The Associated Press

I-5 bridge collapse survivor: 'I can't believe we're alive'

The Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:01:32 +0000

Bryce Kenning saw the void before him in an explosion of dust, and there was nothing he could do.

"It was like time was frozen — like a roller coaster where you're not attached to the tracks," he said Friday. "It's something you never think you will ever experience in a lifetime — driving off a straight cliff."

Feds seeking temporary fix after I-5 bridge collapse

The Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:25:19 +0000

Federal officials were searching the country for a possible temporary replacement for a bridge that collapsed along the crucial Interstate 5 corridor, but Washington Gov. Jay Inslee cautioned Friday that major disruptions will last for weeks, if not months.

3 pulled from Skagit River after I-5 bridge collapse in Mount Vernon

The Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:35:21 +0000

An Interstate 5 bridge over a river collapsed north of Seattle Thursday evening, dumping two vehicles into the water and sparking a rescue effort by boats and divers who pulled three injured people from the chilly waterway.

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly-gay boys

The Associated Press — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:18:04 +0000

The Boy Scouts of America's National Council has voted to ease a long-standing ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts.

Of the local Scout leaders voting at their annual meeting in Texas, more than 60 percent supported the proposal.

Holder: 4 Americans killed in drone strikes since 2009

The Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:54:32 +0000

The Obama administration acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes since 2009 in Pakistan and Yemen. The disclosure to Congress comes on the eve of a major national security speech by President Barack Obama.

Okla. City mayor: Up to 13,000 homes hit by massive tornado

The Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:25:51 +0000

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett says 12,000 to 13,000 homes were affected by the tornado that tore through a city suburb.

At least 24 people died when the tornado laid waste to Moore on Monday afternoon.

Oklahoma schools hit by tornado had no safe rooms

The Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:04:52 +0000

An emergency official says Oklahoma has reinforced tornado shelters in more than 100 schools across the state, but the two that were hit by this week's storms in suburban Oklahoma City did not have them.

Albert Ashwood is director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. He told reporters Tuesday it's up to each jurisdiction to set priorities for which schools get limited funding for safe rooms.

Lawyer: Feds investigate Susan Powell case

The Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:21:45 +0000

The lawyer for the family of a missing Utah woman says there's an ongoing federal investigation into Susan Powell's disappearance.

Anne Bremner made the announcement at a Seattle news conference on Tuesday, a day after local officials in Utah said they had closed their investigation into the Susan Powell case.

Microsoft reveals Xbox One

The Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:22:29 +0000

Microsoft thinks it has the one.

The company revealed the Xbox One, its next-generation entertainment console, during a presentation Tuesday at its headquarters in Redmond, Wash.

Medical examiner: 24 dead in Oklahoma twister

The Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:07:41 +0000

Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children, and those numbers were expected to climb.

As the sun rose over the shattered community of Moore, the state medical examiner's office cut the estimated death toll by more than half but warned that the number was likely to climb again.

At least 24 dead as monstrous tornado wreaks havoc in Oklahoma

The Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:40:20 +0000

A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. The death toll, originally at 51, was revised Tuesday morning to 24. But the death toll is expected to go back up later today.

Police file: Josh Powell had affair before wife vanished

The Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:18:33 +0000

Newly released police files say Josh Powell had an affair with a Utah woman just months before his wife disappeared.

According to a West Valley City police detective's report, investigators contacted the woman, whose full name is redacted, in August 2010, after her phone number was discovered in connection with the case.

Remembering Mount St. Helens blast 33 years later

The Associated Press — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:01:00 +0000

Saturday is the 33rd anniversary of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens that killed 57 people, knocked down a forest and filled the sky and rivers with volcanic ash.

The mountain in southwest Washington may be the best known volcano in the state, but it's not the only one or the most dangerous.

Burgess exits Seattle mayoral race

Bellamy Pailthorp and The Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:30:36 +0000

Seattle City Council member Tim Burgess has bowed out of the mayoral race.

Burgess said recent polling showed his campaign lacked the sparkle he needed to win, and he posed a risk of splintering the vote in the crowded race.

Senate majority names 33 bills for budget talks

The Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:12:52 +0000

As lawmakers wrap up their first week of a special legislative session, Senate majority leaders have asked that more than 30 bills be considered as part of the budget discussions.

A list of 33 measures, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, was submitted during a private meeting Thursday, including bills dealing with changes to the workers' compensation system, education bills and other bills tied to the budget, including funding for state parks and higher education. Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler declined to comment on the list Friday.