New Washington State Budget Would Provide $7.3B More to Public Schools Over Four Years

Seattle Times | Joseph O’Sullivan | June 29

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/lawmakers-and-the-public-will-get-little-time-to-review-budget-draft-before-vote/

“A tentative state budget agreement would boost public-school spending by $7.3 billion over the next four years, according to a four-page summary of the plan released Thursday. The summary spells out how lawmakers intend to satisfy the state Supreme Court’s 2012 McCleary decision, which ruled the state was violating its own constitution by underfunding K-12 schools. Lawmakers released details of the McCleary agreement without breaking down how they would pay for it. But lawmakers are expected to approve a shift in property taxes and expand collection of the online sales tax.”

Sound Transit Begins to Install Light Rail on Floating Bridge

Puget Sound Business Journal | Nuoya Zhou | June 29

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/06/29/sound-transit-begins-to-install-light-rail-on.html

“Sound Transit began construction of the new light rail that will run across the floating bridge over Lake Washington Wednesday. WSDOT recently opened additional all-day high occupancy vehicle lanes in both directions as the center lanes were closed for the construction of the light rail tracks. Before WSDOT opened the new full-time HOV lanes, traffic in the express lanes was limited to one way — westbound in the morning and eastbound at night. Vehicles, including buses, traveling opposite the express lanes had to use the mainline, which caused rush-hour delays and undermined the benefits of ride sharing…The world’s first light rail over the floating bridge is part of the East Link project, which will add 10 stations and extend light rail 14 miles from downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue and the Overlake area of Redmond.”

#SeaHomeless: As Housing Prices Soar, Tech Sector Steps Up Efforts to Ease Homeless Crisis

GeekWire | Lisa Stiffler | June 28

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/seahomeless-housing-prices-soar-tech-sector-steps-efforts-ease-homelessness-crisis/

“In 2017, tech businesses and leaders have stepped up as never before to help people who are homeless in the greater Seattle area. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s foundation, Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos, as well as a campaign supported by Starbucks, Microsoft and others have contributed millions of dollars in donations and building space for homeless shelters, affordable housing and other services to help those eager for a permanent home. The support is significant, but the need is huge and expanding.”

Take a Pokémon Go-Style Tour of the University of Washington’s Future Computer Science Building

GeekWire | Monica Nickelsburg | June 26

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/take-pokemon-go-style-tour-university-washingtons-future-computer-science-building/

“Seattleites impatient to see what the University of Washington’s new $110 million computer science building will look like can get a high-tech preview, thanks to Marc Kinsman of Mortenson Construction. He has developed an app that allows users to see the planned building through their smartphones, much like the popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go. To see what UW has in store for the CSE2 facility, head over to the construction site and pull up the Mortenson AR/VR app. Point your device at signs posted along the fencing on Snohomish Lane and the building should come into focus.”

Check Out the Pike Place Market’s $74M Addition: See 360-Degree Views of the New MarketFront

Seattle Times | Erik Lacitis | June 26

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/pike-place-market-74-million-addition-marketfront-360-video/

“The Market on Thursday is having a grand opening of a $74 million project on its northern side, on what used to be a ¾-acre parking lot. As it always is with the Market, this new addition had to go through its vocal constituency, all of whom care deeply about it. There were more than 200 public hearings. “It’s a very committed, passionate community,” is how Ben Franz-Knight, executive director of the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority, explains it. The “MarketFront” comes with straight-on, amazing views of Elliott Bay.”

Happy Employees Work Here: Washington’s Best Workplaces Revealed

Puget Sound Business Journal | Ryan Lambert | June 23

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/feature/washingtons-best-workplaces-awards-employee-survey.html

“Ask most business leaders and they’ll tell you that success starts with smart hiring and engaged employees. For the last 11 years, the Business Journal’s list of Washington’s Best Workplaces has attempted to quantify that sentiment. Employees from hundreds of companies throughout Washington state are surveyed each year to find out what makes their office special. The results of those surveys are a how-to guide for workplace culture. Columbia Bank and Kidder Mathews are the only two companies to land on the list every year since we started publishing it.”