Year in Review: Seattle's economy, politics, arts, and so much more

Bill Radke looks back at the stories from 2023 with KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg, Cat Smith, and Mike Davis, and Wing Luke Museum Executive Director Joël Barraquiel Tan, sports journalist and author Art Thiel, and author and podcaster Lindy West.

This year, several large companies implemented return-to-office mandates for their employees. Companies like Amazon and Meta threatened that those who did not comply with their mandate could be let go. Are people officially getting fired for not returning to the office?

RELATED: Boeing asks Commercial Airplanes workers to return to office 5 days a week

Seattle's Wing Luke Museum was targeted in an alleged hate crime in September, leaving its windows shattered. According to a police report on the incident, a 76-year-old white man smashed the windows of the museum with a sledgehammer. Police found him outside the building, where he told them, "The Chinese ruined my life." The Executive Director of Wing Luke Museum talks shares his thoughts on anti-Asian American hate crimes.

RELATED: Shattered windows and nerves, Seattle's Wing Luke Museum targeted in alleged hate crime

In the most recent election, voter turnout was at 37%. That was an all-time low in the state of Washington. The election resulted in what is perceived as a more moderate Seattle City Council. Why was voter turnout so low?

RELATED: Why didn't more Washingtonians vote in the 2023 election?

The University of Washington is taking its football team out of the Pac-12 and moving the Huskies over to the Big Ten Conference. UW's move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten will become official in August 2024. Sports journalist and author Art Thiel talks how this move was largely motivated by finances.

RELATED: UW football moving to Big Ten, pulling Huskies out of Pac-12

KUOW's Mike Davis talks with us about local art and culture, and whether or not people are returning to theaters and other venues. Mike suggests that affordability could be a contributing factor when it comes to people deciding if they are going out or not. Is it getting too expensive?

Bestselling writer Lindy West has a new podcast out with her best friend Meagan Hatcher-Mays called Text Me Back, where they take a look at what is going on in the world and in their own lives. Lindy talks about what it is like to work with her best friend, and her decision to leave Seattle.