Former MyNorthwest Editor

Mayor Harrell announces ‘hot spot’ patrol crime initiative, push to rewrite local gun laws

Mayor Harrell and Chief Diaz announce crime mitigation strategies, including extra patrols in troubled areas and lobbying restrictive gun laws.

3 years ago

Homeless response, housing density take center stage in state Legislature

Gov. Inslee and Mayor Harrell push for a Senate bill designed to move homeless in encampments near right-of-ways into affordable housing.

3 years ago

Push to restrict KC jail bookings likely 鈥榥ot going to come forward,鈥� says councilmember

The King County Council sheds light on the likelihood of the county's jails to restrict bookings while COVID pressure saps labor and saturates jails.

3 years ago

Reformation of Gov. Inslee鈥檚 emergency powers inches toward Senate vote

A Senate bill that checks Gov. Inslee's emergency powers has passed out of committee hearing and heads to a vote on the Senate floor.

3 years ago

鈥極utdoor dining is part of the fabric of our city:鈥� Seattle council moves on free street use

With set up for a longer extension, Seattle City Council has preliminarily approved free street use licensing through January 2023.

3 years ago

Seattle police investigation into lethal shooting sustains policy violations against two officers

Seattle鈥檚 Office of Police Accountability has found that two Port of Seattle police officers involved in a lethal shooting violated policy.

3 years ago

Downtown Seattle group spends $564,000 on private security, more to come for 3rd Avenue

The Downtown Seattle Association spent half a million dollars on private security in the last fiscal year, with additional support to come for Third Avenue.

3 years ago

Gov. Inslee 鈥榥ot excited鈥� about emergency powers reform, thousands voice support

The state Legislature is considering two bills to place checks on Gov. Inslee's use of emergency powers from both sides of the aisle.

3 years ago

Cool ocean waters, abundant nutrients provide rosy outlook for Washington salmon

Scientific markers used to predict the health of marine species such as juvenile salmon were positive in 2021, the second most favorable since 1998.

3 years ago

Report says Echo Glen center, site of recent escape, is understaffed, underfunded

A 2018 report indicates that employees of Echo Glen insist the detention facility is short staffed, and that its counselors are not sufficiently trained.

3 years ago

With divisive vote, Seattle council upholds grocery worker hazard pay ordinance

Reversing its position in December, Seattle council has upheld the city's $4 an hour hazard pay requirement for grocery workers.

3 years ago

Trio of Seattle Starbucks locations now pushing to unionize, claim company is ‘stalling’

With three Seattle Starbucks locations attempting to unionize, Councilmember Sawant introduces a resolution to simplify the organizing process.

3 years ago

Washington ferry cancellations go 鈥榖eyond COVID鈥�: Report highlights systemic staffing issues

The Washington state Legislature outlines why the state ferry staffing model has contributed to crew shortages and cancellations.

3 years ago

International coalition purchases mining rights to 鈥榚cologically sensitive鈥� Skagit River headwaters

The mining company Imperial Metals has sold its stake on the Upper Skagit River to the province of B.C. with assistance from Washington state.

3 years ago

King County officials announce March unsheltered population count

King County Regional Homelessness Authority announces an unsheltered population count in March, the first since the pandemic started.

3 years ago

Statewide upzoning proposal aims for 鈥榮tout’ housing density near mass transit

The state Legislature considers an upzoning bill that establishes minimum density requirements in support of affordable housing.

3 years ago

King County jail 鈥榗risis鈥� prompts joint request for release of non-violent offenders

Public defenders are demanding that King County take immediate action to relieve a short-staffed jail system overburdened with COVID cases.

3 years ago

Settlement over ‘predatory’ practices to erase student debt for over 1,400 Washingtonians

Navient settles a lawsuit with the Washington AG and will pay $45 million to Washingtonians and the state for misleading and predatory lending behavior.