Jake Ellison

Sunny, with a high near 77.  Forecast here.

Making headlines around the Northwest:

• Wash.'s 4th wolf pack documented in Kittitas Co.
• Ex-prisons chief says he had affair with staffer
• Off the wire: Landslide; sex offender message therapist
• Cyberattack on Richland national lab computers
• Boaters allowed to enter U.S. with a phone call
• Tacoma pastors feeding kids over the summer

You can expect region-wide congestion this weekend, the state Department of Transportation says, because State Route 520 will be closed between Montlake Boulevard in Seattle and Interstate 405 in Bellevue.

And, the city of Seattle will close the Interstate 5 ramps to and from Mercer Street.

The Lions Clubs International’s 94th International Convention is in Seattle through the July 8, and the club’s major Parade of Nations took over 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle on Tuesday.

"The first thing that struck me were the big smiles on all the participants faces. They looked so happy to be a part of this big event and so proud of their particular groups," reported KPLU's Erin Hennessey.

The parade was scheduled to run from the Seattle Center to the Washington State Convention Center. The closure of 5th Avenue and the rerouting of Metro bus routes through the city was expected to last until 2 p.m. or so. (Video and photo gallery inside)

On Tuesday Starting today, two specially equipped Seattle police vans had started scanning up to 20,000 license plates per day, hunting for vehicles with four or more parking tickets in order to give them the “boot.”

Topping the city’s most-wanted list has to be the vehicle with 263 violations associated with it amounting to more than $25,000 owed, according to a list of citations in the City of Seattle’s “parking scofflaw business plan.”

Second on the most-wanted list must be the two cars with 184 tickets each. Nearly 100 cars have been ticketed 50 times or more, according to the city. Officials say more than 20,000 cars are considered eligible for the boot, a device attached to a vehicle wheel making it unusable.

The Lions Clubs International’s 94th International Convention hits Seattle on July 4 through the 8 with the club’s major Parade of Nations taking over downtown this morning and into the afternoon.

King County officials say 20 Seattle bus routes will be changed during the Lions Club's International Parade of Nations, preparations for which have already begun in downtown Seattle.

Sunny (!), with a high near 79. Forecast here.

Making headlines in the Northwest:

• Fireworks related injuries, home fires
• Off the wire: A teen drowns; two injured escaping fire
• Everett schools to step up bully tracking
• Tacoma high school sports fans will see ads

Here comes that day that cats and dogs really hate, but most American humans love!

Yes, it’s time for burning, smoking and exploding devices used for celebrating the Fourth of July. It is also time for the many reminders and warnings about what fireworks you can use, how dangerous they are and where you can or can’t use them (should you really feel like you have to).

Sounds great, but don't hold your breath: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Forecast here.

Making headlines around the Northwest:

• Attending UW will cost you 20 percent more
• Washington parks are no longer free to visit
• Off the wire: Crane topples; former police chief sues
• Car-repair scam ends in theft of wallet, arrest
• Famed Olympia Brewery site future shaping up

Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Forecast here.

Making headlines in the Northwest:

• Feds sell Seattle crime family strip club Rick's
• Off the wire: Kabelu case goes to jury; burglary arrests
• Facebook’s Zuckerberg talks up Seattle talent
• Longtime Nisqually tribal administrator retiring
• Tacoma’s Martinez doesn’t become ‘The Voice’

Scattered showers. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Forecast here.

Making headlines around the Northwest:

• Patrols for illegal fireworks blasts begin soon
• Tech news: Online crochet empire; Zuckerberg in Seattle
• Off the wire: Shootout in Seattle; Inslee nets $100,000
• Bothell looks to annex more than 22,000 people

The skeleton of a gray whale that died last year in Seattle is taking shape in Tacoma.

Highline Community College marine biologist Rus Higley, staff and volunteers are bleaching and assembling the skeleton for display in later this year. (Photo gallery inside)

We've been here before: 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Forecast here.

Making headlines around the Northwest:

• State workers decline prize for saving money
• Off the wire: Kalebu wants to testify; gang shooting
• Widows of 2 slain Washington officers file claim
• Hat 'n' Boots roadside landmark to be protected

The Washington State Patrol says dogs that sniff for explosives at state ferry terminals will find fireworks.

The patrol says ferry riders should store fireworks where they are accessible for troopers to examine. Any illegal fireworks will be confiscated, and the owners could be prosecuted.

More of the same: mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Forecast here.

Making headlines around the Northwest:

• Washington state abandons all tourism marketing
• Off the wire: Gas prices fall; mountain rescue, more
• New rules for state crab harvest
• Popular sculpture park on Chehalis trail to close
• Spelling bee set for seniors in Everett

Starting tonight, it will be a busy next few days for sports enthusiasts – with Sounders’ soccer matches, Mariners’ baseball games, and the huge Rock ‘n Roll Marathon on Saturday, reports the Seattle Department of Transportation.