In today’s digest: Seattle’s beloved morning host is facing cancer again; the West Seattle Bridge is plunging into darkness due to stolen wires; and Stardew Valley is entering the Magic: The Gathering universe.
Seattle’s long-awaited radio host Jodi Brothers announces breast cancer: “My nightmare is coming true”
Seattle’s beloved morning host Jodi Brothers, who beat colorectal cancer three years ago, has been diagnosed with cancer once again. This time, the 50-year-old broadcast star has been found to have breast cancer. She decided to share the news with her listeners during a live segment on her show “Mornings with Jodi and Bender” on KJEB 95.7 The Jet. In an interview with The Seattle Times, she spoke in detail about her story.
In April, on the second day of her son’s spring break, Brothers was relaxing in a sauna after a workout and decided to do a breast self-exam—she does it monthly, even though she has been getting a mammogram every year for ten years. At the time, she felt a lump. “My friends, who are big on staying positive, between the tests and doctor visits, were like: ‘Oh, it’s probably nothing. Probably a cyst. Don’t worry,’” the host recalls. “But I knew what it was. It was my nightmare coming true in real life.” After examinations—ultrasound, MRI, and a biopsy—the diagnosis was confirmed.
Now Brothers is preparing for a double mastectomy (surgery to remove both breasts) at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center at the end of July. She has already taken time off work and hopes to return to the air by the end of summer. “This gives me the best chance of survival,” she explains her decision. “I have a blessed life: a son I love, wonderful friends, dogs, a home, and a job I love. I want it to keep going for as long as possible.”
Jodi admits that the previous diagnosis—colorectal cancer, discovered three years ago with no symptoms—left her with fear of recurrence. At the time, she did not have chemotherapy or radiation, but deep down she kept thinking, “Will it come back?” Now that her worst fears have been confirmed, she finds comfort in support from her listeners. After the announcement aired, her show’s social media feeds were flooded with messages of love and encouragement. “From 70 to 75 percent of the messages were from people who said, ‘I was in your place ten years ago,’ or ‘my mother, my wife, my husband,’” Brothers says. “Cancer touches everyone in one way or another. It’s sneaky and it’s terrifying. But you don’t have to be alone.” Her story once again highlights the importance of self-exams and regular checkups: even an annual mammogram doesn’t replace vigilance, and early detection significantly improves the outlook.
Wire thieves plunge Seattle’s bridge into darkness: the situation isn’t improving
Seattle residents have again turned their attention to a problem that may seem not new, but is no less dangerous: wire theft from the West Seattle Bridge. Readers of a local blog report that the bridge is dark at night, and that the criminals operate in broad daylight without fear of consequences. One witness, Jeff, said that on Thursday, July 16 at 10 a.m., he noticed three or four people right under the bridge, on a dead end on Marginal Place SW, collecting stolen cable. One of them was wearing a bright work vest; they methodically unrolled and rolled the cable, loading it into a dark-green SUV—the trunk was already almost full of clearly stolen wires. Jeff called the police, but left without waiting for a patrol and doesn’t know whether officers arrived.
He is outraged: “If police drove through there every morning, they’d catch the criminals in the act. These thieves are completely brazen. They work calmly, without rushing, and they do damage in the tens or hundreds of times more than the paltry sum they make from scrap metal.”
In response to a request from journalists, Seattle City Light (SCL) spokesperson Julie Moore said that over the past few weeks there have been no new reports of wire theft from the bridge. But when asked about safety measures, she said the company continues to use protections: installing tamper-resistant hatch covers, sealing doors that can be accessed, and placing concrete blocks in front of electrical installations to prevent unauthorized entry. These measures were put in place while repairing damage that affected the bridge’s lighting last autumn. But the recent incidents occurred in other places where doors and hatches were opened. During new repairs, similar steps will be repeated.
As for restoring the lighting, Moore said the damage was extensive: many panels were affected, both on the bridge itself and on ramps, entrances, and on the Spokane Street Viaduct approach. Full assessment and repairs require road closures to keep lanes clear for the safety of workers and drivers. SCL is currently working with the city’s transportation department on a traffic management plan. No timeline for full restoration has been given. So the bridge will remain dark for a long time.
The problem of stolen wires has been going on for years. Back in 2019, former city council member Lisa Herbold raised the issue, and last year SCL already talked about attempts to “protect against theft.” But apparently there are still no effective solutions. Why is it so hard to stop the thieves? Because the copper and aluminum that the cables are made of have a high price on the black market. Thieves sell scrap metal to recycling centers, and the costs of restoring infrastructure are tens of times higher than their “earnings.” In addition, dark roads create a traffic-safety hazard—already a problem for road safety.
Notably, in this case the police seem unable to respond quickly: the witness isn’t sure whether a patrol arrived. And City Light acknowledges that the thieves find new vulnerable spots. As the article indicates, West Seattle Blog readers and residents are tired of impunity—and their frustration makes sense: while city services are developing plans for closures to carry out repairs, the bridge remains dark and dangerous. The situation feels like a loop: until either patrols are dramatically strengthened or the approach to designing electrical systems is changed (for example, using composite materials that are not valuable to metal detectors), thefts will continue. And with them—darkness on one of Seattle’s key transportation arteries. In its report, West Seattle Blog recalls the history of the issue and promises to keep an eye on how events unfold.
Stardew Valley enters the Magic: The Gathering universe: what it means for fans
One of the biggest success stories in indie games—the “cozy” farming simulator from Seattle, Stardew Valley—is gearing up for a collaboration with the legendary collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. As GeekWire reports, on July 27 a special Secret Lair release titled “Superdrop of the Moonlight Jellies” will launch—an homage to the game’s in-universe festival of glowing jellyfish. This crossover isn’t just a cosmetic set, but a true tribute to Stardew Valley’s decade milestone, which the game marked this year by selling almost 50 million copies.
Secret Lair is a limited series of Magic: The Gathering cards released in restricted quantities and usually reimagines existing cards with a new theme. Previously, these drops have included collaborations with “Dwarf Fortress,” Garfield, and Marvel characters. Now it’s time for Erik “ConcernedApe” Barone’s universe. The set consists of three parts: “Welcome to Stardew Valley,” “Life in Pelican Town,” and “A Flicker in the Deep.” According to the developer, the first set will include unique pixel art created personally by Barone. It’s important to understand that Secret Lairs are aimed at collectors, not regular players: their price and format make them more like an art object than a budget-friendly add-on.
Most of the cards in the Stardew drop are reprints of already existing Magic: The Gathering cards (for example, the famous “Swords to Plowshares” will get a thematic renaming), but with new illustrations inspired by the game. However, there is also one unique card—the “Stardew Valley” itself, which is a special land card compatible with most competitive Magic formats. This is the first time that a Secret Lair of this scale gives players a mechanically useful card rather than just something aesthetic. In Stardew Valley, for those who need a reminder, you take on the role of a character who inherits a run-down farm and can grow crops, fish, and start romances with neighbors—without rushing. It’s this relaxing approach that helped kick off the “cozy games” genre, which is incredibly popular today.
What does that mean? On one hand, Magic: The Gathering keeps tapping into pop culture, drawing attention not only from its own fanbase, but also from an enormous army of Stardew Valley supporters. On the other hand, this move could boost interest in card collecting among people who have never played Magic. Overall, this announcement at MagicCon Amsterdam is yet another sign that the line between niche hobbies and the mainstream is getting blurred. Now the farmer who tends the Pelican Town beds will be able to sit down at the same table as the wizards of Ravenloft—if only in card form.
