Stephen's News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

LOCAL

       The 4^th and final suspect is now in custody in a series of strong-arm robberies in several Seattle neighborhoods.  The last 2 suspects turned themselves in.  A number of people received minor injuries in those robberies.

    2 people are in custody in the shooting death of a 19-year-old yesterday at the Federal Way Transit Center.  The transit center has been the scene of numerous violent incidents and now 2 deaths since it opened only a few years ago.

     About 100 more Puget Sound-area Boeing workers are getting 60-day layoff warning notices today as the company continues to trim its local work force.  Boeing plans to reduce its workforce by 6%, or about 10,000 jobs, by the end of the year. 

       Washington state tax revenues are still sliding, and the Governor and Legislature may have to cut another $1 billion from state spending. 

      An Everett event sponsored by ACORN was postponed at the last minute yesterday.  Organizers said the report that ACORN had been helping some criminals get government benefits was generating too much unfavorable publicity. 

7 sexually violent predators were found with child porn while receiving treatment at the Special Commitment center on McNeil Island.  It’s believed the thousands of images came to them through the mail. 

   Mike McGinn is running for mayor and he wants light-rail on the city's West Side.  McGinn promised to seek a public vote on the new rail line by 2011 if he is elected Seattle’s mayor. 

2 State troopers who killed 3 nuisance seagulls at the downtown Seattle ferry terminal will not be charged. The King County prosecutor's office says it was not animal cruelty or illegal hunting.

     Police are trying to sort out what happened at a shooting early this morning at a home in Kent.  The men involved have different stories, and they 2 were apparently drunk.

     A criminally insane killer is on the loose and likely on his way to his parents' house in Sunnyside.  The 47-year-old escaped while on a day trip to the Spokane County Interstate Fair.  He has been at Eastern State Hospital since being arrested for homicide in 1987.

    Might be tough to get parking in downtown Seattle today.  It is global parking day…and some spots are going to be turned into mini-parks.  It’s all to draw attention to how much space we give our cars.

KICKERS

      Of all living former presidents, Americans say Jimmy Carter is their favorite.  The survey was based on what they’ve done since leaving the White House.  Bill Clinton was a close 2^nd.  George Bush, Sr. was 3^rd, and George W. Bush was 4^th.

SPORTS

It took 14 innings but the M’s beat the White Sox yesterday 4-3.

Game 2 of the Storms best-of-3 playoff series with LA is tonight in Seattle.  The Sparks are up 1-0.

Football this weekend…The Huskies play 3^rd ranked USC in Seattle tomorrow, the Cougars play Southern Methodist…and the Seahawks play at San Francisco Sunday.

An update on the Seattle mayors race.  2/3 of the ballots of been counted and T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan is now in the lead with 26.7%, environmental activist Mike McGinn has 26.5%, and incumbent mayor Greg Nickels has 25.2%.

A 74-year-old merchant seaman from Graham is under house arrest in the Middle East.  He is accused of swearing at a customs officer in Dubai.  The man’s son said his father refused to apologize. Senator Maria Cantwell's office is helping with the situation.

Plastics industry officials say Seattle voters' rejection of a 20-cent fee on plastic and paper bags represents a sound defeat for other efforts in US cities to limit the use of the throw-away bags. Seattle’s referendum was easily defeated in Tuesday's primary.

The Puget Sound area has had another freeway baby.  Alexis and Bryan McKinnon gave birth to baby Lachlan on Highway 16 at Port Orchard’s Mullinex Road exit. 

A Seattle woman has sued magician David Copperfield.  The former Miss Washington USA contestant says he sexually assaulted and threatened her 2 years ago while she was a guest on his private island in the Bahamas.  Copperfield's lawyers have denied the allegation.

There is a mystery man in Seattle.  He wandered out of Discovery Park 3 weeks ago not knowing who he is or how he got there.  He apparently has amnesia…and doctors at Swedish hospital don’t think he is faking.  He is in his 50s and is fluent in English, French & German.

NATIONAL

The "Cash for Clunkers" program may end by early September.  The government wants to make sure dealers don't keep promising the $4,500 rebates after the money runs out.  The program has already proven popular far beyond expectations. 

Credit card holders get some new protections starting today.  A new law forces banks to give clients at least 21 calendar days to pay monthly bills without fear of late fees.  Consumers must also be told at least 45 days in advance of any changes.

KICKERS

The average American can expect to live to be 77.9-years-old.  That's according to a new report from the CDC.  The agency says both men and women are seeing more advanced ages but women still live, on average, more than 5 years longer than men. 

SPORTS

The Mariners won in Detroit yesterday 3-1.