Corrections

Environment

Famous orca mom carries another dead calf around Puget Sound

Two newborn calves joined the Northwest's endangered orcas in December. By New Year’s Eve, one of them was dead — and being carried around on its mother’s nose.

Law & Courts

Washington state gets NY bank to pay $10 million for role in pandemic unemployment fraud

Metropolitan Commercial Bank will reimburse Washington state $10 million in unemployment funds that were stolen and processed through the bank during the pandemic, the state Attorney General’s office announced this week.

Law & Courts

No juveniles in adult prisons, Washington court orders

A Thurston County Superior Court judge told the state it has two weeks to return 43 young men it suddenly moved last Friday from the Green Hill School juvenile rehabilitation center to an adult prison in Shelton unless it can convince the court that the emergency move was necessary to reduce dangerous overcrowding.

Crime

Conflict and confusion after state suspends intake for convicted juveniles

There is concern and confusion in King County courts after a surprising decision from the state to suspend intakes of juvenile offenders at two correctional facilities due to overcrowding. Instead, youths sentenced to long-term confinement will remain under county oversight until further notice, the state Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) told county officials Friday.

Crime

Controversial county effort to divert youth criminal cases to community groups not meeting goals

A $16 million effort by King County to send most juvenile criminal cases to community-based diversion programs, rather than the court system, is having trouble meeting its goals, a county report shows.

Race & Identity

'The neighbors we needed during World War II.' Japanese Americans protest Seattle area deportation flights

Japanese American community members and immigration advocates gathered at Boeing Field Tuesday to call for an end to deportation flights out of King County International Airport.

Health

Kiosks for free Covid and flu tests unveiled this week in Washington state

NPR wants to veer from the pack

NPR wants to veer from the pack