveraging their political clout by arguing that they are essential services, and gutting their competition.




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Microsoft to pitch new Xbox game console with monthly showcases


Microsoft, gearing up for its biggest-ever year of launches for Xbox products and services in the middle of a global pandemic and economic recession, will replace its plan for a splashy public game-conference event with a monthly series of online showcases.




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The Backstory: It’s all hands on deck at ‘Cape D’ — and we’re in very good hands


When the lifeboats aren’t rolling, destructive otters and an unusual hard hat are ‘things you’ve just got to roll with,’ says commanding officer Lt. Jessica Shafer.




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It’s not necessarily nosy if you just happen to eavesdrop on this Nextdoor ‘conversation’


Ron Judd re-creates a ‘typical’ exchange, where the case of a missing monkey quickly devolves into less-than-neighborly snark.




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Port Townsend wrestles with its increasingly complex identity and dizzying change


As a historically seafaring town that’s also way ahead of its time, picturesque Port Townsend hopes to grow respectfully, responsibly and authentically offbeat.




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The Backstory: Thankfully, this turkey-centered tradition can take a little ribbing


This year’s ode to the Thanksgiving feast is a tribute to folks for whom the mere thought of baking from scratch prompts a violent itch.




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Sasquatch is still a myth (despite the claims of 1 wildly unreliable source)


Whaddya know? No one has yet proved to Ron Judd that Bigfoot exists.



  • Pacific NW Magazine

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Jessica Shafer’s Coast Guard crew continues to thrive, even in challenging conditions


The first female commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment updates us on the challenges of keeping local vessels afloat and off the rocks.



  • Pacific NW Magazine

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ER doctor who criticized Bellingham hospital’s coronavirus protections has been fired


An emergency room physician has been fired after he publicly decried what he called a lack of protective measures against the novel coronavirus at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. The hospital is the only emergency facility for some 250,000 people in the state’s northwest corner.




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2020: The year to ditch diet culture


Thinness and wellness aren’t synonymous, and neither are obesity and illness. It’s time to question outdated notions of body size and health.




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Yes, it’s still raining around Seattle — here are some tips for getting out and hiking anyway


Despite the wind, rain, fog and cold, there are plenty of Seattle-area hikers who love to get outdoors during the inclement weather of winter. Here are their tips for enjoying Washington's trails, no matter the season.




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Waiting out the coronavirus? Here are 4 workouts you can do at home


Quarantine means staying inside. Here are some exercise activities you can do while staying put.




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Weekend Plus adjusts to new realities of coronavirus pandemic


Dear readers: You’re adjusting to new realities introduced by the novel coronavirus, and Weekend Plus is, too. Starting today and in the coming weeks, you’ll find fewer restaurant and entertainment listings in this section and more emphasis on things you can enjoy at home, including: • Recipes and takeout food • Family activities • Recommended […]




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Eating through the coronavirus? Take deep breaths instead of another handful of Cheez-Its


In the time of the hunkering down at home for the novel coronavirus, everything you knew about good eating, portion control and feeding your child's brain has gone from your head. But there are a few things you can do.




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With in-person yoga canceled due to the coronavirus, I took a livestreamed class on Zoom. Here’s how it went.


We all live stressful lives right now, and it's important to try and stay fit. Taking yoga on Zoom didn't feel like following a YouTube video. It felt like community.




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Here are some activities to do this weekend even while staying at home


As we continue to quarantine under Gov. Jay Inslee's "stay at home" order, there are still lots of fun activities you can do this weekend. So, stay in, read a book, start a movie marathon and order some takeout.




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Coronavirus pushed spin, barre, yoga and other fitness classes online. Here’s how Seattle-area fitness studios have adapted


In these coronavirus pandemic times, online yoga has become as ubiquitous as online dating. But for some other kinds of fitness classes, the switch to virtual instruction has been more challenging.




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What do zombies, puppies and hills have in common? They can all be part of your coronavirus-era fitness routine


So what if your gym is closed? There are lots of different ways to keep your fitness level up. Just look around your neighborhood and incorporate some of these fun little "games" into your workout routine.




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Activities you can do even while staying home this final weekend of April


Spring is here. No time like the present to take up some gardening. Or just relax at home with a book ... or take The Seattle Times' Kitchen Pantry Challenge! Here are our ideas for things you can do this weekend.




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Need workout ideas? Use these common household items or find workout routines on Instagram from many Seattle-area gyms


Don't have any dumbbells? Tape some rolls of quarters together. Sick of pushups and situps? Many Seattle-area gyms have been posting workouts on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, so follow along and keep your fitness going.




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Coronavirus canceled his Mount Everest climb, so this Seattle man will climb his porch steps 5,683 times to ‘summit’ #AtHomeEverest


Coronavirus canceled their mountain climbing trips and adventure runs, so these Seattleites found creative ways to stay fit, stay sane and conquer their lofty goals — all while maintaining social distancing.




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Analysis: They wore their white hot fury to the State of the Union


The Democrats came into the House chambers jovially. They greeted each other warmly and posed for group pictures before the State of the Union address. They laughed. Civility was evident. But they were angry. And by the end of President Donald Trump’s speech, that conviviality, that decorum had been shredded. Maybe they didn’t “hate” anyone, […]




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Sunday Best: 2020 Oscars Edition


In this special, expanded Oscars edition of Sunday Best, let’s take a peek at the five films nominated for best costume design, all of which take us backward in time: to various U.S. cities from 1949 to 2000 (“The Irishman”), 1940s Germany (“Jojo Rabbit”), 1981 Gotham City (“Joker”), 19th-century New England (“Little Women”) and 1969 […]




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Sunday Best: Handing out Academy Awards for best outfits at the Oscars afterparty


Awards season is officially over — but not until we hand out the awards for best dressed at the Oscars afterparties.




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For his first debate, Mike Bloomberg wore a nice suit and a look of boredom


Deep into the two-hour Nevada Democratic debate, co-moderator Chuck Todd of NBC asked former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg if he should have made so much money that it allowed him to become a billionaire many times over. Bloomberg looked at Todd with an expression that was a combination of boredom and annoyance before replying, […]




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B. Smith, model turned restaurateur and lifestyle maven, dies at 70


Barbara “B.” Smith, a steelworker’s daughter who became one of the top black models on magazine covers in the 1970s and later parlayed her glamour and personality into ventures as a restaurateur, TV host and lifestyle maven, died Feb. 22 at her home in East Hampton, New York. She was 70. Her death was announced […]




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Sunday Best: An elegant trio of outfits show off ballet’s rich history, on display in New York City


Ballet and fashion have an undeniable connection — a bond currently on display in the "Ballerine: Fashion's Modern Muse" exhibit at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.




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Sunday Best: 200 actors dressed in costumes are a highlight of the Louis Vuitton show


The Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month brought this gorgeous bit of theater: On a grandstand behind the runway sat 200 actors, dressed in costumes representing fashion from the 15th to mid-20th century.




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Sunday Best Greatest Hits: A fairy-tale gown from French designer Sylvie Facon


There aren’t any red carpets right now, no premieres, no movies at the theater — so let’s take a stroll back through Sundays Best past, shall we?




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Sunday Best: A standout among the stars — Lupita Nyong’o at the 2014 Academy Awards red carpet


What do people talk about on the red carpet, anyway? Assuredly this gorgeous blue gown worn by Lupita Nyong’o at the 2014 Academy Awards stirred some conversations.




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Rocco Ursino, Italian immigrant who dedicated his life to his seven children, dies of coronavirus disease


Editor’s note: The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is generally expressed in numbers of cases and deaths. But each data point represents a human life whose loss is felt by countless other people. We are chronicling some of them in an obituary series called Lives Remembered. If you know someone who has died of COVID-19, […]




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Cracks halt progress on Sound Transit park-and-ride garage in Redmond


The station next to the Microsoft main campus is being expanded as part of the $3.7 billion Seattle-to-Overlake light-rail line to open in 2023.




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Seattle-area temperatures could soon hit the 80s; here’s your forecast for the week


The early part of the week will seem like more of the same, but an approaching high-pressure ridge could really heat things up for the weekend.




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State parks, fishing and boating reopened in Washington after a coronavirus hiatus. Here’s how it went.


In the first phase of the state's reopening, hunting and fishing were reintroduced statewide, municipal golf courses began operating again, and more than 100 state parks reopened for day-use recreation only.




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As Eastside Catholic rolled to second state football title last winter, three players were under investigation for assault


Three Eastside Catholic players were under investigation for a parking-lot brawl as the team headed toward a second state championship. Prosecutors ultimately declined to pursue charges.




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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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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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Kenseth dusting off firesuit for chance to win races again


CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Matt Kenseth had a blissful year of retirement. He had time to travel with his wife and four daughters, made his first visit to Europe and took up marathon running. It was free time he never had in 22 years of racing at NASCAR’s national level. “It was really just spending […]




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NASCAR to resume season May 17 with seven races in 10 days


CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR plans to restart its engines with a flurry of races at two historic tracks. NASCAR said Thursday it is set to return May 17 with an elite Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, the first of seven events in an 11-day stretch across the top three series. […]




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NASCAR will be watched closely when it returns to racing


CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR is preparing to be the first major U.S. sport to restart its season during the coronavirus pandemic — a welcomed return to racing and one that will be closely watched by the public and other professional leagues for missteps. More than 700 people — no fans — are expected to […]




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F1 hopes to start season with double-header in Austria


PARIS (AP) — Formula One hopes to finally start the season with a double-header in the naturally isolated environment around the venue for the Austrian Grand Prix. Despite the first 10 races having been canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the targeted start date is July 5 in Austria. F1 still envisages holding […]




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F1 hopes to start season with double-header in Austria


PARIS (AP) — Formula One hopes to finally start the season with a double-header in the naturally isolated environment around the venue for the Austrian Grand Prix. Despite the first 10 races having been canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the targeted start date is July 5 in Austria. F1 still envisages holding […]




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Andretti, Ganassi commit to new Extreme E Series for 2021


Andretti Autosport and Chip Ganassi Racing are the first two American teams to commit to a new electric SUV off-road racing series scheduled to begin in 2021. The Extreme E series has five events planned in what the league is calling “some of the most remarkable, remote and severely damaged locations on the planet.” The […]




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Green flag: IndyCar to open its delayed season in Texas


FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — IndyCar has gotten the green flag to finally start its season, which it will do in Texas with a nighttime race June 6 without spectators. The race at Texas Motor Speedway was the next one on the schedule that hadn’t been postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. IndyCar […]




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F1 chairman evokes “remote” possibility of no races in 2020


PARIS (AP) — Discussions to host Formula One races in July are at an advanced stage, although F1 chairman Chase Carey cautions that “the remote possibility of no racing in 2020″ remains. The first 10 races of the season have been postponed or canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a huge loss of revenue. […]




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Hamilton gets empty feeling thinking about F1 without fans


PARIS (AP) — Driving around Formula One tracks without fans cheering at Silverstone and Monza would literally feel “very empty” for world champion Lewis Hamilton. The first 10 races this season have been postponed or canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the iconic Monaco Grand Prix scrapped for the first time in 66 years. F1 […]




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UW coaches support decisions to cancel spring sports due to coronavirus, but ‘it’s hard on everyone’


UW coaches understand the severity of the coronavirus pandemic and are fully in support of prioritizing health concerns. It’s just that no one could be quite prepared for the abrupt nature of this decision.