Your trusted source for local Tacoma, WA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
A festive ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the grand opening of the new fastpitch field at Hilltop Heritage Middle School, which will also benefit Stadium High School's fastpitch teams. This facility provides students with their first dedicated home field, addressing previous inequities in sports access. Funded by a $535 million school construction bond, the project features modern amenities to enhance the athletic experience for local youth.
Tacoma Community House has opened a new site in Parkland, partnering with the United Way of Pierce County to provide essential services like financial guidance and employment assistance to low-income families, addressing local unemployment and health disparities.
Deputy Mayor John Hines has announced his candidacy for mayor of Tacoma, focusing on housing, homelessness, and public safety. His campaign emphasizes community engagement, highlighted by his recent 'Walk Across Tacoma' initiative, where he connected with residents to understand their concerns. Hines aims to enhance his council work and provide effective governance for all neighborhoods in Tacoma.
The Tacoma Police Department is seeking volunteers for its Community Annual Holiday Giveaway, where toys and coats will be distributed to children in need on December 20. Volunteer opportunities are available from December 18-20 for sorting and wrapping donations at two local locations.
The University of Puget Sound has been awarded the Beacon Award for Excellence in Student Achievement and Success by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, recognizing the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (FEPPS) program for providing education to incarcerated individuals. Several faculty members were also honored for their contributions, highlighting the university's commitment to transformative learning and community engagement.
Gregory Schaffer has been appointed as the In Home Care Director at the Korean Women’s Association (KWA), where he is dedicated to enhancing caregiving for seniors and vulnerable adults in Western Washington. With a strong healthcare background, Schaffer focuses on individualized care and caregiver support, upholding KWA's legacy of compassion and respect.
The Blue Mouse Theatre in Tacoma is launching a fundraising campaign called 'Old Theatre-New Seats' to raise $50,000 for new seating. This initiative is essential to meet a matching grant requirement from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. The current seating, over 20 years old, will be replaced with more comfortable, ADA-compliant options by June 2025.
A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against the Longview Police Department following the fatal shooting of Katelyn Rose Smith during a mental health crisis. The lawsuit alleges that officers failed to use less-lethal options, resulting in her death, and emphasizes the need for better training in handling such situations.
The Tacoma Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 31 is voicing concerns over proposed budget cuts to the Tacoma Fire Department, which could eliminate 16 'rover' positions. Union President Allyson Hinzman warns that this may lead to fire station brownouts and longer emergency response times, posing significant public safety risks amid a growing city budget deficit.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is actively addressing food insecurity in the Puget Sound region with a $500,000 grant from CommonSpirit Health. Initiatives include medically tailored food boxes, edible food recovery programs, and efforts to enhance SNAP enrollment for better access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations.