Mass shooting at Bite of Seattle festival leaves three dead
A shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center on Sunday evening resulted in three deaths and four injuries. Two victims died at the scene, and a third died at Harborview Medical Center. The injured include a two-year-old boy in satisfactory condition and a woman in critical condition. One suspect is in custody, but Seattle Police are actively searching for a second shooter. The FBI and ATF have joined the investigation due to the scale of the incident.
Kenmore Air resumes flights following San Juan Islands crash
Kenmore Air resumed scheduled operations on Saturday after a temporary grounding following a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter crash near Sucia Island on Thursday. All 11 people on board survived the emergency landing and subsequent fire, though three remained hospitalized over the weekend. The NTSB is investigating whether wind gusts of up to 20 mph contributed to the incident.
Sisters convicted in 2024 Tacoma robbery-murder
A Pierce County jury found sisters Pamela Gabrilski-Jones and Marian Jones-Pardur guilty of murdering a Tacoma man during a 2024 robbery attempt. Prosecutors proved the pair conspired with a third individual to rob the victim, Will Akers, who was killed during the encounter.
Fugitive sought after escaping Snohomish County Courthouse
Law enforcement is searching for a man identified as Hester, who escaped from the Snohomish County Courthouse following a hearing on Friday. Investigators have issued a probable cause warrant for first-degree escape. Separately, the FBI has joined the search for Devariae Montrel Conley, who fled Whatcom County before his sentencing for a violent felony assault.
Wildfires intensify across Washington and Inland Northwest
Multiple fires are straining regional resources as hot, windy conditions persist.
- Kaiser Canyon Fire: Scorching over 100,000 acres near Nespelem, prompting Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations.
- Little Giant Fire: Burning northwest of Leavenworth, the fire created a massive pyrocumulus cloud visible across Western Washington.
- Bigelow Gulch Fire: A 63-acre vegetation fire near Spokane was contained Sunday evening after threatening local infrastructure.
- Grant County: Level 3 evacuations were issued for the Lower Crab Creek area due to a wildfire near Beverly.
- Kitsap Peninsula: A fire caused power outages for over 20,000 residents in the southern peninsula on Sunday night.
Port Townsend implements emergency water restrictions
City leaders in Port Townsend have requested that residents and businesses immediately limit water usage. A dry winter season has forced the municipality to tap into its water reserves significantly earlier than historical norms.
Thousands of non-citizens to lose Apple Health coverage
Following federal changes in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act, thousands of non-citizens in Washington are set to lose eligibility for the state’s Apple Health (Medicaid) program. Public Health Seattle-King County is currently working to transition affected individuals to alternative support systems.
Budget constraints threaten WA developmental disability program
Parents are expressing alarm over the potential elimination of the "Parent to Parent" program, which supports families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. State officials indicated the program's funding is not guaranteed beyond August as Washington grapples with broader budget deficits.
Ballot language dispute over millionaires' tax repeal
A legal and political backlash has emerged regarding the specific language used for a November initiative to repeal Washington’s capital gains tax on millionaires. Critics argue the current wording may influence voter perception, while proponents of the repeal seek a neutral presentation of the tax's impact.
Snohomish County proposes public safety sales tax
Snohomish County officials are considering a new public safety sales tax to prevent looming cuts to law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Critics of the measure noted that some residents could effectively be taxed twice depending on municipal overlaps.
Department of Energy issues emergency grid order
The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order across 17 states to prevent power blackouts as a massive heat dome expands across the central U.S. While Washington is not under the emergency order, regional utilities are monitoring the Northwest grid as hotter summers drive record electricity demand.
Federal court blocks Trump administration voter list order
A federal appeals court upheld an injunction blocking a White House order to create a federal voter list and restrict mail-in ballots. The ruling maintains the status quo for Washington’s universal mail-in voting system ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Record FAFSA completion for Washington Class of 2026
State officials announced that 46,168 seniors in the Class of 2026 have completed college financial aid applications (FAFSA or WASFA), marking a record high for the state. The surge comes despite previous federal technical hurdles with the application system.