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.

Mama’s Mexican Kitchen building razed; Jackson’s Catfish Corner folds; Seahawks win last game but miss playoffs due to tiebreakers; Bill Nye gets a Medal of Freedom—of Science!

Painter documents city’s changing scenes; Amazon office workers now expected back every day; more light-rail maintenance disruptions coming; trans people moving to WA to escape MAGA 2.0.

Ex-local newscaster Aaron Brown RIP; another newborn orca calf dies; number of homeless school kids up 20 percent; UW Huskies lose Sun Bowl in final seconds.

The Ins and Outs for the resistance-centric year ahead.

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.

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.

Nordstrom family taking chain ‘private;’ Starbucks strike expands; last Pecos Pit BBQ locations closed; victory in racial-discrimination suit against Seattle Children’s.

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.

Neal Stephenson’s novel ‘Snow Crash’ and its lessons for today; did a ‘Star Wars’ valentine card cost ex-SPD chief Diaz’s job?; cop who ran over Jaahnavi Kandula gets $5,000 fine; feds giving $50 mil toward Cascadia light rail planning.

How to move a 4.5-ton statue from state Capitol; WA evictions at ‘record levels;’ King County, UW reach deal to keep Public Health clinics open; feds find ‘deeply troubling pattern of injuries’ at Amazon warehouses.

Remembering Seattle Times music writer Patrick MacDonald (and Kraken co-owner David Bonderman); big grocery-merger plan scrapped amid new lawsuits; an ‘adult cabaret’ (NOT a ‘strip club’) planned for Ballard.