Snohomish County leaders oppose loan

Snohomish County leaders objected Thursday to the possibility their taxpayers might someday loan $381 million to build Sound Transit tracks in Seattle.

The cash infusion would help extend light rail from Husky Stadium to Northgate by 2018 — instead of 2027 otherwise. Sound Transit's cash flow is tight due to tunneling and other costs of rail segments, roughly $4.4 billion from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to the stadium. The loan would come from Snohomish County's share of a regional sales-tax increase expected to be on the ballot next year.

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, a transit-board member, worried the loan might take 20 years to repay, or funds could dry up before the tracks reach Lynnwood, in his county. Sound Transit Chairman John Ladenburg, of Pierce County, and transit staffers said they'll adjust the financial strategy to accelerate the Northgate link, yet satisfy Snohomish County.

Olympia

PDC wants rules for groups' money

The state Public Disclosure Commission on Thursday proposed a series of steps to limit the role that money from unions, corporations and associations plays in the state's elections.

The commission voted unanimously to ask Gov. Christine Gregoire and the Legislature to consider prohibiting groups such as the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Service Employees International Union to give their general funds directly to political- action committees that support or oppose candidates.

The groups would also be prohibited from using general funds for independent expenditures such as TV or radio ads.

PDC commissioners said they were concerned by the nearly $5.9 million spent in independent expenditures for all candidates and ballot measures this fall's election.

The ban would apply to state offices, including the governor, the Legislature and the Supreme Court.

Mount Baker

Backcountry skier's body recovered

An experienced backcountry skier from British Columbia died Saturday near Mount Baker but his body wasn't recovered until Wednesday because of heavy snow.

Henning Faust, 32, of Vancouver, was skiing with his brother and two friends southeast of Artist Point when he became separated from the group, said Whatcom County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Jilk. The friends used Faust's avalanche transceiver to locate him and found him upside down in a tree well; though they tried to revive him, Faust was already dead, Jilk said.

An autopsy was performed Thursday and death investigators determined that Faust died from suffocation, said Dr. Gary Goldfogel, the Whatcom County Medical Examiner.

As stormy weather moved in Saturday, dumping eight inches of snow in the area where Faust died, officials had to wait to retrieve his body.

Monroe

Police searching for assault suspect

Monroe police are looking for a man who allegedly broke into his estranged wife's home and assaulted a 28-year-old man there.

The victim is being treated at a local hospital for multiple stab wounds, Monroe police said in a news release.

Police believe Marshall Byers of Monroe is armed and dangerous. He reportedly fled and is believed to be driving a red 1999 Chrysler 300M with Washington license plates 100UCQ.

Anyone with information should call the police tip line at 360-863-4600.

Tacoma

Court overturns death sentence

The state Supreme Court overturned a convicted murderer's death penalty Thursday, saying evidence from his rescinded rape convictions and a prosecutor's misconduct require a new sentence.

The 8-1 ruling came in the consolidated case of Allen Eugene Gregory, who appealed his convictions for rape in 2000 and his aggravated-murder conviction from 2001.

The majority, led by Justice Bobbe Bridge, overturned the rape convictions, saying the trial judge should have considered evidence that may have helped Gregory's defense.

The justices then threw out Gregory's death sentence, saying evidence of the rapes influenced his sentencing for murder. The court also said it would have overturned the death sentence anyway, because the prosecutor committed misconduct by improperly suggesting life in prison was too lenient for Gregory.

Gregory's murder conviction was sent back to Pierce County Superior Court for resentencing. He was originally sentenced in May 2001 for the rape, robbery and killing of Geneine Ann Harshfield, a neighbor in Tacoma's Hilltop area.

Her July 1996 murder went unsolved for two years, until police drew Gregory's blood for evidence after his arrest in the separate rape case.

Tacoma police matched Gregory's DNA to semen stains from Harshfield's bed and body.

Seattle

Free flu shots will be available

Free flu shots for 1,000 adults and 200 children will be available Saturday as part of a drill to see how quickly and efficiently vaccinations could be given in an emergency. Public Health — Seattle & King County is conducting the exercise from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until the vaccine runs out, at Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St., Seattle.

The drill will test how well one of the health department's 12 emergency-medication centers might function in case of a large disease outbreak or bioterrorism attack. This is the second such drill in about a year. On Nov. 11, the department also tested the ability of postal workers to deliver medications directly to homes.

Times staff and news services