In Seattle, the director of the Office for Civil Rights has been placed on leave over complaints of discrimination. The region has been hit by gale-force winds and mountain blizzards. And the Seattle Mariners baseball club unveiled a new menu for its anniversary season.
Scandal at Seattle’s Office for Civil Rights: director placed on leave after complaints of discrimination and intimidation
A serious scandal is unfolding in a place that would seem least likely — the city’s Office for Civil Rights. Its director and deputy have been placed on administrative leave amid numerous staff complaints alleging discrimination, harassment and a toxic workplace environment. The paradox of an office tasked with protecting rights becoming the subject of an investigation for systemic violations has drawn coverage in local media, including a report on MyNorthwest.com.
According to information first published by PubliCola, Office director Derrick Wheeler-Smith and his deputy Fahima Mohamed were placed on leave. The action follows multiple employee complaints that are now under review. The allegations are severe: they include discrimination, harassment and retaliatory actions against those who spoke up. Anonymous staff told reporters that Wheeler-Smith ignored concerns raised by representatives of Asian American, Latino and LGBTQ+ communities. He is also accused of hostile behavior toward women and colleagues with disabilities. One recurring claim in the complaints is that leadership intentionally created an atmosphere in which staff were afraid to report misconduct — effectively suppressing whistleblowing protections.
The situation is made more acute by questions about the initial investigation conducted by the city’s Human Resources Investigation Unit. Employees and their union have expressed concern about the independence of that process, since the unit reports within the same administrative chain as Director Wheeler-Smith. In response, the union PROTEC17 filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that investigates workplace discrimination. The complaint asserts the investigation was compromised: the union says Wheeler-Smith notified HR leadership about incoming complaints before interviews with staff had begun. That prompted at least one employee to decline participation in the probe out of fear of retaliation. Moreover, the EEOC filing contains a startling detail: that employee allegedly received threats from community members connected to the director after filing their statement, which further deterred potential witnesses.
While the inquiry continues, interim leadership of the Office for Civil Rights has been assumed by Erica Pablo, the current director of the Safe and Thriving Communities division at Seattle’s Department of Human Services. But that appointment does not resolve the deeper issues this case raises. The events have undermined trust in a key city institution whose mission is to ensure fairness and equality. The incident highlights deep systemic problems: even agencies created to combat bias can harbor toxic cultures and abuses of power. The results of an independent investigation — which will likely be overseen at the federal level by the EEOC — will have far-reaching consequences not only for the careers of the officials involved but also for the reputation of Seattle’s municipal system, which prides itself on being progressive and inclusive.
Winds rage over Seattle, blizzards pound the mountains
Residents of western Washington are bracing for difficult weather. On Wednesday evening the region was battered by gale-force winds and heavy mountain snowfall caused by an atmospheric river — a phenomenon in which a powerful stream of moist air, like a river in the sky, transports huge amounts of moisture from the ocean inland, producing extreme precipitation.
The National Weather Service reports a low-pressure system drawing moisture from the Pacific, leading to heavy rain in Seattle and snow in the Cascades. Meteorologist Anna Lindeman, in an interview with The Seattle Times, warned that evening rush-hour in the Seattle metro area could be complicated by northwest wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour (about 72 km/h). A wind advisory is in effect for much of the region through Thursday morning. By Wednesday daytime, gusts over 30 mph were recorded at Boeing Field.
The worst of the storm unfolded in the mountains. The atmospheric river delivered snow, ice and very poor visibility to the Cascades. Between 30 and 36 inches (76–91 cm) of snow is expected at the Snoqualmie Pass area through Friday. Blizzard warnings are in effect for slopes in the Cascade and Olympic ranges, making travel over Snoqualmie and Stevens passes extremely hazardous or impossible. “We’re seeing heavy snow in the Cascades, and it’s very windy, which creates near-zero visibility,” Lindeman explained. “At times blowing snow will reduce visibility to almost nothing.”
She noted that such snow totals are not themselves unprecedented for the region, but they can feel extreme after a relatively dry winter. Additionally, the Skokomish River and other low-lying basins could crest in the coming days. While major flooding in King County is not expected, some rivers may approach “action stage,” a level that warns residents of high water.
On Thursday Seattle is expected to remain rainy with a high near 42 degrees Fahrenheit (about 5.5°C), while mountain snowfall continues. This powerful weather system has been a serious test for infrastructure and a reminder to residents of the force of nature in a region that often seems temperate.
New baseball flavors: how the Seattle Mariners are marking their 50th with a menu revolution
With the start of the new Major League Baseball season approaching, the Seattle Mariners are celebrating their 50th anniversary season not only with on-field ambitions but with a culinary overhaul. Together with long-time catering partner Sodexo Live!, the team announced a wide-ranging menu update at T-Mobile Park, emphasizing unique local collaborations and flavors that are hard to find elsewhere.
In a press release quoted by FOX 13 Seattle, Mariners Vice President of Fan Engagement Malcolm Rogle highlighted that the club has long pushed the boundaries of what ballpark food can be, and this year they’ve raised the bar again. The goal is to give fans more ways to make a game-day visit memorable. The 2026 season opens with a home game against the Cleveland Guardians on March 26, and from that date fans will find a number of new offerings. One of the most eye-catching and nostalgic items is a themed souvenir ferry container modeled on a Washington State Ferry, created in partnership with Washington State Ferries to celebrate a double anniversary. This edible “boat” can be filled with classic stadium fare: crab nachos, fries, fish and chips, or chicken nuggets. The crab nachos “Bases Loaded,” for example, include waffle chips, cheese sauce, crab salad and Thai chili sauce.
The new menu places special emphasis on iconic local Seattle brands. Famous Pike Place Market bakery Piroshky Piroshky will make its stadium debut, offering hand pies with fillings ranging from classic (beef and cheese, potato and cheese) to unexpected (chocolate-nut cream, smoked salmon). Local favorite El Rinconsito will serve asada quesadillas, birria tacos and refreshing horchata. For Asian-inspired treats, Marination will add a bright offering — rice crisps with ube and coconut. Ube is a purple yam popular in Filipino cuisine that gives desserts both vivid color and a sweet, slightly nutty flavor.
The menu will also include many other savory and sweet options. For example, the “Pretzel Pileup” is a snack of pretzel pieces with beer cheese, horseradish, bacon and onion. Nakagawa Sushi Bar will introduce a new “Trident Roll” with salmon, yellowtail and crab salad. Dessert lovers can enjoy churros filled with peanut butter and marshmallow, cereal toppings or apple pie, as well as a soft-serve “Chocolate Mousse Moose” served in a cone or souvenir helmet, topped with moose-shaped cookies. Portland ice cream maker Salt & Straw will also offer its signature flavors at the park, such as “Tacolate” (taco-inspired) and “Pots of Gold & Rainbows.”
An important element of the update is an expanded Value Menu so there is truly something for everyone at the park. It will include items like “Stadium Bites” from Ballard Pizza — a simple, tasty pull-apart pizza-dough snack with garlic butter, Parmesan and tomato sauce. The club also reminds fans that all concessions at the stadium have gone cashless. In these ways the Seattle Mariners are turning a trip to a baseball game into a full culinary journey through the Pacific Northwest, where local character and culinary innovation are integral to the fan experience.
