Rail opponent files initiative
OLYMPIA — A longtime Sound Transit opponent has filed an initiative to dissolve the mass-transit authority.
The initiative filed yesterday by Kris Wilder would also send its tax revenues to the Legislature.
"The people of Snohomish County and of Pierce County have basically become a taxing district for downtown Seattle's transportation problems," Wilder said. Sound Transit — created in 1996 by voters in parts of King, Snohomish and Pierce counties — has had budget problems with its plan to build a north-south light rail line in Seattle.
If Wilder collects 197,734 signatures by the end of the year, the measure would go to the Legislature next year. Lawmakers could then pass it, let it go to the voters in November or propose a substitute that would appear with the initiative on the ballot.
Sound Transit has three major programs: express bus service, the Sounder train that runs between Seattle and Tacoma, and the proposed light-rail line.
Buses and the Sounder will carry about 6 million people this year, the agency has said.
Kay Jewelers at Northgate robbed at gunpoint SEATTLE — Two men robbed Kay Jewelers at the Northgate Mall at gunpoint this morning, the second jewelry story heist at the mall in less than a week.
The Kay Jewelers robbers, described as Asian, robbed the store about 10:30 this morning. They fled south from the mall. The men were described as being in their 20s and wearing baseball caps. One man wore on a red shirt and tennis shoes, investigators said. No one was injured during the holdup.
Police aren't sure the Kay Jewelers robbers are the same men who held up Ben Bridge Jeweler store at the mall Saturday. Police say they have no suspects in either case.
Federal Way teenager in serious condition after falling from rope swing
KENT — A Federal Way teenager was in serious condition today after falling 30 feet while swinging from a rope over a steep embankment at Lake Fenwick Park in Kent.
The teenager, whose name was not released, suffered spleen injuries and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle following the incident shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The boy was holding a rope when he swung out over the embankment and then fell, according to Lt. Pat Pawlak, Kent Fire Department spokesman.
Rescuers put the youth on a stretcher and lowered him the remainder of the embankment to medics, Pawlak said.
The incident occurred in the 4200 block of Reith Road, at the west end of the park.
Three brothers sought in connection with Auburn shooting
AUBURN — Auburn police are searching for three brothers in connection with the shooting of a man during an argument Tuesday night.
The victim, 34, was shot in the chest and abdomen. He was in serious condition today at Harborview Medical Center.
The shooting occurred in the 1800 block of L Street Southeast, the home of the mother of the three brothers, about 11:15 p.m., said Cheryl Price, Auburn police spokeswoman.
The brothers, whose ages range from 13 to 26, fled after the shooting, which followed an argument, Price said.
After he was shot, the victim, whose name was not released, ran to a neighbor's home for help, Price said.
Body found may have beenin water for six months
OCEAN SHORES — The body that washed ashore Monday about 2-1/2 miles north of Ocean Shores appears to be that of a woman in her mid-20s.
The woman was described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, with brown hair and weighing about 100 pounds, said Grays Harbor County Undersheriff Rick Scott. The woman appears to be Asian or Native American.
No women matching the description have been reported missing in the area. The body appears to have been in the water as long as six months. There were no signs of trauma, Scott said.
The woman was wearing a one-piece black swimsuit with yellow trim, size 6; a black turtleneck sweater; a brown leather belt with a silver buckle and tan shorts, size 8.
Police seek help findingman in Bellevue assault
BELLEVUE — Police are asking the public to help locate a man who assaulted a 41-year-old Bellevue resident Sept. 7.
The man, wanted for felony assault, is described as white in his 40s, with short gray or blond hair, gray eyes, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 210 pounds, with gold-rimmed glasses. He was wearing a dark baseball cap and a shiny jogging suit with a yellow stripe down the side.
The assault took place in early morning on the 14900 block of Southeast 44th Place, in Bellevue's Eastgate neighborhood. Anyone with information can call Bellevue police at 425-452-6917.
Driver killed when he hitback of dump truck
FEDERAL WAY — A Thurston County man died yesterday in an accident involving two trucks at South 320th Street in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 at Federal Way.
Billy L. Glenewinkel, 60, of Rainier died when his tanker truck ran into the rear of a dump truck, full of asphalt, that was slowing to enter a construction site.
Man charged in killing saysshooting was self-defense
SEATTLE — Second-degree murder charges have been filed against a man who told police he was defending himself when he shot his girlfriend's estranged husband, say charging documents filed yesterday in King County Superior Court.
Antoine Surge was at the home of Myisha Jones on Carkeek Drive South Aug. 26 when Paul Jones arrived with their two children and said he wanted to talk. He became angry and chased her into the house, prosecutors say.
He asked his wife if Surge was the person she'd left him for, then called Surge names and struck him. Surge took a .38-caliber gun and chased Jones out, firing one shot from about 35 feet, court documents say.
Jones was dead on arrival at Harborview Medical Center.
Surge, 21, will be arraigned Oct. 12. He is being held on $500,000 bail.
Information is from Seattle Times staff and news services.