Many of us got to see the Northern Lights around here recently. In more down-to-earth topics, Ed Murray’s not going away; preservationists compare ID “upzoning” to the WWII internments; a rescued orca’s now a mom; and a developer wants to build 11 apartments on a 32-foot-wide lot.

Your midweek missive notes how our allegedly pinko-socialist state has the top “environment for business,” and how that’s partly due to our regressive tax system. Plus: more city-sales-tax fallout; airport robots (not as pilots, yet); stopping tech-sexism from the boardroom on down; and a certain Mariners player who made a certain big play at a certain big game.

In Monday’s MISCmedia MAIL: Today will likely see the start of the legal skirmishes to either confirm or reject Seattle’s proposed municipal income tax. Also: Jay Inslee as a “demo singer” for the Dems’ campaign points; more doubts about the state budget deal; another anti-trans “bathroom bill” fails; and the Rep planning a grunge musical.

An Arizona building, thought by some to be “abandoned,” turns out to house a UW-funded breeding operation for lab monkeys, far from local protesters. Closer to home, we discuss the newest drive to rein in police use of “deadly force;” a poll showing more Seattle people like “upzoning;” the role of architecture in keeping libraries busy; and a music legend’s “funny money” scheme.

We’ve finally gotten to see the Olympia sausage factory’s freshly-ground state budget, and it’s about as much a mess as you’d expect. Our between-the-holidays missive also brings up a 1st Ave. building with a storied past but not much of a future; Inslee refusing the White House’s voter-suppression drive; a potential threat to many existing homeless shelters; and thoughts by an old Roman about patriotism and its abuse.

We’re still waiting to know all that’s in the last-nanosecond state budget deal. As for things we CAN tell you about this Fri. morn: Ed Murray’s still not running for re-election; original Cobain-made art coming to the Art Fair; more about the young man shot by officers for holding a pen; and a proud anniversary for a proud nation (alas, not ours).

Another week, another police shooting of an innocent African-American. This time, it was a pregnant mother shot in her home, in front of the children. And somebody thought a “mammy” mascot costume would be perfect for the Solstice Parade. In less horrific news, Amazon dives deep into “brick and mortar” retail; electric conservation leads to higher rates; and a Pioneer Square rebuild gets stalled.

Is Ed Murray’s legal peril over, or just on hiatus? MISCmedia MAIL also discusses the real (and predictable) spark behind the Evergreen State turmoil; more hollowing-out at Boeing; alleged coded racism in a newspaper column; and a big “Tax the Rich” turnout.

The Mariners’ stadium’s getting a new name. We can’t choose it, but we can sure think up fun suggestions. Other topics at MISCmedia MAIL today: an exhibit on third-world women’s progress; racial disparities in health care; widely differing views on the homeless-voucher plan; and a key downtown building’s finally getting redone.

Tuesday’s MISCmedia MAIL reveals the latest Seattle fashion icon (and, frankly, we haven’t had many), and it may be a surprise to a lot of you. Plus: The Space Needle’s extreme makeover; the first official steps toward a city income tax; the state budget crisis getting ever-closer to breakdown; and locals remembering the Pulse shootings.

MISCmedia MAIL remembers the great Adam West, the local guy who became an icon of ’60s “camp” culture by playing it completely “straight.” We also honor the pro-Muslim counter-demonstrators; tick down the days toward a state-govt. shutdown; and mourn F.X. McRory’s.

MISCmedia MAIL today discusses the mayor’s big (albeit still tentative) arena deal; attempts to reach common ground with local Muslims and/or Republicans; non-techbro reasons for the housing crisis; and the Mariners’ comeback all the way to .500! But these are all minor stories compared to the big event of the day, our own spectacular b-day party for both the newsletter and for myself, 6:30 p.m. tonight at the tenacious Two Bells in bountiful Belltown.

The alt-right rally scheduled for Portland before last week’s slayings took place, as did several counter-protests, as did arrests and seized weapons and pepper spray. Also in Monday’s MISCmedia MAIL: Anschutz doesn’t want to rebuild KeyArena after all; Dale Chihuly admits to emotional issues but denies cheating an associate; a legendary local bar will be reborn; and a proposed high-rise with a rooftop dome.

Wednesday’s MISCmedia MAIL starts with a great honor for one of my fave cartoonist/novelist/playwrights. It goes on to mention the “dirty” aspect of cleaning up Lake Washington; big-big plans for the UW; the apparent end to one of our era’s most famous couples; and five years after the Cafe Racer slayings (so many senseless slayings ago).

Could the Black Dog Forge’s Belltown building, and the legendary band-practice basement space within, be rescued from redevelopment by a crowdfunding campaign? In other MISCmedia MAIL topics today: Why people don’t listen to facts; ambitious plans for the state’s schools; Starbucks’ employee-motivation program backfiring; and preparing for our new computer overlords.