Retail & Jobs: Starbucks says it will close 250 underperforming North American coffeehouses, a second straight year of shrinkage, with about $300M in restructuring charges tied to lease exits and separation costs. AI & Tech Industry: Microsoft is folding consumer and workplace Copilot into one enterprise-focused product, aiming to keep companies from “model hopping” while deepening integration with Word/Excel and business workflows. Broadband & Rural Buildout: Washington’s Broadband Office signed seven BEAD contracts totaling about $165.1M to connect roughly 28,452 locations, moving projects into environmental review and permitting before construction. Energy/Transport Policy: A proposed federal EV fee (starting around $130–$135) is delayed as the surface transportation bill stalls in Congress, leaving road-funding questions unresolved. Aviation/Manufacturing Labor: A Boeing–GE engine dispute is again in the spotlight, with implications for 777X certification and potential knock-on effects for Seattle-area production timelines. Local Infrastructure Projects: Pacific Northwest bids highlight major repair work—urgent wastewater fixes in King County and multiple bridge, water main, and pole replacement contracts across Washington and Oregon. Food & Agriculture Supply Chain: Tyson’s Wallula Gap beef plant sale talks remain opaque, but the region’s cattle feeders say the entire Pacific Northwest industry is watching what happens next. Construction/Workforce: Pierce County labor leaders bought the former Willard School to create a childcare and workforce education center for nontraditional hours and career pathways.