War of the Portage Bay Crows: "In the Portage Bay neighborhood in Seattle, crows have been at the center of an epic, nearly two-year neighborhood battle," reports Erik Lacitis. "Even the cops have been called in. And it’s all been about one family feeding crows in an apparent never-ending buffet."
Man Shot While Sitting in Car in Columbia City: "An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg while sitting in his car in Columbia City early Thursday," the Seattle Times reports. "Police responded to a call that a man had been shot at Rainier Avenue South and South McClellan Street a little after midnight. The victim told officers he had been sitting in his car near 42nd Avenue South and South Juneau Street when another car approached, according to Seattle Police." There was reportedly an argument between the two cars, and then the shot was fired. The man's injuries are not life-threatening, according to the Times.
Campaign Finance Reform Bill Killed in Olympia: "A bill to force disclosure of major donors to nonprofits that spend big on Washington political races was derailed by Republicans in the state Senate Wednesday — even though they’d previously voted for the measure," reports Jim Brunner. "The reversal came after some business groups lobbied against the proposal, arguing it would subject their members to unfair scrutiny."
Ed Murray Vetoes $1 Fine for Not Composting—for Now: "Breathe easy, Seattle. The proposed fines for not following Seattle’s new food composting rule have been delayed," reports KUOW. "The fines were originally scheduled to start July 1. But on Wednesday, Mayor Ed Murray said he would suspend those fines for the rest of the year. The earliest they could go into effect—and that's a big if—is January 2016."
Inslee Vetoes 75-mph Speed Limit: "A wide majority of the Washington Legislature voted to raise the maximum speed limit from 70 to 75 miles per hour," KUOW reports. "But in his first veto of 2015, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee attempted to slow down the proposed increase. The Democrat said he wants a study performed first to see if higher speeds could be allowed safely."
Strike Approved by Student Teachers at the UW: "By an overwhelming majority, the Academic Student Employees union at the University of Washington approved a strike if it cannot reach a contract with school administrators," KPLU reports. "The vote came after an impasse during tense negotiations with the university over issues such as pay and student fees and the rising cost of living in Seattle."
The Beacon Hill Food Forest: A nice update on the state of its berries and fungi, in honor of yesterday being Earth Day.
The Apartment at the Top of the Smith Tower: Prepare to be jealous.
Sally Clark Sued over Collision with Bicyclist: "A lawsuit has been filed against former Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark and the city of Seattle over a 2012 accident in which her SUV collided with a bicyclist in Tacoma while she was on her way to a speaking engagement," the Seattle Times reports. "The suit was filed last week in Pierce County Superior Court on behalf of Steve Fairbanks, who initially filed a $2.5 million claim against the city last year in which no resolution was reached."
Obama Admits US Drone Strike Killed American and Italian Hostages: "President Obama on Thursday offered an emotional apology for the accidental killing of two hostages held by Al Qaeda, one of them American, in a United States government counterterrorism operation in January, saying he takes 'full responsibility' for their deaths," the New York Times reports. "'I profoundly regret what happened,' he added. 'On behalf of the U.S. government, I offer our deepest apologies to the families.'"
