Seattle Public Schools sends ‘urgent’ message about grade-viewing app — here’s the backstory 

Seattle Public Schools sent an email Monday evening advising families and staff to delete a grade-viewing app for iOS called "The Source: SPS," describing it as an urgent issue. There's a lot more to the story — including the fact that the app was developed by a former Roosevelt High School student — as we learned when we looked into it this morning. Read more. 

The controversial capital gains tax in Washington state could be axed if voters approve a ballot measure on the November ballot. Revenue from the tax, which impacts less than 4,000 people, pays for public education. Some voters argue that the 7% tax harms innovation and is detrimental to the region’s tech economy. Read more.

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in Seattle this past weekend to rally against Initiative 2117, a separate ballot measure that would roll back various climate-related efforts in Washington state. Read more.

Amazon is testing a new feature on its e-commerce marketplace that spotlights seller ratings in product search results, elevating reviews of third-party merchants in the company’s online store. Read more.

Artificial intelligence is fueling an escalating information war that’s building to a climax with the high-stakes 2024 election. Oren Etzioni, founder of Seattle-based TrueMedia.org, and Annalee Newitz, author of “Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind,” discuss the best tools to defend against fake news. Read more.

3D printing is on the move thanks to a University of Washington project called MobiPrint. The device can scan and map a room and then print objects in a desired spot on the floor, including making features that enhance accessibility. Read more.

Hot Links:

• OpenAI and Microsoft are funding a new $10 million program to support the implementation of AI within news organizations. (Axios) 

• Thomson Reuters acquired Materia, an accounting AI assistant startup with roots in Seattle’s AI2 Incubator. (PR Newswire) 

• The Washington Research Foundation awarded $6 million in grant funding to researchers at Fred Hutch Cancer Center and Seattle Children’s Research Institute. (WRF)

• Amazon released its 2024 Pro Bono report that highlights how the company’s employees help organizations and individuals access legal services. (Amazon)

• Xbox unveiled the latest version of its wireless headset. (Xbox News)

• Amazon One Medical is using AI for patient visits, data summarization, team collaboration, and communication. (Amazon)

• Daze, a new social messaging app backed by Seattle VC firm Maveron, is gaining popularity. (TechCrunch)

Thanks for subscribing to the GeekWire newsletter, and have a great day. — GeekWire Editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com; GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop, todd@geekwire.com; and GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com.