2nd suspect arrested in man's slaying

Police on Monday arrested a second suspect in the slaying of a man whose body was found at a Seattle construction site April 14.

The 20-year-old Seattle man was arrested by police at noon in downtown Seattle, said Seattle police spokesman Jeff Kapell. He was booked into the King County Jail on investigation of murder and for an unrelated warrant.

The arrest ends a weeklong investigation by Seattle police into the slaying of 25-year-old Noel Lopez. Thursday, Seattle police arrested a 22-year-old suspect in Federal Way.

Seattle

Council OKs easing environmental rules

Seattle is easing environmental reviews, making it simpler for developers to build projects in transit-station areas and urban centers such as downtown, South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, Uptown, Northgate and the University District.

Under the State Environmental Policy Act, developers must disclose what impact a proposed project could have on endangered species, pollution and other environmental concerns. The public can suggest changes, which the city can require of developers.

The legislation passed Monday raises the threshold for environmental review and increases the number of small residential and commercial projects that will be exempt.

The City Council, which reduced the number of exemptions from Mayor Greg Nickels' original proposal, voted 8-0 to make the changes. Councilmember Nick Licata was absent.

Bellevue

PSE to pay feds $471,000 for spill

Puget Sound Energy will pay a $471,000 federal fine over an 18,000-gallon diesel spill near the Crystal Mountain ski area in late 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.

The spill already has triggered a $366,000 fine from the state Ecology Department, and the Bellevue-based energy company could face another federal bill for environmental damages. In addition, the company spent roughly $16 million cleaning up the spill, which ran into Silver Creek, a tributary of the White River.

The November 2006 spill was triggered when a switch on a fuel pump at a backup electrical generator malfunctioned and kept pumping even as the fuel overflowed.

Olympia

Foreclosure firm to pay restitution

A Florida-based company will pay more than $100,000 in restitution and attorney fees to 200 Washington residents who paid for a service they believed would help save their homes from foreclosure.

Foreclosure Assistance Solutions, of Clearwater, Fla., used coercive tactics to pressure consumers into paying for a service they couldn't afford while doing nothing to help the customers save their homes, said Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna in a statement Monday.

The company, which closed last fall, used solicitations that mimicked government documents and asked consumers to contact it for help.

The company did not admit to any wrongdoings under the settlement, but it agreed to reimburse $78,125 to the 200 Washington residents who paid for their services. An additional $20,000 will go toward attorney fees.

Lynnwood

Man, 18, charged in burglary spree

An 18-year-old Lynnwood man was arrested over the weekend and charged with seven counts of first-degree burglary, attempted burglary and taking indecent liberties.

Joseph Tewelde Habte Egzy is being held on $1 million bail at the Snohomish County Jail.

According to police, Habte Egzy was arrested after he was tracked by a K-9 unit from a home he'd fled after wrestling with the homeowner.

Police said Habte Egzy had entered the home through an unlocked door and was in the room of a 10-year-old girl when she woke up and screamed. The girl's father came in the room and fought with Habte Egzy, who then fled, police said.

Lynnwood police allege that the man is connected with number of area burglaries, including a high-profile series of burglaries in fall 2005.

Federal Way

Body found in road is that of man, 35

The King County Medical Examiner's Office has identified a man who was found dead on a Federal Way street Saturday as 35-year-old Paul Ortega.

The cause and manner of the Federal Way man's death are still pending, but police investigators do not suspect foul play.

Ortega's body was found on the road at 23rd Avenue South near Military Road South in north Federal Way.

Seattle Times staff and news services