The Tacoma City Council will discuss changes to a proposed ordinance that would significantly raise the annual license fees for businesses starting next year.
Although the original proposal called for fee increases for businesses with an annual gross income of over $12,000 under a tiered system, the changes would expand that system to include all businesses in the city.
Depending on revenue, a business could see an increase between 100% and 900%.
During the Oct. 25 City Council meeting, Councilmember Keith Blocker, the lead sponsor for the changes, said the increased license fees would bring in millions of dollars for Tacoma. Read more
Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Seattle and drivers are urged to prepare for traffic and road closures around the city.
Harris landed in Seattle Tuesday evening. She will deliver remarks Wednesday at an event highlighting the current administration's investments in clean school buses.
While Vice President Harris’ exact travel routes and timing are not published in advance, travelers can still plan ahead by preparing for delays and temporary road closures.
During vice presidential visits, the U.S. Secret Service has the authority to provide security, including requiring closures of freeways and streets. The flow of buses and cars in downtown Seattle and around the region will be affected, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation. Read more
A software company and nine property management groups are being accused of artificially inflating rents. An investigation found the software that sparked the lawsuit is used by management companies in Seattle.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District County in San Diego by renters. It alleges the property management companies and Texas-based software company RealPage formed a cartel to artificially inflate rent prices and decrease the supply of multifamily real estate in violation of federal law.
RealPage owns software that uses an algorithm and analyzes data to suggest rent prices. The software is used by some of the nation’s largest property management companies, including Greystar and Essex Property Trust, Inc.
While the software is used nationwide, an investigation by the non-profit newsroom ProPublica found this software is “overwhelmingly” controlled by RealPage clients in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.
Apartmentlist.com reports Seattle has some of the fastest rent growth for a major city. However, the website said September saw a 1.1% decrease in the rental pricing. It’s the first decrease in seven months. Read more
Serving his community is all Dean Atkinson Jr. has ever done.
Despite being shot in the hand and face in September, the Washington state trooper hopes to return to patrol as soon as possible.
“It’ll be more of a ‘when’ I go back to work, not an ‘if,’” Atkinson said from his hometown of Walla Walla, where he is recovering from his injuries.
On Sept. 22, Atkinson was parked in his marked WSP patrol car on a Walla Walla street when witnesses said a man walked up to the car and started firing. Investigators called it an ambush.
“When I realized what was happening,” Atkinson said, “I drove away and ducked down to the right to try to protect my face.”
He was shot in the face and his left hand but was able to drive approximately a mile to the nearest hospital.
“I lost part of my left ring and middle finger,” Atkinson said. Read more
The recent discovery of the USS Samuel B. Roberts, a small World War II destroyer escort sunk during an epic battle in the Philippines 78 years ago, has spurred long-told stories of bravery, patriotism, and the underdog.
It only seems fitting that the crew of the ship's namesake, the USS Copeland, would gather in Bremerton to talk about their bond and the crew of the Roberts.
The USS Samuel B. Roberts was affectionately called the Sammy B. The ship's only captain, Robert W. Copeland, was a junior officer in the Navy Reserve from Tacoma, whose love of the Navy at a young age set the stage for 30 years of service.
KING 5 anchor Greg Copeland is the grandson of this navy hero. He was only 8 in 1980 when his grandmother helped christen the USS Copeland.
Now, with the discovery of the Roberts, Copeland is proud to share the story of his grandfather and so many other brave sailors during WWII. Read more
RELATED: Western Washington Forecast
Have the "5 things you need to know" delivered to your inbox. Sign up for the daily morning email here.
