Minimum Wage: Washington’s minimum wage is set to rise 3.5% to $17.73 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2027, lifting related overtime-exemption salary thresholds and youth pay rules. Energy Costs: Puget Sound Energy is seeking big electricity and gas rate increases over the next three years, and the public hearing drew sharp pushback from ratepayers facing higher winter bills. Transit & Infrastructure: Amtrak’s new Airo trainsets have begun service on the Amtrak Cascades route between Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland/Eugene, with four daily trips and a full fleet rollout into early 2027. Construction Closures: WSDOT has overlapping weekend closures across I-5, I-405, SR 520 and SR 99, warning of severe congestion and longer, less predictable travel times. Local Transportation Safety: The Port of Whitman County is urging officials to address the removal of a flashing caution light at a high-speed intersection near Colfax, citing past crash history and heavy grain-truck traffic. Workforce & Tech: JPMorganChase’s new Seattle tech leader says AI is changing engineering work, pushing teams toward tighter business collaboration and clearer specs. Agriculture Grants: WSDA is accepting Specialty Crop Block Grant concept proposals for 2027 funding, with awards expected to total about $4.7 million. Space Industry: Gov. Ferguson launched a Washington Space Council to help commercial space companies move faster, including exploring new launch opportunities. Climate & Fisheries: A push to restore salmon access on the upper Skagit River could mark a major shift after decades of dam barriers.