Seattle Local — 2026-03-31#

Top Story#

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson officially signed the state’s first-ever personal income tax into law, establishing a 9.9% “millionaires tax” on high earners. The legislation is designed to fund health care, education, and public safety, but political and legal opponents are immediately preparing constitutional challenges to block its implementation.

Local News#

100+ Rounds Fired at South Tacoma House Party · KOMO News A house party on the 100 block of East 91st Street in South Tacoma turned deadly early Sunday morning after shooters fired a barrage of more than 100 rounds. One woman was killed and another was injured as partygoers scrambled for safety during the chaos. Separately, Tacoma residents are raising alarms to police about a recent and unrelated wave of gun violence causing property damage near Fern Hill Park.

Violent Robbery Leaves 3 Injured at West Seattle Encampment · KOMO News Three men were transported to Harborview Medical Center with significant head injuries following an armed robbery at a tent encampment inside West Seattle’s Rotary Viewpoint Park. Detectives report that the Sunday afternoon attack involved improvised weapons, including a crowbar, wrench, and a fire extinguisher.

Vigil Held for Missing Arlington Man Jonathan Hoang · KOMO News Family and friends gathered at Juanita Beach Park in Kirkland to hold a candlelight vigil for 22-year-old Jonathan Hoang, marking exactly one year since he vanished from his Arlington home. Hoang is autistic with the mental capacity of a child, and his family continues to offer a substantial reward to keep his unsolved disappearance in the public eye.

Bellevue Tax Preparer Convicted of Falsifying Returns · KIRO 7 A Bellevue tax preparer who built a business catering to local tech workers has been convicted after executing a scheme that cost the IRS more than $420,000. Prosecutors revealed that the individual falsified various elements of clients’ tax filings, including charitable donations, business losses, private loans, and rental income.

Costco Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Tariff Pricing · KING 5 A second class-action lawsuit has been filed against Issaquah-based retail giant Costco in Seattle federal court. Plaintiffs from several states claim the retailer raised prices on consumers during a tariff period, and then separately sought and recovered refunds for those same costs from the federal government.

State Auditors Flag $37M in Questionable Child Care Subsidies · KOMO News The Office of the Washington State Auditor released its annual Single Audit, estimating $37 million in questionable child care subsidy payments for 2025. While reporting generally improved compliance with federal requirements across $23.7 billion in funds, auditors noted specific weaknesses in the state system used to detect improper and fraudulent payments in subsidized care.

Community & Lifestyle#

A remarkably warm winter has pushed Skagit Valley tulips into an early bloom, prompting all four farms participating in the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival to open to visitors ahead of their official April 1 start date. In entertainment news, the highly anticipated Bumbershoot 2026 lineup was officially announced for Labor Day weekend at Seattle Center, featuring hometown headliners Death Cab for Cutie, alongside Turnstile and Orville Peck. For daily commuters, be aware that morning 1 Line light rail service experienced delays Monday after a “false presence” signal issue was detected on the northbound tracks near the Tukwila International Boulevard Station. Finally, expect partly cloudy skies with patchy morning fog and mild highs in the upper 50s for Tuesday, before wetter, breezier conditions return to the region on Wednesday.