Patricia Murphy

Veterans In College Face Unique Challenges

Patricia Murphy — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:10:52 +0000

Sam Talkington is cramming. It’s finals week at the University of Washington and he’s got an economics exam soon.

Talkington is majoring in finance at the Foster School of Business and he’s been feeling the crunch. “I have an extremely heavy course load right now,” he said. “I’m taking four courses and some stuff I’m not familiar with but becoming more familiar with as the days progress.”

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales Pleads Guilty To Afghan Murders

Patricia Murphy and Jim Gates — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:50:07 +0000

Correction 6/6/2013: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Staff Sgt. Bales was from Lake Tapps, Ohio.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the American soldier from Lake Tapps, Wash., charged with killing 16 Afghan civilians during night time raids on two villages last year, pleaded guilty Wednesday to avoid the death penalty. The judge, Col. Jeffery Nance has accepted his plea agreement which takes the option of the death penalty off the table.

Legislative Session Yields New Mental Health Bills, Advocates Say More Needs to Be Done

Patricia Murphy — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:01:32 +0000

Seattle’s Café Racer is closed today in remembrance.

It's been a year since a gunman shot five people inside the eclectic coffee shop and bar. Drew Keriakedes, Joe Albanese , Kimberly Layfield, and Don Largen were killed. The cafe's cook, Leonard Meuse, was the lone survivor.

After the gunman fled the scene, police say he made his way downtown where he killed Gloria Leonidas and stole her car before shooting himself in West Seattle.

Chaplain Training Academy Prepares For Support And Safety

Patricia Murphy — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:34:30 +0000

During an emergency, first responders are trained to work quickly to save lives. They’re deliberate and methodical.

People in emotional distress after a fire or accident need someone with different training. For them an emergency department may send a chaplain. The Police and Fire Chaplain's Training Academy in Seattle just graduated a new crop of chaplains for emergency departments around the country.

Pierce County Judge Says Boarding The Mentally Ill In ERs Violates State And Federal Law

Patricia Murphy — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:02:14 +0000

A Pierce County Superior Court judge said Monday that temporarily boarding the mentally ill in hospital emergency rooms without treatment violates state and federal law. County and state attorneys have asked for the ruling to be put on hold while they appeal.

The Constitutional Question Of Sobriety Checkpoints In Washington State

Patricia Murphy — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:36:04 +0000

Correction: The broadcast version of this story states that the Fourth Amendment protects against illegal search and seizure, when in fact it protects against unreasonable search and seizure.

Washington’s lawmakers are debating new penalties for driving under the influence during a special legislative session beginning Monday.

Washington Senator Patty Murray Introduces Bill To Combat Military Assault

Patricia Murphy — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:56:11 +0000

The latest report on military sexual assault from the Department of Defense shows a sharp increase in assaults from previous years. For fiscal 2011, the military estimated there were 19,000 cases of sexual assault, while 3,192 cases were reported. In fiscal 2012, the estimate spiked to 26,000 cases, with just 3,374 cases reported. The estimates are based on surveys given by the DoD to military service members.

DUI: The Challenge Of Repeat Offenders

Patricia Murphy — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:52:41 +0000

After 20 years in the business, Lenny Padayao has seen it many times: Alcoholics gaming the system to avoid addressing their disease. “The alcoholic, they’ll do everything they’re required to do by cheating,” he says. “You have to keen in on these guys, because if you don’t you’ll never catch them.”

DUI Monitoring And Enforcement: An Imperfect System

Patricia Murphy — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:50:07 +0000

Washington state lawmakers are poised to impose tougher laws against drivers caught driving drunk. They were moved to action following two fatal crashes involving drivers with previous DUIs.

Emotional Meeting Over Bellevue SWAT Team Shooting

Patricia Murphy — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:55:51 +0000

Last month a SWAT team from Bellevue arrived around 5:00 a.m. in a Columbia City neighborhood to serve a warrant for a suspect. As the dramatic scene unfolded the suspect, Russell Smith, was shot and killed by three Bellevue police officers. Now neighbors want answers about what happened.