Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

The Morning Blotter

More Bad Shit at Rainier and Henderson: Saar’s Market is pretty much a magnet for trouble. On January 12th around 10:00 p.m., a man was on his way to Saar’s when he noticed a white van following him. A police report says the van followed the man—who was on foot—for 20 minutes until he reached the Saar’s parking lot. In the lot, several men get out of the van and confronted the man. The group of men—an Indian man and several Native American men, all wearing dark clothing, the report says—told the victim to put his hands on the hood of the car and demanded his money. The victim believed saw what he thought was a gun, and handed over $60-$80 dollars, the report says. Twenty minutes later, the man called police. Officers were unable to locate the suspects.

Shooting #1: Teen shot at Rainier and Kenyon in South Seattle.

Shooting #2: As we Tweeted last night, police are investigating a possible shooting at 52nd and Wallingford. Initial reports said a woman was injured and possibly taken from the scene in a Toyota Celica. More details to come.

Gassed: Two months after turning Maurice Clemmons in to police, Chrisceda Clemmons unable to return home.

Little Rascals: Four boys, 11-15 years old, suspected of robbing Bellevue gas station.




  • Gotti

    That’s what you get for snitching………that’s pretty much the statement made by SPD when they showed up at your million dollar leshi home.

  • six shooter

    What are you, twelve years old?

  • phb

    Have you seen the house on the news? That place and many others are FAR from the million dollar mark. Your response is so uneducated and general about Leschi, It’s clear you live outside the city.