Photo: Leah Millis/Reuters
After a week of high-stakes votes and intraparty wrangling, President Donald Trump on Friday signed a massive reconciliation bill that overhauls tax policy, slashes spending on social safety nets, and expands funding for defense and border enforcement. The legislation passed the Senate by a 51–50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie, before narrowly clearing the House on Thursday. It was signed into law during a July 4 ceremony at the White House.
Dubbed by Republicans as a “big, beautiful bill,” the legislation locks in $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, primarily benefiting high-income earners and businesses, while making the steepest-ever reductions to Medicaid and food assistance programs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will add at least $3.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.
Gov. Bob Ferguson condemned the law as a “morally bankrupt” transfer of resources from the vulnerable to the wealthy. While GOP backers say the bill promotes work and cuts waste, critics warn of hospital closures, economic ripple effects, and an unraveling of state-run safety net programs.
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New permitting rules aim to cut delays in West Seattle and Ballard projects by 50%.
He pledges to rebuild public trust and steady a department still recovering from officer losses and protest-era fallout.
Lawsuit filed in Seattle challenges termination of diversity-linked grant programs.
Lawsuit seeks to block use of health records by ICE for immigration enforcement.
Over 15,000 employees have been let go since May as the company trims costs amid an $80B AI investment push.
John Wilson was booked on suspicion of violating restraining order; local leaders call continue to for his resignation.
Seattle Storm forward earns tenth career nod and second consecutive selection since joining team.
Mariners catcher earns first career selection, becomes first in team history to start at the position.
UW Medicine and Aetna have reached a new agreement, restoring in-network coverage for more than 50,000 patients after a month-long lapse in contract.
The prior agreement expired June 1, prompting UW Medicine to notify tens of thousands of patients that they could face higher costs or disrupted care. The new deal, announced July 3, ensures that services delivered during the gap will still be covered at in-network rates.
The agreement affects major UW Medicine locations, including Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center – Montlake and Northwest campuses, primary and urgent care clinics, and physician services at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
UW Medicine CEO Dr. Tim Dellit called the deal “fair, sustainable, and in the best interests of our patients,” emphasizing the need for reimbursement rates that support the health system’s role as Washington’s safety net provider.
Negotiations had stalled over rate disagreements, with UW Medicine citing Aetna’s low reimbursements and Aetna warning of rising healthcare costs. The resolution allows patients to continue seeing their existing UW doctors without needing to change providers or pay out-of-network prices.
Roughly 545,000 acres of Washington’s forestlands showed signs of insect damage, disease, or other stress in 2024, according to a new report from the state Department of Natural Resources. While that represents just 2.5% of the state’s 22 million forested acres, it marks an uptick from 2023 and is slightly above the 10-year average.
Most of the damage was caused by insects—especially bark beetles, which affected more than 270,000 acres. Among the most impacted were lodgepole and ponderosa pines in eastern and central Washington. Fir engraver beetles damaged another 80,500 acres of true fir species. A new outbreak of western spruce budworm defoliated 63,500 acres, primarily in the North Cascades.
Warming temperatures and drought are also contributing factors to forest stress. The report notes that 2024 was among the hottest years on record in Washington, with widespread drought conditions observed by late summer. These stresses weaken trees and make them more vulnerable to pests and disease.
Officials caution that while year-to-year fluctuations are normal, the trendline matters. “It’s better to make observations over a longer period, like a 10-year stretch, to gauge trendlines,” said DNR spokesperson Will Rubin. Forest health assessments like this one are used to guide management practices and prioritize treatments.
The aerial detection survey, conducted annually by DNR and the U.S. Forest Service, has mapped forest health conditions since 1947.
Home runs for Cal Raleigh before the All-Star break
Raleigh tied Ken Griffey Jr.’s franchise record and now ranks fifth all-time in MLB history for pre-break homers. He leads the majors and is on pace for 65.
U.S. unemployment rate in June
The jobless rate fell, hitting its lowest level since February. Though the drop was tied to a two-year low in labor force participation.
Fireworks-related injuries treated at Harborview over Fourth of July
Hand and eye injuries made up most of the cases, including some severe trauma. Medical staff say the toll, though high, was in line with typical Fourth of July numbers.
New 24/7 bus-only lanes are now active along Aurora Avenue N, part of a broader effort to keep transit moving during WSDOT’s I-5 rehabilitation project. As of mid-June, peak-only lanes have shifted to all-day operation between N 38th and N 115th streets. The change eliminates most parking and loading along the corridor and aims to improve reliability on high-ridership routes like the RapidRide E Line as I-5 work ramps up this summer.
A white SUV crashed through the front of Mioposto, a family-owned pizzeria, during Friday night’s dinner service, injuring at least three patrons and sending them to the hospital. The restaurant was full when the vehicle plowed through after running a red light. None of the injuries were life-threatening, but the building was deemed unsafe and is temporarily closed.
Pike Place Market’s daytime car restrictions will stay in place into 2026, as officials aim for a full year of testing before the FIFA World Cup arrives in Seattle. Since April, non-essential vehicles have been barred from the market’s main corridor between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Leaders say the pilot is improving safety and the pedestrian experience, though some longtime vendors say the traffic limits are hurting business.
Ramp closures near I-90 and Rainier Ave S are underway as crews begin pedestrian safety upgrades near the future Judkins Park light rail station. From July 11–14, the westbound I-90 off-ramp to southbound Rainier will be fully closed to install ADA curb ramps, a raised crosswalk, and flashing beacons. Additional ramp closures and night work will continue through mid-July. Travel lanes on Rainier remain open, but pedestrians should expect detours.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
