Free Republic

Tim Burgess has teamed up with Flare Audio to launch a set of custom earphones for his Twitter Listening Parties. The project will help raise money for UK grassroots music venues. The announcement coincides with Burgess’ appointment as patron of Music Venue Trust (MVT), which has helped raised millions for UK grassroots music venues struggling during the pandemic. The Charlatans frontman and Flare have announced that £5 from every set of the earphones sold via Flare’s website will be donated to the Music Venue Trust. Tim Burgess’ Twitter Listening Parties have emerged as one of lockdown’s most meaningful shared experiences...

Seattle’s controversial tax on the wealthy failed its first legal test this week after a judge ruled the new ordinance violates state law – but the city isn’t backing down and vows to appeal, setting the stage for a Washington State Supreme Court showdown. King County Superior Court Judge John Ruhl ruled in a Wednesday that Seattle did not have the authority to impose the tax because state law prohibits tax on net income. City Attorney Pete Holmes called the decision “disappointing” but, in a joint statement with Seattle Mayor Tim Burgess, said their goal to eliminate the state’s “over-reliance...

SEATTLE — The leading proponent of a $15 an hour minimum wage in Seattle was challenged face-to-face today. Kshama Sawant engaged with small businesses owners worried about their survival. The impromptu meeting came after a City Council briefing on the implications of raising the minimum wage 63 percent, from $9.32 an hour to $15. “Despite all the rhetoric I'd like to understand the facts of what these other cities do and how they define the various terms that they use in the minimum wage ordinances,” said Council President Tim Burgess at the briefing. “My argument here is there's just not...