News

Two Seattle School Board Seats Up For Grabs In Primary

Ann Dornfeld — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:12:35 +0000

Six candidates are vying for two Seattle School Board seats in the August 6 primary election.

In Director District 5, which includes Capitol Hill, the Central Area, Beacon Hill and downtown, Kay Smith-Blum is stepping down from her board seat after one term.

Mayor McGinn Appoints Rival’s Partner to City Advisory Committee

Deborah Wang — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:14:00 +0000

Here’s one for the “Seattle is such a small world” file:

State Sen. Ed Murray has been hitting the campaign trail of late in his effort to oust Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.

But McGinn has just recognized Murray’s long-time partner, Michael Shiosaki, with an executive appointment to the city’s Arboretum and Botanical Garden Committee.

Tornado Emergency Declared In Oklahoma City

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:33:00 +0000

(This post was last updated at 11:45 p.m. ET.)

A massive tornado ripped through the southern suburbs of Oklahoma City, Monday afternoon, killing at least 51 people, according to the state medical examiner's office.

The death toll was expected to rise.

Helicopter images showed large tracts of Moore, Okla., completely leveled by what the National Weather Service says was at least an EF-4 tornado with winds in excess of 166 mph.

UW Students Seek End of Fossil Fuel Investments

Allie Ferguson — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:19:21 +0000

Students at the University of Washington want the school to dump its investments in major fossil fuel companies like Exxon and BP as part of a nationwide campaign to combat climate change through public institutions.

Tim Burgess Won't Seek Mayor's Office

Amy Radil — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:55:40 +0000

Seattle City Council Member Tim Burgess is stepping down as a mayoral candidate. His disclosure came as the filing deadline loomed for the November election. Burgess said he won’t yet endorse anyone. But he said he’s leaving the race to make it easier for another candidate to unseat incumbent Mayor Mike McGinn.

The West Side Of The Mercer Mess Ramps Up

Derek Wang — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:20:03 +0000

Driving around Seattle this weekend will be trickier than normal. The Seattle Department Of Transportation plans to close parts of Aurora and Mercer Street around South Lake Union as part of the effort to convert Mercer into a two-way street. The city's now focusing on the Mercer West project, the section of Mercer between Dexter Avenue and West Fifth Avenue.

Democratic Party Activists Weigh In On Seattle Mayor's Race

Deborah Wang — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:54:11 +0000

Democratic activists in the city of Seattle last night began picking favorites in the Seattle mayoral election. Incumbent mayor Mike McGinn didn’t make their list.

The 46^th District Democrats was the first local party organization to endorse in the race. The 46^th Legislative District includes parts of north Seattle, Shoreline, and Kenmore.

Draft Pot Rules Do Not Cap Grow Sizes Or Number Of Licenses

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:45:28 +0000

Washington’s Liquor Control Board has published 46-pages of proposed rules for the state’s new recreational marijuana market. But the regulations released Thursday are largely silent on two major issues: the number of business licenses that will be allowed and the size of marijuana grow operations.

The draft rules address marijuana producers, processors and retailers. On the production side, the Liquor Control Board proposes to ban outdoor marijuana grows.

Washington Florist Sues State, Says She "Will Not Wilt"

Anna King — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:44:53 +0000

There’s a new development in the case of a Richland, Wash. florist who refused to sell flowers for a same sex couple’s wedding. The business owner’s lawyers announced a counter suit Thursday saying the florist “will not wilt.”

The owner of Arlene’s Flowers argues there are plenty of other shops in the Tri-Cities that could cater to a gay or lesbian wedding.

Boise Man Arrested On Terrorism Charges

Jessica Robinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:44:14 +0000

Federal agents arrested a man in Idaho Thursday suspected of conspiring to support a terrorist organization in Central Asia. Thirty-year-old Fazliddin Kurbanov is from Uzbekistan and lives in Boise.

Two federal grand juries – one in Idaho and one in Utah – handed down a total of four terrorism-related charges against Kurbanov. Federal authorities say he attempted to help the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan with money and computer software between August 2012 and May 2013.