Sara Porkalob’s taking her one-woman musicals to NY; WA’s paid family leave fund could soon run out; Rudy Giuliani’s coming to (somewhere in) King County in March; a relative paucity of COVID-related local news items today.

George Freeman resurrects ‘The Monastery’ as a colorful church/event space; COVID numbers coming down in western but not eastern WA; local grocery workers’ ‘hazard pay’ to continue; workers at two more local Starbucks want a union.

Microsoft buying game giant Activision Blizzard; new COVID cases are way down but the crisis is hardly over; 5G wireless could still bring airport ‘chaos’ despite a new agreement by telcos; Kate Starbird on how right-wing media ‘strategically amplifies’ conspiracy rumors.

A recently-restored Central District MLK mural appears on local TV, is defaced soon after; could ‘peak COVID’ be now?; locals wait to hear from loved ones in Tonga; Kraken end a nine-game skid in a shootout.

WA could’ve had a Black governor a half century or so ago; local tsunami alerts follow Pacific volcano blast; student ‘sickout’ demands more COVID safety from schools; restaurant owner accessed of sexual misconduct plans to reopen.

Seattle-raised filmmaker at old ‘spaghetti western’ filming locales; student ‘sickout’ planned at several schools; non-emergency surgeries put on hold due to COVID surge; WA’s Cascade mountain passes all finally reopened.

New Bumbershoot promoters promise a return to the arts festival’s roots; a drive for racial equity in Snohomish after a 2020 far-right rally; Seattle’s eviction ban will last at least until Valentine’s Day; local cable/Internet company changes its name (again).

Extreme weather closes passes, drowns drivers, collapses a house; explaining the SPD’s CHOP-era deceptions; 10,000 dead from COVID in WA as hospitals fill up again.

Harrell’s inauguration speech rejects arguments made by some of his own election supporters; AG Bob Ferguson recovering from COVID, as quarantine facility opens in Auburn; Kent mayor wants apparent neo-Nazi cop to resign.

What will become hotter and lukewarmer during the coming 365.

Heidelberg beer returns to Tacoma; WA hits another record in daily new COVID cases, as many New Year’s Eve events get canceled; our current cold snap may fade away at last.

Photo book recounts the Bertha tunnel project and its many complications; climate change’s role in our current cold snap; “Hoarders” reality-TV creator will work for Bruce Harrell; more proof that music streaming sucks for artists.

Local deep freeze continues; WA COVID cases skyrocket, as King County buys 300,000 home tests; would-be customer lacerates bartender who asked for vax proof; Beacon Hill Garden House saved.

Deep freeze follows snow, with expected impacts; King County COVID cases double in a week; a local law firm may open its own coffee house as it downsizes its offices; WSU football gets a bowl game after all.

Longtime local artist Carl Smool’s got a crowdfunding drive; Tim Eyman’s assets to be liquidated; serious cold (and maybe snow) on tap for holiday weekend; state AG Bob Ferguson isolating with COVID, as omicron variant takes hold in western WA.