Monday, Feb. 2, was a hard day for island resident Barbara Lake, who closed the island's general store, which served as a grocery, post office and gas station.

Almost all of the unionized workers voted on Thursday to reject a proposed contract with the Issaquah-based outdoor retailer.

Last May, members voted to reject REI co-op’s entire slate of board candidates. The next board election the Issaquah, Wash.-based outdoor retailer is already fast approaching.

Seattle's 2026 will include six World Cup matches, a new light rail connection to the east side of King County, and efforts to get workers back to the office.

Amazon has faced pressure from investors to tighten its finances as it spends big on the AI race. The company says it will cut 14,000 jobs, citing a goal of "reducing bureaucracy, removing layers."

REI's new appointments come after members of the Issaquah-based outdoor retail co-op voted to reject the uncontested slate of candidates put forward by the board in the spring.

Foot traffic in Seattle's Chinatown-International District hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic. Some say more transit options and events like the World Cup will help.

The coffee giant plans to cut 900 corporate jobs and shut down about 1% of its stores as the chain's turnaround plan approaches a one-year mark.

Once Lake City's Fred Meyer shuts down, residents will have to travel over a mile to the next large grocery store and pharmacy. Some worry the area could become a food desert.

Romance books have become more popular, and the new brick-and-mortar Seattle bookstore Lovestruck is a gift for enthusiasts.