Mayor Ed Murray during his live address on homelessness, which started just after a deadly shooting at a homeless encampment in Sodo.
Mayor Ed Murray during his live address on homelessness, which started just after a deadly shooting at a homeless encampment in Sodo. Seattle Channel

Last Night Around 7:15, Five People Were Shot at a Homeless Encampment in South Seattle: In a shooting at the encampment known as The Jungle, two people were killed, one was left in critical condition, and two were left in serious condition, according to the Seattle Police Department. A police source told the Seattle Times the shooting "appeared to be a dispute among people who knew each other."

Police Are Still Looking for Two "Persons of Interest" in the Shooting: They are not yet releasing names or descriptions but are asking anyone with information to call (206) 233-5000.


Just 15 Minutes After Police First Received Reports of that Shooting, the Mayor Gave a Special Televised Address on Homelessness: In that speech, Mayor Ed Murray defended his administration's efforts on the homelessness, including both the "safe lots" the city will establish for people living in their cars and the ongoing controversial encampment sweeps of illegal tent encampments. Watch the full speech here or read it here.

In an Update from the Scene of the Shooting, Murray Wondered, "Did I Act Too Late?" "Maybe I should have issued the state of emergency months earlier," Murray told reporters, referring to his November declaration of a homelessness emergency. "It's on me in the end." Murray urged people not to "use this tragedy to try to paint all homeless people as criminals."

Murray Also Said He, the County Executive, and the Governor Will Assess the Area Near The Jungle: But it wasn't exactly clear last night what that meant. Murray's spokesperson hasn't responded to a request for clarification. (Considering the city's mixed record on getting the people it kicks out of encampments into shelter and services, a sweep of that area in response to this shooting will be controversial.)

A Spokesman in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Standoff is Dead and Other Leaders Are In Custody: Robert "LaVoy" Finicum was killed after the FBI and state police stopped vehicles north of Burns, The Oregonian reports. Another militia member, Ryan Bundy, suffered a minor gunshot wound and was treated, released, and taken into FBI custody. Other militants, including leader Ammon Bundy, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers, according to The Oregonian.

By the Way, the Armed Occupation Is Costing Oregon Taxpayers: Local and state agencies are spending about $100,000 a week on law enforcement.

The Duwamish River, which feeds Elliott Bay, is contaminated and Seattle wants Monsanto to help pay to clean it up.
The Duwamish River, which feeds Elliott Bay, is contaminated and Seattle wants Monsanto to help pay to clean it up. MAX HERMAN/Shutterstock

Seattle is Suing Monsanto Over PCBs in the Duwamish River: "The complaint, filed Monday in federal court, alleges that Monsanto knew how toxic [polychlorinated biphenyls] were to humans and the environment, but continued to produce and sell the chemicals for decades anyway," Sydney explains. Spokane did the same thing last year. Monsanto denies responsibility.

A State Senate Committee Will Hear the Transgender Bathroom Bill Today: The bill would require transgender people to use facilities associated with their birth sex instead of their gender identity. The public hearing is at 1:30 p.m.

Don't Eat at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Bellevue for a Bit: Health officials shut down that restaurant after a suspected norovirus outbreak, the Seattle Times reports

And Avoid Cucumbers: A salmonella outbreak tied to Mexican-grown cucumbers is still spreading.

A State Senator from Spokane Wants to Stop Other Washington Cities From Playing "'Mini-Me' to Seattle Progressives": That's what Republican Michael Baumgartner claims Spokane did with its recent passage of a sick leave ordinance. Now, Baumgartner has introduced a "Seattle quarantine" bill to "prevent the spread of excessive minimum wage increases by cities across Washington." Ansel has more.

Another Turn of Events in the Story that Has Somehow Put Us All on Megyn Kelly's Side: Donald Trump is skipping Fox News's Thursday debate as part of his ongoing feud with the network. One sentence from his campaign's statement on the decision: "Unlike the very stupid, highly incompetent people running our country into the ground, Mr. Trump knows when to walk away."

Seattle Musicians Earn Poverty Wages: That's according to a new report from University of Washington PhD candidate Megan Brown, which found, among other things, that "despite substantial growth in the music industry in the past seven years, workers’ incomes have remained stagnant or declined."

ICYMI: We Finally Have an Opening Date for the Newest Light Rail Lines: Light rail from downtown to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington opens March 19.