The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

Jennifer Luxton / Special to The Seattle Times — (Jennifer Luxton / Special to The Seattle Times)

Environment

Apocalyptic climate fears and hope: Seattle meetup aims to reverse climate change, or at least our grief over it

A local offshoot of the Drawdown project brings climate worriers together to feel less alone in the fight against a warming world. New 6:00 am

Unprovoked street attack becomes ‘catalyst’ to address crime, security outside King County Courthouse WATCH
Magnolia residents’ AI-powered surveillance camera tracks people, cars at entrance to neighborhood, experts caution bias
How a Seattle attorney with ‘heart of gold’ ended up fleecing her brain-damaged client | Danny Westneat
North of Seattle, a beloved sushi chef returns — and 16 other restaurant openings around the city
Seahawks head to L.A. hoping to stay perfect on the road, move into first in NFC
Video games and online chats are ‘hunting grounds’ for sexual predators
What can we learn from Washington’s recent charter-school closures?

Jimmy Lake sets up his defense for the final play of the game against WSU> The Washington State Cougars played the Washington Huskies in the 2019 edition of the Apple Cup game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA Friday, November 29, 2019. 212245

Larry Stone

Will Jimmy Lake’s transition to head coach be a smooth one at Washington? History is on the Huskies’ side

The encouraging thing for the Huskies – beyond their faith in Lake’s coaching and recruiting abilities – is the plethora of recent (and nearby) examples of “coaches in waiting” who soared beyond the success of their predecessors. WATCH Updated 5:30 am

It’s was tense, was it real, then 3 a.m. call for Kexu Lan, mother of Xiyue Wang, who has just been released from prison in Iran. (Ck the time)

Saturday, Dec 7, 2019 212329

Local News

As her son is released from Iranian prison, Seattle mother wants to help other families of detainees

Kexu Lan's son, UW alum Xiyue Wang, was in Iran in 2016 doing research for his Ph.D., when he was accused of espionage. Lan said she spoke to her son Saturday morning "like we were never separated.”

Edward Henry operates a pallet jack to move pallets loaded with ccardboard in the recycle center at Safeway’s distribution center in Auburn Thursday, December 5, 2019.

Edward was a loader/unloader for Safeway, where he’d worked for more than 25 years, until he got hurt in 2017. He couldn’t work because of his injury, couldn’t pay rent and lost his house. He was living in his car and motels until the Salvation Army found him a new apartment and paid first month’s rent and security deposit. He had surgery and got his job back at the Safeway warehouse. 212302 212302

Fund for the Needy

Out of work and living in his car, Seattle man found help that ‘mended me back together’

For three decades, Edward Henry had a job at Safeway. But he needed neck surgery, couldn't work, and had to move from his Beacon Hill house into his Honda. Life had unraveled until he met a woman who specializes in reopening the world to people living in cars. Updated 6:43 am

Don't Miss

Mike Brown, photographer. (Mike Brown / )

Pacific NW Magazine

Mike Brown quit his job, outfitted his van for adventure, and discovered freedom and the power of simplicity in the Pacific Northwest VIEW

Eastside Catholic Jaylahn Tuimoloau bobbles but makes the catch during the first half of the WIAA 3A state championship game between Eastside Catholic High School and O’Dea High School at Sparks Stadium on Dec. 7, 2019. 212265

Eastside Catholic 20, O'Dea 12

Eastside Catholic battles back in final minute to down O’Dea in Class 3A football championship VIEW

David Crisp walks off the floor after the Huskies lost to No. 1 Gonzaga on the shot by Rui Hachimura, right, with a second left to play.

The Washington Huskies played No. 1 Gonzaga in NCAA Basketball Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at McCarthy Athletic Center in Spokane, WA. 208623

No. 22 UW vs. No. 9 Gonzaga | Sunday

UW got close to taking down Gonzaga last year. This year, they’re ready to finish the job. WATCH

Editorial

Vote on U.S., Mexico, Canada trade agreement for the sake of Washington’s economic growth

Fund For The Needy

Edward Henry operates a pallet jack to move pallets loaded with ccardboard in the recycle center at Safeway’s distribution center in Auburn Thursday, December 5, 2019.

Edward was a loader/unloader for Safeway, where he’d worked for more than 25 years, until he got hurt in 2017. He couldn’t work because of his injury, couldn’t pay rent and lost his house. He was living in his car and motels until the Salvation Army found him a new apartment and paid first month’s rent and security deposit. He had surgery and got his job back at the Safeway warehouse. 212302 212302

Out of work and living in his car, Seattle man found help that ‘mended me back together’

Thursday, November 14, 2019. FUND FOR THE NEEDY. Asian Counseling and Referral Service ACRS
85-Year-Old Setsuko Irei working out at Seattle’s Asian Counseling and Referral Service’s stick exercise class. 212121

A lifesaver for ‘Ms. Suki’: At 86, line dancing, lunch — and a place to belong for her and 35,000 others

Alex Aguilar and his wife Flor Palacios make French Toast for their five children- including Balian, 8, from left facing camera, Isabella, 4, and Ezio, 7-at their home in Redmond, Wash. Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. The non-profit Hopelink helped their family. On Wednesday nights, the parents make French Toast to reward the children for their hard work in school. 212026

A shower, beds for the kids and 'French Toast Wednesdays': New blessings for a grateful Eastside family

Berna Franco Rodriguez and Saul Franco hold their son, Saul Franco Rodriguez, who benefitted greatly from Kindering’s Spanish Stepping Stones preschool. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

Why one Bellevue family is giving thanks: Their little boy doesn’t speak. But just look at him walk – and make all kinds of progress VIEW

Local News

Varisha Khan, in Redmond’s Downtown Park, will likely be among the first Muslim women elected to local office in Washington State. She currently leads by 66 votes out of 14,000. Tuesday Nov. 26, 2019
If she wins, she will have unseated the Republican incumbent.

(Another vote count at 4pm)(Note: Will she be the first?). 212237

New Redmond City Council member is among state's first Muslim women elected to local office

Featured Columnist

How a Seattle attorney with ‘heart of gold’ ended up fleecing her brain-damaged client

Project Homeless

King County councilmember proposes spending $1 million to bus homeless people out of the region

How a federal court ruling on Boise’s homeless camping ban has rippled across the West

King County and Seattle’s homeless-services merger moves forward, with questions

Homelessness divided a small Western Washington town. And then the fighting started.

He owes over $17,000 in parking fines. But is he really a vehicle kingpin?

Business & Tech

FILE – In this Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, file photo, Merck scientist Meizhen Feng conducts research to discover new HIV drugs in West Point, Pa. According to reports, Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, Merck will buy fellow drugmaker Cubist Pharmaceuticals for $8.4 billion, illustrating a new emphasis on combating so-called “superbugs” that have drawn dire warnings from global health organizations. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) NY113

Was $1.3 billion cyberattack an act of war? Merck squares off against insurers in case with wide relevance

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Explore

Gaming

The 10 best video games of 2019 VIEW

Produced by Advertising Publications

Holiday Gifts

10 totally outside the box host and hostess gifts under $30 VIEW

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(Getty Images)

Career Advice

Yes, co-workers’ relationship is bizarre, and no, it’s not your business

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Home Design

Boost productivity in your home office with these upgrades

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Holiday Gifts

6 common holiday gifts to avoid — and what to give instead VIEW

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Nation & World

FILE – In this Aug. 28, 2019, file photo, a man exhales while smoking an e-cigarette in Portland, Maine. Health officials investigating a nationwide outbreak of vaping-related illnesses have, for the first time, listed the vape brands that are most commonly linked to hospitalizations. Most of the nearly 2,300 people who has suffered lung damage were vaping liquids that contain THC, the high-inducing part of marijuana. In a report released Friday, Dec. 6 the government listed the THC-containing products that patients most often said theyâ€™d been using, noting that some patients vaped more than one. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) NYDK407 NYDK407

Officials list pot vape brands reported in US outbreak

Local Politics

Bothell City Council Position #2 candidate Leigh Henderson watches as election specialists divide ballots for the close Bothell City Council Position #2 election into five piles — one for candidate Mason Thompson, one for Henderson, one for write-in candidates, one for overvotes and the last for undervotes. Then a total count from each pile is made and is shared with the original tally from election results. The race is partly in King County and partly in the city of Bothell. A similar count will be made next week for those ballots. Combined election results show Thompson with a five-vote lead. Shot Thursday, December 5, 2019 at King County Election headquarters in Renton. If there is a fewer than 2,000 votes or a .5% difference in the total, a machine recount is done. If there are fewer than 150 votes or .25% difference, a hand recount is done.

Three King County city council races — Bothell, Mercer Island and Redmond — require a recount because they votes were so close.

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‘A lesson in civics’: Hand recount of Bothell council race takes patience and red pens VIEW

Extended Coverage

Just over seven weeks after it rolled out of the paint hangar, Boeing’s first 737 MAX “the Spirit of Renton” lifts off the runway and flew for the first time Friday, from Renton Municipal Airport at 9:48 a.m. January 29th, 2016.

Boeing & Aerospace

Complete coverage of Boeing’s 737 MAX »

In Depth

The Overcast podcast: Local news and politics »

Sports

'Read Optional' podcast: Analysis of the Seahawks and Huskies

Print Replica

Read today's print newspaper ... online

Food & Drink

The Nigiri, one of the Omakases offered at SanKai.

Chef Ryuichi Nakano has found success in opening SanKai in Edmonds. Photographed Thursday, November 21, 2019. 212162

North of Seattle, a beloved sushi chef returns — and 16 other restaurant openings around the city

Pacific NW Magazine

Hope Varner gives Funston, the puppy she’s been raising, a scratch. Funston is graduating from puppy training and heading off to guide-dog “college.” (Christy Karras / )

Volunteers at Guide Puppies of Seattle form a close-knit pack of their own as they train future guide dogs

Editorials & Opinion

Save the rare wild beauty of the Tongass National Forest from renewed logging | Op-Ed

Featured Columnist

Leonard Pitts Jr.

Respect your local police — or else?

Horsey Cartoon

Welcome to Cannabis Country, dude

Sports

Jimmy Lake sets up his defense for the final play of the game against WSU> The Washington State Cougars played the Washington Huskies in the 2019 edition of the Apple Cup game at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA Friday, November 29, 2019. 212245

Will Jimmy Lake’s transition to head coach be a smooth one at Washington? History is on the Huskies’ side | Larry Stone WATCH

Featured Columnist

Utah’s loss shows there’s no end in sight to Pac-12 football’s plummet

Arts & Life

$(L-R): Jennifer Beals as Bette Porter, Leisha Hailey as Alice Pieszeckie and Katherine Moennig as Shane McCutcheon in THE L WORD: GENERATION Q, “Let\’s Do It Again”. Photo Credit: Hilary B Gayle/SHOWTIME.$

‘The L Word’ was groundbreaking in the canon of LGBTQ media. Here's why its reboot is relevant today.

Moira Macdonald

Sunday Best: Snowflakes donning headpieces that look like soft serve — what could be cooler?

Photography

It’s a high-five through the glass of the 120,000-gallon Window on Washington Waters exhibit with Santa Carl Harrington. He’s been volunteering as Mr. Claus since 2010.

For more information: seattleaquarium.org

Ref to more photos online

Saturday, Dec 7, 2019 212326

Local News

Santa makes annual underwater appearance at Seattle Aquarium VIEW

Huskies outside hitter Kara Bajema (15) goes for the kill during the first set of the first round NCAA D1 women’s volleyball game between University of Washington and Winthrop University at Alaska Airlines Arena on Dec. 6, 2019. 212290

Huskies

Winthrop puts mild scare in Huskies before UW rolls to win in NCAA tournament opener VIEW

Every year a new wreath is placed on the Aurora Bridge honoring bus driver Mark McLaughlin who died Nov. 27, 1998 in the line of duty. The plaque and wreath were placed by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587.

Thirty-two people were saved by his actions.

He was shot in the arm, the bus plunged through the railing on the east side of the bridge to a roof below then the ground.

Wed. Dec 3, 22019 212293

LO Linesonly

Local News

Memorial for bus driver

Seattle Seahawks strong safety Bradley McDougald (30) recovers a fumble during the third quarter of the Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Dec. 2, 2019. 212267

Photography

Photos: Seahawks take over 1st place after win against Vikings VIEW