Seattle

A law passed by Seattle, which allows Uber and other contract drivers to organize, raises many legal questions. But despite claims by Uber, it has real teeth.

The City Council voted 8-0 in favor of the legislation. The companies argue that only the federal government has jurisdiction, and they may challenge it in court.

Using a steam cleaner, workers have begun to melt an estimated 1 million pieces of gum off the brick wall near Pike Place Market.

Authorities say it needs to be scrubbed to protect the historic buildings at the Pike Place Market. But cleaning 20 years' worth of gum off a brick wall is no easy feat.

For the Seattle school district's 53,000 students, the strike had delayed the start of the school year by six days. Sunday night's vote officially ends the strike.

The accident occurred on the city's Aurora Bridge late Thursday morning on the West Coast.

Union leaders have voted to suspend their strike, which began last week. The full membership will vote on the deal on Sunday. The dispute has kept 53,000 students from starting their school year.

The teachers union failed to reach an agreement with the state's largest school district before the first day of school.

Instead of welcoming some 53,000 students to the start of the academic year, teachers form picket lines.