Man arrested after shattering windows at WA Capitol, authorities say
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Authorities arrested a man early Thursday after he allegedly broke several windows of the Washington state Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to break in. Using rocks and his fists, the man, described as heavily intoxicated, attempted to knock out windows on the first floor of the west side of the Legislative Building. But […]
Head-on collision on US-2 near Monroe kills three, injures one
MONROE—Head-on collision early Saturday morning approximately two-and-a-half miles east of Monroe on US-2 leaves three dead and one injured, WSP reports. Shortly after midnight on April 18, a black 2015 Cadillac SRX driven by Jose Herandez-Ibanez, 26 of Tacoma, heading westbound on US-2 collided head-on with a black 2004 Dodge Dakota, heading eastbound driven by MaryAnne […]
COMMENTARY: Fixing the hidden clogs in our justice system
When we talk about public safety in Washington, the conversation rightly begins with the men and women in blue. The crisis in recruitment and retention of law-enforcement officers remains a paramount concern; we cannot have safety without a proactive presence on our streets. However, a mission isn’t completed just because the first phase is successful. […]
WA Senate approves new bill lowering drunk driving limit to 0.05% BAC
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Washington took a major stride Wednesday toward slashing the state’s legal limit for driving drunk. A divided state Senate voted 26-23 to approve legislation to reduce the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration for drivers from 0.08% to 0.05%. If it makes it through the House and into law, Washington would join Utah with the toughest […]
Ferguson may have broken ethics laws allowing ex-adviser to fly on state plane
TUMWATER [JERRY CORNFIELD]—Washington Governor Bob Ferguson likely violated state ethics laws by allowing his former top adviser, Mike Webb, to travel with him on a state plane to the Tri-Cities last summer, the state Executive Ethics Board ruled Friday, January 9, 2026 (Case No. 2025-061). In a unanimous vote, the board concluded there was “reasonable […]
WSP graduates 58 new troopers from the 121st Basic Training
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Patrol (WSP) added 58 newly commissioned troopers to its ranks on Wednesday, January 7, during the 121st Trooper Basic Training (TBTC) and 5th Trooper Lateral Training Class (TLTC) graduation ceremony held at the state Capitol Rotunda. For the 121st TBTC, the graduation marks the completion of more than 1,400 hours of rigorous […]
Police fatally shoot Oak Harbor man after high-speed chase following kidnapping, domestic assault
EVERETT—A 38-year-old Oak Harbor man was shot and killed by police early Friday, January 2, 2026, following a high-speed pursuit from Skagit County that began with a domestic dispute in Island County and ended in Snohomish County, authorities said. No officers were injured. At approximately 4:48 am, Skagit County dispatch advised deputies were in pursuit […]
WSP Trooper assaulted, stolen patrol vehicle leads to high-speed I-5 chase
LYNNWOOD—A high-speed chase on I-5 of a stolen Washington State Patrol (WSP) vehicle on Christmas Day ended in Mountlake Terrace with the arrest of a male suspect. Video footage obtained by TMZ show a man casually walking across I-5 near Northgate Way obstructing traffic at approximately 12 p.m. on December 25. Shortly after a WSP […]
WSP Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting Killed in Line of Duty
TACOMA—The Washington State Patrol (WSP) confirms the tragic loss of Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting #720, who was killed Friday evening after being struck by a vehicle in Tacoma. “My heartfelt condolences go out to Timothy, Tara’s extended family, her friends, her academy classmates, to District 1 Captain Gundermann, and his entire team,” said WSP Chief John […]
Brother of Lynnwood Councilwoman faces theft charge in alleged porch piracy amid conflict-of-interest concerns
LYNNWOOD—In the early hours of August 14, 2025, Joshua De La Cruz, the 37-year-old brother of Lynnwood lawmaker City Councilwoman Derica Escamilla, was arrested on a charge of third-degree theft following an alleged incident involving stolen packages and mail from a residential porch. The case, handled by the Lynnwood Police Department, has raised questions about […]
