The Cascade Mountains near North Bend, Friday. National forests are a good source for inexpensive Christmas trees — $10 per tree in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.. But it can be pricier if you or your vehicle get stranded in the snow, so check with a Ranger station before you leave, and come prepared. (Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times)
National forests are a good source for inexpensive Christmas trees — $10 per tree in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. (Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times)
Local News

How to find and cut down a wild Christmas tree in a national forest within driving distance of Seattle

If $10, some elbow grease and a willingness to explore sound like the right price for a Christmas tree, you might want to head straight to one of the national forests within driving distance of Seattle. But there are a few things you should know first.  WATCH

Stanford quarterback Davis Mills (15) against Colorado during an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) CAJC CAJC
Husky Football

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Justin Pritchett, left, joins David McRae as a partner in the Columbia City independent moviehouse, Ark Lodge Cinemas.
Movies

Ark Lodge Cinemas in Columbia City gets a new owner — eventually

An EA-18G Growler takes off from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island during an exercise, Thurs., March 10, 2016. Some Lopez Island residents are among those in the area upset with noise levels, which appear more bothersome from the past Prowler jets used by the Navy.
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Navy Growler jet noise loud enough to reach orca pods even 100 feet underwater, new research shows

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FILE — Wildlife in front of the peaks of the Brooks Range in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, June 20, 2019. The Trump administration announced Nov. 16, 2020, it would begin selling oil leases for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. (Christopher Miller/The New York Times) XNYT17 XNYT17
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A man runs during a windy day at Discovery Park on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. 215689
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This photo shows a sign at the headquarters for Washington state’s Employment Security Department Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Washington state’s rush to get unemployment benefits to residents who lost jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak left it vulnerable to criminals who made off with hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) WATW102
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Glitches, delays bedevil Washington’s unemployment agency as its chief points to progress

“I can’t breathe,” rings out as protesters lay down on 1st Avenue during the #SeattleJusticeForGeorgeFloyd march on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Demonstrators took to the streets for ninth day of action after George Floyd’s killing. 214181
Editorial

Move swiftly on statewide police reforms

Fund For The Needy

Sue Brangwin volunteers putting together food pickups at Hopelink, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 in Shoreline. 215739

This nonprofit works to meet the growing need for housing, food on the Eastside  VIEW

Chelsea Henrickson, an inventory coordinator at Treehouse in Seattle, packs a box of clothes to be mailed to a family in need on Thursday, October 19, 2020. Bags at lower left are filled with clothing and toys waiting to be picked up by local families. Treehouse has converted its store for foster youth into a packaging operation: the nonprofit packs up clothes and supplies and is sending them to youth statewide. 215686

Adapting to the pandemic, this agency helping foster youth built 'something that will be a lasting, new part of our program'  VIEW

Monday, November 16, 2020 FUND FOR THE NEEDY Leilani Chaco and her daughter Emilia are using zoom to talk with occupational therapist Lexie Baasch at Kindering. Today she was showing Emilia how to pull on socks, boots and her jacket. 215657

‘Life-altering for everyone’: Kindering bridges the virtual gap to help kids with special needs

Sadie (who declined to give her last name) holds onto a turkey for Thanksgiving, at top, while heading to her car after picking up food for her family at Hopelink, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020 in Kirkland. Sadie said she is a single mom living in Kirkland with three teenagers who were at home busy with online learning. “I have everything (for Thanksgiving dinner). I am so happy,” she said before driving off. 215659 (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

COVID-19 ‘changed everything.’ Agencies adapt to meet huge demand as The Seattle Times kicks off Fund For The Needy campaign

Local News

A critical care nurse, right, verifies medication for a hospitalized Covid-19 patient in isolation on the ICU floor at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue.

Washington coronavirus hospital admissions surge to highest level since pandemic began

Featured Columnist

News from up north: They’re holding a ‘going out of business sale’ in the Arctic

Education Lab

Washington state shares little data about public schools and whether coronavirus is spreading, or not

Free remote learning support is out there, but some Seattle students still can’t get access

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Election & Politics

FILE – This March 27, 2008 file photo shows the Pentagon in Washington. The civilian official overseeing the Pentagon’s campaign to defeat the Islamic State group in the Middle East has resigned in the latest jolt to Pentagon leadership in the waning weeks of the Trump administration.(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File) WX113 WX113

Pentagon blocks visits to military spy agencies by Biden transition team

Construction workers build a border wall in Mission, Texas, Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. President-elect Joe Biden will face immediate pressure to fulfill his pledge to stop border wall construction. But he will confront a series of tough choices left behind by President Donald Trump, who’s ramped up construction in his final weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) TXEG211 TXEG211
Appeals court rules for Trump taking military money for wall
This image from House Television shows the final vote, 228-164, in the House on passage of a bill to decriminalize and tax marijuana at the federal level. The bill now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it is unlikely to move forward. (House Television via AP) WX302 WX302
House votes to decriminalize marijuana at federal level
Trump allies file emergency petition at Supreme Court over 2020 election
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Business & Tech

A home for sale in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. 215745

Weekly home sales still going strong in Washington state | Coronavirus Economy Indicators

Featured Columnist

On a crowded agenda, Biden must make room for trade

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Nation & World

People dine outdoors at The Trident restaurant Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, in Sausalito, Calif. The health officers in six San Francisco Bay Area regions have issued a new stay-at-home order as the number of virus cases surge and hospitals fill. The changes announced Friday will take effect in most of the area at 10 p.m. Sunday and last through Jan. 4. It means restaurants will have to close to indoor and outdoor dining, bars and wineries must close along with hair and nail salons and playgrounds. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) FX505 FX505

San Francisco Bay Area issues new stay-at-home order  VIEW

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Coronavirus

People, many wearing face masks, ride bikes and scooters along the Venice Beach Boardwalk near Los Angeles, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Jenna Schoenefeld/The New York Times) XNYT152

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Food & Drink

An assortment of pot pies made by Logan Niles, the owner of Pot Pie Factory Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 in Seattle. 212776

10 delicious Pacific Northwest food gifts for happier pandemic holidays  VIEW

Pacific NW Magazine

Tiffani Williams and her daughter Ava Sophia Williams, 5, prepare to skate at Roll Around Seatown. 215259

Creating community connections during a time of unprecedented separation

Editorials & Opinion

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Horsey Cartoon

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Sports

Seattle Seahawks’ DK Metcalf catches a pass against Philadelphia Eagles’ Darius Slay during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) _CS14050 _CS14050

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Arts & Life

Performance Division dancer Lydia Wondwosen in the role of Snow Queen in Evergreen City Ballet’s “Nutcracker Suites.”

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Ark Lodge Cinemas in Columbia City gets a new owner — eventually

Fund For The Needy

Help local children, families, and seniors this holiday season.

Photography

Despite the restrictions on crowds at public events, downtown Seattle lit its Christmas Tree and unveiled its updated star atop the former Macy’s building Friday, November 27, 2020. Also, in place of the Holiday Carousel is a light display. 215773
Local News

Downtown Seattle brightens up for the holidays  VIEW

A nearly full moon shines above Seattle on Saturday night. The moon was at it’s fullest early Monday morning. This photo was made with a 600 mm lens, using f4 at 1/2000 of a second, ISO 1000. 215768
Local News

Full moon over Seattle

With dad Ryan Wells close by, 2-year-old Paige Wells shreds at “Sunset Pump Park” for the first time on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 in Seattle. According to her father, the track was made encircling a vacant Ballard house by a neighbor who wanted to give kids nearby someplace to let off some energy. After several loops Paige appears a complete natural. 215763
Local News

Successful first ride at Ballard’s ‘Sunset Pump Park’  VIEW

Anna McAllister of Seattle walks her rescued retired racing grey hound Trevor along the Seattle Turkey Trot run route on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 in Seattle. The run was virtual this year and participants went on their own schedules. McAllister said she always runs the race but decided this year she would make a Trot donation, forgo the tee-shirt, sleep in and walk the route ending at Golden Gardens. 215763
Local News

Seattle Turkey Trot participant dresses for the occasion