Seattle Wants to Expand Digital Literacy, Internet Access

Seattle PI | Joel Connelly | March 30

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/A-technology-driven-city-launches-plan-to-expand-7218482.php

“Seattle is putting in place a plan to expand Internet access, skills training and access to technical support, designed to bring the Emerald City’s entire population into its technology-driven economy…The city’s effort is titled the Digital Equity Initiative Action Plan. It is being seeded by two grants, totaling $344,000 from Google, which is expanding its presence in the Seattle area.”

How Seattle Has Emerged as a Leader in Women-Led Angel Investing

Puget Sound Business Journal | Rachel Nielsen | March 30

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2016/03/how-seattle-has-emerged-as-a-leader-in-women-led.html

“The number of women taking part in angel investing in the Seattle area is climbing. The evidence is anecdotal for now, but angel investors and entrepreneurs in the region say they’re seeing more women than ever try their hands at early-stage investing…At the Seattle-based Alliance of Angels, which is one of the largest angel networks in the Pacific Northwest, the membership is about one-fifth female: It has 38 female investors out of its membership of 140, said Yi-Jian Ngo, the alliance’s managing director…Yet female angels say they are now seeing more people like themselves in their circles.”

Inside The World’s Longest Floating Bridge: How Engineers Made Seattle’s New Lake Washington Span Bigger, Better and Safer

GeekWire | Kurt Schlosser | March 30

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/behind-scenes-520-floating-bridge/

“One of the more important aspects of a floating bridge is that it stays afloat. That seems like a simple enough design request, and the existing SR 520 bridge over Lake Washington has met that vital criteria for more than 50 years…Construction of the new 7,710-foot bridge started in January 2012, and this weekend, the Washington State Department of Transportation will throw a grand opening party to allow the public to walk across, bike on and gawk at the multi-billion-dollar project. It’s an engineering and technological marvel, and GeekWire got a behind-the-scenes look into the innovation behind the world’s longest floating bridge.”

Washington Legislature Strikes Budget Deal that Ends Special Session

Puget Sound Business Journal | Greg Lamm | March 30

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2016/03/30/washington-legislature-strikes-budget-deal-that.html

“Both the Washington House and Senate have approved a supplemental budget plan that adds $191 million in new state government spending over the next two years. Late Tuesday, the Washington Senate passed the measure on a 27-17 vote. The Senate vote came hours after the state House voted 78-17 to pass the budget, according to The News Tribune of Tacoma. The budget deal signaled the end of the Legislature’s 20-day special overtime session.”

Former Governor Explains How ‘Challenge Seattle’ Will Fix City’s Transportation and Education Issues

GeekWire | Taylor Soper | March 28

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/former-governor-explains-challenge-seattle-will-fix-citys-transportation-education-issues/

“Challenge Seattle has substantial ambitions. The new organization officially came out of stealth mode earlier this month, announcing plans to solve the region’s pressing transportation and education problems with the help of government, the University of Washington, and 17 leaders from some of the largest and most successful local companies. However, some of the initial reaction from readers wasn’t pretty…But former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, who is leading Challenge Seattle as its CEO, told GeekWire in a follow-up interview that she’s quite optimistic about this particular group.”

With Long-Haul 787 and A350, Seattle Has The Edge as Asia Gateway

Seattle Times | Seattle Times Staff | March 26

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/with-long-haul-787-and-a350-seattle-has-the-edge-as-asia-gateway/

“Which city, Seattle or Los Angeles, is closer to the Southeast-Asian city of Manila in the Philippines? Believe it or not, the world is not flat, which makes the standard printed map of the world deceptive. Following the curve of our round planet, Seattle is nearly 650 miles closer to Manila…This geographic factor combined with the growing world fleet of ultra-long-distance, yet smaller jets — Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and Airbus’ A350 — means there is a real possibility of airlines opening new nonstop routes to Asia out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Kazue Ishiwata, senior manager of air-service development at Sea-Tac, mentions Manila, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Bangkok in Thailand, the enormous secondary cities of inland China — such as Chengdu or Nanjing — and even Indian cities including Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.”