Local Digest
Man is found shot to death outside Lake Union apartment

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SEATTLE — A man was found shot to death outside the doorway of his apartment north of Lake Union last night in an apparent homicide. Fire crews and SWAT officers were trying to enter the second-story apartment through a window at 10:30 p.m. to see if there were more victims, Seattle police spokeswoman Deanna Nollette said.

Police had few details but said they received a call about the shooting in the 3900 block of First Avenue Northeast around 9:30 p.m., Nollette said. The man had been shot in the head.

No arrests were reported, but police had contacted a person of interest. "The person will have information that will help us piece things together," Nollette said.

King County Jail inmate who died is identified

SEATTLE — A 50-year-old King County Jail inmate who died Tuesday while awaiting trial on a domestic-violence harassment charge was identified as Wade Scott Brown.

King County Medical Examiner's investigators yesterday were awaiting several lab reports before releasing how Brown died. A jail spokesman declined to say whether the death was considered suspicious.

State's population increase is the lowest since 1986

SEATTLE — Washington state's population growth held steady in 2003 at a slim 1.1 percent increase, according to Census Bureau estimates released yesterday.

That's the state's lowest growth rate since 1986.

"It's because of the relatively flat economy," said state demographer Theresa Lowe. "It's lack of job growth."
 
Still, she said, the number of Californians moving to Washington has been creeping up because the economy is even worse there.

"It's keeping Washington from falling even more flat in population growth," Lowe said.

The Census Bureau estimated Washington's 2003 population at 6.1 million.

Nonlethal methods planned to manage geese in parks

SEATTLE — Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Ken Bounds announced yesterday a pilot program using nonlethal methods to manage the Canada geese population in local parks.

Under the program, Seattle officials will work with local animal groups to find goose nests at Gas Works, Green Lake, South Lake Union, Matthews Beach and Madison Beach parks.

The animal groups will work on cleaning beaches, consider the use of lasers to encourage geese to relocate and look into the possibility of applying a chemical deterrent to grassy areas.

Parks and the animal groups will also manage trained dogs to encourage geese to leave public beaches and selected shorelines.

In recent years, the parks department has contracted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to thin the goose population. In 2002, the most recent year for which complete statistics are available, the USDA captured and killed 848 geese. The federal agency also treated 911 eggs with mineral oil, which causes them not to hatch.

The city sanctioned the lethal methods because an estimated 3,000 geese were living in the Seattle area. Each bird leaves up to three pounds of droppings each day.

Dryer fire destroys small house, 9 vehicles

MUKILTEO — Fire destroyed a small house and nine vehicles yesterday in the 13500 block of 26th Place West after a dryer caught fire.

The loss was $50,000. Snohomish County Fire District 1 trucks were initially dispatched at 11:19 a.m. to the wrong address. By the time firefighters arrived at the right house about 10 minutes later, it was in flames, a district spokeswoman said.

Three people who were renting the house escaped unharmed and are being helped by the Red Cross.

Bank robber sentenced to 19½ years in prison

TACOMA — A judge sentenced a 47-year-old man to 19½ years in federal prison yesterday for 10 armed bank robberies in Washington state, California and Arizona.

David Oliney Taylor was also ordered to repay banks a total of $33,694.

Prosecutors said Taylor's spree began in fall 2002 when he robbed three banks in Arizona, then hit five banks in Southern California in less than two months. He robbed two banks in Pierce County in November 2002.

Police arrested him after his last robbery when a taxi driver told investigators that Taylor was staying at a Puyallup motel.

Additional locations listed for measles exposure

SEATTLE — Several additional locations where children with red measles may have exposed others were listed yesterday by Public Health — Seattle & King County and the Snohomish Health District.

The children were among infants recently adopted from China who came to their new parents' homes on March 26. Three of the children have had confirmed cases of the disease and five have had probable cases.

Health officials say people who were at the locations at the specified times should contact their physicians if they have not been immunized or are unsure if they are immunized. There is no current danger of exposure to the disease at the locations.

Measles is uncommon because the vast majority of people are immunized. But in those who are infected, it can cause serious complications and even death. Symptoms begin eight to 21 days after exposure.

For a list of the King County locations where the children might have exposed others, visit www.metrokc.gov/health/providers/epidemiology/measles2004.htm or call 206-296-4949.

For locations in Snohomish County, visit www.snohd.org/temporary_index_graphics/exposure.html. Snohomish County residents wishing general information on measles should call 425-339-5266.

Man killed at apartments in Mount Baker is identified

SEATTLE — A 23-year-old Seattle man who was shot to death Tuesday at a Mount Baker apartment complex was identified yesterday as Vannarith Nuon.

Police say a 22-year-old man at the complex shot Nuon several times in the chest during a confrontation about 3 a.m. Police found Nuon wounded in the parking lot, but he died later. The suspect was in custody at the King County Jail yesterday.

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