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John T. Williams was a famous First Nations woodcarver living in Seattle. He was killed by a Seattle police officer. SEATTLE — Tomorrow marks the 15th anniversary of the killing of First Nations Woodcarver John T. Williams at the hands of a Seattle Police officer. The shooting ignited public outrage across the city. Right now, at the intersection of Boren and Howell in downtown Seattle, three white deer stretch across the crosswalk. They're Indigenous symbols of safe passage. They also mark the place where a Seattle police officer took the life of a man 15 years ago. On August 30th, 2010, Officer Ian Birk fatally shot First Nations woodcarver John T Williams. Dashcam video from back then showed Williams on the ground, with Birk nearby shortly after the shooting. John was carrying a piece of cedar and a small carving knife in his hand, a common tool of the trade. Officer Birk gave John four seconds to put the knife away. He waited four seconds before ending a life and shattering a family.  "Four point something seconds, to make a decision," John's brother Rick Williams said to reporters back in 2010. "What are you, God?" Since his brother's death, Rick Williams has carved every day. "I enjoy it, I really enjoy it, like I said, I start feeling like my grandfather teaching what I know as a carver," Williams said.  He can often be found teaching carving as a sacred Nuu-chah-nulth art form, as a way of expressing First Nations identity at the Tahoma Indian Center. "It's something I wanna teach to students here, it's not about the money, it's about heritage," he added. These days, Rick lives to carve. But there were days when Rick and his younger brother John carved to live. "We were born into a famous carving family, to share our history. It's in the history books that one of my great-grandfathers stood this close to the queen of England," Williams said. "John was 12 when he first sold his carving to the Smithsonian, to the museum in England." All that stopped when John was given four seconds to drop his carving knife. The city of Seattle protested the shooting, demanding Birk be held responsible for John's death.  In the aftermath, Rick said he felt there was too much focus on John's struggles as an unhoused Indigenous man living with alcohol addiction. "But you showed the last week of John's life, that's where your mentality is, and that's exactly why you're dismissed," Williams said of the people who commented on John's lifestyle. "They didn't like him. I got tired of the way people put my brother down; they believed what the news said about John T's last week of life." Seattle police officer Ian Birk resigned from the force, but never faced criminal charges. At the time, the police department released a photo of Williams' knife open, against a ruler. However, a federal investigation found that John's carving knife was actually closed, and he never approached Officer Birk. In 2012, the Seattle Police Department entered a federal consent decree, a court-ordered agreement with the Department of Justice, to reform the use of force, biased policing, and officer accountability.  "I think it's actually getting worse, policing across the country," Joseph Seia said.  Seia is one of the commissioners of the Seattle Community Policing Commission. The commission was formed shortly after the police department entered into a consent decree, as a part of a reform effort. "Hearing about the way he was brutally murdered didn't sit right with me, but I also understand it's deep-seated, racial aggression that this country has against indigenous people, against Black people, and that continues to show up in ways we do policing," Seia said. However, Seia and the commission say it's time to rely on local powers for change and to leave the federal consent decree behind. A hearing to potentially drop the consent decree is scheduled for September 3rd. "Change is going to enter at different levels, whether it's at the federal level, local level, and I believe there is a strategy around having Seattle and the police commission, what it means to do change locally," Seia added. At the Seattle Center, under a totem pole's shadow, Rick Williams adjusted to being close to John again. "It's been a couple of years since I sat here. Oh yeah, I'm home," Williams said with a chuckle. Rick installed the totem pole in 2012 as a tribute to his brother. He used a small carving knife to work on the pole, a feat many said he wouldn't be able to accomplish.  "I usually look around to see if anyone is watching, and I go-- give it a hug, 'I'm still here bro,'" Williams said, hugging the totem pole.  He said while carving does remind him that his brother is gone, he finds the art healing. "I hurt, I do miss my brother, and the world as I see it--I don't want Native art to die in Seattle," Williams said. "This is our heritage, this is our livelihood, this is the way we grew up. I spent 65 years of my life carving; I haven't missed a day."

Research suggests ocean pH will drop from 8.1 to 7.3 by 2300, making the water 10 times more acidic than today. WASHINGTON — They are the ocean's most famous apex predator. But something is eating at them - acid. Rising acid levels in the world's seas will dissolve sharks' teeth - that's according to a new study. Research suggests ocean pH will drop from 8.1 to 7.3 by 2300, making the water 10 times more acidic than today, according to the IPCC. So to find out what that means for these fish, scientists collected teeth shed naturally by the sharks at this aquarium in Germany. They placed them in water with the same pH level currently found in our oceans, and in water with the pH levels expected in 2300. After eight weeks, they noted much more damage on the teeth placed in the higher acid solution. "We discovered that oceanic acidification can damage shark teeth and we've known for many, many years that it corrodes also the shells of mussels and also coral skeletons, but we discovered that also shark teeth are affected," says Maximilian Baum, the study’s lead author and a researcher from Heinrich Heine University. The reason for the projected rise in ocean acid levels? Climate change. "As humanity, we are bringing a lot of CO2 emissions in our atmosphere and a lot of it goes to the sea in carbonic acid, and this makes the sea more acid," says Baum. Sharks are well known for regrowing their teeth. They are continually replacing them as each set gets worn down by wear and tear. But this ability might not save them. "Sharks can replace their teeth, this is one (bit of) good news. But they have to produce new teeth and this could be harder in more acidificated water and we also know that it sometimes takes maybe months or years to use one tooth and to replace it, so one tooth is exposed for a very long time to seawater," says Baum. Without their teeth, these ocean hunters will struggle to catch their prey. But its not just the survival of sharks that could be threatened - the impact will be felt throughout the entire ecosystem. "The sharks have a key role in marine ecosystems. If sharks are missing we can see top-down effects on all other marine species, so they are very, very important for coral reefs, for seaweed areas, and we need sharks for a healthy ocean and we need a healthy ocean for a healthy planet and a healthy ecosphere," says Baum. Damage to the teeth included cracks and holes in the enamel, and corrosion to the roots. The study was published in the journal 'Frontiers in Marine Science'. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Light rail service between Rainier Beach and Tukwila is suspended following a fatal collision involving a pedestrian and a car. SEATTLE — Light rail service between Rainier Beach and Tukwila was suspended after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car in south Seattle. The pedestrian was hit near 9840 Martin Luther King Jr. Way South early Friday, which also shut down all lanes of that roadway and the light rail tracks. The woman, who "appears to be in her 30s" according to Seattle police, was pronounced dead at the scene.  Police determined that the woman had walked across the train tracks and was struck by an SUV, which then stopped suddenly and was rear-ended by a sedan. The drivers of both vehicles were evaluated for signs of impairment and neither was arrested. The 1 Line was suspended at 5:16 a.m. between the Rainier Beach and Tukwila International Boulevard Stations. Sound Transit issued an alert at 5:35 a.m. that delays should be expected for travelers in that area. The vehicles will be towed away and the King County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause and manner of death for the victim. This story will be updated.

The first 50 people in line will get a complimentary cold brew from neighboring Cafe Vitta and a Salt and Straw tote bag. SEATTLE — A popular Pacific Northwest ice cream chain will open its newest Seattle location on Friday. Salt and Straw will open its doors Aug. 29 in the Queen Anne neighborhood at 11 a.m. There will be special giveaways for the first 50 guests, and the establishment partnered with a well-known Seattle chef in the lead up to their first day of service. The first 50 people in line will get a complimentary cold brew from neighboring Cafe Vitta and a Salt and Straw tote bag "filled with products from some of their favorite local collaborators." Salt and Straw joined forces with Ethan Stowell to offer two exclusive menu items at How to Cook a Wolf, Stowell's beloved restaurant just across the street from the new location. From Aug. 22-28, an Affogato made with the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons ice cream from Salt and Straw along with a How to Cook a Wolf Ice Cream Sandwich with the Arbequina Olive Oil flavor from Salt and Straw were available. The new scoop shop also will have a special back-to-school offer from September 2-5, where visitors can get a complimentary kids' scoop when they show a school ID or wear school merch if they purchase a double scoop. Salt and Straw says this is one of four openings in the Seattle area in 2025, as a Redmond location opened up in July and two other locations in Seattle are coming "later this year." Salt and Straw was founded by Kim and Tyler Malek in Portland, and now has locations in eight states.

Activists first sought to establish a day to pay tribute to workers in the late 1800s. WASHINGTON — From barbecues to getaways to shopping the sales, many people across the U.S. mark Labor Day — the federal holiday celebrating the American worker — by finding ways to relax. The holiday with activist roots is celebrated on the first Monday of September, creating a three-day weekend that marks the unofficial end of summer. Over 17 million people were expected to travel by air from Thursday through Wednesday, according to the Transportation Security Administration, with Friday being the day with the most travelers. AAA said that according to its booking data, top destinations for the weekend include Seattle, New York and Orlando, Florida. Here’s what to know about Labor Day: Labor Day's origins date to the Gilded Age Activists first sought to establish a day to pay tribute to workers in the late 1800s. The first Labor Day celebration in the U.S. took place in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers marched in a parade organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor. Workers' quality of life was declining as they transitioned from artisan to factory jobs, while factory owners' quality of life was “just skyrocketing,” said Todd Vachon, an assistant professor in the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations. In the years that followed, a handful of cities and states adopted laws recognizing Labor Day. President Grover Cleveland signed a congressional act in 1894 making it a federal holiday. That was the same year that workers for the Pullman Palace Car Company went on strike after the railcar-maker cut wages without reducing rent in the company-owned town where workers lived near Chicago, Vachon said. Over 12 workers were killed after Cleveland sent federal troops to crush the strike, he said. Cleveland’s move to establish Labor Day as a federal holiday is seen by some historians as a way for him “to make peace” with the working class, Vachon said. Labor Day has become the unofficial end of summer Travelers crowd airports and highways for end-of-summer escapes, and backyard chefs prepare cookouts for family and friends. Barbecuing has been a part of Labor Day celebrations from the start, said Robert F. Moss, food writer, culinary historian and author of “Barbecue: The History of an American Institution.” He said it was already such an entrenched tradition in the U.S. that when the labor movements developed in the late 19th century, it was natural to way to celebrate as large groups gathered. In the 20th century, the holiday’s barbecues moved more toward gatherings of friends and family in backyards, he said. “It still has a lot of that same communal sense, gathering around the grill, eating together,” he said. How the labor movement has evolved over the decades When Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, unions in the U.S. were largely contested and courts would often rule strikes illegal, leading to violent disputes, Vachon said. It wasn’t until the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 that private sector employees were granted the right to join unions. Later into the 20th century, states also began passing legislation to allow unionization in the public sector. But even today, not all states allow collective bargaining for public workers. In recent years, Vachon said, there’s been a resurgence in labor organizing, activism, interest and support. The connection between fashion and Labor Day The adage that one shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day is a “rule” that’s broken with fashionable results, but where did it originate? Fashion experts say it likely goes back to the Gilded Age — the same period that spawned Labor Day. The cool, white frocks worn by wealthy New Yorkers summering in places such as Newport, Rhode Island, would be packed away upon their return to the city with its dirt-packed streets. Christy Crutsinger, a professor in merchandising and digital retailing at University of North Texas, heard the adage from generations of women in her family. But “the fashion world’s not working that way anymore,” she added. “People think it, say it, but don’t abide by it,” she said. Still, fashion is on the mind of many around Labor Day, thanks to back-to-school shopping and a switch by many business people from a more relaxed summer dress code, said Daniel James Cole, adjunct assistant professor in fashion history at the Fashion Institute of Technology and co-author of “The History of Modern Fashion.” The holiday, he said, “is kind of this hinge” between summertime dress and fun to going “back to more serious pursuits.” Associated Press journalist Wyatte Grantham-Philips contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

The second season of the Mike Macdonald era will coincide with a new quarterback's arrival in Sam Darnold, who is fresh off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. SEATTLE — Seattle Seahawks (10-7) Expectations The second season of the Mike Macdonald era will coincide with a new quarterback's arrival in Sam Darnold, who is fresh off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. But with two of the Seahawks' top three receivers from last year — D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett — now catching passes for other teams, it may take some time for Seattle's aerial attack to reach its stride under first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. As a result, the Seahawks hope a rushing attack that finished with the fifth-fewest yards in the league last season can improve this year. Much of that is contingent on whether Kenneth Walker III can bounce back from an injury-shortened season, as well as whether a revamped offensive line with first-round pick Grey Zabel on the scene can do a better job of creating running lanes. As for the Seahawks' defense, Seattle allowed the 14th-fewest yards per game in 2024, and that should only be aided by the arrivals of veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Second-round pick Nick Emmanwori should buoy a secondary that yielded the eighth-fewest yards per attempt last season, thanks in large part to another banner year from two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The Seahawks should be a steady bunch, but their playoff hopes could very well be contingent on whether the San Francisco 49ers bounce back from a down season. QB Sam Darnold, WR Cooper Kupp, QB Drew Lock, CB Shaquill Griffin, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, OL Josh Jones, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G Grey Zabel, DB Nick Emmanwori, TE Elijah Arroyo. Key losses WR D.K. Metcalf, QB Geno Smith, WR Tyler Lockett, TE Noah Fant, LB Dre'Mont Jones, S Rayshawn Jenkins, DT Roy Robertson-Harris, OL George Fant. Strengths Adding Lawrence to the mix should bolster one of the NFL's most stingy defensive lines, one that combined for the eighth-most sacks (45) in the league last year. He joins a group that features Jarran Reed and 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II. Last year's sack leader, Leonard Williams, is back, too, as are edge rushers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall. That trio combined for 25 sacks a season ago, a total that could increase now that Lawrence is on the scene. The Seahawks' secondary remains stellar, too, with Witherspoon and Riq Woolen among the league's best at cornerback. Weaknesses Zabel, who is expected to start the season at left guard, enters the picture with plenty of pedigree as the No. 18 overall pick in this year's draft. But the rest of the interior offensive line is a bit of a concern for the Seahawks. Anthony Bradford has won the starting right guard job ahead of his third season, and second-year center Jalen Sundell appears to have beat out Olu Oluwatimi, who did not play in the preseason while dealing with a back issue. Bradford has started 21 games the last two years, but Sundell has none to his name. Considering the Seahawks' offensive line yielded 54 sacks in 2024, it would go a long way if Bradford and Sundell could solidify that unit. Camp development Fourth-year wide receiver Dareke Young has all of two career NFL catches to his name, but he has stood out among a group including both veteran and unproven reserve wideouts. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder has impressed with his ability to win 50-50 balls during practices, and may earn a spot on the Seahawks' opening week roster because of it. Fantasy player to watch Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off his first career 1,000-yard season and could be in for another successful campaign catching passes from Darnold. Smith-Njigba was the Seahawks' most-targeted player in 2024, and that is likely to be the case again in 2025 after the subtractions of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, as well as the addition of veteran wideout Cooper Kupp. BetMGM Sportsbook Win Super Bowl: 60-1. [embedded content] Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Bledsoe Family Winery is teaming up with the Cougar Collective to release the Ol' Crimson Legendary Red Blend. Proceeds from the Walla Walla-made wine will go to the Cougar Collective, which is designed to create Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for WSU athletes. “It’s really a connection with my two hometowns: Walla Walla, where I grew up, and Wazzu, where I went to school. Two very, very special places to us,” Drew Bledsoe, WSU legend and founder of Bledsoe Family Winery, said. “When you’re a Coug, you’re kind of always an underdog. We’ve always embraced that underdog mentality, but we still want to win. So raising money for the Cougar Collective is important for us.”

The Chiefs tight end and Grammy-winning singer attended the Nebraska-Cincinnati game at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night. KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift were seen in public for the first time since announcing their engagement this week when the Chiefs tight end and Grammy-winning singer attended the Nebraska-Cincinnati game at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night. Kelce, who played football for the Bearcats, spent plenty of time on the field during warm-ups in a red-and-white striped sweater before retreating to a suite for the game. He was joined there by Swift and several others shortly before kickoff. In a five-photo joint post on Instagram on Tuesday, Kelce and Swift revealed their engagement after a courtship that lasted for about two years. The Chiefs did not make Kelce available to reporters this week, and Swift publicist Tree Paine only confirmed that the engagement ring was an old mine brilliant-cut diamond from Kindred Lubeck. The Chiefs are preparing to play their season-opener against the Chargers next Friday night in Sao Paulo, Brazil. One of Kelce's best friends, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, also was on hand for the game, perhaps to take in the sight of another No. 15 wearing red and white. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola has been compared to the three-time Super Bowl MVP ever since taking over in Lincoln, not only because they look similar but because they also were the same jersey. Others on hand included Kelce's older brother, Jason Kelce, the retired Philadelphia Eagles center who now works in TV and co-hosts the popular “New Heights” podcast with Travis, and Chiefs safety Bryan Cook. All of them attended Cincinnati. There were no doubt plenty of supporters for the Huskers, though. Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt's son, Dawson, is a linebacker for Nebraska, while defensive line coach Terry Bradden helped Kansas City to reach five Super Bowls. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Senator Murray says Pete Serrano's conservative views are "far out of step with the people of Washington" and aims to block his confirmation into the permanent role. SPOKANE, Wash. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray says she plans to block the confirmation of Pete Serrano, who was named interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Washington earlier this month.  Serrano was appointed to the position by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on August 6 and sworn in on August 11. He can serve for 120 days as he awaits official confirmation by the U.S. Senate, which may never happen if Senator Murray blocks his nomination process.  “Pete Serrano has tried to rewrite the history of the violent January 6th insurrection, thinks the Supreme Court overturning Roe and allowing states to pass criminal abortion bans was ‘the right decision,’ and has fought in court to unleash dangerous assault weapons on our streets," said Sen. Murray in a statement sent to KREM 2 News. "His extreme right-wing views are far out of step with the people of Washington state, and I will be using every legislative tool I have to block his confirmation."  Senator Murray's office confirmed with KREM 2 that Serrano's confirmation may be blocked using a Senate tradition, called a "blue slip," which allows senators to block the advancement of federal attorney and judge positions in their state.  The blue slip is essentially a consent form that is sent by the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee to the two senators of the nominee's home state.  If the senators sign the slip, the nomination moves forward. But if they provide a negative response, or if the form is not returned, the chairman of the judiciary panel can choose not to move forward. President Trump has called the process "old and outdated" and has said he may sue over the custom, but Republican senators argue that they use the process to their own benefit during Democratic administrations.  A spokesperson for Senator Murray clarified that the blue slip would not be used until Serrano is officially nominated to hold the permanent, not the interim, position of federal prosecutor.  Before his appointment, Serrano resigned from his position as the mayor of the City of Pasco. In 2021, Serrano co-founded the Silent Majority Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on civil rights cases on behalf of conservative organizations and causes. As Interim U.S. Attorney, Serrano will supervise the prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters in the Eastern District of Washington. 

Photo by Michael Brunk / nwlens.com Sound Transit’s new Eastside light rail stations are seeing higher-than-expected ridership, even as the full East Link Extension into Seattle faces another delay. According to The Urbanist, which first reported on data presented to Sound Transit’s Rider Experience and Operations Committee in early August, two stations added in May have driven significant growth across the 2 Line. Downtown Redmond has quickly emerged as the busiest station on the Eastside, followed closely by Downtown Bellevue. Updated figures released later in the summer showed even stronger gains. In July, more than 306,000 riders boarded trains along the 2 Line, an increase of 47% from June and nearly 100,000 more riders in a single month. Average weekday ridership climbed above 10,700, far surpassing Sound Transit’s previous projection of 6,000 daily riders. Those levels place the 2 Line ahead of nearly every King County Metro bus route in terms of usage. Ridership patterns vary by station. While Downtown Redmond and Downtown Bellevue account for the largest share of boardings, Wilburton and East Main have seen much lighter activity. Both stations sit in areas where major redevelopment and land-use changes have yet to fully take shape. Despite the early success of the Eastside segment, riders will need to wait longer for the full East Link Extension that connects across Lake Washington. According to Sound Transit’s June 2025 System Expansion Monthly Status Report, the opening date has shifted again, now scheduled for April 25, 2026. The revised timeline pushes back earlier projections of a January 2026 start, with some previous estimates suggesting late 2025. The delay affects the segment that crosses I-90, including new stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island. Sound Transit attributed the latest postponement to ongoing construction, additional testing and training requirements, and the need to resolve outstanding technical issues before service begins.