Convenience Big Store: GeekWire's Most-Read Stories of the Week

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THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES

Seattle ranked best city to live in U.S. — right as tech leaders threaten to leave over taxes

It feels like every couple of days I stop in my tracks somewhere in Seattle and find myself questioning why…

Amazon lays off robotics staff in latest cuts

The layoffs are separate from Amazon's broader cuts announced in January that impacted more than 16,000 corporate workers.

In new letter to governor, Seattle tech leaders say income tax proposal will hurt region’s AI innovation

A group of AI researchers, founders, and investors argue that higher taxes on high earners and investment gains would push top talent and future startups elsewhere at a critical moment in tech.

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Opinion: The narratives and realities of an income tax in Washington

Editor's note: GeekWire publishes guest opinions to foster informed discussion and highlight a diversity of perspectives on issues shaping the…

Inside OpenAI’s new Bellevue office: A swanky statement about AI's impact on the Seattle region

OpenAI marked the grand opening its new office in downtown Bellevue, Wash., its largest outside of San Francisco, with room to grow to 1,400 employees.

Filing: IPIC closing movie theater near Seattle, will lay off 64 workers amid bankruptcy

IPIC runs luxury theaters known for recliner seating, full food and drink service, and premium movie experiences. The company opened its theater at Redmond Town Center in 2011.

Washington state bill to ban microchipping of employees heads to governor for approval

The bill prohibits employers from requiring, requesting or coercing employees to have microchips implanted in their bodies as a condition of employment, and would bar the use of subcutaneous tracking or identification technology for workplace management or surveillance.

Former startup CFO gets 2 years in prison for wire fraud / crypto scheme that cost company $35M

Nevin Shetty, 42, of Mercer Island, Wash., was found guilty last November, after a nine-day jury trial, of four counts of wire fraud.

Starbucks plans corporate office in Nashville, impacting some Seattle-based supply chain workers

The move is part of Starbucks' bid to grow across North America and establish "a more strategic presence" in the Southeast region of the U.S., according to Mike Grams, Starbucks chief operating officer.

Tech Moves: HP director departs; AWS leader leaves; Truveta adds new leaders

— Elizabeth Scallon, a longtime leader in Seattle’s startup ecosystem, has left HP after serving for nearly four years as…

Total lunar eclipse will turn the full moon red — but will the skies be clear enough to see it?

March weather could turn your chance to see a blood-red moon into an iffy proposition.

Sub Pop Records leaving Amazon HQ space for new store on Seattle waterfront

The store on 7th Avenue is closing March 8 and a new Sub Pop store will open April 1 on the Seattle waterfront.

Rad Power Bikes’ new owner wants to rehire employees, open stores and return e-bike brand to glory days

Robert Provost, CEO of South Florida-based Life Electric Vehicles Holdings, Inc., laid out an ambitious roadmap to overhaul and energize the new company, Rad Life Mobility.

Washington governor says he’ll sign millionaires tax

Ferguson said a revised proposal met his desire to send more revenue back to working families and small businesses.

Rad Power Bikes brand will live on as Life EV completes acquisition of Seattle e-bike maker’s assets

Life EV announced that its court-approved asset acquisition had been completed as part of Rad's bankruptcy process.