Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Bellevue’s tech layoffs connect to Wild Waves’ looming final season

And on the Bellevue Patch calendar - Historically Hip Artisan Market

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday December 12th Patch AM
Friday December 12th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Coffee in hand, Bellevue? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Bellevue’s tech layoffs connect to Wild Waves’ looming final season
  • Which Bellevue-raised tight end just earned a 2026 Senior Bowl invite?
  • How a massive Pentagon bill still circles back to Bellevue

Also on today's calendar: Historically Hip Artisan Market and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Bellevuefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Bellevuefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Cloudy, with a high of 57 and low of 47 degrees.
  • Saturday: Low clouds breaking, temps: high: 58, low: 47.
  • Sunday: Cloudy with a shower or two, with a high of 57 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Wild Waves Theme Park Will Close After 2026 Season (kvi.com) — Bellevue workers are feeling the squeeze as Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta cut hundreds of tech jobs tied to offices in Bellevue and greater Seattle, adding pressure on local businesses. At the same time, Wild Waves in nearby Federal Way will close after its 2026 season, underscoring broader economic uncertainty as lawmakers debate a new payroll tax proposal.
   

2. Football: TCU TE DJ Rogers accepts invitation to 2026 Senior Bowl (frogsowar.com) — A former four-star tight end from Bellevue is headed to the 2026 Senior Bowl after a breakout season at TCU. D.J. Rogers, now a key contributor for the Horned Frogs, earned the showcase invite by posting career-best receiving numbers and steadily expanding his role over the past two years.
   

3. House votes overwhelmingly to pass compromise NDAA (myrtlebeachonline.com) — Bellevue gets a brief nod as the site of a 2024 state Democratic convention photo featuring Rep. Adam Smith, who now helps steer a $900.6 billion defense bill through Congress. The House just passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act with bipartisan support, including a military pay raise and new limits on defense ties to China, while both conservatives and liberals object to different provisions that were added or removed.
   

4. Washington state unemployment rate remained at 4.5% in September 2025 (lynnwoodtimes.com) — Bellevue is included in a Seattle-area region where unemployment ticked up slightly between August and September, even as Washington’s overall jobless rate held at 4.5%. State labor officials say the labor market is weakening, with notable job losses in professional and business services but gains in health care, transportation, and hospitality.
   

5. Celebrating the Life of Jelicia Antoinette Givens (thefactsnewspaper.com) — Bellevue is mourning the loss of 36-year-old resident Jelicia Antoinette Givens, who passed away on November 4 and had called the city home since her Sammamish High School days. Loved for her humor, warmth, and devotion to children and family, she worked in several local daycares and built deep relationships across the community. Her family plans to share service details at a later time.
   

📸 Around Bellevue

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Bellevue

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Bellevue Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Bellevue PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi neighbors!
    I’m searching for someone who can help replace two light fixtures, check a non-working outlet, and possibly install a dimmer switch. Nothing major,… (Nextdoor Lake Hills/Conifer Crest)
  • Amazon.com, Inc. posted a job opening for Principal Product Manager, Pricing Intelligence, Amazon Shipping in Bellevue. Apply here.
  • PepsiCo, Inc. posted a job opening for Merchandiser in Bellevue. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bellevue here.

Ok Bellevue! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Bellevue