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Building trades unions emerge as a key ally of tech giants in push for AI data centers

He attributes today’s growth to data centers, power plants and legislation under former President Joe Biden that subsidized the construction of semiconductor and electric vehicle battery factories, energy efficiency projects and grid transmission improvements.Data centers’ voracious energy needs are setting off a power plant construction boom and delivering a one-two punch of new life to unions whose members also build and maintain boilers, ductwork, pipelines and other power infrast

Takeaways from AP report on Trump administration’s defiance of lower court orders

The three cases date to the first few months of the new administration, but judges have continued to find violations since then, including in two cases in April.Higher courts often sided with the White HouseIn 15 of the 31 lawsuits the AP reviewed, an appellate court or the Supreme Court either allowed the administration’s underlying policy, limited the district court’s efforts to correct or punish the noncompliance, or both.Those decisions show lower court judges are overreaching, said Will Cha

In court fights over policy, Trump officials rack up an extraordinary record of defiance

That’s making them “more aggressive in accusing the government of bad faith,” said O’Grady, who along with Fogel is now part of the nonpartisan democracy group, Keep Our Republic.Fogel said judges are also getting frustrated.“They make orders and the orders don’t get complied with and then they have to inquire why the orders are not being complied with, and that’s where it gets very mushy and very political,” he said.Plaintiffs in an education case raise alarmsIn Eureka, California, school admin

Prosecutors list dog as alleged deadly weapon in Tacoma assault

Prosecutors listed a dog as an alleged deadly weapon after its owner was charged in a Tacoma assault.Chad Kaaihue was charged Thursday after he allegedly hit a person in the mouth with a wrench, and his two pit bulls reportedly bit customers outside a gas station, according to KING 5, citing Pierce County court documents.Police were sent to Speed E Mart on South 19th Street on Wednesday after callers reported pit bulls biting people and not letting people leave the area, the media outlet reporte

Air Force says former Qatari 747 will be ready to fly Trump as Air Force One this summer

Instead, he said, the plane would be donated to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and put on display as a museum piece.Air Force officials said the former Qatari jet will serve as a “bridge” until Boeing is ready to deliver a pair of new aircraft, which is now expected in 2028.The two planes currently used as Air Force One have been flying for nearly four decades, and Trump is eager to replace them. During his first te

Fugees rapper Pras reports to prison to begin 14-year sentence

<block>SAFFORD, Ariz (AP) — Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees has reported to federal prison to begin a 14-year sentence following a conviction over illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Michel reported to prison Thursday, a spokesperson said, with federal records listing him as an inmate at a low-security correctional institution in Arizona. “Today is a painful day for Pras, for his family, and for everyone who believes in a fair system of justice. Pras honors the legal process as he reports to begin his sentence,” said Erica Dumas, a spokesperson for Michel, adding that his legal team is still contesting his charges. “This chapter is difficult, but it is not his final one,” Dumas said. Michel, 53, was convicted in 2023 on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. He was sentenced late last year. Prosecutors said he obtained over $120 million from Malaysian billionaire Low Taek Jho — also known as Jho Low — and steered some of that money through straw donors to Obama’s campaign. Michel also tried to end a U.S. Justice Department investigation of Low, tampered with two witnesses and perjured himself at trial, prosecutors said. Low has maintained his innocence. Michel was a founding member of the Fugees along with childhood friends Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, with the group going on to win two Grammy Awards and selling tens of millions of albums. </block>

‘We do not stop’: Fugitive on WSP Most Wanted list for 14 Years arrested in California

A fugitive who spent 14 years on the Washington State Patrol’s (WSP) Most Wanted list has been arrested in California.Manuel Cortez-Vargas, 33, was taken into custody Thursday in Madera, California, WSP reported.Cortez-Vargas was wanted on a 2012 hit-and-run fatality charge stemming from a rollover crash in Skagit County that killed 19-year-old Cameron Sheridan.RELATED STORIESWoman stabbed in head near South Seattle CollegeFoss High School stabbing suspect pleads not guilty; transferred fr

Rep. Andy Barr gets coveted Trump endorsement in Kentucky Senate race to replace McConnell

Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Senate GOP leader.“Andy Barr has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next United States Senator from Kentucky,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.Barr is facing former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and entrepreneur Nate Morris in the May 19 Republican primary.All three Republicans coveted the president’s endorsement in the conservative state, where Trump won 64% of the vote in the 2024 presidential race. Barr and Morris have r

Randy Johnson No. 51 retirement: Rick Rizzs remembers the Big Unit’s Mariners legacy

“I think you’re going to see this ball club really take off and move way beyond that .500 mark.”RELATED STORIES'He couldn't throw a strike': Rick Rizzs on how Seattle turned Randy Johnson into a HOFer ahead of jersey retirement ceremonyThe Spin: Mariners turn Ichiro statue mishap into PR win ahead of giveaway nightMariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs: World Baseball Classic disrupted Cal Raleigh's timing at the plateCole Young’s breakout for Seattle MarinersOne Mariner who&#82

US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany in next 6-12 months

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany in the next 6-12 months, the Pentagon said Friday.President Donald Trump had threatened to withdraw some troops from its NATO ally earlier this week as he continues to feud with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the U.S-Israel war against Iran.Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that the “decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater req

FACT FOCUS: Why nearly 4.3 million people are no longer receiving food stamps

So people don’t need food stamps.”THE FACTS: SNAP beneficiaries decreased by nearly 4.3 million from January 2025 to January 2026, according to pushed through Congress last summer are the primary reasons.The bill is projected to cut $186 billion in federal spending — 20% — from SNAP over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.“What we’ve seen in terms of the data is that the trend in participation declines seems to be related to the program being harder to access,” said Rog

A court has restricted abortion access across the US by blocking mailing prescriptions to a pill

<block>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common means of abortion in the U.S. by blocking mailing of prescriptions to mifepristone.A panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is requiring that the abortion pill be distributed only in-person at clinics.Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed enforcement of abortion bans, prescriptions by mail has become a major way that abortions are provided — including to states where bans are in place. </block>

WA AG defends role in drafting millionaires’ tax legislation, pushes back on McKenna’s claims

Chase — which held that a state income tax was unconstitutional — was incorrect in its ruling.“Yeah, we agreed that it was wrongly decided,” Brown said on “The Gee and Ursula Show.”Washington’s millionaires’ tax (SB 6346), signed this year and taking effect in 2028, introduces a 9.9% tax specifically on annual taxable income exceeding $1 million per household.Former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, who’s leading the legal challenge against the millionaires’

Hundreds pack Cal Anderson Park for May Day rally

Seattle’s complicated history with the eventActivists' May Day rallies confront turbulent times, call for greater labor rightsMay Day speakers challenge tech’s role in the workplaceKatie Garrow with MLK Labor urged the crowd to challenge the role of technology in the workplace.“We’re not against technology, but we think that technology should improve working people’s lives,” Garrow said. “It should improve our quality of life. The productivity shouldn’t

Gerry Conway, comic book writer who co-created Punisher character in Spider-Man, dies at 73

<block>Gerry Conway, a renowned comic book writer who helped create characters and stories for Marvel and DC, including the Punisher character in the Spider-Man comics, has died. He was 73.In a Monday statement announcing his death, Marvel described Conway as a legendary comic book writer with a prolific career. He died Sunday at his home in Thousand Oaks, California, the New York Times reported. His wife told the news outlet the cause was pancreatic cancer.“From Spider-Man to the Avengers, Iron Man to Captain Marvel, Gerry Conway has deftly written almost every character in the Marvel Universe,” Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski said. “Gerry Conway’s legacy has made an undeniable and indelible impact on the Super Hero stories we know and love. He will be dearly missed.”Tributes were also shared on social media. “While many know his Marvel accomplishments … Gerry’s contributions to DC were equally impactful and significant: shaping Batman, Superman, the Justice League of America, and co-creating Firestorm, Jason Todd and Power Girl and so many more,” Jim Lee, chief creative officer and president of DC Comics, said in an Instagram post. “Thank you, Gerry, for the worlds imagined and the heroes created.”Conway was born in Brooklyn on Sept. 10, 1952. A lifelong fan of comic books, he started writing comic book stories as a teenager, and by the age of 19 he landed work on “The Amazing Spider-Man” — which Marvel’s statement described as “the job that would change his life — and the comic book industry at large — forever.”Conway’s writing featured “pivotal moments” that redefined the series, Marvel said, such as the death of Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker’s girlfriend. He also co-created the Punisher, a vigilante antihero known for the skull logo on his chest. The skull imagery has been used by law enforcement in recent years, sparking controversy at times. Nearly a decade ago, Conway objected to police departments putting Punisher decals on their vehicles, saying in a social media post that the character was “a complex morally compromised anti-hero, not to be emulated by cops,” as reported <a href="https://www.syracuse.com/news/2017/04/central_new_york_police_cars_sport_punisher_skull_decals_in_blue_lives_matter_tw.html#incart_river_home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Syracuse Post-Standard.</a>Conway had a way of imbuing characters with nuance and emotional depth, Marvel said in its statement. “Gerry Conway brought real stakes to his writing, able to weave together sensational super heroics with the human and relatable, and in doing so created some of the most memorable stories and characters of all time,” Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said.Beyond the Spider-Man comics, Conway wrote for several other major Marvel titles, including “Fantastic Four,” “Thor” and “The Incredible Hulk.”In a 1981 interview with The Comics Journal, Conway noted how comic books can appeal to both younger and older audiences.“I’m writing for the youthful part of myself, the primitive part of myself,” he told the magazine. “If an adult likes the books it’s because of a nostalgic feeling for that primitive, easy conceptualization of heroic purpose.”Conway is survived by his wife, Laura Conway, and two daughters from previous marriages.</block>

Woman stabbed in head near South Seattle College

A woman was stabbed in the head this afternoon near South Seattle College, according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD).Her condition is not known, but she was alert and conscious when help arrived.SPD said a man in his 20s is in custody.This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Foss High School stabbing suspect pleads not guilty; transferred from previous school over similar issues

That victim was stabbed in the back.That victim also told authorities that he heard Essakhi stole a vape pen from the previously mentioned friend.RELATED STORIES4 students, security guard injured after stabbing at Foss High School in TacomaOne dead, one injured in Covington homicide Friday morning; no arrests madeMan stabbed multiple times outside Lake City bar in Seattle, suspect flees scene before officers arrivedStabbing suspect transferred from previous school over fighting, mother saysEssak

All lanes of NB I-405 in Bellevue reopen after fully engulfed garbage truck fire

All northbound lanes of I-405 in Bellevue have reopened after a garbage truck blocked the highway when it became fully engulfed in flames.At approximately 12:10 p.m., the closure was reported near S.E. 8th, prompting the ramp and two right lane closures for nearly two hours, Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Rick Johnson <a href="https://x.com/wspd2pio/status/2050292570723615213?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a>.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VehicleFire?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#VehicleFire</a> NB 405 near SE 8th. A garbage truck is fully engulfed. The ramp and right two lanes are closed. Use caution through the area and expect delays.— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) <a href="https://twitter.com/wspd2pio/status/2050292570723615213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May 1, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Johnson noted that all lanes reopened after crews got the fire under control.No injuries have been confirmed in the incident, as of this reporting.This is a developing story, check back for updatesFollow Jason Sutich <a href="https://x.com/jason_sutich" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on X</a>. Send <a href="https://mynorthwest.com/contact-us">news tips here.</a>

Meet Dr. Nicole Saphier, Trump’s new surgeon general nominee

She said equally important, and missing from Trump’s message, was the fact that untreated fever or severe pain can also pose serious risks to mothers and babies.After Means’ confirmation hearings earlier this year, Saphier said on her podcast that she expected Means would do a good job as surgeon general but wished she were “a little bit less involved with MAHA.”“I’d really like to see a little bit more reaching across the aisle when it comes to public health,” Saphier said. “That do

Trump says he’s still considering a taxpayer-funded deal to bail out Spirit Airlines

<block>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s still looking at a taxpayer-funded takeover of Spirit Airlines.“We’re looking at it. If we could do it, we’ll do it. But only if it’s a good deal,” Trump told reporters on Friday as he prepared to leave the White House for a trip to Florida.He didn’t offer any details about what proposal he was considering but said he’d like to save jobs at the airline, which has filed for bankruptcy twice in two years. Trump said his administration gave Spirit “a final proposal” and would make an announcement Friday or Saturday.”“We’re looking at Spirit and if we can help them, we will. But we have to come first,” he said.</block>