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Washington Rep. Derek Kilmer on entrepreneurship, maritime innovation, Inflation Reduction Act, more

by Steve Case on August 19, 2022August 19, 2022 at 10:28 am

Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash) was the featured speaker at an event in Tacoma, Wash., this week sponsored by Maritime Blue, a Washington state public-private coalition promoting marine-related technologies that runs… Read More

‘Gold standard’ or unconstitutional? Facebook and Wash. state AG spar over political ad disclosure law

by Todd Bishop on August 17, 2022August 17, 2022 at 1:41 pm

Facebook parent company Meta and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson agree on this: the state’s campaign advertising disclosure law is exceptional. But is that good or bad — and more… Read More

Tech leaders in Washington state bullish about federal semiconductor bill

by Amy Rolph on August 17, 2022August 17, 2022 at 8:07 am

There’s nothing quick, easy, or cheap about microchips. The tiny computers that power our smartphones, cars, washing machines and televisions work are derived from semiconductor technology, which can take as… Read More

Inflation Reduction Act could boost climate efforts at Amazon, Microsoft — and increase their taxes

by Lisa Stiffler on August 16, 2022August 16, 2022 at 2:30 pm

President Joe Biden is expected to sign legislation Tuesday that includes the most ambitious initiatives to fight climate change that the nation has ever seen. While not as bold as… Read More

Mysterious company files patent suits vs. Seattle and Sacramento over parking payment technology

by Todd Bishop on August 4, 2022August 4, 2022 at 12:03 pm

A company registered to a virtual mailbox in Seattle’s University District, which four months ago acquired a trio of parking technology patents that predate the iPhone, is using one as… Read More

WTIA’s Apprenti program lands $23.5M grant from Dept. of Commerce to expand tech training program

by Nate Bek on August 3, 2022August 4, 2022 at 8:50 am

The Apprenti apprenticeship program run by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) was awarded a $23.5 million grant to help train more tech workers across 11 states. The funding comes from the U.S.… Read More

The rise of high-tech real estate investing platforms and their effect on housing affordability

by Nate Bek on August 3, 2022August 3, 2022 at 8:28 am

Real estate tech startups are making it easier for people to invest and manage property. But critics argue that these software companies and their business models are gobbling up the… Read More

Seattle approves permanent 15% fee cap on food delivery companies, with key compromise

by Charlotte Schubert on August 2, 2022August 2, 2022 at 4:39 pm

The Seattle City Council voted Tuesday to permanently implement a 15% cap on the fees that services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, and others charge restaurants for food delivery. The… Read More

This tech-fueled service will provide bus transportation for Seattle Public Schools

by Lisa Stiffler on August 2, 2022August 3, 2022 at 7:48 pm

When Seattle Public Schools students return to the classroom in September, many of their families will be along for the ride — at least virtually. The district of more than… Read More

Q&A with new CEO of Greater Seattle Partners, which aims to attract companies, jobs, investment

by Kurt Schlosser on August 2, 2022August 2, 2022 at 8:50 am

Brian Surratt spent 13 years working for the City of Seattle, including 2 1/2 leading the agency focused on the city’s economic development. In a new role he’s held for… Read More

Chips and Science Act, an ‘historic’ investment in U.S. innovation and tech, goes to Biden for approval

by Lisa Stiffler on July 27, 2022July 28, 2022 at 1:09 pm

The U.S. Senate and House this week approved the Chips and Science Act, a bill authorizing $280 billion of spending to bolster innovation and tech hubs in America, including support… Read More

‘Keep Amazon out’: Protestors demand tech giant pull permit for potential warehouse in Seattle

by Charlotte Schubert on July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 at 11:39 pm

The news: Community organizers at a rally Saturday in Seattle demanded that Amazon withdraw reported plans to build a distribution center at a site in the Rainier Valley area, south… Read More

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City of Seattle unveils first housing projects funded by payroll tax on big business

by Taylor Soper on July 21, 2022July 22, 2022 at 12:48 pm

More than 1,700 affordable housing units will be built in the Seattle region thanks to money used from the city’s new payroll tax on big businesses. Seattle City Councilmember Teresa… Read More

City of Seattle awards $590,000 in digital equity grants to 19 non-profits

by Sonali Vaid on July 20, 2022July 19, 2022 at 11:57 pm

The City of Seattle revealed the 19 non-profits that received its latest round of digital grants, this year totaling $590,000. The annual grant program supports non-profit organizations that help bridge… Read More

Most NDAs are now outlawed in Washington state. Will whistleblowers speak up?

by Amy Rolph on July 19, 2022July 19, 2022 at 7:03 am

Earlier this year, Washington state followed in California’s footsteps and outlawed most non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements, which had become standard fare at many tech companies. It was a huge victory… Read More

Seattle-area lawmakers approve EV charging requirements for new apartment buildings

by Lisa Stiffler on July 18, 2022July 18, 2022 at 11:35 am

New and “substantially remodeled” apartment buildings in unincorporated King County will be required to have 10% of their parking spaces capable of charging electric vehicles and 25% of spaces must… Read More

Washington ranks No. 2 on new list of top states for business

by Taylor Soper on July 18, 2022July 18, 2022 at 8:25 am

The state of Washington moved up seven slots to the No. 2 position in CNBC’s latest America’s Top States for Business rankings. The state’s technology industry, overall economy, and workforce… Read More

How Washington state could use federal infrastructure money to close the digital divide

by Nate Bek on July 16, 2022July 18, 2022 at 9:06 am

Deploying broadband throughout Washington state has been at the top of local lawmakers’ minds for years. The state legislature enacted a bill in 2019, which recognized that access to reliable… Read More

Signature shortage: The future of Washington state’s capital gains tax is in the hands of state Supreme Court

by Mike Lewis on July 12, 2022July 13, 2022 at 2:45 pm

UPDATE: The Washington State Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the capital gains case on direct appeal. The story has been updated to reflect the change. The future of… Read More

Hundreds of tech, business and nonprofit leaders urge states to boost computer science education

by Kurt Schlosser on July 12, 2022July 12, 2022 at 9:59 am

More than 500 business, education and nonprofit leaders have teamed with Seattle-based computer education nonprofit Code.org to issue a call to state governments and education leaders to bring more computer science… Read More

Bellevue councilmember says there is no plan to increase tax on Amazon despite budget concerns

by Taylor Soper on July 8, 2022July 8, 2022 at 8:57 am

Is an “Amazon Tax” coming to Bellevue? That was a question posed by Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat last month, writing about a Bellevue City Council meeting from March when… Read More

Seattle City Light to install electric vehicle chargers at curbside locations across city

by Kurt Schlosser on July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 at 5:29 pm

Seattle City Light announced a new service last month in which the utility plans to install electric vehicle chargers at select curbside locations throughout the city. The goal is to… Read More

Bezos reignites Biden inflation feud, says president is misdirecting public or misunderstanding market

by Todd Bishop on July 2, 2022July 6, 2022 at 11:29 am

Updated below with White House response. Jeff Bezos called out President Joe Biden for telling gas station owners to lower prices — saying the president’s statement was “either straight ahead… Read More

Starlink on the go? What a new FCC ruling means for SpaceX internet service on moving vehicles

by Todd Bishop on July 2, 2022July 6, 2022 at 8:40 am

A decision this week by the Federal Communications Commission cleared Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide its Starlink satellite internet service to cars, trucks, boats and airplanes in motion in the… Read More

Amazon invests $23M to build 568 homes in Seattle as part of affordable housing initiative

by Charlotte Schubert on June 23, 2022June 23, 2022 at 1:40 pm

Amazon is investing $23 million to support the construction of 568 homes in Seattle as part of its Housing Equity Fund to build or preserve housing for moderate- to low-income… Read More

Appeals court upholds Seattle’s payroll tax on high-earning workers following Chamber challenge

by Charlotte Schubert on June 21, 2022June 22, 2022 at 7:50 am

Seattle’s “JumpStart” payroll tax on big business will stay put after a Washington state appellate court on Tuesday upheld an earlier decision that ruled the tax legal. The Seattle City… Read More

‘Approval voting’ initiative led by Seattle tech vets qualifies for November ballot

by Kurt Schlosser on June 20, 2022July 14, 2022 at 3:37 pm

An initiative designed to change the way voters select candidates in Seattle has qualified for the November ballot. Initiative 134 aims to bring “approval voting” to Seattle primary ballots, where… Read More

Will civil rights audits make a difference? Microsoft, Amazon, and the nation’s racial reckoning

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 17, 2022June 17, 2022 at 11:20 am

Microsoft and Amazon are joining a growing pool of companies conducting civil rights audits in the wake of the racial reckoning that began in 2020 with a series of police… Read More

Washington state AG sues ‘deceptive’ tech sales training company

by Charlotte Schubert on June 10, 2022June 10, 2022 at 12:46 pm

A company that claims to train users in tech sales and guarantees them a job has been hit by a lawsuit by Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson. “Your 6-figure… Read More

Axon pauses plans for Taser-equipped drone to combat mass shootings as ethics advisors resign

by Kurt Schlosser on June 6, 2022June 6, 2022 at 2:16 pm

Axon, the company that develops Tasers, body cameras, and other law enforcement technologies, is pausing work on a project to develop a Taser-equipped drone that it believed could be used… Read More