Officials determined that the Orca whale found dead earlier this month died from a bacterial infection from her fetus. Sad. Helpful holiday note for anyone traveling through Sea-Tac: Volunteers for the nonprofit USO Northwest will again host a free gift-wrapping station inside the airport’s central terminal. Yay, we’ve stopped sinking! Last week, it was discovered…

This article originally appeared on Avvo.com. The Seattle Times reports that since 2010, hundreds of family pets have died, were injured or were lost while traveling by plane. If you’re considering flying with pets, know the regulations and take precautions to keep your pet as safe as possible. Airline policies for pet plane travel differ…

Seattle city officials blocked off the intersection of South King Street and First Avenue temporarily last night when they discovered a crack in King Street they feared might become a hole. There is concern the crack may be linked to the recent sinking of Alaskan Way Viaduct (1.2 inches this fall near the mammoth tunneling…

While you sit in the audience watching Pacific Northwest Ballet perform The Nutcracker with flawless grace, the backstage is buzzing with quick costume changes and last-minute fixes. This is the purview of PNB’s Sherri J. Thompson, who waits—needle and thread at the ready—should the Nutcracker lose a button or the Sugarplum Fairy tear her tutu….

Blackberries. A cluster of them, fat and ripe, one of Seattle’s sweetest freebies. Normally, I’d pick them—they aren’t growing next to the road, after all. But on this summer day, I’m standing on Harbor Island in South Seattle, designated as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous-waste Superfund site, and looking at the lower Duwamish…

Washington marijuana companies report they are struggling to profit significantly due to a 25 percent excise tax the state collects on pot at each stage of processing: as it transfers from growers, to processors, to retailers. While Seattle’s Cannabis City has had over $2.5 million in sales in the past six months, owner James Lathrop…

Protests continued in Seattle this weekend against the recent grand jury decisions not to indict the police officers who killed young black men in Missouri and New York. On Saturday, seven people were arrested when a few hundred marched to the Seattle Police headquarters downtown. Last night, protestors blocked the 4th and Pine intersection with…

Earthquake news: Scientists are worried it’s a little too quiet out there where the Cascadia earthquake fault zone, which normally generates signs of grinding and slipping, lies. You know, typical earth-moving noises. Now, scientists are asking for more instruments that could better detect signs a giant 9.0 earthquake is headed our way. When will Bertha,…

From giving change to Salvation Army bellringers to donating gifts to homeless shelters, there are countless opportunities to give money and goods to worthy local causes throughout December. If you prefer the face-to-face experience, though, or are short on cash, here are a few feel-good, hands-on activities to help restore the season’s original spirit. 1….

Celebrated on December 13, the darkest time of the year, Santa Lucia’s Day originated in Scandinavian countries, and commemorates the charitable work of St. Lucy (or Santa Lucia), an Italian martyr known for her compassion and generous nature. Like many winter holiday traditions, Santa Lucia’s Day embodies a spirit of giving as well as a…

USA Today listed the 52 coldest cities in America and thank goodness we’re not one of ’em. Here’s what’s happening around town today: New gun restrictions from the voter-approved I-594, including required background checks on all gun sales in Washington state, go into effect today. It seems no one is completely sure how much of…

Must SeeSofter Side of Taxidermy on Display (Through 12/31, times vary) Sculptor Rachel Denny’s new show, Strange Menagerie, includes mounted specimens clothed in human trappings: cashmere cable-knits, lace tatting, felt, coins and in at least one case, candy wrappers. Experience the fabric-covered creatures at the Foster White Gallery. Must Jingle Run or Walk in the…