Seattle weighs emergency street-closure powers on Aurora Avenue N
Seattle WA – City leaders are weighing emergency street-closure powers on Aurora Avenue N while ordering temporary barrier changes and a two-week review.
Washington
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Tacoma’s $27M budget deficit is forcing department mergers and staffing cuts
Tacoma city leaders say a $27 million General Fund gap is driving department mergers, vacancy cuts and service reviews before the next budget cycle.
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Tacoma starts transportation impact fees June 1 for new development
Tacoma will begin collecting one-time transportation impact fees on new homes and commercial projects June 1, shifting some growth costs to development.
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Des Moines pushes back on Sea-Tac airport plan timeline as comment period opens
Des Moines is asking for more time to review Sea-Tac’s draft airport plan, but the Port’s 60-day comment window runs only until July 21.
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Bellevue gas stays near $6 and diesel near $7 as AAA shows mixed moves
Bellevue WA Gas & Diesel Watch – AAA says Bellevue-area regular is $5.961 and diesel $6.999, with small daily moves but prices still above state and U.S. averages.
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Bellevue-area gas holds near $6 while diesel stays just under $7
AAA’s latest metro check shows Bellevue-area regular gas near $6 and diesel near $7, still well above Washington and U.S. averages.
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Seattle adds seven free downtown water refill stations
Seattle Public Utilities has added seven free downtown refill stations, a small but useful upgrade as summer heat and World Cup crowds approach.
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Longview food-waste digester opens with jobs and gas pipeline link
Divert’s new Longview facility opened in late April, with Ecology saying it could create 30 to 40 jobs and feed renewable gas into Cascade Natural Gas’s system.
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Seattle council heads into May 14 hearing on zoning changes for housing
Seattle City Council is set to take up Phase 2 of the One Seattle Plan on May 14, with zoning changes that could affect centers and transit routes.
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Spokane voters will decide a transit-tax renewal on Aug. 4
Spokane Transit has advanced a 0.2% sales-and-use tax renewal to the Aug. 4 primary ballot, with Spokane City Council already backing it.
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Puyallup weighs permanent street vacation beside Puyallup High School
Puyallup is considering a request to permanently vacate part of 7th Street NW and West Main beside Puyallup High School after a temporary safety closure.
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Kent senior center lunch program to return to five days on May 18
Kent’s senior center lunch program is set to return to five days a week on May 18 under a new caterer, with the standard meal price rising from $9 to $10.
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Quincy adopts airport overlay zone near municipal airport
Quincy City Council adopted an airport overlay zone April 21, adding height and land-use review rules for future projects near Quincy Municipal Airport.
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Seattle and King County press KCRHA for fixes after audit exposes financial-control failures
Seattle WA – Leaders are demanding a fast written response from KCRHA after a forensic audit found cash-reconciliation gaps, overspending, and weak controls.
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Seattle’s homelessness authority audit is forcing a new fight over regional control and oversight
Seattle WA – A state audit has put fresh pressure on KCRHA, raising questions about spending controls, shelter contracts, and whether Seattle should rethink the regional model.
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Tacoma updated its August street-tax measure. What changed in Connect Tacoma and why it matters now
Tacoma WA – The City Council revised Connect Tacoma on April 21, sending a 10-year street funding measure to the August 4 ballot with clearer spending language.
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Seattle may rethink regional homelessness authority after audit flags missing funds and weak oversight
Seattle WA – A new audit of KCRHA has City Hall weighing tighter controls, structural reform, or a bigger shift in how homelessness dollars are managed.
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Auburn may expand its housing density bonus into residential zones. Here’s what changes and when to weigh in
Auburn WA – The city is reviewing a housing code change that could extend its density bonus into RC, R-1 and R-2 zones, with comments due May 4.
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Longview opens 2026 housing and community grant cycle, with April 24 deadline and May 14 hearing
Longview WA – The city’s 2026 HOME and CDBG grant window is open now, with applications due April 24 and a City Council hearing set for May 14.
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Seattle sends a $480 million library levy to the August ballot, raising the stakes for taxes and service levels
Seattle WA – The City Council has put a larger $480 million library levy on the August ballot, setting up a vote that could affect branch hours, repairs and future levy room.
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Tacoma moves to send new streets-and-sidewalks tax to August ballot
Tacoma WA – A proposed replacement streets measure advanced after the April 14 council study session, with voters likely to see it on the August 4 primary ballot.
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Puyallup lahar drill on April 23 will bring students, pedestrians, and slower downtown traffic
Puyallup WA – The April 23 regional lahar drill will send students and pedestrians through downtown in the morning, with slower traffic and a busy commute.