Whats good, Mercer Island?
"What's good, Mercer Island?" Moose Henderson

Seattle City Council and Mayor Durkan support the Art Workers Union (AWU): The Council and Mayor Durkan issued their support Monday afternoon, according to a press release. One of AWU's bargaining members, John Edens, said, “Now we hope Frye management hears City Council’s support and lives up to their progressive mission by promptly meeting in good faith at the bargaining table, to establish a contract with the AWU. Because when the Frye’s workers thrive, so will the Frye.” The Stranger's Jasmyne Keimig has more on the union here.

IT'S TIME TO VOTE FOR YOUR NEW FLAG: The 10 finalists for our unofficial contest to redesign Seattle's ugly city flag are live. Now you must decide the winner. I think you should vote for #4 or #10.


Another important election is happening: I know you know but we have to remind you constantly because A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WON'T VOTE IN THIS PRIMARY.


This trade war sure isn't looking great: Stocks around the world plunged today after Beijing allowed its currency to weaken. A weaker currency allows a country to sell their goods more cheaply to other countries. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin countered this move from China by declaring the country a "currency manipulator." The Treasury Department said in a statement: "As a result of this determination, Secretary Mnuchin will engage with the International Monetary Fund to eliminate the unfair competitive advantage created by China’s latest actions." An analyst told the New York Times that "this is going to escalate rapidly and badly.”

First they came for the straws
: A San Francisco airport is banning the sale of single-use water bottles, a move that has made some critics ask, "What they’re saying is we should drink more soda?” A spokesperson for the airport has said the ban only applies to water bottles, for now, since there are so many water options available at the airport.

Obama is coming out: And making a statement. Today former President Obama released a statement on gun violence, proclaiming that we must "soundly reject language" from any president or leader who "feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalizes racist sentiments." As we get closer to 2020, I predict Obama will start popping up a lot more. Here's the full statement:

Who do we blame after a mass shooting?: One Ohio politician, Rep. Candice Keller, has found some interesting scapegoats: "drag queen advocates," "homosexual marriage," open borders and Barack Obama. The Republican representative lives 30 miles south of Dayton, where a gunman killed nine people this weekend in a mass shooting. Surprisingly, Republicans have called for her resignation.

UPDATE: Don't blame the games.

The Senate is acting how you'd expect it to: Terrorism? Who cares? Not Mitch McConnell!

Trump is visiting El Paso on Wednesday: The Mayor of El Paso apparently isn't thrilled.


Seattle isn't dying: But media is. It was announced today that GateHouse Media will merge with Gannett to cut overlapping costs. The two media companies will now operate 260 daily news organizations, including USA Today.

A man sleeping in a Seattle parking garage was run over by a car: And critically injured. He's experiencing life-threatening injuries. Very sad.

There's a cougar loose on Mercer Island: And it's not a Mom 4 Seattle. A cougar was spotted in a residential neighborhood on Mercer Island early Monday, reports KOMO. It's unclear how the mountain lion got on the island or where it is. Let's hope it doesn't find Denise's Parrot Place.