Danger to Drivers: Freeway encampments pose complex problem in Washington state
One week after a tense standoff with a homeless man who was seen chucking debris at drivers along I-5 and Boren Avenue in downtown Seattle, questions remain about why the man was able to be there in the first place, and how situations like this can be prevented in the future. MORE: https://bit.ly/3yzjiXw
Seattle man confesses to brutal murder of girlfriend before he assaults UW nurse
***WARNING*** This video contains graphic descriptions of events.
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Disturbing court documents detail the arrest of a 26-year-old man who was charged with first-degree murder and felony assault after a woman was found dead in a flooded townhome.
King County prosecutors charged Andy Chu who told detectives he "may have been responsible for killing her." Documents indicate the victim was Chu's girlfriend who was visiting from Hawaii.
Seattle police were called to Chu's townhome in Lake City's Olympic Hills neighborhood Saturday in the 3000 block of Northeast 133rd Street.
According to charging documents, the woman's body was discovered after neighbors saw water coming from the townhome and called the landlord.
Once police and fire made entry, they found a bathtub full of water and the bathroom sink running. Police said the victim was found on her back with a throat laceration and "an ice pack on her throat and a small block behind her neck, supporting her head."
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Owl freed by family in University Place after being tangled in soccer net
An owl entangled in a soccer net in University Place was saved after some young boys noticed it and called for help.
On Aug. 12, while a group of brothers were playing soccer, they noticed a commotion coming from the base of the goal net. Two of the five boys ran to their parents to get help.
The family called the local wildlife department and was told by officials that they would try and dispatch someone to help. They were told they could attempt to free the owl in the meantime if they felt comfortable enough.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #owl #cuteanimals #animals #owls #owlsoftiktok
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RSTLNE Reveal Day for Wheel of Fortune!
Hey Wheel of Fortune fans!
Today is #RSTLNE Reveal Day!
As many of you know, iconic host Pat Sajak retired from the show at the end of last season.
For the 42nd season of Wheel of Fortune, the iconic letters given during the bonus round take on a new meaning.
The letters stand for..............................
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Ryan Seacrest To Launch New Era of Wheel of Fortune!
The 42nd season of Wheel of Fortune with Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White will premiere on Monday, Sept. 9 on KOMO News!
Federal charges filed for murder, home invasions targeting Asian families in western WA
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle have filed charges against two men accused of targeting Asian families throughout western
Washington in a series of violent home-invasion robberies and a murder in the summer of 2022.
Kevin Thissel, 28, and Christopher Johnson, 23, were part of a crew that broke into homes in the middle of the night and tied up families with zip ties while their homes were ransacked, according to an unsealed indictment filed in U.S. District Court.
The charges allege Thissel and Johnson were involved in the murder of Irah Mercel Sok in Everett on Aug. 19, 2022.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #murder #charges #homeinvasion #westernwashington #violence
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Mount Vernon police name person of interest in deadly Skagit County fire
Mount Vernon police have identified a person of interest in connection to a fatal Skagit County fire that occurred last weekend.
Police identified 49-year-old Jason M. Birman as a person of interest. Authorities believe Birman was at the residence in the time leading up to the deadly fire. They also noted that Birman’s blue 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck with Washington state registration C67636L is also unaccounted for.
Mount Vernon police said Birman is known to frequent both Skagit and Whatcom counties and is an avid four-wheeler.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #skagit #skagitcounty #fire #housefire #arson #crimescene #concrete
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Charges set to be dismissed for protesters who blocked Sea-Tac airport entry in April
The city of SeaTac has agreed to dismiss charges against the so-called "Sea-Tac 46," who are a group of 46 pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked the expressway leading to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for three hours in mid-April.
In short, the defendants who signed the agreement must complete 10 hours of community service or have no criminal violations after three months before the charges could be considered for dismissal.
Some Sea-Tac travelers trying to catch flights left their cars and opted to walk to the terminal in hopes of making their flights. At the time, airport officials said roughly 100 flights were impacted and two dozen were delayed.
Cars and people blocked the roadway — including a group of protesters who used a piping device called a "Sleeping Dragon" to lock their arms together.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #israel #gaza #israelpalestineconflict #israelhamaswar #israelnews #palestine #palestinewillbefree #amyisraelchai #hamas #antisemitism #genocide #stopthegenocide #apartheid #terrorism #hamastunnels #bringthemback #bringthemhome #iran
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2 drivers killed in fiery high-speed car crash in Pierce County
Two drivers are dead after a high-speed crash left both vehicles engulfed in flames on Wednesday.
Just after midnight, Pierce County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to a two-vehicle collision at Canyon Road East and 160th Street. When authorities arrived at the scene both vehicles were completely covered in flames.
Once firefighters were able to extinguish the fires, they found both drivers dead.
Prior to the crash, witnesses said they saw the suspect vehicle trying to race other cars further south on Canyon Road. A 911 caller said the suspect vehicle appeared to be going 130 mph.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #piercecounty #crash #collision #roadcrash
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Doctors, dealers including 'Ketamine Queen' named in Matthew Perry's tragic death scandal
Authorities said five people were arrested in connection to a ketamine overdose that claimed the life of actor Matthew Perry.
The five defendants arrested in, including two medical doctors, were part of a wide-ranging investigation conducted by federal and local law enforcement agencies.
The investigation revealed a broad underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Perry and others, according to Martin Estrada the United States Attorney for the Central District of California.
Authorities provided their findings on Thursday during a news conference in Los Angeles detailing the arrests and charges in the case.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #matthewperry #friends #chandler
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Neglected and starved dogs attack man in Northgate, owner may face cruelty charges
Investigators say a Seattle dog owner may face criminal charges after being attacked by his own dogs.
The incident took place on Friday in the Northgate neighborhood when 911 callers reported hearing a man screaming for help. Witnesses saw the man being attacked by three dogs and bleeding profusely.
The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of multiple dog bites, including to his neck. He told police he was attacked by three of his nine dogs.
Officers were able to capture two of the dogs outside the man's house. A responding Seattle police officer noted in an incident report the dogs appeared to be suffering from "negligence, clear starvation, and abuse."
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #dog #animal #abuse #animalabuse #northgate #animalcruelty
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40 units of affordable housing in Burien to be available at half the market rate next year
Construction crews were busy Tuesday continuing work to build new, affordable homes in Burien.
The Miller’s Creek Community, located on S. 136th Street along Highway 509, already has water, sewer, power, and curbs installed.
The next steps include pouring foundations to create 40 new homes, which Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties told KOMO News will be priced in the low $300,000 to mid $400,000 range, in a neighborhood where the average home price is more than $800,000.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #burien #affordablehousing #habitat #habitatforhumanity #incomeinequality #millerscreek #housing
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'We'll see what happens': Can Starbucks' new CEO revive the struggling coffee giant?
Stop by the famous Starbucks’ Pike Place location, and you’ll find visitors from around the world: Canada, Germany, and so on.
But most of the international coffee fans taking selfies in front of the doorway on Tuesday were unaware of the new shakeup in the company’s leadership and the struggles the company has faced.
In the last year, trouble has been brewing at the Seattle-born and based coffee giant. Before the new CEO announcement, the stock had taken a hit. Revenue has slipped, and locally, calls from employees at certain locations to unionize as they push for better pay and better staffing have not ceased.
And despite community outcry, the company has also closed multiple popular locations in the city, leaving people searching for answers.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #starbucks #coffee #pikeplacemarket #pikeplace #union #safety #ceo #brianniccol #niccol
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Controversial plan to turn Tacoma church into housing for 51 people faces community pushback
Residents in the north end of Tacoma are raising concerns over plans to convert an old church into shared housing for dozens of young adults.
Residents say they’re concerned about increased traffic, noise, parking, and the quality of housing being offered.
The initial plan was to turn a vacant church at 2213 N Warner Street into shared housing for up to 51 people, but neighbors here say this area full of single-family homes just isn’t zoned for a project of this size.
The group behind the project, Amici House, was unavailable for an interview, but Julie Cain with Amici House told KOMO News tenants will have background checks and go through an application process, plus a residential director will be on site.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #affordable #affordablehousing #community #tacoma #church #christianity #housing
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Seattle teens navigate social media's impact with self-imposed limits, parental guidance
In his advisory about youth mental health and social media, the U.S. Surgeon General said 95% of kids aged 13-17 are using social media, and a third of them report being on the sites "almost constantly."
So it felt like a rarity to find two 14-year-old boys and an 11-year-old girl touring Seattle Center who have phones but are not on social media.
Parker Hart said he doesn't worry about missing out. "Yes, a lot of my friends do have it. And a lot of them are like, hey, you should get this and that," he said. "I'm like, no, I'm good."
Parker and his sister Courtney have YouTube channels. But their dad - who works in social media marketing, says that's it.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #socialmedia #tiktok #instagram #mentalhealth #parents #youth #cyberbullying #youtube #snapchat #phone #cellphone
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Lack of police response to repeated break-ins frustrates Seattle business owners
A series of break-ins and shoplifting incidents in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood are leading to mounting frustrations among small business owners, who say they report the crimes but nothing ever seems to come of the investigations.
Surveillance video shows two people approach The Little Store just before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday and hurl a rock against the glass storefront. Gloria Ouyang, the owner, said after the first two break-ins earlier this year she coated the glass with a film that held it together, so no one was able to enter her shop.
That’s not the case at La Pasta just down the block along Queen Anne Ave N. Someone managed to break through the glass and then reached around to unlock the door. The specialty foods store was then ransacked.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #shoplifting #shoplift #queenanne #breakin #crime #robbery #robbed #crime #police #spd #business #smallbusiness #thelittlestore
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Kitsap County prepares for thousands of new sailors homeporting at Bremerton
There’s a new ship headed to homeport at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, the USS Ronald Reagan.
The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is named in honor of the 40th president of the United States.
And more than just one ship, this means a total of 2,500 sailors plus their families come along with her.
The Navy and the Kitsap County community started their preparations for this big change some time ago.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #kitsap #kitsapcounty #ussronaldregan #ronaldregan #navy #ship #sailor #navalbase #military #armedforces #airforce #jblm #army #airforce #coastguard #uscg #marines
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Pierce County businesses plead for help amid crime, safety issues near homeless camp
Businesses near 96th Street S and South Hosmer Street in Pierce County are begging city and county leaders for help as they deal with safety issues, vandalism, and break-ins related to a nearby homeless encampment.
Business owners who spoke with KOMO News said they’ve lost customers and fear for their own safety. They’ve tried contacting local and state officials for help but haven’t seen any change.
Young Martindale has owned Helen's Barber Shop here for seven years but said that after the pandemic the area has become more dangerous with an influx of people using drugs and vandalizing the area with human waste and trash.
Other business owners shared surveillance videos of fires set outside their businesses and break-ins that happen regularly.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #piercecounty #crime #homeless #unhoused #encampment #vandalism #breakins
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USS Ronald Regan arrives in Washington
Welcome to Washington! The USS Ronald Reagan is cruising through Puget Sound, headed to homeport at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton.
https://bit.ly/3AiZxnk
Intense house fire in Skagit County now deemed a crime scene by officials
The Skagit County Coroner’s Office (SCCO) has confirmed it’s investigating the cause and manner of death of three people whose bodies were pulled from fire debris after an intense house fire in Concrete Friday morning.
In an online post, SCCO said it would have to rely on scientific identification to identify the three victims.
The fire burned down to the home’s foundation and collapsed in on itself. On Monday, investigators were on the scene, and everything around the home, including cars appeared to be damaged by the fire. A massive charred debris pile was building outside what was left of the home’s foundation. Multiple investigators worked the property in the 15000 block of State Route 530.
KOMO News was on scene for just a few minutes but was asked to leave the property, which an investigator said is now deemed "a crime scene."
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #skagit #skagitcounty #fire #housefire #arson #crimescene #concrete
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Earth's 13-month record heat streak ends, but global temperatures remain high
Earth's run of record-setting heat has finally ended at 13 months.
According to the European climate agency Copernicus, temperatures in July just missed the record set last year.
The El Nino weather pattern, which normally warms the Pacific Ocean, spurred the heat streak. Now that it's passing, temperatures are cooling just a bit.
Global temperatures average 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit in July, which is 1.2 degrees above the 30-year average. It was not enough to break the previous record.
July 22 and 23rd were the hottest days ever recorded.
#komo #komo4 #komonews #komo4news #seattle #washington #washingtonnews #heat #hot #weather #climatechange #globalwarming #globalclimatechange #fossilfuels #oil #temperature #summer
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