Latest Washington News, Sports, Business, and Entertainment at 9:20 p.m. PDT
PORTLAND SHOTS
Police and FBI are investigating Portland shootings
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Police received help from the FBI on Sunday investigate the recent shooting in Portland, Oregon, amid a “cycle of violence” which the city police chief says is linked to the gang. At least three shootings were reported over the weekend. A woman was killed in a shootout on Sunday about an hour after another man was wounded in another shooting. He is expected to recover. Police say a woman was shot in the shoulder while driving on Saturday, but is expected to survive. City officials announced Friday that the police and the FBI would be working together over information that groups, some of which had traveled from California and Washington, were in Portland to escalate gun violence.
Kill Frying Pan
Man who killed neighbors with a pan gets 22 years
SPOKANE, Washington (AP) – A man pleaded guilty of pan-killing his neighbor was sentenced to 22 years in prison on a plea. The Speaker Review reports that 36-year-old Wilbur Tankersley was murdered in a low-income home in Spokane in May 2020. Cameron Walker was convicted Friday after pleading guilty of first degree murder. Prosecutors say Tankersley and Walker were involved in physical fighting prior to the murder. Walker’s attorney said a psychologist found Walker most likely to have schizophrenia. Walker’s adoptive mother, Angela Walker, told the judge that her family had tried many times to turn to Walker for help.
VIRUS OUTBREAK BUSINESS
Vancouver call center closed due to COVID-19 outbreak
VANCOUVER, Washington (AP) – According to health officials, a broadband call center in Vancouver, Washington has been temporarily closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak that has resulted in 29 confirmed cases and two possible cases. Colombian public health rapporteur Marissa Armstrong said in an email late Friday that the first case was reported to the Spectrum Communications office in mid-April, the most recent on Friday. Armstrong said the store will be closed on Wednesday, given a thorough clean, and consulted with Labor & Industries prior to reopening. The company hadn’t made a public statement related to the outbreak as of late Friday.
VIRUS OUTBREAK BAR LICENSE
Bar’s alcohol license suspended after dozens of complaints
TACOMA, Washington (AP) – The Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board has suspended its license for a bar in Tacoma for 180 days after months of complaints and quotes. The News Tribune reports that the board said this week it had issued an immediate, urgent suspension of an American tavern’s license for repeated, willful non-compliance and public health and safety disregard. Also during that time, the board said it would attempt to permanently revoke the license. The board has received 60 complaints about the bar, issued verbal and written warnings, four administrative violations, and fines of $ 800. The newspaper’s efforts to solicit comment from owner Kyle Bidwell were not immediately successful.
E-COLI OUTBREAK YOGURT
Health officials link the E. coli outbreak to the yogurt brand
OLYMPIA, Washington (AP) – Washington state health officials announced Saturday that they had detected an outbreak of E. coli in PCC Community Market-branded yogurt made by Pure Eire Dairy. The dairy is working with the Department of Agriculture to identify and recall all affected products. Health officials say anyone with this brand of yogurt should throw it away. The outbreak includes 11 confirmed cases, including six children under the age of 10. There have been eight cases in King County and one each in Benton, Snohomish, and Walla Walla counties. Seven people were hospitalized. Three people have developed a serious complication from E. coli infection.
SHOOTING SENTENCING
The conviction in Coeur d’Alene was postponed to July
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (AP) – The conviction of the man charged in the July 4th shootings in Coeur d’Alene has been postponed to July 1. Tyler Rambo was due to appear before Judge Cynthia Meyer on May 28th. On Friday, the judge issued a motion to have the conviction waived. A jury issued a split verdict in Rambo’s case in March for two shootings that took place in the city park on July 4, 2019. Rambo faces a prison sentence of up to 25 years. Rambo’s attorney said in court Friday that Rambo had medical concerns that were not being adequately addressed by the prison.
DROWNING BODY RESTORED
Officials recover the body of a man who drowned in Green River
ENUMCLAW, Washington (AP) – King County’s Sheriff’s Department and members of the Marine Rescue Dive Unit have recovered the body of a man believed to have drowned at the Green River Gorge Bridge near Enumclaw. The sheriff’s office says they received reports that a man fell into the river around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The 21-year-old died trying to help another person ashore. As the air temperature warms up, lakes and rivers are still very cold. Officials advise always exercising caution when swimming.
CAPITOL RIOT-WASHINGTON ARREST
6. Washington state man indicted in US Capitol violation
SEATTLE (AP) – A Seattle suburb man was arrested and charged with entering the U.S. Capitol with a pro-Trump mob during the deadly January 6 riot. The Seattle Times reports that an FBI spokesman said Friday that Joseph Zlab of Lake Forest Park was arrested in Everett on Thursday. Court documents show that Zlab has been charged with a number of unauthorized entry or stay in a restricted building or site and a number of violent entries and disorderly conduct on the Capitol site. Zlab first appeared in federal court in Seattle on Thursday. Neither Zlab nor his federal defender replied to messages left on Friday.
PRINCIPAL RESIGNS ALLEGATIONS
The Vancouver director resigns on racist charges
VANCOUVER, Washington (AP) – A Vancouver school principal accused of preferring and allowing racist language has resigned but is becoming principal for special assignments within the same district. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports Matt Johnson said in a statement this week that his resignation will come after “joint discussions with the district.” Johnson had run Mountain View High School since 2014 but had weeks of paid administrative leave. Gail Spolar, spokeswoman for the Evergreen Public Schools District, says Johnson will be in charge of special assignments starting July next school year. Documents submitted to the district school board indicate that Johnson will step down from that position next summer.
VIRUS OUTBREAK OREGON MASKS
Oregon Asks Companies to Review COVID-19 Vaccine Status
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Companies are being asked to either enforce mask policies or see if customers have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Oregon State Health Commissioner. Dr. Dean Sidelinger came on Friday when he said the state was still working on issuing more detailed guidance to businesses. Late Thursday, Governor Kate Brown said Oregon would immediately follow instructions from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier in the day, making wearing inner masks and social distancing easier for fully vaccinated people. Brown said that Oregonians who are fully vaccinated will no longer have to wear masks or social distancing in most public spaces. Sidelinger said it is up to companies to determine a person’s vaccination status for the time being.