You want more of this? Cough up $8 million extra dollars.
You want more of this? Cough up $8 million extra dollars. KELLY O

A Seattle streetcar named despair: The Seattle Department of Transportation grossly underestimated the cost to run the expanded downtown streetcar system that’s currently under construction. It will cost 50 percent more than initially anticipated. That equals $8 million more a year. Seems like a big oversight. It’s a staffing issue, apparently. SDOT lowballed the staffing estimations. King County Metro says the streetcar will need nearly twice the amount of staff to run the streetcar than SDOT said. Metro apparently told SDOT this repeatedly and was ignored.

Pierce County has more homicides in 2018 than all of 2017: We’re only three months into 2018 and already Pierce County has had its fill of bloodshed. There have been 12 people killed of suspected homicide in three months. In just the past week there a 21-year-old suspect allegedly murdered his two parents and there was a triple-murder-suicide. “A lot of people with guns up here,” the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman said.

Another shitty man in a position of power resigns: This time it’s Washington’s commissioner of the Employment Security Department. Dale Peinecke had many sexual harassment and inappropriate work conduct complaints made about him. Investigations into the allegations started in January. Peinecke announced his retirement on Thursday.

Renewable energy upstages coal: The Centralia Mine in southwest Washington is getting a makeover. The Tono Solar project could make the old mine site into one of Washington’s largest solar projects. It would generate up to 180 megawatts of electricity. It’s a part of energy provider TransAlta’s mission to completely eliminate coal from its portfolio by 2030. The site would create 300 jobs during construction and four permanent solar technician jobs. TransAlta is in the process of getting permits.

A student Superintendent? The Seattle School Board is in the process of hiring its next superintendent. There weren’t any formal requirements listed. However, the board encouraged “nontraditional candidates” to apply. So, 15-year-old Franklin High School student India Unwin applied. It doesn’t get much nontraditional than that. Unwin doesn’t think the board will seriously consider her application but she has a platform and goals for the position. Namely, Unwin would work on eliminating the opportunity gaps she’s witnessed in the Seattle school system. Kids are so civically engaged these days.

Girl Scout says fuck the haters: And is back selling cookies after two men tried robbing her at Tacoma Fred Meyer. Haliyah Dubois returned to the same Fred Meyer because she’s a metal as fuck 10-year-old. And if she doesn’t sell those Thin Mints then who in god’s name will? Is there a Girl Scout patch she can earn for spitting in the face of attempted robbery?

The gold at the end of the rainbow: Belongs to a Russian airplane. The hatch flew open and $156 million in gold and silver rained down on a east Russia runway. Nearby residents flocked to nearby fields with flashlights in search of some fortune and glory. Unfortunately, all of the riches have been reclaimed.

U.S. helicopter crashes in Iraq, kills 7: The helicopter was carrying U.S. servicemen from Iraq to Syria. It crashed in western Iraq along the Iraq-Syria border near the town of Qaim. The incident is under investigation but, as of right now, it doesn’t look like the cause was enemy fire. No one survived.

Six dead in Miami bridge collapse: Multiple vehicles were crushed when a pedestrian bridge on Florida International University’s campus collapsed. The university had unveiled it just five days prior. Death tolls could rise; emergency crews could see eight vehicles from the exterior of the bridge but there’s a possibility that there are more underneath the concrete. Crews are drilling holes just so they’re able to see.


Brits say “extremely likely” Putin ordered nerve attack directly: the UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson called out Putin as the mastermind behind the chemical weapon attack on British soil. It’s the most direct accusation against the Russian leader yet. The Kremlin continues to deny involvement and says it will soon retaliate over the expulsion of its diplomats.

I hear the people love basketball: Here is some basketball.


Yeezy in Wyoming: Rumors swirl that Kanye West is up to something in Wyoming and by something I mean he’s making a new album. Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Nas, and other notorious Ye producers and collaborators have been spotted in Jackson Hole. West’s last album “The Life of Pablo” came out in 2016.

Court tells Romanian man that he’s dead: Constantin Reliu was legally registered as dead. He went to court to convince them that, no, really, he’s alive. The court said he appealed too late and he is officially dead. Reliu is worried he will have a hard time finding employment as a dead man.

Fun fact for your Friday: Lego is the largest tire manufacturer in the world. They produce tiny tires, sure, but they do so at a greater capacity than any other tire company. Lego makes over 318 million tires each year.

Mapping out your weekend? Your best Seattle entertainment options include: The Saint Patrick's Day Irish Festival, Research ft. Honey Dijon, and the closing performance of a little musical called Hamilton.

Correction: This post has been updated to reflect how much more than anticipated it will cost to expand the downtown streetcar. The post originally stated that it would be $16 million more. In fact, it is $8 million.