The ban will officially begin at midnight Friday, with no end date scheduled. The campfire ban applies to anything that can produce ash and includes charcoal grills.

Olympic National Forest and Park campfire ban

The park service noted that all gas or propane stoves, lanterns, and heating devices are permitted on campgrounds if there are no flammable materials within three feet of the device.

The heating devices also must be equipped with on-off switches or valves capable of immediately extinguishing flames. Officials urged extreme caution when operating any device with an open flame.

“Hot and dry conditions persist, resulting in a very high fire danger,” Interagency Fire Management Officer Jeff Bortner said. “With multiple challenging active incidents on the Peninsula, it is especially important to prevent new human-caused fires.”

The release provided various reminders that park attendees can practice to prevent human-caused wildfires, including:

• Fireworks are always prohibited on federal public lands.
• Before going camping, check for new restrictions that may be in place.
• Maintain your vehicle and avoid parking in brush.
• Always dispose of cigarette debris in an ashtray.

The park service mentioned that if a fire is observed, report it to 911.

Follow Jason Sutich .������Ի���news tips here.

The man was shot in the chest and is being treated by the Seattle Fire Department before being transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious but stable condition.

The shooting occurred in the 900 block of Alaskan Way. Police seized a gun at the scene.

Q4 highlights: Robust growth across key metrics

Operating income rose by 23% to $34.3 billion, while net income reached $27.2 billion, also up 24%. Diluted earnings per share climbed to $3.65, mirroring the same year-over-year growth rate.��

CEO Satya Nadella attributed the performance to continued innovation in cloud and AI, emphasizing that Azure alone surpassed $75 billion in annual revenue. That is a 34% increase year-over-year.��

The company’s Intelligent Cloud segment, which includes Azure and other cloud-based services, was a substantial driver during the fourth quarter. This segment recorded $29.9 billion in revenue, up 26% from the previous year.��

In Productivity and Business Processes, Microsoft reported $33.1 billion in revenue, which represents a 16% increase over the prior year. Among individual users, Microsoft 365 Consumer revenue grew by 21%, while LinkedIn revenue rose 9% and Dynamics products and cloud services grew 18%.

Full-year results: Double-digit growth continues

For the full fiscal year, Microsoft reported revenue of $281.7 billion, a 15% increase over 2024. Operating income rose by 17% to reach $128.5 billion, while net income came in at $101.8 billion, an increase of 16%. Diluted earnings per share for the year rose to $13.64, also reflecting 16% growth.��

Looking ahead, Microsoft said it remains aware of a range of potential risks, including economic conditions, regulatory challenges, and market competition. Despite these uncertainties, the Seattle company appears to be capable of continued growth.

The expanded network will begin in late October with more options for both leisure and business travelers in the Pacific Northwest.

Alaska Airlines introduces seven new nonstop West Coast routes

Three of the new routes will depart from Hollywood Burbank Airport, expanding the airline’s connectivity between Southern California and key destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Starting Oct. 26, travelers will be able to fly nonstop from Burbank to Eugene, Pasco, and Redmond.

The airline company will also introduce a new winter seasonal route between San Diego and Sun Valley, Idaho, beginning Dec. 18. Alaska said the new flight caters to ski enthusiasts looking to access the slopes of central Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, and adds to Alaska’s robust portfolio of ski destinations.

“We’re proud to offer the most flights and seats between California, Washington, and Oregon,” said the airline’s Vice President of Revenue Management and Network Planning. “These new additions continue our mission to connect guests across growing markets in the West.”

In Northern California, a new connection between Palm Springs and Santa Rosa begins Oct. 26, linking two popular in-state destinations five times a week.

All new flights will operate on the 76-seat Embraer 175 aircraft, which features no middle seats, in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi, and power outlets in first class.

Tickets for the new routes are available now at .

Kirkland police have arrested a 40-year-old Everett man they believe broke into nearly two-dozen businesses across four counties in the last four months.

Police said their investigation started in April, after several businesses in the Houghton neighborhood were burglarized.

Someone had smashed windows to get into buildings and then used power tools to open safes and tills.

Similar break-ins to those in Kirkland reported across counties

Over the next few months, similar break-ins happened not only in Kirkland but in cities spanning King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Thurston Counties.

Detectives said they identified a vehicle that appeared to be linked to the crimes. From there, they tracked down the suspect, who was taken into custody at his home on July 23.

The man is facing 20 felony charges for 12 burglaries in King County, according to a news release from the Kirkland Police Department. He was released on $150,000 bond, but will likely be charged for crimes in other counties, as well.

Read more of Heather Bosch’s stories here.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast over the mountains Thursday, prompting a flash flood watch in the Cascades.

Burn scars Bolt Creek, Goat Rocks, Sourdough, Easy, Chilliwack, and Suiattle-Boulder-Toketie could also see floods, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle.

“Potentially see some rain rates up to an inch an hour, and so that may bring some risk of debris flow on any of the burn scars that we’ve seen on our fires from the last couple years,” Samantha Borth, meteorologist with the NWS in Seattle, explained.

Flash flood watches have been issued for the following burn scars in the Washington Cascades…Bolt Creek, Goat Rocks, Sourdough, Easy, Chilliwack and Suiattle-Boulder-Toketie. Slow moving thunderstorms have the potential to produce high rain rates through late tonight.

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle)

That flash flood watch will run until 5 a.m. Friday.

No flash floods expected in foothills

No major impact is expected in the foothills, but they could still see some showers and thunderstorms.

“We might see some showers and thunderstorms move over the area, but we’re not expecting to have, like, any flash flooding right now for those areas,” Borth said.

Contributing: Aaron Granillo, ����Xվ Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

The coffee titan is also testing agave syrup as a natural sweetener and protein-infused cold foam as part of this new lineup, according to .��

Starbucks tests new, healthier drinks as sales tumble

Starbucks mentioned the key focus of these changes is to reduce sugar content in drinks. The coconut-water-based beverages contain about one-third the sugar of a typical summer-berry lemonade refresher and include added electrolytes.

The Seattle-based coffee chain has experienced six consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales, with profits dropping more than analysts anticipated in the most recent quarter, according to Bloomberg. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to attract health-conscious consumers.

Starbucks also plans to introduce more plant-based options and continue expanding the tests of these new drinks to additional regions soon.

(NWS) said cloudy skies and a “slow cooling trend” will begin Thursday night. Temperatures are then expected to stay about five degrees cooler than average through Tuesday.��

A change in weather patterns is set to bring increased cloud cover and a gradual cooling trend starting Thursday night, according to .

The NWS issued a for Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., warning that thunderstorms, strong winds, and hot temperatures could ignite new fires. In the Eastern Cascades, temperatures could climb to 90 degrees, with wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph.

These weather conditions are especially concerning for crews battling the Bear Gulch Fire near Lake Cushman in the Olympic National Forest. Believed to be human-caused, the fire has already burned more than 3,000 acres and is 3% contained.

Residents and campers along the Dry Creek Trail—including those at the Staircase Campground and north of Lake Cushman—have been told to leave immediately under a Level 3 evacuation order. A Level 1 advisory remains in effect for areas south of Dry Creek, urging people to prepare for a possible evacuation.

Seattle’s cooler, cloudier weather is expected to last through early next week — a welcome shift, even as firefighting efforts continue under challenging conditions to the east.

While the motive for the shooting remains unclear, both the suspect and the victim attended the Pima Medical Institute, which was nearby where the shooting occurred, McNerthney noted.

Seattle police arrest man in connection with Northgate shooting

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) arrested the 26-year-old on Wednesday for allegedly shooting the 48-year-old man, who later died from his injuries, Thursday.

“Despite all life-saving efforts, the victim died from his injuries the next day at Harborview Medical Center. Doctors pronounced him deceased,” SPD Detective Eric Muñ�dz� told ����Xվ Newsradio.

The 26-year-old man was arrested after SPD’s SWAT team served a search warrant at his home. The suspect was booked into the King County Jail on investigation of first-degree murder.

Muñ�dz� said the motive for the shooting is being investigated.

Man shot in head near Northgate Transit Center

The shooting happened in the 10200 block of 1st Ave N.E. near the Northgate Transit Center at approximately 7:40 a.m. Monday.

SPD officers responded to the scene and found the 48-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head. Two suspects approached the man and one shot him, according to police.

The two suspects ran to a car and fled the scene, Muñ�dz� told ����Xվ Newsradio.

Officers at the scene noted one of the suspects was wearing a grey hoodie and a mask. Investigators reviewed security footage at the crime scene for additional information on the suspects.

“There was very good surveillance footage that we ascertained from the actual shooting itself,” Muñ�dz� shared. “Essentially, our detectives were able to use that video surveillance footage, and they were able to identify the suspect and identify his face.”

While Muñ�dz� saw the quick arrest as a win, he noted the incident was preventable.

“This was a three-day investigation, and it resulted in an arrest. So this was a good win. However, it’s a very avoidable tragedy. So it’s terrible that this happened in the first place, but we are very proud of our detectives for serving their community and arresting the suspect, taking them off the streets,” Muñ�dz� shared.

The suspect was previously stated as 28 years old, as posted by the Seattle Police Department. However, court documents later stated that the man is 26 years old.

This story was originally published on July 28, 2025. It has been updated and republished since then.

Contributing: Jason Sutich, MyNorthwest

Follow Julia Dallas on  Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.

City officials argue the orders threaten money used to support key services such as public safety programs and affordable housing, according to . Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison formally announced the lawsuit Thursday during a press conference at City Hall.

The legal complaint targets what city leaders describe as “sweeping executive orders” from the administration that jeopardize Seattle’s access to federal resources.

The lawsuit comes at a politically charged moment, as both Harrell and Davison are seeking re-election. Davison, who was elected as a Republican in 2021, has previously faced scrutiny over her political alignment and whether she supports the current president’s policies.

The press conference was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday, with more details about the legal filing expected to be released later in the day.

The U.S. Geological Survey it was a 2.8 magnitude quake.

It hit just after 7:30 a.m. and was about 20 kilometers in depth.

Eleven people reported feeling it in places like North Bend, Snoqualmie, Carnation, and Gold Bar.

Small quake shakes Fall City area, no damage or injuries reported

There are no reports of injuries or damage.

Earthquakes occur nearly every day in Washington. Most are too small to be felt or cause damage.

the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Washington has the second-highest risk in the U.S. of these large and damaging earthquakes because of its geologic setting.

The Good To Go! tolling system rates change based on real-time traffic conditions throughout the day. These tolls generally range between $1 and $15, except for today, when the express toll lanes were free to use.

SB I-405 toll-free Thursday morning

WSDOT Good To Go! noted it is looking into the cause of the issue.

If you’re driving on southbound I-405 this morning, the toll rate signs are incorrectly displaying “FREE.” We are looking into what’s causing this issue. As always, if you choose to drive in the express toll lanes, you lock in the price you see and HOV rules still apply.

— WSDOT Good To Go! (@GoodToGoWSDOT)

“This was a malfunction of some kind. One corridor was malfunctioning cause they were still charging tolls on 405 northbound, and on 167 north and south,” ����Xվ Newsradio’s traffic reporter Chris Sullivan said.

����Xվ Newsradio reached out to WSDOT for comments on the cause of the glitch and the adjustments that were made to fix the issue.

“As part of preparing to open the SR 509 Expressway and SR 167 express toll lanes this fall we’ve been making adjustments to the entire toll system,” WSDOT stated. “It’s unclear which specific adjustment caused the signs on I-405 to say “FREE” this morning. We were able to resolve the issue by restoring the signs to a version of the system from a few days ago.”

WSDOT mentioned that the prices indicated on their signs are the amount drivers pay. All trips this morning through these lanes will remain free on users’ accounts.

Follow Jason Sutich .������Ի���news tips here.

SFD reported the fire was in the 2300 block of 17th Ave S. at approximately 5:30 a.m.

5 different fires in South Seattle

There have now been five different fires in South Seattle within a six-day period. Four of the five have been ruled arson.

“All of these fires are in a very small area, very closely related,” SPD Detective Eric Muñ�dz� told ����Xվ Newsradio. “The one this morning is being ruled now as a suspicious circumstance. We are awaiting evidence, we can’t definitively say whether this was arson or not.”

Muñ�dz� explained the steps necessary for determining if a fire will be labeled arson.

“The fire marshal hasn’t been able to determine the origin point, that’s part of the investigation that we need,” Muñ�dz� said.” “That helps us find out how the fire started, and hopefully that’ll tell us whether or not the fire was intentionally set.”

Beacon Hill garage fire

SFD firefighters noted that the Beacon Hill fire was expanding from the garage to the home. Crews worked to put water on the fire and search the building.

At 5:32 a.m., SFD reported that the fire was being upgraded to a 2-alarm response. Power lines near the residence were also downed.

2300 block of 17th Ave. S: firefighters on scene report the garage fire is extending to the home. They are working to put water on the fire and search the building.

— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire)

SFD confirmed the fire was under control just before 6 a.m.

Firefighters continued to extinguish the hot spots. Primary and secondary searches of the home revealed nobody was inside the house during the fire.

No injuries were reported. The incident is currently under investigation.

Follow Jason Sutich .������Ի���news tips here.

The man was located in the 8500 block of 7th Avenue S.E. at approximately 4:30 a.m. on July 27. Despite lifesaving efforts by Firefighters, the man died at the scene.

Pedestrian killed in early morning Everett hit and run

The Everett Police Traffic Safety Unit then gathered witness statements, business surveillance footage, and data from the department’s FLOCK camera system.

By July 29, detectives had identified a suspect vehicle and a possible driver. Officers have since impounded the vehicle to search for forensic evidence.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to confirm the driver’s identity. The investigation remains active, and no charges have been filed.

In a 52 to 44 largely party-line vote, the U.S. Senate approved Kent to lead the nation’s efforts in combating foreign and domestic terrorism.

Joe Kent approved as National Counterterrorism Center director

Kent is a former U.S. Army soldier, Green Beret, and CIA Officer. President Donald Trump his nomination for Kent earlier this year, stating that “Joe will help us keep America safe by eradicating all terrorism.”

As an 18-year-old, Kent enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman, earning his way into the Ranger Regiment, and then U.S. Army Special Forces “Green Berets,” according to .

“After 9/11, I volunteered at every opportunity to serve in combat. I did this for over twenty years and eleven combat deployments,” Kent stated.

Kent praised Trump and the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, for their confidence in his abilities following his confirmation.

It’s an honor to serve our nation again & to be back in the fight against terrorism.

Thank you President Trump & DNI Gabbard for your confidence in my leadership.

NCTC will relentlessly pursue & defeat our nation’s enemies.

In honor of our fallen, we fight on. 🇺🇸

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19)

Senator Tom Cotton recapped Kent’s qualifications to command the position as director in a social media post.

“Mr. Kent understands the grave threat that terrorism imposes to the security and safety of Americans,” Cotton said. “He is committed to returning the National Counterterrorism Center to its statutory mission of integrating threat intelligence from foreign terrorist organizations.”

Joe Kent has 20 years of military service and 11 combat deployments. He has dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.

I urge my Senate colleagues to confirm Joe Kent as our next NCTC Director.

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton)

Senator Patty Murray urged her collegues to vote against Kent, claimed he was a conspiracy theorist, and held a white supremecist ideology.

The Senate should NOT confirm a man with white supremacist views to be Director of Counterterrorism.

Joe Kent is also a conspiracy theorist.

Colleagues, let’s please do exactly what people in Washington did each time they were asked to trust Joe Kent…

VOTE NO.

— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray)

Following the confirmation, Kent reposted numerous positive messages on social media, some stating, “It’s a bad day to be a terrorist.”

Four senators in the vote including, Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

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The heightened number of infractions is a result of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) decision to implement speeding cameras in work zones.

WSP issues thousands of work zone speeding tickets

Washington has averaged 1,345 work zone crashes each year since 2020, WSDOT confirmed.

Drivers speeding through work zones are not penalized on their first infraction during the year-long camera trial period. Second infractions and subsequent violations will be charged $248 each. Of the 7,599 infractions the WSP recorded, 262 of them were second offenses.

“While the number of infractions has been high during the first 30 days of operation, we hope to see a reduction of speeding through work zones as the word gets out about this new safety tool,” WSP Chief John Batiste said, according to ����Xվ 7.

Beginning July 2025, a $125 fine will be implemented for drivers’ first work zone speeding offenses.

In addition to the 7,599 infractions in the last 90 days, there are currently 3,963 infractions still being processed.

“This isn’t about writing tickets and fining motorists; this is about slowing inattentive drivers down and saving lives,” Batiste said.

The work-zone cameras only issue speeding infractions when workers are present. WSP noted that workers could be on site during the day or night, and advised drivers to remain cautious through these zones regardless of the time of day.

Follow Jason Sutich .������Ի���news tips here.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., the plane crashed into a home on Tigner Road near the Cashmere-Dryden Airport.

Plane crashes into Cashmere home

Two people inside the plane have been taken to the hospital, including one who was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center.

The severity of the injuries remains unknown as of this reporting.

CCSO deputies told the home was occupied at the time of the crash, although no injuries were reported.

No information has been provided regarding the cause of the plane crash. It is also unclear whether the plane was arriving or departing.

The CCSO, National Transportation Safety Board, and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident.

Follow Jason Sutich .������Ի���news tips here.

It’s hard to believe, but we’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of service to Lynnwood. It started just before Labor Day last year. Sound Transit is now looking at completing what it promised voters in 2016, under ST-3, the 16-mile extension to downtown Everett.

As it sits on paper, the light rail would run along I-5 to 128th in south Everett and then follow Airport Road up to the Boeing plant. It would then continue along SR 526 to I-5 and then up to downtown Everett.

As many as seven stations would be built along the corridor. Where are we today?

“We’re in the environmental study period, which, broadly speaking, studies the impact of the project on the environment, both the natural environment like wetlands and streams, but also the built environment, like historic resources and and how transportation will work once this thing is done,” Public Information Officer for Sound Transit David Jackson said.

Sound Transit opens public comment for new line

Sound Transit has opened a to get your feedback on what this line should look like, everything from potential stations to track alignment.

“What we’re looking for from the public right now is their thoughts, like how they would use this project when it’s built, what’s the need for it, and thoughts on alignments and station locations, all those things,” Jackson said. “Those things are not set in stone.”

Look at the . They include potential station locations and where the trains might go. Should the line go across I-5 in multiple places to serve the community better? That’s the kind of information Sound Transit needs in this public comment period.

“It’s about connecting the north part of our region to the rest of the network that already exists — connecting people to jobs, education to healthcare, and leisure activities,” Jackson said. “It’s about knitting our region together tighter.”

While Jackson doesn’t have a concrete number on what this extension might cost as of today, some estimates have put it at $5 to $7 billion, with construction to and service starting between 2037 and 2041.

But all that could change.

“The 2037 to 2041 is also cost dependent,” Jackson said. “If we have to slow it down because we need money, that could slow things down.”

We all remember what happened to the cost estimates on the extension from Northgate to Lynnwood.

Everyone always says they want to talk to Sound Transit about what’s next and how it spends your money. Now’s your chance.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for ����Xվ Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.��Follow ����Xվ Newsradio traffic on .

The City of Seattle and the nonprofit Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) plan to open more than 100 new tiny homes in two villages this fall.

This would bring the number of tiny home villages the city has established to transition the homeless out of tents and derelict RVs to 13 — but critics said it fails to provide a long-term solution to homelessness.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell appeared to address that in a news release, which announced the new villages.

“Expanding available shelter is part of our broader, multi-layered strategy to meet urgent needs while simultaneously tackling root causes and increasing affordable permanent housing,” he stated.

The new communities would provide security, hygiene facilities, and storage as well as “a full range of tailored supportive services,” Harrell added.

Money for tiny homes would come from city’s budget

The two villages will be paid for by $5.9 million, included in the city’s 2025 budget.

It is unclear where they’d be located, but Harrell’s office said “LIHI will conduct community outreach in potential village location through mid-August,” and a site will be chosen “pending the success of those efforts.”

The city’s Unified Care Team (UCT) will be tasked with reaching out to people who are living in tents and RVs, and offering to move them into the new tiny homes.

Harrell said UCT efforts resulted in an 80% decrease in homeless camps between 2022 and 2024.

The latest tiny home project has the support of King County Executive Shannon Braddock who stated, “This is the type of action we need — more shelter and more services,” and Downtown Seattle Association President and CEO Jon Scholes, who said “These new tiny home villages will help get people inside and off sidewalks, into a more stable and supporting environment.”

The latest found that 16,868 people were unhoused in King County in 2024, which was higher than the previous count in 2022.

Read more of Heather Bosch’s stories here.

Humberto Lopez Rodriguez, 31, formerly of Renton, had been sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking but failed to report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc, California.

In December 2023, while attempting to travel from California to Washington, Lopez Rodriguez was arrested with a loaded firearm and a large quantity of cocaine in his vehicle.

“This defendant continued to deal drugs while on pretrial release and later was arrested in a car with a drug load when he should have been serving his federal sentence,” Acting U.S. Attorney Miller stated in the release. “Such conduct, ignoring our laws and criminal justice system, appropriately results in additional prison time.”

The arrest was part of a broader investigation targeting a drug trafficking network with connections to Mexico and Colombia. The operation spanned several months and involved multiple law enforcement agencies. By June 2024, the investigation had led to 24 search and arrest warrants. At that point, Lopez Rodriguez was already in custody following his arrest in December.

Law enforcement seized narcotics and weapons during the investigation, including 84,000 fentanyl pills, over one kilogram of fentanyl powder, 32 kilograms of cocaine, 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, and nearly three kilograms of heroin. In addition to the drugs, agents recovered 18 firearms and approximately $71,000 in suspected drug proceeds.

Five of the sixteen individuals charged in the case have already pleaded guilty. Among them is Ramon Duarte Garcia, 38, a Mexican citizen living in Kent, who was sentenced in May 2025 to 10 years in prison.

A judge sentenced Curtis McDaniel, 56, a U.S. citizen from Tukwila, to five years in prison. Jose Luis Villafañe Osorio, 36, a Colombian citizen living in Plainfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty and will face sentencing on August 13, 2025. Manuel Garcia Hernandez, 39, a Mexican citizen from Renton, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9, 2025.