WASHINGTON, USA —
Lynnwood police using GPS tracking technology to reduce pursuits
The Lynnwood Police Department is adopting a new technology the agency said will help them keep up with suspected criminals without having to chase them.
A small box that sits on the front of a squad car is the latest in tech and is designed to tail a suspect who, for whatever reason, doesn’t want to pull over.
At the press of a button, a small air compressor inside the squad car’s engine bay can propel a GPS tracker through the air and onto the back of a suspect’s vehicle -- a system known as StarChase. Lynnwood police said they must have reasonable suspicion of a felony crime before they use the device. Read more
The Biden administration is removing more trees from central Washington forests as part of its strategy to prevent wildfires on public lands from exploding through nearby cities and towns.
Officials are targeting national forests, state and private lands across four counties for its forest thinning initiative. This includes six high-risk fire sheds (Twisp, Chiwaukum, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cle Elum, and American River) across 2.45 million acres (1.35 million acres of Forest Service lands, 1.1 million acres non-Forest Service lands).
After thinning the forests, officials expect wildfire exposure and smoke impacts to be reduced in Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Yakima, Chelan, Naches, Cle Elum, Winthrop, and other smaller communities adjacent to the forest. Read more
Interstate 5 traveling north through Seattle will shut down Wednesday and Thursday nights for a construction project.
Drivers trying to get into or through downtown either night from the south should prepare for congestion and detours.
Northbound I-5 will close at the Interstate 90 interchange beginning at 9 p.m. both nights, while the collector/distributor ramp from I-90 to Olive Way will close at 11:59 p.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Read more
The projected revenue collections for the 2023-25 state budget increased by nearly $327 million due to the capital gains tax that went into effect last year.
“Capital gains revenue collections have been stronger than expected and the forecast has been revised up to reflect that,” said Steve Lerch, executive director of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. “However, the large number of estimated capital gains tax returns means that final collections from this source remain uncertain. Otherwise, relatively small changes in the economic forecast have given rise to small adjustments in the revenue forecast.” Read more
Hurricane Ridge Road reopened to public visitors Tuesday, following a fire in May that destroyed a popular visitor center destination.
Visitors enjoyed viewpoints and hikes with gorgeous weather. The road will remain open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with some limitations on previous access. Olympic National Park will limit the road to 315 vehicles a day for now, with plans to ramp up later; 175 will be allowed in the parking lot at a time, to account for restroom access changes. Read more
