A voter places her ballot in the ballot box in front of the Covington Library in downtown Covington. It is the same box where Shukri Olow, center, of Kent dropped hers off the day she received it. As a Somali refugee and Muslim, she is fearful about the political climate and wanted to vote early to protect her vote and her community. She is sitting with her children Khalid Ahmed, 8, left, and Amani Ahmed, 10. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times)
Shukri Olow, center, sits with her children Khalid Ahmed, 8, left, and Amani Ahmed, 10, at the ballot drop box in front of the Covington Library. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times)
Naomi Ishisaka

Why are so many people voting early this year? Here’s one Kent woman’s answer

Shukri Olow is a Kent mom, a Somali refugee and a Black Muslim woman. All those identities fuel her passion for civic engagement, and she's one of a record number of voters casting ballots early this election season.

A car sits in the Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone following a shooting in Seattle early Monday, June 29, 2020. At least one man was killed and another was wounded early Monday morning when they were shot in the protest area known as CHOP, after driving the vehicle into the area. (AP Photo/Aron Ranen)
Crime

Homicides, assaults with firearms spike in King County, reflecting national trend, prosecutors say

The number of people killed or wounded in shootings spiked dramatically in the first nine months of 2020, leading to 58 homicides and 198 firearm injuries, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is hit by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Haason Reddick (43) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Larry Stone

With gut-wrenching loss to Cardinals, the Seahawks have reached their first moment of truth in 2020

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) pulls in a touchdown pass as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (20) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AZMY142 AZMY142
Cardinals 37, Seahawks 34

Report card: Bob Condotta grades the Seahawks’ Week 7 overtime loss to the Cardinals

Election 2020

Early voting in Bedford, Texas, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. Though mail-in ballot requests and early voting turn out are up this year, a significant portion of the American population will likely not participate in the election. (Cooper Neill/The New York Times)

‘I’m not interested.’ Why some people didn’t vote in 2016, and won’t this year eitherUpdated

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner does a television interview at the White House, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) DCAB101 DCAB101
Kushner says Black people must ‘want to be successful’  VIEW Updated
Ballot board workers process mail-in ballots at Bergen Community College in Paramus, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. This is the first day Bergen County officials are allowed to start sorting and processing ballots; they have already received more than 200,000 ballots and expect to count more than 450,000 by the time the election is through. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) NJSW108 NJSW108
LiveElection 2020 updates, Oct. 26: Today is the last day to register online to vote Updated
Monday is last day to register online or by mail to vote; in-person registration open until Election Day
Ex-Washington House Speaker Frank Chopp faces challenge from the left in Sherae Lascelles in Seattle race
House already won? Pelosi thinks so, and reaches for more
Military, police in Washington state prepare for possible civil unrest after election
Counting the vote: Will we know who won on election night? Updated

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David Arben, kneeling (with unidentified men), played his violin in Schwandorf, Bavaria, Germany a week or so after liberation from Flossenburg concentration camp in 1945.
Classical Music

Music of Remembrance ‘To Life!’ concert honors 4 musicians who survived the Holocaust

A portrait taken for the Museum of Pop Culture’s current “Body of Work” exhibition, running through May 31, 2021.
Visual Arts

Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture reopens ‘Body of Work: Tattoo Culture’ exhibition

A cigarette sits in an ashtray at the Red Key Taven in Indianapolis, Thursday, June 11, 2009. The U.S. Senate voted Thursday on legislation that for the first time would give the new powers to control the production and marketing of tobacco products. South Carolina has the lowest state sales tax on cigarettes in the country. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) INDC102
Travel

A hotel charged a senior couple with a smoking fee. Their complaint? They don’t smoke

Editorial

Seattle Times editorial board endorsements: Election 2020

Local News

A Washington State Department of Agriculture worker displays an Asian giant hornet taken from a nest Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Blaine, Wash. Scientists in Washington state discovered the first nest earlier in the week of so-called murder hornets in the United States and worked to wipe it out Saturday to protect native honeybees, officials said. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) WAET102 WAET102

Scientists remove 98 ‘murder hornets’ in Washington state  VIEW

Featured Columnist

Why are so many people voting early this year? Here’s one Kent woman’s answer

Education Lab

WATCH: How to make this unusual school year a little easier | Ed Lab Live

Children with disabilities are left behind by remote learning

Seattle-area parents want rules about screen time, but experts say off-screen interactions matter more

2 UW fraternities punished by Greek system amid COVID-19 outbreak

Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts declares financial emergency

Business & Tech

A photo provided by the artist Paolo Cirio shows his exhibit called “Capture,” for which he collected police officers’ faces from 1,000 photos he had gathered from the internet and from photographers who attended protests in France. He described the project as the first step in developing a facial recognition app. (Paolo Cirio via The New York Times) — NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY SLUGGED xxxxxx BY KASHMIR HILL FOR OCT. xx, 2020. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. —

Activists turn facial recognition tools against police

Featured Columnist

The Google antitrust case won’t be easy — trustbusting never has been

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Nation & World

Attendees worship at a Sunday morning Patriot Church service. MUST CREDIT: Photo for The Washington Post by Stacy Kranitz

Seeking power in Jesus’ name: Trump sparks a rise of ‘Patriot Churches’  VIEW

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Coronavirus

In this Sept. 16, 2020 file photo, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Health Adm. Brett Giroir speaks at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on a “Review of Coronavirus Response Efforts” on Capitol Hill in Washington. A day after White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said “we’re not going to control the pandemic,” a top Trump administration health official says Americans have already proven they can do that through basic safeguards shown to work. “I think we can control the pandemic,” Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir said Monday on a call with reporters. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool) WX102 WX102

US health official says pandemic clearly can be controlled

Food & Drink

Diners weigh the ethics, risks and responsibilities of eating inside restaurants

Pacific NW Magazine

Dwell Development brings cutting-edge sustainability, and a reverence for preservation, to its renovation of 3 classic Seattle homes

Editorials & Opinion

The shrinking of the American mind | Roger Cohen / Syndicated columnist

Featured Columnist

I’m endorsing a candidate for the first time in this column’s history

Horsey Cartoon

A tale of two temperaments

Sports

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Devon Kennard (42) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AZMY148 AZMY148 AZMY148

Here’s what Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said about Russell Wilson’s interceptions, Chris Carson’s injury and more

Featured Columnist

Here’s what Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said about Russell Wilson’s interceptions, Chris Carson’s injury and more

Arts & Life

A portrait taken for the Museum of Pop Culture’s current “Body of Work” exhibition, running through May 31, 2021.

Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture reopens ‘Body of Work: Tattoo Culture’ exhibition

Sunday Best: Chanel’s Paris Fashion Week show at Grand Palais stirs thoughts of Coco Chanel in Paris

A special Opinion section

What are tech monopolies doing to the health of our democracy?

Photography

Chelsey Bollinger with REACH (CQ), a Christian ministries group, gives a haircut to Tearra Howard on the street in Pioneer Square. Howard says, “I was just walking past.” This by the Pergola near First and Yesler. Every week REACH members look for people in need and many are living on the street There’s no fee charged. When finished, Howard liked the look. LO Linesonly Haircuts in the street by Reach Ministeries. Saturday Oct 17, 2020 215425
Local News

Meeting a basic need: On the streets of Pioneer Square, free haircuts, with a smile

Mom Hazel, top, hangs out with her twin cubs Tian, left, and Zan, at the Woodland Park Zoo on the offspring’s first visit to the public viewing area. Their closest relatives are skunks, minks and raccoons, not bears. They’re native to Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Myanmar. Twin red panda cubs, a boy and a girl, were born May 25 to mom 4-year-old Hazel and 15-year-old dad Yukiko. The female cub is named Tián (TEA-en), meaning ?sweet,? and her twin brother is named Zan (rhymes with van), meaning help and support. Both names are Mandarin. First time in public viewing area Woodland Park Zoo. Friday Oct 23, 2020. 215478
Local News

Zoo’s twin red panda cubs make public debut  VIEW

Remus gets a comb-out following his bath. A barely audible growl was heard. Or maybe it was a purr. Alex the cat Groomer Alex Perry at work Friday Oct. 2, 2020 Likely Northwest Wanderings 215251
Photo & Video

Woodinville cat groomer puts his finicky clients at ease  VIEW

The Maple trees along Lake Washington Blvd North near Gene Coulon Park in Renton are attracting people to photograph the fall colors as fall temperatures begin to dip and leaves begin to fall. After Wednesday’s volatile weather, the forecast calls for partly sunny skies on Thursday, rain on Friday, with the sun returning for the weekend. LO LO LO 215444 215444
Local News

Savoring fall’s flash of bright color