Seattle, WA
ArtSEA: Seattle loses one of its most colorful artists

If you prefer your colors of the black-and-white variety, you’re in luck. The long-running and much-beloved Noir City Seattle film festival is back (at SIFF Cinema Egyptian, Feb. 16 – 22), and along with it plenty of suspicious dames, hard-boiled Brunos and bump-offs.
Suspense is the name of the game, see? You’ll find it in flicks like 1942’s Street of Chance, featuring Burgess Meredith and with the first instance of amnesia as a plot device in classic noir. And Asphalt Jungle, John Huston’s groundbreaking heist film that daringly encouraged viewers to sympathize with the criminals. Plus many more kidnappers, embezzlers, adulterers, con artists and prison-breakers as portrayed in noir films from around the world.
Arts News Nuggets
This just in … Bellevue Arts Museum issued an urgent press release today (Feb. 15) with a plea to “Save BAM” and also “Keep Bellevue Alive.” Having officially hired Kate Casprowiak Scher as new executive director on Feb. 12, the museum says it is in “a state of financial crisis” and needs to raise $300,000 for immediate operating expenses. The press release points to decreased revenues (due to lower post-pandemic attendance, retail sales and donations) as the culprit of the current crisis. Stay tuned.
The Seattle Office of Arts and Culture has a new director, Gülgün Kayim, sworn in on Feb. 13. (Learn more about her background in The Seattle Times.)
Seattle City of Literature has launched the Seattle Literary Calendar, an online community calendar tracking the many literary events happening on any given day in the region.
Seattle Jazz Fellowship has a new live-music venue in Pioneer Square (in the old Cafe Nordo space) with a calendar already packed with local jazz luminaries (including trumpeter Jay Thomas, Feb. 16-17; and drummer D’Vonne Lewis’s ensemble, Feb. 23-24). The old-school and intimate hall is first-come, first-served seating with a $20 suggested donation.
Finally, a personal note: I’d like to wish Crosscut newsletter editor Martina Pansze a fond farewell as she heads off to new endeavors. For the past two years she has been a vital and good-humored partner in getting this newsletter out the door weekly — with clever headlines, no less! Thank you, Martina.

Seattle, WA
SeaPort Airlines resumes Seattle-Portland commuter flights

Nearly a decade since its closure, SeaPort Airlines is returning to the skies to offer commuter flights between Seattle and Portland.
Starting next week, the airline will provide daily service between Boeing Field in Seattle and Portland International Airport, according to The Seattle Times.
SeaPort will be the only commercial airline offering flights from Boeing Field to Portland. Round-trip fares for the new service will begin at $279.
SeaPort Airlines returns with Portland commuter flights
The relaunched service will utilize nine-seat Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, with departures scheduled every 45 minutes. Unlike traditional commercial routes that depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, these flights will operate out of Boeing Field. Arrivals in Portland will take place at the Atlantic Aviation campus, a short distance from the main terminal.
SeaPort Airlines was originally co-founded by Rob Craford in 2008. The company had originally expanded into rural markets before declaring bankruptcy in 2016. That year, the Federal Aviation Administration had also proposed a $500,000 fine for alleged maintenance violations.
The new SeaPort fleet includes four aircraft from Connecticut, Colorado, New Zealand, and other locations.
Read more of Jonah Oaklief’s stories here.
Seattle, WA
FBI and SPD search for serial bank robber in Seattle
Seattle police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are searching for a woman believed to have robbed at least seven banks since June 2024.
On Monday, detectives say she targeted the U.S. Bank on McGraw Street in Magnolia just before noon. They say she gave the teller a note, flashed a gun from her purse, and ran away with the money.
“This is so quiet and you don’t expect to do it here, like that, at day time,” said Maggie Irizarry, a Magnolia resident.
Police describe her as an Asian woman, about 5’3, in her early 20s and usually wearing a face mask and hat.
KIRO 7 obtained video from a robbery at a Homestreet Bank in Madison Park on March 18 which shows the suspect wearing sunglasses and a beanie.
Before that, police say she robbed banks in January 2025, November 2024, October 2024, September 2024, and June 2024 throughout the city.
“She keeps changing things. Yeah, maybe they’ll catch her. They need to set up some sort of sting operation at banks or something though,” said Renee Knopp, a Magnolia resident.
Each time she’s got a different look, but people we spoke with think those disguises won’t last long.
“She will get caught, sooner or later she will get caught, it’s just a matter of time,” said Maggie Irizarry.
The FBI says the suspect has stolen about $7,500 so far.
Courtesy: FBI Seattle
Seattle, WA
NFL offseason grades: Seattle Seahawks earn ‘B’ from Pro Football Focus

The Seattle Seahawks have been among the most active teams throughout the 2025 NFL offseason, but there’s no guarantee that any of their moves will pan out. If anything, those around the league aren’t sure what to make of the new-look Seahawks.
While the defense should be better this season, their offense is a total mystery due to the many new faces. The team added three new quarterbacks, totally revamped its wide receiver room and selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the draft.
Is quarterback Sam Darnold an upgrade over Geno Smith? Will Cooper Kupp make up for the loss of DK Metcalf at wide receiver? Did Seattle do enough to fix its offensive line?
Obviously, no one can answer these questions until the season kicks off, but Pro Football Focus handed out offseason grades to all 32 teams. The Seahawks earned a “B” grade for their 2025 offseason haul.
“Hiring Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator was a good move, as his work in New Orleans under unideal circumstances was encouraging,” wrote PFF’s Trevor Sikkema. “He fits right into a lot of the strengths of Seattle’s roster, especially with deploying a zone rushing attack.
PFF considered the switch from Smith to Darnold, another former NFL journeyman, to be a “net negative,” but praised the team’s changes at wide receiver.
“The Seahawks subbed in Sam Darnold for Geno Smith, which appears to be a net negative,” Sikkema continued. “They did well to swap their offensive weapons, switching D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. I also like their defensive additions of DeMarcus Lawrence and Nick Emmanwori.”
The quarterback decision will ultimately determine whether the offseason was a success for Seattle. The Seahawks will have to prove that giving up Smith for a late-Day 2 pick and replacing him with Darnold following one productive season in Minnesota was the right move.
In a way, the team hedged its bet on Darnold by drafting Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the third round. If Darnold starts seeing ghosts in the pocket, Milroe gives Seattle a more mobile option for this season and beyond.
Massive free agent signing named Seahawks’ most head-scratching move
Seattle Seahawks earn disappointing grade for aggressive 2025 offseason
Kenneth Walker III lands in disrespectful place in post-draft RB rankings
Mike Macdonald says Seahawks need to find more reps for first-rounder
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