The Seattle Seahawks raised the hopes of many fans in the 2024 NFL Draft by adding youth and talent to a roster that has been largely overhauled in the first offseason under new head coach Mike Macdonald.

Adding the likes of Byron Murphy, Tyrice Knight and Nehemiah Pritchett has many fans excited for the Seahawks defense in 2024, but how the team performs on the field won’t be known until the regular season opens in September.

However, one thing that is known is that one 2023 fan favorite, practice squad OLB Levi Bell, won’t be a part of the defense.

Bell spent the 2023 USFL season with the Michigan Panthers, recording 17 tackles and 4 sacks before signing with the Seahawks ahead of training camp. He grabbed the attention of many Seattle fans when he burst onto the scene in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings, recording 5 pressures including a sack and recording ten tackles through the preseason.

A new report by GamesIndustry.Biz spotted an official WARN filing in Washington State, suggesting that Take-Two Interactive might close its office in Seattle.

This filing from the Employment Security Department adds that the closure will go into effect on June 28, 2024. It also mentions that the closure will affect 70 employees.

The filing comes just weeks after Take-Two announced plans to lay off 5% of its workforce and cancel certain games. So, an office closure lines up with that announcement. But those plans did not specify everyone who will be directly affected.

Take-Two Interactive spokesperson Alan Lewis did offer GamesIndustry.Biz a reply. However, Lewis began by pointing to the April 16 announcement, and mostly reiterated information from that. This suggests that closing the Seattle office could be a part of those previous reductions.

Lewis explained that “the Company is rationalizing its pipeline and eliminating several projects in development and streamlining its organizational structure.”

They closed by stating that “the Company is not providing additional details on this program.” It appears that Take-Two likely doesn’t intend to reveal exactly where the reductions will hit, anytime soon.

Questioned about the status of Intercept Games by Game Developer today, Take-Two insisted it has “nothing further to note.”

But Lewis’ statement to GIBiz did mention that the cost reduction program is meant to “enhance the Company’s margin profile.” So, Take-Two is still “investing for growth.”

Earlier this week, a financial report teased that Bloober Team could be working with Take-Two on an unannounced project via Private Division.

At this time, Take-Two Interactive has not directly elaborated on the Seattle office closure.

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Proposed changes to the “PayUp” ordinance in Seattle, intended to improve compensation and terms for so called “gig workers” highlights something I find interesting — and I think some people miss.

These app companies have figured out how to offload the costs of maintenance, insurance, and that ever-variable in rising cost of gas onto the employee, which is smart business. But it also puts more burden on the workers to maintain the equipment needed to do their jobs. Big tech develops and maintains the app and provides customer service. But the actual work gets done by those on the ground — the people the PayUp legislation was intended to help.

Critics focus on what seems like a “higher than minimum wage” for drivers. But when you factor in their actual costs, especially with the fuel prices we pay in Washington, food delivery is not making drivers wealthy. And I’d argue they’re not getting more than they deserve. No one is getting rich here …

… Except for UberEats and DoorDash. They’ve got the cash to throw at lobbyists. Revenues for the online food ordering sector reached $294 billion in 2021. And no one’s saying these companies can’t continue to profit. But they don’t get to offload the bulk of their costs, create a product that pressures independent restaurants to buy in to remain competitive, profit massively, and expect to basically write the laws in their favor.

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I think these companies are missing an opportunity. Try this: Be the company that attracts more drivers and a greater share of the market by proudly advertising how much better you make things for your employees. You offer better pay, solid benefits they can actually use. And here’s a classic move you might try: undercut your competition. Lower the fees the mom-and-pop restaurants pay, or remove the $5 charge in Seattle for customers — resulting in more deliveries, and more tips for your drivers and less business for your competitors.

Ultimately, these apps are a luxury. They’re not an entitlement, and most people (with a few homebound exceptions) don’t really need them to live. They’re convenient — and convenience has a price. But they’re not a convenience for the workers — and those whose labor and time has netted billions in revenue for Silicon Valley, shouldn’t be shafted in the process of any adjustments.

Matt Butler is the producer for “KIRO Nights with Jake Skorheim” and a contributing writer to MyNorthwest.