Bellevue moves toward citywide speed limit reductions after pilot shows drop in dangerous speeding: The Bellevue City Council heard an update Tuesday on last summer's Safe Speeds pilot program, which cut speed limits on four streets and led to a significant drop in drivers going 40 mph or more. Transportation staff are now proposing speed reductions across the city—keeping 21% of streets as-is, dropping limits by 5 mph on 59% of roads and 10 mph on 20%—with most of downtown set at 25 mph and a 20 mph zone around Old Bellevue and Downtown Park. The changes, part of the city's Vision Zero push to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030, will likely roll out in phases over the next year or more as budget allows, with community input starting in February. (info)

City Council backs school district levies as $6.5 million in human services funding heads to resolution: Bellevue's City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to support two Bellevue School District renewal levies on the Feb. 10 ballot—one for educational programs and operations, the other for technology and capital projects—which together make up about a quarter of the district's budget. The council also received a report on 2025 human services needs, which identified major gaps in food, housing, and financial assistance after federal funding cuts, and reviewed the Human Services Commission's recommendations for allocating roughly $6.5 million per year across three city funding programs for 2027-2028. Staff will return with a formal resolution on the proposed human services funding plan. (info)

Mayor reaffirms Bellevue's welcoming stance amid immigration enforcement concerns: Mayor Mo Malakoutian opened Tuesday's council meeting by clarifying the city's position on federal immigration enforcement, stressing that Bellevue police don't participate in civil immigration actions and that the city remains committed to serving all residents, including immigrants and refugees. He encouraged anyone in danger to call 911 and pointed to the city's online resources—available in multiple languages—that explain how local police operate separately from federal immigration policies. The council also marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day and recognized the contributions of Chinese Americans, who make up more than 15% of Bellevue's population. (info)

Bellevue School District ranks No. 1 in Washington for third straight year: Niche's 2026 rankings named Bellevue School District the best in Washington for the third year running, with the district earning an overall A+ grade based on academic performance, teacher quality, and student reviews. The district, which serves over 19,000 students with a student-teacher ratio of about 18:1, also ranked No. 2 for best places to teach statewide and helped Bellevue place third nationally among cities for public schools. According to Niche data, 75% of students are proficient in reading and 69% in math, with standout schools like Bellevue High School praised for academics, athletics, and performing arts. (info)

Amazon shutters downtown Bellevue Amazon Go store as company pulls back from physical grocery: Amazon announced Monday it's closing its cashier-less Amazon Go store in downtown Bellevue and an Amazon Fresh grocery store in Factoria as part of a companywide exit from its Amazon-branded brick-and-mortar locations. The company is shuttering eight Amazon Go and three Amazon Fresh stores across Washington state—including locations in Mill Creek, Puyallup, and Seattle—saying it hasn't yet found "the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion" despite experimenting with the formats since 2018. Amazon plans to shift its focus to grocery delivery and Whole Foods, which it's planning to expand by more than 100 locations over the next few years, while continuing to test new store concepts it says customers will be excited about. (info)

BelRed Run/Walk Club x Cafe Aloe x Chasing Miles Run Club on February 7th. (info)

Bellevue Camp Fair on February 7th. (info)

Keep Bellevue Beautiful - Northwest Bellevue on February 7th. (info)

Valentine's Day Cookie Decorating Class on February 11th. (info)

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Real Estate Investor Club Workshop on February 3rd. (info)

Kenmore Business Alliance Meeting on February 5th. (info)

Adopt a Park Volunteer Work Party on February 7th. (info)

Kenmore Business Alliance Meeting on February 8th. (info)

Lunar New Year at the Bothell Library on February 14th. (info)

North Bend delays vote on 230 Main affordable housing deal, schedules February workstudy: The North Bend City Council pulled a planned February 3 vote on a development agreement with Related NW for the 230 Main affordable housing project, opting instead to hold a workstudy session on February 24 after receiving new state funding information and potential staff recommendations on parking. The project involves a 0.4-acre city-owned parcel purchased in 2023 with real estate excise tax funds earmarked for affordable housing, with the goal of creating long-term housing for local workers earning up to 60% of King County's median income and helping ease workforce shortages among North Bend businesses. The development agreement, which would lock in city financial support and approve code deviations the developer says are essential, was the subject of a public hearing last November, though residents won't be able to comment at the upcoming workstudy. (info)

Bloodworks Mobile Blood Drive on February 5th. (info)

SnoValley Innovation Center Meet-up on February 6th. (info)

City Council Regular Meeting on February 9th. (info)

Issaquah summer camp registration opens March 21 for residents, March 28 for everyone else: Registration for Issaquah's popular summer camps kicks off Saturday, March 21 at 9 a.m. for city residents, with open registration for non-residents starting a week later on March 28. The city is urging families to prepare early—especially since camps fill up fast—by requesting an account at least two weeks ahead if they don't have one, updating family info and addresses, reviewing camp schedules in advance, and setting reminders for registration day. If a camp is already full, families can join the waitlist and staff will reach out if a spot opens up. (info)

Issaquah voters can drop off February 10 special election ballots at City Hall through 8 p.m. on election day: Ballots for the February 10 special election are in the mail, and Issaquah voters can return them postage-free by mail or drop them at the ballot box outside City Hall at 130 E. Sunset Way until 8 p.m. on election day. King County Elections is encouraging voters to sign up for its online ballot tracker, which sends text or email alerts when your ballot is mailed out, received back, signature-verified, and ready to be counted. More information on what's on the ballot is available through King County Elections. (info)

Special Election on February 10th. (info)

Issaquah Pre-School Open House on February 11th. (info)

Kirkland business workshops and pitch competition return for third year, applications now open: Kirkland is accepting applications for its 2026 business workshop series and pitch competition, offering entrepreneurs hands-on training to start or grow their ventures through six sessions running from February 10 to March 24. The free program covers essentials like business planning, market research, finances, and marketing, culminating in a public pitch competition on March 24 where participants can compete for recognition and support. The workshops are designed for potential, micro, and small business owners and emphasize practical tools, networking, and clear communication of business value, with each session building toward tangible achievements that help participants succeed as small business owners. (info)

O.O. Denny Park pedestrian bridge closed indefinitely after tree damage: The bridge linking the parking lot and restroom to O.O. Denny Park in Kirkland has been shut down due to tree damage from late 2025, and city staff are now working on plans to replace it entirely. The repair is significant enough that the replacement process is expected to take a while, though the city says visitor safety is the top priority as they work toward a permanent fix. In the meantime, park users will need to find alternate routes to access the park from the parking area. (info)

Norkirk Neighborhood Association Meeting on February 4th. (info)

Keller Williams Blood Drive on February 5th. (info)

Wheels & Reels Winter Drive-In Movie Series on February 7th. (info)

Business Workshops for Kirkland Pitch Competition on February 10th. (info)

Conversations with Council on February 21st. (info)

Mercer Island recovers most of $420,000 lost in check fraud scheme, nets $50,000 loss after insurance: Mercer Island lost $50,000 in public funds after a January 2025 check fraud incident in which someone impersonating a city contractor requested an address change and had a $420,350.94 payment rerouted to a fake address. The city recovered $314,998.95 through bank seizures coordinated by Mercer Island police and King County prosecutors, plus another $55,351.99 from insurance, leaving only the $50,000 insurance deductible as the final loss. Following the fraud, the city hired outside consultants to audit its payment systems, implemented stricter vendor verification policies requiring secondary approval for all account changes, enhanced staff training on email fraud, and upgraded digital workflows—while police continue working with prosecutors to file charges against an out-of-state suspect once identified. (info)

Mercer Island schools outline protocol if ICE shows up on campus, won't share student info without warrant: Mercer Island School District Superintendent Fred Rundle sent a letter to families on January 29 outlining how schools will respond if ICE officers or other uninvited individuals arrive on campus, emphasizing that all students can attend school regardless of immigration status and that the district doesn't ask for citizenship information during enrollment. If someone claiming to be an immigration officer requests access to students or records, front office staff are instructed to stay calm, contact administrators immediately, and not provide information or access beyond public areas like the front vestibule, while administrators will ask for ID and a court-signed warrant and immediately notify the superintendent. The district confirmed with Mercer Island Police Chief Michelle Bennett that officers would help restore operations if a campus is disrupted, and Rundle stressed that staff won't share student or family immigration information without proper legal documentation, with parents notified when their child is directly impacted and legally permissible. (info)

City Council Regular Hybrid Meeting on February 3rd. (info)

Hopelink Mobile Food Market on February 4th. (info)

Mercer Island Lunar New Year Celebration on February 8th. (info)

Redmond Police Seek Public Help After Random Trail Stabbing: A 57-year-old woman was hospitalized after a seemingly random stabbing near Bear Creek Trail on Jan. 24, and Redmond police are asking anyone with information, sightings, or dashcam footage from 9–11 a.m. to contact detectives at 425-556-2500. (info)

Redmond Finalizes 2026–2027 City Council and Leadership: Redmond announced its completed City Council, naming Melissa Stuart as Council President and Angie Nuevacamina as Vice President, with newly elected Councilmembers Vivek Prakriya and Menka Soni beginning terms through 2029 and Sayna Parsi appointed to fill the vacant Position #1 through 2027. (info)

Community Open Mic at NW Brewing on Feb 5. from 6-10pm. (info)

Kiss and Make Up: Adults Only Improv Show on Feb. 6 from 8-9:30pm. (info)

Art from the Founders Collection on Feb. 7 from 11am-2pm. (info)

Renton Driver Fined for Using Dummy to Cheat HOV Lane: A driver in Renton was cited on I-405 after Washington State Patrol found a dummy used to impersonate a passenger, triggering HOV violations and enhanced fines totaling hundreds of dollars, with steeper penalties for repeat offenses. (info)

Judge Jessica Giner Reappointed as Presiding Judge of Renton Municipal Court: Jessica Giner will continue leading the Renton Municipal Court after re-election in November 2025, overseeing court administration, policy direction, and expanded programs including mental health and civic education initiatives in Renton. (info)

Sen. Patty Murray Secures $1.75M for Renton-Based Sexual Assault Services: Patty Murray secured $1.75 million in federal funding for the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, supporting expanded survivor services, therapy, and prevention programs for victims across King County, with the organization citing ongoing funding strain despite rising demand in Renton. (info)

After Hours Concert with Lulu Swing on Feb. 14 from 8-10pm. (info)

Sushi Roll Class on Feb. 21 from 11am-1:30pm. (info)

Sammamish Road Work and Utility Activity Beginning February 2: Starting February 2, Northwest Sammamish Water & Sewer will install a new water main on Sahalee Way between NE 36th and NE 37th Way from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with two-way traffic maintained and minor delays expected. From February 2–6, King County Wastewater Treatment Division survey work will continue along East Lake Sammamish Parkway NE, from Sammamish Landing Park south to the 3800 block, with no traffic impacts as crews work from road shoulders. On February 7, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., King County will perform utility structure as-built work on East Lake Sammamish Parkway NE between NE 49th Place and Sammamish Landing Park. That February 7 work will include traffic control and single-lane closures, with minor delays anticipated. (info)

Local Fifth-Grader Launches Global LEGO Drive: Ten-year-old Sai Chinmay Karthik organized a community LEGO donation drive in Sammamish, collecting more than 100 pounds of used bricks with help from local businesses to donate to children worldwide. Partnering with a nonprofit recycler, the donations have reached orphanages, hospitals, schools, and families in countries including India and Zimbabwe, with the drive now continuing into its second year. (info)

Coffee with City Council on Feb. 14 at 9:30am. (info)

Woodinville City Council Selects New Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Welcomes New Councilmember: The Woodinville City Council selected Sarah Arndt as Mayor and reappointed James Randolph as Deputy Mayor, leadership roles chosen by councilmembers for two-year terms. The Council also welcomed newly elected Councilmember Amber Wise, who previously served on the Public Spaces Commission and was elected in the November 4 General Election to a four-year term focused on housing, balanced growth, infrastructure, and parks and trails. (info)

Aidan Rufer performing at Chelan Ridge Winery on Feb. 6 from 5-8pm. (info)

Homeword Pet Tattoo Fundraise on Feb. 6 from 5-9pm. (info)

Clove Indian Cuisine (Renton, WA): Clove just opened in Renton’s Landing area, and it’s quickly turning traditional Indian food into an elegant yet approachable night out — think vibrant tandoori platters, creamy dal, and rich curries that arrive with just the right punch of spice and warmth. The dining room mixes modern style with a welcoming vibe, so whether it’s date night or a casual dinner, every bite feels like a little celebration of flavor.

Bellevue heads into the week of February 2nd with that familiar winter calm—mostly cloudy skies, cool air, and the occasional stretch of light rain. It’s an easygoing, cozy kind of week, perfect for warm layers, slower mornings, and enjoying the quiet moments between showers.