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Vehicles, people plunge into river after bridge collapse

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:45:25 -0400

WASHINGTON - A handful of vehicles and some people plunged into a river after a more than half a century old bridge that links Seattle in the US with Canada collapsed, throwing the movement on the highway into disarray. Authorities said there were no deaths in the bridge collapse on the Skagit River in the US state of Washington. Three people were rescued and taken to hospitals, they said. ...

Morgan Freeman defends dozing off mid interview

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:40:02 -0400

Morgan Freeman, who was caught dozing during an interview with Seattle's Fox Q13 on Wednesday, made light of the incident. But the 75-year-old actor told People magazine that he wasn't actually sleeping, asserting that he was a beta tester for Google Eyelids, the New York Daily News reported. He added that he was merely updating his Facebook page. ...

For Seattle Mariners scouts the MLB draft is the big day

Sat, 25 May 2013 17:19:50 -0400

After months of endless traveling around the country evaluating amateur talent, haunted by weather issues and occasionally frustrated by a coach who decides at the last minute to change his rotation, Mariners scouts get their payoff in the MLB draft that begins on June ...

NTSB Bridge collapse in Wash. is wake-up call

Sat, 25 May 2013 17:16:42 -0400

SEATTLE — The chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday the bridge collapse in Washington state is a wake-up call for the nation. "This is a really significant event and we need to learn from it, not just in Washington but around the country," Debbie Hersman said after taking a boat ride on the Skagit River below the dramatic scene where a truck bumped ...

Plan extra hour to drive around fallen I-5 bridge over Skagit River

Sat, 25 May 2013 16:16:48 -0400

The collapsed section of the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River. Traffic is being detoured to other highways over or around the river. By DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP The Associated ...

Lynnwood-area man killed by driver fleeing police

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:56:22 -0400

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE - A 72-year-old man from the Lynnwood area died after his car was hit Friday night by a driver fleeing from police. The accident took place shortly after 8 p.m. at the intersection of 44th Avenue W. and 212th Street SW, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said. A 42-year-old woman was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide. The woman, a convicted felon who was ...

Survivor recounts escape after Skagit River bridge collapse

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:52:38 -0400

As a serious hockey player with the Bellingham Blazers, 20-year-old Bryce Kenning has taken some pretty hard hits.He was prepared for more of them at a drop-in hockey game in Bellingham on Thursday night. He wasn't ready for the one he took after his orange Subaru nose-dived from a crumbling Interstate 5 bridge into the Skagit River.If a passenger side door hadn't been slightly open ...

Seattle Times sports readers sound off

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:10:45 -0400

With the national sports media having a feeding frenzy on the number of drug-related suspensions given to Seahawks players, it's time for players to hear this message: We hold you and the coaches in high regard and appreciate your achievements to make the Seahawks a force to be reckoned with. You have made the winds and rain bearable in the long winter months, but with that comes a ...

Seattles Bird optimistic after knee surgery

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:10:37 -0400

Sue Bird isn't gearing up for the start of the WNBA season for the first time in her 11-year career. The Seattle Storm point guard is recovering from recent left knee surgery that will sideline her for the entire summer season. Bird had surgery on a cyst in her knee on May 9. She's optimistic her knee will heal in time for her to play in Russia this fall and return to the Storm next ...

Quick long-term fixes in works for Wash. bridge

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:09:23 -0400

In this photo provided by Francisco Rodriguez, a rescue boat approaches the scene where a pickup truck and a car fell into the Skagit River after the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridgeThursday, May 23, 2013, in Mount Vernon, ...

Small earthquake rattles northeast Clark County

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:00:27 -0400

http://is.gd/JjCz4R ) reports the 2.5 magnitude quake hit at about 9:40 a.m., three miles northeast of Battle Ground. The USGS says the depth was 1.1 ...

Chip-sealing work to cause traffic delays north of Bellingham

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:24:09 -0400

Drivers are advised to take alternate routes Tuesday, May 28, through Friday, May 31, when crews will lay asphalt on some Whatcom County roads in preparation for chip sealing. Crews will work from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. those days on West Laurel Road, Old Guide Road, Aldrich Road and Clarkson Lane. Long delays are expected around work areas. The schedule may change due to weather. For more information ...

All lanes of east WA 8 blocked after truck crash

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:33:04 -0400

The Washington State Patrol says a semi-truck driver fell asleep and crashed into a tree Saturday morning, blocking the eastbound lanes of state Route 8 for ...

Vice chair of Spokane Tribe resigns under pressure

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:33:03 -0400

SPOKANE, Wash. — The vice chairman of the Spokane Tribe has resigned under pressure from tribal members. The Spokesman-Review ( http://is.gd/KrouAs) reports Rodney W. Abrahamson resigned on Thursday. Abrahamson had been convicted of five misdemeanors after he illegally killed two bison north of Yellowstone National Park in February. Montana wildlife agents say he lied about his identity ...

Thousands of bridges at risk of freak collapse

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:41:57 -0400

The collapse of an interstate highway bridge in Washington state brings new attention to the limits of the country’s infrastructure, especially older structures that were designed with little room for error and were never intended to carry the number of cars and trucks they see ...

Port Angeles pays $125K to settle police claim

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:32:50 -0400

The city of Port Angeles has agreed to pay a man $125,000 to settle a claim from last year that police used excessive force in catching him after he fled on a ...

Skagit bridge collapse will mean headaches for Whatcom County Canada commerce

Sat, 25 May 2013 09:35:59 -0400

The broken Skagit River bridge on Interstate 5 is already disrupting commerce in the Pacific Northwest, with travel delays of more than an hour at midday Friday, May 24, near the area of the collapse. For the trucking and transportation industries, dealing with a disconnected I-5 is a big deal. It's estimated that 600,000 truck trips are made south from Canada through the Whatcom County ...

At Alfreds theyve got your back

Sat, 25 May 2013 08:45:11 -0400

When she got the call from Tacoma saying her daughter had been hospitalized, Claire Hickox packed fast and headed to the airport from her home in ...

FIFE Police fire respond to car filled with poison gas

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:41:39 -0400

Fife police officers and Tacoma firefighters responded Friday to an apparent suicide in the 2500 block of 62nd Avenue East. A 911 caller shortly before 10 a.m. reported a suspicious vehicle in the area, with an unconscious man inside and a note taped to the window that said: "Do not open. Hydrogen Sulfide. Call 911."Emergency crews closed 62nd Avenue East to through traffic and entered ...

Robber who turned life around given 9 months of work release

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:44 -0400

A judge was told Friday that Timothy Sherlock, 25, was in a bad place when he robbed a Domino's Pizza in Smokey Point. He was homeless, estranged from his family and using heroin. In the two years since the robbery, he's made a complete turnaround, his brother and attorney said. "I'm proud of the person I have become with the help of my family and church," Sherlock ...

Pearl Harbor survivor to speak Sunday at Everett church

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:44 -0400

He was peeling an apple and heard a plane dive. He saw the bombs strike the airstrip. "Half of my division was killed or wounded in Pearl Harbor," said Wans, who was 17 years old on Dec. 7, 1941. He survived the attack without injury. Wans is one of the dwindling number of survivors and World War II veterans alive in the U.S. Now 89, the Navy veteran is scheduled to give a speech ...

Arlington church thanks teacher for 20-plus years of care

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:43 -0400

Cheryl Lovgreen reads a card from Jeremiah Rodriguez, 6, during a retirement party at Our Saviour's Lutheran Preschool in Arlington on Sunday. Lovgreen is retiring after nearly 22 years of teaching. "I wrote thanks for teaching me everything I need to know," said Rodriguez when asked what was written inside the ...

Two lottery prizes in county as yet unclaimed

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:43 -0400

That's not the only lottery winning waiting to be picked up in these parts. There's also $3.3 million lingering since March 25 for a Lotto ticket sold in the Lynnwood area. "There are two millionaires out there and we'd like to find out who they are," said Arlen Harris, a spokesman for Washington's Lottery. The Bothell-area Powerball ticket gets a second-tier prize ...

Dogs likely to be barred from Snohomish bird sanctuary

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:42 -0400

SNOHOMISH -- The Parks and Recreation Board is recommending the City Council approve guidelines that would ban dogs from the proposed Snohomish Riverview ...

Honor those who gave all at weekend events

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:42 -0400

Its origins date back to the Civil War, when it was known as Decoration Day. The solemn holiday has been observed on the last Monday in May since 1971. Here are some of the events occurring in Snohomish County in honor of the holiday: Edmonds: The Edmonds Memorial Cemetery is hosting a Memorial Day Observance at 11 a.m. Monday between 100th Avenue W and 15th Street SW. The one-hour event is ...

Front Porch Classics Cruzin Colby Sunday and Monday

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:32:41 -0400

Cruzin' to Colby makes its annual return to downtown Everett on Sunday and Monday. About 400 classic cars are expected to roll through the streets from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. There's a public dance from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 3105 Pine St., Everett, featuring the Wright Brothers Band. Admission is $5 per person. The free Show 'n' Shine is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ...

Missing Mom Police release case warrants

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:30:02 -0400

The latest batch of documents released in the Susan Powell case show investigators seeking permission to mount wiretaps on her husband Josh Powell's phone after she vanished in December ...

Ferndale bridge similar to one collapsed on Skagit River

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:27:44 -0400

The Interstate 5 bridge over the Nooksack River at Ferndale is similar in many ways to the bridge that crumpled into the Skagit River after it was hit by a truck on Thursday, May 23. Both bridges were built in 1955 and were labeled "functionally obsolete" by the Federal Highway Administration, according to data made available on the Nationalbridges.com website. That doesn't mean ...

NE Ore. wolves kill 4 sheep

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:25:24 -0400

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirms that wolves from the Umatilla River pack have killed four sheep on private land near Weston in northeast ...

Man in 80s dies after ambulance collision

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:25:23 -0400

BREMERTON, Wash. — A driver in his 80s has died after a head-on collision with a Mason County Fire District 2 ambulance. The Kitsap Sun reports ( http://is.gd/jJXzPQ) that a Harborview Medical Center shift supervisor in Seattle says the man died Friday. The paramedic who was driving the ambulance suffered minor chest injuries in Thursday's crash. A second medic was unhurt. Fire ...

Mariners need a lift as Felix faces Texas

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:19:49 -0400

Their once-heralded future of the franchise has been sent to the Minors, and they've lost seven in a row. The Mariners have seen better days. How quickly they must forget if they're to move on from their 20-28 start to the season and begin a fight back up the standings in the American League West. "People have really short memories," said manager Eric Wedge. "It's ...

No Quick Fix for Downed Bridge on Holiday Weekend

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:41:08 -0400

Washington state officials are scrambling to find a temporary fix for a bridge that collapsed on an important interstate highway and, incredibly, left just three motorists with injuries. Whatever the solution, it won't come in time to help with Memorial Day's highway hoards. Transportation experts are also working to find out whether the spectacular disintegration of the heavily used ...

Brinnon ShrimpFest returns at new location but with same popular belt-sander races

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:49:47 -0400

Spectators at the 2011 Brinnon ShrimpFest watch modified belt sanders fly down a custom track. After a year's hiatus, ShrimpFest returns this weekend — with the unusual belt-sander races returning as well. By Charlie Bermant Peninsula Daily ...

Seattle drops 7th straight in 9-5 loss to Texas

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:52:34 -0400

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Joe Saunders reacts on the mound in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, May 24, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. ...

Brutal Monroe knife attack leaves woman in critical condition

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:48:12 -0400

MONROE, Wash. -- Police say a domestic dispute took a tragic turn Friday night when a man brutally stabbed his estranged wife in downtown Monroe.Police were initially called to the 100 block of West Hill Street at 7 p.m. after witnesses spotted a man walking in the alley with a knife.Officers soon learned that the man was suspected of stabbing his 34-year-old wife several times while she was ...

Two injured following assault in Monroe

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:46:08 -0400

MONROE -- A special team of detectives is investigating after two people were seriously injured during an incident that ended with police using electric shocks to subdue a man with a knife. The man, 32, allegedly stabbed a woman, 34, said Shari Ireton, a spokeswoman for the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. At about 7 p.m., Monroe police converged on an alley near the 100 block of W. Hill ...

Tyee Seattle Christian in title games | 2A 1A Boys Soccer

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:43:29 -0400

SUMNER — Tyee's dream season continues. Freshman goalkeeper Alan Mora, stepping in for injured starter Carlos Reyes for a shootout, turned aside three of four penalty kicks to lift Tyee to a 1-0 state 2A semifinal win over Sedro-Woolley Friday night, putting the Totems in Saturday's 4 p.m. state-championship match. Tyee (15-4-1) had never won a state postseason match before this ...

Saunders runs out of Safeco magic

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:34:30 -0400

Ibanez smacks an RBI double to cut the deficit SEATTLE -- Not even "Safeco Joe" could prevent this one. Mariners left-hander Joe Saunders continued a mid-May malaise on Friday night in a 9-5 loss to the Texas Rangers, Seattle's seventh consecutive defeat. He damaged some remarkable personal statistics in the process, too. Saunders had brought a 9-0 record and a 1.72 ERA in 13 ...

MLB Texas 9 Seattle 5

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:20:33 -0400

Lance Berkman staked Texas to an early lead Friday and the Rangers went on to down Seattle 9-5. Justin Grimm settled down after a shaky start to get the win and every member of the Texas starting lineup came up with at least one hit. Baker hit a two-run homer in the second and Berkman gave Texas the lead for good with a three-run blast in the ...

Pierce County has 28 bridges in need of work

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:50:09 -0400

Of the more than 550 bridges in Pierce County, 28 are designated as "structurally deficient" and need some kind of repair, rehabilitation or replacement, according to interviews and a News Tribune analysis of national bridge ...

Berkman Baker power Texas past Seattle 9-5

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:47:52 -0400

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Joe Saunders reacts on the mound in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, May 24, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. ...

Police chase ends in violent Mountlake Terrace car crash

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:43:41 -0400

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. -- A high-speed police chase ended Friday night in a violent wreck that sent three people to the hospital.The brief chase began at about 8:15 p.m. when a Lynnwood police officer on patrol spotted a man thought to have an active felony warrant in the passenger seat of a van, according to Lynnwood police.It's unclear if the officer tried to stop the van, but the female ...

Apparent police chase in Terrace ends in injury wreck

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:41:34 -0400

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE -- Two men were rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Friday night after an apparent police chase ended in a crash near the 4400 block of 212th Street SW in the Mountlake Terrace area, officials ...

Wedding will carry on despite Skagit bridge closure

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:41:19 -0400

A collapsed section of the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River is seen in an aerial view Friday, May 24, 2013. Part of the bridge collapsed Thursday evening, sending cars and people into the water when a an oversized truck hit the span, the Washington State Patrol chief said. Three people were rescued from the water. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday declared a state of emergency in ...

Ore. police 8 lb. pot in festive birthday boxes

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:39:07 -0400

LAKEVIEW, Ore. -; Oregon state police say they found about eight pounds of marijuana inside two festively wrapped birthday gift boxes during a southern Oregon traffic stop for a speeding ...

Friday evening at Sasquatch 2013 XXL Mags Seattle Rappers list IRL

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:29:08 -0400

A mini Seattle rap festhappened Friday evening on Cthulthu stage at Sasquatch: three acts in a row, young emcees Shelton Harris and BFA (Brothers from Another), then one of the town’s heavy hitters, Nacho Picasso. All are ...

Partly sunny skies cool temps expected for Ski to Sea

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:27:40 -0400

Katie Black, left, picks up her team packet and shirts for Ski to Sea from Margie Sawyer Friday morning, May 24, 2013 next to the Barkley Boulevard Woods Coffee in Bellingham. About 30 people lined up at 10 a.m. to pick up their ...

Unarmed park ranger pusted in Seattle crime riddled parks www.privateofficer.com

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:22:19 -0400

-- The city plans to hire two full-time park rangers to patrol Cal Anderson Park and Occidental Square in the wake of recent violent incidents that have left some park users fearing for their safety. Mayor Mike McGinn and Interim Police Chief Jim Pugel made the announcement to hire two new workers at city hall Thursday. The unarmed parks employees will work "closely" with Seattle ...

Class A Clinton book scribe visits Safeco Field

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:20:07 -0400

SEATTLE -- Lucas Mann was working on his Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing at the University of Iowa a few years ago and needed a thesis topic. He loves baseball. The Class A Clinton LumberKings were about an hour away. He started going to games. He logged a lot of miles on his car. The stories Mann found there turned into his first book, Class A: Baseball in the Middle of Everywhere, ...

Skagit bridge closures impact on commerce unclear

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:34:39 -0400

How the closure of Interstate 5 in Skagit County will affect the flow of commerce isnt yet clear. The inability of trucks to use the states major north-south highway will certainly mean adjustments for shippers and distributors. But none interviewed Friday could form any kind of ...

Southbound Schuster Parkway to close next week for roadwork

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:34:39 -0400

As part of the major renovation of Tacomas Stadium Way, the southbound lanes of Schuster Parkway will be closed during daytime hours for about six weeks, starting ...

Skagit bridges arch-shaped truss made clearance too low

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:34:38 -0400

If William Scott had steered just a few feet to the left, his truck would have sailed across the Skagit River bridge with no problem.According to the oversize load permit issued by the state Department of Transportation, the giant steel box Scott was hauling measured 15 feet 9 inches off the ground, 18 inches lower than the bridge’s maximum clearance of 17 feet 3 inches.The trouble was, the ...

Lauren Jackson far removed but still has Seattle Storm on her mind

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:23:35 -0400

Jackson, the team's all-time leading scorer, is in her hometown of Albury, Australia, working with a personal trainer after hamstring surgery in ...

I-5 bridge collapse survivor — The water was just flooding in

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:59:38 -0400

Bryce Kenning waits on the roof of his car for rescuers Thursday evening after it nose-dived from the crumbling Interstate 5 bridge into the Skagit River. By GENE JOHNSON and MANUEL VALDES The Associated ...

Peninsula School District says no to charter schools

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:27:48 -0400

School board members in the Gig Harbor-area Peninsula School District have opted out of becoming a charter school authorizer, just as their counterparts in Tacoma have ...

Washington state scrambles to erect temporary bridge after collapse

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:27:21 -0400

U.S. officials will look into erecting a temporary span after an Interstate 5 bridge collapsed into Washington State's Skagit River when an Albertan truck driver struck a support beam with an oversized load.Three people, including a University of British Columbia student, suffered non-life-threatening ...

Sequestration to affect access to Mount Rainer National Park

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:21:13 -0400

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK -- The word sequestration sends shivers down the spine of anybody who's work depends on federal funding.Effects of the stalemates in Washington D.C. are having a direct impact on one of "this" Washington's most beloved natural treasures. No amount of governmental goofiness can shut down the sheer majesty of our lovely looming neighbor.But it can ...

After bridge collapse Amtrak adding 1 daily round trip north of Seattle

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:21:12 -0400

SEATTLE (AP) - Amtrak says it plans to add one daily round trip between Seattle and Bellingham in the coming weeks to help travelers affected by the Interstate 5 highway bridge collapse near Mount Vernon.In a statement Friday, Amtrak, the Washington Transportation Department, Sound Transit and BNSF Railway said they're working together to add the service. It would involve a morning departure ...

Injured Sue Bird hopes to still make contribution to Seattle Storm

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:18:06 -0400

Storm coach and general manager Brian Agler normally isn't concerned by much heading into a season — until this year. All-Stars Sue Bird (knee) and Lauren Jackson (hamstring) will not play the 2013 WNBA season due to offseason surgeries. Add All-Star Katie Smith signing a free-agent contract to play for New York, and Seattle is without three starters from the 2012 playoff team. ...

Wash. police detain man after drivers calls

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:17:59 -0400

Police in Lynnwood, Wash., have detained a man after drivers at an Interstate 5 on-ramp called 911 to report a man pointing looked like a gun at passing ...

Slow going for southbound Bellingham travelers after bridge collapse

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:14:09 -0400

The Skagit River bridge collapse has shut down a section of Interstate 5 just south of Highway 20 between Burlington and Mount Vernon. Officials are encouraging drivers to avoid the area if possible. About 71,000 vehicles use that stretch of freeway each day, so rerouting all of those would lead to heavy backups and long delays on other routes. On Friday backups were extensive along the freeway ...

APNewsBreak Deal reached on Oregon wolves

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:05:16 -0400

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- Conservation groups and cattle ranchers have agreed to a landmark settlement in a lawsuit that, for the past year and a half, has kept the state of Oregon from killing wolves that prey on ...

Video 524 I-5 bridge collapses north of Seattle On the Road Three siblings survive Okla. tornado

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:58:29 -0400

A section of the Riverside Bridge, which carries traffic along Interstate-5 near Seattle, collapsed after a truck hit an overhead beam, plunging vehicles into the Skagit River below; and "On the Road," Steve Hartman reports on three siblings who survived the Okla. tornado that destroyed their home and elementary school. But they said that's the only thing left in the house that ...

Trucker bumps I-5 bridge sees horror behind him

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:51:36 -0400

By MANUEL VALDES and MIKE BAKER Associated Press MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - The trucker was hauling a load of drilling equipment when his load bumped against the steel framework over an Interstate 5 bridge. He looked in his rearview mirror and watched in horror as the span collapsed into the water behind him. Two vehicles fell into the icy Skagit River. Amazingly, nobody was killed. The ...

Mother begs Fife police Please dont shoot my son

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:12:30 -0400

shoot a father who was holding his child hostage early Friday morning, but his mother says there was no reason to kill him.Police say 30-year-old Leonard Thomas was despondent over the death of a friend when he called his mother, Annalesa Thomas, to come care for his 4-year-old son. When Annalesa arrived, she said Leonard refused to hand the boy over and assaulted her, so she called 911."The ...

Inspections Skagit River bridge hit a number of times by big trucks

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:12:30 -0400

A portion of the Interstate 5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit River dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Skagit Valley Herald, Frank ...

Mountain Loop Highways gate to Big Four is open

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:10:09 -0400

Snow blocks the scenic highway every winter through early spring. Last week's opening gives drivers access to the Big Four Ice Caves, Barlow Pass and U.S. Forest Service ...

Witnesses say man aimed gun at drivers in Lynnwood

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:10:08 -0400

LYNNWOOD -- Police on Friday arrested a man who witnesses said appeared to be aiming a gun at drivers in the area of I-5 and 44th Avenue W. in ...

Blaine meeting will shape state rail plan

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:05:26 -0400

BLAINE - The public is invited to a discussion on the state's long-term rail plan on Thursday, May 30. The three-hour meeting will focus on Amtrak service and international coordination of rail systems. Coal trains are a piece of the puzzle that must be accounted for in the plan, but Thursday's meeting is not a venue to debate the environmental impacts of coal, Blaine Public Works ...

2 Ore. women accused in fake check scheme

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:03:02 -0400

Police in Hermiston, Ore., say two local women accused of making and passing fake payroll checks from several businesses have been arrested for investigation of ...

Woman rescued on Mukilteo beach after log pinned her leg

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:02:34 -0400

MUKILTEO -- A 23-year-old south Snohomish County woman was rescued from the Mukilteo waterfront Friday afternoon after a log rolled over her leg.It happened about 12:50 p.m. in an area about a mile south of Lighthouse Park, Mukilteo Assistant Fire Chief Brian McMahan said."She was sitting on a log and the log rolled, and she got her leg caught between the log and a rock," he said.It ...

Seahawks TE Anthony McCoy out nine months with Achilles tendon injury

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:58:56 -0400

When fifth-round draft pick Luke Willson emerged as one of the standout players at the Seahawks' recent rookie minicamp, he loomed as a potentially intriguing luxury for the 2013 season. But now, the progress of Willson could become critical to the high expectations greeting this season after it was learned Friday that backup tight end Anthony McCoy will be out as much as nine months after ...

I-5 bridge survivor I cant believe were alive

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:59:13 -0400

Dear Abby: In today's world, there are people who apparently cannot exist detached from their cellphones. In case you are wondering - yes, I do have one, but I use it only for emergencies, not idle ...

Photos Day one at N.W. Folklife at Seattle Center

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:58:19 -0400

The Northwest Folklife Festival kicked off Friday, May 24, at Seattle Center. The celebration of musical and artistic traditions, the nation's largest free community arts festival, runs through Memorial ...

Free skin cancer screenings offered in Bellingham

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:51:21 -0400

BELLLINGHAM - Fifty people will be able to get a free skin cancer screening Saturday, June 8, at the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center. The event is 9 to 11 a.m. at 3301 Squalicum Parkway. The screening will be painless and take about 10 minutes. Doctors may examine arms, legs and above the chest or other areas that are of concern to participants. Participants should wear short-sleeved shirts ...

Heres the lineup for the 2013 Ski to Sea Grand Parade

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:51:19 -0400

BELLINGHAM - The Locker family of Ferndale will serve as grand marshals of the 2013 Ski to Sea Grand Parade, which features floats, marching bands, horses, antique cars and plenty of entertainment. The parade starts at noon Saturday, May 25, at Cornwall Avenue and Alabama Street. The route continues south on Cornwall, turns left on Champion Street, left again on North State Street and ends at ...

Seattle designates Andino calls up Sucre Triunfel

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:49:00 -0400

The Seattle Mariners have designated infielder Robert Andino for assignment, recalled infielder Carlos Triunfel from Triple-A Tacoma and selected catcher Jesus ...

Mariners promote Sucre and Triunfel

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:43:02 -0400

Email In a series of roster moves on Friday, the Mariners selected the contract of catcher Jesus Sucre from Triple-A Tacoma, one day after optioning former starting backstop Jesus Montero to that same Minor League affiliate. As they attempt to find a spark in the midst of a six-game losing streak, the Mariners also recalled infielder Carlos Triunfel to take the place of Robert Andino, whom they ...

Bridge collapse in Washington state blamed on tractor-trailer

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:35:42 -0400

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. A truck hauling an oversized load of drilling equipment hit an overhead bridge girder on the major route between Seattle and Canada, sending a section of the interstate into the river below as the driver watched the structure collapse in his rearview mirror. Two other vehicles plunged into the Skagit River, but all three occupants escaped with only minor injuries. "He ...

Bridge collapse survivor describes plunge into river

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:46:14 -0400

"I was going 60 mph. It was like an explosion, but I didn't hear anything. I slammed on my brakes, but it didn't matter," Kenning said. "My car launched into the air and I landed nose down on top of the bridge deck in the river. The airbags went off." Kenning was one of three people in two vehicles that crashed into the river with the dramatic collapse of the Skagit ...

Seahawks will beat Broncos in Super Bowl NFL fans say

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:46:10 -0400

The 12th Man is making noise again. But this time the Seahawks' loud and proud fans are doing more than make opposing offenses jump offsides. Seattle football fans cheered on their team in a recent poll of fans on NFL.com. The voting, which was announced May 13, predicted that the Seahawks will win the Super Bowl. That probably reflects how rabid Seattle's fans are and how convinced ...

I-5 bridge survivor recalls plunge from highway

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:39:31 -0400

A survivor of Washington's Interstate 5 bridge collapse says plunging off the highway was "like a roller coaster where you're not attached to the ...

Fast-food menu labeling results in fewer calories purchased

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:19:23 -0400

U.S. adults and teens who used calorie information posted on menus purchased up to 143 fewer calories than those who did not see the calories, researchers say. ...

Feds look for temporary fix after I-5 collapse

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:48:08 -0400

(AP Photo/Everett Daily Herald, Jon Bauer). Rescue workers look for victims after a portion of the Interstate 5 bridge collapsed into the Skagit River in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, ...

Suspected robber Should I pull out my gun

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:39:45 -0400

SEATTLE -- A man had his laptop stolen by two men armed with a bat late Thursday night in West Seattle, according to the Seattle Police Department. The victim was walking to a friend's house in the 1600 block of Southwest Barton Street shortly before midnight when a car pulled up alongside him and two men jumped out. According to police, the men hit the victim in the back with a baseball ...

Man found dead in vehicle sign says hazardous gas present

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:39:44 -0400

FIFE, Wash. -- A police investigation continues into the death of a man found in a vehicle Friday morning, with a sign claiming a hazardous gas was present.Someone called Fife Police to report a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot in the 2500 block of 62nd Ave. East. about 10 a.m. Friday.The person told police an unresponsive man was inside with a note taped to the window stating, "Do Not ...

Sam Hellinger carries West Seattle into schools first state championship game

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:36:42 -0400

PASCO - West Seattle senior Sam Hellinger carried a simple approach into Friday's Class 3A semifinal against Mount Si: Give his defense the opportunity to make plays behind him. But there was more weight to this game than that, and Hellinger admitted as much after West Seattle held on for a 3-1 win. West Seattle had never advanced to the final four of the state tournament before this year, ...

Washington bridge collapse A white flash and cold water

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:32:54 -0400

MOUNT VERNON - Dan Sligh was on his way to a camping trip with his wife and Navy colleagues when he noticed the oversized truck in front of him on Interstate 5 seemed about four feet too wide on the right side for the bridge they were approaching near Mount Vernon. "I kept saying, 'Anytime you want to move over to the left, it'd be OK,'" Sligh told reporters. But just ...

WTAs Mount Vernon express now requires free transfer

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:32:53 -0400

The express bus from Bellingham to Mount Vernon now makes its last stop at the Chuckanut Park and Ride in north Burlington, after the Skagit River bridge over Interstate 5 collapsed on Thursday, May 23.Riders bound for Mount Vernon on the 80X will transfer to Skagit Transits 208 bus at the park and ride, said Maureen McCarthy, spokeswoman for the Whatcom Transportation Authority. Riders can ...

Wash. DOT 21 trucks hit state bridges last year

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:30:31 -0400

It's not terribly uncommon for trucks to strike bridges in Washington state - it's just that such accidents don't usually cause the structures to ...

Traffic backs up on I-5 at Mount Vernon

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:30:29 -0400

The Washington Transportation Department says traffic on Interstate 5 in Skagit County backed up Friday afternoon about a mile northbound and two miles southbound as cars crawled through detours around the collapsed Skagit River bridge in Mount ...

Horrified trucker watches I-5 bridge collapse behind him

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:28:43 -0400

A dented upper right corner and a scrape along the upper side are visible on the "oversize load" equipment casing being hauled a truck parked southbound on Interstate 5 south of the collapsed portion of the highway bridge at the Skagit River Friday, May 24, 2013, in Mount Vernon, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine ...

3 survive Seattle-Vancouver bridge collapse

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:23:11 -0400

MOUNT VERNON, Washington -- v The four-lane Interstate 5 bridge -- more than half a century old -- collapsed about halfway between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. It was caused by an oversize truck hitting the span, the Washington State Patrol chief ...

Ferndales Airport Shuttle had close call on Skagit River bridge may add express run

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:21:24 -0400

For the Airporter Shuttle, the collapse of the Skagit River bridge on Interstate 5 was a close call.One of its buses heading south to Seattle crossed the bridge about three minutes before the incident that led to the bridge collapse Thursday evening, May 23, said Adrienne Booth, director of sales and marketing for the company.We feel quite fortunate to have averted that (collapse), Booth ...

Washington State Bridge Collapse Highlights Infrastructure Needs

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:09:42 -0400

More than 67,000 drivers cross the Skagit River every day along that stretch of Interstate 5 in Washington where a section of a bridge collapsed, according to the ...

Fake cop targeting Seattles elderly in cash scam

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:16:58 -0400

SEATTLE -- A man going by Capt. Jack Truska, Sgt. Drumbowski or "some other gruff TV cop name" is targeting elderly women and scamming them out of tens of thousands of dollars, according to the Seattle Police Department. According to police, the con artist has targeted at least six women between the ages of 78 and 90 and stolen more than $75,000 from five of them. The man ...

Collapsed I-5 bridge was used by 71000 cars a day detours set up

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:16:55 -0400

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - The Washington Transportation Department says 71,000 vehicles a day used the stretch of Interstate 5 through Mount Vernon that is now blocked by the collapse of the Skagit River bridge.Mount Vernon is about 60 miles north of Seattle and 40 miles south of the Canada Border. The roadblock on both directions of I-5 is expected to cause a major disruption in trade and ...

Pedestrian killed on I-5 in Mountlake Terrace

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:14:16 -0400

The accident occurred around 7:30 a.m. just south of 220th Street SW and temporarily closed all lanes of the freeway, officials said. "The pedestrian was dead at the scene," Snohomish County Fire District 1 spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said. "He was outside his vehicle." The Washington State Patrol was investigating the crash scene. No other details were immediately ...

Seattles pot pigs go high on hog

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:12:08 -0400

a video advertising a March ';Pot Pig'; dinner where the pigs were reputedly eaten . The point was to add fiber and flavor to the animals; the four pigs invoved, apparently, gained more weight than the norm (and were mellower too?) The story has gone viral worldwide, ...

Whats closed in Whatcom County for Memorial Day

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:09:38 -0400

Government offices and schools will be closed Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. Grocery stores, Bellis Fair, most retail stores and restaurants will be open. Some smaller stores will be closed. For places not listed below, call ahead to confirm Monday hours. Here is the status of some offices and services Monday: Whatcom County and city of Bellingham offices: Closed.Bellingham ...

Ski to Sea officials expand hours for teams to pick up race packet

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:09:38 -0400

BELLINGHAM Ski to Sea teams will get more time to pick up their race packets on Saturday, May 25, because of delays caused by the Thursday collapse of the Skagit River bridge on Interstate 5, race officials announced.Racers now will be able to pick up their packets from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Regal Barkley Village move theater in Bellingham.Pickup times for Friday remain the same at ...

SWAT justified in fatal Hoquiam shooting

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:07:10 -0400

The Grays Harbor County prosecutor says Thurston County SWAT officers were justified in fatally shooting a man during a standoff in March in ...

Kitsap jury clears robot maker in botched surgery

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:07:10 -0400

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — A Kitsap County jury decided the maker of a surgical robot was not to blame for a botched prostate operation on a Bremerton man. The jury said Thursday that Intuitive Surgical Inc. had given surgeon Scott Bildsten adequate training. He was conducting his first solo operation with the device in 2008 at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton when he encountered problems. ...

8th UPDATE — Canadian truck with permit to cross saw bridge collapse in his rearview mirror GALLERY

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:47:01 -0400

A portion of the Interstate 5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit River dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon on Thursday ...

AAA Average price of gasoline in Wash. state now $4

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:03:29 -0400

BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) - The AAA auto club reports the average price of a gallon of gasoline in Washington is $4, heading into the Memorial Day weekend.That's up 2 cents in a week and 34 cents in a month. It's 35 cents higher than the national average and 24 cents higher than the price of gasoline in Washington a year ago.Some metro prices from the AAA's survey Friday:Bellingham ...

Rep. Larsen says feds have emergency funds for Skagit I-5 bridge work

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:56:13 -0400

"I spoke this morning with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood,'; Larsen said in a press release. '; Secretary LaHood confirmed that the Department of Transportation has emergency funds available to aid repairs. The Department of Transportation has established an interagency task force to expedite the permitting process for the bridge repair.'; Larsen said he has also reached ...

APNewsBreak Co. says it has permits to cross span

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:53:35 -0400

A truck hauling a too-tall load of drilling equipment hit an overhead bridge girder on the major interstate between Seattle and Canada, sending a section of the span and two vehicles into the Skagit River. All three occupants suffered only minor ...

Gov. Inslee says bridge repair will cost $15M

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:53:34 -0400

Gov. Jay Inslee says it will cost $15 million to repair the Skagit River bridge. The federal government has already promised the state $1 million in emergency dollars to fix the Interstate 5 ...

Cool showery weekend forecast in Washington

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:53:29 -0400

The National Weather Service says cool, showery weather will continue into the holiday weekend in Washington with a chance that Monday will be ...

Alberta trucker driving oversized rig caused Washington State bridge collapse

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:51:00 -0400

A portion of the Interstate 5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit River dumping vehicles and people into the water as rescuers watch from the collapsed section of Interstate 5 and hovercraft search for survivors below in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, ...

Highway horror Washington state bridge collapses plunging cars into river

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:57:50 -0400

Washington state along a heavily traveled commuter route collapsed late Thursday.The bridge is located on Interstate 5. Washington State Patrol officials said no one was killed in the incident, which could have been sparked by a truck collision, when a driver hit the side of the ...

Bill balances desires of adoptees birth parents

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:56:12 -0400

As an adoptee, state Rep. Tina Orwall hoped to win more disclosure.As someone who released a child for adoption, Sen. Ann Rivers wanted to protect birth parents’ privacy.In the end, a compromise bill signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee this week strikes a middle ground both lawmakers are hailing as a step forward for those involved in adoptions.The legislation - House Bill 1525 - allows ...

State lawmakers vote no on flaws yes to photo retouching

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:56:12 -0400

In a note digitally embedded in the photo of State Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver - now posted on the Legislature’s website - a legislative staffer conveyed how Benton "would like to slightly ‘fix’ a few things about his ...

Bridge Collapses in Washington State sends People Cars into Skagit River

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:52:00 -0400

May 24, 2013 An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol ...

Should gay men in Washington be vaccinated for meningitis

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:48:00 -0400

May 23, 2013 In spite of the fact that it's handily the most recognizable feature in Seattle (or possibly all of Washington), most Americans have never actually taken the golden elevator to the top of the Space ...

Man struck killed by semi after getting out of car on I-5

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:47:59 -0400

EDMONDS, Wash. - A man was killed Friday morning when he got out of his car on Interstate 5 near Edmonds and was hit by an oncoming semi truck, officials said.State troopers and emergency crews responded to the scene, on southbound I-5 at 220th Street SW, at about 7:15 a.m. after receiving reports of a pedestrian struck on the roadway, said Leslie Hynes of Snohomish County Fire District 1.The man ...

W. Wash. woman shares story of military rape

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:47:59 -0400

PORTLAND, Ore. – Sexual assault in the military has become a topic of a national conversation just in the past couple weeks as top lawmakers in Washington, D.C. push new bills to crack down on it. And a San Antonio newspaper's seven-month-long investigation shows victims are struggling to get help. Myah Bilton-Smith of Vancouver, Wash. said she was raped twice on a Texas Air ...

Youth in mental-health home attacked robbed

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:47:58 -0400

SEATTLE -- Three men allegedly attacked and robbed a resident of the Seattle Children's Home, a nonprofit for children with mental-health issues, while he was walking around the neighborhood. According to the Seattle Police Department's report for the incident, the victim is close to being released from the facility and is allowed to take 30-minute walks around the community. The ...

The mystery of the toilet-paper thief

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:47:58 -0400

SEATTLE -- Someone, who may or may not have had a key, broke into a North Seattle apartment last week and stole four or five rolls of toilet paper, according to the Seattle Police Department. According to the report for the incident, the victim left her apartment in the 14100 block of Linden Avenue North around 7 p.m. May 18. When she got back three hours later, she had been burglarized. In ...

Police kill man who was holding 4-year-old son hostage

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:47:57 -0400

FIFE, Wash. -- Police SWAT team officers fatally shot a Fife resident early Friday morning after the man allegedly attacked his mother and held his 4-year-old son hostage for more than four hours. According to the Fife Police Department, the incident started around 10:15 p.m. Thursday when the man, drunk and depressed over the death of a friend, called his mother to his home in the 200 block ...

Oversize load caused collapse state patrol chief says

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:44:56 -0400

MOUNT VERNON -- A truck hauling a too-tall load hit an overhead girder of a bridge on the major thoroughfare between Seattle and Canada, sending a section of the span and two vehicles into the Skagit River below, though all three occupants suffered only minor injuries.It happened about 7 p.m. Thursday on the north part of the four-lane I-5 bridge near Mount Vernon, about 60 miles north of Seattle ...

WSU votes to limit tuition hike to 2 percent

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:37:44 -0400

The Washington State University Board of Regents has voted to limit a fall tuition increase to 2 percent, no matter what the Legislature decides concerning the state ...

UW reports record number of freshmen applicants

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:31:34 -0400

SEATTLE (AP) -- The University of Washington says it received more freshmen applications than ever before. More than 30,000 applied for fall 2013 ...