Seattle Local Pulse: NBA Talks, Sound Transit Decisions, and Atmospheric River Warning

Good morning, this is Seattle Local Pulse for Thursday, March 19th. We're starting this morning with some significant developments happening at City Hall and in our region. The NBA continues active discussions about bringing the SuperSonics back to Seattle, but there's a wrinkle in those negotiations. According to reporting from National Today, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has raised concerns about Washington state's tax climate during talks with Governor Bob Ferguson. State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh says those tax concerns could potentially impact whether the league ultimately decides to return the team to our city. However, negotiations remain active, and Ferguson and Silver are expected to meet again on Monday to continue the conversation. In other civic news, Sound Transit held an all-day board retreat yesterday in Tacoma to discuss cost-cutting options for light rail expansion. According to West Seattle Blog, there are new proposals being floated that could affect both the Ballard and West Seattle light rail projects. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay pushed back on delays, reminding the board of promises made to voters a decade ago. The board's next meeting is set for March 26th, so we'll be watching closely as those decisions develop. Now to the weather, because it's definitely going to impact your day. We've got an atmospheric river that continues to move through Western Washington. According to the National Weather Service and local meteorologists, we're looking at light rain today with temperatures hovering around thirteen degrees. The rain should continue throughout the day, and we're expecting around two to four inches of rainfall across some areas over the coming days. That atmospheric river has already swollen several rivers in our region, and flood warnings and watches remain in effect. Snow levels are running high, which is adding to the runoff concerns, so if you're heading anywhere near rivers or flood-prone areas, definitely check current conditions first. On the crime front, the Seattle Police Department made an arrest this week in connection with a January shooting in Rainier Beach that claimed the lives of two high school students. A juvenile male suspect was taken into custody, and authorities continue to investigate that case. Looking ahead locally, we've got the Hippie Sabotage performing tonight and the KBCS presents Rachel Baiman and Nicholas Jamerson also happening this evening if you're looking for something to do. We're also watching some positive snow activity in the Cascades if you're thinking about getting up there soon, though travel has been a bit snarled at times. That's what we're tracking this morning in Seattle. Thank you so much for tuning in and please make sure to subscribe for more daily updates. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.