Should Kent adopt City Council districts? That’s aim of new campaign

By  Daniel Beekman Seattle Times staff reporter There’s a new effort underway to bring neighborhood-based voting to Kent, the south-of-Seattle suburb that’s King County’s third largest city. A campaign called “Kent for Districts” launched Thursday, announcing plans to collect petition signatures for a November ballot measure that would switch five of seven Kent City Council seats to

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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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The 2024 legislative session: A packed agenda in a busy political year

By  The Seattle Times editorial board The Legislature returns to Olympia on Monday for a jampacked short session. In 60 days, lawmakers are expected to get to work grappling with gas prices, drug deaths, transportation woes, and mental health needs, among many issues. Adding pressure are November elections, and limited fundraising windows, for most of

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As tree species face decline, ‘assisted migration’ gains popularity in Pacific Northwest

By  NATHAN GILLES  and  Columbia Insight The Associated Press PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — As native trees in the Pacific Northwest die off due to climate changes, the U.S. Forest Service, Portland, Oregon and citizen groups around Puget Sound are turning to a deceptively simple climate adaptation strategy called “assisted migration.” As the world’s climate warms,

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Sound Transit nears approval on flat $3 fare

By  Mike Lindblom  Traffic Lab is a Seattle Times project that digs into the region’s thorny transportation issues to explore the policies and politics that determine how we get around and how billions of dollars in public money are spent. It is funded with the help of community sponsor PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company. Seattle Times editors

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Burien chooses site for homeless shelter as county deadline passes

Burien has chosen this lot owned by Seattle City Light at South 136th Street and 4th Avenue South as the future site for a tiny home village. The village will use King County money and resources, after months of delay and debate around how to handle a growing number of homeless people in the public

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Huge spike in costs to help salmon could derail WA transportation budget

By David Kroman   and  Mike Reicher  Seattle Times staff reporters Times Watchdog stories dig deep to hold power accountable, right wrongs and create change. This work is made possible by The Seattle Times Investigative Journalism Fund. Donate today to support watchdog journalism in our community.   Come January, lawmakers will face a surprise that will strain Washington’s transportation

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