CHUM News

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Facing a trans refugee crisis and other challenges, LGBTQ+ advocates want Seattle’s city government to establish an Office of Trans and Queer Affairs. Local lawmakers seem reluctant — but, with city budget conversations ongoing, the conversation is still live: www.chum.news/office-polit...

Seattle's got a brand-new labor group: the Arts & Cultural Workers Alliance (ACWA), an umbrella org aiming to coordinate organizing efforts at Seattle's museums, cultural institutions, and beyond. www.chum.news/acwa-makes-a...

In a thoroughly reported piece, food writer Meghna Jaradi shows how the wine industry — a relatively deep-pocketed, well-researched agricultural sector — offers early signs of where Washington’s food systems might head in response to more wildfire smoke: www.chum.news/wine-and-wil...

Join us on Wednesday, October 21 at 6:30pm for "Baby, That's Poetry!”: CHUM's second-ever poetry reading, hosted by Poetry Editor Lue Hughes at ANTiPODE Art Gallery in Pioneer Square (103 S Main St). Featuring contributors to CHUM's poetry section: www.chum.news/baby-thats-p...

Sonora Jha's novel, "Foreign," fittingly has its launch party on Monday (Oct 12) at Elliott Bay Book Company. For nearly 15 years, while US publishers shied away from printing "Foreign," Elliott Bay was the sole US bookstore to import and sell it. The story: www.chum.news/dining-writi...

We’re beyond excited to announce CHUM’s new fiction editors: Amy Hirayama and Daniel Tam-Claiborne. Learn more about them, their submission process, and the kinds of local fiction they're looking to commission and publish: www.chum.news/chum-fiction...

Ferry Tales, CHUM’s monthly column penned by Albert A. Shorr, a deckhand for the Washington State Ferries, is officially back. ⛴️ We’re aboard a chaotic, delayed Seattle-Bainbridge shift. Will the owner of a white Nissan Altima *please* return to their vehicle? www.chum.news/ferry-tales-...

In a thoroughly reported piece for CHUM News, Jonathan Zwickel dove into the history of Pioneer Square's First Thursdays: interviewing major gallerists, artists, real-estate moguls, and others to get the backstory, and map out what might come next. www.chum.news/the-art-party

As city officials pore over next year's budget and debate how to tackle gun violence, advocates say young people are being left out of the policymaking process — and they'll ultimately bear the cost of that oversight. Reporting by Garfield HS alum Kian Naeemi: www.chum.news/capturing-ou...

Girl Noise Press is a one-of-a-kind, independent publishing house that exemplifies what Seattle can help bring into the world. But we may soon see Diana and Girl Noise go, decamping for more affordable pastures. Writing from Leny's, here's Katie Lee Ellison's profile: www.chum.news/dining-writi...

Join CHUM News on Thurs, Sept 24 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm for a fun, photo-centered evening at Columbia City Gallery (4864 Rainier Ave S). Free and open to the public. Click through to RSVP we’ll even send you a free reminder email (we’re so thoughtful 🙂‍↕️): www.chum.news/photo-book-n...

“PLUM ALLERGY”: a poem by Jaime Conlan out today in CHUM News. We invited Seattle-based illustrator Emmy Zhang to react to “PLUM ALLERGY.” She shared four images, including two ✨stunning✨ animations. Click to check out the poem & the GIFs: www.chum.news/plum-allergy

Properties owned by the City of Seattle are dotted with signs prohibiting immigration enforcement. What do they mean — and what do they accomplish? CHUM's first piece of legal analysis, written by Grady Yuthok Short: www.chum.news/anti-command...

“Seattle Freeze” who?? Join us for Photo Book Night on Sept 24 at Columbia City Gallery. Bonus points if you bring a locally focused photo book or zine to dig into or share with others 🫶 A fun, photo-centered evening co-hosted w/ Seattle Photo Book Club. More info: www.chum.news/photo-book-n...

Langston Hughes Theatre hosted its second annual Black Nerd Fest. What CHUM News saw was a festival steeped in cosplay and community care: www.chum.news/black-magic

How do you make a movie in Seattle, and who might show up to watch it? The backstory behind Kamyar Mohsenin’s stunning experimental short film, “what does it take to live inside of a pomegranate?” offers a stunning answer. Written by @eclectichutch.bsky.social www.chum.news/kamyar-mohse...

How did Seattle’s writerly worlds come to be, and who built them — against all odds? Few sources can answer those questions the way Jeanne Heuving can: An accomplished experimental poet, community binding agent, and founder of UW Bothell’s writing + poetics MFA. www.chum.news/dining-writi...

When two initiatives on the ballot will directly impact young people, who better to speak on the issue than the youth. Shout out @chum.news for uplifting their voices

Two youth-focused initiatives on WA’s November ballot have ignited fierce debates over student wellbeing and trans rights at school. How they would impact the youth they claim to protect? A thorough research report by four Fellows from @washingtonbus.org: www.chum.news/rights-on-th...

While the sun’s still shining in Seattle — one of the last days it sets after 8pm — we thought we’d share BEACH DAY, a new poem by Serena Chopra out today in CHUM News. Accompanied by Lucas Rigney’s vivid, cerulean paintings. www.chum.news/beach-day

Thank you @chum.news for making space for reproductive health policy coverage. I’m so glad to be back to reporting on this issue

Telehealth was supposed to simplify getting an abortion. UW researchers found a messier reality on the ground, affecting in-person reproductive care in states like Washington. Reporting by @meganburbank.bsky.social for CHUM News and RANGE Media (@rangemedia.co): www.chum.news/telehealth-r...

At Spice Bar, former Queer/Bar staff are looking to build a nightlife hub for Seattle’s queer people of color. Read our review of Spice Bar's opening weekend, written by Jas Keimig and photographed by Edgár De La Vega: www.chum.news/new-spice-on...

When Audrey Wang Gosselin (@dreyslashthem.bsky.social) realized their interest in menswear revealed deeper truths about their gender, they wondered what suits might do for them. Behold, a coming out story + historically attuned as guide to local bespoke menswear: www.chum.news/suitless-in-...

There’s only 6 hours left to vote in today’s primary elections. Only 20% of voters in King County have turned in their ballot so far. Boomers are out voting Gen Z by almost 5 to 1.

Haven’t done our glossy merch photoshoot yet but we just got these beautiful, locally embroidered CHUM News hats and we’d love for you to buy one 🫶 Tote bags available too, printed by Midnight Supply Company. Free merch for paid subscribers. More on that in our shop below: chumnews.bigcartel.com

“Bloodsugar no. 7” was a one-night-only convening of poets with fashion designers with dancers with musicians with visual artists on the roof of a local climbing gym. Too much happened to summarize it well in a skeet. See photographer Xandra Yugto’s dispatch: www.chum.news/poets-on-the...

Seattle City Councilmembers propose plan to fund universal school meals starting this fall council.seattle.gov/2026/07/23/s...

WOW. New announcement from Seattle CMs Strauss, Hollingsworth, and Foster saying they will fund universal school meals starting in the fall after all by using the general fund. Hard to see this as anything but a realization of the high political price they paid for their votes yesterday.

For a comprehensive recap of today’s City Council meeting:

Amendment passes 6 votes in favor, 3 against. Universal free school meals will no longer be funded this upcoming school year.

Ahead of this morning’s City Council vote on funding universal free school meals, CHUM News interviewed educators, students, and nutrition experts. Respondents saw universal meals as a helpful *first* step that can set up other food-access programs for success: www.chum.news/food-fight

For our latest edition of “Sketchy Stuff,” Seattle-based artist Karima Baza documented this year's Candidate Survivor, the high-octane and youth-focused political forum hosted annually by the Washington Bus (@washingtonbus.org). (CHUM was a media partner + co-host.) www.chum.news/candidate-su...

Best write up on the Pride Match™️ that I have seen so far.

Through accessible spaces, free programming, and a global spotlight, the World Cup showed Seattle in its idealized form. What would it take to keep things going? by Grace Madigan (local writer, food-industry worker, and soccer coach) www.chum.news/extra-time

RANGE reporters Daisy, Luke, and Erin gathered at a park in Wenatchee with worker-owners Adam Willems and Meron Menghistab from @chum.news to swap stories from respective hometowns, talk about statewide significant news, and dive into a couple of news stories of interest.