Such questions can seem innocuous, but they reflect a broader misunderstanding of a rich and diverse community, one that can be simultaneously visible and invisible. And they can paper over the pressing needs of the community, such as a strong partnership with law enforcement to prevent and combat violent antisemitism.

The Jewish people represent a tapestry of experiences and identities. Some are deeply religious, while others identify as secular or even atheist. Our community encompasses individuals of all backgrounds — white, black, brown — each with varying degrees of observance and cultural practices. Cooking, family traditions, and a strong connection to Israel are central to many Jewish identities. The overwhelming majority of Jews are Zionists, believing in a profound connection to our homeland. However, this diversity, while enriching, also renders observant Jews more vulnerable to intimidation and violent antisemitism.

Observant Jews can be easily targeted for hate

Observant Jews, easily recognized by the kippah we wear or the tzitzit on our clothing, often find ourselves concentrated in neighborhoods that facilitate walking to synagogue on Shabbat. This presence can, unfortunately, make us easily targeted. Events such as anti-Israel rallies are often staged in Jewish neighborhoods, strategically chosen for maximum impact. Holding these rallies on Saturdays—when observant Jews refrain from using cell phones—adds another layer of hostility.

In the wake of the terror attack on October 7, 2023, the situation has become increasingly dire.

Many protests have featured flags of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, known for their violence against Jews and non-Jews alike. These demonstrations not only serve as psychological warfare against local Jews but also incite further violence. Synagogues and schools have been vandalized, and incidents of intimidation are on the rise. For example, a rock was thrown through a Jewish family’s window simply because they displayed a “Seattle Stands with Israel” sign.

Anti-Jewish violence is on the rise

The reality is stark: visibly identifiable Jews have faced physical violence across North America.

An Orthodox Jewish man was shot multiple times in Chicago while wearing a kippah on the Sabbath. Despite the clear hate crime implications, there was a notable delay in public condemnation of the act. This raises crucial questions: Why is it so difficult to denounce anti-Jewish hatred? Why do vitriolic acts of antisemitism often fade from memory among our non-Jewish neighbors?

Security has become a necessity in nearly every Jewish institution. Attending a Jewish wedding, funeral, or baby naming often requires pre-registration and walking past armed guards. Since October 7, this has escalated to multiple security personnel at events. Gatherings featuring Israeli or pro-Israel speakers are frequently kept secret and must be coordinated closely with law enforcement.

Here’s how we effect change and make our communities safer

To effect change, we must advocate for stronger laws and ensure their enforcement.

For instance, State Representative David Hackney introduced a bill aimed at making protesting on I-5 a felony—an initiative that seems like common sense. Prosecutors must hold offenders accountable. When anti-Israel protestors blocked access to SeaTac Airport last fall, the subsequent dropping of charges only emboldened further criminal behavior, often targeting the most visible segments of the Jewish community. Moreover, police departments and other law enforcement agencies must be equipped with the necessary resources to protect all communities, including the Jewish community.

It is imperative that we collectively strengthen our response to antisemitism, ensuring that our voices are heard and our safety prioritized. Together, we can cultivate an environment where our differences can be safely celebrated, and all individuals can live free from fear and intimidation.

Rabbi David Benchlouch is a special contributor to MyNorthwest. He is the head rabbi of Congregation Ezra BessAroth, a Sephardic synagogue in Seward Park, Seattle, founded by immigrants from the Mediterranean island of Rhodes more than 100 years ago.

The arrests, conducted between Jan. 29 and Feb. 19, targeted individuals with criminal records spanning multiple jurisdictions:

• Jan. 29, Mount Vernon: A Mexican national with DUI and felony DUI convictions from Skagit County District Court.
• Jan. 29, Bellingham: Another Mexican national convicted of DUI by Skagit County District Court.
• Jan. 30, Yakima: A Mexican national convicted of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.
• Feb. 14, Bellevue: A Guatemalan national facing state DUI charges.
• Feb. 19, Lynden: A Mexican national with a lengthy record, including assault convictions from King and Whatcom County Superior Courts, a reckless driving conviction from Whatcom County District Court, and multiple DUI arrests by Washington State Patrol and Federal Way Police Department.

ICE Seattle officials confirmed that all five individuals will remain in custody pending removal proceedings.

More from KTTH: ICE Seattle arrests Salvadoran fugitive wanted for murder in El Salvador

ICE Seattle arrests are part of large enforcement efforts

The arrests highlight ongoing immigration enforcement efforts targeting individuals with criminal histories, particularly those involving public safety risks such as impaired driving.

These actions align with the Trump administration’s intensified focus on immigration enforcement under the leadership of Tom Homan, the appointed “border czar.” Homan, who previously served as acting director of ICE from January 2017 to June 2018, has been a staunch advocate for stringent immigration policies. In his current role, he oversees comprehensive border enforcement strategies, including mass deportations. Homan has the administration’s commitment to removing criminal aliens, stating a goal to “eradicate every criminal migrant from the U.S.”

Related from Jason Rantz: ICE Seattle just nabbed dangerous criminals, but liberal Seattle media remains mostly mum

“Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social Sunday night. “Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel.”

The Dan Bongino Show host has served as the 9 a.m. to noon host on Seattle’s conservative talk radio, KTTH Radio 770 AM. He previously served as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service. His last show is March 14.

Bongino will serve under FBI Director Kash Patel, after a tough confirmation battle late last week.

“He was a member of the New York Police Department (New York’s Finest!), a highly respected Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, and is now one of the most successful Podcasters in the Country, something he is willing and prepared to give up in order to serve,” Trump continued. “Working with our great new United States Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and Director Patel, Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly. Congratulations Dan!”

Thank you Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel.

— Dan Bongino (@dbongino)

Under a little-known policy quietly adopted by many Washington school districts, students as young as 13 can now excuse themselves from school for certain “confidential services” — including mental health treatment, drug and alcohol counseling, STD testing, and even medical procedures. All they have to do is write a note. Teachers accept it, the absence is excused, and your child is free to leave campus, unsupervised.

You won’t be notified. The school won’t ask where they’re going. And under Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) guidance, you don’t even have the right to know.

This policy, known as Procedure 3122P, states:Ìę“Students fourteen years old or older who are absent from school due to testing or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease will notify the school of their absence with a note of explanation, which will be kept confidential. Students thirteen years and older may do the same for mental health, drug or alcohol treatment; and all students have that right for family planning and abortion.”

No doctor’s note. No verification. Just a self-written excuse from a child, and they’re free to leave.

Student Safety vs. Classroom Control: Washington lawmakers debate limits on restraint and isolation

A policy that isolates kids from their families

Think about what this actually means. A young teen can leave school, alone, for medical treatments ranging from psychiatric drugs to gender transition services, from addiction counseling to emergency contraception. No one checks in. No one ensures they’re safe. Parents are completely shut out.

Public schools are supposed to act in loco parents — in place of parents — while children are under their care. But this policy turns that responsibility into a legal loophole. Instead of safeguarding kids, it isolates them from their families. Instead of keeping them accounted for, it sends them out the door with no oversight and no accountability for what happens next.

If that child gets hurt, lost, or worse, wandering the streets alone, does the school bear liability? If a predator takes advantage of a vulnerable teenager leaving campus under the guise of “seeking treatment,” does anyone answer for it? If a child is pressured into taking medication or undergoing a procedure they don’t fully understand, who takes responsibility for the outcome?

The answer, disturbingly, is no one.

Reckless policies put kids’ safety at risk

For decades, mental health laws were designed to help kids in crisis — providing talk therapy, addiction treatment, and support for those truly in need.

But today, “mental health treatment” has expanded far beyond its original intent. Now, it includes psychiatric medications, gender-affirming hormones, and potentially irreversible medical interventions. What was once about helping struggling teens has morphed into a system that fast-tracks life-altering decisions—all without parental knowledge or consent.

Policies like this aren’t just reckless. They fly in the face of what Washington voters just overwhelmingly supported with I-2081, the Parental Bill of Rights Initiative. Parents fought for transparency. They demanded a say in their child’s education and medical decisions. And now, behind closed doors, school bureaucrats are working to strip those rights away — again.

More on MyNW: ICE Seattle announces 3 more ‘significant public threats’ arrested

Removing parents from the equation

This isn’t about protecting kids. It’s about cutting parents out.

Many school boards have already adopted this policy, and others are being quietly pressured to follow suit. Parents need to act now. Search your school district’s policies to see if Procedure 3122P has been implemented. If it has, demand its repeal. If it hasn’t, make sure it never is.

For too long, schools have operated as if they—not parents—know what’s best for kids. But parents are waking up. And they aren’t backing down.

State Representative Travis Couture, R-Allyn, is the Assistant Minority Floor Leader, the ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Committee, and a member of the House Education Committee.

The girl alsoÌęÌęat Abundant Life Christian School, including two students who were in critical condition, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. A teacher and three students were taken to a hospital with less serious injuries, and two of them were later released.

“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. … We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened,” Barnes said.

Police said the shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived and died en route to a hospital. Barnes declined to offer additional details about the shooter, partly out of respect for the family.

Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school — prekindergarten through high school — with approximately 420 students in Madison, the state capital.

Barbara Wiers, the school’s director of elementary and school relations, said when they practice safety routines, leaders always announce that it’s a drill. That didn’t happen Monday, just a week before Christmas break.

“When they heard, ‘Lockdown, lockdown,’ they knew it was real,” she said.

Crime blotter: Covering the crimes committed in the Puget Sound region and beyond

Wiers said the school does not have metal detectors but uses other security measures including cameras.

A motive for the shooting was not immediately known, nor was it clear if the victims were targeted, Barnes said.

“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” he told reporters.

Barnes said police were talking with the shooter’s father and other family members, who were cooperating, and searching the shooter’s home.

“He lost someone as well,” Barnes said of the shooter’s father. “And so we’re not going to rush the information. We’ll take our time and make sure we do our due diligence.”

The first 911 call to report an active shooter came in shortly before 11 a.m. First responders who were in training just 3 miles (about 5 kilometers) away dashed to the school for an actual emergency, Barnes said. They arrived three minutes after the initial call.

Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Police blocked off roads around the school, and federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement. No shots were fired by police.

Children and families were reunited at a health clinic about a mile from the school. Parents pressed children against their chests while others squeezed hands and shoulders as they walked side by side.

Abundant Life asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post. Wiers said they’re still deciding whether they will resume classes this week.

Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.

“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,” Highman said. “There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”

In a statement, President Joe Biden cited the tragedy in calling on Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red flag law and certain gun restrictions.

“We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart,” Biden said. He spoke with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and offered his support.

Evers said it’s “unthinkable” that a child or teacher would go to school and never return home.

Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where multiple deaths were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Photo: Scott Bauer, AP)

The school shooting wasÌęÌęamong dozens across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones inÌę;Ìę; andÌę.

The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms. But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.

Firearms were theÌęÌęamong children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.

Rhodes-Conway said the country needs to do more to prevent gun violence.

“I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” she said.

Rantz Exclusive: Barnes is the top choice for Seattle Police chief

Barnes is reportedly a leading contender for theÌęopen Seattle Police Department chief position, according to a source speaking on the condition of anonymity to “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH. Barnes has been seeking Ìęfor some time. In 2023, he was a finalist for the top job at the Chicago Police Department but ultimately was not selected. By October 2024, speculation arose about his interest in a police chief position in San Jose. However, Barnes publicly stated that the role was not the right fit for him and reaffirmed his commitment to Madison — coincidentally, around the same time Seattle began recruiting candidates for its police chief position.

The current police chief of Madison has been previously investigated for creating a hostile work environment and was reportedly “embroiled in a controversy” over a wrongful raid of a social worker’s home. Just last month, he was accused of failing to disclose a clear conflict of interest in a report he submitted about body-worn cameras.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Jason Rantz, KTTH

sent to “The Jason Rantz Show” on AM 770 KTTH confirmed Chief Avery Moore made the move, “pending the results of an investigation into an allegation made against Junger.”

The statement explained that while it is a policy of the city of Tacoma to encourage its employees to report any allegations of improper actions by officers or employees of the city, because this is a personnel issue, what the city can release to the public is limited.

A full investigation into these allegations will be conducted and any resulting disciplinary action will be shared with the public, the release sent by the city concluded.

New from Tacoma PD: “Tacoma Police Department Chief Avery Moore placed Deputy Chief Paul Junger on paid administrative leave Thursday, October 24, 2024, pending the results of an investigation into an allegation made against DC Junger. It is the policy of the City of Tacoma to


— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz)

Moore himself was placed on administrative leave last month without explanation by City Manager Elizabeth Pauli.

About a week later, Pauli reinstated Moore and explained she placed Moore on leave to investigate potential personal use of an asset belonging to the city of Tacoma and subsequent statements made relating to the use of that asset. Pauli said she concluded counseling Moore and allowed him to return to duty.

While Moore was on leave, Junger served as the interim chief.

Earlier coverage: Tacoma Police Chief Moore returns to work after being placed on leave

Before arriving in Tacoma, Moore worked for 31 years with the Dallas Police Department (DPD).

Junger has served as the TPD’s deputy chief since May 2022. He also worked for the DPD before coming to the Pacific Northwest.

Listen to “The Jason Rantz Show” on weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow Jason Rantz onÌęÌę,ÌęÌęand.

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on , or email him here.

The responded last Thursday to a report of a military-grade rocket in the garage of a home. Police said an Air Force museum in Dayton, Ohio, had called Wednesday evening to report an offer to donate the item, which a neighbor said had been purchased at an estate sale.

Bomb squad members inspected the rusting object and found it was a Douglas AIR-2 Genie (previous designation MB-1), an unguided air-to-air rocket that is designed to carry a 1.5 kt W25 nuclear warhead. There was no warhead attached and there was no rocket fuel — “essentially meaning that the item was an artifact with no explosive hazard.”

“Well, it’s … by definition, by definition it’s not a rocket anymore anyway,” Bryan Suits said Monday on AM 770 KTTH.

According to the Air Force Armament Museum Foundation, the unguided air-to-air rocket was used by the U.S. and Canada during a period of the Cold War when interception of Soviet strategic bombers was a major military concern. In July 1957, a Genie was launched at 18,000 feet from an F89J interceptor and detonated over Yucca Flats, Nevada, the first and only test detonation of a U.S. nuclear-tipped air-to-air rocket.

“By the way, for the record, is there a nuclear bomb in Bellevue? There’s not,” Suits said.

More from Bellevue: Neighbor discovers military-grade rocket in man’s garage

that since the item was inert and the military did not request it back, police left the item with the neighbor to be restored for display in a museum.

“And we think it’s gonna be a long, long time before we get another call like this again,” BPD wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

And we think it’s gonna be a long, long time before we get another call like this again 🚀

— Bellevue, WA Police (@BvuePD)

For more on the rocket, including Bryan discussing a bit of Cold War history and missiles’ past as valuable tax write-offs, or click below.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Bill Kaczaraba, Steve Coogan, MyNorthwest

University of Washington Atmospheric Sciences professor Cliff Mass has looked at the models and knows what’s coming. We will experience potentially historically low temperatures this weekend. But will snow accompany temperatures in the teens?

The American weather model suggested the Seattle area could be hit with up to ten inches of snow. The European model suggested the snow was headed for Portland. Mass says one of these models was correct. Listen below to find out which.

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to theÌępodcast here. Follow Jason onÌę,ÌęÌęandÌę.

Benson has been aÌę contributor since 2013, providing political commentary across and daytime and primetime programming.

He is also the political editor of , which bills itself as “the leading source for conservative news and political commentary and analysis.”

“We’ve loved our connection with KTTH and with the Seattle listening market, Benson said to Jason Rantz, host of The Jason Rantz Show on AM 770 KTTH, during an interview that aired Thursday. “But to move into this slot is, obviously, a huge deal. It’s a big opportunity. We are really honored by it. We hope that the audience will embrace us and get a sense of what our show is all about.”

Throughout his career, Benson also has served as a Media Fellow at and a Visiting Fellow at .

“We’re really, really excited to have you on,” Rantz said to Benson. “I think what you bring to KTTH really get into the workings of what’s going on on (Capitol Hill). You’re based in DC, so we’re going from Washington to the other Washington. You have insider access to a lot of the political debates that are going on.”

During the interview, Rantz also highlighted Benson’s show being a Fox News affiliate what that brings to the table for KTTH listeners.

“You’re also getting a whole lot of access to candidates, both on the presidential side of things, but also some of the national races that we’re paying attention to here in Washington.”

Benson describes his show as a mix of commentary and analysis, and the leading voices in the conservative movement.

Director of News and Talk Programming Bryan Buckalew expressed enthusiasm about the news and believes adding Benson’s show will be good for KTTH.

“We’re really excited to have Guy join the KTTH team,” Buckalew said in a statement. “We think he’ll make a terrific addition to our weekday lineup of programming.”

As part of the upcoming lineup shuffle, KTTH will also add FOX News Radio’s to the weekday overnights. It will air from midnight-3 a.m.

KTTH’s new daytime lineup, starting Jan. 1, will provide listeners with thoughtful political coverage leading up to the pivotal 2024 presidential election.

• Bryan Suits: 6-9 a.m.
• Dan Bongino: 9 a.m.-noon
• Guy Benson: Noon-3 p.m.
• Jason Rantz: 3-7 p.m.
• Ben Shapiro: 7-8 p.m.

Featuring three giant swimming pools, a “white-water” canal 300 feet long, three thrilling water slides, ponds with pedalos, a restaurant, a cafĂ©, and a quiet area shaded by a tent where adults could sit on carpets and listen to pop music, the project sought to charm patrons of every age. According to The Guardian in the UK, the Fun Park played a key role as part of an “entertainment circuit” hoping to draw well-heeled visitors to seaside cafĂ©s, the Gaza Mall, and horseback riding at the Faisal Equestrian Club adjacent to the Fun Park.

According to a glossy feature in Egypt’s Al Ahram, Crazy Water was “one of a rapidly growing grand group of Gaza leisure parks, including the Al Bustan resort and the Bisan City tourist village. A sense of absolute prosperity prevails, as manifested by the grand resorts along and near Gaza’s coast.”

This notion of “absolute prosperity” hardly comports with coverage in the world press of Gaza’s oppressed and unfortunate state, but the optimism in 2010 seemed widespread and genuine. Israel, which had ruled the Strip since its victory in the , had moved all of its military and law enforcement personnel, along with 8,000 Jewish settlers, out of the area and turned over the responsibility for running Gaza to local Palestinian leaders, openly encouraging them to develop the self-governing entity they had been demanding for decades.

Unfortunately, the abrupt Israeli withdrawal led directly to a minor war between the established officials of the Palestinian Authority who were affiliated with Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement and the newly organized religious radicals of Hamas. The ruthless Islamist revolutionaries quickly prevailed and took full power at the same time the dreamers and planners were completing Crazy Water and other entertainment or relaxation venues.

Medved to Hamas: ‘What are you trying to achieve other than killing Jews?’

Needless to say, the clerics who ran Hamas at the time had no interest in water slides and resort villages, and much preferred to concentrate their efforts and resources on attacking Israel, killing Jews and purifying the Islamic practice of the local inhabitants.

In that context, the officials closed Crazy Water for three days in August 2010 as a warning against continuing the hideously un-Islamic indulgence of permitting men and women to “mingle” while visiting the Fun Park. In other words, some of the devout leaders of Hamas worried the Fun Park might be offering the wrong kind of fun.

As it turned out, Hamas imposed a longer, more carefully policed closure in September, shutting Crazy Water for 21 days. In the middle of that span, “40 masked militants” (as newspapers described them) , broke everything they could seize and shatter, and used gasoline to set fire to the restaurants, administration buildings, and the plastic water slides themselves. Israel’s Haaretz reported the director-general of Crazy Water, Alladein al-Araj, filed a statement that the thugs also tied the hands of the security guards and beat them severely.

After barely three months of operation, the dream of a fanciful facility to attract tourists and delight locals lay in ruins, with devastating damage that discouraged any inclination to attempt repairs. Most of the other efforts to take advantage of Gaza’s genuinely scenic beaches similarly collapsed, with restaurants, cafĂ©s, and souvenir shops promptly shuttered by governmental decrees. The common assumption, inside and outside the Strip, held that the 40 masked marauders who wrecked Crazy Water had been sent by the Hamas leadership to put an end to any Palestinian attempts to enjoy themselves. It turned out the only word in the grand title “Crazy Water Fun Park” that actually applied to the project was “crazy.”

Medved in late 2022: Why the sudden rise in antisemitism?

It’s also terribly sad and makes it clear the madmen in Hamas are not only warmed by their bloodlust against Israelis but disfigured by their utter contempt for the ordinary Palestinians they rule. In this context, the tendency to sacrifice innocent civilians as human shields and to deliberately draw Israeli bombing raids against apolitical families seems to show an evil consistency with their insistence on prohibiting any enjoyment of a well-meaning water park 13 years ago.

The horrors that shocked the world in the most recent Hamas explosion of terrorism are, for them, only one more battle in a long war. In the end, it’s not a war against Israel alone; it’s a war against decency and civilization. And as the sad tale of Crazy Water demonstrates, it is also a never-ending war against fun.

Listen to Michael Medved weekday afternoons from 12-3 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3).

The , a chemical-free, no-till weed control solution for specialty crops, can eliminate over 200,000 weeds per hour and offer up to 80% cost savings in weed control, according to Carbon Robotics.

“We have what’s called a deep learning neural net,” , the CEO of Carbon Robotics, told Jason Rantz on KTTH 770 AM. It’s this subset of AI. And this computer is trained on a lot of images, 1000s of images with pictures from farm fields, where we know what the weeds are, and we know what the crops are. And we know what we’d like to eliminate. And then we plug that AI system into a series of lasers that we have a millimeter level of control over where it’s going to hit on the ground. And the AI targets the weeds and burns them out of the farmer’s fields.”

More on WA farming: 12-year-old charged with arson at Lacey mushroom farm

The LaserWeeder is installed with 150W CO2 lasers with millimeter accuracy, ready to fire every 50 milliseconds.

“They don’t have to spray herbicides. They don’t have to hire farm workers to come out there and pull these weeds,” Mikesell continued. “The robot just takes care of it on its own. And it’s been incredibly effective.”

The LaserWeeder was crowned 2023’s “Ìęfor its time-saving efficiency — lowering costs of labor — in the sixth annual AI Breakthrough Awards program conducted by AI Breakthrough. Labor accounted for 28.2% of a modern farmer’s total expenses, according to .

The average farm LaserWeeder has worked on has been approximately 4,000 acres in size, but the device can even be handy on smaller farms of sub-1,000 acres. Mikesell stressed the invention’s risk of fire is non-existent.

“In AI, and just technology generally, most of it has been developed in the context of Washington state. It’s developed largely in Seattle for Seattle users,” Mikesell said. “One of the things I’m really proud of is we’re developing the technology in Seattle, with all the software, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering talent we have here, but it’s to be used in places like Richmond, Othello, and Kennewick so folks can grow better, healthier food at better costs for the entire state.”

More on WA farming: Monroe farm forced to close for months after losing its entire flock to bird flu

Mikesell stated the company is working on future projects using AI technology to improve the struggles of running a modern farm. The LaserWeeders are primarily located in eastern Washington and California — two of the biggest vegetable-growing regions in the country — but sales have started to spring in places like Europe and Australia.

Washington became one of the first states to pass legislation curbing the freedom AI technology had at its launch. Governor Jay Inslee signed a into law in May that regulates the use of synthetic media in campaigns for elective office, citing the need to protect the integrity of our democratic process and limit the influence of manipulative media.

While AI technology can seem endless in its potential, one of its earliest and most effective uses is speeding up the process of medical screenings, particularly making cancer imaging faster, more accurate, and more informative, according to the . For cancer treatments, doctors use imaging tests to find the disease at its earliest stages within patients, determining a tumor’s stage and surveying if the patient’s cancer has returned.

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). He is the author of the bookÌę.ÌęSubscribe to the podcast. Follow @JasonRantz onÌę,Ìę, andÌę. Check back frequently for more news and analysis.

“Chief Diaz said the highest number of guns Seattle Police Department (SPD) has recovered in any five-month period was in the first five months of this year, 629 guns by the end of May,” host Bryan Suits said on KTTH 770 AM in response to the story. “That’s the highest number of guns recovered in a five-month period, putting the department on pace to meet or exceed the 2018 record of 1,408 guns recovered in a single year.”

More from Suits: Hunter Biden is getting special treatment in plea deal

The SPD announced the formation of a community violence task force last June in response to increasing levels of crime in the summer months, with Aurora Avenue, downtown, the Central District, and the city’s South End being the task force’s main priorities.

“The other issue that they’re dealing with are what are called the 80% guns, which are now totally illegal in Washington,” Suits said. “But these are guns that come as a kit. They’re 80% completed. You have to do some drilling and then drop some parts in. And it’s a bit of a crapshoot. It may work, it may not.”

“So, for instance, the teens that were seen robbing 7-Eleven last week, and the two with the guns who decided to just randomly shoot the cashier and a patron of the 7-11. But the guns were not functioning, and they were receding the magazine and stuff like this. They were trying to make the weapons function,” Suits said. “They were not functioning, I would bet pounds to donuts that they were kit guns that they probably bought from someone for 400 bucks or whatever. They never took them out to the woods and test-fired them or whatever you do.”

Listen to the full discussion above.

Listen to the Bryan Suits Show weekday mornings from 6-9 a.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Hunter did not pay any federal income tax in 2017 and 2018, for which he owed more than $100,000 in taxes each year. He also admitted to owning a firearm despite admitting to using drugs, which disqualified him from legal ownership.

KTTH Freedom Series: WA still suffering from crime, homelessness

“I also wonder if Hunter is agreeing to plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and a gun charge to hopefully swipe the rest of his misdeeds under the rug?” Producer Greg Tomlin theorized about the reason why Hunter made the plea.

As far as the gun charge is concerned, many Republicans are outraged that Hunter Biden is not facing any charges, saying that the President’s son is getting special treatment. Chairman Alan Gottlieb released a statement following the announcement saying that the public should be outraged by the Department of Justice’s decision.

“Why should anybody respect any gun laws if the president’s son gets a pass,”Ìę Gottlieb questioned. “The American public should be outraged at what amounts to a deplorable double standard. It is important to note that none of the gun prohibition lobbying groups have uttered a word of condemnation. This fact alone shows what hypocrites they are, and what a hypocrite Joe Biden is. Their silence is deafening.”

Suits said that this was a known problem with the background check system and that it’s not a surprise that Biden was able to illegally get a gun.

“That’s one of the great weaknesses in the federal background check is you can lie about the mental health piece, you can lie about the drug addiction piece or drug user piece,” Suits said. “And they don’t. There’s not a background check for mental health.”

More from Bryan Suits: Amazon employees ‘make it sound like they’re being discriminated against’

As far as the political implications for the upcoming 2024 election, Suits said that the distrust in these systems is very high because these instances of certain political figures seemingly getting special treatment.

“They’re trying to make the laptop go away and all the evidence. The Right is already ultra suspicious of the FBI,” Suits said. “And now, as of today, the Left gets to be suspicious of Merrick Garland and the FBI.”

Listen to the Bryan Suits Show weekday mornings from 6–9 a.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to theÌępodcast here.

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Rantz: Equity director fired after racist comment about Mexicans

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“What’s Killing America” is available for now, and will be on sale online, digitally, and in bookstores everywhere September 2023.

“They make it sound like they’re being discriminated against because they have to come to work,” Bryan Suits said on KTTH 770 AM.

In addition to the mandate blindsiding the employees, others used the rally to voice their anger and concerns over finding out about the layoffs from news reports and the lack of clarity from senior leaders about the overall mission of the company.

More from Suits: Enabling drug addicts is called ‘harm reduction’ in Seattle

“I’ll stipulate this. If your employer is now requiring you to actually show proof of employment, and you had two and a half or three years off, and this is your introduction to downtown Seattle, that would be shocking,” Suits continued. “I get that if you go from Woodinville, you may be getting your kombucha and your kale salad, and then suddenly, your employer actually expects you to be there physically instead of on Zoom — this would be shocking.”

Listen to Suits’ full breakdown of the walkout here:

KTTH Freedom Series: WA still suffering from crime, homelessness

Listen to the Bryan Suits Show weekday mornings from 6 – 9 a.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.

The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) said the four remaining inmates from the Echo Glen juvenile facility have been captured. The Jason Rantz Show on KTTH first reported the captures early Tuesday.

Seven juveniles escaped the detention center early Sunday.

Just after midnight, seven inmates allegedly assaulted a staff member during nightly checks and stole her car keys.

Overnight the remaining four juveniles were captured by Clark County Sheriff’s Offfice and are now in custody. Thank you to . The investigation into the events surrounding the escape of the seven juveniles is still ongoing and active.

— King County Sheriff’s Office PIO (@kingcosoPIO)

They then stole the staff member’s car, and some escaped the facility. The campus was secured, and all other inmates have been accounted for.

Two of the seven escapees were at the detention center for murder.

The KCSO, with the assistance of the Washington State Patrol, took captured three of the juveniles on Sunday night.

The remaining four escapees were arrested on Monday by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Rantz: Echo Glen youth inmates armed with shanks ignited fire, demanded McDonald’s

Just after midnight Sunday, seven inmates allegedly assaulted a staff member during nightly checks and stole her car keys.

They then stole the staff member’s car, and some escaped the facility. The campus was secured, and all other inmates have been accounted for.

EXCLUSIVE: Another late PM/early AM incident at Echo Glen.

I’m told up to seven juveniles assaulted staff, stole a staff member’s car, and some escaped. A source tells me youth are still at large, but King County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t confirmed. đŸ§”

— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz)

The vehicle the juveniles stole was a white Chevrolet Equinox that was also recovered.

Major Crimes detectives are actively investigating the incident. The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is assisting with the investigation and are evaluating procedures to see what happened in the incident.

“We were birthed out of frustration, why are there needles everywhere and trash in our parks and green spaces?” Suarez said. “We just started picking up the trash and found a lot of truth and doing that built trust. The No. 1 reason they’re committing crimes is to feed their addiction. Sometimes I wonder, are they the criminal? Or is it their perpetrator, their pimp, and we don’t talk enough about the upstream crime that puts that person where they’re at, that’s preying on that vulnerable person in the throes of their addiction.”

KTTH Freedom Series: State policies created WA crime crisis

We Heart Seattle is a grassroots coalition, according to Suarez, that was founded in 2021. The organization has picked up approximately one million pounds of trash while aiding more than 175 people off the streets with privately funded donations from volunteers.

“I think it’s important to point out there’s the homeless industrial complex,” Suits said during the forum. “On the West Coast of the U.S., common sense comes to bat after everyone else has struck out.”

“Imagine being a cop who sees a bunch of political prosecution of cops who sees political leaders and leadership in their own chain throwing you under the bus or not caring about you. What are your chances of having your best day at your job?” Betts said. “Imagine going call to call to call, you’re four hours late, and you didn’t sign up not to do your job. The chances that you’re going to provide the level of service that everybody’s paying the taxes for, it’s not good.”

While Seattle and other cities in the Puget Sound region are struggling to maintain police staffing over the last five years, the City of Kent has a nearly fully-staffed police department, but it’s still not enough according to Ralph.

KTTH Freedom Series: Seattle, Bellevue have dramatically different approaches to crime

“We are fully staffed for the number of officers we have a budget for, which is very different than being a fully-staffed police department,” Ralph said. “Data shows that Washington state is 51st in staffing per capita for police. 51st. Let that sink in.”

Listen to the full discussion below:

“Most of it, all of it. Absolutely all the reform,” Troyer said in response to how much blame should be put on the state’s laws limiting law enforcement. “All the no chasing cars, letting all the kids go. We’ve had three sets of shootings and robberies, all juvenile kids and stolen cars. Every one of them, I’ll bet you when we catch them, has been in jail multiple times in the last year. A catch-and-release thing, especially with juveniles.”

KTTH Freedom Series: Seattle, Bellevue have dramatically different approaches to crime

“I think politics has absolutely negatively impacted policing,” Mead added. “As soon as politics gets involved in most things, it tends to negatively impact that thing. But specifically, with community safety and policing, you see policies that tie some of our officers’ hands behind their backs when they’re trying to go out in the community and keep people safe.”

Governor Inslee recently signed a new police pursuit law that will roll back some restrictions from previous laws limiting when police in Washington could engage in a pursuit. An officer now needs just “reasonable suspicion” to start a police pursuit rather than “probable cause” of a violent crime.

Similarly, Inslee signed a bill defining drug possession in Washington state as a gross misdemeanor instead of a misdemeanor after calling for a special legislative session.

“I think if there’s a way that if you have a first offense or first couple of offenses, you’ve got to be able to figure out how to restore somebody back into the community because you don’t want it to always be a punishment system,” Diaz said during the forum. “However, you do have to have accountability. Sometimes that is jail honestly. Taking somebody to jail is going to save their life because they’ve been involved at a shooting scene multiple times, and they are going to be the next victim.”

On May 11, a Drug Task Force K-9 named Sully and his handler were assisting with a search warrant at an Everett apartment. Sully and his handler entered the apartment, and after about 10 minutes, Sully indicated several areas in the apartment with illegal drugs.

Rantz: Seattle partners admit funding fentanyl pipes over treatment

Sully was returned to his crate in the police car while officers conducted a second search. Around 15 minutes later, Sully was found unresponsive in his kennel.

Sully was normally “very hyper,” so his handler knew something was off, and after trying to wake him up, the officer administered Narcan to the unconscious K-9 and called for backup.

They drove Sully to the emergency veterinarian, and upon arrival, he started to wake up.

Medical staff checked his vitals and monitored him for some time before releasing him. He has since made a full recovery.

Talking to Jason Rantz on KTTH, Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney praised the handler for their quick thinking in the situation.

“We followed up with a drug task force, and they got a whole bunch of fentanyl pills out of the hands of the people who are distributing that stuff. But a police dog almost died making that happen,” Fortney said. “I mean, just a small exposure like that police dog and that dog almost died yesterday. If it wasn’t for the quick actions of the handler, that dog would be dead.”

A video was later shared on the of Sully running around and playing.

A large number of drugs were seized from the apartment, including cocaine, meth, heroin, and fentanyl.

Task Force detectives also discovered there was a toddler living inside the apartment at the time.

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here.

The office said the reason for Johnson’s dismissal is due to “high vacancy rates, high employee turnover, and budgetary concerns,” as well as a “lack of stability.” Mike Faulk, Press Secretary for the Governor’s Office, confirmed in an email to KTTH’s Jason Rantz that Johnson was “provided the opportunity to resign and chose separation instead.”

UPDATE: Gov’s office tells me they gave Dr. Johnson (she/her/Beloved) the option of resigning but she chose separation.

A spokesperson makes Beloved not seem like a great person to work for: “…the office has experienced a lack of stability in agency operations and the work


— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz)

Johnson, who has a doctorate in Urban Services, was appointed as the founding director of the state agency when it was formed in March 2021.

Johnson said that while she did not resign, fired isn’t the right word to describe her departure. Johnson told MyNorthwest the office needed new leadership going forward, and while she was not aware of any issues of employee turnover or budgeting while she was director, she wants the office to continue their work in the name of equity.

“I am absolutely blessed that I got to do this job, and I stand by what I did, and I stand by the community that I was trying to help in my tenure at the Office of Equity,” Johnson said. “I would hope that [Gov. Inslee] continues to provide employees across the state the opportunities that they deserve and continue the work of accountability to make everyone’s lives better.”

Johnson emphasized that she did the job she was hired to do and says that while her role in the office has ended, the fight for equity will continue and that she hopes the office will hold state agencies accountable.

Gov. Inslee signs new $69.2B state budget ‘out of necessity’

“[Johnson] launched this ground-breaking office and contributed greatly to starting this important work,” Faulk said in a statement. “We remain committed to the work and the success of this office moving forward. We determined this will require new leadership.”

The governor’s office said Michaela Doelman, State Chief Human Resources Officer, would take over the agency in the interim as they search for a new director.

Inslee’s Chief of Staff Jamila Thomas said in a message to Office of Equity staff that the governor’s office was thankful for Johnson’s contributions and reaffirmed the importance of the office.

“We’ve seen how important this agency’s work is, and how we all play a role in achieving our shared goal of helping everyone in Washington flourish and achieve their full potential. I applaud your leadership and commitment to ensuring we center equity across the enterprise,” Thomas said. “We all have a responsibility to promote access to equitable opportunities and resources that will reduce disparities and improve outcomes for all Washingtonians.”

, the Washington State Office of Equity exists to facilitate policy and systems change to promote equitable policies, practices, and outcomes to streamline service delivery and improve the customer experience through:

1. Agency decision making
2. Community involvement
3. Technical assistance and training to agencies
4. Maintaining data and establishing performance metrics.
5. Accountability