Civic

Jun 18, 2020, 1:45 PM

Seattle tech and business leaders form racial justice coalition, demand police reforms

Hundreds of Seattle-area business and technology leaders formed a coalition this week to push for racial equity at their companies… Read More

Jun 18, 2020, 8:20 AM

Supreme Court’s denial of Trump’s attempt to rescind DACA is a win for Dreamers and Microsoft

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to dissolve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)… Read More

Jun 17, 2020, 10:48 AM

Documents reveal Microsoft pitched facial recognition tech to drug enforcement feds

Microsoft has long cast itself as a moral authority on facial recognition, calling for federal regulation of the technology and… Read More

Jun 16, 2020, 10:35 AM

Seattle City Council unveils new payroll tax targeting Amazon and other large companies

The Seattle City Council introduced a new proposal Tuesday to tax the largest companies in the city, the latest in… Read More

Jun 15, 2020, 3:48 PM

City of Seattle awards $320K to 15 non-profit organizations for digital equity projects

The City of Seattle announced recipients of its 2020 Technology Matching Fund, an annual grant program supporting non-profit organizations that… Read More

Jun 15, 2020, 2:22 PM

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is reportedly willing to testify before Congress in antitrust inquiry

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos could testify before Congress along with other Big Tech leaders this summer, according to a letter… Read More

Jun 10, 2020, 4:59 PM

Seattle police will use body cameras during protests under new policy

The Seattle Police Department said Wednesday that officers will be ordered to turn on their body-worn cameras during protests in… Read More

Jun 10, 2020, 2:55 PM

Amazon bans police use of its Rekognition facial recognition software for one year amid protests

Amazon will ban police use of its facial recognition software for one year, in an abrupt reversal that shows how… Read More

Jun 10, 2020, 2:37 PM

Instacart threatens to pull out of Seattle if new hazard pay law passes

Instacart said it may not be able to continue operating in Seattle if a law requiring hazard pay for delivery… Read More

Jun 8, 2020, 8:28 AM

Seattle will order police to turn on body cameras during protests despite privacy concerns

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan plans to issue an executive order Monday requiring police to turn on their body cameras during… Read More

Jun 5, 2020, 10:30 AM

As protests spread across the country, mobile video creates mosaic of violence and tool for change

At Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park on Thursday afternoon, as the sixth day of protests against police violence stretched into the… Read More

Jun 2, 2020, 10:34 AM

Ventec and GM, 2 months later: How a startup took on the ventilator shortage, and where it stands now

Two months after President Donald Trump tapped a little-known Seattle-area medical device startup called Ventec Life Systems and automotive giant… Read More

Jun 2, 2020, 10:10 AM

Seattle City Council mandates paid sick time for gig workers during pandemic

Drivers for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub, and other delivery services will soon be eligible for paid sick time off in… Read More

May 29, 2020, 3:35 PM

Washington state loosens restrictions for phased opening as shutdown order approaches expiration

Counties across Washington state will enter a phased re-opening program Monday as Gov. Jay Inslee’s “stay-home” order expires. Inslee announced… Read More

May 23, 2020, 10:55 AM

This governor alarmed professors 22 years ago with his vision for distance learning in 2020 — here’s what he says today

A longtime contact of mine recently emailed a New York Times article from June 18, 1998: “Virtual-Classes Trend Alarms Professors.”… Read More

May 22, 2020, 2:48 PM

Seattle considers mandating hazard pay for gig workers during the pandemic

The Seattle City Council is considering new emergency legislation that would require companies like Uber and Grubhub to pay drivers… Read More

May 20, 2020, 2:33 PM

Seattle launches marketplace to connect businesses with local face mask producers

The City of Seattle launched an online marketplace Tuesday to connect organizations that need face coverings with local producers manufacturing… Read More

May 18, 2020, 10:08 AM

Jousting with Congress over Bezos testimony, Amazon says it will send ‘the appropriate’ executive

Anyone eager for Jeff Bezos’ moment in the Congressional hot seat, previously occupied by the likes of Bill Gates and… Read More

May 14, 2020, 8:00 AM

Pandemic spells uncertain future for bikes and scooters as mobility services confront new realities

Three years ago, thousands of candy-colored shared bicycles appeared on Seattle streets, rebranding the characteristically gray-green city with a theme… Read More

May 12, 2020, 4:54 PM

Washington state reveals contact tracing plan to support phased opening of business

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday that the state’s contact tracing team will be in place by the end of… Read More

May 8, 2020, 3:36 PM

Washington state adds hundreds of WiFi hotspots with funding from Microsoft

Washington state is deploying more than 300 “drive-in” WiFi hotspots to help residents who are unable to access the internet… Read More

May 8, 2020, 9:49 AM

Tech avoids steepest job losses as US unemployment reaches historic peak of 14.7%

The U.S. unemployment rate soared to a record 14.7% in April according to the Department of Labor. It’s the highest… Read More

May 7, 2020, 4:41 PM

Microsoft slams Amazon’s latest protest over Pentagon cloud contract as ‘a way to avoid the consequences of its own bad business decisions’

Amazon is once again challenging the Department of Defense’s decision to award a $10 billion cloud contract to Microsoft. Amazon… Read More

May 7, 2020, 4:15 PM