Groups sue in effort to block mine

Environmental groups trying to block a major gravel mine on Puget Sound's Maury Island have filed a lawsuit charging that federal agencies failed to adequately study the potential threats to endangered orcas, chinook, bull trout and steelhead.

People for Puget Sound, the Washington Environmental Council and Preserve Our Islands filed the challenge in federal district court in Seattle on Tuesday.

They claim the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit for the project without scrutinizing possible impacts from the gravel mine and a long dock built into the Sound to load sand and gravel onto barges.

The groups also charge that two federal agencies responsible for animals listed under the Endangered Species Act failed to give the project a thorough vetting before agreeing to the Corps permit.

The lawsuit is the latest move in years of political wrangling and legal action pitting environmentalists against government agencies and the mine owner, Glacier Northwest.

Seattle

I-5 lanes to close for weekend tests

For the next two weekends, the state Department of Transportation will close multiple lanes of Interstate 5 under the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle to test the fire-suppression system. This is a new system that requires a yearly test and several lane closures.

These lanes will close:

• Friday — Crews will close the three right lanes of northbound I-5 from 11 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday to test the heat detectors in the fire system. Crews will also close the onramp from Cherry Street to northbound I-5 and the Olive Way exit from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

• Saturday — Crews will close the two left lanes of northbound I-5 from 11 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday to continue testing the heat detectors. Crews will also close the onramps from University Street and Cherry Street to northbound I-5 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Beginning at 4 a.m. Sunday, crews will intermittently stop all traffic to test the sprinkler system above the roadway. These closures will last up to 20 minutes.

• Saturday, Sept. 20 — Crews will close all lanes of southbound I-5 from 11 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday to test the heat detectors and sprinkler system above the roadway. Crews will also close the onramps from Howell/Yale Street and Mercer Street to southbound I-5 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Traffic will be detoured at Stewart Street and will re-enter I-5 south of the Convention Center.

Seattle

Suicide probed after body found

Seattle police are investigating the discovery of a body found Wednesday morning in Ravenna Park as a suicide.

A jogger found the man's body near the park entrance off 20th Avenue Northeast shortly after 7 a.m., said police spokeswoman Renee Witt.

Police believe the man was in his 20s.

Snohomish County

Drowning victim identified

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office has identified a 20-year-old man found drowned in a submerged car Monday morning.

Monroe resident Daniel Romero-Martinez was found near the 12300 block of Old Snohomish-Monroe Road, according to the office.

The car had flipped into a drainage ditch, impossible to see from the road, Snohomish Fire District officials said. Someone walking by saw the car and called 911 at about 7 a.m. Monday.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

Bothell

Marine killed in Afghanistan

A Bothell Marine has died while serving in Afghanistan.

First Lt. Nicholas A. Madrazo, 25, died Tuesday while supporting combat operations in the Parwan province, according to the Department of Defense. Madrazo was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

When reached Wednesday, Madrazo's family declined to comment.

Seattle

4,500 pot plants seized; 20 arrested

Police and federal agents in King County seized more than 4,500 marijuana plants and arrested 20 people during a series of raids Wednesday.

Lawmen executed 13 search warrants as part of "Operation Green Reaper," an ongoing effort to target the "command and control components of the Puget Sound's indoor marijuana grow organizations," according to David Dongilli, the assistant special agent in charge of the Seattle office of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The operation was kicked off in April when the U.S. Attorney's Office announced agents had seized more than 15,000 plants and shut down two gardening stores they said were supplying indoor marijuana operations in the area.

Dongilli said the raids also netted $50,000 in cash and three guns.

Everett

Lotto winner claims prize

The winner of a $9.7 million Lotto jackpot has claimed the prize more than a month after the drawing.

The winning ticket was brought in to the Lottery's Everett regional office by a representative for A2A3A4, LLC of Seattle. The corporation opted for the cash payment, receiving $3,637,500 after taxes.

Lottery spokeswoman Jacque Coe said it was unusual that no winner came forward immediately after the July 26 drawing.

"When the jackpot gets this high, people are buying tickets, and they're checking their tickets very frequently," she said. "They're losing interest earnings within a day or two. Most people don't take a chance."

Coe also said most winners don't claim prizes as corporations.

"It's unusual when someone claims this way," she said. "Some people claim in this manner in an attempt to remain anonymous, but the paperwork that must be filed with the lottery is a matter of public record."

The Seattle-based LLC was formed Aug. 27, according to Washington Secretary of State public records.

Kent

Des Moines man killed in crash

A 51-year-old Des Moines man was killed in a motorcycle accident in Kent early Wednesday morning.

The man was identified Wednesday by the King County Medical Examiner's Office as Keith John Luksan.

An off-duty Kent police officer found Luksan at the 24400 block of Pacific Highway South, said Officer Paul Petersen in a news release.

Police believe Luksan, who was northbound on the highway, entered a left-turn lane and collided with a raised cement median, Peterson said.

He was thrown from the bike and suffered severe head injuries, Peterson said.

Luksan was wearing a helmet, he said.

Times staff and news services