10-time convicted felon Kyle Hester escapes Superior Courthouse; deputies seeking public’s help
EVERETT—Convicted felon Kyle Hester, 39, fled the Snohomish County Superior Courthouse around 2:30 p.m. on Friday after a judge ordered him to be taken into custody; Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help for information on his whereabouts. An unidentified woman was seen with Hester, and detectives said Friday evening they believe they […]
Nate’s Corner: Beach Cleanup Removes 130 Pounds of Trash at Meadowdale Beach Park
Our community beach cleanup earlier this month reminded me that even the smallest acts can have a lasting impact. On the morning of July 9, I witnessed the convergence of environmental stewardship, community service, and civic engagement, and I walked away with a renewed sense of hope for our future. Our second annual community beach […]
Snohomish County sees no uptick in Cyclospora cases, FDA says lettuce test was false positive
EVERETT—The Snohomish County Health Department reports four cases of cyclosporiasis, the disease caused by the Cyclospora parasite, so far this year. The first case occurred in late March and the most recent was reported in the second week of July. “This is not an unusual number of cases for a year,” says Snohomish County Health […]
‘Ramblings of a Mad King:’ Democrats respond to Trump’s election integrity claims
OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said the “information” presented in President Donald J Trump’s nationally televised address last Thursday on election integrity does not change the established record that claims of widespread election fraud have been repeatedly disproven. “In the past year, cuts to federal programs supporting state election security have created […]
Sign up for South County Fire’s FREE kids camps starting July 23 thru mid-August
South County Fire will host five free Kids Fire Camps beginning July 23. The camps give children and their caregivers an interactive opportunity to connect with their neighborhood firefighters while learning important safety skills. Each camp lasts one to two hours and will be held at locations throughout South County Fire’s service area. Community members […]
Appeals Court Allows USPS to Proceed with Trump’s Mail-in Ballot Rule in Half of the Country
WASHINGTON, D.C.—A federal appeals court in D.C. on Friday, July 17, cleared the way for the U.S. Postal Service to move forward with a proposed rule requiring states to submit voter lists and use serialized barcodes on mail ballots for federal elections, at least temporarily lifting a lower court block tied to a 2021 NAACP […]
Washington voters begin casting 2026 primary election ballots
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Voting is underway in Washington’s August 4 primary. Across the state, voters are winnowing the field — in some races, a large field — of candidates for seats in the Legislature and Congress and on the state Supreme Court. A handful of incumbents face challengers from their own party, adding spice to an […]
WA delegation jets off to UK airshow, hoping new deals will take flight
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—As the state wrestles with a cash-squeezed budget, Washington’s Department of Commerce is deploying staff and a state lawmaker to one of the world’s biggest air shows in hopes it will deliver rewards for the local aerospace industry. A 55-person delegation of aerospace suppliers, business leaders and workforce development officials will attend the Farnborough International […]
Washington Residential Rent Increase Capped at 10% for 2027
OLYMPIA—Annual rent increase limit for residential properties is capped at 10% starting January 1, 2027, the Washington State Department of Commerce published Wednesday. HB 1217 of the 2025 legislative session directed Commerce to calculate and publish an annual maximum allowable rent increase for residential properties. This bill limited rent and fee increases, requiring notice of […]
Solo sailor attempts first-ever nonstop circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean, all in the name of climate research
GREENLAND— More than two weeks into a journey no one has ever completed, American Guinness World Record-holding sailor Matt Rutherford is navigating some of the world’s most unforgiving waters to become the first person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the Arctic Ocean. The more than 10,000-mile voyage—made possible only as shrinking Arctic sea […]
