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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Draft EIS Public Meeting: Zenith Properties Building Demolition Application

Please join us for a virtual public meeting during the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Zenith Properties Building Demolition Application. The virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 31 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (or when the last comment is received). You can learn more about Zenith Properties

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220-unit affordable housing complex coming to Kent on West Hill

Kent Multicultural Village could be open in 2027 next to light rail station By Steve Hunter Monday, January 29, 2024 4:15pm NEWS A proposed Kent Multicultural Village will change the landscape in the next few years of the West Hill along Pacific Highway South and the light rail route. The estimated $120 million project is expected

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Experts are watching these six key indicators for Seattle’s economy in 2024

Here are the metrics these nine economists and analysts are paying attention to as 2024 gets underway. By Neetish Basnet – Data reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal What difference a year can make. Fears of recession were widespread this time last year. But, while it’s still early days, the economy seems to have unstuck itself from the

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Recycling 101: What to know about sorting in King County

By  Melissa Davis  and  Josh Farley Seattle Times Opinion columnists Editor’s note: Got questions about recycling that fresh-fruit packaging or envelopes with plastic windows? We’ve got answers. Times editorial board members and Opinion columnists Melissa Davis and Josh Farley made a malodorous examination of what happens to King County’s recyclables. They both grew up with bottle

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