The media outlet stated that Stanley Zhong and his father filed civil rights complaints against the UW, University of Michigan, Cornell University, and the UC system.

According to Fox News, the two allege “racially discriminatory admissions practices that disadvantage highly qualified Asian-American applicants.”

Stanley, reported the media outlet, was first recruited to Google at 13 years old, qualified as a finalist in several coding competitions, and ranked in the 9% of his graduating class, with a 4.42 GPA and 1590 SAT score.

UW deals with budget cuts, revoked visas

Last week, in an op-ed that the UW is demanding the UW College of Arts and Sciences make immediate cuts.

According to the student newspaper, Dean Dianne Harris announced immediate 5% cuts on top of previously planned 7% cuts. Additionally, the 5% cuts must be achieved by June 30. The media outlet explained that UW is planning to lay off staff across departments, which the newspaper believes could threaten the school’s mission to expand education and research.

The UW also came under fire at the beginning of the month when the Trump administration revoked the visas of nine students and recent graduates. The college said it didn’t learn of the visa cancellations until the university checked the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which contains international student records.

“No additional information or details were provided, but we have no indication these actions are due to activism or other protected free speech,” UW said in a prepared statement. “We are also not aware of any immigration officials coming to UW campuses related to this situation.”

Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

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The attorney’s office stated 32-year-old Louis Montel De’Andre Dowers faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.

Dowers was arrested on June 9, 2024, hours after he carjacked a man waiting for his wife outside the Seattle Team Shop on Occidental Avenue South. Dowers approached the car, pulled out a gun, pointed it at the man, and ordered him to get out of the car, saying, “It’s mine now. Get out.”

The attorney’s office stated the man was able to get his dog out of the car before Dowers drove off. The man’s wife came out of the store and was nearly hit by the car as it sped off.

Police arrest Seattle man for carjacking

Police then tracked the car to Auburn, near a middle school. A King County Sheriff’s deputy saw Dowers walking nearby. Dowers was subsequently searched, leading police to find a fully loaded semi-automatic “ghost gun.” Dowers later admitted he used the gun in the carjacking.

According to the attorney’s office, carjacking is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and using a gun during a violent crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to life in prison.

The case was investigated by several agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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According to BPD, , police arrested the 44-year-old man, who is a band teacher at Bothell High School, on one felony count of sexual misconduct with a minor in the first degree and one felony count of communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

The alleged crimes took place in 2015 and 2016, while the woman was a student at the school.

“She is fully cooperating with our detectives in this active investigation,” BPD wrote.

The department said at this time, there are no indications of other victims, but it remains a possibility.

“We are concerned,” wrote BPD.

Those with information are asked to call the department’s tip line at 425-487-5551 with case #25-2470. Or report .

MyNorthwest does not name suspects until they are officially charged.

A news release from the AG’s Office on Thursday explained the website, , is a tool for survivors and community members to learn about what to do after a sexual assault, connect with local resources, and report sexual assaults to law enforcement.

“Our work to eliminate the backlog of sexual assault kits statewide means more evidence has been tested and more crimes have been solved,” AG Nick Brown said via the release. “People who experience sexual assault are not alone in Washington. We are launching the Seek Then Speak website to make sure survivors of sexual assault can access local resources and reporting tools as they seek justice.”

Sexual assault reporting website offers alternative

Special Assault Unit Supervisor at the Yakima Police Department, Sergeant Ryan Yates, added that the website is another outlet for survivors to report.

“There are many reasons that survivors may be afraid to disclose a sexual assault; Seek Then Speak offers an additional opportunity to learn about resources and report their experience to law enforcement,” Yates said. “One size does not fit all; we need to offer new ways for survivors to reach out so that every person can report in a way that helps them feel safe.”

According to the news release, the AG’s Office has two criminal justice division units and one policy team dedicated to investigating sexual assaults.

To learn more about each unit, .

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Jeffrey Zizz was charged Wednesday with murder in the first degree (premeditated), murder in the first degree (felony murder), kidnapping in the first degree, and unlawful disposal of remains, according to charging documents from the Thurston County Superior Court.

According to reporting from ����Xվ 7, Marcia Norman was found buried beneath a shed Zizz was hired to build for her.

Thurston County woman reported missing on April 4

The media outlet stated Norman, who lived alone, was first reported missing on April 4 after missing several appointments. Norman’s son told law enforcement his mother had concerns about Zizz after she awoke to find him at the foot of her bed. However, the incident was never reported to police.

����Xվ 7 stated text messages showed Norman invited Zizz to dinner on April 1, to which he told detectives he left her property, only for security footage to show he returned to her home multiple times on April 2.

During a search of Zizz’s home, detectives said they found a five-page typed letter outlining a planned burglary and sexual assault of a woman he worked for. Law enforcement subsequently found Norman’s remains, revealing she was tied at the wrists and ankles and died from blunt force trauma.

Zizz was arrested and remains in custody.

Contributing: ����Xվ 7

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RPD posted about the incident Monday. According to police, witnesses reported shots were fired in the store, and that a male shooter and another man left the area after a verbal altercation.

Redmond police are on the scene of a reported shots fired at Safeway in the 17200 block of Redmond Way.

At approximately 2:55 p.m. on April 21, witnesses reported shots were fired in the store and a male shooter and two other males had left the area after a verbal altercation.…

— RedmondWaPD (@RedmondWaPD)

Fortunately, no injuries were reported and RPD stated there is no threat to the public.

Police are actively investigating and have asked anyone with information on the incident to call RPD at 425-556-2500.

Washington ranked No. 6 on the list of states where households spend the most on groceries. Coming in at No. 1 was Utah, No. 2 Alaska, and No. 3 Hawaii. Illinois came in last at No. 51. Utah households spent an average of $11,884 on groceries in 2023.

According to data from LendingTree, the average Washington household spends $10,202 on groceries—a 24.9% difference from the national average. LendingTree found Americans spend an average of $8,167 on groceries.

However, when looking at the list of states that spend the largest share of household income on groceries, Washington ranks No. 23, with Washington households spending 7.9% of their income on groceries.

LendingTree looks at grocery spending, organic prices

LendingTree’s study also reviewed the price of buying organic. It found organic fruits and vegetables cost an average of 52.6% more than non-organic. Organic iceberg lettuce was the worst culprit, coming in at 179% more ($2.17 more) than the non-organic version.

“We’ve come to expect organic fruits and veggies to cost more, but paying a 50.0% premium can be pretty hard to swallow,” LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz stated in LendingTree’s study. “When stubborn inflation is making everything else more costly and shrinking people’s financial wiggle room, paying extra for fruits and vegetables may prove a bridge too far.”

LendingTree also found that the price of organic fruits and vegetables rose 2.4% from January 2024 to January 2025. The price of non-organic fruits and vegetables also rose, but slightly higher at 2.5%.

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According to a from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Wednesday, 9 people have been sentenced to prison and 2 to probation after law enforcement discovered the drug ring.

Court records, stated the news release, explained that in 2023, Idaho State Police detectives got a tip that Austin Lee was distributing large quantities of fentanyl in southern Idaho. Investigators then facilitated multiple purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Lee and other co-conspirators, including Jamie Coltrin, Jenika Johnson, Brandon Dana, Tina Morris, and Daniel Coltrin.

The investigation then expanded to include Lee’s Mexico-based drug supplier and gave way to additional co-conspirators, revealing that parolees were recruited into the conspiracy after being released from prison. This led investigators to identify Arafat Ramirez, Rosa Ramirez, Laila Ramirez-Martinez, Sammy Martinez, and Rachel Dixon—who helped traffic fentanyl from the U.S.-Mexico border to Idaho.

Idaho fentanyl bust leads to seizure of over 45,000 fentanyl pills

According to the attorney’s office, the investigation led to the seizure of 48,000 fentanyl pills and four pounds of methamphetamine.

“This significantly hindered the flow of fentanyl into Idaho, and the Magic Valley area,” the news release stated.

David. F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division, noted that two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose.

“The amount of fentanyl seized in this case had the potential to kill more than 46,000 people, that would more than fill the football stadium at Boise State,” Reames said, via the release.

Officials also noted that the investigation involved 10 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

For more details on each sentencing, .

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TPD released bodycam footage, , of the arrest of a man who reportedly acted like he was “working” at a bank before setting the counter on fire.

Tacoma man allegedly threatens employees, tries to steal car

The incident began with a disturbance at a local department store, where TPD said the man set a fire, sprayed a fire extinguisher at surveillance cameras, stabbed a charging station, and threatened employees.

Officers reported that the man then tried to steal a nearby car.

“When that didn’t work, he decided he wanted to ‘work’ at a nearby bank on Union Street,” TPD wrote.

Once inside the bank, according to police, the man claimed to have a bomb that caused all the employees to run out of the bank and lock him inside.

Authorities arrived at the bank and as they approached the man, he reportedly looked up and asked, “How can I help you today?” before setting a fire on the counter.

Officers were able to take the man into custody. TPD said he was booked into the Pierce County Jail for multiple felony charges.

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According to the media outlet, law enforcement deployed a flashbang at the Farwest Motel,  where two people had reportedly barricaded themselves inside.

The Everett Police Department stated Friday that Region 1 SWAT was responding to a shooting incident.

The shooting involved the two barricaded subjects at the motel in the 6000 block of Evergreen Way. The owner of the Farwest Motel confirmed to ����Xվ Newsradio that a SWAT team was dealing with a situation but did not provide details.

Contributing: ����Xվ 7

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Health officials stated the individual traveled through the Seattle-Tacoma International (Sea-Tac) Airport and stayed overnight at a nearby hotel on April 6 and 7.

The person went from the airport’s S Concourse (Gate S10), to the International Arrivals Facility through Customs, baggage claim (Carousel 20), and exited the airport through Gina Marie Hall (southernmost exit, near international airlines) from around 5:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. on April 6.

From 8:45 p.m. on April 6 to 7 a.m. on April 7, the person was at the Comfort Suites Tukwila Airport on Fun Center Way. Then on April 7, from 4:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., the person was back at Sea-Tac Airport, S Concourse (Gate S1).

The Snohomish County Health Department noted these times account for two hours before and after the person was at the locations because the virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after the infected person leaves the area.

Elysia Gonzales, Medical Epidemiologist for Public Health – Seattle and King County, emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated.

“Measles is highly contagious and if you don’t have immunity, you can get it just by being in an area where a person with measles has been,” Gonzales said via the news release. “We’ve seen an increase in measles cases around the world and in the U.S., so it’s an important time to check your vaccination status and get vaccinated if you aren’t protected.”

Snohomish County Health Dept. lists measles symptoms

Symptoms of measles include fever, rash, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

Anyone who may have been potentially exposed would find out if they are up-to-date on their MMR vaccinations and call a healthcare provider if they develop symptoms. Health officials added that people should not go to a clinic or hospital without first calling them and letting the office know they want to be checked for measles.

Those exposed would become sick anytime between April 13 and April 28.

Earlier this month, a measles case was confirmed in an infant in Snohomish County who was also believed to have been exposed while traveling abroad.

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On Tuesday, the Seattle City Council voted 6-0 to approve , amending regulations for after-hours nightlife lounges. The city now requires the establishment maintain two security guards, have video surveillance, draft a safety plan, allow entry by police officers during business hours, and stay up-to-date on all city and state permits and licenses.

“This new law gives City officials real tools to shut down illegal venues tied to gun violence and disorder,” Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson said, via a news release. “Pair this new law with the dozen bills we’ve passed over the last year and it sends a clear message: we take our public safety responsibilities seriously.”

, Capri Bar off Rainier Avenue South decided to permanently close after receiving a public nuisance order from the city, following a deadly shooting last month that killed two people. Prosecutors said Leontai Berry, 25, shot two people near the lounge. He is now charged with first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a gun. He’s currently being held on a $5 million bail.

The lounge has also been connected to previous violence, including a March 9 argument that led to a shooting, reported Seattle Police.

Seattle lounges have history of violence

According to the Seattle City Council, the new regulations will affect around 20-30 establishments throughout Seattle.

“Thank you to the Seattle City Council members who voted to enact this legislation to address establishments known for attracting gun violence,” Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison said via a news release. “I believe this tool will address the rise of place-specific gun violence caused by unlicensed venues. This legislation can’t come soon enough for our city as we look to save lives.”

The Seattle Council noted in its news release that the city has experienced at least 38 nightlife shootings since last year, including more than a dozen between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. However, the new rules will not apply to restaurants, licensed adult entertainment establishments, licensed all-ages dance venues, theaters, or sports and recreation facilities.

Contributing: ����Xվ 7; Luke Duecy, ����Xվ Newsradio

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According to , Starbucks will launch a new iced horchata oatmilk shaken espresso sometime next month. The drink is set to combine the flavors of Mexico, prominently cinnamon and milk, with the company’s staple coffee.

The coffee giant is also bringing back its summer-berry refreshers, which were launched last summer.

“The three drinks feature a blend of berry flavors—including notes of blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry—all poured over a serving of its limited-time raspberry-flavored popping pearls,” Tasting Table wrote.

Also debuting this summer is a new strawberries and cream cake pop, the media outlet reported.

According to , this drop marks the first since Starbucks’ spring line, which includes a lavender oat milk latte and lavender oat milk matcha. The media outlet also cited food blogger Markie Devo, who believes the new summer menu will drop on May 20.

Starbucks enforcing dress code, along with launching summer menu

Starbucks announced earlier this week that the company is tightening its dress code to better show off its green aprons.

In-store workers will be required to wear solid black short or long-sleeved crewneck, collared, or button-up shirts and any shade of khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms.

“Since 1987, the green apron has been the symbol for Starbucks Coffee Company, representing the hundreds of thousands of retail partners in North America who connect with customers every day,” the company wrote in . “That’s why, starting May 12, we’re evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine.”

The AG’s Office is accusing Seattle Public Schools of failing to provide legally required accommodations for pregnant and nursing employees, as stated in Tuesday.

“The office’s investigation found Seattle Public Schools routinely failed to provide legally required accommodations to pregnant and nursing employees such as flexible restroom breaks, modified work schedules, and the ability to sit more frequently,” the AG’s Office wrote in its release. “One employee, while eight months pregnant, was unable to sit her entire workday.”

According to the AG’s Office, the practices affected employees across various schools over several years. The investigation also showed that Seattle Public Schools did not have a district-level policy for how to handle pregnancy accommodation requests from employees.

Lawsuit claims Seattle Public Schools employees developed infections

The AG’s Office said the district also failed to provide necessary break time to express milk, along with clean, private locations for nursing employees to pump.

“Employees were walked in on while expressing milk, endured painful clogged ducts, and experienced infections like mastitis,” the news release stated. “One employee felt ‘they had no choice but to take leave to continue breastfeeding,’ according to the complaint.”

The lawsuit further claims the district broke state law by retaliating against employees who requested reasonable accommodations by not paying employees and leaving them without benefits during or immediately after their pregnancies.

“These employees suffered mentally, physically, and financially because of the school district’s actions,” Attorney General Nick Brown said via the release. “The Legislature has been clear that employers must accommodate the health needs of their pregnant and nursing workers, which is why Washington has laws banning employers from doing what Seattle Public Schools did to its employees.”

According to the AG’s Office, the practices date back to at least 2021 and violate the , along with the .

Anyone who has experienced pregnancy discrimination at Seattle Public Schools is asked to contact the AG’s Office Civil Rights Division by emailing seattleschoolslawsuit@atg.wa.gov or by calling 833-660-4877 and selecting Option 5. Current and former employees can also submit a complaint using the .

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While they did not report much new information about the attack, FBI officials hoped to refocus the spotlight on the incident in hopes that anyone with video evidence would come forward.

Authorities say they are looking for a white man approximately 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall. The man also has a slight limp. The FBI is also looking for a gray 2016 to 2019 Tesla Model X that was near the incident and may be able to provide footage.

Anyone in the area of the Target and Kohl’s stores in the South Sound Center on Monday night into Tuesday morning on April 8 at 1:34am, including along the Chehalis Western and Woodland Creek Trails, is being asked to review doorbell and security camera surveillance footage. It may show the suspect walking or accessing a car from Monday evening to Tuesday morning.

Those with information are asked to contact the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-225-5324 or submit a tip online on the .

Lacey officers dispatched to ‘explosion’ at EV charging station

The charging station was targeted in an early-morning attack last week. While no one suffered any injuries, there was “extensive damage.” Lacey Police were “dispatched to a report or reports of a loud explosion coming from the electric vehicle charging station in the parking lot of the South Sound Center in front of the Target story.”

“Officers arrived and found extensive damage to the electric vehicle charging station,” Detective Sergeant Jeremy Knight confirmed to “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH.

Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle, said Tuesday that the FBI is treating the incident as domestic terrorism, even though the intent has not yet been confirmed.

Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

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“Since 1987, the green apron has been the symbol for Starbucks Coffee Company, representing the hundreds of thousands of retail partners in North America who connect with customers every day,” the company wrote in . “That’s why, starting May 12, we’re evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine.”

In-store workers will be required to wear solid black short or long-sleeved crewneck, collared, or button-up shirts and any shade of khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms.

Starbucks employees required to wear darker clothing

Starbucks said it is also making a new line of company-branded t-shirts that will be available to partners.

“By updating our dress code, we can deliver a more consistent coffeehouse experience that will also bring simpler and clearer guidance to our partners, which means they can focus on what matters most, crafting great beverages and fostering connections with customers,” the company wrote.

Earlier this year, Starbucks laid off more than 600 employees from its Seattle headquarters. The company also announced it would reduce its corporate workforce by 1,100 employees and eliminate several hundred open positions.

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(ESSB 5181) passed the House Monday. The bill seeks to amend (I-2081), also known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, to be in line with federal law.

However, the bill passing wasn’t the only uproar from Republicans. According to from House Republicans, House Democrats used a new rule to “silence Republicans.”

As explained in the release, earlier in the 2025 legislative session, House Democrats voted to reduce the super-majority two-thirds threshold previously required to end debate and advance a bill or amendment to a simple majority.

“We knew this day might come, but to see it unfold during the Parental Rights initiative, backed by nearly half a million voters, is a disgrace,” Republican Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Chris Corry (R-Yakima) said via the news release.

Corry added that the move signaled a troubling shift in how debates are handled on the House floor.

“They shut down debate twice in under two hours,” he said. “Frankly, it’s sickening. We have nearly two weeks left in session. What other debates will they end?”

What is Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5181?

If ESSB 5181 becomes law, it will remove prior requirements for parental notification of medical services provided to students. It will also modify notification timelines for criminal actions involving students, ensuring notice within 48 hours instead of immediately.

Supporter Democratic Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen argued the bill clarifies ambiguities and protects student privacy, particularly for LGBTQ+ students and victims of abuse.

“So this bill would eliminate some of the inconsistent language that has now caused confusion among school districts about what the law is on notification and whether those students still have the right to make those decisions on their own,” he said earlier this year.

Having passed the Senate and the House, ESSB 5181 will now go to conference, where members from the House and Senate will try to come to an agreement on the bill.

Another bill passes to amend ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’

(HB 1296) also passed Monday, but in the Senate, to change the Parents’ Bill of Rights.

Democrats argue HB 1296 creates and installs important safeguards for students while providing greater clarity to the already-existing law. However, Republicans argued this guts and rewrites the voter-backed initiative that was passed into law last year, taking control away from parents and local school districts.

HB 1296 also passed in the House of Representatives, but because the Senate altered the bill, it will go back to the House before it can reach the governor’s desk.

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Contributing: Matt Markovich, ����Xվ Newsradio and Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

The Washington State Department of Transportation posted a video last week of a mouse “booping” a coyote. The mouse appears to be teasing the coyote, possibly biting it, as it hunts for dinner.

Would you “boop” a coyote? This rodent did and got away with it. However you are spending , we hope you are celebrating small victories too.

— Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass)

Fortunately for the mouse, it was able to get away.

WSDOT said the video is a reminder to celebrate the small victories.

Last month, there was a string of coyote attacks in Bellevue. One coyote was killed as a result.

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“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. “I’ve lived personally and professionally in this space, legislatively as well. People will die as a result of this bill. It’s not just a fact, it’s also a prediction.”

According to , will close both the Rainier and Yakima Valley schools for the developmentally disabled.

Couture said that Georgia shut down all its facilities and that hundreds of people died.

“Not people like you and me, Mr. Chair, people who can’t speak for themselves,” he said.

Adding, “They’re medically complex and fragile.”

Travis Couture warns of tragic consequences with HB 1472

Couture said the people HB 1472 will impact are “the most vulnerable human beings in our state.” He added that the facilities were put in place because the state had a moral obligation to protect the people in them.

“I will do anything to stop this bill,” Couture proclaimed. “I will work with every single member of this committee.

He added that the state should be focusing on making facilities for people with disabilities better, not shutting them down.

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The sheriff’s office said the boy was reported missing earlier Wednesday morning and was found unresponsive after snowboarding at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. Ski patrol found the 13-year-old in a wooded area near the Sunrise chairlift.

According to authorities, emergency responders from several agencies arrived around 11:16 a.m. and began life-saving measures. The boy was transported to the resort’s medical facility but did not survive his injuries.

Investigators believe the 13-year-old hit a tree while snowboarding through a treed section of the mountain, the sheriff’s office stated. Law enforcement noted that the boy was wearing a helmet at the time.

Deschutes County Sheriff: Fatal snowboarding accident is ‘devastating loss’

“This is a devastating loss for our community,” Sheriff Kent van der Kamp said via the post. “Our hearts go out to the boy’s family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragedy. We thank the ski patrol and first responders for their quick and compassionate efforts.”

The sheriff’s office said the boy’s identity is not being released out of respect for his family and the ongoing investigation.

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