🚧 Winds rip bricks off apartment

Windstorms Knock Power Out Across WA, Rainfall Breaks March Records

Strong winds across Western Washington knocked out power for tens of thousands of people across the state starting Wednesday night. One person died after a tree fell on a vehicle east of Monroe. Sea-Tac broke its March 11 record of 1.01 inches, set in 2002, with a new high of 1.15 inches. [Seattle Times]

• Winter Storm Warning Continues: While the Wind Advisory and Blizzard Warning are no longer in effect, the Cascades and Olympics remain under a Winter Storm Warning until 5 a.m. on Saturday. [KING 5]
• Wind Rips Bricks From Capitol Hill Apartment Building: Wednesday night winds reached 45 miles per hour in the city. With the gusts, an upper layer of bricks fell from the top of the three-story Malden Apartments, 15th Ave E. Seattle Police taped off the area, leaving E Harrison closed just west of 15th. The photos are wild! We hope everyone living there is safe. The Seattle Times has more general tips for staying safe during a power outage, as well as how to prepare in the future. [Capitol Hill Seattle Blog]
• Highway Closures: Highway 410 east of Enumclaw is closed, along with several others. US 2 over Stevens Pass is closed early Thursday for planned avalanche control. Drivers headed through the passes should have chains and expect pass closures. [KING 5]

Rights For WA Domestic Workers Signed Into Law 📜

This week, Gov. Ferguson signed House Bill 2355, which creates protections for Washington workers like nannies, housekeepers, and gardeners, who work four or more hours a month. The bill requires minimum wage and overtime pay, creates a standard for sick pay, allows workers to file labor claims with the state Department of Labor and Industries, and requires advance notice of termination. Some of the policy was modeled after Seattle’s domestic worker protections, which passed in 2018 and made Seattle the first city in the country to have such protections. The law will take effect on July 1, 2027. [South Seattle Emerald]

UW Medicine Grows Measles Testing Amid Growing National Outbreak 🧪

As we ready Seattle’s public transportation, street parking, and hospitality for a huge number of out-of-state World Cup visitors this summer, UW Medicine is ramping up its measles testing capabilities. The nationwide measles outbreak is growing and spreads through the air, making air travel a potent vector. In the first two months of 2026, Washington counted 26 measles cases, more than twice last year’s total count. More than 1,200 infections had been confirmed in 31 states this year, with just four cases reported among international visitors. [Seattle Times]

Rodney H. King’s Paintings Celebrate Black Culture, Central District Community 🫟

When Rodney H. King was a kid growing up in the Central District on 29th and Dearborn, the old Coleman School was an abandoned building. Today, it is home to the Northwest African American Museum, which is currently displaying King's paintings in a show called "COM-MUNE U-NI-TY." The exhibit is an homage to the Central District and Black culture and the people who shape it. King says his art is “about restoration, preserving cultural memory, affirming identity, and honoring moments that define who we are, while inspiring future generations.” [KING 5]