The Ins & Outs for the coming year of imperative action (and, we hope, some fun along the way).

A big weekend in these parts; more GOP Legislative priorities; Sawant bashes mainstream Dems one last time; will higher King Co. arts funding save local arts orgs?

City removes BLM Garden at Cal Anderson Park; delivery co. leaves Seattle rather than heed new labor laws; AI data centers use a helluva lotta water for cooling; the state won’t get new ferry boats for a long time.

Local sociologist says AI’s just an extension of human nature; five conservative state initiatives’ signatures are sent in; Starbucks, Amazon unions ‘are in limbo;’ fewer Seattle residents than (almost) ever are from here.

Shaun Scott book recounts the age-old sports/politics interface; more reaction to acquittals in Manny Ellis’ killing; the complicated truth behind that ‘nightmare tenant’ story; what Boxing Day means to me.

Local young geneticist turned shoegaze singer; a big (non-musical) ‘metal shredder’ proposed for Bellingham; more threats against synagogues; Biden admin vows to preserve old-growth forests here and elsewhere.

‘Ghosts of Belltown’ group show opens new art space; ‘Jewish Voices for Peace’ mach closes University Bridge; city drug-treatment program already near capacity; could the feds order Starbucks to reopen unionized-then-closed stores?

Etailer Zulily’s final days; Denny Blaine Park won’t be de-nuded for a kiddie playground; Starbucks wants to talk to unions again (under certain conditions); UW QB Michael Penix Jr. doesn’t get the Heisman Trophy.

UW prof on how every version of a song becomes its own work; rain/flood effects continue; SPOG head bashes police accountability agency; King County Council warns of ‘dire’ budget cuts ahead.

Ahamefule J. Oluo stage musical becomes a locally-shot film; feds may recommend offing Snake River dams; workplace issues probed at a major state agency; UW study says AI images often perpetuate race/gender stereotypes.

Shaun Scott book tells Seattle history via Seattle sports history; Burien allows a ‘pallet shelter’ after all (with restrictions); Amazon’s got its own AI chat bot ‘for business;’ Broadway’s ex-cinema pharmacy RIP.

Locally-written drama explores Israeli-Palestinian rift; TV-station owners, streaming services playing fiscal hardball; SPD officer accused of helping drug runners; Alex Pedersen wants to use trees to deter residential development.

Graphic novel on sibling rivalry; no Seattle public schools to close (for now); some dogs missing after dog-daycare center catches fire; is Seattle ‘too boring to be the worst at anything’?

Seattle’s true face as revealed (in Shaun Scott’s new book) thru sports; wind knocks out power to many and sets a barge adrift; ex-King Co. jail guard accused of co-running drug ring; Bezos leaving town for Miami.

Coffee-table mag honors ‘Filipinotown’; Amazon workers talk about ‘pain and exhaustion;’ big business wants a Council that’ll cut everything but cops; can AI really solve all humanity’s problems? (Probably not.)