Fireworks aren’t that bad for Montreal’s air quality, new study says

Montreal Fireworks displays are economic drivers, proponents say Matthew Lapierre · CBC News · Posted: Mar 27, 2024 10:03 AM PDT | Last Updated: March 27 The fireworks that light up Montreal’s skies every summer have minimal long-term impact on the city’s air quality, a new study said. But, the study showed that, in the

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Channeling old political spirits, Sen. Murray rains money on WA

By  Danny Westneat  Seattle Times columnist When the final spending plans to keep the federal government running were released this past week, a few members of Congress pronounced themselves appalled to find they were loaded up with “pork.” “Earmarks are evil,” wrote a South Carolina Republican, before enumerating lists of pet projects that the conservative

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Burien’s anti-camping ordinance is not an answer to homelessness

By  The Seattle Times editorial board If a lawsuit against the city of Burien wasn’t enough to give its leaders pause in its quest to move the unsheltered out of the city, maybe a directive by the King County sheriff to her deputies not to enforce the city’s latest ordinance on “camping’’ is enough to

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Burien tightens existing camping law, adds 500-foot ‘buffer’ zones

By  Anna Patrick Seattle Times staff reporter The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless is supported by BECU, Campion Foundation, Raikes Foundation and Seattle Foundation. The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over Project Homeless content. In a 5-2 vote Monday night, Burien’s City Council tightened its existing camping ban and added that people can’t sleep within 500 feet of schools,

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Here’s how much you need to earn to afford a Seattle-area home

By  Heidi Groover Seattle Times business reporter In just a few years, the income needed to afford a typical home in the Seattle area has shot up nearly 80%, illustrating how skyrocketing home prices and interest rate hikes together have reshaped the region’s housing affordability. A Zillow analysis published Thursday found that Seattle-area home shoppers need to

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WA legislators’ claims of ‘privilege’ complicate state Public Records Act

By  Claire Withycombe  and  Jim Brunner Seattle Times staff reporters OLYMPIA — Five years ago, the Washington Legislature was dragged, kicking and screaming, into compliance with the state’s Public Records Act, which says their emails, text messages and other documents should be available for public scrutiny. Court rulings and Gov. Jay Inslee’s veto of a

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A generational tug-of-war is hampering the housing market — and limiting buyers’ options

By Andy Medici – Senior Reporter, The Playbook, The Business Journals Feb 25, 2024 Homebuyers in today’s market are increasingly faced with an inconvenient but inescapable truth — there are fewer homes for sale and the ones on the market are often in need of big repairs and renovations. That’s because far fewer homes have been built

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Why some King County home values dropped while taxes on them rose

By  Gene Balk / FYI Guy  Seattle Times columnist If you’re a King County homeowner, it’s likely your home’s assessed value fell in 2024. Nearly everywhere in the county, assessed values dropped from last year. But you may be surprised to find your property tax didn’t go down nearly as much as you may have

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Point Ruston’s legal battles grow as condo groups seek neutral party to govern site

Story by Debbie Cockrell, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) • 4d Feb. 16—Point Ruston’s lawsuits and financial woes now include legal action from condominium associations representing residents at the site. On Jan. 25, five condominium associations representing building residents at Point Ruston filed a petition in Pierce County Superior Court against the Point Ruston Owners Association. The

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