Washington DOL snitched on hundreds: About 900 people had their information shared by the Department of Licensing. That information went straight to immigration-enforcement agencies (cough ICE cough). The DOL sent off personal information like place of birth after just a simple federal email request. Now, after a Seattle Times report revealed their shady dealings with ICE, the DOL has to send the governor’s office all the requests it receives. “Of 156 such requests since the Times story, the state denied 30 percent,” the Times reports. None, however, went to ICE.
Clean fuel for trash trucks: Seattle Public utilities has made a new $850 million deal with two contractors, Recology and Waste Management. The deal requires both companies to use trucks powered by renewable energy or electricity for picking up the city’s garbage. The new contract goes into effect next April. Dirty fuel-loving, in-the-pocket-of-big-oil EPA chief Scott Pruitt would have a conniption. Speaking of Scott —
Scott Pruitt is a size queen: New reports have come out that Pruitt wanted a bigger car than the one he was issued and the model used by other EPA chiefs before him. Why? Well, because other Cabinet members drove bigger cars. We don’t have to get Freudian, but like, why not? Anyway, he got the bigger car. The first year’s lease cost $10,200. It was customized, too. Bullet proof seat covers were installed because the only thing worse than getting shot is having to repair the upholstery after. Also, the EPA is still paying the lease ($9,180) on Pruitt’s original vehicle.
Apple increases presence in Seattle: Downtown is a battleground for tech talent among all the big shot tech companies. Apple, overshadowed by Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook in Seattle, wants a piece of the pie. The company just bought 70,000 square feet in one of downtown’s tallest skyscrapers. This expansion of Apple’s engineering center could see an influx of 500 people.
Landslides galore: I don’t know if you’ve heard, but it’s wet this April. Landslides have shut down the rail service for two days in Everett. Landslide warnings are in effect across the Puget Sound region through Tuesday.
Residents think tiny house village breeds crime: It’s a place where people who can’t get traditional housing can find a home. The tiny house village houses 60 people. In the year since the village has been on Aurora Avenue North and North 87th Street, police data shows that crime has spiked. However, a data scientist who lives nearby says the data is flawed and some crimes have been reported twice. The police are reviewing the issue.
Mercer on-ramp metering starts today: Mercer Street is universally known as one of the worst streets in Seattle. Meters installed on the on-ramp to I-5 at Mercer will go into effect today. Their purpose is to pause each car for a couple of seconds and cause more orderly merging onto the freeway. If all goes to plan, the meters could allow 3 to 5 percent more cars onto I-5. However, when traffic is the most congested, there won’t be any benefits. Some things are too far-gone.
Uber apologizes for operating illegally in Portland: The company never got permission to operate in the city from the Portland City Council. Then, when it agreed to stop services, Uber operated in secret, using a software to stop regulators from catching drivers. Shady stuff. Now, Uber is saying sorry for all of that. Their bad.
Oh, Hannity: In a twist nobody saw coming this season, Michael Cohen’s mysterious third client is none other than Sean Hannity. As a reporter (a term I’m using loosely) for Fox News, Hannity reported heavily on Trump’s legal team. He never disclosed that he and Cohen had any sort of relationship. Ethics? Never heard of them. He’s claiming he never actually paid Cohen. Late night hosts had a field day.
Here’s Colbert:
On second thought, no Russian sanctions: Nikki R. Haley, the president’s ambassador to the United Nations, announced there would be further sanctions against Russia for the chemical attacks in Syria. But, Trump said he never approved the measures. There are no further sanctions.
North and South Korea in talks to end the war: Technically, it never ended. The North and the South signed a truce in 1953. There was never a peace treaty. Now, the two are said to be in talks about making a joint statement. It is supposedly about permanently ending their military conflict.
New sexual misconduct claims against R. Kelly: A woman alleges Kelly tried to intentionally infect her with an STD. According to her, he also tried to induct her into the sex cult he was allegedly running. Police are looking into the incident. In case you wanted a refresher on R. Kelly, here’s rapper Vince Staples’ take:
ladies and gentlemen, vince staples on r kelly pic.twitter.com/SmZdYu9PNJ
— andy (@aboynamedandy) April 16, 2018
Teen wants to bathe in KFC gravy, starts GoFundMe: Don’t let your dreams be dreams. A British teen certainly isn’t. He’s seeking €475 to fill a bathtub with gravy. He has raised zero money.
Tonight’s best Seattle entertainment options include: Frankie Cosmos, Ian Sweet, SOAR, and Deckard’s Troll Parade at Neumos, a lecture from New York Times cosmic affairs correspondent Dennis Overbye, and We The People: An Evening with the ACLU’s Anthony Romero.
