Apple employees within the Baltimore space voted to hitch a union Saturday, turning into the primary of the tech big’s U.S. retail shops to take action.
Washington
Apple Store workers approve union, the first in the U.S.

Final month, the employees and IAM despatched a letter to Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner of their intent to arrange because the Coalition of Organized Retail Staff — or AppleCore for brief.
This vote is a part of an organizing wave sweeping the nation as employees more and more band collectively to demand larger pay, higher advantages and extra negotiating leverage with their employers through the pandemic. In New York, the primary Amazon warehouse voted to kind a union within the spring. Dozens of Starbucks shops throughout the nation have unionized, and labor actions have pushed into outside retailer REI and online game maker Raven Software program.
Billy Jarboe, a Towson Apple worker and union organizer, stated that Apple’s marketing campaign to undermine the organizing effort “undoubtedly shook folks,” however that almost all union backers stayed robust.
“It simply feels good to enter a brand new period of this sort of work, hopefully it creates a spark [and] the opposite shops can use this momentum,” Jarboe stated in a textual content after the vote concluded Saturday.
Three Apple staff stated the union drive misplaced some supporters amid a company marketing campaign to steer employees to not set up.
“They received lots of people to waver … they undoubtedly pulled some folks that we thought have been initially supporters,” stated Eric Brown, who works on the Towson Apple retailer.
Brown stated they have been capable of overcome these techniques as a result of organizers from an aborted marketing campaign in Atlanta primed them on what to anticipate.
“They tell us what among the speaking factors and techniques have been going to be, and we have been capable of let folks know among the issues they could attempt,” he stated.
Apple spokesman Josh Lipton declined to remark after the vote.
About 20 Apple employees got here to the Towson City Heart on Saturday night time, a few of whom have been within the room through the vote depend. Afterward, IAM spokesman DeLane Adams stated, the group went to the middle’s parking storage, clapping and celebrating with members of the IAM who have been in attendance.
“I applaud the braveness displayed by CORE members on the Apple retailer in Towson for reaching this historic victory,” IAM Worldwide President Robert Martinez Jr. stated in an announcement after the vote. “They made an enormous sacrifice for hundreds of Apple staff throughout the nation who had all eyes on this election.”
Staff in a minimum of two different Apple Retailer areas try to arrange, together with at a retailer in New York and one in Atlanta, which turned the primary location the place employees filed paperwork with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board. However the Communications Staff of America withdrew its request for an election there final month, saying in an announcement that Apple’s “repeated violations of the Nationwide Labor Relations Act have made a free and honest election unattainable.”
On the time, the organizing group despatched a message to employees on the retailer, saying it could reset and “proceed this struggle.”
Rebecca Givan, an affiliate professor of labor research at Rutgers College, referred to as Saturday’s consequence an enormous win for employees within the expertise and retail sectors — and particularly for Apple staff outdoors Towson.
“We’ll actually see Apple employees throughout the nation reaching out to those employees to be taught extra about find out how to do it,” she stated. “And to grasp how they gained such a powerful victory.”
A number of firms, together with Amazon and Apple, have been accused this 12 months of “union busting” or using techniques to discourage or intimidate employees from becoming a member of unions. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Put up.)
Apple Retailer staff in New York stated this 12 months that some employees have been taken apart by managers and given a speech in regards to the pitfalls of unionization there. In conferences, managers warned that unionization would imply the lack of advantages comparable to the power to do stints at Apple’s company headquarters.
Apple, which has greater than 270 retail areas within the nation, referred to a earlier remark it’s made in regards to the unionizing efforts.
“We’re lucky to have unimaginable retail crew members and we deeply worth every part they carry to Apple,” Lipton stated in an announcement earlier than the vote. “We’re happy to supply very robust compensation and advantages for full time and half time staff, together with well being care, tuition reimbursement, new parental go away, paid household go away, annual inventory grants and plenty of different advantages.”
Staff in Towson instructed The Washington Put up final month that they hope forming a union will give them a seat on the desk on scheduling, pay, coronavirus security measures and extra. Some stated that Apple had been too gradual to extend pay, and that the corporate wanted to offer particular person shops extra management over their scheduling methods, moderately than having a company workplace management most of it.
“I all the time had the instinct that I used to be gifting away extra worth than I’m being compensated for, and that’s what covid helped me unpack: how a lot anxiousness I had about that,” Jarboe, the Apple worker and union organizer, instructed The Put up on the time.
“For tonight, we rejoice. We relish in it,” stated Chaya Barrett, who works on the Towson retailer. “Then we’ll get collectively and work out how we’re going to get a negotiating committee. … Even individuals who voted no, we wish them to be a part of these negotiations.”

Washington
Costco is opening a new Washington state location in August. See where

Costco alerts customers of recalls
Costco is recalling nearly a dozen products and urging shoppers to immediately stop using some items purchased either through Costco Next or in stores.
Scripps News
Costco is gearing up to open seven new warehouses around the world in August, including one in Washington state.
The expansions follow three new openings in South Korea, Sweden, and Midland, Texas, in June and July. Several new locations also opened in the U.S. in the spring.
The wholesale warehouse juggernaut is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, and is a staple of American shopping and a cult hero for shoppers around the world, with millions of card-carrying members and hundreds of locations in the U.S. and abroad.
Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip said in March that Costco has a goal of opening around 25 to 30 new locations every year, splitting new openings between international and domestic markets.
Here’s where Costco is opening locations in August 2025:
Where is Costco opening stores?
Costco lists seven locations with future opening dates in August on its “Coming Soon” page:
- Spring Valley, Nevada (TBA)
- Rimouski, Quebec (opening Aug. 5)
- The Villages, Florida (opening Aug. 6)
- North Guadalajara, Mexico (opening Aug. 7)
- Richland, Washington, 3125 Queensgate Dr. (opening Aug. 8)
- Allen, Texas (opening date TBA)
- East Newmarket, Ontario, Canada (TBA)
How many Costco stores are in Washington state?
Including the Richland location, there are 35 Costco stores in Washington state, according to the company’s website.
Costco debuts special hours for some club members
On June 30, Costco debuted expanded shopping hours just for its executive members. The new exclusive hours for these members are:
- Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
What are the Costco membership tiers?
According to Costco’s website, the membership tiers and their benefits are:
- Executive membership
- $130 annual membership fee
- Includes a free Household Card
- Valid at all Costco locations worldwide
- Annual 2% Reward on qualified Costco purchases
- Additional benefits and greater savings on Costco Services
- Extra benefits on select Costco Travel products
- Business membership
- $65 annual membership fee
- Includes a free Household Card
- Add Affiliate Cardholders for $65 each
- Valid at all Costco locations worldwide
- Purchase for resale
- Gold Star membership
- $65 annual membership fee
- Includes a free Household Card
- Valid at all Costco locations worldwide
Contributing: USA TODAY
Washington
Washington Capitals schedule for 2025-26 regular-season released

The Washington Capitals have officially announced their 2025-26 schedule.
The Caps will kick off their season on October 8 at home against the Boston Bruins before hitting the road to face the New York Islanders and New York Rangers.
The Capitals will play three four-game homestands in 2025-26 from October 14-21, November 22-28, and March 14-22. Their longest road trip will see them go west for a six-game stretch between January 19 and 29.
Capitals’ 2025-26 regular-season schedule
Game | Day | Date | Visitor | Home | Time (ET) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wed | October 8 | Boston | Washington | 7:30 PM |
2 | Sat | October 11 | Washington | N.Y. Islanders | 7:00 PM |
3 | Sun | October 12 | Washington | N.Y. Rangers | 7:00 PM |
4 | Tue | October 14 | Tampa Bay | Washington | 7:00 PM |
5 | Fri | October 17 | Minnesota | Washington | 7:00 PM |
6 | Sun | October 19 | Vancouver | Washington | 12:30 PM |
7 | Tue | October 21 | Seattle | Washington | 7:00 PM |
8 | Fri | October 24 | Washington | Columbus | 7:00 PM |
9 | Sat | October 25 | Ottawa | Washington | 7:00 PM |
10 | Tue | October 28 | Washington | Dallas | 8:30 PM |
11 | Fri | October 31 | N.Y. Islanders | Washington | 7:00 PM |
12 | Sat | November 1 | Washington | Buffalo | 7:00 PM |
13 | Wed | November 5 | St. Louis | Washington | 7:30 PM |
14 | Thu | November 6 | Washington | Pittsburgh | 7:00 PM |
15 | Sat | November 8 | Washington | Tampa Bay | 7:00 PM |
16 | Tue | November 11 | Washington | Carolina | 7:00 PM |
17 | Thu | November 13 | Washington | Florida | 7:00 PM |
18 | Sat | November 15 | New Jersey | Washington | 7:00 PM |
19 | Mon | November 17 | Los Angeles | Washington | 7:00 PM |
20 | Wed | November 19 | Edmonton | Washington | 7:00 PM |
21 | Thu | November 20 | Washington | Montreal | 7:00 PM |
22 | Sat | November 22 | Tampa Bay | Washington | 7:00 PM |
23 | Mon | November 24 | Columbus | Washington | 7:00 PM |
24 | Wed | November 26 | Winnipeg | Washington | 7:00 PM |
25 | Fri | November 28 | Toronto | Washington | 5:00 PM |
26 | Sun | November 30 | Washington | N.Y. Islanders | 1:00 PM |
27 | Tue | December 2 | Washington | Los Angeles | 10:30 PM |
28 | Wed | December 3 | Washington | San Jose | 10:00 PM |
29 | Fri | December 5 | Washington | Anaheim | 10:00 PM |
30 | Sun | December 7 | Columbus | Washington | 7:00 PM |
31 | Thu | December 11 | Carolina | Washington | 7:00 PM |
32 | Sat | December 13 | Washington | Winnipeg | 7:00 PM |
33 | Tue | December 16 | Washington | Minnesota | 8:00 PM |
34 | Thu | December 18 | Toronto | Washington | 7:00 PM |
35 | Sat | December 20 | Detroit | Washington | 12:30 PM |
36 | Sun | December 21 | Washington | Detroit | 1:00 PM |
37 | Tue | December 23 | N.Y. Rangers | Washington | 6:30 PM |
38 | Sat | December 27 | Washington | New Jersey | 7:00 PM |
39 | Mon | December 29 | Washington | Florida | 7:00 PM |
40 | Wed | December 31 | N.Y. Rangers | Washington | 12:30 PM |
41 | Thu | January 1 | Washington | Ottawa | 1:00 PM |
42 | Sat | January 3 | Chicago | Washington | 7:00 PM |
43 | Mon | January 5 | Anaheim | Washington | 7:00 PM |
44 | Wed | January 7 | Dallas | Washington | 7:00 PM |
45 | Fri | January 9 | Washington | Chicago | 8:00 PM |
46 | Sun | January 11 | Washington | Nashville | 7:00 PM |
47 | Tue | January 13 | Montreal | Washington | 7:00 PM |
48 | Thu | January 15 | San Jose | Washington | 7:00 PM |
49 | Sat | January 17 | Florida | Washington | 7:00 PM |
50 | Mon | January 19 | Washington | Colorado | 4:00 PM |
51 | Wed | January 21 | Washington | Vancouver | 10:00 PM |
52 | Fri | January 23 | Washington | Calgary | 9:00 PM |
53 | Sat | January 24 | Washington | Edmonton | 10:00 PM |
54 | Tue | January 27 | Washington | Seattle | 10:00 PM |
55 | Thu | January 29 | Washington | Detroit | 7:00 PM |
56 | Sat | January 31 | Carolina | Washington | 5:00 PM |
57 | Mon | February 2 | N.Y. Islanders | Washington | 7:00 PM |
58 | Tue | February 3 | Washington | Philadelphia | 7:00 PM |
59 | Thu | February 5 | Nashville | Washington | 7:00 PM |
60 | Wed | February 25 | Philadelphia | Washington | 7:00 PM |
61 | Fri | February 27 | Vegas | Washington | 7:00 PM |
62 | Sat | February 28 | Washington | Montreal | 7:00 PM |
63 | Tue | March 3 | Utah | Washington | 7:00 PM |
64 | Sat | March 7 | Washington | Boston | 12:30 PM |
65 | Mon | March 9 | Calgary | Washington | 7:00 PM |
66 | Wed | March 11 | Washington | Philadelphia | 7:30 PM |
67 | Thu | March 12 | Washington | Buffalo | 7:00 PM |
68 | Sat | March 14 | Boston | Washington | 3:00 PM |
69 | Wed | March 18 | Ottawa | Washington | 7:30 PM |
70 | Fri | March 20 | New Jersey | Washington | 7:00 PM |
71 | Sun | March 22 | Colorado | Washington | 12:30 PM |
72 | Tue | March 24 | Washington | St. Louis | 8:00 PM |
73 | Thu | March 26 | Washington | Utah | 9:00 PM |
74 | Sat | March 28 | Washington | Vegas | 10:30 PM |
75 | Tue | March 31 | Philadelphia | Washington | 7:00 PM |
76 | Thu | April 2 | Washington | New Jersey | 7:00 PM |
77 | Sat | April 4 | Buffalo | Washington | 7:00 PM |
78 | Sun | April 5 | Washington | N.Y. Rangers | 7:00 PM |
79 | Wed | April 8 | Washington | Toronto | 7:30 PM |
80 | Sat | April 11 | Washington | Pittsburgh | 3:00 PM |
81 | Sun | April 12 | Pittsburgh | Washington | 3:00 PM |
82 | Tue | April 14 | Washington | Columbus | 7:00 PM |
Washington will look to repeat a strong regular-season showing from 2024-25 that saw it lead the Eastern Conference with a 111-point (51-22-9) record, besting the team’s 2023-24 performance by 20 points. Captain Alex Ovechkin also sits just three goals away from 900 as he enters what could be his final NHL season.
The Caps will hit the ice for several holiday games over the season, including on Halloween (October 31 vs New York Islanders), Black Friday (November 28 vs Toronto), and New Year’s Eve (December 31 vs New York Rangers).
With NHL players returning to the Olympics in February 2026 for the first time since 2014, the league will pause from February 6 to 24. Martin Fehervary became the first Capitals player named to an 2026 Olympic roster and will represent his native Slovakia at the Games.
Important home games (per the Capitals):
- Oct. 8 – Home opener at Capital One Arena versus the Boston Bruins
- Oct. 14 – The Capitals face the Tampa Bay Lightning
- Oct. 31 – Washington hosts the New York Islanders on Halloween
- Nov. 19 – Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers make their lone visit to Capital One Arena
- Nov. 28 – The Capitals host Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs the day after Thanksgiving
- Dec. 11 – The Capitals face the Carolina Hurricanes in a Metropolitan Division clash
- Dec. 23 – The New York Rangers make their first of two visits to Capital One Arena for the Capitals’ final game before the holiday break
- Dec. 31 – The New York Rangers return to D.C. for a New Year’s Eve matinee
- Jan. 3 – The Capitals face Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks
- Jan. 13 – The Capitals host the Montreal Canadiens in a rematch of last season’s First Round series
- Jan. 17 – The Capitals face the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers
- Jan. 31 – The Carolina Hurricanes make their second of two trips to D.C.
- Feb. 27 – The Capitals face the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night
- March 20 – The Capitals host the New Jersey Devils for a Friday night divisional contest
- March 31 – The Capitals face Metropolitan Division rival Philadelphia
- April 12 – Washington completes its 2025-26 home regular-season schedule against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Caps will begin their preseason on September 21 and will play six exhibition games before Opening Night, including a game at the Hershey’s Giant Center on September 25 against the Philadelphia Flyers. See the full preseason schedule here.
Here’s the press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Announce 2025-26 Regular-Season Schedule
Washington hosts the Boston Bruins in season opener on Oct. 8 at Capital One Arena
ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Hockey League today announced the 2025-26 regular-season schedule for its 32 member clubs. The Washington Capitals will open the season at home against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Capital One Arena.
The Capitals have six homestands of at least three games on the schedule, the longest being three four-game homestands at Capital One Arena from Oct. 14-21, Nov. 22-28 and March 14-22. Washington also has five stretches of at least three consecutive road games, including a season-long six-game road trip from Jan. 19-29. In addition, the Capitals will have 14 sets of back-to-back games.
Eighteen of the Capitals’ 41 home games at Capital One Arena fall on weekends, which include five games on Friday, nine on Saturday and four on Sunday. The schedule features holiday home games on Halloween (Oct. 31 vs. NY Islanders) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31 vs. NY Rangers). Last season, the Capitals posted the seventh best home record in the NHL (26-9-6) and ranked fourth in the League in goals per game at home (3.68).
The Capitals’ schedule will pause for a 17-day break from Feb. 6-22 for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which will take place on Feb. 6-22.
Television broadcast plans will be released at a later date. All Capitals games can be heard on the Capitals Radio Network, 106.7 The Fan, WashingtonCaps.com and on the Washington Caps mobile app.
Washington
The Washington counties where home prices are increasing the most

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Home prices are on the rise in Washington state.
Statewide, the median sales price of a home in Washington during the first quarter of 2025 was $636,200, representing a 1.6% increase from the same period in 2024, according to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington.
The center’s latest housing market report stated that home prices increased in all of the state’s 16 metropolitan counties compared to a year ago. Zooming out for a statewide view, rural Lincoln County in Eastern Washington saw the biggest relative increase at 22.1%. The median home price in Lincoln was $274,500 in the first quarter of this year.
In Kitsap County, the relative increase was 2.1% and the median home price was $543,600. In King County, the increase was 1.1% and the median home price was $940,900, representing the highest median price in the state.
“Washington state’s housing market was mixed in the first quarter of 2025, with sales and inventory increasing and new building permits declining compared with a year ago,” the report stated. Approximately 7,500 building permits were issued in the first quarter of 2025, representing an 18.9% decrease from the same period last year.
Here’s more on the report and where home prices are increasing the most in the state.
Where have housing prices increased the most in Washington state?
These are the 10 counties in Washington state that saw the biggest relative increases in home prices in the first quarter of 2025 compared to a year ago, according to the housing market report:
- Lincoln County
- % change by year: 22.1
- Median home price Q1 2025: $274,500
- Pacific County
- % change by year: 19.4
- Median home price Q1 2025: $358,300
- Columbia County
- % change by year: 17.7
- Median home price Q1 2025: $268,700
- San Juan County
- % change by year: 17.5
- Median home price Q1 2025: $866,700
- Skamania County
- % change by year: 15.5
- Median home price Q1 2025: $531,200
- Wahkiakum County
- % change by year: 12.1
- Median home price Q1 2025: $467,500
- Klickitat County
- % change by year: 11.1
- Median home price Q1 2025: $437,500
- Grant County
- % change by year: 10.5
- Median home price Q1 2025: $372,200
- Skagit County
- % change by year: 10.3
- Median home price Q1 2025: $610,000
- Cowlitz County
- % change by year: 10
- Median home price Q1 2025: $413,700
What are the least and most affordable counties in Washington?
The least affordable county in Washington state is San Juan County, according to the report. Garfield County in southeastern Washington is the most affordable. The median home price in Garfield was $212,200 in the first quarter of 2025.
However, all “the state’s 39 counties, and especially those in the central Puget Sound region, present affordability issues for first-time buyers,” the report stated.
What are the best cities to buy a home in the US?
A new report from the personal finance company WalletHub examined the best and worst places for first-time home buyers in the country. It took 300 cities and compared them across a number of factors, including affordability, market attractiveness and quality of life, according to the report.
Palm Bay on the eastern coast of Florida ranked as the best place for first-time home buyers in the country, according to the report. “It’s among the leading cities in the country when it comes to active home listings per capita and new building permits per capita, so there are plenty of older and brand-new homes to choose from,” the report stated. “In addition, while it’s a stereotype that millennials struggle to buy homes, Palm Bay has the fifth-highest millennial home-ownership rate.”
But several Washington locations also ranked relatively highly as being good places to buy a home. Spokane Valley ranked 33rd, Yakima ranked 45th and Spokane ranked 46th.
Housing data shared by Redfin showed the median sale price of a home in Spokane Valley was $430,000 in May 2025. Yakima had a median sale price of $360,000, and Spokane had a median sale price of $390,000.
How much do you need to earn to buy a home in Washington state?
A January 2025 report from Realtor.com found that home buyers in 36 states needed to earn a six-figure income to reasonably afford a home. Washington ranked sixth among states where buyers needed the highest incomes to buy a home. The median household income recommended to buy a house in Washington was $176,669.
Realtor based its findings on the median monthly mortgage payments in each state.
“The calculation uses median home list prices from December 2024 and a 6.93% mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan,” the report stated. “It includes estimated property taxes and insurance costs. It also assumes buyers put down 10% and didn’t spend more than 30% of their gross income on their mortgage payments each month.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Washington state in 2023 dollars was $94,952.
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