The Seattle Focal

The family of Leon Davis has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit after he suffered cardiac arrest while Federal Way officers held him on a hospital floor. Davis was 27.

With Election Day a week away, Washington’s secretary of state says voters should use official drop boxes rather than mail ballots because USPS postmarks may be delayed. The state’s attorney general says recent federal efforts to restrict mail voting have been defeated in court and Washington’s voti

Washington agriculture officials confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a Benton County dairy herd. Officials warned people not to drink raw milk.

A multi-vehicle crash closed US 2 near Monroe early Tuesday, with a vehicle rollover and at least one person trapped. At least two people were taken to hospitals; their injuries were not immediately known.

Seattle Public Schools is weighing school mergers as enrollment declines and budget pressures continue, but has not released a full list of campuses that could be affected. Superintendent Ben Shuldiner plans months of community discussions before asking the School Board to decide in late February or

Microsoft offered voluntary buyout packages Monday to about 60,000 employees, nearly a quarter of its workforce. The company expects only a fraction of those offered packages to accept and depart.

A man was killed and another was wounded in a shooting Monday night in an apartment parking lot on 4th Avenue West. Snohomish County deputies were searching for the shooter as major-crimes detectives investigated.

The Justice Department is asking Washington election officials to set aside ballots tied to more than 400 people it alleges are noncitizens improperly registered to vote. The request came days before the midterm election, and the allegations have not been established in the information provided.

Northshore’s enrollment advisory committee has presented school-reorganization scenarios that include closing four elementary schools and redrawing boundaries. Families told the school board the proposals could disrupt students and communities; a final decision is expected in March 2028.

Puget Sound Energy’s proposed increases could add about $600 a year to a typical customer’s bill by 2029. The utility says costs are rising, while consumer advocates question its request to increase the return paid to shareholders.

Graeme Dobbeck’s relatives remember him as a curious, gentle man who looked out for his co-workers. A former co-worker accused of killing him was arrested in Chicago and is expected to face prosecution in King County.

El Centro de la Raza and partner groups used two weekends of events at El Centro Skate Rink to encourage young people to vote. In Washington, about 28% of residents ages 18 to 24 voted in the 2022 general election, compared with 78% of residents 65 and older.

Microsoft is offering a time-limited exit program to eligible employees at participating organizations in the U.S., Canada, India and the U.K. The company has not publicly detailed the financial terms; eligible workers will receive individual offer information by email.

Federal prosecutors say their investigation identified 405 people who were not U.S. citizens when they registered and voted, and have asked Washington to set aside related ballots. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs disputes the findings, saying the federal screening system is flawed and may include cit

The state’s suicide rate increased to 15.5 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2025, up from 14.3 the year before. The largest rise by age group was among adults 65 and older, while youth, rural residents and several racial and ethnic groups also saw increases.

Ferry service serving Steilacoom, Anderson Island and Ketron Island remained suspended Monday, with the county saying repairs depend on parts awaiting federal processing. Officials had no estimate for when service would resume and were looking at alternative transportation options.

A voicemail released through a public-records request shows Alison Holcomb asking a Seattle police spokesperson to delay a briefing after the Bite of Seattle shooting until Mayor Katie Wilson arrived. The recording adds a new detail to conflicting accounts about whether city officials sought to post

A memorial grew over the weekend at the Federal Way gas station where Deejay Tuiasosopo was killed after a vehicle struck him on a sidewalk. Police arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of DUI and vehicular homicide.

Seattle councilmembers are considering changes to Mayor Katie Wilson’s $37 million proposal for shelter and homelessness services as the city’s $9.1 billion budget heads toward a final vote next month. Proposed amendments also include a veterans shelter in West Seattle and funding for a gun-violence

The Trump administration asked Washington to set aside ballots from more than 400 people it suspects registered to vote without citizenship, pending eligibility checks. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said his office is reviewing the request and will respond only to demands that follow due process.

Families of two workers killed in the May implosion at Nippon Dynawave Packaging are suing the company, alleging inspections warned that a chemical tank was at risk of failure. A federal safety investigation found the tank unfit for continued service about 10 months before it released roughly 900,00

An 82-year-old man was assaulted and his 2001 Toyota Highlander stolen during a test drive on Aldrich Road Thursday, authorities said. Investigators are asking residents to watch for the Highlander and a dark Honda CR-V, but not to approach either vehicle or its occupants.

Seattle Public Schools is starting a months-long discussion that could lead to school mergers, as enrollment drops below 50,000 and district leaders cite disparities in buildings, staffing and student programs. No final proposal has been made, and families and staff are scheduled to weigh in before

Microsoft is offering eligible employees in participating teams in the United States, Canada, India and the United Kingdom a supported option to leave the company. The offer could reach about 60,000 workers, according to an employee memo, but its financial terms were not detailed in the announcement

Seattle’s proposed transit measure would raise an estimated $138 million a year for bus service and related programs, adding about $58 annually in sales taxes for a median two-person household. Supporters say it would improve access and service; critics question the tax burden and whether more spend

A November ballot measure would let Kitsap County’s public utility district study and potentially establish electric service, a change Puget Sound Energy is spending heavily to stop. Supporters say rising bills make the question worth examining, while PSE disputes that a public utility would deliver

Paige Adamson, a 61-year-old Canadian citizen and U.S. green card holder, died Oct. 18 from blood loss after fracturing her femur in a fall. Her lawyer says she feared crossing the border to seek medical care because she had been scheduled for a deportation hearing over allegations she registered to

A 16-year-old boy died Friday night after a vehicle struck him on a Federal Way sidewalk following a two-car collision. Police arrested a 29-year-old driver on suspicion of vehicular homicide and suspected driving under the influence.

A 15-year-old was arrested after a reported gun threat prompted Rochester High School to cancel its senior-night game Friday. The sheriff’s office said the teen was initially released after juvenile detention declined booking, then returned to custody after the sheriff intervened.

The Kraken placed Jared McCann on injured reserve Sunday, saying the forward is expected to miss about 10 weeks with a lower-body injury. McCann holds Seattle’s franchise records for goals and points.

Seattle snapped a two-game skid with a 20-3 win over Kansas City at Lumen Field on Oct. 25, handing the previously undefeated Chiefs their first loss. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown as the Seahawks defense kept Kansas City out of the red zone.

Family and friends gathered at a Commerce Street parking garage Oct. 25 to remember Josiah Midgyett, who was killed there a week earlier. Three adults have been arraigned on first-degree murder charges, and a juvenile suspect was also arrested.

A woman biking in North Seattle was critically injured in a collision with a vehicle Sunday and taken to Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Fire Department said.

A woman was treated at a hospital after a bear injured her while she was taking out the trash near Index Galena Road. Washington wildlife officials are searching for the mother bear and cub and assessing what to do next.

A 15-year-old suspected in a credible threat of gun violence was briefly released after juvenile services declined to book him on a misdemeanor. Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said the office failed to escalate the matter; the Rochester-Centralia football game is scheduled to resume Monday wi

A vehicle collision Friday night in Federal Way killed a 16-year-old boy who was standing on a sidewalk. Police arrested a man after the crash.

A motor home struck vehicles used by a Washington State Patrol trooper and an SDOT employee working to block the SR 520 exit Sunday morning. The trooper and a motor-home passenger were taken to the hospital as three lanes and the exit were closed during the investigation.

Two westbound lanes on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Jackson Avenue on-ramp are scheduled to close from Oct. 24 through Nov. 8 for expansion-joint repairs. WSDOT warns of afternoon delays of an hour or more between Tacoma and Gig Harbor.

More than 80 shell casings were recovered after gunfire near North 107th Street and Stone Way North on Saturday morning. A resident said bullets entered her apartment and one came close to hitting her; no injuries were reported.

Two Starbucks shops at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will close after their concession contracts went to other operators. A state filing signals layoffs, but its records conflict sharply on how many workers at one location are affected.

A two-car crash near 112th Avenue SE and SE 316th Place in Auburn’s Lea Hill area killed one person and injured four others Friday night. Police are investigating whether impairment contributed to the collision.

A 16-year-old boy died Friday night after a two-car collision near Federal Way High School sent one vehicle onto a sidewalk. Police arrested a 29-year-old driver on suspicion of vehicular homicide and say they suspect impairment; the investigation continues.

Two Thurston County matchups were called off Friday after separate threats. A 14-year-old is in custody in connection with one threat, while a second suspect remains missing, authorities said.

A 5-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries and a 16-year-old was seriously hurt when their e-scooter collided with a car south of Everett. Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives are investigating the Friday afternoon crash.

A person was grazed by a bullet and nearby homes and vehicles were hit during a Saturday morning shooting near North 107th Street and Stone Way North. Seattle police say no suspect is in custody and detectives are investigating.

Mayor Cassie Franklin’s proposed budget for next year keeps funding for 220 police officer positions and maintains city services, while raising the possibility of a new sales tax to support public safety. The plan totals nearly $766 million, including $204 million for general government.

Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission has stopped enforcing limits on large campaign contributions in the final 21 days before the Nov. 3 election, citing questions raised by federal courts. The change comes as voters consider three statewide initiatives and closely watched state Supreme Court r

A Starbucks in Terminal A at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is scheduled to close after its operating contract expires. The company expects about 13 employees to lose their jobs between Dec. 31 and Jan. 13, though union members may have bumping rights.

Tacoma is considering ending its mental health crisis response team, which has handled more than 2,600 calls since 2023, to help close a projected $40 million general-fund shortfall. The team has operated with only five of its nine funded positions filled, while advocates say it provides a critical

Gov. Bob Ferguson has offered National Guard personnel to monitor ballot drop boxes ahead of the election, following a recent white-powder incident and the 2024 arson attacks. The observers would be unarmed and out of uniform, but one voter cautioned that a military presence could still make some pe