Weekly news digest

A legacy of local access: Tacoma Community College marks 60 years, from 1,084 students in 1965 to more than 600,000 served, as President Ivan L. Harrell II says priorities will remain tied to local needs -- see Tacoma College's impact.

Cross-cultural dining night: A one-night Filipino-Italian pop-up, Mangia Tayo, will bring a five-course dinner to Tacoma’s OBK Winery on July 24 with chefs Jan Parker and Ashley del Rosario collaborating on the menu -- get all the details.

Summer homestand begins: Weekend baseball starts today as the Tacoma Rainiers host the Oklahoma City Comets at Cheney Stadium with Friday Night Fireworks. First pitch 7:05 p.m. tonight, 6:05 Saturday, 1:35 Sunday -- check the homestand schedule.

An evening of discovery: Free Third Thursday and Downtown Artwalk is today, with free evening admission to local museums, downtown gallery strolls, and waterfront activities celebrating art, history, and community across Tacoma -- see what’s happening tonight.

A growing community tradition: Tacoma Porchfest will return July 18-19 in Central Tacoma, as organizer Irina Rasputnis says the community should shape it. The two-day music festival has doubled in size each year -- read the full story.

City hall faces tough choices: Tacoma city leaders spent the week balancing a $40 million general fund gap with housing and environmental goals, outlining hiring freezes and restructuring while preparing for program cuts in 2027–2028 -- read the full budget outlook.

7/15 - City Hall priorities ahead: In a Monday interview, Tacoma’s new mayor Anders Ibsen, six months into office, discussed deficit, homelessness, housing and public safety, and outlined goals for inclusion, innovation, efficiency, and living‑wage jobs -- hear the mayor’s priorities.

7/15 - Tacoma builder on the rise: WorkBoat toured Tacoma’s Silverback Marine as the builder expands, plans a new Port of Tacoma facility, and builds an all-electric patrol vessel for Communities for a Healthy Bay -- see Silverback’s expansion plans.

7/15 - Bid smarter with guidance: The city of Tacoma and Washington APEX Accelerator will host a free virtual workshop on July 22, helping small contractors understand solicitations and craft competitive, compliant bids -- learn more about the workshop.

7/14 - Market conditions shift: June brought Tacoma buyers more choices, with NWMLS reporting active listings up 16.4% year over year and 8% from May, and Pierce and Thurston counties bucking broader price declines -- read the full report.

7/14 - A city’s scent legacy: How the Aroma of Tacoma defined the city, as sulfur odors from the Simpson Tacoma Kraft mill, a rendering plant, bay sediment, and the U.S. Oil refinery depressed home prices -- read the full story.

7/14 - A major museum refresh: Tacoma’s Museum of Glass began a $25 million renovation in April, adding a new Lino Tagliapietra gallery. It is the museum’s first capital renovation since opening in 2002 -- read the full story.

7/13 - Rising bats reach Tacoma: The Mariners promoted top prospects Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo to Triple-A Tacoma, adding two power bats nearby and stoking hopes they could help Seattle’s playoff push this season -- read the full story.

7/13 - Park path expansion complete: Point Defiance Park’s Loop Trail has opened, adding 1.6 miles of paved path linking Pagoda, Wilson Way Bridge, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Environmental Learning Center, and Owen Beach -- read the full story.

7/13 - Overnight traffic disruption: A DUI driver hit a traffic control box on S. Tacoma Way in Lakewood, darkening intersections. Police urged drivers to avoid dark intersections and expect repairs to take several days -- read the full story.

7/11 - Long road to rebuilding: Tacoma's Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge is expected to remain closed until about 2033 after shift to phased replacement, keeping traffic on detours. A $7.6 million grant funds design, not construction -- read the full timeline.

7/11 - A child-friendly care hub: Take a fresh look inside Tacoma’s new Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital as a photo tour reveals kid-centric design, 82 beds, a 29-exam-room ER, eight ORs, and playful healing spaces -- see the full photo tour.

7/11 - Rising prospect draws attention: Mariners prospect Lazaro Montes made two web-gem catches in Tacoma against Las Vegas, just his second Triple-A game, as MLB Pipeline’s No. 26 prospect works to find his swing -- read the full prospect update.