Microsoft CEO responds to Chinese firm’s proclaimed AI breakthrough; Ferguson vows to help families split by deportation; UW football’s former ‘Dawgmother’ dies; yep, we’ve got another pro-cop Councilmember.

Lunar New Year now a state holiday; WA immigrants and advocates fighting back; Seattle’s first two homicides of 2025; Storm sending Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas.

US judge in Seattle affirms ‘birthright citizenship’ (for now); protesters stop transphobic presentation at UW; GOP bill would kill Evergreen State College; Oscar nods for Brandi Carlile, ‘Sugarcane’ doc.

Student’s signs defend Delridge median barrier Rob Saka opposes; WA sues to keep ‘birthright citizenship’ in US Constitution; Providence Oregon med personnel on strike; Ichiro almost unanimous in Hall of Fame vote.

Marchers insist on civil rights and democracy; Costco Teamsters authorize nationwide strike; City Council seekers cut to 6 finalists; did a now-former Stranger editor have an affair with a Council candidate?

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.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s tenure ends while Bob Ferguson’s begins; ‘less-lethal weapons’ bill advances in City Council; Boeing’s market share shrinks a lot; NY investor bets big on ‘affordable’ housing here.

Large public art installation on waterfront; Legislative session starts amid potential state financial crisis; fatal police shooting in Centralia; early Boeing whistleblower dies at age 84.

Similarities between Mangione case and a Netflix drama; Jaahnavi Kandula’s killer fired from SPD; WA eviction filings hit record; Canada gets its own political crossroads.

AI scientist sees the ‘code’ in biology; Harvard Exit theater cofounder dies; Maserati SUV shot at near Aurora, Merchant’s Cafe not closing for good after all.

Remembering a vital music journalist and zine editor; another deadly Boeing plane disaster; Seattle’s oldest restaurant/bar closes tonight; Jimmy Carter’s proud legacy.

Rick Steves on social media’s ‘corrosive effect’ on tourism; electricians flock to central WA for data-center projects; more nasty weather with the usual effects; Brits comment on US politics with choice (sad) words.

Jinkx and DeLa’s annual holiday spectacular; new SPD chief nominee named, while case against ex-chief Diaz deepens; suspect in Metro bus driver killing arrested (while on another bus).

A ‘Deluxe’ Xmas tree ornament; workers strike at 10 scattered Amazon facilities; Olympic Hotel sold; Ferguson says he’ll resist any ‘unconstitutional’ acts from the White House.

Local artist’s ‘mysterious’ light sculpture; aftermath of grocery-merger collapse; more Green Hill School workers charged with sexual misconduct; ‘suspicious backpack’ briefly causes East Precinct evacuation.