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.

Shooting At Rainier and Henderson

We’re hearing scanner chatter about a shooting at Rainier and Henderson. Sounds like this happened near a Walgreens.

Haven’t heard anything on victims yet.

Sounds like police may have one person in custody and are now looking for a gun.

Will update when we get more info.

Update: Or maybe not. Police haven’t found a victim (although that doesn’t mean someone won’t show up at Harborview later on).

Just another fun night at R/H.

Update x2: Sounds like police just found a bullet lodged in the wall of a sub shop and Rainier and Henderson.




  • Gary

    A boy that works at our office related this to me today.
    Sat Jan 22 8:00 pm on the 106 bus. cars blocked bus, kids with guns came on bus and beat up a couple of other kids, one girl called Roach told the bus driver if she did anything she (Roach) would kick her ass. two boys on bus brandished guns. Police came but no one was taken away. The boy in our office was on the bus.

  • RV Dude

    Given the increasing level of violence on metro buses, why aren’t alarms (silent or otherwise) available for drivers to activate, in the same way bank tellers are able to do?

    If a silent alarm (GPS-enabled) to SPD were also coupled to an audible alarm (loud and accompanied by a flashing strobe on the roof of the bus) I can almost guarantee cops, and perhaps even capable bystanders would be quick to render assistance.

    Thuggery on public transit is a huge problem, yet no one seems to be thinking creatively about solutions.

  • What what

    RV Dude, you’re on to something. In theory your plan sounds good. On the other hand, public transportation is under the same budget knife as many other public services. While elegant, your solution also sounds expensive. Therefore a long shot. If, instead of an audible siren, the alarm blasted advertisements at 100 decibels there might be some licensing revenue.

  • bt

    Where abouts on the 106 route did this incident mentioned in the first reply occur?