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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The rich are employing more people to cater to their desires. But that's only part of a tidal wave of change coming to the workforce.

The co-founder of Microsoft is leading our understanding of COVID-19 and the road ahead, backed by one of the world's wealthiest charitable organizations. Columnist Jon Talton takes a closer look at the role of Bill Gates.

Seattle police Friday released part of a recording of a mother’s frantic 911 call and footage from an officer’s body camera that includes a brief foot chase and the moment police shot the man suspected of taking the woman’s baby as he still held the child. The child was not hurt, police said, while the […]

The high school senior was killed as he tried to flee from three plainclothes sheriff's detectives who sprang from the back of an unmarked van on a darkened Des Moines street the night of Jan. 27, 2017.

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.

A woman called 911 and reported she'd been beaten and shot at by her boyfriend, who fled with their 1-year-old daughter. Seattle police officers chased the man on foot and a SWAT officer shot the man in the head. The man later died at Harborview Medical Center. He has been identified as 24-year-old Shaun Fuhr.

In the face of ever-tightening restrictions on gatherings, wave of Seattle musicians and artists are taking their shows online.

From baking a Japanese-style souffle cheesecake to making trivets out of wine corks, here's what our features staffers recently learned from YouTube videos.

The coronavirus-shutdown crisis has ripped through Seattle’s arts and culture scene, guillotining income for individual artists and organizations while they scramble to cut expenses.

The company has received a $3 million loan from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, allowing it to cover eight weeks of pay.

Oregon State brings a 12-2, 2-2 Pac-12 record into Alaska Airlines Arena. However, Washington (11-6, 1-3) has won 15 straight games against the Beavers at Alaska Airlines Arena. OSU's last win in Seattle was in 2003.

The CDC recommends wearing a face mask when out in public to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial for sewing your own face mask, with video.

The communication and collaboration among businesses and local government leaders who don’t always see eye-to-eye has helped smooth the response to the region’s coronavirus crisis.

Starbucks says “catastrophe pay” will be available to employees, regardless of whether they are showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus.

Starbucks is planning to “gradually expand” operations at some stores in the U.S., citing progress in the fight to contain the coronavirus.

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

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.

Acta spoke candidly is issues in Dominican Republic and MLB players complaining about the proposed restart plan.

It was exactly 34 years ago Wednesday that Clemens, at the time a highly promising but still unproven Red Sox pitcher, put himself on the baseball map. On one cool, magical night at Boston's Fenway Park against the Mariners, he mowed down a Mariners lineup that had been struggling all season to make contact.

Sixteen players will face 16 fans in the first round of the video game tournament, which starts on Tuesday morning.

While the focus of the sports world is on the possible relaunch of the major-league season, minor-league teams cling to the hope of competing in 2020 while girding for the increasing likelihood that the season will be dormant.

A satirical look back at some of the quirkiest, most eyebrow-raising things that happened in the sports world this week.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ernie Els has made it clear he will not be returning as International captain for the Presidents Cup next year. Tiger Woods was a little more vague. Woods, captain of the U.S. team that won at Royal Melbourne for the eighth straight time, says he spoke with Els while boarding the […]

A satirical look back at some of the quirkiest, most eyebrow-raising things that happened in the sports world this week.

Throughout Friday, on this page, we’ll be posting updates from Seattle Times journalists and others on the pandemic and its effects on the Seattle area, the Pacific Northwest and the world.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Lottery officials will slash 60 jobs and furlough most other workers in response to a budget gap that comes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and state stay-home order. The cuts come six weeks after Oregonians last gambled on video lottery machines, which bring in the majority of the […]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Three more people have died from COVID-19, bringing the death total to at least 124 in Oregon, state officials said. The Oregon Health Authority said Friday that another 75 cases were confirmed, and that 3,032 Oregonians have tested positive for the coronavirus. The three newly-reported deaths include an 80-year-old woman and […]

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 […]

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 […]

PORTLAND — Marijuana sales in Oregon along the Idaho state line are 420% the statewide average, according to a state report. Idaho residents are purchasing recreational marijuana in Oregon because it is illegal in Idaho, the report released Friday by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis said. The report also showed stronger marijuana sales for […]

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GM Garth Lagerwey’s message to antsy soccer fans who are yearning to see the Sounders back in action is that there’s a link between safe health practices and the resumption of the season.

Hanauer, whose club won the 2019 MLS Cup, said all ideas are being considered by MLS owners in order to resume play.

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.

Major League Soccer on Friday announced that players can use the outdoor portion of their club’s facility for individual workouts as long as use is also in compliance with health and safety protocols.

Retired Cmdr. David Beyl, a longtime Mercer Island resident and career Navy pilot who did several tours abroad, including in Antarctica, died March 23 at Overlake Hospital. He was 85.

BOSTON (AP) — Documents and images shared by users outside China on WeChat, the country’s most popular social media platform, are being monitored and cataloged for use in political censorship in China, a new report says. Citizen Lab, the University of Toronto online watchdog, says in Thursday’s report that WeChat users outside of China are […]

BOSTON (AP) — Documents and images shared by users outside China on WeChat, the country’s most popular social media platform, are being monitored and cataloged for use in political censorship in China, a new report says. Citizen Lab, the University of Toronto online watchdog, says in Thursday’s report that WeChat users outside of China are […]

As my legal career has gotten longer, I have learned that while getting older does not necessarily make a person wiser, but it does make them more experienced. A decade ago, I tried to help hundreds of homeowners who could afford to make their monthly mortgage payment but thought that if they missed just a […]

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday he will allow the return of some work on building projects in progress that were halted by his stay-at-home order issued on March 23.

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

Whatever comes of the novel coronavirus tumult, the economic crisis is happening now. The needs for arts workers — gigging artists, teachers, staffers at arts institutions — are piling up by the hour. Here's how you can help or get help.

In the face of ever-tightening restrictions on gatherings, wave of Seattle musicians and artists are taking their shows online.

From baking a Japanese-style souffle cheesecake to making trivets out of wine corks, here's what our features staffers recently learned from YouTube videos.