Fuel Averted, Stabbing in West Seattle, Housing Market Steady - Seattle Local Pulse for May 13th, 2025

Good morning, this is Seattle Local Pulse for Tuesday, May 13th, 2025. We start today with relief at Sea-Tac Airport, where a threatened strike by over 150 aircraft fuelers has been averted. After tense negotiations, the Teamsters and Swissport reached an agreement late Friday, keeping planes fueled and travel plans on track for thousands of flyers. Over in West Seattle, a serious incident unfolded yesterday at the PCC Market on California Avenue, where a stabbing left shoppers shaken and police searching for a suspect. Rain held off overnight, and today we wake up to overcast skies with temperatures rising to about 64 degrees. Expect mild breezes with a few passing clouds through the afternoon. If you’re planning time outside, it’s a pleasant day for a stroll in Westlake Park, which is now preparing for a major renovation set to start before 2026, promising more green space and better access to our bustling waterfront. On the roads, there’s a reminder to plan for congestion near the Mount Baker Tunnel after a large RV fire closed eastbound lanes on I-90 yesterday. Crews have cleared the scene, but delays may linger during the morning rush. Turning to real estate, the housing market maintains its steady pace. Median home prices in Seattle are hovering just above 850 thousand dollars. Renters see average apartment rates climbing close to 2,500 a month. Meanwhile, the local job market is holding strong, with employers in tech, healthcare, and logistics actively hiring, especially in South Lake Union and downtown. In business news, several new small shops are opening their doors in Ballard and Columbia City this week, including the much-anticipated Columbia Coffee Roasters on Rainier Avenue. However, there’s concern from city hall as budget discussions intensify. A proposed 40 million dollar state funding cut to homeless outreach programs has advocacy groups worried about impacts on our most vulnerable neighbors. Seattle’s schools have much to celebrate. Garfield High’s robotics team clinched a top-three finish at the regional championships, and Roosevelt’s girls’ soccer team advanced to the state semifinals after a tense win at Memorial Stadium. On the sports front, the Mariners are coming off a strong weekend sweep at T-Mobile Park, while the Sounders prepare for a tough matchup against LA this Wednesday. Meanwhile, community events abound—don’t miss this week’s Pike Place Flower Festival or the neighborhood cleanup at Green Lake happening Saturday morning. In today’s crime update, Seattle police are investigating a spike in fentanyl-related emergencies, particularly in the Lake City area. Officers are increasing patrols and encouraging the public to report suspicious activity. In Federal Way, authorities arrested a suspect in a truck arson incident at a Home Depot parking lot, bringing some relief to local business owners. And for a feel-good finish, neighbors in Queen Anne are rallying to save a century-old sequoia threatened by new con This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.