Washington news

• Bill to keep wolf control board operating clears House panel

  13-02-2019 23:33
  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation to keep operating an Idaho board that pays a federal agency to kill wolves that attack livestock and elk moved to the full House on Wednesday. The House Resources and Conservation Committee voted to move ahead with legislation to repeal a section of Idaho law that would end the five-year-run […]
  
  Read more

• Cleaning routine shows promise in curbing superbug infection

  13-02-2019 23:01
  Think of it as decontaminating yourself. Hospitalized patients who harbor certain superbugs can cut their risk of developing full-blown infections if they swab medicated goo in their nose and use special soap and mouthwash for six months after going home, a study found. It’s a low-tech approach to a big problem: About 5 percent of […]
  
  Read more

• Mike O’Brien is fourth Seattle City Council incumbent who won’t run for re-election

  13-02-2019 21:40
  Mike O'Brien was elected to the Seattle City Council in 2009 and represents District 6, which includes Fremont, Ballard and Phinney Ridge.
  
  Read more

• Two suspects arrested in 1995 White Center homicide

  13-02-2019 21:36
  Detectives in the sheriff's Major Crimes Unit spent the past year re-examining evidence and tracking down witnesses in the killing of 26-year-old Kenneth Ruffer.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Funeral Saturday for mom of man freed from Venezuela jail

  13-02-2019 21:36
  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A public funeral is scheduled Saturday to remember the life of a Utah woman who spent nearly two years pushing to get her son freed from a Venezuelan jail. Anderson and Goff Mortuary owner Chad Anderson said Wednesday Laurie Holt’s funeral is Saturday at 12 p.m. at a Mormon church […]
  
  Read more

• Governor says every Alaskan will feel impact of budget cuts

  13-02-2019 21:11
  JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveiled a pared down budget Wednesday that he says will impact every Alaskan. Dunleavy is proposing a budget to cover a projected $1.6 billion deficit. Areas of impact include the University of Alaska system, K-12 public education and health and social services. Dunleavy spoke in generalities during a […]
  
  Read more

• Legislation to exempt some geothermal wells goes to Senate

  13-02-2019 20:51
  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation that would allow a well driller who hits geothermal water to use that water for uses other than its heat value in some cases has cleared the House. The 68-0 vote on Wednesday sends the legislation to the Senate. Republican Terry Gestrin of Donnelly told lawmakers that if a well […]
  
  Read more

• Bill to compensate farmers for wildlife damage clears House

  13-02-2019 20:43
  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation to compensate Idaho farmers and ranchers for damage caused by elk, deer, antelope and moose to irrigation equipment and ground planted with seeds has cleared the House. Representatives voted 68-0 on Wednesday to send the legislation to the Senate. The proposed law would cost the Idaho Department of Fish and […]
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• NASA rover finally bites the dust on Mars after 15 years

  13-02-2019 20:06
  The six-wheeled vehicle that helped gather critical evidence that ancient Mars might have been hospitable to life was remarkably spry up until eight months ago, when it was finally doomed by a ferocious dust storm.
  
  Read more

• In a world drowning in trash, some cities have slashed waste by 80 percent

  13-02-2019 19:50
  Today, places from rural Japan to metropolitan Sweden send very little of their trash to the landfill. Some cities the world over are at the precipice of what once seemed fantastical: the elimination of waste. Here's a roundup.
  
  Read more

• Vatican, Microsoft team up on artificial intelligence ethics

  13-02-2019 19:26
  Pope Francis met privately on Wednesday with Microsoft President Brad Smith and talked about an academic prize to promote ethics in artificial intelligence.
  
  Read more

• Diocese finds Kentucky students didn’t start confrontation

  13-02-2019 19:15
  COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Investigators hired by a Kentucky diocese have found that Catholic school boys didn’t instigate a confrontation at the Lincoln Memorial that went viral on social media. Covington Bishop Roger Foys initially condemned the students’ behavior after a video showed a teenage boy face-to-face with a Native American man. Days later, Foys […]
  
  Read more

• Murder trial for man charged in landlady’s death begins

  13-02-2019 18:52
  MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (AP) — The murder trial for a southwestern Idaho man charged in connection with the stabbing death of his landlady began in Mountain Home this week. Scott Riggs, 41, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the death of 71-year-old Paula Febrache. Jury selection began Tuesday; the trial is […]
  
  Read more

• Man arrested on attempted murder charge following stabbing

  13-02-2019 18:52
  SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A Salem, Oregon, man was arrested on attempted murder charges eight months after he was identified as a suspect in a stabbing at an apartment complex. The Statesman Journal reports that 30-year-old Gleen Nedelic is being held without bail at Marion County Jail on charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault and […]
  
  Read more

• No more snow for Seattle, and a dry weekend ahead — but the cold could still complicate things

  13-02-2019 18:06
  "We're not quite out of it yet," the National Weather Service warns. The next few days could bring icy roads, landslides and urban flooding. But the weekend looks dry, and temperatures could climb into the 40s.
  
  Read more

• No more snow for Seattle, and a dry weekend ahead — but rain could complicate things

  13-02-2019 18:06
  "We're not quite out of it yet," the National Weather Service warns. Rain and cold in the next few days could make for icy roads, landslides and urban flooding. But the weekend looks dry, and temperatures could climb into the 40s.
  
  Read more

• Fairbanks police kill suspect in armed robbery, carjacking

  13-02-2019 17:30
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Fairbanks police say a man suspected of carjacking and armed robbery was shot and killed as he pointed a gun at officers. Police say 28-year-old Garrett Ebenal died Tuesday afternoon as he exited a stolen car and came at officers attempting to arrest him on the Elliott Highway north of Fairbanks. […]
  
  Read more

• Idaho water legislation signed into law by governor

  13-02-2019 17:21
  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. Brad Little on Wednesday signed legislation to end years of litigation and help finalize an agreement involving water rights in heavily populated southwestern Idaho. The new law makes sure rights to water that refills reservoirs in the Boise River system following flood control releases are protected should additional large water […]
  
  Read more

• Idaho water legislation signed into law by Gov. Little

  13-02-2019 17:21
  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. Brad Little has signed into law legislation to end years of litigation and help finalize a settlement agreement involving water rights in heavily populated southwestern Idaho. Little on Wednesday signed the bill that made it through the Senate and House with unanimous support. The lawsuits involved canal companies, irrigation districts […]
  
  Read more

• What’s closed, canceled or delayed on Wednesday due to the Seattle area’s snow, slush and freezing rain

  13-02-2019 16:00
  Inclement weather has resulted in a slew of closures and cancellations in the area. Here's the latest for Wednesday, Feb. 13, and beyond.
  
  Read more

• Where to call if 911 doesn’t work

  13-02-2019 15:41
  If you call 911 and it doesn't go through, here are numbers to try instead.
  
  Read more

• Records-sharing program costs mount for Portland police

  13-02-2019 15:25
  PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Seven years after it was touted as an innovative electronic records system to manage police reports from 40 police agencies, the program now has only seven participating agencies, with Portland police stuck paying millions to cover the bill. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports expenses for the system’s software and support have continued to […]
  
  Read more

• You may think we banned the sale of assault weapons to teens. But they’re still buying them.

  13-02-2019 15:00
  Classified ads for military-style semi-automatic rifles are selling to buyers under age 21 — even though a new voter-approved law supposedly banned such sales.
  
  Read more

• What happened? Tracking the last minutes of the doomed Destination

  13-02-2019 15:00
  At 6:13 a.m., the Destination’s emergency beacon sent out a distress signal. At 6:14, the transponder quit transmitting. The boat was sinking to the bottom of the Bering Sea. Read Chapter 7 of No Return: The final voyage of the Destination.
  
  Read more

• Unsung heroes of the Seattle Snowpocalypse: Tell us about acts of kindness you saw during the storm

  13-02-2019 15:00
  Did you perform a random act of kindness during the recent snowstorm? Or did you witness a good Samaritan helping someone else? We want to hear your stories.
  
  Read more

• The spy who’s running for Seattle City Council

  13-02-2019 15:00
  Naveed Jamali — a former spy, naval intelligence officer and MSNBC analyst — is one of seven candidates seeking a four-year term representing Seattle City Council District 7, replacing Sally Bagshaw.
  
  Read more

• Seattle ethics commission may shine light on political work, City Hall lobbying

  13-02-2019 15:00
  The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission could tweak disclosure rules for campaign consultants who also lobby city officials.
  
  Read more

• Meet the spy who’s running for Seattle City Council

  13-02-2019 15:00
  Naveed Jamali — a former spy, naval intelligence officer and MSNBC analyst — is one of seven candidates seeking a four-year term representing Seattle City Council District 7, replacing Sally Bagshaw.
  
  Read more

• 8 die of measles in Ukraine this year as outbreak worsens

  13-02-2019 13:13
  KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Authorities say eight people have died of measles in Ukraine since the start of the year, already half as many as died in the whole of 2018. The Health Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that two deaths from the extremely contagious viral disease have been recorded since Saturday. Last week […]
  
  Read more

• Ex-CEO pleads guilty to fraud in Alaska fiber-optic project

  13-02-2019 06:35
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The former head of a company overseeing a fiber-optic project in Alaska has pleaded guilty to charges alleging she fraudulently induced two New York investment companies to finance the project. The Anchorage Daily News reports 55-year-old Elizabeth Pierce pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud and eight counts of aggravated identify theft. […]
  
  Read more

• Large oyster farms planned for southeastern Alaska

  13-02-2019 06:33
  JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Large oyster farms have been proposed for southeast Alaska, marking potential growth in marine life cultivation for food that a state task force has projected could be a $100 million industry. Silver Bay Seafoods has been working on securing a 10-year lease on 182 acres (74 hectares) of seafloor near Sitka […]
  
  Read more

• Large oyster farms planned for southeast Alaska

  13-02-2019 06:33
  JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Large oyster farms have been proposed for southeast Alaska, marking potential growth in mariculture that a state task force says could be a $100 million industry. CoastAlaska reports Silver Bay Seafoods has been working on securing a 10-year lease on 182 acres (74 hectares) of seafloor near Sitka. State agencies are […]
  
  Read more

• Oregon fines PAC $95K for turning in ballots late

  13-02-2019 06:30
  PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon plans to fine a political action committee nearly $95,000 for turning in 96 general election ballots late. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Secretary of State Dennis Richardson’s office announced Tuesday the fine against Defend Oregon, saying the ballots its canvassers collected were handed over a day after the Nov. 6 election. The […]
  
  Read more

• Seattle Public Schools levies passing by wide margins

  13-02-2019 05:10
  In Seattle, both measures were capturing more than 60 percent of the "yes" vote. In Renton, voters appeared less willing to approve school funding, and a bond measure was failing.
  
  Read more

• Seattle area digs out from record-breaking snow but still faces hazardous conditions

  13-02-2019 03:29
  King County Metro, which has been operating on an emergency snow plan, will operate about 90 percent of normal bus routes starting Wednesday morning, as long as weather permits. Buses in steep areas will remain on snow routes.
  
  Read more

• Who’s responsible for clearing that snow and ice off the sidewalks?

  13-02-2019 03:14
  Under city law, the onus is on the adjacent property owners and occupants to keep sidewalks clear.
  
  Read more

• Federal lawsuit accuses Hanford contractor Lockheed Martin of fraudulent billing

  13-02-2019 03:04
  The civil lawsuit also accuses Lockheed Martin of using federal money to pay millions of dollars in kickbacks that rewarded those involved in improper conduct that boosted profits.
  
  Read more

• Legislative committee to hear Washington lawmakers’ new public-records bill

  13-02-2019 03:02
  Citizens on Wednesday will get to voice their thoughts on the latest bill by Washington lawmakers to reset transparency laws at the Legislature. Senate Bill 5784 comes after last year's court ruling that legislative leaders violated state public records law by withholding documents.
  
  Read more

• Medical examiner identifies 18-year-old Auburn man found dead from a gunshot wound to the head

  13-02-2019 02:46
  Haggai Sekesa was found dead in the front passenger seat of a vehicle parked in a remote, wooded area of Auburn. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
  
  Read more

• Woman charged with killing parents, injuring neighbor

  13-02-2019 00:58
  EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A 39-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the deaths of her parents and the wounding of a neighbor southeast of Eugene. The Register-Guard reports Kelly Conrad was charged Monday in a Lane County jail courtroom with two counts of aggravated murder and one count of attempted murder. Charging documents […]
  
  Read more

• Driver arrested after video shows Jeep plowing into Seattle snowball fight, police say

  13-02-2019 00:54
  The woman was booked at the King County Jail and released; she faces DUI and reckless-driving charges, a police spokesman says.
  
  Read more

• U.S. Senate passes bipartisan public-lands bill pushed by Sen. Cantwell

  13-02-2019 00:22
  The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., includes elements that could transform conservation and climate-change efforts in the region.
  
  Read more

• As the snow melts, King County Metro will run 90 percent of its bus routes Wednesday

  13-02-2019 00:05
  The decision reflects confidence that the area will avoid a refreezing of the pavement, and that city, county and state crews can plow or salt major roadways if needed.
  
  Read more

Follow @newsWashington_ on Twitter!