According to the Washington Beer Blog, the establishment was recognized as “a beer mecca” within the Puget Sound region and “one of the top beer bars in the USA.”

The Seattle Times reported the reason for the closure was a combination of rising costs for food and labor, staff shortages and lower-than-anticipated foot traffic.

More restaurants closing: Red Lobster files for bankruptcy, closes dozens of US locations, including Washington store

“All those are contributing factors to our slow decline in business,” Nat Pellman, Brouwer’s general manager, told The Seattle Times. “It became evident that this needed to happen, unfortunately. The old Fremont regulars have moved out of Fremont. The consumers have changed. The market has changed, even the Fremont neighborhood has changed.”

Brouwer’s Café was among the city’s first bars with a special focus on craft beer. The popular watering hole had a menu that included 64 craft beers on tap and over 400 in bottles, mostly dedicated to local and regional beers.

In its heyday, beer lovers up and down the West Coast would travel to Brouwer’s Café for its massive craft beer selection.

“In the early years, we had days with people three deep at the bar because they just had to have that special release beer, and our festivals caused lines around the block,” Pellman said in a press release. “The energy was high, we were at the forefront of the beer scene, and it was a lot of fun for our customers and our staff. The friendships we created will last forever!”

More closures in Seattle: Rite Aid to close 11 Wash. stores, including 5 Bartell Drugs locations

Additionally, Brouwer’s Café would advocate for many social causes, including raising $50,000 for Planned Parenthood, according to The Seattle Times. The bar held events promoting women in a mostly male-dominated beer industry, including a “Drunk Herstory” production.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Price, 40, announced his return on X, stating he is back as a strategic advisor to Tammi Kroll, who took over as CEO when Price resigned in 2022.

I am back to work full-time at Gravity Payments, the company I founded over 20 years ago. I’m in a new role advising and assisting the CEO on strategy. It’s been great to be back 👍

— Dan Price (@DanPriceSeattle) May 28, 2024

Price stepped down from his role as CEO after he was accused of attempting to forcibly kiss a woman and grabbing her throat — two counts of fourth-degree assault — alongside an additional charge of reckless driving.

Dan Price’s sexual assault allegations

Seattle police records stated Price had agreed to meet a woman at a downtown restaurant Jan. 20 of last year. While the victim was hailing an Uber, Price was said to have offered to let her wait for a ride in his own vehicle, despite allegedly becoming intoxicated at the restaurant.

At that time, Price reportedly made a sexual advance, at which point “she pushed him away and then he grabbed her throat,” the police report read.

More on Dan Price’s allegations: Assault, reckless driving charges against former CEO Dan Price dropped

The police report stated he then drove off with the woman still in the car, arriving at a parking lot where Price began “doing donuts.” Price then allegedly “tried kissing her again … after she pushed him away the second time, he grabbed her throat again and was pulsing his hand for minutes,” according to the police report. The situation de-escalated, at which point a friend assisted the woman and left.

Price pleaded not guilty to the charges, calling them “false accusations.” The charges were dropped approximately eight months after he stepped down as CEO, with further investigations finding “more egregious inconsistencies and contradictions,” according to Seattle Municipal Court records in a report from The Seattle Times.

Dan Price: Celebrity CEO

Price made national headlines when he slashed his CEO salary to give his employees a raise. In 2015, Price stunned his staff of more than 100 employees when he told them he was cutting his approximate $1 million salary to just $70,000, using the savings to create a base pay of $70,000 for employees by 2018.

More on high-profile executives in Washington: Melinda French Gates to donate $1 billion over next 2 years in support of women’s rights

The average annual salary at Gravity Payments — a credit card processing and financial services company founded in 2004 — before Price’s decision was $48,000, according to CBS News.

Despite Price no longer operating as Gravity Payment’s CEO, he still owns 100% of the credit card processing company, according to The Seattle Times. Price founded the company in 2004 when he was just 19 years old.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Details are still unclear regarding the shooting, but several shell casings were found outside the apartments where this happened by law enforcement. The apartment complex, Creston Point Apartments, was the scene of two other shootings within the past year.

More shootings at Creston Point apartments: ‘Just another day’ after shooting at Skyway apartment building

“Several gunshots were heard in the area,” Sergeant Eric White, a spokesperson for the King County Sheriff’s Office, told KIRO Newsradio. “A victim was found that had been hit by a stray bullet. That victim was a juvenile that was in one of the apartments.”

“Our major crimes detectives are on scene investigating gathering evidence,” White added.

More Washington news: Woman still missing after falling off boat into Lake Washington Monday night

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Editors’ note: Multiple area media outlets initially reported a day earlier the victim in this case was two years old before learning the victim actually is 10 years old. 

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

SFD’s water rescue is now officially a recovery effort, according to KOMO News. By Tuesday night, harbor patrol crews were out using sonar and a remote underwater vessel to search the waters of Pritchard Island Beach, located south of Seward Park near Rainier Valley.

More on drowning warnings: Cold water remains dangerous despite Seattle heatwave

SFD crews responded to reports of a “person in distress” in Lake Washington at approximately 10:11 p.m. Monday, according to their X post, with first responders dropping a buoy to mark the last known location of the woman.

Crews are responding to reports of a person in distress in Lake Washington near the 9000 block of Rainier Ave S. Please avoid the area.

— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) May 28, 2024

According to SFD, the missing woman, 24, was on a boat with friends before falling overboard, with those on board quickly losing sight of her. SFD, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and the Coast Guard all responded to the scene. Some people boating nearby also tried to help in the search, according to KOMO News.

A man, 46, who was operating the boat has been arrested for boating under the influence. He was booked into King County Jail.

More missing people: 16-year-old girl from Bonney Lake still missing, not seen in five weeks

By 11:30 p.m., without finding anything, SFD cleared the scene.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Two years ago this week, a first-of-its-kind legislation — called PayUp — guaranteed app-based delivery drivers a minimum wage while protecting employment flexibility. After PayUp was passed by the Seattle City Council, gig workers were in line to receive a minimum pay floor of at least minimum wage for every hour worked with an active job.

A gig worker is an employee who does temporary or freelance work, especially an independent contractor engaged on an informal or on-demand basis.

The Seattle City Council passed PayUp on a unanimous vote in 2022 with the law starting last January.

More on the passing of PayUp: Seattle greenlights minimum wages for app-based delivery drivers

“Large segments of our economy are becoming more and more automated with lower pay and scant benefits,” former Seattle City Council member Andrew Lewis said in 2022 during the bill’s passage. “As the economy evolves, so too must the approach of local government. This bill is the first step to protect and expand the rights of workers who use these apps.”

Seattle City Council referenced a report from Working Washington that claimed 92% of jobs from app-based companies paid Seattle workers less than the minimum wage.

But in 2022 after PayUp passed, DoorDash — one of the largest delivery companies affected by PayUp — estimated Seattle businesses could lose over $74 million collectively a year, and DoorDash workers could lose over $32 million in collective earnings due to an expected drop in orders.

With the PayUp law mandating that workers earn 44 cents a minute and 74 cents a mile traveled, or a minimum of $5 per order, to guarantee a minimum hourly wage, delivery companies added a $5 fee to every order placed through their apps, along with a notice that this fee was now a necessary cost of doing business in Seattle.

With the added fees, delivery sales were down 30% in January, the first month the law was in place, compared to the same time last year, according to Seattle Eater. DoorDash estimated there have been as many as 300,000 fewer orders since the law passed, leading to a $7 million loss in revenue for area businesses.

The ordinance being argued by the council Tuesday would lower the minimum wage from $26.40 per hour to $19.97 per hour and cut the amount of money drivers earn per mile from 74 cents to 35 cents. It reportedly would also not require companies to reverse the added fees, but according to KOMO News, DoorDash said it could lower the $5 regulatory response fee if this legislation passes.

“The regulatory response fee in Seattle helps offset the costs associated with the current law,” a DoorDash spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement to KOMO News. “If those costs can be decreased through reform legislation, we will explore all options to increase affordability for consumers, including a reduction of the fee.”

The ordinance would additionally only pay drivers that are “en route” to a delivery as opposed to under the current ordinance where paid time starts when they accept an offer. Some delivery drivers, like Alex Kim, believe this puts delivery and other gig workers back at square one.

More on food delivery in Seattle: Tony Delivers reaches 750 customers as delivery apps rage war against Seattle

“That would indicate that for every single minute I have my app on, I’m getting paid. That’s not true at all because you only get paid for active time,” Kim, who delivers for four different delivery apps, told KIRO 7. “I’m going to get paid $19.97 an hour only when I’m working and there’s going to be downtime that means I’m going to get paid less than the minimum wage in Seattle.”

The council was expected to vote on the ordinance Tuesday at 2 p.m., but according to Council President Sara Nelson, the vote has been postponed “to ensure the council has time to fully consider those changes.”

Contributing: KIRO 7

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

At approximately 3 a.m., a woman was approached by two suspects, armed with guns, as she was sitting in her truck in a parking lot located at 762 Outlet Collection Way.

More local crime: Seattle officers investigate deadly shooting

When the two robbery suspects approached her, they demanded she hand over her valuables. Instead, she pulled out a gun and fired at the suspects.

“In the course of firing at the suspects, the female victim was shot,” Auburn Police spokesperson Kolby Crossley told KIRO 7.

She was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries by responding paramedics. Crossley stated it was not yet known whether the victim was shot by the suspects or by her own gunfire, according to KIRO 7.

Using drones, a K-9 unit, the King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter and help from neighboring police agencies, local authorities were able to track down and arrest the suspects.

More local crime: Seattle detectives looking for vehicle involved in deadly hit-and-run

Detectives remain at the scene.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Contributing: KIRO 7

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

More on SPD: Seattle police captain sues city, Chief Adrian Diaz

Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis has been with the department for 25 years. He currently heads up the division that oversees the SWAT team and Bomb Squad.

Davis started as a police officer with the SPD when he first joined the department before working his way up to detective. He worked as a detective for five years before becoming a lieutenant with the SPD, and subsequently the assistant chief.

More on the SPD: What Seattle police officers are saying during exit interviews

MyNorthwest and KIRO Newsradio have reached out to the SPD Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) for further information.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

The caregiver, Romulo Ramos de Guzman, was charged with two counts of second-degree rape at Aegis Living Center in Shoreline. The two victims both have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and deal with “significant cognitive impairment,” according to court documents acquired by multiple media outlets, including KOMO News and KING 5. In the documents, the victims are identified by their initials only.

More sexual assault cases: UW students, staff question response to football player accused of rape

“We deeply regret the pain and trauma these residents and their families have experienced,” Aegis Living Shoreline said to both outlets as part of a prepared statement. “We continue to be deeply concerned about this incident, and the impact of the recent indictment, on our residents and their families. We are committed to ensuring their safety, well-being, and happiness in our community.”

One of the victims reported the sexual assault to her sister back in November 2022, according to the court documents acquired by the outlets, and was taken to the hospital for a sexual assault examination. According to the victim, the sexual assaults began several weeks before, happening at least four times earlier.

A second victim reported she was raped by de Guzman just two days prior to the first victim’s claim.

Denying the rape allegations, de Guzman left the country for the Philippines for nearly a year. When he returned to the U.S., he was under constant surveillance, according to court documents noted in the reports. During this time, investigators recovered a cigarette he discarded and eventually matched the DNA found on the cigarette to the DNA profile of the victim, leading to de Guzman’s arrest.

More on sexual assault in Washington: Rape kit backlog has been cleared

The state requested de Guzman’s bail to be set at $350,000 as the defendant poses “a serious flight risk.” If he posts bail, de Guzman is required to surrender his passport.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Trooper John Dattilo said Washington State Patrol (WSP) called off the chase on the ground, but unbeknownst to the suspect, Smokey, a WSP law enforcement plane, still followed him from above on State Route 167.

More local crime: 2-year-old hit with stray bullet in Skyway apartment shooting, in critical condition

“Smokey was able to follow that motorcycle,” Dattilo told KIRO Newsradio.

Don’t be like the rider of this motorcycle, who thought he could outrun the @wastatepatrol airplane, Smokey.

After fleeing from troopers on SR 167, reaching speeds of 114 mph, Smokey tracked the bike to this parking lot, and troopers arrested him inside the store. @wspd2pio pic.twitter.com/OI1DxfvB1S

— Trooper John Dattilo (@wspd1pio) May 23, 2024

More local police chases: Seattle Police pursue, capture carjacking suspects after chase across several cities

The motorcyclist eventually stopped at a Trader Joe’s parking lot in Federal Way and walked inside. Troopers followed the suspect into the store and arrested him. He faces several charges.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

The missing girl, Hayden Locke, was last seen leaving her home on April 16 in Bonney Lake, Washington. She’s been missing for 38 days as of this reporting.

More missing people in Washington: Missing Mount Vernon girl, 14, found safe in Michigan

“Hayden’s family is deeply concerned for her safety and want nothing more than to bring her home where she belongs,” the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children stated in a prepared statement.

Hayden Locke, 16, was last seen on April 16, 2024. She may be in the Bonney Lake, WA area or travel to other cities in Washington.

Call NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678 or @BLPoliceDept at 1-253-287-4455 if you have information. @komonews @fox13seattle @KIRO7Seattle @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/1XhOtlSGsy

— National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (@NCMEC) May 21, 2024

Hayden is 5 feet, one inch tall and weighs approximately 100 lbs. She has blue eyes and dirty blonde hair that may or may not be dyed a different color. Authorities believe Hayden may stay in the local area or travel to other cities in Washington.

More missing people in Washington: Missing pilot found dead near Snoqualmie Pass

If you have any information about Hayden or her disappearance, please contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Bonney Lake Police Department at 1-253-287-4455.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

“How often in the last year, month or week have you used marijuana?” was one of the many questions 1,237 young adults anonymously answered in the survey.

“The number of young adults smoking marijuana every day is higher than ever at 10.4%,” UW researcher Dr. Jason Kilmer told members of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, according to The Center Square. It’s the first time in the survey’s 10-year history that daily use surpassed 10%.

Among those between the ages of 21-25, the percentage jumps to 14% daily use.

The survey also revealed 54% of young adult survey respondents never use cannabis, while a quarter use it weekly. It’s the third year in the last four where at least 24% of surveyed individuals stated they use cannabis at least weekly. In 2014, the first year of the survey, the percentage was under 17%.

More on marijuana: What reclassification means for the United States

People under 21 using cannabis

It was also reported that 14% of respondents between the ages of 18 and 20 — marijuana still being illegal for those under 21 even where it is legal — said they used the substance.

The survey followed up with more questions on how people under the age of 21 are gaining access to cannabis. More than half (58%) responded saying they get it from friends, but others cited their own parents.

Kilmer stated that “15.77% got it from parents with permission,” The Center Square reported. That’s a 10% jump from 2014.

The survey revealed that the 14% figure is the lowest since 2019, the last year before the pandemic and nearly 2% lower than survey results from a year ago.

This was the 10th year the survey had been conducted in Washington, dating back to 2014 — just after cannabis was legalized in the state.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Early Tuesday morning, firefighters were called to an RV fire near 103rd Avenue and Old McKenna Road. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office was promptly called once firefighters discovered what they thought could have been a body.

More local crime: Watch for scam phone calls pretending to be law enforcement

When Thurston County Sheriff deputies and detectives arrived, their investigation led to a locked travel trailer on an adjacent property with two people inside, according to KIRO 7. Deputies were able to get one person out while an armed man remained inside.

Law enforcement negotiated with the armed suspect for several hours but were not able to get him to surrender. SWAT and the Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad were both asked to be called in to help, but the suspect eventually took his own life.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office believes there is a connection between their death investigation and the standoff.

“They may have known each other in some way,” a Thurston County deputy told KIRO 7. “I don’t know how well they knew each other at this time.”

More local crime: Bothell couple says neighbor threatened them by leaving empty ammo boxes outside of their home

The investigation remains ongoing.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Contributing: KIRO 7

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Constantine is pushing to shift public health clinics and their services to operate under Harborview Medical Center’s supervision, which is also attempting to raise funds. His proposal, which has not been officially unveiled, according to The Seattle Times, would go up for a county council vote.

More on Public Health: Outbreak of deadly fungus C. auris hits King County

If approved, King County’s public health clinics would fall under the same funding received by Harborview Medical Clinic. Harborview is the only county-owned hospital in the state.

Approximately 70,000 people a year get health care, dental care, nutrition aid or personalized services from public health clinics in King County, according to The Seattle Times. But the clinics have been in danger of closing for almost a year because of a $35 million budget cut.

Public health clinics that could be closed are located in Auburn, Seattle, Des Moines, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent, Burien, Lake City, Renton and Kirkland.

“This network, along with mobile vans, a street medicine team and school-based health centers, ensures healthcare is accessible to as many people as possible,” Save Public Health stated in its petition to keep the medical centers open. “Two-thirds of Public Health clients are Black, Indigenous and People of Color. These communities have historically faced health disparities and systemic barriers to healthcare. Public Health plays a crucial role in bridging these gaps and providing equitable healthcare services.”

More news from King County: Seattle requests KC Homelessness Authority to shrink budget by $21M

More than 2,000 signatures have been collected for Save Public Health’s petition.

One medical center, a dental clinic in downtown Seattle that sees approximately 50 patients a day, has a clientele made up of 85% homeless people, according to The Seattle Times. Another medical center, a primary care clinic also located in downtown Seattle, stated 30% of its patients are homeless.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

The $21 million is a 19% decrease from last year and, according to The Seattle Times, could potentially eliminate about 300 emergency shelter beds and a 125-bed shelter for Black men in the Central District among a loss of behavioral health services or beds at tiny home villages.

More on King County homelessness: Homelessness surges in King County by 23% as state releases plan to tackle housing

A spokesperson for Mayor Bruce Harrell explained to The Seattle Times the budget reduction is because temporary funding, retrieved through pandemic relief aid, has expired.

KCRHA’s point-in-time homeless count

Moments before KCRHA’s budget was slashed per the Seattle City Council’s request, the organization conducted a point-in-time (PIT) homeless count. A PIT count is an estimate of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night in King County.

The main count of people living unsheltered is conducted by approximately 600 volunteers spread across the county between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., assisted by paid “guides” who have experienced homelessness in the past and whose knowledge can help locate homeless people off the beaten path.

According to the PIT count conducted earlier this week, the number of people experiencing homelessness in King County, the most populated county in Washington, has gone up 23% since 2022. There were 9,810 unsheltered people (60%) and 6,575 sheltered people (40%) for a total of 16,385 in 2024. However, KCRHA said the numbers are a severe undercount.

In comparison, there were 7,685 unsheltered people (57%) and 5,683 sheltered people (43%) for a total of 13,368 in 2022.

KCRHA’s financial troubles

KCRHA laid off nearly 40 members of the team — approximately one-third of its total staff — in September 2023 after a pilot project from the organization, called Partnership for Zero, was sunsetted. The goal of the Partnership for Zero initiative was to get nearly everyone who was homeless in downtown Seattle off of the streets within a year. For the initiative’s 18-month lifespan, KCRHA claimed it has housed more than 230 people within downtown and the Chinatown International District through the program.

Last year, it was reported that 30 KCRHA employees earned six-figure salaries, with former CEO Marc Dones topping the list with a $250,000 annual salary. The deputy CEO was the only other employee to top $200,000 as an annual salary.

The roles varied among the highest paid within the Homeless Authority, ranging from communication directors, directors of policy, account managers, program managers and assistants to chief administrative officers, all making anywhere from $113,000 to $160,000.

More on KCRHA: KC Homeless Authority has salaries released after Dones departs

The average salary of all King County employees is just under $95,000 in comparison.

Under Dones leadership, the Homeless Authority requested nearly $12 billion for its budget to address local homelessness over the next five years, a dramatic increase over its initial $253 million budget for 2023.

The proposal’s budget broke down to two parts: $8.4 billion for one-time capital costs over the five-year period and an additional $3.4 billion for operating expenses. The request immediately received pushback from council members, private organizations and residents.

“If money was the solution, wouldn’t we have solved this 20 years ago?” Andrea Suarez, founder and executive director of We Heart Seattle, asked Dave Ross in response to KCRHA’s multi-billion dollar budget request. “Every major city keeps getting more millions and billions of dollars. Meanwhile, we can set up 20,000 beds in New York City for refugees that are coming in from Ukraine, with services, toilets, bathrooms, medical care, and nurses … it’s a bit different when you’re dealing with drug addiction and that is what KCRHA doesn’t address at all.”

Dones stepped down from his role as KCRHA’s CEO after two years just months after KCRHA made its $12 billion budget request. According to The Stranger, Dones had a strained relationship with city and county leadership in part due to Dones’ resistance to Seattle’s tiny home strategy — adopted in 2015. Just months into the job as CEO, Dones told PubliCola the “proliferation” of tiny houses needs to end, and that short-term approaches for housing should be replaced by new investments in housing construction and acquisition, citing King County’s Health Through Housing program.

More on KCRHA: Volunteer group lambasts King County Regional Homeless Authority’s ballooning budget

The KCRHA has projected that the number of homeless people in King County will reach 62,000 people by 2028, nearly 10,000 more compared to 2022.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

According to KCSO, the suspect was someone who was running drugs into Washington for the Sinaloa cartel — arguably the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western Hemisphere, led mostly by Joaquín Guzmán Loera’s, also known as El Chapo, sons.

More local drug busts: 13 Western WA residents indicted for major drug ring, 350 pounds of drugs recovered

The arrest came after a two-month investigation that involved more than 100 hours of surveillance across the region.

Alongside the arrest, the investigation into the Burien drug ring uncovered nearly three pounds of fentanyl powder, 5,000 fentanyl/M30 pills, 10 grams of cocaine, three handguns, one AR-15 style short barrel rifle with a 60-round drum magazine, three vehicles and more than $180,000 in cash.

(Photo courtesy of King County Sheriff’s Office)

The suspect is currently booked in King County Jail on narcotics-related charges. It’s unclear whether deputies believe he had accomplices here.

More local drug busts: Shoreline officers get 64 pounds of fentanyl off the streets

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Ferguson immediately cried foul, claiming this was a “direct attack” on both democracy and the integrity of the Washington state election system. Both Bob Fergusons, located in Graham and Yakima, subsequently dropped out.

More on duplicate Bob Fergusons: Both duplicate Bob Fergusons withdraw from governors race

But who was behind adding multiple Bob Fergusons? Glen Morgan, a conservative activist, took to Facebook admitting he was the “volunteer campaign manager” for both duplicate Bob Fergusons.

Multiple media outlets have since crowned him the “architect” of this “political stunt.”

“I don’t think it’s fair to say anything about me being an architect as both these guys wanted to run for office,” Morgan said on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH 770 AM. “They both wanted to run for governor. And in particular, the Yakima Bob Ferguson had been wanting to run for some time. His friends at work had tried to convince him to run a year-and-a-half ago before his wife died and he was pretty inspired to jump in and run. He just always seemed that it was impossible for him to get over the hurdles — all of the crossing of the t’s and dotting the i’s of actually trying to run for office.”

Ferguson claimed Morgan did this only to “confuse voters and diminish votes,” which violates state law.

News reports confirm that a right-wing conservative paid the filing fee for two other unknown “Bob Fergusons.” The intent is clear – confuse voters and diminish votes.

The stakes could not be higher. This is a direct attack on our democracy and the integrity of the Washington… pic.twitter.com/UnpN5fxYXm

— Bob Ferguson (@BobFergusonAG) May 11, 2024

“I have to tell you, this jail time threat was, I think, unprecedented in the state of Washington,” Morgan said. “We’ve never seen these guys have just as much a right to run for office as anybody else. And threatening them with jail time was an excessive response by the Attorney General.”

Rantz on Bob Ferguson: On crime, Bob Ferguson’s campaign made its first massive blunder

Despite the other Fergusons not getting a real shot at challenging the current Attorney General, Morgan stated both candidates had legitimate reasons for running and a passion for public office.

“There’s no doubt that either one of these men would be far better and superior to Bob Ferguson not just as a human being, but also in governor,” Morgan said. “They both would be better and they both had campaign platforms. And both of them would have been far better getting into office.”

You can listen to the full interview here:

The Washington primaries will be held on Aug. 6, and the general election occurs on Nov. 5.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

The 10 people in custody have been accused of bringing “large loads” of fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs to our region. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) led the wide-ranging investigation alongside agents from the FBI, ATF, Border Patrol and local authorities from Seattle, Oregon and California

More major drug busts: Shoreline officers get 64 pounds of fentanyl off the streets

“These defendants were brazenly bringing large loads of drugs to western Washington and didn’t hesitate to arm themselves with high-powered firearms,” U.S. Attorney Gorman said in a prepared statement. “Even after law enforcement seized the drugs in various traffic stops in Oregon and Washington, they were not deterred.”

The DEA found some of them allegedly continued trafficking the drugs after they were already caught when they were pulled over in Oregon and Washington. In total, authorities seized 130 pounds of fentanyl pills, 178 pounds of meth and more than 50 pounds of cocaine. Dozens of guns were confiscated alongside the recovered drugs, including a rifle and a submachine gun.

Of the 10 arrested, just one person — Neldin Licona Rivera of Seattle — is older than 30. The other nine arrested ranged from 19 to 26 years of age.

More significant drug busts: Whatcom County agencies conduct major drug bust following dozens of overdoses

“Drugs and guns are a dangerous combination and this group had large amounts of both, posing a grave threat to Western Washington,” David Reames, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Seattle Field Division, said. “The Drug Enforcement Administration is thankful to our federal, state and local partners who worked with us tirelessly on this case to safeguard the lives of our community endangered by this group.”

The remaining three people involved who are not in custody are being sought by law enforcement.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

“The new police officer contract is a needed step forward to advance our vision for a city where everyone, in every neighborhood, is safe and feels secure,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said after the contract was signed into effect. “Seattle is a world-class city, and the updated wages and terms in this agreement reflect a commitment to building, recruiting and retaining the world-class police service our community deserves.”

However, Seattle City Council member Tammy Morales advocated for her colleagues to delay the vote. Morales stated she wanted a public hearing regarding the potential contract so residents could voice their thoughts and concerns.

“We haven’t had a single public hearing on this contract and this is absolutely not something that should be rushed,” Morales said.

More on Seattle police: What Seattle police officers are saying during exit interviews

The last Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) contract, approved in 2018, gave officers a 17% raise and required the city to spend $65 million in back pay, according to multiple media outlets.

PubliCola, which bills itself as “Seattle’s reader-supported source for deeply sourced in-depth coverage of local, state, and regional politics and policy,” published a PDF of the contract earlier this month before the union removed it from public view.

SPOG represents approximately 900 SPD officers. The president of SPOG, Mike Solan, expressed his elation after Seattle’s City Council voted to approve a new three-year contract agreement.

“It is emblematic of good governing. Moderate politics and common sense, finally coming back. I’m very, very appreciative of Mayor Harrell and (Council) President Nelson’s leadership in this process,” Solan stated. “We should be No. 1 (in pay) because it’s a difficult city to work in, but it’s a rewarding profession.”

“Our focus throughout negotiations has been on the ultimate goal of creating an excellent police service and a safe Seattle, rooted in a commitment to accountability, operational improvements and increasing the recruitment and retention of good officers through fair wages and working conditions,” the City of Seattle said in a statement to KIRO Newsradio.

However, critics of the contract believe the city will get no meaningful accountability requirements. Police accountability has been a focal point of contention between the guild and city officials. SPOG has faced criticism from police reform advocates, who claim the union exerts too much influence over officer accountability and discipline procedures.

Just when a tentative agreement was put in place for a new contract, the Seattle Community Police Commission demanded further transparency about negotiations and for the public to be able to see the contract and weigh in on it, a sentiment Morales agreed with.

More on Seattle Police’s pending contract: Seattle Police Officers’ Guild reaches tentative contract agreement with city

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Hundreds of people lined the sidewalks of Western Avenue and Elliott Avenue West at approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday to watch the car show, which can be seen on KIRO 7.

Street takeovers involve several cars blocking traffic at specific intersections to speed and show off dangerous stunts like drifting with large crowds watching dangerously close to the action, typically filming the stunts for social media.

More on street takeovers: Connecticut man arrested for leading ‘street takeovers’ including racing and blocking roads

“By definition, a street takeover involves the unauthorized commandeering of public roads for unregulated activities,” attorney William Kroger defined. “Often coordinated through social media, these events attract not just drivers eager to flaunt their automotive prowess, but also scores of spectators ready to document the spectacle, feeding the cycle.”

Washington law bans car sideshows, takeovers and meets with crowds while police continue to crack down on ones that draw in large crowds.

Seattle Police Department (SPD) claimed at least 500 people were present at this takeover event along with nearly 80 vehicles. As police arrived at the scene, one of the drivers drifted in circles around an SPD vehicle and, according to KIRO 7, someone also kicked the police cruiser in the process.

More on street racing: Seattle cracking down on street racing with speed enforcement cameras

“A lot of cars running around. My dog was barking at it,” Andres, a resident who lives near where the takeover took place, told KIRO 7. “I’d be worried if it was an every weekend kind of thing, for sure.”

No one was arrested in the incident.

Contributing: KIRO 7

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

The HOV lane and the left general purpose lane are now open at milepost 5, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

8th UPDATE: NB I-405 IN RENTON
NB I-405 2 SR 900/Sunset Blvd/Southport Dr (milepost 5) in #Renton has opened the left general purpose lane.

Continue to expect delays in the area. https://t.co/zCKf3EssyS pic.twitter.com/jkYvQL6Y39

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) May 14, 2024

More news on highway closures: Brace for delays, Everett Revive I-5 is back

Good morning! Happy Tuesday.

Not so happy start to the morning commute on northbound I-405 in Renton.

We’ve got a truck fire that’s FULLY BLOCKING all lanes near NE Park Drive/SR 900 (around milepost 5). 🔥🚒

Emergency crews are enroute. USE ALTERNATE ROUTES! @CityofRenton pic.twitter.com/bCHF5mEL6S

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) May 14, 2024

“I can see the smoke from 167 by the 277th exit,” Robert, a trucker from Puyallup, texted the KIRO Newsradio text-line. “Just jumped onto I-5 and traffic’s heavy. Looks like everyone else is doing the same thing.”

More from Chokepoints: Airport expansion in high gear as summer travel approaches

WSDOT is recommending drivers take alternate routes as crews try to clear the roads.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.