From a community hack night to an event for lesbians in the industry, this week's lineup of Seattle tech events offers a great chance to network.

Evans Pool in Seattle has introduced free teen swim nights on Fridays for 13 to 17-year-olds, including swimming lessons and lifeguard skills, with additional social activities and pizza.

The City of Seattle's Technology Access and Adoption Study reveals progress in home internet access, yet disparities persist for non-English speakers and underserved communities.

Jeff Bezos relocates from Seattle to Miami, which could potentially save him over $600 million in capital gains taxes with his upcoming sale of 50 million Amazon shares.

Seattle celebrates the reopened Dearborn Park with an event featuring music and refreshments. The renovated park offers improved accessibility and a community gathering space.

Expedia Group Inc. confirmed it is laying off about 1,500 employees globally, including 208 in its Seattle headquarters, as part of a restructuring process under outgoing CEO Peter Kern.

Seattle's Smart Cities award bid for Digital Equity and Accessibility needs public votes, following the city's efforts to enhance digital inclusivity and user experience online.

Seattle has the highest rate of phone call avoidance in the US, with 26% of adults making calls less than once a week, followed by San Francisco at 20%, while New York City's rate is only 12%.

A University of Washington study finds that Seattle's Vision Zero road safety projects do not harm local business sales, and in some cases, may even help them.

Seattle utilizes Bloomberg's funds to advance equitable city contracting, spotlighting Seattle IT's achievement of surpassing WMBE utilization goals with $116 million spent over three years.

Tech company Swiftly acquires Bybe to enhance its alcohol promotions, merging their retail tech capabilities for better consumer offers and retailer compliance.

The Supreme Court seems inclined to support federal efforts to manage controversial social media content, showing skepticism towards states' claims of government suppression of conservative views.

Ocean scientists now recognize two distinct species of killer whales in the North Pacific, based on behavioral and genetic evidence distinguishing resident and Bigg’s killer whales.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is offering free swim lessons to scholarship-eligible youth, with registration dates announced for both eligible and general participants.

Seattle Public Utilities released Version 5.0 of its Design Standards & Guidelines for water, drainage, and infrastructure, seeking public and professional feedback for continuous improvement.

Seattle wins the Smart Cities North America Award for Digital Equity and Accessibility, acknowledging their technological efforts to make digital resources accessible to all residents.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife updated its Fish Washington app, providing improved features and fixes for anglers to stay updated on fishing regulations.

Washington conducted a nuclear emergency drill over three days involving local, state, and federal agencies to test preparedness for a potential incident at the Columbia Generating Station.

WDFW hosts a public open house for the Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project to discuss its plans for ecological improvements and infrastructure upgrades, including a new bridge for U.S. 101.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission discussed salmon, cougars, wolves, and land transactions in their April 18-20 meetings, involving wildlife management and conservation efforts.

Seattle Parks and Recreation introduced a new children's play structure at Urban Triangle Park, designed for climbing and inspired by local history. An official opening event is slated for next month.

The Columbia River spring Chinook fishery above Bonneville Dam is closing early on April 30 due to reaching harvest limits, as announced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Authorities in Washington continue to search for a zebra that escaped from a trailer; three others have been recaptured. Community efforts to help with the search have included forming vehicle barriers.

Seattle officials celebrated the 10th anniversary of the DATA Act in Washington D.C., highlighting its impact on transparency and the success of their own Open Data Policy.

Rob Lloyd has been named Seattle's interim Chief Technology Officer to advance the city's tech stature and support the One Seattle vision. Mayor Harrell praised Lloyd's extensive government IT experience and dedication to public service.

The Trek at Tehaleh, a 204-acre mountain bike park with six miles of trails, has opened in Pierce County, offering opportunities for riders of all levels.

The WDFW has established new fishing regulations for summer on the Lower Columbia River, effective June 16, detailing daily limits and types of salmon and steelhead that can be kept, with a focus on conservation and species sustainability.

Seattle has partnered with Verizon and the Friendship Circle of Washington to deliver digital skills training to youth with disabilities through grants from the Technology Matching Fund.

Snohomish County IT department won 2nd place in the Digital Counties Survey, showcasing their commitment to using technology to enhance government services and the digital experience for residents.

A study by King County showed significant decreases in toxic PCBs in Lake Washington's sediment, suggesting PCBs may soon be undetectable due to past bans.

Snohomish County received the Special Achievement in GIS Award from Esri during a conference in San Diego, celebrating their technological advancements and contributions to geospatial projects.

Seattle City Light spotlights Valli Dorai, a Senior Applications Developer, and her role in managing the utility's Asset Suite software, reflecting on her personal interests and work-life balance.

The article emphasizes the risks of public Wi-Fi and offers tips like using VPNs and updating software to navigate these dangers, highlighting Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

WSU researchers developed a plant-based alternative for chemicals in polyurethane foams, using pine-derived lignin, which shows promise for sustainable production.

WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine ranks fourth in research expenditures in the U.S., with over $49 million invested in fiscal year 2024, marking a 16% increase from 2021.

Researchers at Washington State University are conducting a six-year study on the benefits of biochar and hemp in agriculture, funded by a $5 million DOE grant, to improve soil health and crop yields.

Seattle Children's Research Institute reports a potential cure for Dravet syndrome, a rare epilepsy, using a new gene therapy developed by Dr. Franck Kalume and his team.

King County scientists developed a soil mix to combat the harmful effects of the chemical 6PPDQ from tire dust on coho salmon. The soil, effective in lab studies, is being piloted in real-world conditions.

Washington State University researchers developed a machine learning tool to predict potential animal hosts for viruses like orthopoxviruses, aiming to prevent pandemics by identifying zoonotic threats.

A mysterious black ring appeared in the Seattle sky, sparking speculation. It was later identified as smoke from fireworks at a Supercross event at Lumen Field.

WSU researchers are using trained dogs to detect Little Cherry Disease in trees, an approach that may be quicker and more accurate than standard PCR tests.

University of Washington students developed a system to improve Snohomish County's ballot collection process, potentially enhancing efficiency and sustainability in elections.

Bellevue is implementing LIDAR in its Safer Signals pilot to adjust pedestrian crossing times and exploring speed limit reductions to enhance safety and mobility.

The article discusses updates on environmental restoration, the role of middle school students in tackling marine debris, OR&R's emergency response to marine incidents, and a ship fire emphasizing the challenges in marine conservation.

The Washington Department of Ecology criticizes a federal report on climate change, highlighting factual inaccuracies and stressing the urgent need to address the issue based on real science.

Bellevue is hosting an Innovation Exchange to showcase technological advancements for improving city services, featuring talks, partnerships, and an e-waste drive in October.

University of Washington research links wildfire smoke to declines in sperm health, affecting men in fertility treatments, with analysis showing reduced sperm concentration and motility.

Toxic algae advisories were issued for Offutt Lake and Lake Lawrence in Thurston County due to high Microcystin toxin levels. Health officials warn against water contact and fish consumption.

CiviForm, Seattle's public benefit access platform, was named one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2025 for its efficacy in streamlining applications for residents.

Bellevue City Council approves the installation of speed cameras to enhance traffic safety, plans curb pricing strategy, allows co-living housing zones, and reappoints members to the Convention Center Board.

Tacoma partners with HTM Consulting to offer free virtual workshops on AI and cybersecurity for local small businesses, beginning January 26, with follow-ups in February.

An early UW Medicine safety trial used a thin-sheet brain implant to help a Seattle stroke survivor regain everyday hand skills. The result is promising but preliminary.

A UW study of 404 people found prior traumatic stress was linked to worse autonomic and multisystem symptoms after COVID‑19, suggesting new paths for treatment.

WSU is developing smart home sensors led by Diane Cook to monitor residents' health, predicting the future of aging in place with AI-enhanced personal care.

Samir Bodas, co-founder of Bellevue contract-intelligence company Icertis, has died at 61 after a battle with cancer. He helped scale Icertis into a global leader and stepped back last year to focus on his health.

Bloomberg reports Amazon flagged hundreds of thousands of suspected child-sex-abuse images in datasets used for AI training; child-safety groups say missing provenance makes many reports inactionable.

Seattle’s Highspot will merge with San Diego rival Seismic, combining two major revenue‑enablement platforms under a San Diego‑led brand and an AI‑first roadmap.

Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman warned most computer‑based office tasks could be automated within 12–18 months, a claim that puts Seattle‑area jobs in focus.

Amazon is backing a small modular reactor project in Washington meant to supply carbon-free power for AWS and the regional grid.

Phil Spencer is retiring after nearly 40 years at Microsoft. Asha Sharma will lead Microsoft Gaming while Matt Booty is promoted and Xbox president Sarah Bond departs.

A Seattle jury sided with Valve, finding inventor Leigh Rothschild violated state anti‑trolling and consumer‑protection laws and awarding Valve about $152,000.

San Carlos‑based Aetherflux will open a Seattle hub to build orbital data‑center satellites and hire engineers as it advances the Galactic Brain project.

Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit helped disrupt Tycoon 2FA, seizing core domains tied to an MFA‑bypass phishing network. Security researchers say phishing‑resistant MFA and hardened email gateways are now essential.

UT Austin researchers built a near-atomic map of the Andes hantavirus and produced a vaccine candidate that triggered neutralizing antibodies in mice.

NOAA reached an agreement to fund nine Alaska seismic stations, restoring near-real-time data that tsunami forecasters use to speed alerts for the Aleutians and Pacific Northwest.

Meta will lay off roughly 331 Washington employees on March 20, concentrated in Redmond, Bellevue and Seattle as Reality Labs is pared back.

A bright green fireball streaked over Portland and parts of the Pacific Northwest on March 23, 2026, sending a rush of video and eyewitness reports. OMSI and scientists say the color likely came from burning magnesium as the object hit the atmosphere.

Redmond's Starcloud reached a roughly $1B valuation and says it will expand staff and move into a larger Woodinville facility.

Seattle’s Rec Room will shutter on June 1, 2026 after saying costs outpaced revenue. Snap reportedly bought select assets while creators rush to export data.

A UW randomized trial found six weeks of tele‑delivered hypnotic cognitive therapy lowered pain scores in adults with spinal cord injuries and also improved sleep and mood.

Creators including h3h3 and MrShortGame say Amazon scraped millions of YouTube videos to train Nova Reel and are seeking damages and an injunction.

Andy Jassy says Amazon’s roughly $200B push into AI is backed by customer commitments, not a gamble. He argues the spending is a long‑term play for AWS and chips.

The IAB filed an amicus brief backing Seattle Children’s in a Washington Supreme Court case that asks whether routine website tracking can be treated as illegal wiretapping.

General Motors is leasing space at West8 in downtown Seattle to set up a software engineering outpost and tap local cloud and infrastructure talent.

Tukwila‑based Avalanche Energy won a roughly $5.2M DARPA award to build micro "nuclear batteries," a near‑term step toward its goal of compact fusion power. The work pairs government money with recent VC funding and test‑facility expansion.

Slowed federal grants and policy uncertainty are rattling UW labs, Fred Hutch and the startups that power Seattle’s innovation economy. The region could feel the effects in jobs and trials.

Microsoft is offering voluntary retirement buyouts to roughly 7% of its U.S. workforce — a move that could affect thousands of Seattle‑area employees. Details land May 7.

Expedia has hired former Snap CFO Derek Andersen to run finance, effective May 11. The SEC filing details a multimillion‑dollar equity grant, signing bonus and relocation support as Andersen moves to Seattle.

Match Group invested $100M in Seattle's Sniffies, taking a minority stake with an option to buy. The move sparks user backlash and questions about safety and monetization.

A bright green fireball streaked across western Washington and southern B.C. just after midnight, appearing on multiple doorbell and dash cameras.

Microsoft’s Elevate initiative, led by Justin Spelhaug, bundles training, grants and Copilot features in a $4B push to credential millions and ready schools for AI.

As Expedia marks 30 years, CEO Ariane Gorin is leaning into AI and new partnerships to turn planning experiments into bookings while warning about AI risks. Strong Q1 results give the company room to test and scale.

S. 'Soma' Somasegar, former Microsoft developer chief and Madrona managing director, died at 59. He helped build Visual Studio, founded Microsoft’s India center and backed major startups.

An open‑source AI called OrcaHello listens to hydrophones in the Salish Sea and sends near‑real‑time alerts so ports and ferries can reduce underwater noise when endangered orcas are nearby.

Microsoft released Defender engine and platform updates after two zero‑day flaws were spotted in the wild; CISA added the CVEs to its KEV list and set a June 3 federal remediation deadline.

State records show Meta will cut 1,395 Washington jobs, with Seattle-area offices and remote staff affected. Notices list July 22 as the separation date.

The FBI says a Telegram-sold phishing kit named Kali365 is capturing Microsoft 365 tokens and bypassing MFA. Security firms and Microsoft urge admins and users to tighten device-code controls.

Gabe Newell’s Inkfish has contracted Norwegian yard Vard for a €700M (≈$814M), 162‑meter research ship built for ultra‑deep seafloor mapping and submersible operations.

The Allen Institute unveiled a $400M Brain Health accelerator to map vulnerable brain cells and speed therapies for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and ALS.

NSF is removing instruments from the Ocean Observatories Initiative, ending key below‑surface measurements off the Pacific Northwest as El Niño approaches.

Microsoft and Mayo Clinic announced a partnership to build a Mayo‑owned AI model for healthcare that will be piloted inside Mayo Clinic’s clinical systems. The model will be trained on de‑identified clinical data and Mayo clinicians' expertise.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warned that a handful of dominant AI systems could “hollow out entire industries,” urging firms to build private learning loops to protect jobs and IP.

MultiCare's board has selected Florence Chang to succeed retiring CEO Bill Robertson, elevating a longtime operations and technology leader as the system expands across the Pacific Northwest.