KPLU-FM: Law
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U.S. attorney: A 'buggy whip moment' in fighting cyber...
United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington Jenny Durkan faced tough questions from senators in Washington D.C. on Wednesday when she
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Five May Day protesters charged with felonies
Prosecutors have charged five May Day protestors with felonies following last week’s confrontation with police in downtown Seattle. The standoff between
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How May Day began in 1886 with workers, immigrants,...
Last week’s tumultuous May Day protests got many of us wondering: What is May 1 all about, anyway? It’s been a workers’ holiday in Europe for years, but
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Seattle police working to identify law-breakers in May...
Seattle police said they’re continuing to investigate crimes committed in the course of an unruly May Day demonstration, but that they’re proud of how
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Crash victims' son, husband, father: 'Things need to...
A Seattle man who lost his parents and whose wife and infant son were critically injured by a drunk driver says these tragedies must be stopped. "This is
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Seattle police say this time they're ready for May Day
Seattle police insist they’re ready for whatever happens on May Day, that they are better staffed, better organized and better trained than last year. “We
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Remnant of last year's May Day riots: Grand jury...
Reverberations from last year's May Day melee in downtown Seattle are still being felt among some activists in the Pacific Northwest. You could say what
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Police monitor reports significant, if uneven, progress...
The court-appointed watch dog monitoring the Seattle Police Department has completed his first report on the department's progress, and the report paints a
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Seattle officials look to restrict urban pot farms
Seattle's elected officials are moving to make sure sprawling marijuana farms don’t take over the city’s industrial areas, though it’s not clear whether
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DUI court packed with offenders and repeat offenders
Sit in a courtroom where people are being arraigned on charges of driving under the influence, and you get an idea of the obstacles Washington lawmakers
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Lawmakers consider special DUI driver license, alcohol...
Repeat drunk drivers in Washington may soon carry a scarlet letter driver’s license and have to wear an alcohol detection bracelet. Those are just two of
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Legal victory for asylum seekers
The settlement of a class-action lawsuit, filed on behalf of asylum seekers, should make it easier for people to work in the U.S. while for their asylum
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Local credit union tries on being banker to the pot...
Federal law prohibits banks from helping drug dealers. So where do marijuana businesses keep their cash? “We would put the cash in the safe on premises,
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Seattle's veterans treatment court sees its first 2 grads
Two Vietnam veterans are celebrating a milestone in Seattle today: They’re the first graduates of a special treatment court set up for veterans.
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Ever try pot? Answer yes, and U.S. won't let you in —...
Ever try pot? Answer yes to a border agent, and foreigners could face permanent consequences even if they haven't used marijuana in years. More and more
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Listen: Secret tapes of a terror plot
After Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for plotting to attack a military processing center in Seattle, some of the
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Meet the 83-year-old taking on the U.S. over same-sex...
The tiny dynamo asking the U.S. Supreme Court to turn the world upside down looks nothing like a fearless pioneer. At age 83, Edith Windsor dresses in
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UW Tacoma to offer cybersecurity degree
If cyber crime is a growth industry, so is fighting cyber crime. The University of Washington Tacoma is the latest school to join the ranks of colleges and
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State picks Mass. firm to be official pot consultant
Washington state has tentatively chosen a Massachusetts-based firm led by a University of California, Los Angeles, professor to be its official marijuana
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ACLU, public health groups cautioning marijuana...
How do you build a whole new industry – and undermine a black market -- without increasing its customer base? That’s the challenge state regulators are
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Police monitor to present plan to judge, police unions...
The Seattle Police Department needs to hire more sergeants to work closely with rank-and-file officers. That’s the view of an independent monitor, Merrick
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Statewide bus tour demands immigration reform
Imagine living your life in a legal limbo, with fear of deportation looming and constant uncertainty about your future. That’s the reality for many
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Moms in prison shouldn't lose rights to kids so quickly,...
Should going to prison mean losing your parental rights forever? Legal advocates say that’s what’s been happening in Washington State, especially to women
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Hijab approved for King County jail inmates
Red jumpsuits might be the usual jail uniform in King County. But a new policy has the jail issuing headscarves and yamulkes to inmates.
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Seattle, Tacoma rolling out new ‘predictive policing’...
Imagine you could predict crime the same way weather forecasters issue storm warnings. It’s happening – with new software recently deployed in Seattle and
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Seattle officials urge police not to switch on...
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Seattle surveillance cameras have ACLU's antennas up
Civil liberties advocates are raising concerns about a network of 30 surveillance cameras installed along Seattle’s shoreline, purchased with a $5 million
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Should it matter how much marijuana is in your blood?
It’s always been illegal to drive stoned. But, what that means has changed under Washington’s new marijuana law. Initiative-502 includes a strict
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Can a child have more than two legal parents?
What does it take to make someone a parent in the eyes of the law? And can a child have more than two designated legal parents? As families become more
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Gun buyback: Mayor says "gaggles" of private gun buyers...
Seven hundred and sixteen guns were collected at Saturday’s gun buyback program in Seattle. But officials say they are disturbed by the large number of
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Seattle gun buyback event attracts private buyers
Seattle’s first effort in 20 years to give people money for turning in guns was so popular on Saturday it ran out of gift cards and had to end early. But
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Governor tells feds not to worry about Washington's...
Washington's top officials met with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in Washington D.C. today and tried to reassure the Obama administration that
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Deaf student can sue medical school for discrimination
A Seattle man with profound hearing loss has won a key battle in his fight with Creighton University Medical School in Nebraska over accommodating his disability. The case could have ramifications for other institutions of higher education.Michael Argenyi, who received his undergraduate degree from Seattle University, asked Creighton to pay for interpreters and a real time captioning service known as CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation). The medical school refused, offering other...
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Did you know Washington sells juvenile records to...
If you apply for a job, chances are good your potential employer will do a criminal background check on you. In Washington, that means even something you did as a juvenile could be held against you. Washington is one of a handful of states that sells juvenile court records to background check companies.(Click Listen button to hear the story.)
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Seattle gun buyback plan: Turn in your gun, get a $100...
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and County Executive Dow Constantine say there’s not much they can do about gun laws. Past efforts to ban firearms in parks have failed because they’re preempted by state laws. But they say they can revive an idea last tried in Seattle twenty years ago: a gun buyback program.They hope to get hundreds of weapons off the streets with a privately-funded effort.Turn in a handgun or rifle to Seattle authorities and you can get a $100 gift card from Amazon.com. If you...
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Do free speech rights include the right to carry a...
A case involving protesters, U.S. Army Stryker vehicles and backpacks, that’s right backpacks, is being heard in a federal courtroom in Tacoma. The civil rights trial comes nearly six years after the actual protests took place at the Port of Tacoma.(Click on the listen button to hear the complete story.)The "no backpack" directive can be heard on this video from the March 2007 protests at the Port of Tacoma.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w9HrDJEN58
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North Korean trip shines light on plight of Seattle area...
Controversy surrounding travel to North Korea by a private delegation, including Google executive Eric Schmidt and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, is bringing attention to the story of a Lynnwood man who's been detained in North Korea for more than two months.(Click on the listen button for the complete story.)
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New marijuana law could cause backlogs at state crime...
Washington State law enforcement officials are slowly becoming familiar with the details of the new marijuana law. It makes it legal for people 21 and older to possess small amounts of the drug. However one aspect of the initiative could create huge backlogs at the state’s crime labs.It used to be if police wanted to arrest someone for possessing marijuana they could do a simple test right there on the spot that could tell them if the substance was pot. But under the new law something is...
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Seattle-area clergy demand action on guns
Seattle-area clergy from many faiths are presenting a united front against gun violence, demanding specific measures from elected leaders. Representing churches and synagogues, seminaries, mosques and Sikh temples, the religious leaders say it’s time to move beyond simply mourning the slaughter of 26 people in Newtown Connecticut. They say now it’s time for action.Evoking a string of mass killings, including one in Seattle last spring, the clergy made the case for changing laws and changing...
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Teen marijuana use up
More teens are getting high on marijuana. According to a national survey, high school kids are also less likely than in previous years to see marijuana use as harmful. The Monitoring the Future survey, conducted for the National Institutes of Health, gives us a snapshot of how teenagers are thinking about and using all kinds of drugs. When it comes to marijuana, nearly 1 in 4 high school seniors now report regularly smoking or ingesting pot in some form—a significant increase from 5 years...
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Coming soon: 9-1-1 via text, but is it a good idea?
If you're faced with a serious emergency, chances are you'll pick up the phone and call 9-1-1. But how about sending a text message instead? It’s not something 9-1-1 operators can handle now. But, that could soon change. In recent years, some 9-1-1 operations centers, including the one in King County, have been upgraded to handle text messages. But the systems don’t work because wireless carriers don’t yet offer necessary text-to-9-1-1 service.ATT, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have promised...
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Do you text while you drive? You're not alone.
Have you ever been tempted to respond to a text message while you’re behind the wheel?Texting while driving is illegal in Washington state, but the practice is common enough that the state plans to launch a full scale campaign against it along the lines of the “Click it or Ticket” campaign that promotes seat belt use. Jonna VanDyke, spokeswoman for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, says even drivers who should know better often feel compelled to respond to a text thinking maybe it’s...
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Public marijuana: No tickets in Seattle, but maybe...
(Updated at 10pm)In Seattle, you're more likely to get a parking ticket than a marijuana smoking ticket.Marijuana enthusiasts rejoiced in public on Thursday night – lighting up at Seattle Center’s International Fountain. In front of the spraying water and music, people were smoking from pipes and even big glass bongs."We're celebrating freedom tonight. I'm out here with my community," said a man who gave his name as Eric. Others came because it just sounded like fun, when they heard about it...
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First marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in...
In King County, the first marriage license to a same-sex couple was issued at exactly 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.People cheered as King County Executive Dow Constantine counted down and declared, "Happy Marriage Equality Day."By 4:00 a.m., King County had broken its record for issuing marriage licenses in a single day. More than 247 had been issued.Teri Bednarski and Saracristina Garcia, from Tacoma, were two of the first to receive licenses. Afterwards, fighting back tears, Bednarski said it...
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King County prepares for midnight rush on same sex...
Same sex marriage becomes legal in Washington at midnight tonight. King County is pulling out all the stops to accommodate the hundreds of couples expected to show up at twelve to get marriage licenses.The office will issue the first license at exactly 12:01 to 10 couples chosen for a special ceremony by "the LGTB community" according to Cameron Satterfield, spokesman for the King County Recorder's office.The very first couple to get a license will be Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen...
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Strange alliance: Gun foes agree kids, illegal guns...
In a rare show of solidarity, gun control and gun rights groups are joining forces to pass tougher gun laws for juvenile offenders in Washington.At a news conference with King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, representatives of Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and Washington CeaseFire spoke in favor of proposed legislation that would require juveniles convicted of illegal gun possession to be locked up on the first offense.King county Prosecutor Dan Satterberg says...
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Same-sex marriage change: 'Bride' becomes 'Spouse B'
In light of voter approval of same sex marriage in Washington, the state is scrambling to change official marriage and divorce certificates to make them gender-neutral.The current form you fill out when you get married in Washington asks for the names of the bride and groom.The proposed change from the State Department of Health would instead ask you to list Spouse A and Spouse B.Spokesman Tim Church says the Health Department’s goal is to have the new terms in place by the time the first...
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Feds urged to support/challenge Wa. marijuana law
The United Nations drug watchdog agency wants U.S. officials to challenge new marijuana legalization laws in Washington and Colorado. U.N. Narcotics Control Board head Raymond Yans says the approvals send "a wrong message to the rest of the nation and abroad."At the same time, a group of retired cops, judges and prosecutors is asking U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to support the new laws making it legal for adults 21 and over to possess small amounts of marijuana.The group, Law...
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Seattle to target violent crime
You can expect to see more police in Seattle soon. The 2013 city budget includes money to hire additional cops with an emphasis on fighting violent crime.(For complete story, click on Listen button.)
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Deaf med student sues school saying disability being...
A Seattle man says his dreams of being a doctor are being dashed because Creighton University Medical School in Nebraska won’t accommodate his hearing impairment. At issue is just how far an institution must go to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.The case, Argenvi v. Creighton University, is being heard in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minnesota.Michael Argenyi, who has profound hearing loss, claims the school is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities...
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State liquor board chair: First question is how to grow...
Washington voters have approved the recreational use of marijuana. Many questions remain about how this will work, since it’s still a federal crime to use pot. But the state agency that will regulate the industry is getting into gear.The law making it legal to possess up to an ounce of pot takes effect one month after Election Day, on Dec. 6. And the state liquor board has a year after that to write the rules that will oversee marijuana production and sales.“I don’t think anybody here at the...
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Vandals shatter hundreds of windows at eight Auburn...
Vandals targeted eight schools over two nights this week in Auburn. The spree left some 265 windows shattered at elementary, middle and high schools, as well as the district’s pool and several vehicles.School staff discovered the first wave of damage Monday morning. Vandals apparently armed with pellet guns had shot out windows at schools and district facilities across town. That night, the vandals appear to have struck again, doing even more damage. Auburn High School principal Richard...
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Checking the facts behind both sides of same-sex...
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Last minute money is pouring into the ballot fight over same-sex marriage in Washington. Those dollars are buying television ads on both sides of the issue. So what claims are the campaigns making?Gay rights advocates say Referendum 74 is about marriage equality. But the first TV ad from the Preserve Marriage Washington campaign disputes that notion.Announcer: “Referendum 74 is not about equality. Gays and lesbians already have the same legal rights as married couples.”Let’s...
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Will legal marijuana make police less effective?
Washington voters are weighing whether to become the first state to legalize marijuana. All this week in our series"If it’s legal: Five ways legal pot could affect your life,"KPLU reporters have been imagining what the future could look like if it passes.Today, we look at how legal pot could change policing.In Washington state, between 9,000 and 10,000 people are arrested each year for possession of marijuana. If voters approve Initiative 502, it will suddenly be legal to possess up to an...
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Will 'cannabis lounges' pop up if marijuana is legalized?
Washington voters are weighing whether to become the first state to legalize marijuana. All this week in our series "If it’s legal: Five ways legal pot could affect your life," KPLU reporters have been imagining what the future could look like if it passes. Today, we check out the night-life scene, which could include a new version of BYOB – Bring Your Own Brownie. Say we fast-forward into the future. The legalization measure has just gone into effect. Where will people use marijuana? Will...
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How will marijuana products be sold, and will they be...
If Washington voters approve a ballot measure this fall legalizing marijuana, it would bring big changes – not just in the justice system, but in our communities. In our series “If it’s legal: Five ways legal pot could affect your life,” we consider some ways things could change for all of us, even people who never smoke pot. Today we look at the industry for making, selling and regulating marijuana products that will spring up … if it’s legal.The closest thing to a legal marijuana store...
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Will legal marijuana make our roads more dangerous?
If Washington voters approve a ballot measure this fall legalizing marijuana, it would bring big changes – not just in the justice system, but in our communities. In our series “If It’s Legal: Five Ways Legal Pot Could Affect Your Life,” we consider some ways things could change for all of us, even people who never smoke pot. We begin with a basic question: would legal marijuana lead to more danger on the roads?When I hopped into Sgt. Bob Thompson’s unmarked white cruiser, it took me a...
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Racial bias a factor in Washington Supreme Court...
Racial bias did play a role in the primary election battle between Washington State Supreme Court Justice Steve Gonzalez and his challenger Bruce Danielson.That’s the conclusion of research conducted by Matt Barreto, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington.In the August primary, Justice Gonzalez was re-elected to the court by an overwhelming margin. But in some areas of the state, Danielson, who didn’t even campaign, drew a surprisingly high number of...
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Don’t bust medical cannabis sellers near schools, say...
Medical cannabis advocates and some local officials say the federal government should leave marijuana businesses alone, even if they sell near Seattle schools. The advocates decried a recent wave of enforcement, framing it as an assault on patients and law-abiding businesses.The Drug Enforcement Administration began sending letters in August to 26 Seattle-area storefronts selling medical cannabis. The DEA wrote that the businesses were operating within 1,000 feet of schools or other...
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Will deal with Dept. of Justice really change police...
How do you make sure there is genuine change within the Seattle Police Department? That’s what some Seattle City Council members are asking as the city gets set to implement a police reform plan mandated by an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.For the complete story, click the listen button above.
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Report: Poor oversight of use of force by King County...
King County needs to hit the reset button on how it deals with the use of force by its sheriff’s deputies, according to an independent report presented to County Council members.A group of independent experts concluded that the way the Sheriff's office handles shootings and other use of force by deputies falls way short of best practices. They say the office’s Shooting Review Board doesn’t look deeply enough into the cases and fails to justify its conclusions. The report recommends ditching...
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Seattle seeks to close medical pot loophole with zoning...
To close a loophole in state law and further control the growth of the medical marijuana industry, the city of Seattle is proposing to tighten its zoning laws.When the state legislature approved collective medical pot gardens last year and established the size of individual collective gardens, it did not prohibit collective gardens from pooling resources or operating in the same space.“Local advocates suggest that this aggregation of individual collective gardens will be commonplace,” the...
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Update: Seattle's street safety campaign includes more...
To make city streets safer, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announced a plan to step up the number of speed zones monitored automatically by radar and photo enforcement – while urging everyone to slow down and show some "empathy."McGinn presented his road safety campaign today in Seattle near the site where a photographer for PATH, Mike Wang, was killed while bicycling home from work, just a few blocks from the officeat the intersection of Denny Way and Westlake Avenue.At the event, the mayor's...
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Weird questions you have to answer to become a U.S....
Have you ever been a habitual drunkard? What about a Communist? And exactly where were you between the dates of March 23, 1933 and May 8, 1945?If you want to become a citizen of the United States, get ready to answer these questions---and about a hundred more---on the U.S. citizenship application form, the N-400.Its the form that can make or break a permanent residents chances of becoming a full citizen, and some of the questions it asks are pretty surprising.Like this one:Have you ever been...
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King county voters will decide whether to replace...
King County Proposition 1 would replace whats called the Youth Services Center at 12th Avenue and East Alder Street with a brand new facility. The current buildings sit on 9 acres of a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood near Seattle University. The proposal includes selling off 3 corners of the property to developers.The 40 year old facilities are rundown and have had problems with rusty pipes and the like. But proponents say simply sprucing it up wont fix the underlying design issues.For...
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Could Hispanic name be a factor in outcome of state...
As candidates go, Washington Supreme Court Justice Steve Gonzalez seems to have everything going for him. But his supporters worry his name may hurt him.Gonzalez, who was appointed by Governor Christine Gregoire, is the incumbent. Hes raised more than $300,000. And he has the endorsement of powerful Democrats and Republicans. In contrast, his opponent , Bruce Danielson, has no money, no endorsements and , according to Gonzalez, been missing in action." My opponent Ive never met. Hes never...
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Seattle to watchdog tow-trucks, cap fees, hire tow-truck...
A single tow-truck charge of nearly $800 made headlines last winter. Now, Seattle leaders are proposing rules that would keep most impound charges under $200.The city also will create a new inspectors position, to serve as tsar of tow-trucks.It applies to private lots and people who park too long, or dont pay, or park in a reserved spot. Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata says even if it was the drivers fault, that does not give the towing company the right to basically take their car, and...
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Audit says oversight of King County sheriff's deputies...
The King County Sheriffs Department does a poor job of investigating police misconduct complaints. Thats the conclusion of an outside audit of the department.This comes five years after the county pledged to implement improvements in the troubled law enforcement agency.Law enforcement oversight in King County, according to the auditors, is either non existent or ineffective. Auditor Justin Anderson told the King County Council investigators found numerous examples of officer misconduct...
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Seattle Police tackling neighborhood hotspots with...
With 20 fatal shootings so far, just over half way into the year, Seattles murder toll has already topped the number of homicides for all of last year.The city is stepping up police patrols in crime hot spots theyve identified and getting officers out of their cars more to increase visibility.Seattles east precinct was been the location of one of the citys higher profile shootings this year. It covers the Central District and the Madrona neighborhood, where Justin Ferarri a dad in his van...
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Families celebrate success stories in the foster care...
About 1,160 children in King County spent last month in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services. Most were separated from their parents because of unsafe conditions at home, such as drugs, violence or neglect.But it may come as a surprise to learn that most eventually will be safely returned to their parents.
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Food stamps reduced for up to 30,000 legal immigrants
Food stamps are getting cut in half next week for many of Washingtons legal immigrants. They were cut to help balance the states budget.The food assistance goes to about 11,000 families. Counting their children, that could be nearly 30,000 people impacted statewide, according to estimates by the Childrens Alliance, and advocacy group.Theyre immigrants who came here legally, from countries all over the world. Many have their "Green Cards," which means they have permanent resident status....
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Gun offenders in Seattle could do more prison time
Local and U.S. officials say theyre getting more aggressive about prosecuting gun crimes in Seattle, funneling more offenders into the stricter federal system. Law enforcement officials hope the threat of longer sentences and tougher prisons will deter more crimes. U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said its a proven strategy.
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Officer, do you need a nap? Police overtime questioned
Is a community at risk when cops dont get enough sleep? Washington State University researcher Bryan Vila says it is. In a briefing before the King County Council, he said there are hazards associated with overworked officers.He says lack of sleep affects your ability to think clearly and problem solve and do other things law enforcement needs to be skilled at, such as:
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Dutch man charged with stealing Washington credit cards
Federal prosecutors say a 21-year-old Dutch national coordinated the theft of about 44,000 credit card numbers worldwide, including some from the Boeing Employees Credit Union, by hacking into the sales system of businesses.
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Seattle: Make gun offenders register like sex offenders?
Sex offenders have to register when they get out of prison in Washington. So why shouldnt people who commit a violent crime with a gun have to do the same?Its an idea being floated by the Seattle Police Department.
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Seattle looking into surveillance tech. to tamp down gun...
(Updated with audio story, attached.)Seattle has had it with the flare of gunfire lighting up its streets and thats driving city leaders to pull out the stops to find solutions.More aggressive search and seizures, stiffer local gun laws, increased police patrols, video cameras and now a technology that registers where a gun is fired in the city and notifies police seconds after the shooting these are some of the tools Seattle officials are looking at to tamp down the violence.
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Police: 'Hero' saved lives in Seattle shootings
I just threw the frigging stool at him, legs first. My brother died in the World Trade Center. I promised myself, if something like this ever happened, I would never hide under a table.Four people were slain when Ian Lee Stawicki started shooting Wednesday morning inside Cafe Racer.At a news conference Thursday, police said a man sitting next to Stawicki was a "hero" because he threw stools at the gunman when he stood up and opened fire. Several people were able to flee the cafe during this...
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Improved fingerprinting system catches more criminals
Officials in King County say the adoption of a more advanced Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) a year ago has led to additional crimes being solved.The regional AFIS is paid for through a property tax levy. It costs the average homeowner in King County about $20 a year.
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Governor Gregoire emerging as unlikely gay rights...
OLYMPIA - Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is emerging as an unlikely gay rights activist - both at home and on the national stage. Her role in helping pass a same-sex marriage law this year has made Gregoire a sought-after spokesperson for the movement.On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Gregoire made some unusual stops. She was a keynote speaker for the Gill Foundation, a deep pocketed gay rights organization. She was also honored along with Maryland Governor Martin OMalley at a...
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