Local tech giant Microsoft’s stock has risen more than 23% over the course of the year, which helped drive Nadella’s compensation increase from $79.1 million in 2024 to more than $96 million in 2025, according to The Seattle Times.

Nadella’s annual salary sits at $2.5 million and has not been increased since 2019, although a vast majority of his compensation stems from performance-based stock awards and cash bonuses.

Microsoft’s stock performance powers CEO’s annual earnings

At the end of Microsoft’s 2025 fiscal year on June 30, Nadella’s Microsoft stock holdings were valued at $84.5 million, according to a regulatory filing.

Previously this year, Microsoft’s stock closed at a 2025 high of $535.64 per share on Aug. 4, according to Nasdaq. Microsoft’s strong performance occurred in the days following the company’s announcement of its 2025 fiscal year financial results.

Included in Nadella’s total compensation are his cash bonuses. In 2024, Nadella opted to reduce his cash bonus to $5.2 million due to cyberattacks on the company. This year, Nadella received $9.56 million in cash bonuses as Microsoft underwent fewer security incidents.

The median compensation for Microsoft’s workforce rose in 2025 as well, from $193,744 to $200,972, according to The Seattle Times.

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Oddly enough, if they were sent home without pay, they’d be able to apply for unemployment benefits through Washington state.

“For the folks who are going to work, and working without pay? They won’t be eligible for unemployment insurance because they’re working,” Donna Mack, the Rapid Response Manager for the state Employment Security Department (ESD), said.

Those include workers such as air traffic controllers, some federal law enforcement agents, disaster response workers, and more.

Both furloughed and essential workers will likely receive back pay once the government reopens, and then any jobless benefits received would need to be paid back.

Webinar to help federal workers navigate unemployment benefits

It’s all a little confusing, and it’s why the ESD is holding a webinar on Thursday, October 23, to help federal workers navigate the state and local resources available to them. Those interested can register here.

Mack said experts will discuss unemployment benefits, options for health care coverage, career training and education programs, as well as other local resources.

“What you’re going to find in your community if you need food assistance, or assistance with power bills, that sort of thing,” Mack explained.

The virtual meeting aims to cover a wide range of topics because the effects of the shutdown are so broad.

“I’ll be really curious to see who comes to this event,” Mack said.

She said it could appeal to several groups of people, not only workers who’ve been furloughed and essential workers who are still on the job.

“We may have a group of state workers who are impacted by federal funding ending — at least briefly — while the government is shut down and who are being furloughed,” Mack said. “And then I think that we may have a group of people who have received some sort of layoff notices.”

Finally, family members of federal workers may be looking for guidance on how to reenter the workforce or change jobs, as the shutdown lingers on.

The ESD estimates that up to 80,000 workers in Washington state are being impacted.

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As of Oct. 21, Washington’s average price per gallon is $4.402, which is $1.355 higher than the national average, according to AAA.

For the greater Seattle area, the average price per gallon of regular gas is $4.662, a whopping 53% more expensive than the national average.

“Ridiculous. Unaffordable. It’s hard to live here now. I’m born and raised here, 50 years. And it’s to a point where it’s hard to live,” an anonymous driver told KIRO Newsradio.

Washington counties’ gas prices

Average gas prices in Washington have declined slightly from yesterday’s total, but increased by more than 40 cents per gallon since last year.

AAA provided an updated database listing the best and worst counties in Washington to fill up your tank.

The most expensive counties to buy a gallon of gas in Washington are:

• San Juan, $5.479
• Wahkiakum, $4.948
• King, $4.742
• Pacific, $4.692
• Jefferson, $4.664

Each county’s average gas price included regular, mid-grade, premium, and diesel.

In September, Washington stood alone as the state with the most expensive gas price average, surpassing California and Hawaii. Washington now ranks third behind California ($4.624) and Hawaii ($4.478).

“Hopefully, they do something soon here in Seattle with the gas prices,” driver Richard Mayo told KIRO Newsradio. “It’s not that high in New York. You can go to Detroit and Chicago, the gas prices ain’t nowhere near it. It’s almost $6.”

Lowest WA county gas prices

The best counties to buy a gallon of gas in Washington:

• Asotin, $3.732
• Spokane, $3.956
• Stevens, $3.959
• Ferry, $4.015
• Douglas, $4.035

The highest statewide average cost per gallon of gas in Washington history was $5.56 on June 16, 2022, according to AAA.

The statistics provided are updated daily by AAA and are subject to change.

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The staggering future deficit mainly stems from setbacks in student learning. The study revealed a significant global learning shortfall from the pandemic that needs to be addressed.

Researchers explained a combination of masks, testing, social distancing and targeted shutdowns could have cut the pandemic’s cost from $4.6 trillion to $1.9 trillion.

“U.S. COVID-19 school closure was not cost-effective, but other measures were,” the study stated.

Effectiveness of lockdowns during COVID-19 pandemic

They found lockdowns were most effective when they were implemented early and were strict.

Researchers also found that while lockdowns substantially lessened the spread of COVID-19, they had severe social and economic consequences, including disrupting the economy, creating job loss, and degrading student learning.

Health, economic, and social impacts were felt overwhelmingly by marginalized communities.

However, researchers noted that high-quality evidence on the economic impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) was hard to find.

“Regarding cost-effectiveness, testing, contact tracing, quarantine, and social distancing were identified as highly cost-effective, but the available reviews noted a lack of quality research and conclusive evidence,” the study stated.

Contributing: Frank Lenzi and Katrina Guischard, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

The merchandise for Seattle, being one of the host cities, is predominantly purple in color, with gold, white, and blue accents. The text “We Are Seattle” and “26 FIFA Seattle” adorn many of the city-themed shirts and hoodies.

To browse FIFA’s merch catalog, click here. Hats are priced at $45, hoodies are $100, and shirts are $50, with slight reductions in price for youth sizes. An alternative, less expensive T-shirt is available, along with cheaper gifts such as posters and magnets.

Seattle is one of 16 cities hosting World Cup matches between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico starting in June 2026. Seattle is actively preparing to host six games, including two knockout stage matches.

The first game at Lumen Field will be on June 15, 2026, for the Group G Stage match.

State considers toll boost for SR 99 tunnel during World Cup

Drivers may have to pay more to use the State Route 99 (SR 99) tunnel during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Washington.

The Washington State Transportation Commission is considering two temporary toll hike options—either 50 cents or $1.00—applied 24/7 for six weeks from June 1 to July 15, 2026. The goal is to manage the extra traffic and help fund maintenance.

At Tuesday’s commission meeting, one member expressed reservations about the proposal, calling it a “slippery slope” to increase tolls for a single event.

“The World Cup is a uniquely large event,” Washington State Transportation Commission Deputy Director Carl See told KIRO Newsradio. “It does not necessarily portend to, if this, then necessarily we do it for other activities.”

Impact of higher SR 99 toll

Good to Go! rates for two-axle vehicles currently range from $1.25 to $2.80. Officials said the temporary hike would represent a significant increase and acknowledged that residents and businesses would also be affected.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is encouraging fans to consider transit, walking, and biking to get to the matches.

See told KIRO Newsradio that, as early as December, the commission will decide whether or not to proceed with this potential toll rate increase based on the assessment that is currently underway.

“If the commission does decide to proceed at that time, the next step would be the public-input process in support of the rate-setting,” he said.

Public input will be solicited in early 2026.

Contributing: Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio

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Dozens of fans parked their cars there in order to take public transportation to Wednesday’s Mariners game, only to find that their vehicles had been towed.

On “The Gee and Ursula Show,” Dana Tackett claimed she thought it was OK to park there.

“There were no signs. We know how to look for signs with no parking,” Tackett said. “There was no fencing. There were probably about, I would say, 20, 25 other cars there.”

According to Tackett, who didn’t know it was private property, the tow company collected and removed approximately 50 vehicles Wednesday night during the Mariners game.

“On that direct lot itself, or the driveway that we came in on, there is absolutely nothing that says no parking or private property,” Tackett added. “Nothing.”

The new Lynnwood City Center Light Rail station has a parking lot that fits 1,900 cars, but it fills up very quickly. Tackett and many others had to pay $400-650 to get their vehicles back.

“Everybody was doing the exact same thing, all of us Mariners fans walking across the street back to the transit center to step on the light rail to get down to Seattle,” Tackett said. “So we parked and then we came back after the game, and the lot was almost empty.”

Gee sides with towing companies

“I just want to say, if my kid had that happen to him, and he’s like, ‘Dad, I can’t believe this happened,’ I would say, as a parent, ‘Well, technically, you parked on someone’s private property,'” KIRO host Gee Scott said. “I know I sound like a jerk.”

“People have parked there for months with no issue,” Andrew Lanier, the producer of “The Gee and Ursula Show,” said. “There is not adequate space at light rail. Period. This is an issue at every single light rail station.”

Tackett revealed to the show that she intends to fight the fine in court.

“You can’t give them the broom to hit you with,” Gee responded. “Ursula, let’s say you’re the owner of this tow company. Hear me out. The [property] owner calls Ursula’s tow company. ‘Hey, Ursula, I need you to come get all of these cars.’ My question to you, Ursula, is, do you say, ‘I’m sorry, Mr. Owner. I will not be doing that because I think that those people are enjoying themselves at the game, and it’s just not right.’ Do you take your business elsewhere? Is that what you do?”

“You know the answer is going to be no, but I probably wouldn’t get into that business, and maybe I wouldn’t be looking for those opportunities to really stick it to them,” Ursula responded.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.

As with all sporting events, seats are available at an extremely wide variety of prices depending on how close each seat is to the action.

The search for a quality, low-priced ticket ends here, as a comprehensive guide to Mariners playoff tickets is provided below.

Where is the best place to purchase a Mariners ticket?

After-market ticket sellers have led the charge in providing tickets following the Mariners’ initial sale on Ticketmaster, which sold out within minutes on Sept. 25.

Tickets to the game are subject to change, as most ticketing apps utilize “Smart Pricing,” which automatically adjusts ticket prices based on demand, supply, and various other factors.

Purchasing tickets on GameTime

The cheapest single-ticket price on GameTime can be purchased for as low as $114, seated in the 300-level of the stadium along the 1st baseline. Similar tickets in Game 4 were as high as $230.

Those looking to purchase a set of four tickets can secure a group of seats in the 300-level for as low as $109 per ticket. Previous tickets in the 300-level sold for more than $220.

The most expensive seat in the house on Friday can be found in the Diamond Club, directly behind home plate, with a single ticket costing more than $5,700. Tickets in the Diamond Club for Game 4 were listed as high as $6,000.

Best seats on SeatGeek

The most affordable ticket on SeatGeek is listed for $109 in the 300-level beyond right field. SeatGeek deemed this offer an “amazing” value, rating it 9/10. Similar seats in Game 4 of the series cost nearly $230.

Additionally, a set of four tickets in the 300-level along the first baseline can be purchased for $109 per seat. Previous listings for the first two home games of the series cost more than $213.

The most expensive seat on SeatGeek to see the Mariners on Friday is in the Diamond Club, with a single ticket fetching more than $3,500. SeatGeek listed Diamond Club tickets for Game 4 at more than $6,000.

Playoff tickets provided by StubHub

StubHub is seemingly the worst ticket seller of the three, with the cheapest single ticket offered priced at $176, seated in the 300-level in right field. StubHub labeled this seat as a 7.8/10, “Great” deal. Similar tickets in Game 4 cost more than $234.

A group of four tickets to the game on StubHub is listed for $185 in the 300-level of right field. Tickets to the previous two home games in this series cost approximately $250.

Similar to GameTime and SeatGeek, the most expensive ticket available on StubHub is in the Diamond Club, priced at nearly $2,500.

Weighing out the options

As for grabbing a seat to watch Friday afternoon’s game alone, SeatGeek provides the cheapest price of the three, just above $100.

For a group of four, SeatGeek and GameTime are tied as the best option for fans looking to save on bulk purchases, with tickets just below $110.

Fans who wish to splurge on a night out in T-Mobile Park can find the cheapest, high-quality seat in the Diamond Club on StubHub, nearly $1,000 cheaper than SeatGeek, and more than $3,000 cheaper than GameTime.

All ticket prices are subject to change. Price information is up to date as of 8 a.m. Oct. 17.

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Local establishments are seeing a surge in demand, with sales at the Beer Hall doubling on game days.

The influx of fans is prompting businesses to prepare extensively, from stocking up on kegs to organizing parking for employees.

• Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO 7

“It’s an electric environment. You get to be kind of game day vibes, but not actually be in the stadium,” Juice Andrews, owner of The Hall Group, said.

“I don’t know where people are working or where their office is, but I think that there are some empty offices and I think we’ve got some full restaurants, which is pretty wonderful to see,” Michael Hursh, the director of operations at 13 Coins, said.

Juice Andrews reports that sales at The Hall Group increase by 200% on game days. Average beer sales for a day are around 300 per location. At the Occidental location, more than 2,500 cold ones were poured when both the Mariners and the Seahawks played earlier in the postseason run.

Hursh said that 13 Coins had its best Sunday on record.

“We’re just constantly staying on top of it,” Andrews said. “We’re meeting like every single morning and planning and logistics.”

• Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO 7

After the 15-inning marathon to advance from the ALDS, a special guest visited 13 Coins. A manager first thought someone was defacing the mural the restaurant has of Seattle history. It turns out, Ken Griffey Jr. saw his picture from one of the playoff runs he was a part of and decided to customize the tribute.

“He just took it upon himself to not only get a little bit of food but sign the wall where his picture is up,” Hursh said.

For Juice Andrews, the season isn’t just about his business; it is personal. As the Mariners started the season in May, he watched his mother’s final game with her before she passed. He went to Game 3 of the ALCS with his wife, who was wearing his mother’s Mariners jacket.

“I wish she were here with me, but it’s really special just to see this happening and knowing that she’s looking from above and helping us through this next push, hopefully, all the way to the World Series,” Andrews said.

The Seattle City Council approved a 0.1% public safety tax increase on Tuesday, which now awaits Mayor Bruce Harrell’s signature. Harrell must sign it by Oct. 18 to lock in full revenue.

The new tax would raise $39 million next year for public safety, including  $7.5 million for addiction treatment and crisis response teams. The entire council voted in favor of the tax hike, except for Councilmember Maritza Rivera, who claimed it would hurt low-income families.

“Today, recovery wins! These progressive investments will save lives and fill gaping holes in our response to Seattle’s drug crisis. I’ve led the charge to put addiction treatment at the center of the city’s agenda because the fentanyl epidemic and addiction are root causes of our public safety and chronic homelessness challenges,” Council President Sara Nelson said. “Investing this new revenue in recovery services isn’t just a fiscally responsible decision — it is fundamentally the morally right thing to do. Thank you to the mayor’s office, my colleagues, and the frontline community organizations for their critical support in making this a reality.”

Priorities for the revenue include expanding access to on-demand residential and intensive outpatient substance use disorder treatment, which is currently happening through a pilot project, and enhancing access to recovery housing and recovery-based services within existing low-barrier permanent supportive housing.

“With the federal government abandoning our vulnerable neighbors, we need to strengthen and dedicate local resources to assist our communities,” Steve Woolworth, Chief Executive Officer at Evergreen Treatment Services, said. “I am grateful to Council President Nelson and Mayor Harrell for their leadership, and for securing and guiding these needed investments at the intersection of public health and safety.”

Critics warn that this sales tax increase is regressive and wouldn’t solve the city’s long-term budget problems. Seattle’s current sales tax rate is already one of the highest in the country. Chicago’s is 10.25%, New York City’s is 8.88%, San Francisco’s is 8.63%, and Boston’s is 6.25%, for reference.

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SFD exponentially increases employees’ annual salaries based on the amount of time working with the department, the City of Seattle stated.

SFD employees earn the following amounts per month, with increased pay after service-time milestones:

• $8,177 per month — starting recruit firefighter pay.
• $8,664 per month — 6 months with SFD.
• $9,151 per month — 18 months with SFD.
• $9,637 per month — 30 months with SFD.
• $10,124 per month — 42 months with SFD.

“We’re down 125 people from a full staff,” Chief Harold Scoggins told city council members earlier this year, according to The Seattle Today. “We don’t want to keep going to the same encampments 12,000 or 14,000 times a year or respond to 5,000 overdoses. It wears on you as an individual.”

SFD among the most competitive salaries in the nation

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted the median annual wage for firefighters was $59,530 in May 2024.

Comparing the top five U.S. cities’ entry-level fire department salaries, other cities are less generous than Seattle with their starting salaries.

The New York Fire Department offers $54,122 as its starting salary, with annual salaries reaching as high as $105,146 after five and a half years.

The Los Angeles Fire Department provides $85,784 as an annual salary for entry-level firefighters, with increases of up to $124,549 for employees working 30 months after academy graduation.

As of June 30, 2021, the Chicago Fire Department offers $62,160 annually for entry-level employees, and annual salaries can reach as high as $98,424 after five years with the department.

First-year firefighters with the Houston Fire Department earn $58,738 per year, with employees in their 8th-10th years with the department earning $71,040 annually.

The Phoenix Fire Department offers a maximum of $42,660 annually for trainees, a maximum of $50,627 for recruits, and a maximum of $76,626 for “Firefighter 56hr.”

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The layoffs include both retail and non-retail employees, a Starbucks spokesperson stated in an email to MyNorthwest. They go into effect on December 5.

Starbucks announced last month it was laying off around 900 non-retail employees and closing some stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Starbucks closes 31 stores in Washington

Starbucks subsequently closed a total of 31 stores in Washington, including nine in Seattle—leaving 369 Starbucks retail workers jobless, The Seattle Times reported. Among the nine stores was the Seattle Reserve Roastery and its SoDo Reserve Store.

The closures left workers without options, as they were not transferred to other stores, according to Starbucks Workers United.

Workers protest store closures

In response, Starbucks baristas and local union leaders protested store closures outside the company’s headquarters earlier this week.

“It’s crazy to wake up and learn from social media that you lost your job before your company tells you,” Trent Lytle-Hogue, a barista at the Reserve Roastery for two years, said.

Starbucks Workers United previously led a protest in late September, with workers citing understaffing, low pay, and retaliation for union organizing.

Starbucks CEO’s response

A letter sent by Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol last month stated that stores were falling short of financial performance targets or were failing to create the environment customers expect, according to The Associated Press.

“Each year, we open and close coffeehouses for a variety of reasons, from financial performance to lease expirations,” Niccol wrote. “This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers. Our coffeehouses are centers of the community, and closing any location is difficult.”

Starbucks said it expects to end its fiscal year with 124 fewer stores in North America than the year before.

Contributing: Frank Sumrall and Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; The Associated Press

Last week, state officials warned that funding for the WIC program — which provides formula, breastfeeding support, and healthy food to low-income families — was about to run out due to the federal government shutdown.

Now, the Washington State Department of Health said it has secured funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to keep food benefits going through October.

“Amid ongoing uncertainty following the federal government shutdown, DOH remains committed to supporting the people of Washington who rely on WIC to meet their nutritional needs and our employees,” DOH said in a news release Thursday.

The WIC program helps low-income mothers in the state feed their newborns, get infant formula, and access breastfeeding support.

More than 212,000 women and children rely on WIC annually. According to The Washington State Standard, WIC helps nearly one-third of all newborn babies in Washington and serves nearly 7 million Americans nationwide.

Nutritional assistance amid the government shutdown

WIC does not qualify as an entitlement program, like food stamps via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), meaning the program can be susceptible to funding freezes when a government shutdown is in place.

The Department of Agriculture’s contingency plan said WIC has the ability to reallocate unused grant award funds from the previous budget year. The National WIC Association, an advocacy group, said it anticipates that the program has enough funding on hand to remain open just for the short term — likely one week to two weeks.

SNAP will continue at least for the month of October.

What closes during a shutdown?

All administrations get some leeway to choose which services to freeze or maintain in a shutdown.

The first Trump administration worked to blunt the impact of what became the country’s longest partial shutdown in 2018 and 2019. But on Tuesday, Trump threatened the possibility of increasing the pain that comes with a shutdown.

“We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them,” Trump said of Democrats. “Like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like.”

Each federal agency develops its own shutdown plan. The plans outline which workers would stay on the job during a shutdown and which would be furloughed.

In a provocative move, Trump’s budget office threatened the mass firing of federal workers in a shutdown. An office memo said those programs that didn’t get funding through Trump’s bill this summer would bear the brunt of a shutdown.

Agencies should consider issuing reduction-in-force notices for those programs whose funding expires, that don’t have alternative funding sources and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities,” the memo said.

That would be a much more aggressive step than in previous shutdowns, when furloughed federal workers returned to their jobs once the shutdown was over. A reduction in force would not only lay off employees but eliminate their positions, which would trigger another massive upheaval in a federal workforce that’s already faced major rounds of cuts due to efforts from the Department of Government Efficiency and elsewhere in Trump’s Republican administration.

What government work continues during a shutdown?

A great deal, actually.

FBI investigators, CIA officers, air traffic controllers, and agents operating airport checkpoints keep working. So do members of the armed forces.

Those programs that rely on mandatory spending generally continue during a shutdown. Social Security payments still go out. Those relying on Medicare coverage can still see their doctors, and healthcare providers can be reimbursed.

Veteran health care continues during a shutdown. Veterans Affairs medical centers and outpatient clinics will be open, and VA benefits will be processed and delivered. Burials will continue at VA national cemeteries.

Contributing: The Associated Press

The current silver ounce spot price is listed at $51.26 as of Oct. 9, representing a more than 75% increase since the start of 2025 (YTD), according to APMEX.

Silver ounce spot price surges

Over the last month, the silver spot price has increased by approximately $10, taking on a 24.5% rise. Additionally, over the last three months, a 40.6% increase occurred, bumping up the price for one silver ounce by $14.79.

“Silver is a precious metal with a finite supply. Its limited supply and many uses across industries, from healthcare to automotive to energy, mean it will always be in demand,” APMEX wrote.

Stepping further away, the five-year silver timeline shown by APMEX listed the commodity more than doubled in price, a 186.1% increase since Jan. 1, 2020, when the spot price was $17.92 per ounce.

APMEX stated that since 1990, the lowest price silver had reached was $3.55 per ounce in 1991; however, the silver ounce spot price reached more than $48 in 2011.

“Advocates of silver point to the 1980 spike in prices as a sign of what silver prices can reach, especially in a scarcity environment, and point out that $49.45 in 1980 would be the equivalent of $184.64 in 2023 due to inflation,” APMEX stated. “This puts a theoretical upper limit on the spot price of silver.”

Unofficial silver all-time high

In 1980, the spot price of silver rose to an unofficial all-time high of $49.45 per troy ounce in the wake of a near-global financial collapse as the Hunt Brothers attempted to corner the silver market by using leverage (loans) to purchase all the available silver.

The market manipulation by the Hunt Brothers led to the COMEX introducing Silver Rule 7, which imposed heavy restrictions on purchases of commodities with leverage.

On March 27, 1980, the Hunt Brothers missed a margin call, causing the price of silver to dump more than 50% in a single day, also known as the infamous “Silver Thursday.”

Gold-to-silver ratio

The 1792 U.S. Coinage Act established a fixed gold-to-silver ratio of 15:1, meaning 15 silver ounces would equal one ounce of gold.

Although the Act had been amended multiple times since 1792, and President Richard Nixon abolished the Gold Standard in 1971 in an attempt to combat inflation, the fixed ratio of 15:1 was subject to fluctuation over time.

The spot price for an ounce of gold is $4,040.30 as of Oct. 9, and the current gold-to-silver ratio is 78.89, requiring nearly 79 ounces of silver to equal one ounce of gold, according to APMEX.

Calculating the gold-to-silver ratio requires dividing the current spot price of gold by the current spot price of silver.

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As of 6:10 a.m., gold futures traded at $4,003 in New York. The going price for New York spot gold rose to $3,960.60 per troy ounce — the standard for measuring precious metals.

Gold futures are standardized contracts that agree to trade gold at that time, but with a settlement day in the future. The terms, including the amount and price, are decided when the contract is made. The settlement day is when the actual trade takes place, with the delivery and payment being conducted.

Gold futures surpass all-time high

Gold sales can rise sharply when anxious investors seek secure investments for their money. Before Tuesday, the asset — and other metals, like silver — had seen wider gains over the last year, with gold climbing more than 51% year-to-date (YTD) and silver increasing roughly 64% YTD.

On Monday, Goldman Sachs updated its December 2026 gold price forecast to $4,900 per ounce from $4,300, with possible central bank purchases and increased exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows, according to Reuters.

“We see the risks to our upgraded gold price forecast as still skewed to the upside on net, because private sector diversification into the relatively small gold market may boost ETF holdings above our rates-implied estimate,” Goldman said.

Gold tends to outperform in times of economic uncertainty and low-interest-rate environments. Investors have seemingly priced in the expectation of a 25-basis-point interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve at the end of this month, with a potential 25 bp cut anticipated in December.

Previous gold futures movement

In August, gold futures rose to an all-time high of $3,534 after reports of the White House’s plans to issue an executive order imposing tariffs on gold.

President Donald Trump was rumored to prepare an executive order “clarifying misinformation” about potential tariffs on gold bars and other commodities. Days later, Trump stated, “Gold will not be Tariffed!” on social media, ending days of speculation.

The U.S. gold futures continuous contract has increased 51.42% YTD. The gold futures increase has outpaced the E-Mini S&P 500 futures continuous contract by more than triple in the same period, with the S&P only up 14.2%, as of this reporting.

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Of Parks Tacoma’s 464 employees, 14 workers were laid off on Sept. 29, with 10 employees accepting a voluntary separation program, and 25 vacant positions were closed, Parks Tacoma announced.

“As with most public agencies, the biggest line item in the Parks Tacoma budget relates to staffing because we are focused on service. Those costs typically compound over the years, so difficult decisions about reducing staff had to be part of the solution to put us on a sustainable path,” the agency stated.

Parks Tacoma cites low revenue, high expenses

The budget shortfall traced back to underperforming revenue and expenses that were higher than anticipated.

Lower-than-expected revenue factors included lower property taxes, grants, lease payments, and contracts. Parks Tacoma’s higher-than-expected costs included technology systems, security, and insurance costs related to liability, property, and employee health and dental benefits.

At the end of 2024, the Parks Tacoma budget was $7 million more than expected for the fiscal year. In an effort to close the gap, Parks Tacoma withdrew finances from its reserves.

In accordance with district policy, 5% of overall general fund expenditures should be held in reserves. In 2023, 22% was held in reserves, with plans to spend $4 million on operational expenses, which would bring the reserves to 11%.

Parks Tacoma claimed higher expenses and lower revenue caused the department to “dip deeper” into its reserve funds, putting Parks Tacoma on an unsustainable path.

Amendments will be worked on to alter the previously approved 2025-26 biennial budget. The Park Board will conduct its review of the budget in October and November to find a long-term approach.

A Parks Tacoma spokesperson told KING 5 that programs operated by the department’s general fund could be eliminated or receive adjustments to program fees.

A program fee change for pickleball has already taken effect as Parks Tacoma increased the cost to play within its facilities. Monthly passes to play pickleball have increased from $7 to $25, and annual passes have risen from $65 to $200. Drop-in fees have also increased from $3 to $10.

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The bridge—a vital link between Enumclaw and Buckley—has been shut down since August 18, when a semi-truck crashed into it.

“With that damage and with that closure, it may be harder for some businesses to reach their clients, and vice versa,” Lauren Hill, Public Information Officer with the Small Business Administration (SBA), said. “The SBA’s office of disaster recovery and resilience has what we call economic injury loans for businesses in these cases.”

Businesses affected by White River Bridge closure can apply for up to $2M in loans

Restaurants, shops, and other businesses can apply for up to $2 million in loans to help them cover regular expenses, such as employee pay and recurring bills.

“The interest rates start as low as 4% for businesses and 3.6% for nonprofits,” Hill said.

Hill said you can apply in person through October 9.

“Businesses can come into our business recovery centers. We have one at the Green Valley College campus in Enumclaw, or the multipurpose room, which is the former city hall in Buckley,” she explained.

You can also apply online through June 22, 2026.

The federal assistance was requested by Washington State.

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The FTC alleged that Amazon made it too difficult for users to cancel and enrolled some without their consent. As a result of the settlement, Amazon is required to pay $1 billion in civil penalties, provide another $1.5 billion in refunds to consumers harmed by the company’s Prime enrollment practices, and cease unlawful enrollment and cancellation practices for Prime.

An estimated 35 million customers were harmed by Amazon’s “deceptive Prime enrollment practices,” according to the FTC.

The settlement was the largest civil penalty in a case involving an FTC rule violation, and the second-highest restitution award obtained by the FTC.

“The evidence showed that Amazon used sophisticated subscription traps designed to manipulate consumers into enrolling in Prime, and then made it exceedingly hard for consumers to end their subscription,” FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson stated. “Today, we are putting billions of dollars back into Americans’ pockets, and making sure Amazon never does this again. The Trump-Vance FTC is committed to fighting back when companies try to cheat ordinary Americans out of their hard-earned pay.”

Amazon denied any wrongdoing, but the company will update its cancellation process. More changes are expected in the coming months.

“Amazon and our executives have always followed the law and this settlement allows us to move forward and focus on innovating for customers,” Amazon spokesperson Mark Blafkin told CNN in a statement. “We work incredibly hard to make it clear and simple for customers to both sign up or cancel their Prime membership, and to offer substantial value for our many millions of loyal Prime members around the world.”

The $2.5 billion payout represents 5.6% of Prime’s subscription revenue last year, according to CNN, which raked in $44 billion.

KIRO Newsradio has reached out to Amazon for comment.

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On Tuesday, the King County Council banned landlords from conspiring on rental prices and using software like RealPage, The Seattle Times reported.

Washington AG sues RealPage

In April, the Washington State Attorney General’s (AG) Office filed a lawsuit against RealPage and nine local landlords, alleging the landlords used the software to rapidly increase rent prices.

“RealPage’s unfair practices are cheating renters and pricing families out of stable housing,” Attorney General Nick Brown stated in a news release. “Washington is facing a housing crisis, and we must respond with every available tool.”

The AG’s Office estimated 800,000 leases were priced in Washington using RealPage software from 2017 to 2024.

Investigators found RealPage used nonpublic data from landlords to feed its algorithms. Landlords gave their data knowing the software would combine it with data from other landlords. RealPage would then recommend rents for the landlords, often increasing them.

The AG’s Office also discovered that advisors with RealPage are trained to convince landlords to turn on autopricing.

King County ordinance allows tenants to seek damages

Under King County’s ordinance, tenants can sue landlords or service providers who violate the mandate and collect up to $7,500 per violation.

Seattle passed a similar ban in June, according to The Seattle Times.

In May, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed a landmark bill that caps rent increases at 7% plus inflation, or 10% — whichever is lower.

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The Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon in U.S. District Court in Seattle two years ago and has alleged more than a decade of legal violations, including of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, a 2010 law designed to help ensure that people know what they’re being charged for online.

Jury selection began Monday, with opening statements to follow.

Prime provides subscribers with perks that include faster shipping, video streaming and discounts at Whole Foods for a fee of $139 annually, or $14.99 a month.

It’s a key — and growing — part of Amazon’s business, with more than 200 million members. In its latest quarterly report, the company in July reported more than $12 billion in net revenue for subscription services, which is a 12% increase from the same period last year. That figure includes annual and monthly fees associated with Prime memberships, as well as other subscription services such as its music and e-books platforms.

The company said it does clearly explain Prime’s terms before charging customers, and that it offers simple ways to cancel membership, including by phone, online and by online chat.

“Occasional customer frustrations and mistakes are inevitable — especially for a program as popular as Amazon Prime,” Amazon said in a trial brief filed last week. “Evidence that a small percentage of customers misunderstood Prime enrollment or cancellation does not prove that Amazon violated the law.”

But the FTC said Amazon deliberately made it difficult for customers to purchase an item without also subscribing to Prime. In some cases, consumers were presented with a button to complete their transactions — which didn’t clearly state it would also enroll them in Prime, the agency said.

“Amazon has long known that millions of its customers struggled with enrollment and cancellation of its subscription service, Prime,” the FTC said in its trial brief. “Millions of consumers accidentally enrolled in Prime without knowledge or consent, but Amazon refused to fix this known problem, described internally by employees as an ‘unspoken cancer’ because clarity adjustments would lead to a drop in subscribers.”

Getting out of a subscription was often too complicated, and Amazon leadership slowed or rejected changes that would have made canceling easier, the complaint said.

Internally, Amazon called the process “Iliad,” a reference to the ancient Greek poem about the lengthy siege of Troy during the Trojan war. The process requires the customer to affirm on three pages their desire to cancel membership.

U.S. District Judge John Chun, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, issued an order last week affirming that the Restore Online Customers’ Confidence Act applies to Prime. He also limited some of the legal defenses Amazon may offer at trial and sided with the FTC on its claim that Amazon violated the law by collecting customers’ billing information before disclosing Prime’s terms.

But Chun said several other issues remain for the jury to decide, including whether Amazon’s disclosures of the material terms of Prime membership are “clear and conspicuous” and whether the “Illiad” cancellation method is “simple,” as the law requires.

Chun also ruled that two Amazon executives named as individual defendants — Neil Lindsay and Jamil Ghani — were so entwined with the Prime program that they will personally face liability if the jury sides with the FTC. A third, Russell Grandinetti, could also potentially face personal liability if the jury so decides.

Amazon said a statement Monday: “The bottom line is that neither Amazon nor the individual defendants did anything wrong — we remain confident that the facts will show these executives acted properly and we always put customers first.”

The FTC, which declined to comment Monday, began looking into Amazon’s Prime subscription practices in 2021 during the first Trump administration, but the lawsuit was filed in 2023 under former FTC Chair Lina Khan, an antitrust expert who had been appointed by Biden.

The agency filed the case months before it submitted an antitrust lawsuit against the retail and technology company, accusing it of having monopolistic control over online markets.

In July, Chun admonished Amazon for withholding 70,000 documents from the FTC, including documents improperly marked as containing internal legal advice, saying that conduct was “tantamount to bad faith.”

Meanwhile, like other tech companies, Amazon has been attempting to forge friendlier ties with President Donald Trump, who repeatedly criticized the company during his first term.

In December, Amazon donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, along with other tech leaders, was also a guest at the inauguration.

Earlier this year, Amazon’s Prime Video service began streaming “The Apprentice,” the long-running TV show that boosted Trump’s profile before he ran for president. The company is also working on a documentary that offers an “unprecedented behind-the-scenes look” into the life of first lady Melania Trump.

In a statement to The Athletic, MLB said scammers gained access to fans’ tickets through the Ballpark app, which is used by all 30 teams, including the Seattle Mariners.

The league stressed that the system itself was not breached, but “bad actors” obtained or guessed fans’ login information from other compromised websites.

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“The Ballpark app is operating properly and continues to process tickets for millions of fans who attend MLB games. There is no evidence that this was a breach of the MLB system,” the league said. “Bad actors then have utilized leaked or stolen credentials from other websites in efforts to access the accounts of MLB fans.”

The issue began surfacing around Labor Day, according to a league source familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly. MLB has not said how many fans have been affected.

Boston Red Sox fan Nancy Morrisroe said she was locked out of her seats for a September game against the Pittsburgh Pirates despite confirming them on her Ballpark app before leaving home.

By the time she walked the half-hour to Fenway Park, the tickets had vanished.

“I get into the box office, and it was so many people in there saying, ‘I just bought them off of StubHub, I just bought them!’” Morrisroe said.

She described the experience as “incredibly vulnerable” and said her call to MLB’s customer service line over Labor Day weekend took more than an hour.

Morrisroe, a season-ticket holder since 2007, eventually received seats for the game. But she said she continued having trouble with the app even after changing her password.

“There needs to be two-factor authentication (when transferring tickets) or something,” she said. “There needs to be some sort of safeguard … Now we’re going to be going into the postseason with a lot of money involved.”

Discussions about the problem have spread online.

One Reddit thread had 78 comments as of Friday morning, including screenshots that appeared to show the New York Mets warning fans about “unrecognized transactions.”

The Mets did not respond to The Athletic’s request for comment.

Fans with tickets to games involving large-market clubs such as the Red Sox and Mets appear to be more common targets, according to the league official, because those tickets typically fetch higher resale prices.

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StubHub did not reply to multiple requests for comment.

SeatGeek said only that it could not comment while investigations are ongoing.

MLB is urging fans to take immediate precautions. The league advised users to reset their passwords with something new and unique, to log out of all MLB applications, and then log back in with the updated password before leaving for a game.

“We are working tirelessly to address this matter and protect our fans,” MLB said in its statement. “We want all of our fans to have a great experience when they come to the ballpark and we are sorry that some fans have had to deal with an issue related to their tickets.”

The league has promoted its Ballpark app as a success story in recent years.

In 2022, MLB said 32 million tickets were scanned through the app, with 99.5% of fans retrieving tickets successfully, up from 85% in 2021.