Associated Press
Austrian man pleads not guilty to lying for US passport
KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) - An Austrian man accused of claiming to be a U.S. citizen to obtain a passport has pleaded not guilty in federal court in Washington state.
The Tri-City Herald reports Michael Peter Spitzauer was indicted Tuesday on three federal charges, including a count of identity theft and using false information to apply for a U...
Head of Washington employment agency resigns after workplace report
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The head of Washington state's Employment Security Department has resigned following an outside investigation found several employees complained about him putting his arms around them or looking at their bodies in ways that made them uncomfortable...
Yakima County: Court ruling supports case against pot businesses
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - County authorities in Washington state have taken legal action to shut down a local marijuana store and a pot grower-producer.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reports Yakima County commissioners say a recent state appeals court ruling in favor of a ban on pot stores in Clark County supports their ban on pot businesses in unincorporated areas...
Washington coroner apologizes for racist Facebook post
PASCO, Wash. (AP) - A rural county coroner in eastern Washington state has apologized, saying he mistakenly posted a white supremacy meme and will no longer share on Facebook.
The Tri-City Herald reports that Franklin County coroner Dan Blasdel says he's not racist...
Washington governor set to sign order on orca protections
SEATTLE (AP) - Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is set to establish an executive order calling for state actions to protect the unique population of endangered orcas that spend time in Puget Sound.
The fish-eating whales have struggled due to lack of food, pollution and noise and disturbances from vessels...
Body of missing snowshoer found on Mount Rainier
SEATTLE (AP) - The body of a missing snowshoer has been recovered at Mount Rainier National Park.
Mount Rainier National Park officials say the man's body was located Tuesday morning at about the 4,500-foot level in the Nisqually drainage below Paradise...
Navy considers expanding state park use for training
SEATTLE (AP) - The Navy is considering using more Washington state parks along the coastline for training its special operations forces.
The Seattle Times reports a draft proposal calls for the possible use of 29 parks in the state for stealth training exercises for Navy SEALs...
Legislature fails to pass bill to let patrol destroy guns
SEATTLE (AP) - The Washington Legislature ended this year's session without passing a bill that would have allowed the State Patrol to destroy firearms confiscated during criminal investigations.
Under current law, the agency must auction or trade crime guns with a firearms dealer, who sells them to the public...
Legislature sued over how it changed police deadly force law
SEATTLE (AP) - Frequent initiative sponsor Tim Eyman is suing Washington state over the constitutionally suspect way lawmakers voted to make it easier to prosecute police for negligent shootings.
Eyman filed the lawsuit Monday in Thurston County Superior Court, four days after lawmakers approved and Gov...
Girl Scouts victims of crimes during cookie sale season
SEATTLE (AP) - Several Washington Girl Scouts troops have been targets of crime during this cookie sale season including an attempted armed robbery.
Tacoma police spokeswoman Loretta Cool says two men with a gun tried to rob Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of a Tacoma store on Saturday evening...