Photo: Kent Nishimura/Reuters
Senate Republicans have released a sweeping 549-page proposal that would make deeper cuts to Medicaid than the House-passed version of the GOP’s marquee legislative package, intensifying internal divisions as lawmakers race to meet a July 4 deadline.
The Senate Finance Committee’s draft would phase out clean-energy tax credits more slowly than the House bill, offsetting those delays with sharper Medicaid reductions. Unlike the House plan, which applied work requirements to childless adults, the Senate bill would extend them to parents of teenagers and tighten eligibility checks, including immigration verification—changes expected to increase the number of Americans losing coverage. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the House version would leave 11 million more Americans uninsured by 2034.
While Senate leaders tout the bill’s extensions of Trump-era tax cuts and new deductions for older adults and businesses, the changes have drawn criticism from both House Republicans and Democrats. House moderates object to the Senate’s lower cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions, while hardline conservatives oppose the preservation of some clean-energy incentives.
The bill would raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion—$1 trillion more than the House version—and retain controversial provisions such as Planned Parenthood funding restrictions and reduced assistance for dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollees.
The Senate parliamentarian this week struck several provisions from the reconciliation bill, including a proposed defunding of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, stricter SNAP rules, and a judicial reform aimed at shielding the Trump administration from court penalties. The rulings leave the bill’s core tax and Medicaid changes intact but reduce overall projected savings by more than $9 billion.
Public opinion remains skeptical. A new KFF poll found 67% of Americans oppose the bill when told of its impact on Medicaid. Support among Republicans drops further when consequences are specified.
Despite mounting pushback, Senate Republicans aim to pass the package next week. If approved, the two chambers would still need to reconcile key differences—especially over Medicaid and climate provisions—before sending it to President Trump’s desk.
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Seattle’s voter-created public housing agency faces a funding gap until 2026; short-term city loan aims to keep operations and acquisitions moving.
The SPS Chief Operations Officer will lead the district through September as Brent Jones remains on medical leave through the end of his term.
New law allows SPD to deploy vehicle-mounted projectiles under a $250K state grant.
City seeks to restore grant funding for anti-terror training and equipment.
The 10-mile extension is set to open in 2035 with stops in Federal Way, Fife, and East Tacoma.
Remote employees told to move to Seattle or other designated cities or risk dismissal without severance
The longtime Seattle pharmacy chain will be folded into CVS after 134 years.
Sound Transit restored service to the Bellevue-Redmond line after an hours-long shutdown on Saturday.
Seattle Public Schools has begun clearing waitlists at several high-demand schools, reversing years of stalled student movement that frustrated families and drove some to leave the district. The change follows mounting public pressure and new data showing that more than 450 students disenrolled after being denied their first-choice placement for the 2024–25 school year.
District officials say more than 2,500 students have now been offered spots in choice schools like Asa Mercer Middle School, Hazel Wolf K-8 STEM School, and Roosevelt High School. While most waitlist movement will be completed by the end of June, offers will continue through August.
Leaders say the district is reevaluating how it balances enrollment stability with family choice, including possible shifts to earlier application timelines and improved transportation access. No formal policy changes have been published yet, and parents are still pressing for clearer communication and assurances that added enrollment won’t come without needed staff.
Seattle voters will decide this fall whether to renew and expand the city’s Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy. The City Council unanimously approved placing the $1.3 billion measure on the November ballot, doubling the size of the existing levy set to expire this year.
The proposal would significantly boost investments in early learning, K-12 support, and college access. Key elements include:
The measure also includes $4.1 million to restore the Environmental Education Program, which had been slated to sunset in 2026.
While broadly popular, some advocates have raised concerns about potential levy funding for School Engagement Officers—police assigned to campuses—a program cut in 2020. The current levy text doesn’t prohibit such spending, prompting debate over how public safety dollars will be used in schools.
The levy would cost the owner of a median-priced Seattle home roughly $656 per year. Seattle voters have approved six similar education-focused levies since 1990.
SR 99 tunnel toll increase starting July 1
The Washington State Transportation Commission is raising tolls by 3%, adding 5 to 10 cents depending on the time of day. This routine increase helps cover construction debt and ongoing maintenance.
Total boardings in May 2025 on Link light rail trains
The mark is a new monthly record, surpassing the previous mark of 3.1 million boardings in November 2024.
New world record for largest soccer lesson
A crowd of 1,038 people gathered at Pier 62 for a 30-minute soccer session, breaking the previous Guinness World Record of 956. The event kicked off local celebrations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Goodwill is opening a new donation-only site in Ballard, expected to launch July 1. The move aims to ease chronic traffic backups caused by long donation lines at the existing store on 8th Avenue NW, which can stretch for blocks. The new location—just a few blocks away—should offer much-needed relief for both donors and neighbors, though the exact address has not yet been announced.
Whole Foods on Capitol Hill closed its doors Monday after seven years of operation at Broadway and Madison. The 40,000-square-foot grocery anchor at the base of the Danforth apartment tower shut down the same week the building sold for $173 million. Amazon, which owns Whole Foods, said employees can transfer to other locations. Neighbors say the closure limits options for nearby residents and Swedish Medical Center visitors who relied on the store for quick access to fresh food.
A new memorial garden is coming to Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park thanks to a partnership between Seattle Parks and local Black-led organizations. The project aims to create a healing space honoring Dr. King’s legacy and lives lost to gun violence. A temporary garden near the park fountain will open this summer, with community planting and engagement events planned for June 21 and July 12.
A new park is coming to Georgetown. Watershed Community Development has secured a half-acre site off South Lucile Street to build “The Bend Community Park,” a green space planned as part of its broader district development. The site—roughly 28,000 square feet—will include gardens, play areas, and picnic space, with potential for features like a dog run or outdoor fitness circuit based on community input. The park is expected to open in 2028, shortly after the first residents move into the district’s inaugural building.
It doesn’t seem naked when you’re all painted.
