Alina Hunter-Grah headshot

Alina Hunter-Grah

Senior Newsletter Editor, SEAtoday

Alina is based in Seattle, WA, but grew up in Clarksville, TN. She has 5+ years of professional journalism experience, but also spent a stint working for public transit in Nashville, TN. You’re likely to find her cruising local beaches for rocks or sailing her 1970s laser when the weather is warm.

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Crews repair a pothole by smoothing asphalt on Cherry Street in Seattle, WA.
City
Explaining Seattle’s $1.5 billion transportation levy
Originally proposed in April 2024, the Seattle transportation levy would help pay for a long list of transportation projects and infrastructure repairs.
October 18, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Culture
Celebrating SEAtoday’s third birthday
City Editors Alina, Madeline, and Gabe have spent a collective three years bringing local readers top stories and comprehensive guides to Seattle.
October 16, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
A hand holds a stack of mail-in ballots from King County Elections.
City
Ready those ballots: Guide to Seattle’s 2024 General Election
In addition to the presidential election, ballots will also include a number of local measures and races for US Senators, US Representatives, Governor, and a few other state positions.
October 14, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
Rows of yellow, magenta, and light pink tulips stretch out away from the camera towards a light pink sunset.
Travel and Outdoors
Skagit Valley is getting a new tulip farm
A sister farm of the popular Tulip Town, the new Skagit Acres will be adding another three acres of colorful blooms to next year’s Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
October 14, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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City
Discover your own city with interactive maps from the City of Seattle
The City of Seattle’s Geographic Information System (GIS) maps can help locals find hidden beaches, restrooms, picnic benches, and even figure out what kinds of trees are in the neighborhood.
October 10, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
A picture of golden chanterelle mushrooms.
Travel and Outdoors
Tips for finding the best mushrooms near Seattle
If you’re heading out for some mushroom foraging for the first time, we have a list of books, trails, and other tips for anyone looking to head out into the woods.
October 10, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Travel and Outdoors
Seattle Parks and Rec is planning two new off-leash areas for dogs
Slated for West Seattle and Othello, the new sites are part of Seattle Parks and Rec’s Off-Leash Area expansion project — and it wants your feedback.
October 7, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
A group of seven people stand out on the street carrying a rainbow of umbrellas. Most are wearing trench coats.
City
Seattle decades: the 1980s
This decade brought Seattle the nickname “The Emerald City,” the first-ever Costco, and Nirvana.
October 3, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Culture
Independent theater Grand Illusion Cinema looking for community help to move
The Grand Illusion Cinema, Seattle’s “longest continuously running movie theater”, just launched a campaign to help fund its move to a new location.
October 2, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Travel and Outdoors
Places Seattleites can travel to by train
Catch the Amtrak train at Seattle’s King Street Station to get to places like Glacier National Park, San Diego, and even Miami.
September 30, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
Seattle sits at sunset amidst a bed of orange-hued trees.
Play
Fall events happening around Seattle
Make the most of the cozy weather with this list of the best local events and activities happening this fall.
September 27, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
The lighthouse at Cape Disappointment sits atop the cliff during golden hour, giving the entire area a golden glow.
Travel and Outdoors
Where did the name of Washington’s “Cape Disappointment” and others come from?
From Cape Disappointment to Point No Point, Washington’s got some funny names for its geographical features. But where did these silly — and somewhat depressing — names come from?
September 26, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
The City of Seattle stands underneath a sunny sky, but still hazy, sky.
City
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell proposes 2025-26 city budget
Seattle’s proposed city budget for 2025-26 needed to close a $250 million deficit, but still includes a variety of new initiatives.
September 24, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
A King County Metro bus drives along Third Avenue downtown under several recently installed strings of lights now hovering above the street.
City
Seattle’s Third Avenue has new permanent string lights
The string lights installed over downtown Seattle’s Third Avenue are intended to improve safety in the area + encourage other nearby businesses to join in the beautifying effort.
September 24, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Travel and Outdoors
Snug vacation rentals for cool fall getaways near Seattle
These Seattle-area cabins will perfectly set the mood for a fall getaway in the PNW.
September 23, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
An "I voted early" sticker on a finger in front of a green background.
City
Celebrate National Voter Registration Day in Austin
Here’s when, where, and how to register to vote in Austin.
September 16, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
The front of Chief Sealth high school in Seattle, WA with the school's color and logo on the facade.
Education
Seattle Public Schools introduces two proposals for closing schools
Both plans proposed by Seattle Public Schools include closing at least 17 schools, but differ in whether or not some K-8 schools remain open + whether staff reductions are enacted.
September 12, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
Trees in varying shades of yellows, greens, reds, and oranges are lush and vibrant in the Seattle Japanese Garden, which has a gravel trail winding throughout and several benches scattered along. A small pond reflects the trees' colors.
Travel and Outdoors
Where and when to view fall colors in Seattle
The Emerald City trades some of its greens for a fiery display of foliage in the autumn months — here’s what to expect for this year’s fall colors.
September 11, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Food
Behind the scenes: Seattle’s Mediterranean-inspired bagel + coffee shop Toasted. recently opened
Toasted. has creative takes on Mediterranean-inspired bagel combinations, but the business’s use of AI to solve common industry issues is also pretty noteworthy.
September 10, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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City
City of Seattle introduces updated Food Action Plan
The modified Food Action Plan is intended to help alleviate food insecurity, high prices, negative environmental impacts, and food waste.
September 6, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Travel and Outdoors
Seattle named top Labor Day weekend destination by AAA
If you’re planning on traveling into or out of Seattle during Labor Day weekend, prepare for a lot of road and airport traffic — especially with Sea-Tac airport’s web systems still down.
August 29, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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City
Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail Lynnwood extension opens
The new Sound Transit Link Light Rail Lynnwood extension includes four new stops north of Northgate — and the whole area is celebrating.
August 29, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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City
Revisiting progress on Seattle’s Downtown Activation Plan
August marks one year since the City of Seattle and Mayor Bruce Harrell rolled out their Downtown Activation Plan, and they say they’ve been able to achieve 93% of their goals already. Let’s take a look.
August 23, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Travel and Outdoors
Seattle’s fall 2024 weather forecast
Prepare for fall weather in Seattle with these seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks.
August 23, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Culture
SEAtoday Editors Alina and Madeline make their KING 5 debut
Alina and Madeline sat down with New Day Northwest host Amity to chat about all things canned cocktails, pork rinds, and the meaning behind “very mindful, very demure.”
August 21, 2024
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Alina Hunter-Grah
The four members of the Beatles are pictured leaning out of a window at the Edgewater hotel in order to fish in Elliott Bay.
Culture
Reliving Seattle’s bout of Beatlemania
The world’s most famous rock band The Beatles visited Seattle for the first time in 1964 and it rocked the city. Here’s what happened.
August 21, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
Seattle Skyline
Culture
Pick two: Create your dream life in Seattle
Life in Seattle is already great, but a few tweaks could really make it a paradise. What does your dream life look like in the Emerald City?
August 19, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A view of Seattle's waterfront from across the bay.
Business
Here are Seattle’s fastest-growing companies named on Inc. 5000
These Seattle-based companies made the Inc. 5000 list for their outstanding percentage revenue growth over the last three years.
August 13, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Culture
A bare look at nudist history in Seattle
Between the Fremont Solstice Parade, Naked Gardening Day, the Tiger Mountain Nudist Park, and Denny Blaine Park, Seattle has had quite the extensive background with nudism.
August 13, 2024
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Alina Hunter-Grah
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Travel and Outdoors
Where to pick juicy apples this fall near Seattle
These orchards and farms are go-to destinations near Seattle for apple picking and harvest season hauls.
August 12, 2024
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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