February 2026

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes delivered his first State of the City address on February 2 at the Northwest African American Museum, reporting a significant 18% decrease in overall crime throughout 2025 compared to the previous year. Attributing the progress to his "Seattle-Centric Policing Plan," Barnes emphasized that while 2025 showed positive momentum, the department remains committed to a "long marathon" toward city-wide safety.

Dramatic Reductions in Violent Crime and Homicides

A primary highlight of the address was the decline in the city's most serious offenses. Homicides fell by 36%, with 37 lives lost in 2025 compared to 58 in 2024. This represents 21 fewer lives lost and marks the lowest homicide level the city has seen in over five years.

As WestSide Baby celebrates its 25th year of service, the organization has released its 2025 Community Impact Report, revealing a massive effort that distributed $2.62 million worth of essential items to children across the Puget Sound region. Despite a challenging economic landscape characterized by declining pandemic-era funding and government support, the nonprofit successfully provided diapers, clothing, and safety equipment to 28,687 children.

Last year was described as an "inflection point" for the Seattle-based organization. To ensure long-term sustainability, leadership undertook "thoughtful rightsizing," which resulted in a 14% increase in revenue and a 10% decrease in expenses. By the end of 2025, WestSide Baby achieved a balanced budget and secured six months of operating reserves, positioning itself to navigate future funding uncertainties.

The Seattle Chinese Garden has announced an upcoming event to celebrate 元宵节, or the Lantern Festival, on March 7th. The festivities, which mark one full lunar month since the start of the New Year, are scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM and will feature a variety of all-ages activities. The Garden is located at 6000 16th SW.

Visitors can engage in traditional crafts such as Chinese calligraphy and Chinese knot-tying hosted by @xiaoquilt. The event also offers a tea tasting experience and a lineup of live performances from local groups, including @shelbynatashamusic and @uwwushu.

Human stupidity is a paradox wrapped in everyday life.

We're the species that split the atom, mapped the genome, and sent probes to Mars, yet we also elect unqualified leaders, text while driving, and fall for obvious scams.

What drives us to engage in behaviors that are risky, irrational, or downright self-defeating?

Stupidity isn't just a lack of intelligence; it's a cocktail of psychological quirks, evolutionary holdovers, social influences, and emotional impulses that override our better judgment. Let's explore why people do "stupid" things across various domains, uncover the underlying roots, and offer practical ways to break the cycle.

By understanding these patterns, we can foster smarter choices in a world that often tempts us toward folly.

Everyday Examples of Stupidity: From Politics to Pyrotechnics

In a formal show of support, leadership from the Refugee and Immigrant Family Center (RIFC) has issued a letter of appreciation to Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka, praising his "principled approach" to resolving the heated dispute over a traffic median on Delridge Way SW.

The controversy, which became known as the “Save Curby” campaign, centered on Saka’s high-priority push to remove or modify a small center-line curb installed during the RapidRide H Line safety redesign. While the curb was intended to prevent dangerous illegal left turns, it blocked direct access for families turning left into the RIFC preschool, causing significant frustration for the community.

By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

Boys basketball

Foster 60, Sammamish 50

Foster scored a Saturday victory.

Juanita 36, Tyee 31

Tyee was topped in a close one Saturday.

Mercer Island 78, Evergreen 55

Evergreen was felled Saturday by the Islanders.

Inglemoor 78, Highline 34

Inglemoor handed Highline a loss Saturday.

Ballard 56, Lakeside 53

Ballard edged Lakeside in Friday action.

West Seattle 66, Seattle Prep 64

West Seattle won a close one Friday.

Kennedy Catholic 71, Kentwood 37

The Lancers prevailed in Friday's game.

Mt. Rainier 71, Stadium 65

Dear Editor,

My name is Sue Luke and I am a retiree in Seattle.

It’s time to fire Kristi Noem. 

Secretary Noem is excusing and encouraging abuses from ICE. We must demand accountability. Firing Kristi Noem won’t fix everything. But keeping her in power guarantees more violence, more cover-ups, and more blank checks for abuse. 

Millions of people are demanding accountability and an end to the lies. We must get ICE out of our communities, investigate the use of deadly force, and stop funding this war against our own people. 

This all starts with firing Kristi Noem.

Sincerely,
Sue Luke

In a significant shift for the Seattle music community, Together In Music—the team behind TIM’s Tavern in White Center—announced it will assume day-to-day operations of Slim’s Last Chance following a joint announcement made on social media. The move, described as a way to "steward Slim's into its next chapter," ensures that the venue, a cornerstone of the local scene for over 20 years, remains open under new management.

The arrangement comes at a critical time for TIM’s Tavern. The venue has been struggling with mandatory and expensive updates, including a sewer repair and the replacement of an outdoor patio area. While TIM’s has launched a fundraising effort via SaveTims.com, this "out of the box" deal to take over Slim's—which involves no exchange of money—serves as a crucial "backup" or "escape valve" for owner Mason Reed should the efforts to save the White Center location fall short.