Brb, gotta go collect that award
Brb, gotta go collect that award 1Photodiva / Getty Images

Carbon tax decided for November ballot, fundraising war begins: Start your engines — they’re hybrid, right? — a carbon tax is going on the Washington ballot this November. The fundraising money is already pouring in. So far, proponents for the tax, like the Nature Conservancy, have a leg up. The pro-carbon tax side has raised $2.7 million. The opponents, with Andeavor, a refinery in Anacortes, taking the reigns by shelling out a fat $1.66 million, have raised a total of $1.7 million. The initiative would place an escalating carbon tax fee starting at $15 a metric ton on fossil-fuel emissions. The revenue — which would start as an extra 14 cents a gallon at the pump — will go toward investments in renewable energy.

Proud of you, King County Metro: The American Public Transit Association picked King County Metro as the best transportation agency in the nation. Wow! If I had known we’d been nominated I would have dressed up! It was based off 12 criteria including financial management, safety, efficiency, and management, reports the Seattle Times. APTA also loved all iterations of the ORCA program like ORCA Lift for low income riders and ORCA Passport, what employers buy their employees. That last one sounds like a good perk. Ridership has increased steadily since 2011, which was another big draw to the award, but APTA hasn’t taken into account the increased demand and Metro’s inability to keep up with supply. Would you vote for King County Metro?

It’s voting day! Vote! Get that ballot dropped off or postmarked by 8 p.m. Find out where to drop off your ballot! If you’re like my friends, hand your ballots to your friend who’s route to work will lead them past a drop box. I have three ballots in my backpack this morning! Get ready, Capitol Hill ballot box, you’re about to get stuffed with predictably-late young people votes.

One man avoids deportation by living in a church: We touched on Jose Robles’ story a few months back. He’s been living in the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in downtown Seattle since the end of June. It’s how he’s avoiding deportation. His lawyer believes he’s the only person in Washington state seeking sanctuary this way. He was ordered to return to Mexico on June 28. He went to the church and has remained there ever since. Robles is waiting for the courts to say he’s eligible for a U-Visa because he was a victim of a crime. Or, the Board of Immigration Appeals would have to decide that his deportation would be significantly harmful to his youngest daughter, the only member of his family who is a U.S. citizen. For the time being, he waits.

It’s war out there: Washington soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord have been packed up and shipped off to face our enemy at home — fire. Two hundred soldiers are going to fight fires nationwide. The Department of Defense is still identifying which fire they’ll be sent to. It will be hot and in the West. These things we can be sure of.

Sawant’s attempt to save the Showbox moves forward: Councilmember Kshama Sawant is trying to expand the Pike Place Historic District to include the Showbox. Currently, the district ends just a few 100 feet west of the venue. Protecting it under a historic district would allow the district to dictate how the property runs and functions. By just letting the Showbox be a landmark, a developer could gut the inside as long as the outer facade remains intact. The Council agreed to fast track consideration of the ordinance, Lester Black reports. Maybe it was because Ben Gibbard of Deathcab For Cutie and the Postal Service spoke up at the council meeting.

I work here now: I mean, I technically have worked here since my byline has been on this site. But, now I’m official. Now it's real. Without my intern status who am I anymore? No clue. Stay tuned if you like. I’ll be around Slog a bit more than just Slog AM. Thanks for reading, you’re all part of the reason I have a career now.

Another blistering day: I’ve accepted it by now. It truly is summer. I’ll stop complaining about the heat.


Manafort skewered by Gates testimony: Rick Gates, former Trump campaign aid and Paul Manafort’s former employee, was the prosecution’s star witness in the on-going case against Manafort. Gates never looked at Manafort while he spilled the beans on Manafort’s illegal actions and multi-year tax and bank fraud scheme. Manafort stared daggers at him the whole time. Gates betrayed his mentor and boss by pleading guilty and signing a plea deal. He met 20 times with the government to prepare his testimony. Then he sat in a courtroom and detailed all of Manafort’s financial activities down to how much he spent on Yankee tickets.

This is the feast all our whales should be eating: Pour one out for J35 of the southern resident killer whales. It might be too late for her.


Water scarce regions turn to icebergs for answers: A Middle East engineering firm is acting on an idea that’s been around since the 1970s. They’re going to tow an iceberg from Antarctica and use it for drinking water. By 2050, about 50 percent of Earth will face a water shortage. If this scheme works, it won’t just save the United Arab Emirates, but the world, said one of the engineers. The plan is to lasso an iceberg, tow it to either Australia or South Africa, and then the rest is still being planned out. Their best idea so far is to chop up the iceberg bit by bit and then figure out later how to distribute it to people.

Florida Chuck E. Cheese shuttered: Why? There were rodents near the pizza. Chuck E. Cheese, our beloved mouse king, is the only rodent allowed near our pizza. His friends are not welcome. There were 130 rat droppings in the kitchen areas. No one wants that. We’ve all seen Ratatouille. C’mon, Chuck.

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This woman is my role model: She’s had sex with 20 different ghosts in 11 years. Her name is Amethyst Realm and she’s in a committed relationship with an Australian ghost. Though she’s been promiscuous with ghosts in the past, Realm is ready to settle down with her current spectral love.

Reminder to send me your breakfast by tomorrow at 8 a.m. to be featured in Slog AM! Send them to ngraham@thestranger.com

Tonight's best Seattle entertainment options include: A reading with acclaimed short fiction writer Valerie Trueblood, a psych-rock show with the Shivas, SSDD, Swamp Meat, and DJ Mamma Casserole, and the opening of Black Imagination, a new show from artist, activist, and "tornado of brilliance" Natasha Marin.