New and returning theater shows cover the Big Issues (with laughs); Microsoft ‘shopping extension’ said to take influencers’ commissions; Ferguson talks of family at his inaugural; Biden talks of dangers to democracy.

Pike Place thrives while most downtown retail doesn’t; will anyone run against Harrell for re-election?; new orca calf spotted in the Sound; my annual Boxing Day sermonette.

Do the WTO protests have a lesson for today?; Girmay Zahilay confirms run for county exec; Facebook owes WA $24.6 mil over campaign-ad violations; LIHI says banks demand eviction-law concessions.

Performance-art piece explores Native family history; more post-election ‘horror and heartbreak;’ UW president’s house and car tagged with pro-Hamas slogans; announcer Dave Sims flees Mariners for Yankees.

Remembering a beloved local sportscaster (and a ‘hyperlocal’ news blogger); Boeing machinists to vote on a new contract proposal; Andrea Suarez ads ‘appear to darken’ opponent Shaun Scott’s skin color to make him seem menacing.

Saving one of the region’s last big theater organs; survey says more folks are ‘optimistic’ about Seattle; lawsuit challenges Amazon’s hiring practices; Boeing’s bond rating perhaps headed for ‘junk’ level.

SAM’s lobby ‘tree’ installation going away; Auburn tightens anti-homeless law; Boeing, machinists to resume contract talks; conflicting protests mark one year of the Gaza siege.

Filmmakers spend years covering Aurora sex workers’ struggles; Harrell’s budget plan raids affordable housing to hire more cops; Afghans top WA’s refugee arrivals; Paul Allen estate pledges $9 million to downtown arts groups.

Boeing Machinists start first strike in 16 years; 650 Microsoft Xbox workers laid off; ‘divest from Israel’ activists disrupt UW Regents meeting; jury says state ‘not negligent’ in CHOP protester’s death on I-5 in 2020.

SPS releases two options to close between 17 and 21 schools; City Council plan for new SODA, SOAP zones moves ahead; ex-Pepsi plant could turn to pickleball; what the CHOP protest zone was (and wasn’t).

‘Fresh caught’ chinook salmon: tasty to humans, needed by orcas; city, county want office workers back more often; SPD officer fired for making a sick ‘joke’ sues; Woodland Park Zoo workers just might strike.

Detailed map shows eco projects at risk under cap-and-trade repeal initiative; we’re almost to 800,000 people; a state employee’s big alleged fraud; Bill Gates loses his spot among the world’s richest to his Microsoft successor.

More dissing about corporatized Pride; local officials say they won’t be (more) punitive against the unhoused after SCOTUS decision; yet another state ferry knocked out of service; feds may seek Boeing plea-bargain deal.

Two new giant murals near the waterfront; Garfield student fatally shot while ‘trying to break up a fight;’ SPD-beating video goes viral; I’ve got a big to-do this Saturday.

Messages told in U District’s homey ‘Museum of Unity;’ GOP initiatives’ backers don’t want their financial impacts mentioned on ballots; two local theaters talk of merging; Costco reportedly to stop regularly selling books.