A local studio’s funny YouTube videos carry subtle messages; an Earth Day look into our potential near-future; Seafair goes virtual again this year; a post-Chauvin-case look at our state/local police reform efforts.

Old Seattle ‘redlining’ map and neighborhood descriptions reveal housing racism’s continued legacy; 30 years of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit;’ WA COVID cases keep surging; excessive-force complaints against SPD are up 170 percent.

New book on local people/land/water interactions and inter-relations over the years; Bezos vows to improve Amazon working conditions; state Senate revives and amends drug-possession ban; it’s getting hot in here.

Local music legends are now namesakes of a sewer-tunnel digging machine; Pierce County gets rolled back to ‘phase 2;’ county exec wants sheriff to resign; Seattle Go Center’s building will be gone.

The former Fisher Mill now houses film/TV studio space; King County’s reopening could re-close if COVID cases keep rising; Gonzaga makes a stunning entry to the NCAA title game; an NCAA women’s-champ team member is from Bellevue and has a somewhat-famous brother.

Art and artists in the age of COVID; City Council committee further cuts back on its initial, small SPD funding-cut plan, the local vaccine supply’s still far short of demand; there are good things to say about Bellevue (just not the things Jon Talton says about it).

The 1918 pandemic’s continuing lessons for our time; a lot more people can get vaccines next month; Jessyn Farrell’s running for mayor again; the likely only real lesson from the Georgia killings.

Research into old photos reveals decades of farm workers’ struggles; Inslee wants all kids back in classrooms at least part-time; decrepit conditions found at a chain of ‘sober housing’ group homes; Tom Douglas’s original restaurant is closing for good.

More looking back at a year of COVID and its societal side effects, while Inslee announces a statewide ‘phase 3’ reopening (including sports fans in stands); King County gets a new ‘homelessness czar’ (maybe).

Microsoft’s weird vision for future VR conferencing; an ex-Sonic’s running for mayor; protesters’ lawsuit against Seattle expands. anti-Asian racism may be why a schoolteacher was attacked on the streets with ‘a rock in a sock.’

Teen musicians practice in plastic isolation booths; SAM gets a big-name art donation; we’re the last state to end ‘simple possession’ drug laws; Bellevue will no longer be ‘Dickless.’

After the Big Snow, get ready for the Big Melt; the Lava Lounge building gets closer to demolition; Sen. Murray says she was ‘within inches’ of the Capitol mob; the state reports 1 million vaccine shots.

Dina Martina’s V-Day greetings; waiting for the snow to get more serious; more of the state gets into a ‘phase 2’ reopening; could either or both of 2017’s temp-mayors run for the office this year?

Rapinoe & Bird, Wilson & Ciara as lovebird role models; waiting for snow’s big promise/threat; Tim Eyman fined and banned from political fundraising; a local inventor’s crosswalks light up under your feet.

Drive to replace Marcus Whitman’s DC Capitol statue with one of a Native-rights activist; claims of deliberate meddling in state unemployment system; City Council President Lorena Gonzalez runs for mayor; Amazon’s next CEO is a thorough ‘tech bro.’