Good morning, this is Seattle Local Pulse for Thursday, June 12th, 2025.
We start today with breaking news downtown. For a second straight evening, thousands gathered outside the Seattle Federal Building near 2nd Avenue, calling for an end to ICE operations in our city. What began as a peaceful protest slowly escalated last night, with some demonstrators blocking exits using bikes and even dumpsters. By late evening, the mood changed as fireworks and rocks were thrown at officers, and a bonfire burned on 2nd Avenue. Seattle police moved in to disperse the crowd, making at least one arrest. Officials are urging everyone near Capitol Hill, First Hill, and the downtown core to expect possible street closures and disruptions again tonight as rallies continue. If you are heading near Pioneer Square, check for live updates and give yourself extra time to get around.
Swinging over to city hall, the council has been tight-lipped this week, but conversations continue about affordable housing and traffic enforcement, especially with protests impacting daily commutes. No major decisions reported yet, but city staff are emphasizing safety for both protestors and the general public in their latest briefings.
Let’s talk weather, because it is shaping up to be a classic June day in Seattle. After last week’s heat wave that saw temperatures skyrocket close to ninety, we’re settling into much more comfortable mid-60s to low 70s today, with a light breeze and no real rain in sight. We’ve got clear skies this morning, and we should enjoy up to nine hours of sunshine, so it is a perfect day to walk along the waterfront or grab a coffee outside. Looking ahead, temperatures remain mild with no significant precipitation expected through the weekend.
On the jobs and real estate front, the local market is holding steady as summer kicks off. Unemployment hovers just under four percent and remains below the national average. Rental prices remain high, with the median one-bedroom rent holding at about $1,900 across the city, and for those house hunting, expect continued competition as new listings are slightly up compared to this time last year.
We have some exciting events this week. The LERA labor and employment conference gets underway today at the Seattle Convention Center, drawing professionals from across the country. In Fremont, the annual Solstice Parade returns this weekend, known for its colorful floats and costumed cyclists. Music lovers, catch the free outdoor jazz show tonight at Columbia City Park starting at six.
Quick sports update: The Mariners picked up a much-needed win last night over the Angels, with Julio Rodriguez blasting a home run at T-Mobile Park. And in hockey, the Kraken introduced Lane Lambert as their new head coach, sparking optimism for the season ahead.
Seattle schools wrapped up classes this week, and congratulations go out to Garfield High, whose robotics team just took home a regional championship.
In our feel-good moment, a group of Ballard neighbors raised donations to help a local bakery rebuild after last month’s fire. Community members say it is a reminder that even in turbulent times, Seattle shows up for each other.
This has been Seattle Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
