Seattle Local — 2026-04-09#

Top Story#

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson marked her 100th day in office by hosting a community briefing on her plan to accelerate the opening of 1,000 new shelter and emergency housing units this year. During the forum, she announced that the city’s newest property utilized for sheltering needs will be located on Armory Way in Interbay.

Local News#

King County Assessor Pleads Not Guilty to No-Contact Violations · KOMO News King County Assessor John Wilson pleaded not guilty in Seattle Municipal Court to two gross misdemeanor charges for allegedly violating a no-contact order in a domestic violence case involving his former fiancée. A judge issued a new order requiring Wilson to wear a GPS monitor and remain at least 1,000 feet away from the victim, a development that has renewed calls for his resignation.

Lawsuit Filed Against Washington’s New ‘Millionaires Tax’ · KOMO News Opponents of Washington’s new high-earners income tax, led by the Citizen Action Defense Fund and former Attorney General Rob McKenna, filed a lawsuit arguing the tax violates the state constitution. This marks the first major legal challenge aimed at striking down the law before it takes full effect.

Shootings Rock Belltown, South Seattle, and Kent · KIRO 7 A violent Wednesday evening left one person shot in the head and another pistol-whipped during an armed robbery at Belltown’s Fountain Court Apartments. Separately, an 18-year-old was grazed by a bullet in a South Seattle drive-by shooting that left 30 shell casings near Rainier Avenue South. Meanwhile, in Kent, authorities are investigating three deaths stemming from two separate, unconnected violent incidents, including a double shooting near Panther Lake.

Electrical Issue Disrupts SR 99 First Avenue South Bridge · KIRO 7 Morning commuters faced a nearly four-hour delay after an electrical issue caused the SR 99 First Avenue South drawbridge to become stuck open. A specialty electrical engineer was called in by WSDOT to successfully restore the system in about 30 minutes, with more major repair work scheduled for the bridge this month ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Drought Emergency Declared as Gray Whale Deaths Surge · KIRO 7 Washington officials declared a statewide drought emergency following an exceptionally warm winter that cut the region’s snowpack in half. Simultaneously, scientists are sounding the alarm after seven gray whales died in Washington waters this year, signaling a potential food crisis unfolding in the Arctic.

Former Kennel Worker Sentenced in Dog’s Beating Death · KOMO News A 20-year-old former Seattle boarding facility worker, Dejean Bowens, pleaded guilty to first-degree animal cruelty for kicking a black lab named Mitch to death. Superior Court Judge Ken Schubert sentenced him to the maximum penalty allowed under state law—three months—drawing emotional statements from the dog’s family and renewed demands to strengthen Washington’s animal-cruelty laws.

Community & Lifestyle#

Seattle mourns the loss of mountaineering legend Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest and former REI president, who died at age 97 in Port Townsend. On a brighter note, the Kitsap Humane Society has nearly 60 rescued dogs, cats, and a pig ready for adoption after a massive outpouring of community volunteer support. Residents looking to head outside can expect a few more days of warm sunshine before weekend rain returns, perfectly timed for trying out Sound Transit’s new Crosslake Connection light rail, which Mercer Island businesses say is already bringing in fresh foot traffic.