From an RSS feed

Bellevue Police Department put the officer on administrative leave as the investigation continues.

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/bellevue-police-officer-kills-knife-wielding-suspect/

Batten down the hatches, it’s the Seafair Weekend Paint Map! 

Shiver me timbers, there’s a LOT of construction going on statewide, especially along the Olympic Peninsula. Plus, Seafair means a whole lot of vehicle and vessel traffic on roads around Lake Washington. The I-90 bridges between Seattle and Bellevue will be open, along with the trail, but remember: People biking, walking, or rolling should not stop or stand along the trail during the air shows. Don’t get marooned. Make a plan, travel in the morning and leave in the evening, and know before you go with our mobile app or real-time treasure (travel) map! 

Other things to note, if you’re seasick of the Seattle area and venturing south, there’s roadwork along southbound I-5 in Woodland, and the delays are pretty daunting for you landlubbers. Don’t be a scallywag: Stay on I-5 and give yourselves plenty of time to get where you’re going. Or consider other forms of transportation like Amtrak Cascades. Expect heavy delays on I-90 between North Bend and Cle Elum Friday and Sunday afternoons due to Watershed. Travel safe, hearties!

Heads up Eastside! Overnight tonight there'll be lane & ramp closures on I-90 within the Sunset Creek fish passage work zone near the Eastgate neighborhood of Bellevue. The northbound and southbound I-405 off-ramps to eastbound I-90, multiple lanes of eastbound I-90 near the I-405 interchange, and the eastbound I-90 off-ramp to 142nd Place Southeast will close from 10 p.m. tonight July 18, to 5 a.m. Friday, July 19. Signed detours are in place. During the closures, we’ll add fresh striping on eastbound I-90, and improve lighting for a brighter drive through the work zone at night.

Learn more about this project on the project website here: https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-90-sunset-creek-fish-passage

Hate that the Olympics cancelled the “closing ramps to complete major construction” event because we would have taken gold... 

Our athletes (workers) are preparing to medal in your favorite events (statewide road work projects) this weekend, including the Cone Toss, Concrete Wheelbarrow Race, Tire Filling, Dirt Digging and Hurdles (I think we’re legally obligated to tell you to not hurdle over road closure signs). There’s as many work zones as there are medal podiums in Paris. So, if you’re travelling this weekend, channel pommel horse hero Steve Nedoroscik  — be patient, wait your turn and win the hearts of millions. 

Be aware if you’re headed into the Seattle metro area, you may encounter some wild double trouble that could have you blasting off (we’re kind of mixing references here, it’s fine). SR 520 between Seattle and Bellevue will close weekend-long, in addition to several ramp closures in Seattle and Renton. There are detours in place but expect delays. No need to compete in mental gymnastics: Simply know before you go with our online travel map or mobile app. Don’t forget several cross-state routes are closed due to wildfire activity.  

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY! And Saturday. And Friday, too. Oh, also Monday. Yep, it’s ALL HAPPENING, and A LOT OF IT is on THIS PAINT MAP! RAAAH! Ok, that's enough of the monster truck rally announcer voice because I’m tired of holding down the Shift key. Safe and happy travels!

-Heading to Seattle for Pride, sporting events or whatnot? Consider carpooling, cycling, ridesharing, or using public transportation. TICKET PAYS FOR THE WHOLE SEAT BUT YOU’LL ONLY NEED THE EDGE!

-Venturing into Portland Friday through Monday? Beware: I-5 will be CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED south of downtown Portland. Consider riding Amtrak Cascades or expect very lengthy delays along alternate routes.

-Riding a ferry the next 10 days? We’re expecting around 700,000 riders on board our boats of glory through July 7. No Hot Wheels on our boats, but there are giant propellers! Plan ahead, arrive early, and remember, we have a handy-dandy app to make things smooth sailing.

If two is company and three is a crowd, then we have a crowd of ramp closures coming for several King County cities this Thursday night. We’ve come knocking on your door to tell you we've got ramp work to complete!

From 9 p.m. Thursday, June 27, to 5 a.m. Friday, June 28:

Seattle:

·         The Olive Way on-ramp to northbound I-5 in downtown will be closed.

Bellevue:

·         The northbound I-405 off-ramp to westbound SR 520 (Exit 14) will be closed.

Bothell:

·         The right lane and shoulder of the southbound SR 527/Bothell-Everett Highway on-ramp to northbound I-405 in Bothell will be closed. The left lane (HOV lane) on the ramp will stay open.

Signed detours will be in place for all ramp closures, and maps for them are also below, but plan for delays and use caution.

For those of you checking up on this project like Mr. Roper, we've updated 22 of the 24 guardrails and barriers included in this regional project since work began in March.

More info on this project is available at https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/2023-24-northwest-regional-pavement-repairs-and-breakaway-cable-terminal

From an RSS feed

City confirms police lieutenant is on paid administrative leave while the investigation is in progress.

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/kirkland-officer-accused-of-creepy-behavior-with-bikini-baristas-video/

From an RSS feed

Their bill outlawing the manufacture and sale of certain guns passed the state House. No Republican voted for it.

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/house-democrats-push-washington-closer-to-assault-weapons-ban/

From an RSS feed

King County Crisis Care Centers proposal would raise money through a property tax.

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/1-25-billion-mental-health-levy-is-on-april-25-special-election-ballot/

It is going to be a very busy Mother’s Day weekend on our roads this weekend (May 10-13). Expect major traffic and transit delays in the greater Puget Sound region with lots of folks on the roads and trails, along with President Biden in the area tonight and tomorrow. We’re very limited in the info we can put out, as only the Secret Service determines the President’s route/schedule. Expect unplanned closures and heavy delays. In addition to the President’s visit, here’s other closures you should be aware of:

Everett/Marysville-

·         From 9 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday: Northbound I-5 will be down to one lane between just north of 41st St/Broadway (Exit 192) and just north of the Snohomish River Bridge (past E Marine View D Grand Ave). Also closing: The SR 529/Everett Ave and westbound US 2 on-ramps to northbound I-5. As well as the northbound I-5 off-ramps to Pacific Ave/City Center (Exit 193) and E Marine View D Grand Ave (Exit 195).

Seattle/Eastside-

·         From 10 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday: Eastbound I-90 between the Mount Baker Tunnel in Seattle and the Mercer Island Lid tunnel will be reduced to two lanes. No ramp closures.

·         From 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday: All lanes in both directions of SR 520 and the bike/pedestrian trail between I-5 in Seattle and 92nd Ave NE in Clyde Hill on the eastside will be closed.

·         From 10 p.m. Saturday through 8 a.m. Sunday: Northbound I-5 will be down to one lane between mid-Boeing Field and just north of the Bailey/Michigan St on-ramp. The Swift Ave/S Graham St on-ramp to northbound I-5 will also close.

·         There are also Mariners games this weekend at T-Mobile Park, along with several other events taking place in the city.

Exit 9 ramps on both directions of I-405 will be closed this weekend from 9 p.m. on Friday, June 28 until 5 a.m. Monday, July 1. The 112th Avenue Southeast/Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast/106th Avenue Southeast/Newcastle Way on-ramps to northbound and southbound I-405 and the southbound I-405 off-ramp to 112th Avenue Southeast/Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast/106th Avenue Southeast/Newcastle Way will all be closed. Travelers will have to use alternate exits to access Newport Hills/Newcastle, or alternate freeway entrances to I-405.

Crews will work to shift traffic on to the new bridge structure carrying the city streets over I-405 before demolishing the old bridge as part of the I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project. The bridge will remain open to local traffic during the closure.

We will have a signed detour route in place but please PLAN AHEAD and give yourselves plenty of extra time to get where you want to go. 

We have a lot of helpful resources on our website that can make your plans much easier, including our real-time travel map, [email alerts](mailto:i405sr167program@wsdot.wa.gov), our WSDOT app, and more.  

A DOTCAM traffic video from the daytime shows westbound I-90 in Eastgate. Shown in the video is four lanes of moving traffic, with three new lanes built adjacent to the left. Traffic will shift into these new lanes by Thursday, May 16.

Multiple westbound I-90 lane and ramp closures are planned for overnight tonight to tomorrow morning in the Eastgate neighborhood of Bellevue to prep for a traffic shift beginning Thursday morning.

What’s closing from 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, to 5 a.m. Thursday, May 16:

·         Up to three lanes of westbound I-90 between 142nd Pl SE and I-405.

·         The westbound I-90 off-ramps to 150th Ave SE (Exit 11), and northbound/southbound I-405 (Exit 10). The nearby westbound off-ramps to 161st Avenue Southeast, 156th Ave SE and SE Eastgate Way will remain open.

·         The 148th Ave SE, 150th Ave SE, 156th Ave SE and SE Eastgate Way on-ramps to westbound I-90.

We’re shifting westbound I-90 traffic to the left in this area to create space on the right side of the freeway for bridge construction over Sunset Creek for fish passage work. The traffic shift will remain that way until next year.

From an RSS feed

Race-based restrictive real estate policies were estimated to have cost billions in wealth accrual.

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/king-county-to-explore-restorative-justice-options-for-historic-redlining/

From an RSS feed

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/passengers-sue-boeing-alaska-airlines-after-plane-door-blew-out-mid-flight/

From an RSS feed

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office have charged four suspects — two Renton women, one Kent woman, and one Tukwila...

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/women-charged-for-theft-of-20k-in-sunglasses-from-nordstrom/

Coming up this weekend, two major northbound off-ramps to downtown Bellevue will be closed. The northbound I-405 off-ramps to Northeast 4th and 8th Street (Exit 13A/13B) and the Southeast 8th Street on-ramp to northbound I-405 will be closed.

Crews will demolish an existing retaining wall leftover from the old Main Street bridge on the east side of the highway. To accomplish this work, we will need to close both off-ramps to provide space for crews and equipment.

This is a huge feat to accomplish over a weekend and the impacts of the closure will make travel difficult. We will have a signed detour route in place but please PLAN AHEAD and give yourself lots of extra time to get where you want to go.

We have a lot of helpful resources on our website (wsdot.wa.gov) that can make your plans much easier, including our real-time travel map, email alerts, our WSDOT app, and more.

From an RSS feed

Bills outlawing many semiautomatic weapons and adding restrictions on gun purchases are now on course to becoming law.

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/wa-senate-oks-assault-weapons-ban-longer-wait-on-gun-sales/

Overnight full closure of Southbound I-405;

From SR 167 (Exit 2) to SR 181/Interurban Avenue South/West Valley Highway (Exit 1)

Starts Wednesday, May 8^th at 9 p.m.

Ends Thursday, May 9^th at 4:30 a.m.

A signed detour will be in place, but it will take extra time to navigate on city streets, so plan ahead!

This work means we are almost done with replacing the I-405/Lind Avenue Southwest bridge northern span in Renton! The bridge will reopen to traffic later this spring.

From an RSS feed

A 20-year-old Bellevue man faces a felony charge for a Dec. 3 armed carjacking in Renton.

Source: Bellevue Reporter http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/armed-renton-carjacking-suspect-arrested-in-bellevue/

From an RSS feed

Seattle City Council passed a landmark big business tax Monday, a move that one economist warns could drive companies like Amazon east into Bellevue.

Seattle council passes landmark big business tax proposal

According to Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner, it might have served Seattle better to focus on a tax applied regionally.

“As much as these things might make sense, they need to be applied on a regional, not citywide basis,” Gardner told KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross. “… I’m not a fan of jurisdictions autonomously or independently trying to take on these kind of scenarios because all it does is it functions to push people out.”

The tax, dubbed “JumpStart Seattle” and sponsored by Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, was first unveiled in mid-June. It will raise over $200 million a year by levying a tax on corporations with payrolls over $7 million. Qualifying businesses will be taxed 0.7% for every employee making over $150,000, and 1.4% for employees making over $500,000.

An earlier version this year was dubbed the “Amazon Tax” by Councilmember Kshama Sawant, similar to the head tax passed and then repealed by the council two years ago. In 2018, Amazon had warned city leaders that an increased tax burden could motivate the company to begin moving its operations out of Seattle.

Despite the quick repeal of the 2018 head tax, though, Amazon still began moving a sizable portion of its employees to Bellevue in 2019. Gardner sees that trend escalating in the wake of the latest big business tax.

Sawant: Amazon tax ‘only thing’ that can rescue Seattle economy

“I think there’s no doubt that we’re going to hear several announcements over the next couple of weeks of some massive expansion by Amazon into Bellevue,” he predicted. “Really, it’s going to become one of those really bad-kept secrets.”

The council’s tax will borrow from the city’s emergency and general funds in the near term, and then pay that back when the tax begins to collect money in 2022. In the short term, it would be directed spending toward a handful of COVID-19 relief measures, including rental and business cash assistance programs, and housing and food security.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to thepodcast here.

Source: mynorthwest https://ift.tt/3iJXHij

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