Sounders Clinch Playoffs, Fall Foliage Peaking, and More Seattle News

Good morning, this is Seattle Local Pulse for Sunday, September 28. We’re starting this morning with the big story from Lumen Field last night, where the Sounders battled rivals Vancouver Whitecaps to a dramatic two two draw. The match not only clinched Seattle a spot in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs for the sixteenth time in seventeen years, it also set a franchise record for home goals in a season and means the Rave Green are once again in the mix for postseason glory. We saw Jackson Ragen notch his first goal of the year and Albert Rusnak follow up with number thirteen, plus an assist. While Vancouver took home the Cascadia Cup, our Sounders keep climbing, sitting fifth in the West, and next Saturday they’ll face Portland at home in one more Cascadia derby with a playoff atmosphere. Let’s step outside to check today’s weather. We’re waking up to cool, overcast skies all across the city, holding just under sixty degrees this morning and staying cloudy most of the day. No rain expected, so outdoor events are a go—temperatures reaching low seventies this afternoon. That means good news for anyone planning to explore fall colors around town. KOMO News says color is just getting started in Seattle parks and gardens, thanks to an unusually dry summer. Japanese maples and ashes are showing early changes, but if you want the most color now, head for higher ground in the mountains, where leaves are peaking and the huckleberries are turning. Just keep an eye on wildfire smoke and check conditions before heading out. For real estate watchers, the Seattle market continues to simmer. Median home price downtown just bumped past eight hundred thirty thousand, with listings moving faster than last fall—a sign buyers are acting before potential winter slowdowns. As for jobs, the tech sector is still hiring, with several South Lake Union firms adding new engineering and AI positions this week, and Amazon announcing another round of customer service roles opening next month. A quick update from city hall: Council members are preparing for a Wednesday public hearing on new public transit funding. The proposal could improve late-night Metro routes, especially on Capitol Hill and near Northgate, to support service workers and late-shift commuters. There’s also a renewed discussion about the city’s response to encampments, after a recent sweep near Rainier Avenue, so we invite all listeners to check the council’s agenda if you want your voice heard. Turning to community events, the Fremont Oktoberfest wraps up today, and Ballard is hosting its annual Harvest Market with live music and food vendors along Ballard Avenue all afternoon. For music fans, the Neptune Theatre features a sold-out indie showcase tonight, and Jazz Alley welcomes pianist Hiromi through Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Seattle Public Library is launching its fall reading challenge for kids this week, so check your nearest branch for details. In schools, Roosevelt High’s marching band claimed a top This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.