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Grocery chains in Capitol Hill and the Central District of Seattle implement stricter security measures, including backpack bans and receipt checks, amid rising theft concerns. These changes aim to enhance shopper safety but have drawn criticism for complicating shopping experiences. QFC's spokesperson emphasized their commitment to community safety and positive feedback from customers.
Seattle City Council's Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan will consider an interim growth plan to implement HB 1110, aimed at increasing middle housing development. A public hearing is scheduled for May 19, 2025, to discuss proposed regulations allowing various housing types in residential zones. Key amendments, including a compromise from representative Joy Hollingsworth, will address ongoing local concerns regarding development.
Seattle Police Department pauses directed patrols at Denny Blaine Park amid public outcry over enforcement of nudity laws. Mayor Bruce Harrell and local officials express support for the park's longstanding use as a nude beach while addressing community concerns about safety and illegal activities. The incident has been referred to the Office of Police Accountability following public complaints.
Seattle police officers rescued a man who was dangling from a garden hose atop a Central District apartment building Sunday morning. The man, who had locked himself out of his apartment, was taken to Harborview for treatment after the incident.
Pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building at the University of Washington on May 5, 2025, leading to about 30 arrests after a night of escalating tensions. The group, SUPER UW, demanded the university sever ties with Boeing, citing its involvement in the Gaza conflict. Protesters set fires and barricaded entrances, prompting police intervention.
The Seattle Police Department and Seattle University researchers will host an online meeting on May 12 to discuss public safety concerns in the East Precinct. Traffic safety emerged as the top concern in the 2024 Seattle Public Safety Survey, overshadowing traditional worries about theft and violence. Community members, police personnel, and researchers are invited to participate in the dialogue.
Court proceedings continue over a year after Corey Bellett was fatally stabbed at Capitol Hill Station, with a June trial start now unlikely. Defendant Shawn Patrick Moore, accused of the murder, has not yet secured new legal counsel following a conflict of interest. Moore remains in custody after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder and witness intimidation.
Seattle City Council plans to approve legislation for deploying automated traffic cameras, including 19 new school safety zone cameras. The changes follow state law adjustments that simplify camera deployment and allow monitoring for various traffic violations. The council's transportation committee emphasizes a review process for the camera program's effectiveness.
Police arrested five individuals during a protest at Portland State University on May 5, 2025, against conservative speaker Riley Gaines, who opposes transgender women competing in women's sports. The protest, organized by Students for a Democratic Society, aimed to challenge what they described as anti-trans rhetoric from Gaines and her supporters.
Firefighters extinguished a major storage unit fire in south Everett on Monday evening, with over 60 responders deployed. The blaze destroyed around 13 open storage bays and damaged several units, but no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office.