🚈 Three new light rail stations

Sound Transit Debuts Three New Light Rail Stations

Three new stations open this Saturday at an 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony: Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Downtown Federal Way. This extension means the 1 Line is now the second-longest light rail line in the country. [The Urbanist]

• Most Important: It’s estimated that over 20,000 people will be using these new stations every day, which will hopefully reduce congestion on I-5. And for those that want to park and ride, Kent will get 500 parking stalls, Star Lake will have more than 1,200, and Federal Way has at least 1,500. Next year, King County Metro is planning to add more bus routes throughout these areas as well.
  • This is great news because traffic really has gotten worse in our city. According to the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard, drivers in Seattle spent more time sitting in traffic in 2025 than they did in 2024. Why? It’s likely due to constant road work and the return to office mandates by big employers like Amazon. [Seattle Times]
• Want To Know More? Ryan Packer from The Urbanist has already taken a ride on the new Light Rail and gives us the inside scoop. [City Cast Seattle 🎧]

DOJ Sues WA Secretary of State for Info on Voters 🗳️

After refusing to hand over Washington’s complete voter database back in September, WA Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has now been sued by the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ wants access to the full names, birth dates, and driver’s license numbers for all of our state’s voters “to assess Washington’s compliance” with federal election laws. [Seattle Times]

Seattle’s Most Streamed Artist of 2025 Is… 🎶

Taylor Swift! Is this surprising to anyone? She’s also the most streamed artist for the entire country and for me, personally. This result comes from Spotify’s annual recap, which included city-specific data. [FOX 13]

(If you’re not following us on Instagram, you probably missed our version of Spotify Wrapped, AKA Seattle Wrapped - check it out!)

Speculation Surrounds the Health of Gary Ridgway 🧬

Several sources have come forward to say that the Green River Killer’s health may be declining in prison, to the point of receiving “end-of-life care.” If this is true, Ridgway will leave behind any remaining knowledge that could be used to find and identify his victims. For families still hoping for closure, they’ll have to rely on DNA and forensic technology. [KOMO]