⛔ Highway 2 will be closed for months

Flood Concerns Remain Until at Least Thursday

Flood Watch remains in effect through Thursday afternoon, and residents continue to be affected by floods, rain, and evacuations. As of Tuesday, residents in Pacific in South King County are under evacuation orders due to a levee failure at the White River. Also, Bob Ferguson is saying that Highway 2 will be closed for months. [Seattle Times]

• There Will Be More Rain: We can anticipate one more heavy push of rain and thus rising rivers on Wednesday and into Thursday. After that, the rain should decrease, and we’ll see a much-needed break. [KOMO]
• Blizzard Warning: A blizzard warning is in effect until noon Wednesday and includes Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass. Whiteout conditions are possible, and 15 inches of snow are likely at Snoqualmie Pass, 15 - 20 inches at Stevens Pass, and 2 - 3 feet along Mt. Rainier and Baker. [Emerald City Weather]
• First Reported Death: Tuesday morning, a man drowned after he drove his car through a closed road and ended up in a ditch flooded with 6 feet of water. Please do not ignore warnings or drive on closed roads. [Seattle Times]
• Flood Tracking Map: This map is a useful resource to check emergency warnings and flooding in WA.
• Adopt a Storm Drain: Flooding is possible anywhere, so check out how you can help by adopting a storm drain in your neighborhood to reduce the risk.

People Still Want To Move Here 🚛

Seattle ranks third highest for residents who lived in another state 12 months earlier. We’re just behind Boston and Washington, D.C. And as a newbie myself, I can tell you: I love living here! [Seattle Times]

Seattle Has a New AI Czar 🙃

Our city’s Information Technology Department has named Lisa Quan as the city’s first artificial intelligence officer. She has previously led data science management at LinkedIn and Airbnb. The role is designed ‘to ensure Seattle harnesses the transformative potential of artificial intelligence while upholding the city's values and commitment to responsible technology use.’ [StateScoop]

Police Officers Invited to Law Enforcement Ministry 👮

SPD Officer Christopher Gregorio sent an e-mail to his colleagues at SPD on Monday morning, inviting them to a free retreat hosted by the Billy Graham Law Enforcement Ministry. Gregorio was one of the officers involved in the killing of Terry Caver, a Black man who suffered from mental illness, in 2020. In 2021, former chief Adrian Diaz rescinded an invitation to a dinner hosted by the same organization due to its fairly well-known beliefs about LGBTQ+ people. [PubliCola]

A New Show Highlights Black Clay Artists 🎨

There’s a new exhibit at Arte Noir called ‘Black Clay.’ The show features work from both local and national ceramists and has several events and activations that will go along with it. [South Seattle Emerald]

Reminder To Wash Your Hands 🤮

Some bad news: Norovirus, the stomach bug that makes you reallllllly sick for like 12-24 hours, is spreading all over the country. Badder news: You can get norovirus over and over again. Baddest news: It stays on surfaces for a long time. The solution? Wash your hands whenever you enter your home, clean up from norovirus using gloves, and don’t see anyone who hasn’t been symptom free for at least 3 days! Did we mention this was bad? [Seattle Times]