Amaze your friends, look smart at parties: What to watch in Primary 2018

If the purpose of sports talk radio is so you can sound like an informed sports analyst around your friends (this is, in fact, the point), then Shift is here to do the same for elections. With our handy guide of what to watch as numbers come in Tuesday, you’ll have a jump on being the watercooler expert on Wednesday. (Shift WA)

The state Dept. of Natural Resources announced a ban on outdoor burning on all 13 million acres of DNR land. Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz says 96 percent of the state is experiencing drought-like conditions and it’s not a safe time for intentional burning within the forests. (Tacoma News Tribune)

The Seattle Mariners have turned to Joe Woods, King County Executive Dow Constantine’s former deputy chief of staff and longtime senior aide, to help lobby the county council. The Mariners are working to land $180 million in local hotel/motel taxes for Safeco Field maintenance and upgrades before signing a 25-year lease extension. (Seattle Times)

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s bold move in the fight to combat homelessness? Another government position. The mayor is creating the position of Deputy Director of Homelessness. Durkan is also taking $500,000 from King County and Governor Inslee’s administration to grow the city’s Navigation Team, which does outreach to homeless people. (My Northwest)

King County voters will decide whether or not to renew a property tax assessment to fund the county’s fingerprinting identification system. The levy itself has existed since the fingerprinting system was first introduced in 1986, but has run afoul of some privacy advocates who are worried about the future of facial recognition technology. Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht argues the levy is vital for public safety. (Crosscut)

Cecily Wright resigned as chairwoman of the Spokane County Republican Party after inviting white nationalist James Allsup to speak at a recent meeting. Wright wrote, “I profoundly apologize for giving Mr. Allsup a platform to speak at the Northwest Grassroots meeting in July. I consider this a serious mistake in my judgment and I deeply regret that decision.” (The Spokesman-Review)

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