This move, which would give the county commissioners the responsibility of overseeing the jail and the courthouse instead of the sheriff’s office, came after a state audit revealed “financial mismanagement.”

“Never did I agree to hand over the jail,” Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond told reporters outside the Franklin County Courthouse. “The Board of County Commissioners just decided that that’s the way it’s going to be.”

Raymond has refused to cooperate with the county commissioners,Ģżcausing them to file for an injunction last week to compel the sheriff’s compliance. Raymond declared he would openly defy the court order.

“Who do you want running your jail?” Raymond asked rhetorically, according to . “The sheriff of the county, who’s put it in the position it is today, or do you want a land developer worth the sum total of zero experience running the jail?”

Property within Franklin County Jail

Raymond is fighting with the county commissioners about the physical property within the jail, specifically the guns stored within the facility, which he insists belong to the sheriff’s office. He said that any firearms or weapons used by jail staff are the property of the sheriff’s office, and they must be stored in an accredited armory according to state law.

But Benton County District Court Judge Jennifer Azure ruled that the weapons are part of the premise’s property and were ordered to stay put until a May 8 court hearing. Arguing that the court order is not valid, Raymond claimed he personally went into the jail and retrieved the guns Monday, according to .

“The commissioners are concerned about the safety and welfare of both the staff at Franklin County Jail as well as the inmates,” the Franklin County Board of Commissioners said in an official statement. “Removing equipment that would only be used to protect one’s life is unacceptable.”

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office staff in uncomfortable situation

Raymond ordered deputies and commanders multiple times to collect the guns, Tasers, pepper spray, and riot equipment from the jail before allegedly doing it himself, in addition to ordering other employees to block county commissioners and jail commanders from entering the jail. The sheriff’s office’s staff has found themselves stuck between following their bossā€™ orders and following the law.

The command staff for the Franklin County Sheriffā€™s Office went to their union to file a restraining order that would keep them from being in the middle of the feud between Raymond and the Franklin County commissioners. Raymond has responded by calling their order a “mutiny.”

After requesting an outside prosecutor to represent him, Raymond said he will fight the county in court over control of the jail.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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Kent detectives reported the assault allegedly occurred on April 22, between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., on a walking trail near the water. KPD believes multiple people were on the trail when the assault occurred.

“Investigators are urging anyone who was at the park during that time and observed anything unusual, heard anything suspicious, or spoke with the victim to come forward,” KPD stated in a .

The department did state that there is no ongoing safety threat to the public.

Kent police looking for witnesses

As KPD continues to investigate, detectives are asking residents who live along Lake Fenwick Road to check their security cameras for any footage captured along the roadway during the stated timeframe.

“If you have relevant video or information, please preserve it and contact the Kent Police Department Tip Line at (253) 856-5808 or KPDTipLine@kentwa.gov,” KPD wrote.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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The executive order states his administration has 30 days to publish a list of sanctuary states and cities throughout the U.S. Washington is a sanctuary state, with Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Bellingham, and Spokane all operating as sanctuary cities.

While there is no exact definition for a sanctuary city or state, the blanket term is applied to jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, according to the , including failing to provide information regarding immigration status.

“You can sit aside and watch. You can argue against us all you want. Protest all you want,” Tom Homan, acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said. “But when you cross that line, and I’ve said this a thousand times, when you cross that line to impediment or knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, you will be prosecuted.”

In addition to Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont are considered sanctuary states. Although not a state, the District of Columbia is also considered a sanctuary jurisdiction.

What happens once the list of sanctuary states is completed?

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said sanctuary cities are taking actions that interfere with federal immigration enforcement.

The executive order states that, once a list of “verified” sanctuary states and cities is turned in, the Trump Administration will notify those jurisdictions that they need to cooperate with the president’s immigration policy.ĢżIf they don’t comply, the federal government would explore options to sue the state or city, alongside cutting off federal funding.

Governor Bob Ferguson responded by claiming he’s not going to allow the federal government to cut any fundingā€”especially money intended for Medicaid, education, and services for children.

“We’ll stand up for your rights,” Ferguson said. “We’ll protect your freedom. That’s central to who we are, and we’ll continue doing that.”

Approximately 28% of Washingtonā€™s budget comes from federal funding.

Trump’s actions impacted legislative session

This potential retaliation has been on Ferguson’s mind since he was elected governor.

Last week, Governor Bob Ferguson signed a bill that blocks out-of-state military forces from entering Washington without the governor’s approval. For example, National Guard troops could not enter Washington unless Ferguson signed off on it.

“We welcome collaboration with National Guard forces when warranted, but only with our permission,” Ferguson said. “We cannot have armed forces come into our state to enforce policies that are against our core values.”

The president can still override this decision, further complicating the process.

Contributing: Luke Duecy, ³ÉČĖXÕ¾ Newsradio

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“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters this week. “Why didnā€™t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?”

Amazon’s plan, according to a report from , would have displayed the amount of money added as a result of the tariffs displayed right next to each productā€™s total listed price. But a spokesperson for the company claimed Amazon never considered this strategy.

“The team that runs our ultra-low-cost Amazon Haul store has considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products,” the spokesperson told . “Teams discuss ideas all the time. This was never a consideration for the main Amazon site and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties.”

Trump currently has 145% tariffs implemented on Chinese imports. Approximately 60% of Amazon’s sales come from smaller, independent retailers who are heavily reliant on imports from countries including China.

“This is another reason why Americans should buy American,” Leavitt said. “It’s another reason why we are onshoring critical supply chains here at home to shore up our own critical supply chain, and boost our own manufacturing here.”

White House is not pleased with Amazon ā€” to say the least.

ā€” Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz)

Trump relieving tariffs for certain industries

President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Michigan Tuesday to relieve U.S. automakers from escalating tariffs. While the 25% tariff on finished foreign-made cars and parts will stay in place, Trump is expected to prevent tariffs from stacking on top of other tariffs, like steel and aluminum.

Reporters at a White House press conference asked whether or not Amazon’s decision to display tariff costs would impact Trump’s relationship with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

“I will not speak to the president’s relationships with Jeff Bezos,” Leavitt said after a reporter asked if Bezos is still a supporter of Trump during a press conference.

Jeff Bezos and his fiancĆ©e, Lauren SĆ”nchez, were seen having a late-night dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last December. That dinner came shortly after Bezos finalized his move out of Washington to Indian Creek Villageā€”an exclusive area in Miami, Fla. also known as ā€œBillionaire Bunker,ā€ famous for its celebrity residents including Tom Brady, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner.

MyNorthwest and ³ÉČĖXÕ¾ Newsradio have reached out to Amazon for comment.

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The southbound lanes also reopened after all lanes were shut down earlier this morning.

All lanes are now open on I-5 near S 84th Street in Tacoma. Thank you for your patience folks. It will take time for traffic to clear.

ā€” WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma)

The accident occurred after a semitruck collided with a barrier near the 84th Street exit on I-5 north just after 4:45 a.m., the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) confirmed. The semitruck toppled over after hitting the highway barrier, crashing into a power pole, which subsequently led to the vehicle catching fire. The driver of the truck died at the scene.

Four hours later. This is what’s left of the semi involved in this morning’s fatal crash and fire. All northbound lanes of I-5 remain closed.

ā€” Chris Sullivan (@NEWSGUYSULLY)

“I am saddened to announce that the truck driver has died as a result of this crash,” Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper John Datillo said. “Expect an extended closure as we investigate. We are working to determine the details that led to the crash.”

Crews are on scene of a semi truck collision. They are working to extinguish the fire. I-5 Northbound is blocked at 84th St. South. Unknown if there are any injuries at this time.

ā€” West Pierce Fire & Rescue (@WestPierce)

“My issue is we have to have a message. We have to rebuild our coalition and rebuild our brand,” Smith said on CNN Monday. “We have to clearly attack President Trump for the wannabe dictator he is, for challenging the fundamental basis of our democracy. And if people don’t agree with us on that, we have to make the case.”

Adam Smith’s past comments on what the Democratic Party needs to do

Since Donald Trump won the 2024 general election over Kamala Harris, Smith has been vocal that the Democratic Party is heading in the wrong direction.

“The Democratic Party brand is broken, and we desperately need to fix it if the party is ever going to have any hope of appealing to a majority of people in this country,” U.S. House representative Adam Smith said on X. “Economic policy and messaging is the worst part of that, but certainly not the only part.”

Two national polls published last month found a troubling trend for Democrats. Approval rating for the Democratic Party hit record lows following the 2024 presidential race. And Rep. Adam Smith claimed he knows why: the far left.

“The extreme left is leading us into a ditch,” Smith said. He doubled down in a , blaming the Democratic Partyā€™s struggles on the “new left” and how it led to policies that “have utterly and completely failed.” He even singled out King County for prioritizing funding for left-leaning programs.

In-fighting over party’s direction

Smith’s comments upset his Seattle colleague Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).

“I was not happy about the way heā€™s characterizing my district,” Jayapal said, according to . “The thing that has been irritating to me is I feel like heā€™s gotten a lot of coverage ā€“ that view has gotten a lot of coverage.”

“”²ŌĢż found that 27% of registered voters viewed the party favorably, while CNNā€™s poll provided slightly better results: 29%, the lowest mark in CNNā€™s polling since it began in 1992.

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“The Last of Us” is a television adaptation of the acclaimed video game series of the same name, with , the video game’s writer and creative director, operating as one of the show’s lead showrunners. While the first season followed Ellie and Joel as they embarked on a cross-country journey from Boston to Salt Lake City, the second season has a much more central location, as revealed in its latest episode, which aired Sunday.

Seattle hasn’t been explored much by the show’s central characters yet, but the video game features many prominent Seattle locations in a post-apocolyptic fashion, including the Paramount Theatre, located on 9th Avenue and Pine Street, Lumen Field in Seattleā€™s SoDo neighborhood, , the , the historic Chinatown Gate in the Chinatown-International District, Seattle’s Central Library, the , and, yes, the Space Needle.

The video game even included little Seattle details, like a series of rainbow crosswalks that adorn Seattleā€™s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

“The Last of Us” Season 2 premiere on HBO Max drew 5.3 million viewers, according to , a 13% increase compared to the Season 1 premiere. reported that season one averaged nearly 32 million viewers per episode in total, making it the largest audience for an HBO Max debut season ever.Ģż

The first season was nominated for 24 primetime Emmy awards, winning eight.

‘The Last of Us’ was filmed in B.C.

While “The Last of Us'” second season is set in the Emerald City, its principal filming occurred in Vancouver, British Columbia. The first season was filmed primarily in Calgary, Alberta.

British Columbia has played host to many filming sets for American television and film projects due to the provinceā€™s tax breaks and abundant production industry.

Seattle attempts to expand its film imprint

But Seattle, and the state as a whole, is trying to expand its film prowess to become a staple in the entertainment industry. In 2022, Washington passed a Ģżthat thoroughly updated and expanded the state’s (MPCP). The bill increased the program’s funding cap by more than 400%, from $3.5 millionā€”which ranked as one of the worst incentives in the state in the U.S.ā€”to $15 million per year.

BREAKINGšŸ“½ļø: The Council just passed legislation to create a Seattle Film Commission tasked with advising the City on policies that strengthen Seattleā€™s film and television industry. It was sponsored by Councilmember Sara Nelson ().

ā€” Seattle City Council (@SeattleCouncil)

California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and New York provided the largest incentives in the U.S.

States offer these incentives because in-state movie productions often boost the local economy. Incentive packages vary from state to state, but many include production rebates, which reduce the costs of making movies, TV shows, and commercials, in some states, according to .

Follow Frank Sumrall .Ģż³§±š²Ō»åĢżnews tips here.

Homemade traps and snares intended to capture and harm cats have begun popping up in unspecified spots in Seattle, according to posters on Seattle Reddit. The return of the cat traps coincided with the release of Antoine Leander Runner Jr., a 43-year-old man who spent time in prison for first-degree animal cruelty alongside charges for setting up traps without a permit and for mistreating, injuring, and/or killing animals.

“Runner was charged with animal cruelty for a series of grisly cat killings in 2023,” the post on read. “After his release, makeshift traps and snares started popping up again: it became clear he had returned to his hunting grounds.”

Seattle Police Department (SPD) was quickly notified of Runner Jr.’s reappearance.

“While I was conducting an area search for the suspect, a second 911 caller called in to report the same suspect had just walked onto a trail behind the Olympic Foundry, 5210 Airport Way South,” SPD stated. “Officers checked this area and located a male who matched the provided description. He also responded to the name Antoine. I placed Mr. Runner under arrest for the misdemeanor warrant.”

Alleged serial cat killer targets feral cats

According to Seattle Reddit, he would visit food banks for cat food, kennels, collars, leashes, and treats to lure cats and kill them.

“Several of the cats killed in ’23 were from feral cat colonies managed by the Alley Cat Project,” the post on Seattle Reddit read. “Since his return, our trail cam footage shows he comes to the colonies every night to hunt for cats.”

The Alley Cat Project discovered the body of one of the cats from a colony on March 31, disemboweled and publicly displayed. Animal Control confirmed the injuries to the cats were human-caused.

Seattle Animal Control and the Alley Cat Project are warning pet owners to keep any cats indoors, and to take photographs of any makeshift traps discovered.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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In a statement dropped right after the session closed, Ferguson made it clear heā€™s not rushing into anything.

“I look forward to carefully reviewing the budgets line by line,” he said, promising a full public breakdown once heā€™s finished combing through it.

Ferguson has line-item veto power, meaning he can slice and dice the budget if he wants. It features roughly $7 million in cuts and $9 million in new taxes.

In an interview with TVW, Ferguson said he was “optimistic” about avoiding a special session. At 1,366 pages, the governor and his Office of Financial Management have a lot of homework to get through.

Ferguson’s early budget demands

From beginning of his administration, Ferguson hammered home some pretty specific demands: Save billions, stick to real revenue numbers (not the typical automatic 4.5% tax revenue increase every year), boost affordable housing, pour more money into K-12 education, and throw millions of dollars to cities and counties for local law enforcement. By his own account, the legislature mostly listened.

“The budgets adopted by the legislature accomplish those goals,” Ferguson said, sounding cautiously optimistic.

He’s especially eyeballing any new revenue schemes tucked into the budget, warning, “I intend to carefully review all revenue increases.”

In the final hours of the 105-day session, the operating budget came down to a straight party-line vote in the Senate, with all Democrats in support and all Republicans voting against it. A slightly different story in the House, where six Democrats defected and joined all Republicans in voting no.

During a press conference held by House and Senate Democratic leaders, several expressed optimism about the governorā€™s acceptance of their budget and tax package.

“Our conversations have been very positive in the last week. And I think if you watched his statements over time, you can see that he had a significant influence over the budget as it ultimately passed both chambers,” Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) said. “As a lawyer, I would expect him to want to look through the bills carefully.”

Republicans repeatedly said their budget proposal would have spent $2 billion less, raised no taxes, and cut no services.

Ferguson vies to protect WA from Trump Administration retaliation

One major theme Ferguson kept hammering in his statement: protecting the state’s financial future from what he called the “assault” of Donald Trumpā€™s administration.

Federal dollars make up about 28% of Washingtonā€™s budget, and Ferguson isnā€™t shy about saying he expects hardball tactics from D.C.

“I am not going to allow the state that I love to be at the financial mercy of Donald Trump and Elon Musk,” he said.

Heā€™s also proud that the legislature embraced $4 billion in savings identified by his teamā€”a feat he was quick to point out happened just 43 days after he took office.

Ferguson promised during his campaign to boost K-12 funding, and he said the final budget delivers. It even improves funding for special education and helps school districts tackle emergencies.

On the legislative front, Ferguson was clearly in a “scoreboard” mood, ticking off some bipartisan wins he helped push across the finish line. Among them: new fuel exemptions for farmers, better mental health support for kids, and a law keeping out-of-state National Guard units from just showing up uninvited.

One bill Ferguson sounded especially hyped about, House Bill 2015, sets aside $100 million in grants to help local law enforcement beef up their ranks.

“We rank 50thā€”dead lastā€”per capita in the number of law enforcement officers,” he said. “Thatā€™s unacceptable.”

New spending for local law enforcement isnā€™t something the legislature typically does. The move stands out even more in a year with a huge budget deficitā€”a clear sign of some political give-and-take with Democratic leaders.

Housing also got a major boost, with the biggest investment ever into the Housing Trust Fund, plus reforms to speed up building permits and help folks in manufactured homes become actual homeowners.

The transportation budget struck a cautious but necessary tone. Ferguson praised lawmakers for showing “restraint” by delaying some projects while keeping critical ones, like the I-5 bridge replacement and the Spokane North-South Freeway, on track.

By law, the stateā€™s budget has to balance over four years, not just two. Ferguson demanded lawmakers use actual economic forecasts, not the old automatic 4.5% revenue growth figures agencies loved. At first glance, it looks like the budget relies on more realistic projections and factors in state “reversions”ā€”leftover cash from unspent budgetsā€”to help plug gaps.

If the math holds up, Washington could have about $3.6 billion socked away in reserves by 2029.

In closing, Ferguson took a somber moment to reflect on the difficult losses this session endured, including the deaths of Sen. Bill Ramos, Autumn Gildon (wife of a prominent state senator), and former Speaker Frank Chopp.

“This has been a hard session for many reasons,” he said. “I am grateful for the hard work and sacrifice of all who contributed.”

Now, the ballā€™s in Fergusonā€™s court. Heā€™s got less than three weeks to either bless this budget, bounce it back with his veto pen, or do nothingā€”in which case it becomes law 30 days from now.

Or call a special session to write the operating budget and the taxes that support it.

Matt Markovich is the ³ÉČĖXÕ¾ Newsradio political analyst. Follow him onĢż. Read more of his storiesĢżhere.

The two officers, Corey FoyĢżandĢżMichael Griffin, filed their lawsuits against the Seattle Police Department (SPD) separately, but on the same day earlier this month, claiming they were harassed, humiliated, and retaliated against during their time there. The pair also claimed they were both denied opportunities to advance and move upward.

Examples of racist behavior towards Foy, Griffin

Foy shared an incident with , an activist and watchdog group monitoring SPD officer misconduct, where SPD Officer Andrew Marksallegedly said Foy looked like a “f* thug” after he showed up to the precinct in workout clothes. The Office of Police Accountability the incident, and subsequently recommended suspension for unprofessionalism.

Another officer, Cody Alidon, told Foy that he looked “shady” walking through the South Precinct parking lot in a hoodie, according to DivestSPD. When Foy asked him if itā€™s “because Iā€™m Black,” Alidon laughed and drove off.

Griffin revealed he was a target of harassment when white SPD officers superimposed Griffinā€™s picture onto a photo of a Black suspect and hung it up next to Sergeant John Marionā€™s desk. This joke lasted weeks, with the officers later crossing out the suspectā€™s name and writing Griffinā€™s on it.

Additionally, Foy and Griffin alleged they would get in trouble for behavior white officers would rarely get reprimanded for, and that they were granted a lower priority for overtime. Griffin alleged he was passed over for a job on the hostage negotiation team. He was also denied an opportunity to be a field training officer, despite having more than 30 years of experience.

Ongoing SPD lawsuits

Foy and Griffin’s lawsuits are the newest among a series of complaints alleged against the SPD, with multiple officers, both current and former, alleging that former Chief Adrian Diaz fostered a culture of sexual harassment and retaliation. Meanwhile, Diaz filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, and seeks $10 million.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is hosting a press conference Monday at 11:30 a.m. to celebrate the hiring of new police officers who are in training and are part of a significant increase in police hiring in 2025. He will be joined by SPD Chief Barnes and other law enforcement and local leaders.

Follow Frank Sumrall .Ģż³§±š²Ō»åĢżnews tips here.

The driver allegedly slammed on the brakes after the motorcyclist hit the windshield. Once the rider slid off the car, the driver attempted to run them over, dragging the motorcycle a few hundred feet. After the incident, the driver left the vehicle and escaped on foot.

“K9 Asher and deputies tracked for approximately one hour but did not catch up to the suspect,” Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said on . “K9 Asher remained in the area and continued searching, locating the suspect running down the street. I was on my way back from a community event and stopped to assist.”

After approximately an hour, deputies found the driver and arrested them. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office shared the dashcam footage of the arrest. The driver was charged with DUI, vehicular assault, and felony hit and run. They were also booked for a previous domestic violence case from a year ago.

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More than 30,000 people were without power Friday morning when, at 9:25 a.m., PenLight posted that their entire system was out of power due to a mechanical failure.

“PenLight dispatch is working to bring up substations slowly and restore power in sections as to not overload the system,” the Peninsula Light Company stated on X.

11:00AM – PenLight dispatch working to bring up substations slowly and restore power in sections as to not overload the system. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding! PenLight has the best members!

ā€” Peninsula Light Co. (@PenLightCo)

To view the full outage map or to report an outage, visitĢż.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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In the alert, SPD stated she was last seen on Thursday at 48th Avenue South and South Raymond Street, near the Hillman City neighborhood in Seattle.

Maryam does not speak English, only Soninke, a language primarily spoken in West Africa. She was last seen wearing all green. She’s reportedly unfamiliar with the Seattle area.

Missing Juvenile: Maryam, B/F/14. Last seen near 4800 block S Raymond Street. Attends Seattle World School, 1700 E Union Street. Unfamiliar with Seattle area, does not speak English (Soninke only),wearing all green clothing today. If seen, please call 911.

ā€” Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD)

She attends the Seattle World School, located at 1700 E Union Street near Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

If seen or if anyone has more information regarding her disappearance, contact Seattle Police by calling 911.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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An investigation found new members of WSU’s Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity were pressured to consume alcohol and drugs, forced into physical activities as punishment, and subjected to a power imbalance within the fraternity, according to .

In addition to the fraternity being shut down until 2030, the university also ruled that it will have to be alcohol-free until 2032, once reinstated.

Another WSU fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, was stripped of its recognition until 2026 after an appeals court decision ruled that the university was liable for the death of student Sam Martinez.

Sam Martinez’ death

Martinez, a freshman student originally from Bellevue, died of alcohol poisoning while pledging the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega at WSU. An appeals court decision ruled that the university was liable for his death in January.

This ruling marks the first time a university within Washington has been held accountable for a hazing-related fatality. This ruling differed from a King County Superior Court decision in 2022, when a judge dismissed the case against the university, citing that WSU did not owe Martinez ā€œa duty of care.ā€

ā€œBecause WSU has a special relationship with its recognized fraternal organizations, we conclude that it owed a duty to use reasonable care to control the fraternity and protect Sam from the foreseeable harms of fraternal hazing and alcohol misuse,ā€ the Washington Court of Appeals, Division 1, wrote in itsĢż, obtained byĢż.

In 2019, a fraternity member gave Martinez and another ā€œpledgeā€ a half gallon of rum and told them to drink it in less than an hour during the fraternityā€™s annual Big Brother Party,ĢżĢżconfirmed through court documents. Martinez died of alcohol poisoning, police and university investigations confirmed.

ā€œNobody called 911, and they woke up to a nightmare, and so did we,ā€ Martinezā€™s mother, Jolayne Houtz, toldĢż. ā€œHeā€™s gone, and I canā€™t stand by and be worried every time a school year begins that another family will have to go through this because itā€™s wrong.ā€

ProsecutorsĢż, which, as a gross misdemeanor, was a tougher charge than hazing. Some served jail time between one and 19 days, while others were sentenced to probation.

One of the reasons the appeals court ruled against WSU was that the court found the university knew of, and neglected, multiple instances of troubling behavior, according to . In 2013, the WSU conduct board found the fraternity made pledges clean up raw sewage and drink excessive amounts of alcohol. In 2017, the fraternity was documented forcing pledges to drink excessively and endure ā€œaggressive hazing.ā€

The university also had evidence that Alpha Tau Omega humiliated new members by forcing them to stand in toilets.

ā€œThey had a terrible history. University leaders knew that all the way to the top, and they did nothing,ā€ Houtz told KING 5. ā€œIf I had known a quarter of what I now know about Alpha Tau Omega, thereā€™s no way Sam would have wanted to join and, furthermore, we wouldnā€™t have allowed him to join. They knowingly put Sam and other students in harmā€™s way.ā€

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One of the most contentious moments of the town hall was Gluesenkamp Perez’ defense for voting in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require voters to provide documentation, such as a U.S. passport or government-issued ID with a certified birth certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections. Gluesenkamp Perez was one of four Democrats to vote in favor of the SAVE Act, alongside all House Republicans.

“I do not support noncitizens voting in American electionsā€”and thatā€™s common sense to folks in Southwest Washington,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in a . “Voting in our nationā€™s elections is a sacred right belonging only to American citizens, and my vote for the SAVE Act reflects that principle.”

Gluesenkamp Perez even offered up her own legislation, dubbed the “Let America Vote Act,” which would allegedly improve election integrity without creating additional bureaucratic hurdles. Despite Gluesenkamp Perez voting for the SAVE Act, she claimed itā€™s a bill that wonā€™t pass in the Senate.

“I also understand the SAVE Act stands no chance of passage in the Senate due to the filibuster, as well as several deeply flawed provisions,” she added.

But opponents to the bill argued that this would disenfranchise legal citizens who lack access to the required documentation needed to vote, lowering voter turnout to an even more significant degree.

“My last name is not the same as what’s on my birth certificate,” Lynn Busby told . “I know a lot of people who don’t know where their birth certificate is. It’s just another way for her to suppress the vote. And I feel like it’s because of her donors.”

Many attending the town hall meeting crafted signs, some read “How Dare You,” “The SHAME Act,” and “We the people demand you do better,” while others chanted, “Vote her out.”

“I just think that Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is not turning out to be the person I thought I was fighting for,” a town hall attendant, Cheryl Pauling, said.

“She says she is a Democrat, but as a Democrat, she doesn’t represent me,” Destiny Dodge, who also attended the event, added.

If the SAVE Act becomes law

The bill, if passed, would require people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. States would also be required to remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill even adds criminal penalties to violations of this act, and includes the ability for people to sue an election official if they register a person to vote who fails to present proof of U.S. citizenship.

Supporters of the bill argue that this creates more safeguards to America’s election system.

“The U.S. has not adequately enforced federal election requirements that, for example, prohibit states from counting ballots received after Election Day or prohibit noncitizens from registering to vote,” the White House stated.

Follow Frank Sumrall .Ģż³§±š²Ō»åĢżnews tips here.

“Republicans fought hard to not let it pass, but heartless House Democrats passed it anyway,” Anthony Mixer, the Chair of expansion and government affairs for the Washington State Young Republicans.

JUST NOW:

House Appropriations Republicans have WALKED OUT of further proceedings of the Appropriations Committee after it passed SB 5393 (closing the Rainier School).

Republicans fought hard to not let it pass, but heartless House Democrats passed it anyway.

ā€” Anthony Mixer (@AnthonyMixerWA)

The Republican representatives left with five bills remaining to discuss. They were subsequently marked absent for them. A video of the committee meeting can be seen .

“We didn’t come into this meeting planning to walk out, but there comes a moment when you must draw the line,” Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, the ranking Republican on the committee, said. “This bill is one of the most disgusting, cold-hearted proposals I’ve seen in my time in office. It puts lives on the line, plain and simple.”

The legislation intends to relocate the students to community alternatives, but, according to the House Republicans at the committee meeting, the facilities do not have the capacity and often do not provide the level of care needed.

“There are countless ways to find savings in the budget. This is not it,” Couture said. “Washington doesn’t balance its books on the backs of its most vulnerable. Not on our watch. If this bill hits the floor, we’ll fight it with everything we’ve got.”

Previous attempts to stop legislation that would shut down Rainier and Yakima Valley schools

Couture previously pleaded with the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month to bring down the bill, claiming it would harm “vulnerable people.”

“My heart sits in my stomach right now because I know what the outcome of this is going to be,” Couture said, fighting back tears. “Iā€™ve lived personally and professionally in this space, legislatively as well. People will die as a result of this bill. Itā€™s not just a fact, itā€™s also a prediction.”

Couture claimed that Georgia shut down its facilities for developmentally disabled people, and hundreds of people died afterwards.

“Not people like you and me, Mr. Chair, people who canā€™t speak for themselves,” Couture said. “I will do anything to stop this bill. I will work with every single member of this committee.”

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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“Weā€™ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and itā€™s time for them to either say ‘yes’ or for the U.S. to walk away from this process,” Vance told reporters during a visit to Agra, India.

U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D, WA-02) released a statement Wednesday regarding the U.S.’ continued involvement with peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

“In word and in action, the U.S. must continue to stand up for the young democracy in Ukraine. I donā€™t care what President Trump saysā€”Putin started this war and the crisis is not over until Ukraine’s borders are restored and Ukrainians have the freedom to choose their own leaders and future,” Larsen said. “I will continue to advocate for aid to Ukraine in its fight against Putinā€™s war of aggression, and continue to welcome and support Ukrainian families in Northwest Washington and across the U.S.”

U.S. considers Ukraine to cede territory to Russia for peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear earlier this week that ceding any territory to Russia is a “nonstarter” for any potential peace agreement. This follows reports from the Trump Administration mulling over the idea that Russia could keep occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a potential peace agreement.

An official told thereā€™s also acknowledgment by some allies that Russia is firmly entrenched wholly or partially in five regions of Ukraineā€”Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

“The Trump administrationā€™s offer to recognize Crimea as Russian territory is just the latest example of Trump rolling over for Putin,” Larsen continued. “Rewarding Russia for invading a neighbor by providing formal recognition and sanctions relief invites further aggression.”

Zelenskyy said he and Ukraine are ready for any format of negotiations that might bring a ceasefire and open the door to full peace negotiations.

“I commend President Zelenskyy for standing up against Russian aggression and continuing to fight for a free Ukraine,” Larsen said. “American interests are clearā€”standing with our allies and partners, not with Russia.”

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Home sellers gave concessions to buyers in a whopping 71.3% of transactions during the first quarter of 2025, nearly double the mark from a year ago. In 2024, just 36.4% of house real estate transactions included concessions. Not only does Seattle lead all metro regions in 2025, it’s also the largest year-over-year increase among the metros Redfin analyzed.

Seller concessions are a strategic arrangement in a real estate transaction where the seller covers certain costs or fees associated with purchasing a home. This could a number of things, including covering closing costs, repairs for a stretch of time, inspection fees, property taxes, and attorney fees.

Redfin claimed the increase in seller concessions is due to a “sluggish” demand for home purchases, with reasons ranging from the region’s high prices, taxes, and overall economic uncertainty. Redfin reported that 13% of pending home sales were canceled in March.

“Itā€™s super common to see seller concessions for condos and new-construction townhomes, but less so for single-family homesā€”unless the single-family home has been sitting on the market for a while,” Redfin agent Stephanie Kastner said in a press release. “Condos have become a tougher sell because of skyrocketing HOA fees and insurance.”

Nationally, sellers are giving concessions to buyers in 44.4% of the house transactions Redfin has processed in 2025ā€”5% more compared in 2024 and quickly approaching the 45.1% record the first quarter of 2023 set.

(Data submitted by Redfin buyers’ agents)

“Buyers used to ask for concessions to cover little things like repairs. Now theyā€™re negotiating concessions so they can afford to buy a home,” Chaley McVay, aĢżRedfin Premier real estate agent, said. “A lot of sellers are offering money for mortgage-rate buydowns, and I recently had one seller cover seven months of HOA fees for the buyer.”

Other metropolitan areas’ concession rates

Following Seattle, the only major city that cleared 70% of its home sales with a concession, Portland is the next closest at 63.9%, followed by Atlanta (61.5%), San Diego (60.7%), Denver (59.2%), Los Angeles (56.1%), Sacramento (52.5%), Las Vegas (51.9%), Riverside (51.2%), and Phoenix (51.2%).

No other major metropolitan area cleared 50%. The lowest rates of including concessions in home sales were New York (5.5%), San Francisco (14.9%), San Jose (16.7%), Boston (18.7%), and Chicago (26.4%).

In addition to New York having the least overall concessions, it also had the largest year-over-year drop, down 15.7%. The next biggest declines were in Miami (-13.1%),ĢżSan Antonio (-10.9%),ĢżTampa (-9.2%), andĢżPhoenix (-3.5%).

“Housing markets across Florida and Texas have been cooling for a while, and prices are now falling in many parts of those states,” Redfin stated. “Sellers in Florida and Texas have had more time to get used to a slow market, and have started pricing their homes lower from the get-go, meaning they often donā€™t need to offer concessions.”

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Public Health – Seattle and King County reported that the infant traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) last Tuesday while infectious with measles and was at some specific locations at Seattle Childrenā€™s Hospital while contagious.

The infant had not yet been vaccinated against the measles and was likely exposed during a recent trip out of the country.

“Measles outbreaks are happening in every part of the world. If you are planning international travel, itā€™s important to speak with your healthcare provider about what vaccines may be needed,” Elysia Gonzales, medical epidemiologist for Public Health ā€“ Seattle & King County, said. “Children need two doses of MMR vaccine: the first dose at age 12-15 months, and the second dose at age 4-6 years. Babies ages 6-11 months should get an early dose if traveling internationally. Adults should also check to see if they are immune to measles.”

Of the five measles cases in Washington this year, three were infants.

The specific locations where the infant with measles was

On April 15, the infant and their family were at Sea-Tac Airport from 4:50 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. They were at S Concourse (Gate S10), the international arrivals facility for customs, and baggage claim (Carousel 21) before exiting through Gina Marie Hall (south end of main terminal).

Two days later, the family went to Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 5:30 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. Beyond the waiting room, the infant was also in the Forest B level 1 lobby and its pharmacy.

The next day, April 18, the family returned to Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department. From 11:50 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., the infant and the family were in the Ocean 6, 7, and 8 lobbies, the Ocean 7 Starbucks, the Ocean 8 hallway to urgent care, and the Ocean 8 urgent care lobby.

On April 20, from 12:05 pm until 2:25 pm the family visited Ocean 6, 7, and 8 lobbies, the Ocean 8 hallway to urgent care, and the Ocean 8 urgent care lobby at the Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department.

If you were at the locations at the times listed above and are not immune to measles, the most likely timeā€Æyou would become sick would be between April 22 and May 11. People who are immuno-compromised may take longer to experience symptoms.

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Raising Caneā€™s signed a long-term ground lease for a 1.3-acre site on the 27200 block of Covington Way Southeast in Covington, according to filings in King County last week obtained by .

The ground lease is active for 15 years, with four five-year renewal options, the filings revealed. The lease also bars any competitors, including Chick-fil-A and Buffalo Wild Wings, from leasing any property within a one-mile radius of the location.

Raising Cane’s expanding into WA

The fried chicken eatery already had plans of expanding throughout the Puget Sound region, including locations in Seattle, Lynnwood, and Silverdale. The Seattle location is expected to be on University Way Northeast in Seattle’s University District, and will officially open in “late Spring.” The Lynnwood location will be at 1232 164th St. SW.

The Silverdale site has yet to be identified.

Raising Cane’s, founded in Louisiana in 1996, has more than 800 locations in 41 states across the country, but has just recently expanded into Washington. The first Raising Cane’s in Washington opened in July 2024 in Vancouver.

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