Lifestyle

This photo provided by Visby Medical in January 2026 shows its three-in-one gonorrhea, chlamydia an...

At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment

WASHINGTON (AP) — New options for testing and treating some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available, a trend that experts hope will keep downward pressure on U.S. infection rates. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first at-home test that can detect three common infections in women — gonorrhea, […]
10 months ago
This photo provided by Mattel Inc. shows the new autistic Barbie doll. (Mattel Inc. via AP)Credit: ...

Mattel adds an autistic Barbie to doll line devoted to showcasing diversity and inclusion

NEW YORK (AP) — Mattel Inc. is introducing an autistic Barbie on Monday as the newest member of its line intended to celebrate diversity, joining a collection that already includes Barbies with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, a Barbie and a Ken with vitiligo, and other models the toymaker added to make its fashion dolls […]
10 months ago
Buddhist monks who are participating in the, "Walk For Peace," are seen with their dog, Aloka, Thur...

Buddhist monks and their dog captivate Americans while walking for peace

A group of Buddhist monks and their rescue dog are striding single file down country roads and highways across the South, captivating Americans nationwide and inspiring droves of locals to greet them along their route. In their flowing saffron and ocher robes, the men are walking for peace. It’s a meditative tradition more common in […]
10 months ago
people playing cards - seattle weekend events...
Paul Holden

Seattle weekend events: Get your game on, plan your next adventure

Discover exciting Seattle weekend events to kick off the new year. Find activities for everyone in the heart of the city.
10 months ago
A couple of Bosch 800 Series fully automatic espresso machines are seen on display at the Bosch boo...

‘Worst in Show’ CES products include AI refrigerators, AI companions and AI doorbells

The promise of artificial intelligence was front and center at this year’s CES gadget show. But spicing up a simple machine like a refrigerator with unnecessary AI was also a surefire way to win the “Worst in Show.” The annual contest that no tech company wants to win announced its decisions Thursday. Among those getting […]
10 months ago
FILE - Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai speaks about Google DeepMind at a Google I/O event in Mountain Vi...

Gmail adds new AI features, turning it into a personal assistant

More artificial intelligence is being implanted into Gmail as Google tries to turn the world’s most popular email service into a personal assistant that can improve writing, summarize far-flung information buried in inboxes and deliver daily to-do lists. The new AI features announced Thursday could herald a pivotal moment for Gmail, a service that transformed […]
10 months ago
FILE - People hold candles during a vigil, Dec. 14, 2025, in Providence, R.I., for the victims of S...

Inside a chaotic digital record of the Brown University shooting: What students saw, feared, shared

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — When a gunman began firing inside an academic building on the Brown University campus, students didn’t wait for official alerts warning of trouble. They got information almost instantly, in bits and bursts — through phones vibrating in pockets, messages from strangers, rumors that felt urgent because they might keep someone alive. […]
10 months ago
WA taprooms close...
Jason Sutich

‘We have to be near perfect’: WA hard cider producer closes 4 taprooms amid rising costs

Locust Cider in Gig Harbor narrows focus to retail as it closes taprooms, adapting to rising operational challenges in Washington.
10 months ago

The coolest technology from Day 2 of CES 2026

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Crowds flooded the freshly opened showroom floors on Day 2 of the CES and were met by thousands of robots, AI companions, assistants, health longevity tech, wearables and more. Siemens President and CEO Roland Busch kicked off the day with a keynote detailing how its customers are harnessing artificial intelligence to […]
10 months ago
Eric Trump and Lara Trump arrive before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for a N...

Trump Mobile’s golden phone remains nowhere to be found

A golden phone that President Donald Trump’s family business promised to release last year remains mysteriously under wraps as the technology industry serves up a glut of new gadgets at CES in Las Vegas this week. When the Trump Organization launched a mobile phone service last June, it was supposed to be a stage setter […]
10 months ago
LEGO chief product and marketing officer and executive vice president Julia Goldin talks as a a Che...

The most interesting tech we saw on day one of CES

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sure, Nvidia, AMD and Intel all had important chip and AI platform announcements on the first day of CES 2026, but all audiences wanted to see more of was Star Wars and Jensen Huang’s little robot buddies. CES is a huge opportunity annually for companies both large and small to parade […]
10 months ago
Tacoma freighthouse square...
Jason Sutich

Victoria-style eatery to close ahead of Sound Transit Light Rail expansion in Tacoma

The Olive Branch Café has closed, raising concerns for Tacoma's Freighthouse Square during the Sound Transit Light Rail expansion.
10 months ago
Seattle dating singles...
Jason Sutich

Seattle among top 5 best cities for dating in the U.S., study finds

Seattle's dating scene landed in the top five of more than 180 U.S. cities, with Seattle's dating opportunities being a key driver for its exceptional ranking.
10 months ago
People arrive at the CES Unveiled tech show Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Par...

What to expect from CES 2026, the annual show of all things tech?

LAS VEGAS (AP) — With the start of the New Year squarely behind us, it’s once again time for the annual CES trade show to shine a spotlight on the latest tech companies plan on offering in 2026. The multi-day event, organized by the Consumer Technology Association, kicks off this week in Las Vegas, where […]
10 months ago
A photo of sunflowers Missi Dowd-Figueroa once grew on her property is projected onto her palms as ...

Amid wildfire grief, an LA-area resident sowed sunflowers and hope where her home once stood

ALTADENA, Calif. (AP) — Missi Dowd-Figueroa brought life back to the fire-ravaged plot where her home once stood — one sunflower at a time. The registered nurse and mother of three lost her 1898 farm-style house in the Eaton Fire, one of two deadly wildfires that tore through the Los Angeles area last January, obliterating […]
10 months ago
Snoqualmie Summit East open...
Jason Sutich

Summit East, Nordic to open Sunday at Snoqualmie

Summit East at Snoqualmie will open on Sunday, with lifts operating from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday each weekend.
10 months ago

What to know about Carnival season, Louisiana’s biggest celebration

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As residents across much of the country take down their holiday decorations, sobered by New Year’s resolutions and a return to business as usual, in Louisiana people are ramping up for the biggest celebration of the year. Throughout the state residents are preparing for Carnival season, a pre-Lenten and weeks-long […]
10 months ago

Zohran Mamdani officially sworn in on a Quran full of symbolism

NEW YORK (AP) — Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani took his midnight oath of office on a centuries-old Quran, marking the first time a mayor of New York City uses Islam’s holy text to be sworn in and underscoring a series of historic firsts for the city. The 34-year-old Democrat became mayor in a long-closed subway […]
10 months ago
downtown seattle...
Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Good news on the horizon’: Downtown Seattle Association sees retail turning a corner

Downtown Seattle's retail scene shows promise with new arrivals and relocations, signaling a turnaround for local businesses.
10 months ago
Pierce County Library hours...
Jason Sutich

Pierce County Library System announces updated hours with more weekend availability

Pierce County Library enhances hours, offering more weekend access to serve the community better. Discover the new schedule!
10 months ago
This photo provided by The New York Public Library shows the Schomburg Quran on Dec. 16, 2025 in Ne...

Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in as mayor on a Quran, a first in New York City history

NEW YORK (AP) — Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani will take his oath of office on a centuries-old Quran, marking the first time a mayor of New York City has used Islam’s holy text to be sworn in and underscoring a series of historic firsts for the city. When the 34-year-old Democrat becomes mayor shortly after […]
10 months ago
Space Needle fireworks show...
Jason Sutich

Space Needle set to host largest structurally launched fireworks display in North America

Experience the grandest fireworks show at the Space Needle this New Year's Eve, marking a historic celebration in North America.
10 months ago
Joel Cleveland poses with his Florida bear hunting permit Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. Clev...

Florida’s rare and controversial black bear hunt kills 52

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Fifty-two bears were killed during Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade, state wildlife officials said Tuesday. The bear hunt, which started Dec. 6 and ended on Sunday, had been restricted to 172 permit holders who had won their vouchers through a random lottery involving more than 160,000 applicants. At […]
10 months ago
A Basset Fauve De Bretagne stands for photographs during a Meet the Breeds event February 22, 2022 ...

Unleash the hounds! And terriers and lapdogs. The American Kennel Club adds 3 breeds

NEW YORK (AP) — They’re ready to embark on 2026. Three more dog breeds joined the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday, making them eligible for many U.S. dog shows and likely increasing their visibility to the pet-loving public. One of the newcomers is a terrier named for a U.S. president. Another […]
10 months ago