🌱 Patch AM: How Renton’s new license rules could save some businesses $150

Good day Renton! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Renton’s new license rules could save some businesses $150
• Have you seen these children possibly in Renton?
• What got a Renton teen in trouble in the Cedar River Watershed?

Also on today's calendar: Playdate @ Drum Roll Wine and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: I got fired from the M&M factory. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: A little rain in the morning, with a high of 56 and low of 46 degrees.
• Sunday: Cloudy with a shower or two, temps: high: 50, low: 42.
• Monday: A brief shower or two, with a high of 48 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Renton revises business license fee exemptions (rentonreporter.com) — Renton has raised its business license fee exemption threshold for out-of-city businesses from $2,000 to $4,000 in annual receipts, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The change, tied to inflation every four years, means qualifying small businesses still must register for a Renton license but won’t pay the $150 fee, while in-city businesses remain unaffected.
   

• Children missing, mother wanted for custodial interference in Renton, WA (fox13seattle.com) — Renton residents are being asked to watch for two missing children last believed to be in the city with their biological mother, who is wanted for suspected kidnapping and custodial interference. Lakewood police say the mother may be armed and fled to Renton after a holiday visitation, and urge anyone spotting her or the children to immediately call 911.
   

• January Find of the Month: Trespassers in the Cedar River Watershed (seattle.gov) — A newly highlighted archival file recounts mid-20th-century trespassing cases in the Cedar River Watershed, which supplies drinking water to the region. Among the stories is a Renton youth caught hunting there, illustrating how local residents once pushed the strict access rules that still protect this key water source today.
   

📸 Around Renton

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 Renton

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Monday January 5

• Tech Help Mondays
  Renton Library , 100 Mill Avenue South , Renton
  1:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• Toddler Story Time at Renton Library
  Renton Library , 100 Mill Avenue South , Renton
  10:30 am
• Baby Story Time at Renton Library
  Renton Library , 100 Mill Avenue South , Renton
  11:15 am
• Branding Your Startup
  Renton Library , 100 Mill Avenue South , Renton
  1:00 pm

Friday January 9

• Talk Time: English Conversation Practice
  Renton Library , 100 Mill Avenue South , Renton
  1:00 pm
• Creative Art Oasis
  Renton Library , 100 Mill Avenue South , Renton
  4:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Winter Retreat (Philharmonia)
  Odle Middle School , 502 143rd Ave NE , Bellevue
  9:00 am
• Winter Retreat (Flute Orchestra)
  Odle Middle School , 502 143rd Ave NE , Bellevue
  10:00 am
• Playdate @ Drum Roll Wine
  Drum Roll Wine , 911 S 3rd St , Renton
  3:00 pm

Sunday January 11

• Sunday Funday: Indoor Cornhole!
  Drum Roll Wine 911 S. 3rd St. Renton, WA 98057
  3:00 pm

📣 Renton Shout Outs!

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

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday January 3

• Picture Book Study Group: Creating Questions Without Answers
  King County Library System Virtual , 960 Newport Way NW , Issaquah
  11:00 am
• Family Story Time
  Boulevard Park Library , 12015 Roseberg Avenue South , Seattle
  11:00 am
• Tech Help for Seniors
  Newcastle Library , 12901 Newcastle Way , Renton
  11:15 am
• Weydii Ambassador Sabtida / The Welcoming Center
  Tukwila Library , 14380 Tukwila International Boulevard , Seattle
  2:00 pm

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 Renton PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Fix&lift Garage door — (425) 426-2728
  Local garage door repair services for Renton homeowners
• Pleasure to Burn — (855) 916-7625
  68-year-old Renton Rocker Powers Food Drive & Shows

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

• I Have Survived the Holidays—What Now? —Swannee Rivers Read on Patch
• My Experience Dealing With a Garage Door Issue in Renton, WA —Julia Camas Read on Patch
• Simple Ways to Say Goodbye to 2025—Without Spending a Dime —Swannee Rivers Read on Patch

• We are a licensed daycare center providing loving, reliable care for children ages 1–9 years.
  We offer full-day care Monday–Friday from 6:00 AM–5:30 PM, as well as before and after school care for school-age children. Our focus is creating a… (Nextdoor Downtown Renton)
• Seattle Fire Department responds to a rope rescue incident on John St, successfully extricating a patient in stable condition.
  10:29PM on Jan 1: Seattle Fire responds to a rope rescue incident at 975 John St. (Nextdoor )

• Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. posted a job opening for Crew Member in Renton. Apply here.
• Creative Financial Staffing posted a job opening for Payroll Specialist in Renton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Renton here.

🗞 Nearby News

Tukwila

• Tukwila Police arrest suspected DUI driver after New Year's Eve pursuit in Tukwila (tukwilablog.com)
• Viral video alleging childcare fraud sparks fear and backlash in Somali communities (king5.com)
• In Loving Memory of Monte Pipkin (thefactsnewspaper.com)

SeaTac

• Washington officials blast conservatives for Minnesota-style day care fraud claims in new state (1010wcsi.com)
• Lawsuit says King County deputies watched as woman sat in Kent traffic before fatal crash (mynorthwest.com)

Ok Renton! 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 kept throwing out all the W’s.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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