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Local NewsKent growers' alfalfa sprouts tied to outbreak of salmonellosis
Thirteen people in Washington and Oregon have been sickened by alfalfa sprouts. Sprouters Northwest of Kent, has recalled all its products containing alfalfa sprouts.
Authorities piece together details of deadly rampage
The solitude in the tiny town of Alger may partly explain how it happened that a killer was able to stalk the Skagit County community Tuesday, moving among the homes where he killed a sheriff's deputy, a pair of construction workers, a middle-aged woman and an older man.
Old 520 tollbooth now in second career
A reminder of how tolls once were charged on the Evergreen Point floating bridge can be found at Tollbooth Espresso in Juanita, where a 1963 tollbooth has a new role.
Danny Westneat
If speech is gauge, she's the real deal
Don't you think we made the right choice for the next vice president of the United States? So asked John McCain on Wednesday night. He got a full-throated...
Jerry Large
Old age mixes love with loss
Summer felt short, like life. We always split our vacation time between visits to family and travel for exploration or relaxation. But the mix has...
UPDATE - 10:53 PM
2 shot in Burien this evening
Two people were shot and critically injured about 8:30 p.m. today in the 12200 block of Ambaum Boulevard Southwest in Burien.
Bellevue teachers, district to continue talks this evening
The Bellevue School District and its teachers union, on strike since Tuesday, continued negotiating today, and will resume their efforts after a dinner break.
Federal government will review ice seals
ANCHORAGE — The National Marine Fisheries Service confirmed today it will conduct a full status review of three types of Arctic seals that depend on sea ice for survival.
Roof fire at historic Seattle theater extinguished
Seattle firefighters have extinguished a blaze on the roof of the historic Nippon Kan Theatre in the Chinatown International District.
Two hikers rescued from Mount Baker Tuesday
Two hikers were rescued on Mount Baker Tuesday after they were reported missing Sunday.
Amtrak ridership hits record high
The high price of gas has increased ridership on Amtrak to record levels, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Construction worker critically injured in trench accident
A construction worker was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries this morning after the wall of a trench he was working in collapsed on him.
Man found dead in Renton parking lot
Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Renton.
Reward offered for information about suspect who stole truck
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about a man suspected of killing a man while stealing the victim's brother's truck.
State investigates reports Kent radiology tech inappropriately touched minors
The license of a Kent radiology technician has been suspended while the state investigates reports that he inappropriately touched two minor patients.
Wash. Supreme Court upholds Hanford pipe fitters verdict
The Washington state Supreme Court has upheld a $4.8 million verdict in favor of 11 pipe fitters who claimed they were fired for raising safety concerns at the Hanford nuclear reservation.
Additional shelter beds help homeless routed from camps
Four months into Seattle's new homeless-encampment program, more people are finding their way to shelters, but some say the city still isn't doing enough.
Obituary
Al Smith Sr., photographer, historian
Al Smith Jr. recalls that as a youngster, he'd spend long hours with his dad, Al Smith Sr., in the basement darkroom of their Central District...
Bellevue: Another bargaining day without resolution
Bellevue teachers remain on strike, still unable to come to an agreement on pay and the use of a common curriculum.
Board: Paying fines with city money unethical
After City Councilmember Richard McIver tried to pay an ethics fine with city money, the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission Wednesday...
Man who lured wife to noose gets 12-year prison sentence
It wasn't actually a haunted house. Her husband just told her that to get her to the garage. Now, nearly a year later, Sean A. Jennings, 38, will spend...
New publisher accepts dropped historical novel
A historical novel about the Prophet Muhammad and his child bride that was pulled by Random House over concerns it would anger Muslims has...
Palin cheered by local women of GOP
Oline Shaw, 58, had never heard of Sarah Palin before the Alaska governor was chosen to be the Republican vice presidential candidate, but...
Teen pleads not guilty in fatal shooting of hiker
A 14-year-old Skagit County boy accused of fatally shooting a 54-year-old hiker after he mistook her for a bear pleaded not guilty Wednesday to first-degree manslaughter.
Trail's missing link may get funding
The one-mile "missing link" of Seattle's Burke-Gilman Trail in Ballard could open by 2010, according to a new proposal from Mayor Greg Nickels.
Western State chief apparently forced out
When the chief executive of Western State Hospital left his post, a state spokesman indicated Andrew J. Phillips had gone willingly. Now public records obtained...
Woman filling gas tank burned after another car hits pump
A 39-year-old woman filling her car's gas tank suffered second-degree burns today when another car hit the gas pump on Capitol Hill.
Women voters key to Burner-Reichert race in 8th District
The two candidates in the 8th Congressional District, Darcy Burner and Dave Reichert, are competing for women's votes in a tight race.
Local Digest
Extra buses during viaduct closure
Bus service will increase as soon as next year to compensate for closures at the Alaskan Way Viaduct, where the state plans to rebuild the...
Nation & WorldPalin slams Obama, D.C. insiders
The "hockey mom" hit the national stage Wednesday night with a series of body checks. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's surprise pick...
BPA linked to primate health issues
Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have linked a chemical found in everyday plastics to problems with brain function and mood disorders...
Canada's Arctic ice shelf loses another big chunk
A chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan has broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada's northern Arctic, another dramatic indication...
Campaign Notebook
GOP blacks: Fewest at convention in 40 years
Some African-American Republicans have found the Xcel Energy Center depressing. Everywhere they look, they see evidence of what they consider...
Gustav evacuees returning to food, power shortages
Hundreds of thousands of Gustav evacuees began flooding back home Wednesday to face widespread power outages, food shortages and limited...
Hanna spills more misery on Haiti as Ike moves in
Haiti seems cursed this hurricane season, with its crops ruined and at least 111 people killed by three storms in less than three weeks...
Close-up
John McCain: codes and contradictions
Sen. John McCain's primary campaign for the Republican presidential nomination looked all but hopeless. He had risked the wrath of his party...
Close-up
McCain needs to reaffirm independence
The Republican National Convention first belonged to Gustav and then to Sarah. Now, it's up to John McCain to make it his own. The presidential nominee has...
Palin e-mails critical of troopers
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin wrote e-mails that harshly criticized state troopers for failing to fire her former brother-in-law and ridiculed...
Powerful trash mafia has southern Italy over barrel
Raffaele del Giudice roamed the illegal trash dumps of southern Italy, covering his nose against the stench and exposing what he considers...
NEW - 10:37 PM
Remarks of GOP presidential nominee John McCain
John McCain-Text,3750 Remarks of GOP presidential nominee John McCain The Associated Press Remarks by Republican presidential nominee John...
Close-up
Revisiting McCain's Keating 5 history
At one time, John McCain said the worst thing that ever happened to him, Vietnam included, was the so-called Keating 5 scandal. "The Vietnamese," he would...
U.S. angers Pakistan in cross-border raid
The Pakistani government on Wednesday angrily protested what it described as a ground attack carried out on its soil by American and Afghan...
U.S. stepping up its role in Georgia
A U.S. Navy flagship loaded with aid steamed through the Dardanelles on Wednesday en route to Georgia, as the Bush administration prepared...
Odds and Ends
Singer turning to God
Celebrity gossip, famous birthdays and other tidbits, compiled from Seattle Times news services.
Nation Digest
Plea deal rumored; ouster hearing starts
Prosecutors accusing Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of lying on the witness stand, to cover up an extramarital affair with a top aide, said...
World Digest
U.S. troops kill 7 on Iraqi force
A U.S. military boat patrolling the Tigris River at night drew fire Wednesday from Iraqi security forces who mistook it for the enemy...
Business & TechnologyMachinists, Boeing meeting at Disney resort in Florida
Any tentative agreement must be ratified by 50 percent of Machinists voting to avert strike.
Stocks plunge 3% on retail, jobless reports
Wall Street plunged today, sending the Dow Jones industrials down more than 340 points as retailers and the Labor Department added to the...
U.K. report triggering new FAA rules for some Boeing 777s
U.S. regulators will tell airlines to quickly make changes aimed at preventing ice from building up in fuel lines of Boeing 777s, which...
Yahoo shares tumble; market value at $12 billion below Microsoft offer
Yahoo's stock dove to its lowest level in nearly five years today, magnifying the challenge facing the Internet company as its management...
Comcast to appeal FCC Web traffic ruling
Comcast is appealing an FCC ruling that the company is improperly blocking customers' Web traffic, triggering a legal battle that could...
Brier Dudley
Verizon to debut "FiOS"; "Chrome" to relay typing
Excerpts from the blog Verizon will finally start offering its fiber-optic "FiOS" TV service next week in the Puget Sound region, at least...
Local clothing boutiques prepare for tough fall season
Clothing store owners say they're offering lower price points than they have in the past and being careful to not order more merchandise than can be sold in a challenging economic environment.
August auto sales drop for 10th month
Ford and General Motors dragged the domestic auto industry to its 10th straight monthly sales decline last month as consumers continued...
Decide on tanker soon, general says
A high-ranking Air Force official on Wednesday pressed the Pentagon to speed the award of a disputed $40 billion contract for new aerial-refueling...
Business Digest
GMAC to lay off 5,000, close offices
Lender GMAC Financial Services said Wednesday it will close all of its 200 retail offices and lay off about 5,000 employees as part of plan...
Microsoft to slash price of Xbox 360
Microsoft is upping the pressure on its video-game rivals with a substantial price cut Friday designed to attract the masses to the Xbox...
Markets
Shares mixed on erratic trading
Wall Street finished mixed in fickle trading Wednesday, with investors still unsettled about the economy ahead of Friday's employment report...
Business Digest
Paris advertiser acquires PBJS
Pacific Northwest Paris-based advertising giant Publicis Groupe has acquired Seattle advertising firm PBJS, which handled launch events...
SportsBYU enters UW territory on quest for perfection
The Brigham Young University football team is on a "quest for perfection" this season and hopes improving upon consecutive 11-2 seasons will finally get them into a BCS bowl. The Cougars play Saturday at the University of Washington.
M's Felix Hernandez gives up 1, loses 1-0
Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez allowed one earned run against the Texas Rangers but still lost his ninth decision, 1-0.
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren does it his way
Mike Holmgren changed the Seahawks. But he changed, too. And now, he stands at the precipice of one final season in Seattle. One final opportunity to win that Super Bowl he was brought here for.
- Timeline | Mike Holgren in Seattle
- Mike Holmgren's Stats | Team rushing, passing, scoring and defense (PDF)
Washington St. plays opener in remodeled stadium
Fans attending the Washington State-California game Saturday in Pullman will see improvements to Martin Stadium, both utilitarian and cosmetic. Phases 1 and 2 of the renovation, worth $27 million, are virtually complete. They include addition of restrooms on three sides of the stadium, as well as a brick facade, greater concourse space and a $2.5-million scoreboard.
Jerry Brewer
Mike Holmgren taught Seahawks how to win
Holmgren has taught the Seahawks how to win. He has taught fans how to grow their expectations. He has taught the entire city what it's like to experience a consistent NFL contender. As Holmgren approaches the time to put down his oversized play card, perhaps the greatest compliment he can receive is that, in the minds of a vocal contingent, he still hasn't proven enough. He has led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl, made the playoffs in six of nine seasons, won four consecutive NFC West division titles, rescued this franchise from the NFL hinterlands — and if he doesn't win a championship this season, it was a nice yet unfulfilling run.
UPDATE - 08:36 PM
Sue Bird scores 19 to lead Storm past Sky 70-62
Sue Bird scored 19 points to help the Seattle Storm clinch a playoff berth with a 70-62 victory over the Chicago Sky on Thursday night. Camille Little had 13 points...
Matt Hasselbeck, Mike Holmgren: Like a father and son
A bond between the coach who sees the game with a quarterback's eyes, and the player who has learned to look at the position the same way become the foundation for Seattle's offense.
NFL's 20 greatest coaches
e begin with apologies to Chuck Knox. All he did is win more games than all but eight other coaches in NFL history. Sorry to Tom Flores...
The NFL's worst coaches
You certainly won't find Seattle coach Mike Holmgren on this list. Not that he will mind being left off. This group is not for the Lombardis...
Cougars' A'i Ahmu arrested after warrant issued
Washington State defensive tackle A'i Ahmu turned himself in to the WSU Police Department on Wednesday. A warrant for Ahmu's arrest had...
Former M's infielder Todd Cruz dead at 52
Todd Cruz, an infielder with the 1983 world champion Baltimore Orioles, has died. He was 52.
NFL Quarterback-coach Combo | Staying together
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and coach Mike Holmgren are beginning their eighth season together. Only five teams have a QB-coach combo that have been together for five years or more.
Seahawks have a defense now, too
There has been a noticeable shift from offense, Holmgren's signature stamp, to defense, which became the emphasis when Tim Ruskell took over as president and general manager in 2005.
Grading Mike Holmgren's drafts
Mike Holmgren came to the Seahawks in January 1999 as the team's coach and general manager. He was forced to give up the GM role after the 2002 season to concentrate on coaching. Here's a look at what the Seahawks did in the draft under Holmgren's guidance.
10 big questions facing the 2008 Hawks
Mike Holmgren's time as Seahawks coach is winding down. When the season ends, in late December in Arizona, early February 2009 in Tampa...
Seahawks 2008 depth chart
UPDATE - 09:37 PM
U.S. Open | Novak Djokovic, angered by Andy Roddick, beats him in quarterfinal
Novak Djokovic heard what Andy Roddick said about him and didn't like it one bit. Still, as much motivation as Djokovic might have had...
Watching the Seahawks at Qwest Field
By bus Regular Metro transit service: More than 15 transit routes pass within three blocks of the stadium and operate at least every 30...
Sideline Smitty
Let the lights shine: It's prep kickoff time
Flip the switch. It's time for Friday Night Lights in the state of Washington.
NFC West Preview | 49ers seeking a turnaround
San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan's choice of inexperienced J. T. O'Sullivan to start at quarterback over Alex Smith shows how important...
Oklahoma City's NBA team will be called Thunder
Team formerly known as Sonics will be called Thunder
Storm can grab first place with win at Chicago
The Storm plays at Chicago tonight, and would move into first place in the WNBA Western Conference with a victory.
NFC West Preview | Cardinals put their faith in Kurt Warner
Matt Leinart, Kurt Warner and Mike Holmgren have something in common other than their interest in winning the NFC West. Like Leinart and Warner...
NFC West Preview | Scott Linehan knows pressure is on him in St. Louis
Rams coach Scott Linehan couldn't have known with any certainty that he'd be returning for a third season in St. Louis in 2008. After a 3-13 record...
2007 NFC stats
NFC PASSING Att Com Yds TD Int Rate Romo, Dal. 520 335 4211 36 19 97. 4 Favre, G. B. 535 356 4155 28 15 95. 7 Garcia, T. B. 327 209 2440 13...
AFC 2007 stats
AFC PASSING Att Com Yds TD Int Rate T. Brady, N. E. 578 398 4806 50 8 117. 2 Rthlsbrger, Pit. 404 264 3154 32 11 104. 1 Garrard, Jac. 325 208 2509 18...
2007 NFC and AFC standings
2007 team rankings
Danny O'Neil | You don't have to be cool to be a QB in this league
A trade accomplished something that injuries and 16 years worth of blitzing opponents never could: It knocked Brett Favre out of the Packers'...
Prosser receiver catching up fast
With only 23 more touchdown receptions, the senior receiver and coach's son — the latest in a string of football standouts from Class 2A Prosser — will be a national career record holder. But don't expect him to brag about it.
NFL Breakdown | Who's up, who's down, who might get fired
Seattle Times NFL staff picks
NFL national TV games
Changes forthcoming for the Seahawks' backfield
Three running backs — Maurice Morris, Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett — will share the load this season for the Seahawks.
Soccer | Portland seeks MLS team
The public campaign to lure a Major League Soccer franchise to Portland was launched Wednesday, with plans that call for a new baseball...
Times preseason All-State team
Jerry Brewer
UW fans, don't get trapped in Ty rage
OK, now that the Ty-rants have been unleashed, it's important to mute the noise and collect some reason on a nagging aspect of this quarrel...
Emerald Downs | Tonight's entries
Notebook | Huskies need to improve tackling
The Washington Huskies football team needs to improve in an area that coaches say is often difficult to work on during the season — tackling.
Notebook | Seahawks' Deion Branch nearing end of long comeback trail
Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch talked about his rehabilitation from ACL surgery on his left knee on Wednesday. He is still unable to take part in a full practice, and on Sunday it will be seven months since his surgery.
Top Ticket | This weekend's big football games
College Football | LSU postpones game with Troy
Louisiana State postponed its football game against Troy after Hurricane Gustav damaged Tiger Stadium and battered Louisiana's capital city...
NFL | Giants begin title defense tonight
The New York Giants' defensive line was among the keys to the team's Super Bowl title last season in an upset of the previously unbeaten...
Prep Notebook | Kennedy back eager to start new season
Nolan Washington and the Kennedy Lancers are excited about opening the football season at Qwest Field on Saturday, even though they face a tough first opponent.
Seattle Times preseason Top 10 football rankings
U.S. Open | In classic match, Serena tops Venus
Typically, a fight between sisters is not a spectator sport. But, if the setting is a Grand Slam tennis tournament and the combatants are...
AL | Oakland slugger Frank Thomas to end the season on DL
Frank Thomas' season ended Wednesday when the Oakland Athletics transferred the designated hitter from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day...
Fishing Notebook | Coho catch picking up in Puget Sound
In Puget Sound, the coho salmon are starting to mass from West Point off Shilshole Bay north to Edmonds, and anglers were reporting good numbers of catches.
NL | Hurricane lay in catcher's path to major leagues
Luke Montz's first journey from Class AAA to the majors took him through a hurricane. Literally. On Tuesday evening, Luke Montz and his...
NW Briefs | Gymnast tour to stop in Tacoma
Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin and fellow gold medalist Shawn Johnson will be part of a post-Beijing tour that makes a stop Sept...
Seattle Times preseason Top 10 football rankings
1. Skyline (Sammamish) Jake Heaps to Gino Simone. Get used to it. 2. Bothell Size doesn't matter in Bothell. Quickness does. 3. Edmonds-Woodway Haven't you Heard...
Sweep ends Everett's season on a low note
Everett ended its season with a 2-1 loss to host Eugene in Northwest League action at Civic Stadium. Eugene swept the three-game series...
UW Volleyball | Toughest competition at practice
The Huskies have plenty of weapons as they prepare for their volleyball home opener.
Briefs | NBA: Report: Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur caught with marijuana
NBA Former Kansas stars kicked out of rookie program: Former Kansas basketball players Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were kicked out...
People in Sports | Jim McKay, Oprah Winfrey
Jim McKay: Swimmer Michael Phelps and former skater Dorothy Hamill will help pay tribute to the late broadcasting icon at the Babe Ruth...
Prep Football schedule
Statewide football scores
Thursday Mount Rainier 2, Tyee 0 (forfeit) ...
EntertainmentFirst Thursday Art Walk | From Superman to sea creatures
Pioneer Square First Thursday gallery picks: Gallery 110, James Harris, Platform, Vetri International Glass, along with a happy hour at Imo Asian Bistro.
Bumbershoot crowd was smaller, but thirstier
Bumbershoot news: Attendance was down for 2008, but drink sales were up. And the Monotonix concert on Monday got shut down due to crowd surfing.
CD Forum founder and head to step down
Stephanie Ellis-Smith, the founder and executive director of the CD Forum, announced she will step down from her post in June 2009.
Cornish College names new music chairman
Kent Devereaux is the new chair of the music department at Cornish College of the Arts.
Living
Travel & OutdoorsA tour of our funky — and flourishing — flea markets
Puget Sound-area flea markets are prospering in hard economic times, and you can find everything from bargain treasures to attic-clearing kitsch.
Hiking the "American Alps" just outside North Cascades National Park
A look at an area just outside North Cascades National Park that some advocates think should be added to the park. They call it the "American Alps."
Puyallup Fair: The big bash of autumn opens Friday
Puyallup Fair 2008 information.
American Airlines may cut another 469 jobs at U.S. airports
American Airlines has told 469 employees at airports in five U.S. cities that they may lose their jobs in November as the airline continues to cut back on flights.
Pix From My Weekend
A dandelion at sunset
Richard Dahl's photo of a dandelion and a sunset.
Best bets for the weekend
Weather-wise, the first week of September is looking better than the cool and moist last half of August. (It just doesn't seem like we've...
Walkabout
Hop over to Frog Lake Trail
A walk on the Frog Lake Trail near Darrington with writer Cathy McDonald.
Birders' Top Spots
Bird-watching in the Cowlitz Wildlife Area
Audubon Washington offers tips on bird-watching on the Cowlitz River.
Star Watch
Mercury rising and Venus, too
A look at the September night skies as seen from Seattle and Puget Sound.
Travel notes
A fishing fest on Vancouver Island
Upcoming events and attractions across the Northwest and British Columbia.
OpinionEditorial
Bellevue teachers strike is wrong
Striking Bellevue teachers are being misled by their union. The Bellevue Education Association's demands would cut deep into successful programs and scuttle efforts to raise student performance.
Editorial
Love that top-two
Washington voters overwhelmingly prefer the state's new top-two primary.
Letters to the Editor
A sampling of readers' letters, faxes and e-mail.
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist
A woman is a woman is a woman — and an insult is an insult is an insult
You know what bugs me most about Sarah Palin? It isn't that John McCain spent weeks claiming Barack Obama was unready to lead, then chose...
Guest columnist
As goes the Arctic, so may well go the planet
The Arctic is on the front lines of global climate change.
Guest columnist
Lieberman following the same path, but it's on a very different road
I won't have floor seats this time. But that's not the only thing that changed when my former boss, Sen. Joe Lieberman, addressed the nominating...
Thomas Friedman / Syndicated Columnist
Students must generate some energy and hold candidates accountable
As we emerge from Labor Day, college students are gathering back on campuses not only to start the fall semester, but also, in some cases...