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In response to West Seattle Bridge closure, city to audit maintenance and spending on its aging bridges


Last month’s emergency shutdown of the West Seattle Bridge has prompted Seattle City Council member Alex Pedersen to request an audit of the city’s 124 bridges, he said Thursday. Pedersen, who chairs the council’s Transportation and Utilities Committee, said City Auditor David G. Jones will compile data about maintenance spending and comparisons to peer cities. […]




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Seattle will close 6 more miles of streets to vehicle traffic to make space for pedestrians, bicyclists


The city's Stay Healthy Streets program aims to close about 15 miles of streets to nonessential vehicle traffic to give more space for pedestrians and bicyclists practicing social distancing.




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Lyft to lay off 17% of staff as coronavirus takes toll


Lyft is laying off 17% of its staff, the company announced Wednesday, after the coronavirus crisis wrought havoc on the ride-hailing business and cut substantially into its revenue. The layoffs will amount to nearly 1,000 jobs. In an email to the company’s thousands of employees, chief executive Logan Green announced the “difficult news,” including the […]




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No car-tab tax cuts yet as state Supreme Court takes case against Eyman initiative


The order from the state Supreme Court sets deadlines for parties in the case to file documents with the court throughout May and June, meaning a final decision might come this summer.




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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 opens 11 more miles of streets to pedestrians, cyclists during the coronavirus pandemic


The closures include streets in Lake City beginning Friday and in Aurora-Licton Springs, Ballard and Delridge/Highland Park.




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Esther Bryant Kyles and Pastor Edwin Kyles Jr., who helped those in need, die within days of each other from coronavirus disease


The couple, who were married for 23 years, are among the hundreds of people in Washington state who have died after testing positive for coronavirus.




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Seattle will permanently close 20 miles of residential streets to most vehicle traffic


The streets had been closed temporarily to through traffic to provide more space for people to walk and bike at a safe distance apart during the coronavirus pandemic.




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Greyhound to require passengers to wear face masks


In addition to the face mask policy, Greyhound said it also stepped up cleaning procedures, sanitizing buses after every trip and frequently cleaning locations.




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Red Jump bikes will temporarily disappear from Seattle streets as Lime takes over


Lime has expressed interest in bringing rentable electric scooters to Seattle, but the rollout of a scooter program is awaiting a decision from the city hearing examiner.




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Wrong-way driver dies in head-on collision near Auburn


A wrong-way driver died early Friday near Auburn after heading south in the northbound High Occupancy Vehicle lane on Highway 167 near Highway 516 and crashing head-on into another vehicle, injuring that driver, according to the Washington State Patrol. State police said the 33-year-old Tacoma woman, whose name is not being released pending the notification […]




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Seattle Fire Department will boost crews in West Seattle due to bridge closure


The Seattle Department of Transportation closed the West Seattle Bridge March 23 because of accelerating shear cracks in the central span.




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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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GOP in power grab to rein in Dem governors on virus response


MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican-controlled legislatures are increasingly trying to strip Democratic governors of their executive authority to close businesses and schools, a power grab by lawmakers that channels frustration over the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic but could come with long-term consequences for how their states fight disease. The efforts to undermine Democratic […]




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Coronavirus daily news updates, May 9: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the nation


While this year’s Mother’s Day weekend promises warm weather, Seattle officials are restricting hours in city parks out of fears that large crowds hoping to enjoy the sun could further spread the novel coronavirus. A recent report shows the COVID-19 transmission rate in Western Washington may be steadily increasing, suggesting that the number of virus cases […]




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Little Richard, flamboyant rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, dead at 87


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Little Richard, one of the chief architects of rock ‘n’ roll whose piercing wail, pounding piano and towering pompadour irrevocably altered popular music while introducing black R&B to white America, died Saturday after battling bone cancer. He was 87. Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard’s, told The Associated […]




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Falcons’ Allen says idea of practice is ‘nerve-racking’


ATLANTA (AP) — Ricardo Allen didn’t budge when Georgia was one of the first states to open businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. The Atlanta Falcons safety believes it is smart to stay home. He says he worries about the time when teams across the league open for practice. Restaurants, barber shops and other businesses were […]




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NY’s Cuomo criticized over highest nursing home death toll


NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has won bipartisan praise for rallying supplies for his ravaged hospitals and helping slow the coronavirus, is coming under increasing criticism for not bringing that same level of commitment to a problem that has so far stymied him: nursing homes. In part-lecture, part-cheerleading briefings that […]




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Small tribes seal borders, push testing to keep out virus


PICURIS PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — On a dusty plaza in a Native American village that dates back nearly a millennium, a steady trickle of vehicles inched through a pop-up coronavirus testing site. From the bed of a pickup truck and backseats of cars, wide-eyed children stared from behind hand-sewn masks and then sobbed as testing […]




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Alaska fisheries to get $50M in federal aid amid pandemic


JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska will receive $50 million in federal coronavirus aid for fisheries, the U.S. Department of Commerce has announced, about half what state officials had expected. Alaska is home to large stocks of pollock, an inexpensive fish used in fast-food sandwiches and fish sticks, and landed 58% of the nation’s seafood by […]




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Polar vortex brings rare May snow, low temps to US East


PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) — Mother’s Day weekend got off to an unseasonably snowy start in the Northeast on Saturday thanks to the polar vortex bringing cold air down from the north. Some higher elevation areas in northern New York and New England reported snowfall accumulations of up to 10 inches, while traces of snow […]




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Married couple, 85 and 86, die in Delaware cemetery shooting


BEAR, Del. (AP) — A married couple from Maryland ages 85 and 86 were the victims of a deadly shooting at a veterans cemetery in Delaware. Delaware State Police on Friday night identified the victims of the shooting as an 86-year-old man and 85-year-old woman from Elkton, Maryland. The two were at Delaware Veterans Memorial […]




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Andre Harrell, music exec who discovered Diddy, dies at 59


NEW YORK (AP) — Andre Harrell, the Uptown Records founder who shaped the sound of hip-hop and R&B in the late ’80s and ’90s with acts such as Mary J. Blige and Heavy D and also launched the career of mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, has died. He was 59. Diddy’s REVOLT company confirmed the death […]




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Trump administration tightens visas for Chinese reporters


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is tightening visa guidelines for Chinese journalists in response to the treatment of U.S. journalists in China, as tensions flare between the two nations over the coronavirus. The Department of Homeland Security has issued new regulations, set to take effect Monday, that will limit visas for Chinese reporters to […]



  • Nation & World Politics

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Mixed feelings around hockey about holding NHL draft early


The NFL’s successful virtual draft and uncertainty surrounding the resumption of hockey this season have raised the possibility of an NHL draft held before the Stanley Cup Final. After postponing its draft scheduled for June 26-27 in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL is considering having it earlier in June with the season in […]




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Separatists claim bomb attack that killed 6 Pakistani troops


QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A small Pakistani separatist group claimed responsibility Saturday for targeting a security convoy with a roadside bomb that killed six soldiers, including an army major, in the country’s southwest. Friday’s attack in Baluchistan province took place as the troops, who were assigned to search for smuggling routes and militants, were returning […]



  • Nation & World

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Harlem figure skating gala pivots from ice to internet


Unable to stage its big fundraiser because of the pandemic, Figure Skating in Harlem is going from the ice to the internet. The Figure Skating in Harlem Champions in Life Virtual Gala will be held May 14 and will feature Olympic champions Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi and Meryl Davis. The 23-year-old group is the only […]




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Jagger, Quincy Jones react to the death of Little Richard


Reaction to the death of rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard, who died Saturday at 87. — “I’m so saddened to hear about the passing of Little Richard, he was the biggest inspiration of my early teens and his music still has the same raw electric energy when you play it now as it did […]




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US approves new coronavirus antigen test with fast results


U.S. regulators have approved a new type of coronavirus test that administration officials have promoted as a key to opening up the country. The Food and Drug Administration on Saturday announced emergency authorization for antigen tests developed by Quidel Corp. of San Diego. The test can rapidly detect fragments of virus proteins in samples collected […]




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Analysis: Tennis pros’ US return amid pandemic no true model


The four players sure seemed thrilled to be playing some tennis with some prize money (amount undisclosed) at stake amid the coronavirus pandemic — even if the court was near the backyard swimming pool at someone’s mansion and there were zero ATP rankings points on the line, zero locker rooms, zero spectators, zero ball kids […]




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Beware false prophets; hard times call for real expertise | Your Funds


Chuck Jaffe: As they shelter at home, Americans have been building their knowledge on seemingly every subject. That doesn't make them financial experts.




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Crash Course: Steelers rookies adapting to “virtual” path


PITTSBURGH (AP) — This isn’t quite the way Anthony McFarland expected his NFL career to begin. Then again, the rookie running back knows he’s not the only one whose first taste of the pros is coming via conference calls with members of the coaching staff followed by self-administered tests in a nearby park to see […]




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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.