A federal judge in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order Friday blocking President Donald Trump's executive order halting federal funding of gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Federal Judge Lauren King blocked Trump's order on Friday morning as Washington Attorney General Nick Brown led a round of applause in the courtroom. Brown filed a multi-state federal lawsuit on Feb. 7 that challenged Trump's decision, which threatened to cut federal funding to medical institutions providing gender-affirming care to those under 19. Friday's temporary restraining order ruling applies to the "plaintiff states" of Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota, according to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Brown described President Trump's executive order as "clearly illegal and unusually cruel," stating it also directs unconstitutional criminal enforcement against medical professionals and patients involved in such care. #komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington Full story on KOMOnews.com
Queen Anne Café closes after 33 years, marking the end of an era for community favorite
The Queen Anne Café, a cherished local establishment, has permanently closed its doors after 33 years of serving the community.
The closure follows the retirement announcement of its owner, marking the end of an era for the beloved café and its loyal patrons.
Elizabeth Hernandez, who worked at the café for five years, expressed her fond memories of the place and the people she met there.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #queenanne #closure #community #smallbusiness #breakfast #restaurant
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Washington state leaders tell Trump to 'follow the damn law' on federal funding
Gov. Bob Ferguson and other state leaders held a press conference Thursday detailing the effects executive orders from President Donald Trump are having on Washington state.
"Follow the damn law, its not that hard," said Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown as stood before reporters on Thursday, as part of an hour-long press conference at the State Capitol in Olympia.
It was the first time as sitting governor Ferguson took questions from reporters about the early impact of Trump's executive orders and that $162 million in federal funding was frozen on Thursday, seemingly defiant of a court order earlier in the week.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #ferguson #trump #presidenttrump #donaldtrump #executiveorders #federalfunding #pressconference #update #trans #transgender #lgbt #executiveorders #govferguson
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Witnesses recount assault on young referees at Kraken Iceplex as charges are filed
The parent of one of the two young referees assaulted during a youth hockey game at the Kraken Community Iceplex says their son is just 12 years old, not 13 as initially reported.
KOMO News has reached out to the Seattle City Attorney’s office to ask if that could impact the charges against the man accused in the assault. Forty-two-year-old Uriel Cortes of Renton is now charged with two counts of assault in the fourth degree, a gross misdemeanor. The maximum penalty for a gross misdemeanor is up to 364 days in jail and up to a $5,000 fine.
The city attorney's office said it will review the case and let us know if there is any impact. And, for the first time, we are hearing from an assistant coach and another witness who were feet away when the boys were attacked.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #kraken #hockey #seattlekraken
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Washington expedites 3-day sex designation change on birth certificates for adults, minors
The Washington State Department of Health has announced a significant reduction in the processing time for adults and minors who request sex designation change requests on their birth certificates.
People born in Washington state can now expect their requests to be processed within three business days, a substantial speed-up from the previous wait time of up to 10 months.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #trans #lgbtq #lgbt #sexdesignation #transrights #gender #genderaffirmingcare #doh #birthcirtificates #birth #sexatbirth #birthsex #transgender #freedom #trump #donaldtrump #presidenttrump #dmv
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'I though I was dead': Humpback whale swallows kayaker whole, spits him out unharmed
A frightening moment was caught on camera when a humpback whale in Chile swallowed a kayaker as his father watched in horror -- before the animal decided to spit him out.
Video shows Adrián Simancas kayaking in Bahía El Águila near the San Isidro Lighthouse in the Strait of Magellan last Saturday, according to reports.
Simancas is seen paddling in the water, while his dad, Dell, looks on and records him.
That's when the whale breaches the water -- seemingly out of nowhere -- and gulps up Simancas.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #whale #humpback #humpbackwhale #jonah #jonahandthewhale #chile #patagonia
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Seattle Police responded to a report of an "irate parent" accused of pushing two teen hockey referees so hard they were knocked onto the ice during a youth hockey game Sunday at the Kraken Community Iceplex in Northgate.
According to the police report, witnesses described a parent walking onto the ice during a game last Sunday morning during a pause in play. The teen referees are 13 and 14 years old, according to the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association.
The Association's President Jody Carpenter posted about the incident with a video showing the alleged assault on their Instagram page Sunday.
Carpenter said the video which he described as "difficult to watch" was being shared on their Instagram account to confront the seriousness of what happened. "This serves as a stark reminder of why maintaining a safe and respectful environment in our sport is so essential...there is no place for in our sport for this egregious and outrageous behavior that occurred during a 12U Rec game here in Washington, where a parent went on the ice and physically assaulted two young officials," he said.
An officer who interviewed both teens said they were treated by Seattle Fire Department medics. One of the teens complained of pain in his right hip and rear neck. The other reported an injury to his right elbow.
For full story, head to KOMOnews.com
#KOMO4 #KOMONews
A massive fire that erupted at an apartment building under construction in Ballard quickly spread to a neighboring eight-unit townhouse, leaving several residents displaced.
The fire in the 900 block of NW 54th St was reported on social media around 6:30 a.m. Seattle Fire Department officials reported that more than 100 firefighters responded to the blaze. The apartment building under construction was completely destroyed, and the intense heat melted the windows of the townhouse.
David Cuerpo, a public information officer with the Seattle Fire Department, said, "The townhome was severely damaged in this fire, the second and third floors have been burned through."
Philip Sudore, one of the displaced residents, described the harrowing moment he realized the severity of the situation. "I ran to the rooftop and opened the door and saw all of the fire and felt the heat," Sudore said. "That's immediately when I said, 'Oh, we're on fire, this is real, it's time to get out and grab the stuff, whatever you can, and get out as fast as you can.'"
Sudore and his girlfriend, Mia Loomba, evacuated with only the clothes on their backs and a few cherished pictures.
For full story, head to KOMOnews.com
#KOMO4 #KOMONews #ResidentialFire #Ballard
Three I-5 graffiti taggers were arrested after shooting at a vehicle driving on an off-ramp late Friday night.
Washington State Patrol received a 911 call just after 11 p.m. with reports that a person was shot at by three suspects tagging on the off-ramp from NB I-5 to Dearborn.
Troopers and Seattle police officers responded and took the three suspects into custody. All three were booked into the King County Jail.
Two handguns and a bucket containing spray paint cans were found through the arrests and during a search of the area.
Full story on KOMOnews.com
#KOMO4 #KOMONews #Graffiti #Tagging #Shooting
Four people were killed and seven others were injured in a crash between a car and a commercial tour bus on State Route 28 over the weekend, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The site of the crash, which happened around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, was about a 15-minute drive southeast on Highway 28 from Wenatchee.
The WSP said a westbound car on Highway 28 tried to pass in the eastbound lane and struck the oncoming bus.
The car also struck the car it was trying to pass after hitting the bus, while the bus ended up in a ditch off the roadway.
Full story on KOMOnews.com
#KOMO4 #Washington #DouglasCounty #FatalCrash
Throwbacks: OTD in 2000: Mariners trade Griffey Jr. to Reds
2️⃣5️⃣ years ago today, the Seattle Mariners traded Ken Griffey Jr. to the Cincinnati Reds in one of the most shocking moves in franchise history.
Throwbacks Show: t.co/1K0wQQnzhd
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