Good morning Seattle! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Elysian Brewing's Great Pumpkin Beer Festival and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What has a cap but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Seattle police officers overpaid $13 million due to payroll error (theolympian.com) — Seattle officials are grappling with a June payroll error that overpaid more than 900 police employees by over $13 million, unexpectedly inflating the department's 2026 budget. The story details how the mistake happened, what it could mean for the city's supplemental budget, and how unions and non-union staff may be asked to resolve the overpayments going forward.
2. Seattle Police say a woman is accused of trying to lure children away from an Elementary school (kiro7.com) — Seattle parents are being warned after an older woman in a silver car allegedly tried to lure first-graders near Alki Elementary's playground fence Thursday afternoon. Staff quickly called 911, brought in Seattle police and district safety teams, and notified families. Officials urge residents to report suspicious activity to the 24/7 SPS SaferWatch tipline at 206-222-4357.
3. Seattle minimum wage will hit $22.14 in 2027 after 84-cent increase (thecooldown.com) — Seattle's minimum wage is set to rise to $22.14 an hour at the start of 2027, keeping the city among the nation's highest for entry-level pay. For Seattle workers and small businesses, the article explains how inflation indexing drives the increase, compares it with Washington's statewide rate, and notes similar moves in nearby cities like Tukwila, Renton, and Burien.
4. Seattle Named One of America's Happiest Cities (kw3.com) — Seattle just ranked 15th among America's happiest cities in a new WalletHub analysis, giving locals something positive to celebrate. The piece highlights how Seattle scored on well-being, income, and community factors, compares the city favorably to Portland, and notes where other Washington cities like Tacoma, Vancouver, and Spokane landed on the list.
5. Every Nonstop Flight You Can Take from Sea-Tac Across the PNW (newstalk870.am) — If you're planning a quick escape from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, this piece rounds up every nonstop destination you can reach within Washington and Oregon without changing planes. It also turns the list into a fun airport-code guessing game, highlighting easy hops between Seattle, Portland, and several smaller regional cities for fast weekend getaways.
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Ok Seattle! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What has a cap but no head?" — A bottle (Thank you Glo M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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