“We’re dealing with some bad actors here, and it’s impacting the community. It’s impacting our system and our staff,” SPL spokesperson Laura Gentry told KIRO Newsradio.

She said they became aware of the attack Saturday morning and took all of their systems offline.

“Basically, any system that needs to connect to the internet is down, right now. That includes things like our online catalog, our staff and public computers, access to e-books and e-audio books, and even our website, at this time,” Gentry explained.

Gentry did not go into details about the ransomware attack, but typically cybercriminals use malware to block users from accessing their data until they pay a ransom to the hacker.

SPL stated in a news release that it quickly engaged third-party forensic specialists, contacted law enforcement and took systems fully offline to assess the impact.

“With our external partners, we continue to investigate the source of this disruption and are working as quickly and diligently as we can to confirm the extent of the impacts and restore full functionality to our systems. Privacy and security of patron and employee information are top priorities,” stated the news release.

Other news: Will the minimum wage for delivery drivers in Seattle be lowered?

SPL said the systems will remain offline until they can ensure security.

“Unfortunately we don’t have a timeline for resolution at this time. I don’t want to make any promises,” Gentry said. “We’re working as hard as we can to bring any and all systems back online securely.”

The library stated it will continue to release updates.

“We are an organization that prides itself on providing you answers, and we are sorry that the information we can share is limited. At this time, securing and restoring our systems is where we are focused. We will update you in this space as we make progress on that work,” the release continued. “We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this difficult situation.”

However, the library is still open to patrons. SPL said people are welcome to enjoy spaces; check out physical books, CDs and DVDs in paper forms and that staff will continue to answer referral and reference questions.

The library also said while patrons cannot currently place holds, they are welcome to pick up holds already on the shelf. Also, people are encouraged to hold onto their materials a bit longer as the library will not charge daily late fines until the system is back up.

SPL also asks people to bring their physical library card or card number. It also noted that library summer hours will start June 20 and several locations will be open longer.

Seattle Public Library faces budget cuts, staffing shortages

In April, SPL announced it was closing 22 or its 27 locations for at least one day per week until the beginning of June, amid increasingly problematic staffing shortages and safety concerns.

In March at a Seattle City Council meeting, librarians expressed their frustrations, reported KIRO 7.

More deficits: Seattle Public Schools’ budget in disarray, could close 20 elementary schools

“When libraries close, it means the whole community loses a place to turn for learning and joy and safety and connection with each other,” Jacob, a local librarian, said according to KIRO 7.

Council member Tammy Morales released a statement stating she is worried the City of Seattle budget deficit will affect the libraries.

“This is a wake-up call for our city. Without urgent action, things will get so much worse than this. The City of Seattle is facing a more than $240 million budget deficit. There’s no way to cut that much from the budget without decimating essential services like our libraries, work on homelessness, and public safety programs for years to come,” Morales said.

Heather Bosch is an award-winning anchor and reporter on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of her stories here. Follow Heather on X, formerly known as Twitter, or email her here.

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email her here.

The 56-year-old chain made the filing late Sunday, days after shuttering dozens of restaurants.

“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth,” said Red Lobster CEO Jonathan Tibus, a corporate restructuring expert who took the top post at the chain in March.

Red Lobster said it will use the bankruptcy proceedings to simplify its operations, close restaurants and pursue a sale. As part of the filings, Red Lobster has entered into a so-called “stalking horse” agreement, meaning it plans to sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its lenders.

Red Lobster has been struggling for some time as it has had to deal with lease and labor costs piling up in recent years. The filing could help Red Lobster exit from some long-term contracts and renegotiate many of its leases, unnamed sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News last month.

The move comes after restaurant liquidator TAGeX Brands announced last week that it was going to auction off the equipment of over 50 Red Lobster locations that were recently closed as part of the seafood chain’s “footprint rationalization.” The locations span across more than 20 states — cutting back on Red Lobster’s presence in cities like Denver, San Antonio, Indianapolis and Sacramento, California. TAGeX Brands states it is selling equipment from five locations in Florida and California and four restaurants in Maryland and Colorado.

TAGeX Brands’ auctions began last Monday and ran through last Thursday. The sales were “winner takes all” — meaning that one winner will receive the entirety of contents for each location. Images on TAGeX Brands’ website indicated that includes ovens, refrigerators, bar setups, dining furniture and more.

TAGeX Brands called the liquidation “the largest restaurant equipment auction event ever.” In a statement, founder and CEO Neal Sherman said that the goal of such online auctions was to “prevent high-quality items from being discarded in landfills” and instead promote sustainable reuse.

It’s unclear if Red Lobster plans to shutter any additional restaurants in the near future. The Orlando, Florida-based company did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ requests for comment before publishing its story Tuesday.

Silverdale location is closed; 9 Washington restaurants remain

On Red Lobster’s website, a handful of impacted locations were listed as “temporarily closed” or “unavailable” Tuesday morning.

The TAGeX Brands website indicated some the equipment it will be trying to sell comes from the location in Silverdale. Those who visit the Red Lobster website and head to the page for the Silverdale location will see the hours of operation are marked as “closed” for all seven days of the week.

The Red Lobster closures have not affected the other nine locations in the state of Washington. Restaurants in Federal Way, Kelso, Kennewick, Lynnwood, Olympia, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Yakima remain open as normal, according to the Red Lobster website.

In addition, the five locations in Oregon have not been affected by the closures. Restaurants in Eugene, Gresham, Medford, Salem and Tigard also are open as usual, the Red Lobster website states.

Have you eaten at one of these restaurants? 6 in Washington up for major culinary award

A sign announcing the closure of a Red Lobster restaurant is posted on the front of a Red Lobster restaurant on May 14, 2024 in Fremont, California. (Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images)

Lingering difficulties for Red Lobster

Maintaining stable management has also proven difficult, with the company seeing multiple ownership changes over its history. Earlier this year, Red Lobster co-owner Thai Union Group, one of the world’s largest seafood suppliers, announced its intention to exit its minority investment in the dining chain.

Thai Union first invested in Red Lobster in 2016 and upped its stake in 2020. At the time of the January announcement on its plans to divest, CEO Thiraphong Chansiri said the COVID-19 pandemic, industry headwinds and rising operating costs had impacted Red Lobster and resulted in “prolonged negative financial contributions to Thai Union and its shareholders.”

For the first nine months of 2023, the Thailand company reported a $19 million share of loss from Red Lobster.

And then there’s been the problem of endless shrimp. Last year, Red Lobster significantly expanded its iconic all-you-can-eat shrimp deal. But customer demand overwhelmed what the chain could afford, which also reportedly contributed to the millions in losses.

Red Lobster’s roots date back to 1968, when the first restaurant opened in Lakeland, Florida. In the decades following, the chain expanded rapidly. Red Lobster currently touts more than 700 locations worldwide.

Editors’ note: This piece originally was published on Thursday, May 16, 2024. It has been updated and republished multiple times since then.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Steve Coogan, MyNorthwest

A spokesman for Spirit AeroSystems confirmed the layoffs at its Wichita, Kansas, plant on Thursday that would trim its workforce of just over 13,000 people. Spirit is Boeing’s most important supplier on the 737s because it makes fuselages and installs door plugs like the one that flew off the plane. But it’s not clear whether Spirit or Boeing employees were the last ones to touch that panel.

“The recent slowdown in the delivery rate on commercial programs compels a reduction to our workforce in Wichita,” Spirit spokesman Joe Buccino said to The Associated Press (AP).

Spirit also released a short statement on its website that can be linked to from its homepage. It began the same way as Buccino’s statement to the AP did by noting the delivery rate slowdown. It added that it plans to inform workers that will be affected soon.

“In the coming weeks, we will inform affected employees,” the statement reads. “We are committed to implementing this transition in as compassionate a manner as possible.”

Boeing confirmed this spring that it is in talks to buy Spirit, which was once a part of the plane-maker before it was spun off. Buying Spirit back would reverse a longtime Boeing strategy of outsourcing key work on its passenger planes. That approach has been criticized after problems at Spirit disrupted production and delivery of popular Boeing jetliners, including 737s and 787s.

Previous coverage: Boeing says it’s in talks to buy Spirit AeroSystems, key supplier on troubled 737 Max

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union expressed concern about the layoffs and said it would try to help workers who lose their jobs in the coming weeks.

“Together, we will continue to work to protect the strength of the aerospace industry in Wichita and ensure our members receive the assistance and resources they need to overcome this challenge and emerge stronger,” the union said.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Steve Coogan, MyNorthwest

“Facing Fentanyl,” which explored the region’s exploding drug crisis, won the news series award in the Region 1 Radio | Large Market category. Region 1 comprises Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Heather Bosch’s Facing Fentanyl: Hear the voices of people hurting

Each year, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) presents awards to news organizations across the country whose work demonstrates the spirit of excellence that Edward R. Murrow set as a standard for the broadcast journalism profession.

Regional winners automatically advance to the National Murrow Award competition. Those winners will be announced in August.

Cathy Cangiano, senior vice president and market manager at Bonneville Seattle, expressed pride in Bosch and the KIRO Newsradio team for being honored.

“This Murrow Award reflects our unwavering dedication to delivering impactful stories that resonate with our audience,” Cangiano said. “We are incredibly proud to see Heather’s work recognized with such a prestigious award. This accolade is a testament to the talent and hard work of our news team.”

This is the third consecutive year KIRO Newsradio has won at least one Regional Murrow award. In 2023, KIRO Newsradio was recognized for its work by “Seattle’s Morning News” co-host Dave Ross in the area of excellence in writing and anchor Aaron Granillo in the area of investigative reporting, which also took on the dangers of fentanyl.

2023 awards: KIRO Newsradio brings home two Regional Murrow Awards

In 2022, KIRO Newsradio took home awards as “Seattle’s Morning News” won best newscast and Ross was recognized in the area of excellence in writing.

Another major award for ‘Facing Fentanyl’

Bosch’s news series also was honored at the end of March by the Alliance for Women in Media with a prestigious Gracie Award. Her work was recognized as the best “Hard News Feature” by any local radio station in America.

These awards recognize exceptional programming produced by women, for women and about women across various media platforms.

Fellow KIRO Newsradio anchor Lisa Brooks also won a Gracie for “Best Soft News Feature” for her report on “The Hub of Hope.” This feature explored a Kent-Meridian High School project that provides free essential resources to students, fostering a supportive learning environment.

Recognition: KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

The Gracie Awards, named after the late Gracie Allen, celebrate outstanding individual achievements and team leadership. They specifically honor women who drive positive change and contribute to shaping fulfilling careers in media.

Contributing: Steve Coogan and Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest

The Storm’s 25th anniversary season promises to be a memorable one.

“The fans who have showed up for this team are very special,” owner Lisa Brummel said in an interview with Carter Subaru. “They’re special to us because it’s our business and we love to entertain them every time they come to the arena.”

But it’s more important because you see across the 16 years that we’ve owned the team, they’re there through thick and thin. Oftentimes in a business when things aren’t going well, people abandon you, our fans are always there,” she continued.

Throughout the year, fans can participate in various promotions, giveaways and experiences to honor the team’s legacy. The franchise has come a long way since its founding, and this milestone season is a testament to its enduring impact on the community.

Seattle Storm first WNBA team with all-women ownership

One of the most remarkable features of the Storm is its all-women ownership group. The Storm is the first WNBA team to have all-women ownership.

The ownership team is composed of Ginny Gilder, Lisa Brummel, Dawn Trudeau and recently WNBA legend Sue Bird. Their commitment to women’s sports and empowerment sets a powerful example for the entire league.

“When we first took over the team, the ask of the corporate partner was more of a ‘You should do this because it’s the right thing,’ and now it’s ‘You want to do this because you want to be part of what we’re doing,'” Trudeau said in a video with Carter Subaru. “It’s a big change and it’s been a really helpful thing for us to bring in more partners who want to align with what we’re doing and what our brand is doing in the community and the impact we have with the community.”

Bird retired from playing with the Storm in 2022. She played her entire professional career with the team. She also won four WNBA championships and five Olympic gold medals.

“As a player, I poured my heart into every game for the Seattle Storm, and now, as part of the ownership group, I am thrilled to continue contributing to the growth of the game,” said former player Sue Bird via the Storm’s website. “Investing in women’s sports isn’t just about passion; it’s smart business. It’s about recognizing the immense talent, dedication, and market potential our league has always had. Force 10 Hoops and the Storm have been at the forefront of this for decades. Together, we’re not just shaping the future of basketball, but also paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive society.”

Seattle Storm launches Force4Change

Force4Change became part of the Storm’s mission in 2020.

“When we first purchased the team we had a pretty strict rule with the team and with ourselves, not wanting to alienate anyone,” Trudeau said. “We wanted everyone to feel comfortable in the arena and we still want everyone to feel comfortable in the arena.”

Force4Change was started in response to social unrest and demands for justice for Black individuals across the country. The platform focuses on elevating the voices and experiences of Black women, supporting Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities through different programs, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion and promoting civic engagement, education and legislative action.

In 2020, the Seattle Storm expanded its Force4Change initiatives, including programs like Stats for Youth, where Storm stats are converted into dollar donations for non-profits.

Carter Subaru has long-standing history as corporate partner of the Storm

Carter Subaru, under the leadership of Jen Moran is the longest-standing corporate partner of the Storm.

“The partnership is centered around bringing the community together and creating a positive impact with our shared platform,” said Storm CEO and General Manager Alisha Valavanis.

Their unwavering support has contributed to the team’s sustained excellence. Carter-Subaru embodies the spirit of community collaboration and shared values through the Subaru Love Promise.

Carter Subaru has been nationally recognized for its dedication to the community. The Subaru Love Promise acknowledges Subaru retailers who actively contribute to causes in local communities, focusing on areas such as the environment, community, health and education.

One organization they work with is Treehouse , a nonprofit organization in Washington that focuses on supporting youth in foster care. 

As Carter Subaru partners with Treehouse and the Storm, it sought a way to help foster Treehouse’s mission.  Therefore, it launched 3’s for Treehouse, a program that directs funds to Treehouse with the help of the Storm team.

The Storm, being not only a basketball team but an advocate for change, jumped at the opportunity to help. 

“I am very excited to work with these partners and look forward to promoting long-lasting positive impact in the Seattle community,” Force4Change‘s Director of Community Engagement, Crystal Langhorne said. “We are very lucky to have corporate partners who embrace the activism side of the Seattle Storm and understand the importance of our influence on young people.”

Along with 3’s for Treehouse, other initiatives include Free Throws for the Future, Community Assist and Blockchain. The team continues to intentionally partner with organizations to raise money and promote diversity in underserved communities, non-profits and among individuals. 

As the Seattle Storm celebrates its 25th anniversary, the community applauds its achievements, honors its legacy, and looks forward to many more years of inspiring basketball and community impact. 

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest

Seattle-area May Day demonstrations

Wednesday morning, over 100 people gathered at Westlake Park for the annual May Day demonstration and march. The event is to show support for workers, workers’ rights and immigrant rights.

Other issues such as the Israel-Hamas war were also on the agenda.

“It’s important and stand united with all workers all around the world. Palestine, there are Starbucks workers organizing all over. Amazon workers. There are a lot of fights locally, so it’s just our day to stand together,” Demonstrator Marie Scott said.

Following an initial rally at Westlake Park in the morning, demonstrators took to the streets and marched through downtown. It was a peaceful march but very disruptive as demonstrators used vehicles, bicycles and, at times, their bodies to block traffic.

A May Day march took place in Seattle on May 1, 2024. (Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)

Organizers said their intention was to cause disruption to bring attention to the plight of workers here and around the world.

“Today we gather here, not just to support international workers and our local workers, but also to shed light on the different causes that are going on and the different struggles that are going on in our city, in our state and, also globally,” Yesenia Gonzalez with the May 1st Action Coalition said.

Public safety is always a big concern on Mayday, the safety of the community and demonstrators alike.

“We are taking care that our folks are safe and that we have procedures in place. We are not foreseeing any issues this day,” Gonzalez said.

Seattle police in uniforms and in plain clothes were on hand just in case things went bad. Park rangers and private security were also in the crowd.

Demonstrators said this is a cause that affects us all, in one way or another and we all should show support.

“Just to support labor rights, internationally, here in Seattle. To support gig workers. What they’re talking about here, in the Philippines, labor internationally,” Demonstrator Bob Finley said.

Fortunately, there was no violence, no property damage and no arrests.

UNITE HERE Local 8, a union that represents about 4,000 workers in the hospitality industries of Oregon and Washington, and other ally union members from King County accuse hotels of keeping COVID-19-era service cuts in place, like ending daily housekeeping, while profits keep rising.

In a press release, the union stated that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, “many hotels nationwide have scaled back services and staffing, while the hotel industry’s gross operating profit was 26.63% higher in 2022 than in 2019. Hotel room rates have reached record highs as these service cuts linger.”

“The cost of everything we need every day is going up. I own my house, but my wage is not enough for me to be able to keep it alone. I’ve had to have family move in with me,” said Westin Seattle room attendant Rosemary. “We will fight for a contract with wages that keep up with the cost of living.”

Hotel workers in Seattle are calling for the hotel industry to “Respect Our Work” and “Respect Our Guests” by raising wages and staffing sufficiently to avoid painful working conditions. Nationally, hotel workers report heavy workloads, loss of hours, and jobs that aren’t enough to afford the cost of living.

According to the press release, “This is the first national contract fight in the hospitality industry since the recent resurgence of labor, including record-setting strikes in 2023.”

“This fight will set the standard for millions of Americans and Canadians who work in cooking, cleaning, and customer service,” UNITE HERE International President Gwen Mills said in the press release. “Jobs in hospitality are growing faster than in any other sector of the U.S. economy, and hospitality workers – overwhelmingly women and people of color – are determined to win good jobs, safe workloads and respect.”

Other gatherings and marches are planned in the area throughout the day.

People take part in a May Day march in Seattle on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio)

Workers’ May Day rallies around the world confront turbulent times

Workers and activists around the world marked May Day with largely peaceful protests Wednesday over rising prices, low wages and calls for greater labor rights. Pro- Palestinian sentiments were also on display.

Police in Istanbul used tear gas and fired rubber bullets to disperse thousands of people who tried to break through a barricade and reach the main Taksim square in defiance of a ban. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said at least 210 people were detained.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has long declared Taksim off-limits for demonstrations on security grounds. In 1977, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a May Day celebration there, causing a stampede and killing 34 people. On Wednesday, a small group of trade union representatives lay a wreath at a monument to victims.

May Day, which falls on May 1, is observed to celebrate workers’ rights. It’s also an opportunity to air economic grievances or political demands. “Tax the rich,” one banner in Germany read. “Don’t touch the eight-hour workday!” another read in Sri Lanka.

In Paris, police fired tear gas as thousands of protesters marched through the French capital, seeking better pay and working conditions. Police said 12 officers were hospitalized after a homemade explosive was set off on the sidelines of the march and at least 45 people were detained after instances of scattered violence

Pro-Palestinian groups joined the Paris rally, chanting slogans in support for people in Gaza. There were similar scenes in other parts of the world. In Greece, pro-Palestinian protesters joined May Day rallies, waving a giant Palestinian flag as they marched past the Greek parliament. Others displayed banners in support of pro-Palestinian protesting students in the United States.

“We want to express our solidarity with students in the United States, who are facing great repression of their rights and their just demands,” said Nikos Mavrokefalos at the march. “We want to send a message that workers say no to exploitation, no to poverty, no to high prices,” he added.

Several thousand protesters joined the Athens marches as labor strikes disrupted public transport across Greece. The largest union demands a return to collective bargaining after labor rights were scrapped during the 2010-18 financial crisis.

In the German capital, around 11,600 people marched through the immigrant neighborhoods of Kreuzberg and Neukoelln, waving Palestinian flags and holding banners that read “No weapons for Israel” or “Free Palestine,” German news agency dpa reported.

Throughout Latin America, workers marched to protest austerity measures and demand higher wages. In Argentina, unions galvanized crowds to vent their rage over libertarian President Javier Milei’s economic policies, which they say benefit the wealthy while inflicting pain on the poor and middle class.

“Paying rent is difficult, buying rice is difficult, everything under this guy (Milei) is difficult,” said 40-year-old garbage collector Leandro Rosas, trailing protesters down the street with a broom because this May Day, he said he couldn’t even surrender a shift’s pay.

Meanwhile, Bolivian President Luis Arce joined the workers’ march and decreed a 5.8% increase in the national minimum wage, a bid to mobilize support as a worsening economic crisis raises the specter of social unrest. The thousands-strong protests in Santiago, Chile, turned violent in some areas as security forces unleashed water cannons and tear gas on corwds, drenching and dispersing protesters who vandalized shops and government buildings.

In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ratified a law that extends income tax exemptions to those earning up to two minimum wages per month, or about $544.

“In our country there will be no tax breaks to favor the richest, but to favor those who work and live off their wages,” Lula told a crowd sweltering in the sun at a soccer stadium in São Paulo.

In Nigeria, where inflation is the highest in 28 years, at over 33%, unions demanded bigger salary increases. In South Africa, pro-Palestinian demonstrators joined May Day events and in Kenya, President William Ruto called for an increase in the country’s minimum wage.

In Lebanon, pro-Palestinian marchers mingled with workers demanding an end to a miserable economic crisis. “Politicians do not feel the pain of the worker or the economic conditions,” said one demonstrator, Abed Tabbaa. In Iraq, protesters demanded better wages, the reopening of closed factories and the end to privatization of certain businesses.

Tens of thousands Sri Lankans paraded through the capital as the country struggles through its worst economic crisis, two years after declaring bankruptcy. Discontent has grown over efforts to increase revenue by raising the price of electricity and imposing taxes on professionals and small businesses.

In South Korea’s capital, thousands of protesters shouted pro-labor slogans at a rally that organizers said was meant to step up criticism of what they call anti-labor policies pursued by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative government.

“In the past two years under the Yoon Suk Yeol government, the lives of our laborers have plunged into despair,” Yang Kyung-soo, leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, said in a speech. Union members criticized Yoon’s recent veto of a bill aimed at limiting companies’ rights to seek compensation for damages caused by union strikes.

In Japan, more than 10,000 people gathered in Tokyo, demanding salary increases to set off price increases.

Indonesian workers demanded protections for migrant workers abroad and a minimum wage raise. They gathered amid a tight police presence, chanting slogans against the new Job Creation Law and loosened outsourcing rules.

In the Philippines, hundreds of workers and left-wing activists marched to demand wage increases and job security amid soaring food and oil prices. Riot police stopped them from getting close to the presidential palace.

Past May Day demonstrations

An official May Day march organized by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) occurred in Seattle on May 1, 2023.

Annual May Day marches happen in various Washington cities, including Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, Yakima, and Seattle.

From 2023: May Day rally hosted outside Federal Building advocating for workers rights

In the past, riots have broken out among protests in Seattle, but events in 2023 and 2022 remained mostly peaceful.

In 2021, the Seattle Police Department made 14 arrests of protesters for vandalism, obstruction, assault, and resisting arrest.

In 2015, two men damaged a KIRO Newsradio vehicle during the May Day protests on Capitol Hill.

Contributing: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio; The Associated Press; Steve Coogan and L.B. Gilbert, MyNorthwest.

The joy for the CEO of the Storm — who has been with the team for nearly a decade — came from helping bring to completion the second standalone practice facility dedicated to a WNBA team following the Las Vegas Aces last year.

The twinge of sadness for Valavanis was personal. Valavanis’ father, Spero, was an architect that created some of the initial design ideas for the facility. Eventually, a team of architects created the final building, but Valavanis said there were legal pads and napkins that had drawings and ideas from her dad which led to the finished product.

Her father never saw what the final building looked like with the two practice courts, an area for high performance training, therapy pools, a massive locker room and player lounge. He died earlier this year.

Related news: Storm exec dies after suffering medical emergency

“My dad was in that very beginning dream part and then he saw the whole project through with us,” Valavanis said. “Unfortunately, he passed in January and wasn’t able to see this moment. But he is every part of it.”

The $64 million facility in Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood still has a few final touches to completed before the Storm begin training camp in a little over a week. But it’s a massive upgrade for the franchise after spending more than a decade using a secondary court at Seattle Pacific University in the same area of Seattle as its primary practice facility during the season. It also brings together the basketball and business sides of the team operations under one roof.

Our new home 💚⛈️ pic.twitter.com/DHjRvHFEFR

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) April 18, 2024

Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel said the goal was to create a home for the franchise that felt like more than just a place to practice.

“We built a home. We built a home for our players. We built a home for our staff. We built a home in this community for the Seattle Storm,” Brummel said. “I hope as you go through the building you will feel that.”

There are small examples throughout of what Brummel was saying. The primary gathering space in the building has tiered seating made from the court when Seattle won the WNBA title in 2018. There’s a sneaker wall featuring shoe designs Seattle players have worn through the years. The main entrance has all four of the championship trophies on display. A mural on one wall of the main practice floor features the Seattle skyline with the outline of the mountains in the background.

There’s even space in the player and staff parking areas to set up temporary courts for 3-on-3 hoops.

WNBA Draft: See Seattle Storm picks, plus where Zags landed

“We’re just in a good location and had good ownership that really wanted to push for it and build something that was truly us and meant something to the city of Seattle,” Seattle All-Star Jewell Loyd said.

One thing that stood out for Valavanis is the amount of natural light that was coming into the building, especially on a sunny spring day. Bringing is as much outside light as possible was something her dad talked about in his initial designs.

“I’d say from that original sketch to now, so much of it has come to life,” Valavanis said.

Team announces alternative uniforms

Seattle Storm release new alternative uniform. (Photo: Seattle Storm website)

The Storm also announced new alternative uniforms: the 2024 WNBA Nike Rebel Edition. The new uniform stands as a symbol for the basketball culture in Seattle and the rebel mentality the city and team adhere to.

The Storm will sport its new Rebel uniform for the first time when Seattle tips off the 2024 season against the Minnesota Lynx at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:00 p.m.

The Seattle Storm Nike Rebel Edition jersey will be available to purchase through the Storm Team Shop Website at seattlestormteamshop.com and will be available at the Storm Team Shop at Climate Pledge Arena during games this season.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

One of the biggest bands that put the world’s ears in tune with Seattle, Pearl Jam, has been together since 1990. And for us long-term fans, the prospect of a new album — their twelfth studio release titled “Dark Matter” — is both a reminder of their classics that changed our lives and a curiosity to hear if the fire still burns as brightly after more than three decades.

More on ‘Dark Matter’: Pearl Jam to embark on global 2024 tour for new album “Dark Matter”

Part of the greatness of Pearl Jam as a band and Eddie Vedder as a vocalist is how textured their music has been, ranging from the generational angst of their debut album “Ten” to more experimental sounds found on “No Code” and “Binaural.” At its core, Pearl Jam always had closer ties to the fundamentals of classic rock than many of their peers, with obvious nods to greats like Neil Young (who they backed on Mirror Ball) The Who and Jimi Hendrix.

On “Dark Matter,” every element is in play and blends brilliantly. And those classic rock roots are the foundation of some of the best tunes on the album, along with the thrashing rhythms of classic punk and, when it’s needed, just enough new wave polish to achieve a brilliant shine.

Vedder has said that he thinks “Dark Matter” is the band’s best work. You may or may not agree, but it’s certainly one of their best and most cohesive records. There’s no filler here and Andrew Watt’s production is impeccable.

Some of the early favorites are “Wreckage,” a mid-tempo number with definite shades of the late Tom Petty and “Something Special,” a catchy roots-rock tune Vedder wrote for his two daughters, Olivia and Harper. The heavier tracks are equally great, with the title cut, album opener “Scared of Fear” and “Running” as some of the album’s signature moments and standouts. Vedder’s lyrics and his cadence are at their strongest on the anthemic “React, Respond.”

More from Matt Butler: Which artists, groups belong on Seattle’s music Mount Rushmore

One of the more cynical knocks on Vedder from some critics was his earnestness. Even in his youth,  unlike some of his more nihilistic counterparts, he believed there was something worth fighting for and he was here to give voice to it. Thankfully that sincerity and drive survived a scene that lost so many, and still serves as a rallying cry against the cynicism of our times.

Dark Matter is a no-skip album in an era of easily forgotten digital dreck, and already one of my favorites of the year.

Pearl Jam is set to play two sold-out shows at Climate Pledge Arena May 28 and 30 as part of their global “Dark Matter” tour.

Matt Butler is the producer for “KIRO Nights with Jake Skorheim” and a contributing writer to MyNorthwest.

Senators voted to dismiss both articles of impeachment and end the trial, with Democrats arguing that the articles were unconstitutional. The first article charged Mayorkas with “willful and systemic refusal to comply” with immigration law. The second article charged Mayorkas with a “breach of trust” for saying the border was secure. The votes were 51-48 and 51-49, both along party lines.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the House Republicans’ case failed to meet “the high standard of high crimes and misdemeanors” and could set a dangerous precedent.

“For the sake of the Senate’s integrity and to protect impeachment for those rare cases we truly need it, senators should dismiss today’s charges,” said Schumer, D-N.Y., as he opened Wednesday’s session.

Senate Republicans had argued for a full impeachment trial after the House narrowly voted in February to impeach Mayorkas for his handling of the border, arguing in the two articles that he “willfully and systematically” refused to enforce immigration laws. The House vote was the first time in nearly 150 years that a Cabinet secretary was impeached.

Local politics: Rep. Maycumber threatens legal action against Loren Culp amid social media tirade

An outright dismissal of House Republicans’ prosecution of Mayorkas, with no chance to argue the case, is an embarrassing defeat for House Republicans and embattled House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who made the impeachment a priority. And it is likely to resonate politically for both Republicans and Democrats in a presidential election year when border security has been a top issue.

Republicans argue that President Joe Biden has been weak on the border as arrests for illegal crossings skyrocketed to more than 2 million people during the last two years of his term, though they have fallen from a record-high of 250,000 in December amid heightened enforcement in Mexico. Democrats said that instead of impeaching Mayorkas, Republicans should have accepted a bipartisan Senate compromise aimed at reducing the number of migrants who come into the U.S. illegally.

House impeachment managers delivered the charges to the Senate on Tuesday, standing in the well of the Senate and reading them aloud to a captive audience of senators. But they did not get a chance to present the case before the Senate dismissed it.

Washington Sen. Patty Murray weighs in

Once the senators were sworn in on Wednesday, the chamber turned into the court of impeachment, with Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington presiding. Murray is the president pro tempore of the Senate, or the senior-most member of the majority party who sits in for the vice president.

Murray released a statement following the impeachment proceedings, calling them dangerous for democracy.

These impeachment proceedings were an absolute sham and disgrace from the start –a partisan stunt by House Republicans contrived to score cheap political points with no regard for truth, the Constitution, or the consequences of their reckless actions. This was not just an abject waste of taxpayer dollars, it has left a dangerous chip in the foundations of our democracy. The plain facts of the matter make clear there were absolutely no grounds for impeachment: no high crimes, no bribery, no treason — nothing. It is up to all of us to call out this charade, and reject this dangerous precedent — for the good of our democracy. Congress cannot accept a status quo where legislating is impossible because hyper partisans constantly hijack the debate and turn our most important Constitutional remedies, into time-wasting gimmicks.”

In this image from video from Senate Television, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., presides over the court of impeachment and prepares to swear senators in for the impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the Senate floor at the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Washington. (Image: Senate Television via AP)

She added that Republicans “weaponized” impeachment and followed the instructions of former President Donald Trump. She also said the tactic cannot become the norm and that some issues should not be up for discussion.

The truth matters — it is foundational to our democracy. Elected officials can disagree, we debate vigorously, and we are passionate about what we believe in — but not everything is debatable. The dishonesty of House Republicans and their endorsement of a fact-free impeachment is dangerous. We all have to understand that there is reality in our world that we all need to acknowledge if we want to ever work together to solve the challenges in front of us. I commend those Republicans who have been unafraid to speak the truth and speak out against this badly misguided process — and I am glad the Senate can return to focusing on the pressing challenges facing our nation.”

During the proceedings, Senators approached the front of the Senate in groups of four to sign an oath book that is stored in the National Archives.

Schumer then called for the votes to dismiss the trial after Republicans rejected a proposed agreement for Senate debate time and several votes on GOP objections. Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt said Democrats were “bulldozing 200 years of precedent” on impeachments by trying to dismiss the trial.

Angry Republicans called for several votes to delay the inevitable final outcome, but none of them passed as all Democrats and three Independents held together.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said “History will not judge this moment well.”

“This process must not be abused,” McConnell said. “It must not be short-circuited.”

Still, Republicans similarly moved to dismiss Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021, weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. All but five GOP senators — including McConnell — voted to end the trial, arguing it was unconstitutional because Trump had already left office.

Seattle politics: Son of former Seattle Mayor McGinn pleads not guilty to child pornography charges

As Johnson signed the articles Monday in preparation for sending them across the Capitol, he said Schumer should convene a trial to “hold those who engineered this crisis to full account.”

Schumer “is the only impediment to delivering accountability for the American people,” Johnson said. “Pursuant to the Constitution, the House demands a trial.”

Even if the Senate held a trial, Republicans would not be able to win the support of the two-thirds of the Senate that is needed to convict and remove Mayorkas from office — Democrats control the Senate, 51-49, and they appear to be united against the impeachment effort. Not one House Democrat supported it, either.

Mayorkas, who was in New York on Wednesday to launch a campaign for children’s online safety, reiterated that he’s focused on the work of his department. “The Senate is going to do what the Senate considers to be appropriate as that proceeds,” he said. “I am here in New York City on Wednesday morning fighting online sexual exploitation and abuse. I’m focused on our mission.”

Johnson delayed sending the articles to the Senate for weeks while both chambers finished work on government funding legislation and took a two-week recess. Johnson had said he would send them to the Senate last week, but he punted again after Senate Republicans said they wanted more time to prepare.

At a hearing with Mayorkas on Tuesday about President Joe Biden’s budget request for the department, some of the House impeachment managers previewed the arguments they would have made.

Tennessee Rep. Mark Green, the chairman of the House Homeland Security panel, told the secretary that he has a duty under the law to control and guard U.S. borders, and “during your three years as secretary, you have failed to fulfill this oath. You have refused to comply with the laws passed by Congress, and you have breached the public trust.”

Mayorkas defended the department’s efforts but said the nation’s immigration system is “fundamentally broken, and only Congress can fix it.”

The impeachment trial is the third in five years. Democrats impeached President Donald Trump twice, once over his dealings with Ukraine and the second time in the days after the Capitol attack. Trump was acquitted by the Senate both times.

If the Senate had moved to a trial on Mayorkas, senators would have been forced to sit in their seats for the duration, maybe weeks, while the House impeachment managers and lawyers representing Mayorkas made their cases.

___

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest and Mary Clare Jalonick, Farnoush Amiri, Elliot Spagat, The Associated Press

Jack McGinn was arrested late last month on two felony counts related to possessing and distributing child pornography. He told investigators during questioning he had downloaded at least 100 files onto his computer depicting underage children engaging in sexual acts at the time.

McGinn previously posted bail of $100,000. He is prohibited from having contact with minors and cannot use the internet without a computer monitoring system.

Original Story — April 2

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) charged Jack McGinn — the son of former Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn — with two felony counts related to the possessing and distributing child pornography on Tuesday.

Jack McGinn, 29, faces one charge of dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the first degree and one count of possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the first degree, KCPAO said in a statement sent to KIRO Newsradio Tuesday.

Documents indicate the Seattle Police Department (SPD) had been investigating Jack McGinn for several months before arresting him last Friday at his home in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood. A family friend told law enforcement that Jack McGinn moved back into the home after his father, Mike McGinn, moved to the East Coast.

Jack McGinn admitted during questioning to downloading “at least a hundred files containing images or videos of underage children involved in sexually explicit conduct,” the documents state.

More on sex crimes: How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Jack McGinn went on to say he has a cocaine addiction and goes on weekend benders which is when he typically views the child sex abuse material on his desktop.

He also stated that he knew it was wrong and he didn’t know why he did not delete the illegal files once he viewed them.

The documents also indicate Jack McGinn’s direct neighbor has children around four or five years old. The residence where Jack McGinn lived also is about a block away from a park where an SPD officer noticed multiple children playing.

SPD wrote about an arrest in a post on its SPD Blotter last Friday, stating department Internet Crimes Against Children investigators, officers with the Community Response Group and members of the Washington ICAC Taskforce served a search warrant at a home in the city’s Greenwood neighborhood. SPD kept the suspect’s identity anonymous in the online post, but confirmed to MyNorthwest late Tuesday afternoon McGinn was the person SPD arrested Friday and is the subject of that online post.

Jack McGinn in court over charges

The KCPAO asked for $100,000 bail during Jack McGinn’s first court appearance Saturday, according to a statement sent to KIRO Newsradio. The office also sought an order that Jack McGinn not use or possess any devices capable of accessing the Internet without monitoring software. Prosecutors also asked for the court to order no contact with minors without exception and no use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.

“The basis behind our bail request is that we believe if released Mr. McGinn might commit a violent offense in light of the depraved nature of the depictions which he possessed and accessed,” Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jullian Haley said.

McGinn’s defense attorney, Todd Maybrown, said the KCPAO’s $100,000 bail was an “excessive request” and added “There was a very strong argument for release on personal recognizance,” the KCPAO stated.

“In terms of danger, the internet is a potential danger for Mr. McGinn,” Maybrown said during the hearing. “There’s no claim of any hands-on offense of any kind. In fact, in the probable cause paperwork, it says the opposite.”

The court set Jack McGinn’s bail at $70,000 and agreed with the KCPAO’s other conditions, including not possessing devices that access the internet and avoiding contact with minors.

He was booked in the King County Jail and has been out on bail since Saturday evening.

Jack McGinn’s arraignment in the case is scheduled for April 15. That is when he will enter an initial plea.

Sex crimes on flights: Woman sues Delta after being sexually assaulted on flight by employee

More on the former mayor

Mike McGinn was the mayor of Seattle from 2010 to 2013. During Seattle’s mayoral race in 2009, McGinn received 51.1% of the vote, edging out Joe Mallahan, who received 47.7% of the vote. McGinn sought reelection in 2013 but lost to Ed Murray by less than 10,000 votes. He ran again in 2017, failing to make it out of the primary after receiving the sixth-most votes (6.5% in the 2017 primary).

Mike McGinn currently is the executive director of America Walks, a “national nonprofit that advances safe, equitable, accessible, and enjoyable places to walk and move by giving people and communities the resources to effectively advocate for change,” the organization’s website says. It is located in Northern Virginia.

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

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here.

Police responded to Southwest Campus Drive at approximately 10 a.m. after witnesses reported a shooting. Police stated the child was caught in the crossfire, as a relative of the child and another person were shooting at each other in the parking lot.

More local crime: Tukwila police detain 4 after knife fight breaks out near elementary school

The child went to St. Francis Hospital with a gunshot wound, and was subsequently transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition, according to FWPD, where the 2-year-old later died.

“Our detectives are working tirelessly to identify suspects and we are committed to pursuing justice for the victim and the family,” FWPD said, according to KIRO Newsradio.

Detectives are currently investigating what led up to the shooting. However, they believe a man fired at the father of the 2-year-old who fired back in self-defense. They believe the father was targeted and the shooting is not random.

Officers are still looking for the suspect but described him as a man of an unknown race who was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored jacket.

“Please understand that it is still early in the investigation and detectives are doing everything they can to identify the suspect,” stated FWPD in a news release on Friday.

He was last seen taking off from the IHOP parking lot in a silver or light-colored Hyundai sedan.

More local crime: Mother appears in court as documents state Everett boy, 4, was stabbed repeatedly

If anyone has any information related to the shooting, call the Federal Way Police Department at (253) 835-2121.

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

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email her here.

Visit Seattle said tourists spent $8.2 billion last year.

“When we think of visitors’ spending, we think primarily of big-box hotels, airlines, and things like that, but really, 80% of the industry is small businesses,” President and CEO of Visit Seattle, Tammy Canavan, told KIRO Newsradio.

She said those kinds of numbers are worth celebrating.

“It’s a lot of money. And I think that sometimes we forget just how much that is,” Canavan explained. “It’s such a big number that it sort of passes over your head.”

Sunshine and butterflies: Baseball’s Opening Day

Canavan explained that $787 million is spent on state and local taxes.

“So that offsets each household in King County by a significant amount, $800 and something dollars. The economic benefit is really important,” she said.

In a press release from Visit Seattle, the preliminary data indicated:
• A total of 37.8 million visitors came to Seattle and King County in 2023, a 9% increase from 2022 reaching 90.2% of 2019 levels.
• Visitors spent $8.2 billion in Seattle and King County in 2023, a 12.8% increase from 2022 and a 0.7% increase from 2019.
• Visitors paid $787 million in state and local taxes in 2023, a 12.5% increase from 2022 reaching 94.0% of 2019 levels. That amounts to a tax offset of $859 per household in King County in 2023, up from $775 in 2022 and steadily approaching the $965 peak of 2019.
• Tourism supported 65,486 jobs in Seattle and King County in 2023, a 7.7% increase from 2022 reaching 81.5% of 2019 levels.

During MLB All-Star Week (July 7-11), downtown hotel occupancies were about 95%. Downtown hotel revenues on those days were around $5.4 million.

Records were broken the weekend of July 21-23. Seattle hosted a combination of marquee events, including two Taylor Swift concerts, a Mariners home series versus the Blue Jays, six cruise ships, two sizable conventions, the Bite of Seattle food festival and Capitol Hill Block Party.

Downtown hotel revenues peaked for the year on Saturday, July 22 at $7.4 million, setting a new record for the city with a $2 million increase over the record Seattle set on June 17.

KIRO Newsradio: Anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

“The Seattle metro region is special, and it’s growing. We’re taking action so it thrives for residents and visitors alike,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Canavan said we could see more records broken over the next couple of years.

“The next big huge mega-event will be the FIFA World Cup in 2026,” Canavan said. “That will be like nothing we’ve ever experienced before and won’t again unless they come back. It’s like the equivalent of ten Super Bowls.”

You can read more of Micki Gamez’s stories here. Follow Micki on X, formerly known as Twitter, or email her here. 

Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here. 

More KIRO Newsradio accolades: Seattle Morning News host Dave Ross nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame

Bosch’s in-depth investigation, titled “Facing Fentanyl,” delved into the region’s exploding drug crisis. Her work was recognized as the best “Hard News Feature” by any local radio station in America.

Heather Bosch’s four-part Facing Fentanyl series: Hear the voices of people hurting

Brooks received the award for “Best Soft News Feature” for her report on “The Hub of Hope.” This feature explored a Kent-Meridian High School project that provides free essential resources to students, fostering a supportive learning environment.

Lisa Brooks’ award-winning story: Free program provides real solutions at Kent-Meridian High School

Cathy Cangiano, Senior Vice President and Market Manager at Bonneville Seattle, expressed pride in Bosch and Brooks’ accomplishments.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Heather and Lisa’s accomplishments,” Cangiano said. “Our company is dedicated to looking for solutions and not just problems, which is exactly what these two reports did.”

The Gracie Awards, named after the late Gracie Allen, celebrate outstanding individual achievements and team leadership. They specifically honor women who drive positive change and contribute to shaping fulfilling careers in media.

This year marks the third consecutive year that KIRO Newsradio staffers have received Gracie Awards.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest

The tournament games were held in Spokane, but the team’s initial lodging was in Coeur d’Alene.

Head coach of the team, Lynne Roberts, told media members about the incidents following Utah’s loss to Gonzaga on Monday night.

Coeur d’Alene mayor speaks on racial incident

On Tuesday morning, city officials held a news conference to offer apologies to the University of Utah women’s basketball team and provide updates on the investigation.

“On behalf of the city of Coeur d’Alene and all of its communities, I strongly condemn the appalling treatment of the female college athletes who were visiting,” Jim Hammond, mayor of Coeur d’Alene said.

Hammond said he reached out to the President’s Office at the University of Utah but has not heard back yet. He said he would like to speak with the staff and team.

“We express regret and true sorrow that your student-athletes were treated with such disdainful treatment,” he continued. “To the young women who endured racial slurs while visiting, I offer my most sincere apology.”

Investigation update from Coeur d’Alene police chief

Lee White, chief of Coeur d’Alene police, gave a small update on the investigation, though all details will not be reported because it is still considered an open case.

White told media members the crime was first reported on March 21. It was reported that a vehicle drove by the team while they were walking outside and racial slurs were yelled by the occupants.

Investigators are seeking video and witness reports of the incident and encourage anyone with information to contact the police.

More from Idaho: Using public funds or facilities for gender-affirming care banned by GOP-led Idaho Legislature

Utah WBB NCAA tournament trip dampened by ‘racial hate crime’

Head coach Lynne Roberts revealed in her postgame press conference after the Utes lost to Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament that her team experienced racism toward the beginning of their trip that forced them to move hotels.

“Our team hotel was in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which is not very close,” Roberts said. “It’s 35-40 minutes, so that was a little strange, but whatever. We had several instances of some kind of racial hate crimes towards our program and it was incredibly upsetting for all of us.”

Utah head coach Lynne Roberts on the racial remarks made toward her team in Coeur d’Alene:
“For our players and staff to not feel safe in an NCAA Tournament environment, it’s messed up.” pic.twitter.com/dBqJtjhkwh

— Andrew Quinn (@andrewquinny) March 26, 2024

Roberts detailed what her team experienced calling the incidents “shocking” in an athletic and academic setting.

“There is so much diversity on a college campus and so you just are not exposed to that very often,” Roberts said. “When you are- you have people say, ‘man, I can’t believe that happened,’ but racism is real, and it happens. It’s awful.”

The incidents, which took place Thursday night when the team first arrived for the NCAA Tournament, happened “a few times” before the team moved hotels on Friday, March 22, according to Roberts.

Roberts emphasized the incidents were so shocking, that no one knew what to do.

“For our players- whether they are white, black, green- whatever, no one knew how to handle it,” Roberts continued. “It was really upsetting for our players and staff to not feel safe in an NCAA Tournament environment. It’s messed up. We moved hotels.”

The NCAA and Gonzaga were on hand to help the Utes get out of a bad, and very uncomfortable situation according to Roberts. However, there is some question as to whether they should have been there in the first place.

More from the tournament: Gonzaga women top Utah, reach Sweet 16 for first time since ’15

Despite the quick effort to resolve the issue after it happened, it didn’t change what was an unfortunate distraction for a team trying to enjoy the postseason.

Michelle Bodkin is a Salt Lake City native who covers University of Utah Athletics for KSL Sports.

With big wins in Washington, and also in Georgia and Mississippi, Trump surpassed the 1,215-delegate threshold needed to become the presumptive Republican nominee, The Associated Press projected Tuesday night. The state of Washington, unofficially, put the former president over the top in his journey to secure the party’s nomination as the AP announced Trump had the delegate numbers shortly after the Evergreen State’s polls closed Tuesday night. He’ll formally accept the nomination at the Republican National Convention in July.

As the AP noted in its coverage Tuesday night, Trump’s victory in the GOP primary ushers in what will almost certainly be an extraordinarily negative general election campaign that will tug at the nation’s already searing political and cultural divides. He’ll face President Joe Biden in the fall, pitting two deeply unpopular figures against each other in a rematch of the 2020 campaign that few voters say they want to experience again.

Thirty-eight percent of Americans viewed Trump very or somewhat favorably in a February poll conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs, compared to 41% for Biden.

Trump is attempting to return to the White House after threatening democratic norms in the U.S. He refused to accept his loss to Biden in 2020, spending months grasping at baseless conspiracy theories of election fraud that were roundly rejected by the courts and his own attorney general. His rage during a rally on Jan. 6, 2021, helped rile up a mob of supporters who later violently attacked the U.S. Capitol in an effort to disrupt the congressional certification of Biden’s win.

How Trump secured the delegates for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination

The Associated Press declared Trump the presumptive nominee at 8:09 p.m., following his wins Tuesday in Georgia, Mississippi and here in the state of Washington. He won at least 126 of their combined available delegates to push him past the 1,215 needed to become the presumptive nominee.

The AP concluded Trump would secure enough delegates in Washington to clinch the nomination after an analysis found that he would receive a statewide vote majority, which would entitle him to the lion’s share of the state’s 43 delegates.

Washington’s Republican delegates are awarded based on both the statewide vote and the vote in each congressional district. A candidate who receives more than 50% of the statewide vote wins all 13 statewide delegates. The candidate who wins more than 50% of the vote in a congressional district wins all three delegates from that district. If no candidate receives a vote majority, delegates are then awarded in proportion to the statewide vote as well as the vote in each district. Candidates must receive at least 20% of the vote to qualify for any delegates in Washington.

As the polls closed in Washington, Trump was just 30 delegates shy of reaching the 1,215-delegate mark. Once the AP determined he would win a statewide vote majority, he was entitled to all 13 statewide delegates, leaving him 17 delegates short of 1,215. The AP’s analysis then concluded that Trump would win a vote majority in most if not all of the state’s 10 congressional districts, pushing him past the number of delegates needed to secure the nomination.

To determine whether Trump would receive a vote majority in any congressional district, the AP compared the current Washington vote results to past results in the state, as well as to the demographics of the counties that have already reported vote results and to the estimated turnout in counties across the state.

Trump’s path to unofficially clinching this year’s nomination more closely resembled the one he took as the incumbent in 2020 than his 2016 bid as a first-time candidate. He defeated an at-times crowded field of rivals to secure the 2024 nomination, his third in eight years.

The former president’s near-clean sweep of last week’s Super Tuesday contests, as well as his win in American Samoa’s caucuses, put him just 126 delegates shy of the 1,215 needed to clinch the nomination heading into Tuesday’s contests. This included 11 delegates in Texas that the state party announced Tuesday would be awarded to Trump. The party had previously planned to award the delegates at the state party convention in May but instead awarded them based on the March 5 primary after saying in a social media post that their original plan was in conflict with Republican National Committee rules.

What makes Super Tuesday so important? It’s all about the delegates

Trump needed about 78% of the 161 delegates available in Tuesday’s contests, a reasonable goal considering he won 93% of last week’s massive Super Tuesday delegate haul.

The first polls of the night closed at 4 p.m. in Georgia, which has 59 Republican delegates, 42 of which are awarded in 14 congressional districts. At 5 p.m., voting ended in Mississippi, where 12 of the state’s 40 delegates are awarded by four congressional districts if no one wins a statewide majority.

Looking more at Washington’s presidential primary

The polls closed at 8 p.m. in Washington, which has 43 delegates, 30 of which are awarded in 10 congressional districts.

Georgia, Mississippi and Washington account for 142 delegates. For Trump to win the nomination before the caucuses end in Hawaii, he needed to win all but five of the delegates from those three states.

The King County Elections Office is projecting a 40% voter turnout for this election.

“We are at about 25% turnout thus far for this election. We’re projecting 40% and we believe we’re on track to hit that by the end of the day,” Halei Watkins, a communications manager for King County Elections, said to KIRO 7.

On their way to work voters made a quick stop at the ballot drop box.

“Voting is hugely important, and I tell my kids all the time how hugely important it is to vote and I think in this race, it’s particularly important this year,” Kristen Walker-White told KIRO 7.

More Washington politics: Coalition pushed for Democrats to vote ‘uncommitted’ in primary

These results will be certified on March 22.

“If you don’t vote, your voice isn’t being heard, and in the primary we need to make a statement I think,” Walker-White added.

Ballots needed to be postmarked by Tuesday for those planning to submit it by mail.

Voters dropping off their ballots at a ballot box had until 8 p.m. Tuesday to do so.

Contributing: The Associated Press; KIRO 7; Steve Coogan, MyNorthwest

The Jason Rantz Show on KTTH broke the news last week that Cole-Tindall secretly ordered her deputies not to enforce a ban on homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools, libraries, parks, and other areas with vulnerable populations in Burien. It’s the kind of public safety move you’d expect someone in law enforcement to support, but the sheriff’s loyalty is not to the public but to Constantine.

The ban only applies when there are shelter beds are available, aligning with a court’s decision currently being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Nevertheless, the sheriff claimed the Burien ordinance was unconstitutional, though no judge has claimed so. Cole-Tindall has as much knowledge of the law as she does how to be a deputy — she only recently completed law enforcement training so she could even stay sheriff.

King County Sheriff is a political operative for Constantine

Her agenda was clear when she complained in an email, obtained by The Jason Rantz Show on KTTH, that the ordinance was “criminalizing homelessness, which we refuse to do.” Cops don’t talk like that — partisan political operatives do. It’s a transparently vacuous political statement; a bumper sticker talking point screeched by partisan activists who fight to keep homeless people on the streets.

Cole-Tindall informed city leaders of her decision only after her email leaked, a sign that she hoped her move would escape public scrutiny. Constantine would take precisely this tactic, which is why she was hired.

Constantine told voters in 2020 that the county could get an outsider to run the department if they gave him the power. Elections virtually guaranteed the sheriff would be someone within the department, and, at the time, the public turned on local law enforcement that was demonized by Constantine and others on the Radical Left.

More from Jason Rantz: Noted feminist silent after horrific UN report showing rape of Jewish women

The bait-and-switch

Constantine’s pitch was likely always intended to be a bait-and-switch.

The executive needed someone to do his bidding while offering him political cover. Constantine couldn’t choose a traditional law enforcement candidate because they’d not want a job where they can’t actually police. He needed someone he could use to dismantle and rebuild the department. And he found that willing someone in Cole-Tindall.

Burien city leaders make the mistake of pushing back against King County’s inaction on homelessness. The city’s mayor, Kevin Schilling, made the mistake of endorsing Constantine’s opponent in the last election. It became the perfect recipe for a separation of powers crisis. And it’s a dangerous one.

More from Jason Rantz: Festering Seattle homeless encampment to be cleared

Former King County Sheriff dings Constantine for political overreach

Former elected King County Sheriff John Urquhart is weighing in on the controversy. He told The Jason Rantz Show on KTTH that voters brought this on themselves. But he thinks Cole-Tindall is doing Constantine’s bidding.

“When King County voters decided they wanted an appointed sheriff rather than one elected by the people, they knew, or should have known, that the Sheriff’s ultimate boss would be the County Executive, not the voters,” Urquhart said. “The decision not to enforce a city’s ordinance certainly appears to be a decision dictated by Executive Constantine, with the caveat I don’t have insider information nor have I seen the legal advice Sheriff Cole-Tindall received regarding the constitutionality of it all.”

Urquhart also said the decision is problematic from a separation of powers perspective. Since when is it up to the Executive Branch to make constitutional determinations?

“[It] is highly unusual for the Executive Branch to make a decision on whether a law is constitutional or not. That is what so-called ‘constitutional sheriffs’ do, and those decisions are best left to the courts. It’s called Separation of Powers, and we have it for a reason,” he said.

He recommended Cole-Tindall release records of all the guidance she received in order to be transparent and put some of the rumors of Constantine’s involvement to rest.

The sheriff’s move creates a crisis

It’s not so much that Cole-Tindall is unwilling to enforce ordinances Constantine doesn’t like. That’s obviously a problem, of course. What other laws will she tell her deputies not to enforce in cities that shouldn’t be a part of Constantine’s fiefdom?

The real problem is that you now have a law enforcement agency run by Constantine. He’s got a reputation for being vindictive, petty, and hyperpartisan — willing to chase power by abandoning his principles (he was for a youth jail before he sold his office to Black Lives Matter activists). While Constantine’s office denied being involved in the decision, it’s hard to believe. In fact, if he wasn’t involved, he should fire Cole-Tindall now since voters can’t, now that the sheriff’s position isn’t elected.

And now he’s shown he’s willing to abuse his power over a law enforcement agency. What could possibly go wrong? What we saw in Burien is likely the start.

Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow Jason on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram, and  Facebook.

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Daylight Saving Time has pros and cons

The time change means later sunsets, but the loss of an hour comes with a price. Sleep scientists have found more than half of Americans usually feel tired after the change to Daylight Time.

But on the bright side — 7 p.m. sunsets.

Other studies following the time change have found there is an increase in traffic crashes as well as more workplace injuries on the day after “spring forward,” compared to other Mondays. Even though the circadian rhythm gets disrupted by time changes, the impacts fade away in a matter of days, similar to jet lag when flying overseas or from one coast to another.

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The Washington State Legislature authorized keeping the state on daylight time in 2019, and Oregon and California have as well. However, only the U.S. Congress can authorize one or more states to stay permanently in daylight time. In 2021, Senator Murray led the Senate’s efforts to pass the Sunshine Protection Act by unanimous vote, but the bill never made it to the floor of the House of Representatives.

Time to stop ‘springing forward?’

There is another option: Remaining in permanent Standard time. Two states — Arizona and Hawaii — do this already, and that switch does not require U.S. Congressional action. A bill that went before the legislature this year would have kept the state permanently on Standard Time, but it failed to advance, following a similar failed attempt in 2022. The legislators leading this effort are coordinating with other neighboring western U.S. states to enact this permanent Standard Time authorization collectively.

There is great debate on the pros and cons of permanent Standard Time. For instance, human health follows the sun and Standard Time shadows the natural circadian cycle. If Standard Time became permanent, then around the summer solstice in June, sunrise in Washington would be near 4 a.m. and sunset around 8 p.m. Proponents of permanent Daylight Time highlight the longer summer evening hours for more outdoor activities and decreased crime.

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There are many more arguments on both sides of the Standard versus Daylight Time debate, but what is far more clear is that a high percentage of Americans simply want to stop the twice-a-year time changes.

But because we will be switching for at least another year, fire agencies and the National Weather Service want to remind us the time change is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, and your NOAA weather radios. Too many fatal fire tragedies occur because smoke detectors had a dead battery. Your all-hazard NOAA weather radios also need to operate when the power goes out and provide reliable warning information.

So this Saturday night, remember to move your clocks ahead one hour. Your cell phones and computers should make the time change themselves.

You can read more of Kate Stone’s stories here. Follow Kate on X, formerly known as Twitter, or email her here.

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. You can read more of Ted’s stories here and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Sinema, in a statement, said she would not run again because her political approach “is not what America wants right now.”

Sinema, Arizona’s senior senator and the first female to hold the position, has served in the role since 2019.

“I love Arizona and I am so proud of what we’ve delivered,” Sinema said. “Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done, I will leave the Senate at the end of this year.”

A message for Arizonans from Senator Kyrsten Sinema pic.twitter.com/1XWFSWgGdh

— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) March 5, 2024

What did Sinema do while in the US Senate?

Sinema’s willingness to work across party lines and target centrist voters, independents and Republican women helped her defeat Martha McSally.

She also focused on health care, education and veterans issues since taking office.

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Most recently, she spearheaded a comprehensive border enforcement bill that was eventually killed by Senate Republicans.

“The only political victories that matter these days are symbolic, attacking your opponents on cable news or social media,” Sinema said.

“Compromise is a dirty word. We’ve arrived at that crossroad, and we chose anger and division.”

Sinema switched party affiliations from Democrat to Independent in December 2022. She said at the time that she has worked with both parties but that, “Registering as an independent and showing up to work with the title of independent is a reflection of who I’ve always been.”

“And it’s a reflection of who Arizona is,” Sinema said.

What’s next for Arizona’s US Senate race now that Sinema isn’t running?

Lake, who lost the Arizona gubernatorial race in 2022, is the expected GOP candidate in the race for U.S. Senate. Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is also running on the Republican side.

Gallego, an Arizona congressman, has announced a run on the Democratic side and seems the likely candidate for the general election.

Polling in recent weeks didn’t favor Sinema in the event she did decide to run.

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When respondents were asked for their preference in a potential three-way race in a poll released by Noble Predictive Insights in February, Gallego led the way at 34%, followed by Lake at 31% and Sinema at 23%. Without Sinema, Gallego led Lake 47%-37% in that poll.

An Emerson College poll released around the same time showed similar results, with Gallego leading Lake 46%-39% in a head-to-head matchup, and a three-way race coming out at Gallego 36%, Lake 30% and Sinema 21%.

Democrats hold a 50-49-1 edge in the Senate, which would dissipate if the Republican candidate comes out victorious.

Danny Shapiro is the lead editor for digital content at KTAR.com in Phoenix. You can read more of his stories here.

It was earlier believed the horse was shot in the head — a crime scene eerily similar to another horse’s death late last year.

Doctors found no bullets in the horse

Veterinarian doctors at Pasado’s Safe Haven did a necropsy of the horse, witnessed by a commissioned deputy of KSCO, and found no bullets.

“An indentation/wound in the horse’s skull was found, which appeared to be caused by blunt force trauma,” wrote a news release from KSCO on Monday. “The shape of the indentation/wound was similar in the shape of a horse’s hoof.”

The horse, Buttercup, was the guide horse for her blind sister, Peanut, according to FOX 13’s David Rose. It appeared Buttercup was shot from the road on 276th Ave SE in Maple Valley.

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“The horse was killed overnight,” Eric White, public information officer with KCSO, confirmed via email on Feb. 28. “There currently are no suspects in this case. The case is currently under investigation.”

A horse was shot in front of a stable in Tacoma

In December of last year, another horse — LeMon — was shot in front of a stable reportedly below the eye in Tacoma. Law enforcement believed the shooting was at point-blank range, as the bullet broke several bones.

The suspect, a Snohomish man named Brandon Gerner, was arrested for the crime. He was charged with animal cruelty.

Gerner is also charged with first and second-degree murder earlier this month in the murders of 57-year-old Robert Riley and 34-year-old Ashley Williams.

Gerner said he shot and killed the LeMon as a “sacrifice” for his dead friend, Kody Olsen, according to court documents. Olsen was killed during a Pierce County deputy-involved shooting in December.

Court documents also stated Gerner and Olsen were involved in multiple white supremacist groups.

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There is no connection to the killings of the horses, according to law enforcement as of this reporting.

If anyone has additional information on the killing of Buttercup, call 911 or 1-800-222-TIPS.

This story was updated from its original publishing date of Feb. 28 at 6:34 a.m.

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

Police detectives in Tacoma are asking for the public’s help to identify the suspect responsible for the stabbing of a woman who calls herself  “Jane.”

“I was one wrong move from being killed,” Jane said. “I was completely alone and I still can’t believe I survived.”

On the afternoon of Feb. 10, an unknown man attacked the victim, who was walking on the marked trails of Five Mile Drive at Point Defiance Park, the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) reported.

The suspect pinned the victim to the ground and repeatedly stabbed her. Witnesses intervened and the suspect ran from the scene toward the Owen Beach parking lot. After that, they lost sight of the man.

“I begged him to let me go, that I could give him money, that I would give him anything he wanted if I could live,” Jane said in a press conference on Tuesday. “That was when he made it verbally explicit that his intent was to kill me.”

Emergency management workers transported the victim to the hospital with serious, non-life-threatening wounds.

Police detectives in Tacoma are asking for the public’s help to identify the suspect responsible for a recent stabbing of a woman. The Tacoma Police Department released this sketch of the subject. (Image courtesy of the Tacoma Police Department)

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TPD detectives, working with the victim, witnesses to the assault and a sketch artist from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, were able to create a composite depiction of what the assailant looked like at the time of the assault.

The department describes the suspect as a light-skinned, black male in his 20s to 30s, 5-foot-8 to 6 feet tall, and 160 pounds. At the time of the crime, the suspect had black hair that was approximately 3-6 inches long and in an unkempt afro style with short facial hair. He also wore a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes.

If anyone is able to recognize the person in the sketch, they are urged to contact Crime Stoppers of Pierce County at tpcrimestoppers.com or call (800) 222-TIPS. For anyone who encounters the person depicted in the image, they should call 911.

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Also, the TPD says it’s possible park visitors with dash cameras in their cars might have recorded the attacker at some point.

Regarding the February 10, 2024 assault in Point Defiance Park, Tacoma Police, in working with the victim, witnesses and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department were able to create this depiction of the suspect. pic.twitter.com/w4SGLSgORL

— Tacoma Police Department (@TacomaPD) February 18, 2024

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of My Northwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here.

Bill Kaczaraba is a digital content editor for MyNorthwest.

Contributing: James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio