Slog AM: King County Metro Bus Driver Fatally Stabbed, Luigi Mangione Charged with Terrorism over UHC CEO Killing, The Authorities Might Shut Down

That “pretty” climate we’re having: The rain from that dang atmospheric river crept into the morning, so keep alert when you’re driving in west central Washington. The Nationwide Climate Service in Seattle issued a flood advisory resulting from extreme rainfall. The clouds ought to clear after mid-morning, with rain potential once more this afternoon. Rain is probably going Thursday, much less probably Friday, and really probably Saturday by subsequent Tuesday. I’d get these steps in now until you’re somewhat freak who enjoys strolling within the chilly moist.

King County Metro driver killed: Police mentioned the motive force was stabbed to dying after some sort of struggle close to the College of Washington’s campus this morning. Paramedics rendered first assist, however police say the motive force was pronounced useless on the scene at Northeast forty first Road and fifteenth Avenue Northeast. A UW alert on X mentioned the suspect, 6-foot-1 and sporting a blue jacket, tore northbound down an alley after the stabbing. Police haven’t but recognized the suspect, however have reopened the world.

Adrien Diaz fired: In a letter this Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell informed the Council he’d fired the previous Seattle Police Division chief as a result of the Workplace of the Inspector Normal’s report supported the accusations that Diaz and a high-ranking worker had a romantic relationship that Diaz repeatedly denied. Ashley has extra right here.

ICMYI: The ACLU of Washington sued the Washington Division of Corrections for allegedly violating a transgender lady’s rights underneath the Washington State structure by maintaining her confined to a males’s jail. I began following Kim’s story this summer season, when she turned the primary trans lady to be faraway from gender-affirming housing in Washington State.

First extreme US chook flu in Louisiana: Well being officers with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned the affected person had been in touch with sick and useless birds in a barnyard flock. The CDC didn’t element the affected person’s signs. There have been 60 reported instances of chook flu within the US this 12 months, all delicate till now, and principally amongst farmworkers uncovered to sick poultry or cows. In two instances of a Missouri grownup and a California baby, the CDC nonetheless is not positive how they received sick.

Two Irish brothers sentenced for scamming previous folks: Patrick and Matthew McDonaugh of Eire pleaded responsible to 1 depend of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for posing as contractors and swindling aged householders in Shoreline and Oregon into paying for pointless dwelling repairs as a part of a scheme that stretched from right here to the Midwest, in accordance with information filed in US District Courtroom in Seattle. (In a single occasion, a house owner paid $29,000 for a $2,000 greenback restore). A decide sentenced them to 18 months in federal jail and ordered them to pay $1 million in restitution. The US is prone to deport the lads after their sentences. 

Normal Secretary Jay Inslee says tax the wealthy: To shut a $12 to $16 million state finances hole, Gov. Inslee proposed a first-in-the-nation 1% wealth tax on Washington’s 3,400 wealthiest of us (over $100 million, so most likely not you) and a 20% surcharge on companies making greater than $1 million a 12 months, which the state would later swap for enterprise and occupation tax hike. The wealth tax alone may generate an estimated $3.4 billion over the subsequent two years, and greater than $10 billion in 4 years. Inslee urged lawmakers to reduce the influence on the state’s poorest residents after they’re on the lookout for locations to chop. “This isn’t the time to retreat from our efforts – it’s time to be resolute in our dedication to transferring ahead,” he wrote. A spokesperson for Bob Ferguson mentioned the incoming governor’s transition group is reviewing the finances, which will increase state spending general.

The place’s the meat (schooling funding)? Inslee’s ultimate finances doesn’t throw Superintendent Chris Reykdal that $3 billion bone he requested to pay for particular schooling, faculty transport, and wage bumps for workers. Chris Reykdal mentioned in an announcement to the Washington State Normal {that a} finances that maintains present service will “end in extra cuts on the native degree.” The statewide trainer’s union, the Washington Training Affiliation, isn’t joyful both.

Teenagers solely! Seattle’s Division of Parks and Recreation has prolonged hours at its three Teen Life Facilities to supply extra “safe and supervised areas for teenagers” as part of a pilot program from now to April. In case you’re a teen, or know a teen, or have a teen, The Seattle Instances has the brand new hours right here.

Luigi Mangione charged with terrorism: It sounds wacky, however in accordance with New York legislation, prosecutors can carry terrorism expenses if the act is meant to affect authorities coverage by intimidation or coercion. It’s as much as Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg to show that was exactly Mangione’s intention when he allegedly murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Manhattan’s former Assistant District Legal professional Jeremy Saland informed CNN he thought the terrorism expenses have been “a little bit of a stretch,” and questioned why a CEO’s homicide ought to be handled in another way. It’s not the primary terrorism cost linked to the killing. Florida charged a girl with terrorism for allegedly threatening her insurance coverage firm with the phrases “delay, deny, depose,” which have been allegedly etched into bullet casings discovered on the scene. She reportedly informed an insurance coverage agent they have been subsequent. Appears excessive to me.

They hit Luigi Mangione with a terrorism cost pic.twitter.com/lXBgXdmDt8

— Sopranos World (@SopranosWorld) December 17, 2024

Donald Trump sues Des Moines Register: After the Disney-owned ABC Information rolled over for Trump and paid $16 million to settle a defamation go well with final week, our Nice Chief ascendant is taking his hate for the press to courtroom once more. On Monday, he filed go well with in opposition to the Register, and its guardian firm Gannett, for publicizing a ballot from Ann Selzer that confirmed Kamala Harris main by three factors in Iowa. Selzer was wildly off, Trump received by 13 factors, and the President-elect says that’s proof not of unhealthy polling, however election interference in violation of client safety legal guidelines. This ridiculous go well with most likely received’t go anyplace, however he is perhaps betting on this scaring company media into favorable protection. (Trump has additionally sued Selzer and her polling agency. Fortunate for her, even shoddy polls from revered pollsters aren’t defamatory.)

I am on the Honda, I am on the Nissan, I am on the mixture Honda Nissan: Honda and Nissan are in talks for potential merger, however don’t have any timeline or particulars to share. Earlier this 12 months, the 2 Japanese automakers introduced collaborations on electrical automobiles and battery know-how. Each firms are struggling in China, the biggest car market on this planet, the place shoppers are loving home automobiles.

No, Biden can’t simply certify the ERA: The archivist and deputy archivist of the US mentioned Joe Biden can’t unilaterally undertake the Equal Rights Modification, regardless of what number of Democrats beg him to. The modification, which Congress despatched to the states with a seven (later prolonged to 10 12 months) ratification deadline in 1972, would’ve assured authorized equality between ladies and men if three-quarters of the states voted to undertake it. It got here up brief, till Virginia lawmakers voted to ratify in 2020. However that preliminary congressional deadline legally meant one thing. Nothing will be executed with out congressional or courtroom motion to carry it, the archivists mentioned.

Working laborious, or hardly working? Congress unveiled a invoice to narrowly keep away from a authorities shutdown with a bipartisan (???) deal to kick the can down the street to March, when the Trump administration could make all of the actually vital choices. The stopgap invoice consists of $110 billion for catastrophe reduction throughout federal businesses, and permitted a few native measures to maneuver alongside negotiations between Washington DC and the Washington Commanders over a potential stadium. It additionally permits the feds to pay the total price of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore. We’re not completely out of the breach. Home Republicans infighting may nonetheless kill the invoice; with out one, the federal government shuts down at 12:01 am Saturday morning. 

It is Miser time: