Seattle Local — 2026-05-12#

Top Story#

A 19-year-old University of Washington student was stabbed to death Sunday night in the laundry room of the off-campus Nordheim Court Apartments, prompting an ongoing police manhunt. Students living in the building say a man matching the suspect’s description tried to break into their apartment weeks earlier, raising significant security concerns among residents regarding how the suspect bypassed building security.

Local News#

Arrest Made in Taproom Employee Murder · KING 5 Quusaa “Q” Margarsa, a 25-year-old employee at The Growler Guys on Lake City Way, was shot and killed over the weekend while closing the business. Seattle police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the homicide, and the community has quickly raised over $45,000 to cover Margarsa’s funeral expenses.

King County Residents Quarantining for Hantavirus · KOMO News Three King County residents are quarantining at home after potential exposure to the Andes hantavirus linked to an international cruise ship outbreak. Local infectious disease experts and health officials emphasize there is no need to panic, noting the virus behaves differently than COVID-19 and typically spreads through rodent exposure rather than casual human contact.

Bothell High School Ends SRO Program · KIRO 7 The Northshore School Board voted 4-1 to remove its only school resource officer, effectively ending a 30-year program at Bothell High School. The decision followed heated public testimony, with some board members expressing concern that students might view armed officers as confidants and inadvertently share information that could be used against them legally.

Mayor to Sign $4 Billion Dam Settlement · KING 5 Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is preparing to sign a $4 billion Skagit River dams settlement, culminating years of negotiations with local tribes. The landmark agreement will fund the Skagit Hydroelectric Project for the next five decades.

Economic Strains Prompt Corporate Exodus and Layoffs · KOMO News Starbucks is laying off 61 employees at its SoDo corporate headquarters. This comes as former CEO Howard Schultz announced he is moving to Florida and criticizing local leadership, while other business owners warn that Washington’s “millionaires tax” is driving top earners and job creators out of the state. The business pushback arrives as Seattle faces a looming budget deficit of nearly half a billion dollars, raising the threat of local tax hikes and municipal layoffs.

CID Dim Sum Staple Vandalized · KING 5 Jade Garden, a 23-year-old dim sum staple in the Chinatown-International District, had its front door shattered on Mother’s Day. Owners noted this is the fourth time the restaurant has been vandalized since 2020, describing the recurring damage as a “black eye” for the neighborhood even as the community rallies to support them.

Community & Lifestyle#

Seattle is experiencing a brief surge of heat with sticky temperatures nearing 80 degrees on Tuesday, potentially breaking daily records at Sea-Tac, before thunderstorms roll in overnight to cool things down. For commuters, expect overnight lane closures on the SR 99 First Avenue bridge and light rail schedule changes due to construction, while a new bus lane has officially opened along Denny Way to ease transit through Belltown. Lastly, Renton police are warning Highlands Park residents to secure their food and trash after a black bear was spotted in the neighborhood, an occurrence wildlife officials say is common as spring bear activity increases.