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Gig Harbor to Remove 18 Trees from Soundview Forest Due to Health Concerns

Gig Harbor to Remove 18 Trees from Soundview Forest Due to Health Concerns

The city of Gig Harbor is set to remove 18 trees from Soundview Forest, a park known for its 100-year-old Douglas firs. This decision follows an arborist's report identifying several trees as dead or decaying, posing potential risks to people and property. The park, which spans approximately 2.3 acres, contains 172 trees, including Douglas firs, red alders, big leaf maples, Pacific madrones, and cedars. The removal process is scheduled for April 23 and 24, during which the park and adjacent parking will be closed. The city plans to replace the removed trees with new, disease-tolerant species, donated by the Pierce Conservation District. Additionally, some tall stumps will be left standing for a potential art display as part of the 2026 Harbor Arbor Art Project.

Hikers Discover Remains of Missing Washington Mother Hailey Athay, Confirmed by Forensic Analysis

Hikers Discover Remains of Missing Washington Mother Hailey Athay, Confirmed by Forensic Analysis

The skeletal remains of Hailey Athay, a missing mother of three from Washington state, were discovered by hikers in a remote area of Kelso, Washington. Athay, who was last seen in November 2024, was reported missing by her family in January 2025. The discovery was made just north of the Oregon border, and due to the time of day, officials could not immediately access the site. The hikers were asked to photograph the bones, which were later confirmed as human by a forensic anthropologist. The following day, a search party led by one of the hikers recovered more bones, clothing, and personal items. The remains were confirmed to be Athay's through dental records. Athay was last known to be picking mushrooms with an unknown man before her disappearance.

BP Cherry Point Refinery Explosion Injures Four, Prompts Evacuation

BP Cherry Point Refinery Explosion Injures Four, Prompts Evacuation

An industrial accident at BP's Cherry Point Refinery in Blaine, Washington, resulted in injuries to at least four individuals. The incident occurred on a Saturday morning, with three of the injured requiring hospitalization. Among them, one person needed advanced life support, while two others required basic life support, according to local fire district chief Ben Bokyo. The Seattle Times reported these details, although there was a discrepancy in the number of casualties reported by BP and Bokyo. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion at approximately 10:20 a.m., leading to the evacuation of employees from the refinery. Emergency responders, including the fire service, arrived at the scene shortly after the incident to transfer the injured to a local hospital. A BP spokesperson confirmed that the situation was contained and posed no risk to nearby communities.

Fears of looser standards as the FBI and Justice Department scramble to fill a depleted workforce

Fears of looser standards as the FBI and Justice Department scramble to fill a depleted workforce

The FBI and Justice Department are scrambling to rebuild a depleted workforce after a wave of departures over the last year

U.S. Coal-Fired Capacity Retirements in 2025 Hit 15-Year Low

U.S. Coal-Fired Capacity Retirements in 2025 Hit 15-Year Low

In 2025, the U.S. electric power sector retired 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired generating capacity, marking the lowest level of retirements since 2010. Initially, operators planned to retire 8.5 GW, but 4.8 GW of these retirements were delayed, and plans for 1.1 GW were canceled. Additionally, 1.2 GW of capacity planned for 2027 was also retained. The U.S. Department of Energy issued emergency orders to keep several coal plants operational to ensure grid reliability. These orders affected plants in Michigan, Washington, Indiana, and Colorado. The largest retirement was the Intermountain Power Project in Utah, which was partly replaced by a new natural gas facility. Looking ahead, 6.4 GW of coal capacity is scheduled for retirement in 2026, though these plans may change.

Three Dead, One Injured in Head-On Collision on U.S. Highway 2 in Snohomish County

Three Dead, One Injured in Head-On Collision on U.S. Highway 2 in Snohomish County

A tragic head-on collision occurred on U.S. Highway 2 near Monroe, Washington, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and injuring another. The incident took place early Saturday morning when a westbound vehicle attempted to pass another car and entered the eastbound lanes, colliding with an oncoming vehicle. Both drivers and a passenger in the eastbound car were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the westbound vehicle sustained injuries and was transported to Providence Regional Medical Center. The Washington State Patrol is investigating the crash and has not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol were contributing factors.

Wildfires used to 'go to sleep' at night. Climate change has them burning overtime

Wildfires used to 'go to sleep' at night. Climate change has them burning overtime

Wildfires used to die down and even stop at night with cooler temperatures and increased humidity

IMF, World Bank say they are resuming dealings with Venezuela

IMF, World Bank say they are resuming dealings with Venezuela

By Libby George WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank on Thursday each said they had resumed dealings with Venezuela, which had been paused since 2019 due to government recognition issues.

Greenville Police Involved in Shooting with Suspect Having Extensive Criminal Record

Greenville Police Involved in Shooting with Suspect Having Extensive Criminal Record

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Greenville, where a suspect named Washington was involved. The incident occurred when officers attempted to detain Washington for alleged public intoxication, leading to a struggle during which an officer's holstered gun discharged. Washington, who has a history of assault on officers, is also accused of biting an officer's hand. All parties involved were hospitalized and later released. Washington is also a suspect in a hit-and-run incident on I-85, involving a stolen vehicle, and has multiple active warrants in Maine for various offenses.

Prosecutors in a Minnesota county charge ICE agent with assault

Prosecutors in a Minnesota county charge ICE agent with assault

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - Prosecutors in Minnesota's Hennepin County have charged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent with assault for allegedly pointing his gun at two people in a car along a highway in Minneapolis in February.

Red Flag Warning Issued for Eastern West Virginia and Shenandoah Valley

Red Flag Warning Issued for Eastern West Virginia and Shenandoah Valley

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of eastern West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley due to a combination of hot, dry, and windy conditions. This warning is in effect until 7 PM EDT on April 16, 2026. The conditions include southwest winds ranging from 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, and relative humidity levels dropping as low as 20 percent. These factors contribute to an increased risk of wildfires, as any fire that develops could spread rapidly. Fuel moisture levels are reported to be between 7 to 8 percent, further exacerbating the fire risk.

Trump administration restores funding to Manhattan subway project after NY sues

Trump administration restores funding to Manhattan subway project after NY sues

The Trump administration has agreed to resume funding a key Manhattan subway project after New York officials sued