Oromia Freedom Media

01/12/2025

SNOHOMISH, Wash. — A driver was hospitalized Friday night after crashing into a tree and becoming trapped in their vehicle in Snohomish.

The incident occurred around 10:50 p.m. on South Machias Road. Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue responded to the scene and found the driver trapped under the dashboard. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, which arrived earlier, used fire extinguishers to put out a fire in the car.

Fire crews worked for about 20 minutes, using the jaws of life to free the driver. The individual was then transported to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett with serious injuries.

Authorities confirmed that excessive speed contributed to the severity of the crash.

01/11/2025

A series of wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area have killed at least 11 people and destroyed over 12,000 structures. Dry conditions and strong winds fueled at least five fires, causing severe damage in densely populated areas. The Palisades Fire has burned more than 20,000 acres and is 8% contained, while the Eaton Fire has burned nearly 14,000 acres and is 3% contained. Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an investigation into the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants. Some victims died while trying to protect their homes or because they couldn’t evacuate due to disabilities.

01/07/2025

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation after nearly a decade in office. He cited mounting political and public pressure as the reason for his decision. Trudeau faced increasing discontent within his party and from the public, leading to his decision to step down. Trudeau will remain in office until a new leader is chosen. The Liberal Party will undergo a leadership race to select his successor. Parliament has been prorogued until March 24 to allow time for the leadership transition. Trudeau’s resignation comes at a critical time for Canada, with upcoming trade negotiations and potential tariff threats from the United States. Despite his resignation, Trudeau will continue to lead Canada during the early months of Donald Trump’s presidency.

01/06/2025

OFM;Oduu Gaddaa Namni siyaasaa buleessi yeroo jalqabaatiif paarlaamaa Itoophiyaa keessatti Afaan Oromootiin dubbatan, Obbo Bulchaa Dammaqsaa, du'aan boqotan.
Obbo Bulchaan waan hedduun yaadatamu.
Hayyuun yeroo jalqabaatiif Paarlaamaa Itoophiyaa keessatti Afaan Oromootiin dubbachuun yaadataman Mattii Obbo Bulchaatiif jajjabiina ha keenu.

01/04/2025

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, January 4: A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Ethiopia on Friday, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), as reported by the Jerusalem Post. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles).

Earlier in the day, Anadolu Ajansi reported a volcanic eruption at Mount Dofan, located in central Ethiopia. This region has recently experienced a series of minor tremors, raising concerns about a potential major disaster, particularly in the Awash Fentale area, situated approximately 230 kilometers (142 miles) from Addis Ababa.

Over the past few weeks, more than a dozen minor earthquakes have been recorded in the region, prompting alarm among residents. Local media reports indicate that the tremors are growing in intensity, with the latest one being felt in Addis Ababa overnight.

Regional Administrator Abdu Ali stated that authorities are taking steps to prevent casualties by relocating vulnerable residents to safer areas, as reported by the state-owned Fana Broadcasting Corporation. Efforts are underway to mitigate risks as the tremors persist and escalate.

01/04/2025

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Ethiopia on Friday, with its epicenter at a depth of 10 km. Earlier that day, a volcanic eruption occurred at Mount Dofan. The region has experienced frequent minor tremors recently, raising concerns about a potential major disaster, especially in the Awash Fentale area. Authorities are relocating at-risk residents to safer places as the tremors continue and intensify.

01/02/2025

The New Orleans attack on January 1, 2025, was a tragic event that took place on Bourbon Street, a well-known area for its lively nightlife and New Year’s celebrations. The attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a pickup truck into a crowd, causing significant harm before engaging in a shootout with police. Sadly, fifteen people, including the suspect, lost their lives, and at least 35 others were injured. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism, especially since an ISIS flag was found in the truck. The community is deeply affected by this shocking event.

Also the next day A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas early Wednesday, killing one person. The incident is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, but authorities do not believe there is any ongoing danger to the community. The victim was identified as Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a 37-year-old U.S. Army Special Forces intelligence sergeant. Livelsberger, who was on leave from Germany then, rented the vehicle. Investigators found his military ID, passport, credit cards, and fi****ms in the car, and it was determined that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound before the explosion.

Both of the vehicles were rented from the same app, raising suspicions that another terrorist group was coming. But, officials say these two incidents have no relationship.

01/01/2025

Oromia Freedom Media is celebrating its 4 year anniversary this 2025. OFM will continue to stand for what's right. Oromia Freedom Media hopes to achieve much more in the future and we count on our viewers to sustain us for the many years to come. Thank you to our supporters. We look forward to expanding and achieving more as we celebrate this fourth year of hard work. Thanks to our staff who have been the backbone of keeping OFM on its feet and the strength of our community we can continue to do what's best for our Seattle community and more.

Happy Four-Year Anniversary Oromia Freedom Media!

01/01/2025

Seattle's celebration on New Year.
Happy New year

Editor's note: This livestream will begin Dec. 31 at 10:45 p.m.The year's Alaska Airlines New Year's at the Needle fireworks and drone show will be an even b...

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!!

As we enter 2025, Oromia Freedom Media would like to thank it's supporters for all we have accomplished thus far.

OFM will continue to be a voice for the voiceless for East Africans in Seattle and people around the world. We look forward to 2025 and we ask for your long standing support and viewership. The core values of Oromia Freedom Media is community and honesty which we put above all else. As we enter 2025 OFM will continue to make those values the center of our community and broadcast.

12/31/2024

SEATTLE — A 22-year-old man was stabbed in an unprovoked attack Sunday evening near the intersection of 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, an area often linked to drug activity and violent crime, according to police.

The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. Witnesses told police that a woman approached the victim, swung at him, and stabbed him in the lower back before walking away heading south.

Officers responded to the scene, recovered a knife, and searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious but stable condition.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic woman wearing a black shirt and carrying a brown bag. The SPD’s Homicide/Assault Unit is investigating the circumstances of the attack.

12/29/2024

A mosque in Kent experienced vandalism early Saturday morning when a man threw two rocks at the building, shattering a window around 12:15 a.m. Security footage captured the incident, and police are investigating.

The damage goes beyond the broken glass, according to a member of the mosque, who expressed deep sadness over the event. "It’s the shattered hearts that are hard to recover from," he said.

He noted relief that the vandalism occurred before morning prayers, sparing members from witnessing the damage. However, what unsettled him most was the intensity displayed in the act, which he believes could indicate a hate crime. "The passion with which the rocks were thrown... it’s not about replacing a window—it’s about the violation of a place of worship that serves children, elders, and the community," he said.

This is not the first time the mosque has faced such challenges. In 2017, Friday prayers were interrupted by protesters. This latest incident, with its sense of intimidation, has left the community shaken.

Repairs were expected to be completed before children arrived for Sunday school, and the community hopes for accountability and reconciliation. "The essence of this season and our faith is forgiveness. We want this individual to acknowledge their actions and talk to us," the mosque member shared.

12/28/2024

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday expressed his condolences to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over a "tragic incident" involving the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan, which claimed the lives of 38 people. However, Putin stopped short of accepting Moscow’s responsibility for the event.

The crash has drawn increasing scrutiny, with allegations surfacing that the plane may have been accidentally shot down by Russian air defenses attempting to counter a Ukrainian drone strike near Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechen Republic.

A Kremlin statement issued on Saturday explained that air defense systems were active near Grozny airport as the airliner made "repeated" attempts to land there on Wednesday. While the statement did not directly confirm that the aircraft was struck by these defenses, it acknowledged the incident took place in Russian airspace. Putin extended his apologies to Aliyev for the tragedy.

12/27/2024

RENTON, Wash. — A two-alarm fire caused extensive damage to two homes in the Fairwood neighborhood on Friday morning.

Fire crews from the Renton Regional Fire Authority and Puget Sound Fire responded to the blaze in the 17000 block of 159th Pl. SE. The fire started in one home and quickly spread to the roof of the neighboring property. Firefighters worked for about an hour to extinguish the flames.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Fire officials credited a quick-thinking neighbor for helping one of the families evacuate safely.

"There was a neighbor who went to the house and assisted two people in evacuating safely," said Puget Sound Fire Division Chief Pat Pawlak. "Their actions likely saved lives."

Both homes sustained significant interior damage, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

12/27/2024

PHOENIX (AP) — Authorities are investigating a Christmas evening shooting and stabbing at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix that left three people injured by gunfire and one person stabbed. Police say the incident stemmed from a family dispute.

The shooting occurred around 9:45 p.m. at a restaurant located outside the security checkpoints in Terminal 4. Following the incident, a man and a girl were detained in a nearby airport parking garage. Police have not yet released details on potential charges or clarified whether the group was at the airport to travel or for another reason.

An adult woman and two adult men were shot during the altercation. The woman sustained life-threatening injuries, while the two men are in stable condition and expected to recover. Another man, who suffered at least one stab wound, is also in stable condition, according to authorities.

Police said the individuals involved knew each other, and the altercation escalated into physical violence, culminating in one person using a firearm.

“This appears to have been a family dispute that got out of hand,” Phoenix police Sgt. Mayra Reeson said during a press briefing.

12/25/2024

COVINGTON, Wash. — Two individuals were rescued Monday night after a massive tree toppled onto their car, trapping them inside during strong wind gusts in the Covington area.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. near Cedar Valley Elementary on 194th Ave. when wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph caused the tree to uproot. Initial reports from the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) indicated that a good Samaritan attempted to assist the victims before first responders arrived.

Firefighters from Puget Sound Fire (PSF) utilized a crib box—a temporary framework made of timbers that provides a solid base for supporting objects—to stabilize the tree and relieve pressure on the car. Hydraulic jacks were then used to lift the tree enough to extract the vehicle.

PSF reported that one person was freed quickly, while it took firefighters just over an hour to rescue the second individual. Both victims sustained moderate injuries, received treatment from firefighters at the scene, and were transported to a hospital by ambulance.

12/21/2024

OFM:Oduu/News Muddee 21/2025

OFM;ODUU MUUDDEE 21/2024

12/15/2024

SEATTLE — Two people were hospitalized following a two-car crash early Saturday morning in Seattle.

The accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. near Boren Avenue and East Fir Street. Seattle fire crews arrived to find one of the vehicles overturned.

A 19-year-old woman managed to free herself from the flipped car and was transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition. Firefighters rescued another 19-year-old woman from the same vehicle, and she was also taken to the hospital in stable condition.