South Seattle Emerald

What happens when more than 50 AA&NH/PI writers, actors, and directors build a show in 24 hours?

"Instant Noodles 2" served seven sharp, funny one-acts challenging the "model minority" myth while centering cultural solidarity.

Read Bri Little's review here: soseaem.org/4l3Xw1H #SeattleArts

DOOM LOOP: "Negative Creep"
Reevaluating Seattle's aging rockers: soseaem.org/4rHdNvW
#Seattle #Comics #DoomLoop

Close to 100 Attend Virtual Meeting on Student Safety in Rainier Beach Less than a month after a shooting took the lives of two teens in Rainier Beach, dozens of community members gathered virtually to discuss student safety.

Less than a month after a shooting took the lives of two teens in Rainier Beach, dozens of community members gathered virtually to discuss student safety:

QT Mahjong Club Turns Game Night Into Space for Queer Asian Community What started in two apartments has grown into a monthly South Seattle meetup where queer Asian and BIPOC players reclaim mahjong, culture, and chosen family — one tile at a time.

QT Mahjong Club is turning game night into a space for queer and trans BIPOC community in South Seattle.

From beginner lessons to Lunar New Year fundraisers, the club blends culture, joy, and belonging — one tile at a time.

Sarah Goh reports here: soseaem.org/4kWggjw #SeattleNews #Mahjong

Dragons FC is building more than soccer skills — it's creating affordable pathways to college for immigrant and first-gen families across South King County.

Read the full story about the club by Grace Madigan here: soseaem.org/4r0G1ke #SeattleNews #DragonsFC

37th District Voters Press Lawmakers on Taxes, Budget Over Trump South Seattle's 37th District voters zeroed in on the millionaires' tax, medical debt relief and rising energy costs, urging Democrats to make Washington more affordable.

At a Feb. 21 town hall on MLK Way South, 37th District voters asked lawmakers how the state will make life more affordable — from utility costs tied to AI data centers to medical debt and child care.

Connor Nash reports here: soseaem.org/3OA7A6u #SeattleNews

Tukwila Passes 6-Month Ban on New ICE Detention Facilities Dozens of residents urged action before Tukwila leaders unanimously passed a temporary moratorium on new detention facilities following reports of possible ICE office expansion.

Tukwila City Council unanimously approved a 6-month moratorium on new detention facilities after reports ICE and DHS were exploring expansion in the area.

Jaquelyn Jimenez Romero reports here: soseaem.org/3ZYfEjV #TukwilaNews #SeattleNews

Somali asylum seekers across Seattle are facing sudden changes to immigration court dates. Advocate Ubax Gardheere warns that speeding up cases without expanding access to attorneys risks undermining due process.

Read here: soseaem.org/4b6WsGT #SeattleVoices

White Center's Tomb of Treasure is building analog horror community in Rat City.

Owner Violet Blanchard's shop on 16th Ave SW stocks VHS tapes, rare Blu-rays, and cult classics — and offers something streaming can’t: ownership and connection.

Jas Keimig reports here: soseaem.org/4cbH5Ou #Seattle

After nearly 30 years, Black Anger is back.

The Tacoma-born trio appears on 206 Zulu's 22nd anniversary album, "Two-Oh-Sicks," reconnecting with the Seattle hip-hop scene they helped shape in the '90s.

Grace Madigan reports here: soseaem.org/4qHEzD9 #Seattle #SeattleMusic

Observing the Day of Remembrance Amid Increased ICE Activity in South Seattle From Puyallup to Tacoma, community members honor those incarcerated under Executive Order 9066 while calling attention to immigrant detention and deportation flights leaving King County.

Feb. 19 marks the Day of Remembrance, honoring those incarcerated under Executive Order 9066.

On Feb. 21, events in Puyallup and Tacoma will connect that history to today's ICE detentions — including flights from Boeing Field.

Read here: soseaem.org/4tLCJE6 #SeattleNews

What does it mean to be an artist in uncertain times?

Poet aja monet tells the Emerald that artists, like anyone, must "get right with self" to be present with the truth. She reflects on community, collaboration, and why poetry has always been music.

Read here: soseaem.org/4rp1RyR #Seattle

In First State of the City Address, Mayor Katie Wilson Centers Safety, Affordability, Homelessness From Rainier Beach to the Chinatown-International District, Mayor Katie Wilson used her first address to spotlight public safety, food deserts, and a goal of adding 1,000 new shelter units this year.

In her first State of the City, Mayor Katie Wilson centered public safety, affordability, and homelessness — from Rainier Beach to the CID.

She pledged a gun violence coalition, 1,000 new shelter units, and a sweeping "Affordability Agenda."

Read more: soseaem.org/4qUKIfC #SeattleNews #Seattle

OPINION: After 28 years behind the lens at The Skanner, photographer Susan Fried reflects on documenting Seattle’s Black community — from MLK marches at Garfield to Juneteenth at Jimi Hendrix Park.

A tribute to a Black-owned newsroom that shaped the region: soseaem.org/4kDX7mi #Seattle

DOOM LOOP: "The Pivot"
Councilmember Rob attempts to change the narrative in the Curby saga: soseaem.org/4avshI9
#Seattle #Comics #DoomLoop

Rainier Beach's Tyran Stokes isn't just the nation's No. 1 recruit — he's a full-on South End phenom.

From 63-point nights to sold-out gyms across #Seattle, the "Tyran Stokes Experience" is redefining high school hoops and community pride.

Read the column by Glenn Nelson here: soseaem.org/4tAyTxp

DOOM LOOP: "Football"
Recent transplants explore the complex social dynamics of Seattle: soseaem.org/4r4uHo8
#Seattle #Comics #DoomLoop

Column: Why Bad Bunny saying "ICE out" on a national stage made the Super Bowl matter to one South Seattle writer -- even though she doesn't like football.

Agueda Pacheco Flores on culture, fear, and refusing to disappear: soseaem.org/3ZT8IEA #SeattleVoices #Seattle #SuperBowl #BenitoBowl

Washington State Senate passed new limits on data collected by automated license plate readers, citing privacy and surveillance concerns. The bill restricts retention, sharing, and where the cameras can be used. The bill heads now to the House.

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero reports: soseaem.org/4kjLG2Y

Beneath Columbia Park’s winding blue-lit path is a buried stream — and a deeper story of land, memory, and student-led activism in Columbia City.

Hanover Vale traces how water, maps, and fourth graders shaped the park we know today: soseaem.org/3ZiTN6t #Seattle

At Rainier Beach Memorial, Students Demand Safety as Mayor Katie Wilson Listens At a growing Rainier Beach memorial, students tell Mayor Katie Wilson they are scared, angry, and tired of gun violence — and demand real safety after two teens were killed.

Students gathered at a Rainier Beach memorial Monday to demand safety after two teens were killed at a bus stop. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson listened as youth shared fear, grief, and calls for action.

Florangela Davila reports: soseaem.org/49Va6wq #SeattleNews

OPINION | What started at a Rainier Valley elementary school became a national movement. As Black Lives Matter at School marks 10 years in Seattle, renewed attacks on Black education make clear why this organizing still matters.

Read Jesse Hagopian's op-ed here: soseaem.org/46fUscA #Seattle #BLM

DOOM LOOP: "Legacy Media News Pipeline"
How City Hall scuttlebutt finds its way onto the evening news: soseaem.org/3McAY1M
#Seattle #Comics #DoomLoop

Rainier Beach Mourns After Fatal Shooting of Two Teens After two teens were fatally shot near Rainier Avenue South, Rainier Beach gathered in grief. Neighbors, students, and families showed up to mourn, heal, and protect their own.

Rainier Beach is grieving after two teens were fatally shot near Rainier Ave S and Henderson St on Friday, just after school let out. On a Saturday night vigil, neighbors called for care, presence, and protection for young people.

Read the full story here: soseaem.org/45BNe2w #Seattle

A giant hat now tops the Bush Garden sign in the CID — a tribute to the late community organizer and karaoke legend "Uncle Bob" Santos. As Bush Garden prepares to reopen this spring, the new sculpture honors memory, music, and neighborhood love.

Jas Keimig reports here: soseaem.org/4t72zSJ #Seattle

Washington's deportation defense hotline has seen calls spike amid increased immigration enforcement. Now WAISN is seeking $5M in state funding to meet demand and keep verified information flowing to communities.

🔗 Read the full story by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero here: soseaem.org/4bvEy1r #Seattle

Over 150 Gather at Seattle VA Vigil Honoring Alex Pretti More than 150 people gathered on Beacon Hill for a candlelight vigil honoring Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse killed by federal agents, calling for accountability and constitutional protections.

More than 150 people gathered at the Seattle VA on Beacon Hill for a candlelight vigil honoring Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. Attendees called for accountability and constitutional protections.

🔗 Read more here: soseaem.org/4tlQQQq #SeattleNews

🎤 A social-justice choir founded during the pandemic is taking the stage.

Resounding Love Center for the Arts will host its "Love Is Resistance" concert Feb. 1 in Renton, centering racial healing through song.

Read the full story by Lauryn Bray here: soseaem.org/3NSmOTU #CommunityArts #SouthEnd

WA Leaders Prepare for Possibility of Immigration Crackdown Gov. Bob Ferguson and AG Nick Brown say Washington is bracing for intensified ICE activity — and ask communities to stay alert, informed, and ready to record interactions.

WA Gov. Bob Ferguson and AG Nick Brown say they're preparing Washington for the possibility of federal immigration enforcement actions and potential clashes with ICE — warning civil liberties could be at risk.

Originally reported by @washingtonstatestandard.com: soseaem.org/4q38CFe #SeattleNews

COLUMN: Loving someone who is incarcerated is often treated as something to explain or defend. A Seattle art collective pushes back — turning craft into collective care and refusal.

Read Marcus Harrison Green's latest column here: soseaem.org/4bfLP5f #Seattle #PardonMyCraft