All articles tagged with #washington
A Washington State home burglary stole over 860 Nintendo Entertainment System cartridges that a man spent almost 40 years building, valued at $50,000–$100,000. He was three titles shy of a complete set and had hoped to pass the collection to his grandkids, but the loss may end his collecting days.
A bright fireball lit up the night sky across the Pacific Northwest between 12:45 a.m. and 12:50 a.m. during the Perseid meteor shower, with sightings from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. Witnesses described an orange or green streak followed by a flash; there is no indication the object reached the ground, and what some heard as an explosion was likely the meteor breaking apart high in the atmosphere. If you saw it, send video to [email protected] for a possible on-air feature.
A bright fireball was seen streaking across the Washington sky early Friday, accompanied by flashes of light. Dozens of observers shared video clips, with many suggesting it could be a meteor. No injuries were reported as footage circulated of the event from Chimacum-area viewers.
A King County Superior Court judge ordered Kalshi to cease most of its betting operations in Washington after finding likely violations of the Washington Gambling Act and the state’s Consumer Protection Act; Kalshi must implement IP- and residency-based geofencing by Aug. 19 and a multi-source geofencing solution by Sept. 2, banning wagers on sports, elections, politics, entertainment, culture, tech and science, as well as “mentions” bets, with advertising to WA consumers also barred as the case proceeds.
China's ongoing anti-Japan rhetoric is straining Tokyo's relations with Washington, pressuring diplomacy, security, and trade in the region.
The CDC is monitoring 13 cases of the emerging fungus Candida auris in Washington state as of 2026. This yeast can cause infections ranging from skin issues to bloodstream infections and spreads easily among vulnerable patients in healthcare facilities. Some strains resist standard antifungal drugs; colonization on the skin can spread the fungus unknowingly. Diagnosis involves screening with skin swabs, and treatment may involve echinocandin antifungals, though resistance exists in some strains and outcomes depend on patients' underlying illnesses. Specific locations within Washington have not been disclosed.
A dispute over USDA immigration and DEI policies delayed $15 million in wildfire-prevention grants for Spokane-area projects, hindering fuel-reduction work as the region fights wildfires and evacuations unfold; advocates say linking funding to national policy priorities is dangerous, while officials seek timely deployment to curb fire risk.
The Little Giant Fire near Plain, Washington has grown into the state’s third-largest blaze, threatening about 1,800 buildings as roughly 1,700 firefighters fight extreme-dry conditions and erratic fire behavior. Thick smoke has driven hazardous air quality downwind across communities like Cashmere and Leavenworth. A Lake Chelan crossing intended as a natural firebreak failed when embers jumped to the far shore. Officials warn of dangerous margins and pyrocumulus growth, while scientists point to climate-driven drought and long-term fuel buildup as key contributors. No buildings have been confirmed burned yet, but a family cabin in the Entiat River Valley is among the structures at risk, and costs to fight the fire have already run high.
A Spokane man charged with arson told police he had planned the wildfire for weeks, according to investigators, with the admission forming part of the ongoing case into the blaze.
A Spokane County arson suspect, Aaron F. Farinacci, was charged with first-degree arson in the Old Trails Fire after eyewitnesses reported a bald man lingering near railroad tracks before smoke appeared. Investigators linked the blaze to dry grass ignited by an open flame, while noting wildfire arson cases require weighing multiple types of evidence. Farinacci’s prior criminal history, including a 2010 murder in Arizona, is part of the context as investigators reconstruct the fire’s origin and timeline amid evacuations and widespread destruction.
Firefighters around Spokane have begun containing three wildfires as cooler conditions allowed containment lines to be established, but a heat front and drier air are forecast later this week. About 67,000 residents have been evacuated and roughly 850 structures damaged or destroyed since last weekend, with evacuation zones staying in place to prevent danger. The Old Trails Fire is linked to arson and a 37-year-old suspect has been arrested; Autumn Lane and Fairview started independently. Washington now has 16 uncontained fires across more than 672 square miles, with about 7,000 firefighters on scene, prompting warnings that this could be one of the worst fire seasons in state history. A separate Calaveras County blaze in California prompted charges against a 65-year-old man for reckless equipment use.
Incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican state Sen. John Braun emerged as the top contenders in Washington’s 3rd District after a crowded primary, with early returns showing a razor-thin edge for Perez and a sizable share for a third candidate, Brent Hennrich; the Trump-endorsed Braun is aiming to flip a district carried by Trump in 2024 in one of the nation’s 18 toss-ups that could decide control of the House in November.
Early unofficial results from Washington's 2026 top-two primary show notable leads: in the 3rd District, GOP John Braun leads incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez; in the open 4th District, Amanda McKinney leads; in the 9th District, incumbent Adam Smith leads; Seattle City Council District 5 is headed by Nilu Jenks; King County Council District 2 is led by Rebecca Saldaña and District 8 by Teresa Mosqueda; Washington Supreme Court seats show early leaders in several races; Seattle Proposition 1 library levy appears to pass. Ballots are counted over several days, so results may change as more mail ballots are processed.
In Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez and Republican state Sen. John Braun advanced from the primary to face off in the November general election for the seat.
KUOW is providing live results and coverage for Washington's August 4, 2026 primary, focusing on state legislative races that could shift control in Olympia and highlighting key House and Senate contests across multiple districts, along with county and city races (including Seattle, Everett, Tacoma) and related propositions.