News

Sen. Mona Das, D-Kent, the primary sponsor of SB 5323, speaking on the bill. (Photo courtesy of Hannah Sabio-Howell)
2020 WA Legislature

Proposed law adds a fee to plastic bags at checkout

Senate passes bill to ban single-use plastic bags, place 8-cent fee on reusable plastic bags.

  • Jan 17, 2020

 

Sound Transit station. File photo

Construction on Eastside-related light rail project begins

Travelers should expect delays until March.

 

Development has encroached on the East Lake Sammamish Trail (at right). Joe Livarchik/file photo

King County files lawsuit to finish East Lake Sammamish Trail

Homeowners have until September to remove buildings and other property from the right of way.

 

Bellevue residents Marko and Karla Ilicic play a hockey game in the Topgolf Swing Suite inside Forum Social House. Natalie DeFord/staff photo
Eastside Scene

Forum Social House opens in Bellevue

Eastside gets new nightclub, mini golf, swing suites.

Bellevue residents Marko and Karla Ilicic play a hockey game in the Topgolf Swing Suite inside Forum Social House. Natalie DeFord/staff photo
Photo courtesy of effieparks.com Effie Parks started a podcast about raising children with disabilities.

Mercer Island mom creates podcast about raising children with disabilities

Effie Parks launched the “Once Upon a Gene” podcast last October.

Photo courtesy of effieparks.com Effie Parks started a podcast about raising children with disabilities.
In November 2019, Washington voters approved Initiative 976, which calls for $30 car tabs. Sound Publishing file photo
2020 WA Legislature

Republicans try to guarantee $30 car tabs amid court hangup

Lawmakers sponsor companion bills in the House and Senate.

  • Jan 15, 2020
In November 2019, Washington voters approved Initiative 976, which calls for $30 car tabs. Sound Publishing file photo
King County Metro’s battery-electric bus. Photo courtesy of kingcounty.gov

King County could bump up Metro electrification deadlines

Transportation generates nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

King County Metro’s battery-electric bus. Photo courtesy of kingcounty.gov
The Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce presents the 2019 Business of the Year Award to Covenant Living at the Shores (CLS). From left: CLS’s Bob Bowen, Chamber of Commerce Board President Suzanne Skone, CLS Associate Executive Director Marykay Duran, CLS’s Leslie McGee, CLS Sales Director Nancy Woo, and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Laurie Givan. Courtesy photo.

Chamber names Mercer Island Business of the Year

2019 award goes to Covenant Living at the Shores.

The Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce presents the 2019 Business of the Year Award to Covenant Living at the Shores (CLS). From left: CLS’s Bob Bowen, Chamber of Commerce Board President Suzanne Skone, CLS Associate Executive Director Marykay Duran, CLS’s Leslie McGee, CLS Sales Director Nancy Woo, and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Laurie Givan. Courtesy photo.
Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 2020 State of the State Address on Tuesday, Jan. 14. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Office of the Governor)
2020 WA Legislature

Gov. Inslee delivers State of the State Address

By Leona Vaughn, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee stood before the Washington Legislature to deliver his 2020 State of the State Address… Continue reading

  • Jan 14, 2020
Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 2020 State of the State Address on Tuesday, Jan. 14. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Office of the Governor)
A 50-minute film called “Spawning Grounds,” which documents the effort to save a freshwater variety of kokanee salmon from Lake Sammamish, is finally ready for its debut in North Bend on Jan. 18. (Screenshot from film)

Spawning Grounds: Lake Sammamish kokanee documentary premieres Jan. 18

The film tracks the ‘all hands on deck’ effort to save the little red fish from extinction.

A 50-minute film called “Spawning Grounds,” which documents the effort to save a freshwater variety of kokanee salmon from Lake Sammamish, is finally ready for its debut in North Bend on Jan. 18. (Screenshot from film)
The Future of Shipping?

Meet the group trying to electrify America’s railroads

The Backbone Campaign hopes it will reduce emissions and jump-start depressed communities.

A man works on a balcony at the Cedar Pointe Apartments, a 255 apartment complex for seniors 55+, on Jan. 6, 2020, in Arlington, Washington. (Andy Bronson/The Herald)
Housing market

Washington state has been under-producing housing units for decades

A new report said there should have been an additional 225,000 units created between 2010 and 2015.

A man works on a balcony at the Cedar Pointe Apartments, a 255 apartment complex for seniors 55+, on Jan. 6, 2020, in Arlington, Washington. (Andy Bronson/The Herald)
Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia. File photo
WA State Legislature

Homelessness, guns among 2020 legislative priorities

WA lawmakers examine issues heading into 60-day session.

Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia. File photo
Girmay Zahilay (District 2) is the newest member of the King County Council. Courtesy photo

New King County Council members sworn in

The King County Council was sworn in on Jan. 8, with three familiar faces and one new face. Councilmembers Jeanne Kohl-Welles (District 4), Claudia Balducci… Continue reading

Girmay Zahilay (District 2) is the newest member of the King County Council. Courtesy photo
Islander Middle School. Photo courtesy of MISD

MISD launches long-range facilities planning

Public invited to outreach meetings regarding facility-related needs week of Jan. 13.

Islander Middle School. Photo courtesy of MISD
The new Mercer Island City Council. Those recently elected were sworn in Jan. 7, 2020, and leadership was appointed. From left: Salim Nice, David Rosenbaum, Craig Reynolds, Deputy Mayor Wendy Weiker, Mayor Benson Wong, Lisa Anderl, Jake Jacobson. Photo courtesy of city communications manager Ross Freeman.

Wong named Mayor, Weiker Deputy Mayor

New Mercer Island City Council swears in.

The new Mercer Island City Council. Those recently elected were sworn in Jan. 7, 2020, and leadership was appointed. From left: Salim Nice, David Rosenbaum, Craig Reynolds, Deputy Mayor Wendy Weiker, Mayor Benson Wong, Lisa Anderl, Jake Jacobson. Photo courtesy of city communications manager Ross Freeman.
“An American in Paris” will kick off Mercer Island’s Friday Night Films Jan. 10. Photo courtesy of wikimedia commons

Island’s Friday Night Films returns for 15th year

Friday Night Films kicks off January 10.

  • Jan 8, 2020
“An American in Paris” will kick off Mercer Island’s Friday Night Films Jan. 10. Photo courtesy of wikimedia commons
The Mercer Island light rail station under construction, set to open in 2023. Natalie DeFord/staff photo

Sidewalk reopens along Mercer Island light rail construction

Pedestrian traffic resumes along 77th Avenue Southeast.

The Mercer Island light rail station under construction, set to open in 2023. Natalie DeFord/staff photo
Special Report

King County faces $2 million lawsuit from 2016 K-9 bite

A man’s right arm was left “permanently disfigured and disabled” after a Sheriff’s Office K-9 was used.

  • Jan 6, 2020
A rendering of the location and approximate footprint of the future Commuter Parking and Mixed-Use Project to be built on a combination of the former Tully’s Coffee House property, a section of WSDOT-owned parkland and a section of city-owned Sunset Highway. Courtesy of the City of Mercer Island.

City buys Tully’s site for commuter parking project

Mixed-use development to move forward.

A rendering of the location and approximate footprint of the future Commuter Parking and Mixed-Use Project to be built on a combination of the former Tully’s Coffee House property, a section of WSDOT-owned parkland and a section of city-owned Sunset Highway. Courtesy of the City of Mercer Island.