News For Reasonable People

A shocking stabbing outside Portland’s Central Library has reignited concerns about public safety downtown. Just weeks after a fatal shooting near the same location, community leaders are demanding stronger security measures and questioning police response times.

Spokane is at the center of a heated debate over homelessness and the future of the Housing First model. Advocates point to strong results—stable housing, better health outcomes, and reduced emergency costs—while critics argue for shifting toward treatment-first policies in line with new federal directives.

A deadly crash on the Florida Turnpike has sparked national outrage after investigators revealed that the semi-truck driver, Harjinder Singh, was given a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Washington state despite not being legally eligible. Singh, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, later obtained another CDL in California.''

Washington State Ferries’ newly converted MV Wenatchee, the first hybrid-electric ferry in the fleet, has been pulled from service only weeks after its much-anticipated return.

A Seattle hotel is suing the City of Seattle and King County after claiming its property was left contaminated with fentanyl and methamphetamine following use as a low-barrier homeless shelter.

Nordstrom is shutting down key locations in St. Louis (Missouri) and Santa Monica (California) in August 2025, impacting hundreds of employees. CEO Erik Nordstrom also raised concerns about the company’s Portland, Oregon stores, citing theft and operational challenges.

Meals on Wheels People (MOWP) has closed its longtime downtown Portland Elm Court site after years of escalating safety concerns—including threats, drug activity, and fires—paired with major funding cuts following the loss of federal pandemic relief. Another site in Hillsboro has also been shuttered due to low usage.

Chicago is facing a serious business decline. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, the city had just 44,840 active business licenses in 2024 — its lowest in a decade and down 17% from 2015.

The famous Magnificent Mile has been hit especially hard, losing over 50% of its businesses in the past 10 years. Meanwhile, some neighborhoods like New City have seen growth, but overall, the city continues to struggle.

An Ontario man is facing aggravated assault charges after allegedly stabbing a home intruder during a break-in in Lindsay, Ontario. His lawyer says he was acting within his rights to defend himself and his home, but police argue that self-defence has legal limits.

Playboy Enterprises is making a bold move—exiting Los Angeles and relocating its global headquarters to Miami Beach.The new HQ will be based at The RIVANI on Lincoln Road, complete with a reimagined Playboy Club, restaurant, and exclusive members-only areas. CEO Ben Kohn calls California “anti-business” and praises Miami Beach as the perfect cultural and economic hub for Playboy’s next chapter.

Pierce County is facing a growing homelessness crisis.According to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count, nearly 3,000 people are experiencing homelessness—an 11% increase from last year. Rising housing costs, shrinking shelter capacity, and limited rental assistance are driving the surge.

California is facing a major fuel crisis as two of its biggest oil refineries prepare to shut down—Phillips 66 in Los Angeles and Valero in Benicia. Experts warn this could cut up to 21% of the state’s refining capacity, triggering gasoline shortages and driving prices as high as $8.43 per gallon by 2026.

Seattle’s downtown is at a crossroads. Despite rising foot traffic and renewed energy in the city core, vacancy rates have hit record highs, placing Seattle among the top 3 U.S. cities with the emptiest office space.