Initiative to improve traffic makes ballot

Olympia

An initiative designed to ease traffic congestion has qualified for the Washington's November ballot.

Secretary of State Sam Reed said Friday that Initiative 985, sponsored by initiative activist Tim Eyman, collected enough valid voter signatures to win a spot on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

It would create a traffic-congestion-relief fund by tapping car-sales taxes, revenues from red-light-camera tickets and the money set aside for art on transportation projects.

The initiative also would require cities to synchronize traffic signals and open car-pool lanes outside rush hours.

The measure is the first to be certified.

Next, Reed's office will check petition signatures for two other measures — dealing with assisted suicide and certification of long-term care aides — to see if they will qualify.

Camano Island

Burglary suspect, 17, eludes deputies

Island County sheriff's deputies are searching for a teen who escaped from a Renton halfway house earlier this year in connection with a recent string of Camano Island burglaries.

Authorities say they tried to stop Colton Harris-Moore, 17, as he was speeding north on South Camano Drive around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. The teen jumped out of the stolen car while it was still moving and managed to escape. The vehicle came to a stop after hitting a trash bin, deputies said.

Items found in the car included stolen property from recent burglaries on Camano Island. The teen could be connected with a string of break-ins over the past three months, Detective Ed Wallace said.

Wallace said they have investigated Harris-Moore for breaking into houses and stealing cars for several years. Harris-Moore's record includes convictions for two burglaries at his former middle school and break-ins in Camano Island homes.

The teen pleaded guilty to three counts of residential burglary in 2007. He was sent to a halfway house in Renton, but escaped earlier this year.

Seattle

Vandalized park being cleaned up

Cleanup is under way at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center after vandals recently targeted it with spray paint, King County parks officials said Friday.

The park at 1321 S.W. 102nd St. was vandalized in the past two weeks, said Doug Williams, spokesman for the parks department. Supplies have been given to a community task force to rid playground equipment of the graffiti, he said.

The park — formerly known as White Center Park — was dedicated in April to the memory of King County sheriff's deputy Steve Cox, who was killed while on duty in December 2006.

Chehalis

Wire-theft ring reportedly busted

Authorities say the arrests of five people smashed a copper-wire-theft ring in Lewis County.

Sheriff Steve Mansfield says 45-year-old Brian K. Bradley, of Winlock, Lewis County, was arrested Thursday and 35-year-old Daniel M. McEwen, 35, of Selah, Yakima County, a day earlier. Investigators say the pair worked with three people arrested last week.

Mansfield says they have been linked to nearly all of the 65 thefts of copper wire from the Lewis County Public Utility District since January.

Portland

Body found after jump from bridge

A group of people were jumping off the Hawthorne Bridge in downtown Portland late Thursday and then swimming to shore.

Officials say it was more for fun than to cool off.

But one man who went over the rail along with a friend didn't make it to shore.

Fire officials say they found the man's body about 12:30 a.m. Friday in about 20 feet of water.

The temperature of the water was about 70 degrees.

The victim was identified as Clinton Covault, 26, no known address.

Seattle Times staff and news services