Alaska News

An Amazon fulfillment center in Spokane, Wash. (GeekWire Photo) The news: An Amazon fulfillment center worker died Thursday after being found in the bathroom of a warehouse in Bessemer, Ala. Bloomberg first reported the news and said the worker collapsed at the facility, citing unnamed sources. Amazon said it was a personal medical incident and there were no known pre-existing conditions. The company is offering grief counseling and support for employees at the site. Statement from Amazon: “We’re deeply saddened by the passing of a member of our team, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his loved ones during this difficult time.” — Amazon spokesperson Maria Boschetti Bessemer warehouse:  The fulfillment center was the site of closely watched unionization effort last month. Amazon’s Bessemer warehouse workers eventually declined union representation by a large margin , with 1,798 employees against union representation and 738 in favor. The defeat ended what was the most s

The University of Washington campus in Seattle. (GeekWire File Photo / Kurt Schlosser) The University of Washington will require all students get vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the autumn quarter, UW President Ana Mari Cauce announced Monday . In a message to students, faculty, academic personnel and staff at UW, Cauce said “widespread vaccination is the only real way we can put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us and return to a more normal way of living, learning and working.” Unless claiming a medical, religious or philosophical exemption, student will need to verify that they have been vaccinated. If they are unable to get vaccinated where they currently live, UW says it will provide access to vaccinations once they arrive on campus. The COVID vaccine requirement is similar to UW’s  Tri-Campus Immunity Verification Requirement , which is aimed at protecting the university community from outbreaks of infectious diseases like measles, mumps and meningitis ACWY. As colleg

Bill and Melinda Gates at the University of Washington in 2017. (GeekWire File Photo / Kevin Lisota) Bill and Melinda Gates have announced that they are ending their marriage after 27 years. In a tweet on Monday from Bill Gates’ account, and signed by the couple, the Gateses said that the decision came after a “great deal of thought and work.” But the couple no longer believes they can grow together as a couple in this “next phase” of their lives. pic.twitter.com/padmHSgWGc — Bill Gates (@BillGates) May 3, 2021 Check back for updates on this developing story.