Your trusted source for local Tacoma, WA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
Tacoma Police Department has dismantled a large illegal cannabis operation, seizing over 7,000 marijuana plants and related items. The operation, while licensed in Washington state, was allegedly selling products on the black market. A 35-year-old licensee has been arrested and charged with unlawful possession and manufacturing of a controlled substance.
Pierce County Council member Marty Campbell expressed frustration at the slow progress of the Unified Regional Approach (URA) to homelessness during a recent Select Committee on Homelessness meeting. Despite a $1 million consulting contract with Uncommon Bridges, there are concerns about the timeline and effectiveness of the plan, especially as many individuals have died in the streets during the delays.
Metro Animal Services has temporarily closed due to possible mold under the office floor, relocating 64 animals to foster families and partner shelters. The city is working with experts to assess and repair the facility, while the agency continues to respond to animal-related calls, although adoptions and visits are suspended.
Tacoma voters will decide in April on a new permanent streets initiative aimed at enhancing city infrastructure, following a previous tax package from 2015 that raised nearly $400 million. The proposed measure will increase utility and property taxes, with city officials highlighting its significance for community safety and accessibility.
The Tacoma City Council has approved a 7% salary increase for high-ranking members of the Tacoma Police Department, including deputy police chiefs, captains, and lieutenants, starting in 2025. This decision, stemming from a collective-bargaining agreement, will cost the city approximately $1.736 million over three years and aims to enhance compensation and support community safety efforts.
A 12-year-old girl was hospitalized in Tacoma after being struck by a vehicle during an attempted car theft on December 18, 2024. The incident occurred when a man allegedly tried to steal a car while the girl and her mother were exiting their vehicle. Police apprehended the suspect shortly after, charging him with robbery and hit-and-run.
Big Lots is set to begin liquidation sales at its remaining stores in Washington, including the last location in Tacoma, due to economic challenges and the failure of a buyout deal with Nexus Capital Management. This marks a significant drop from 26 stores earlier this year to just six remaining in the state.
Kristen Heber, a 22-year-old woman from Federal Way, tragically died in a vehicle crash in Tacoma on December 13. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death an accident due to multiple blunt-force injuries. Despite initial resuscitation efforts at the hospital, she did not survive. In a selfless act, her family has chosen to donate her organs to five recipients. The Tacoma police are currently investigating the circumstances of the crash.
Three elderly women in Gig Harbor had their purses stolen in a series of incidents occurring within a week. The police are investigating these crimes, which have raised concerns about community safety, and are advising residents to secure their belongings.
Raul Alberto Lozano Lucas, 21, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for fatally shooting his uncle, Antonio Lucas Huerta, during a confrontation over the sexual abuse of his sister. The case highlights the tragic impact of family violence and unresolved trauma.