Nearly record-high temperatures and a regional trash strike have left piles of uncollected garbage rotting in Seattle's suburbs. Why it matters: Some residents say the "Big Stink" is now drifting into Seattle as the strike involving about 2,

REPUBLIC SERVICES AND TRASH WORKERS ARE RETURNING TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE TODAY FOR THE 13TH TIME. TEAMSTERS LOCAL 25 SAYS DOZENS OF REPUBLIC’S NONUNION EMPLOYEES AT MASSACHUSETTS FACILITIES HAVE NOW ASKED TO JOIN.

The Taste of Downtown hosted a sold-out crowd Thursday night for the annual tradition that brings Fairfield foodies together to try samples at different restaurants in the downtown corridor.

Republic Services, one of two Whittier contract waste haulers, is embroiled in an ongoing labor dispute with the Teamsters Union in Boston. About 2,000 Teamsters are either on strike or honoring picket lines where there are no contract disputes. In California, affected cities include Anaheim, Santa Ana, Inglewood, Compton and Santa Fe Springs.

Teamsters say Republic Services is "unwilling to offer workers good wages." Republic Services says these claims belong "in the trash."

State leaders urge Republic Services to finalize contract with striking Teamsters as uncollected garbage piles up in Massachusetts communities and other states across the country.

Negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters broke down late last week. Talks are set to resume Tuesday, but the impacts of the trash strike are growing more pronounced.