Artondale, WA Local News and More

Tacoma man killed his father during mental health crisis. Here's his sentence

A Tacoma-area man who fatally shot his father with a shotgun last year has been sentenced to 15 years and three months in prison. A psychologist found that the shooter was in the throes of a mental health crisis at the time. Michael Paul Courtney, 42, pleaded guilty Oct. 16 to second-degree murder with a firearm for the death of 63-year-old Paul Courtney in his Parkland home. After his arrest, Michael Courtney’s mother told law enforcement that her son had been acting strangely in the days leading up to the incident, saying odd things and talking to himself. According to court documents, the defendant’s parents were watching a Seattle Mariners game the evening of Oct. 10, 2025 when his mother heard him talking upstairs as if he was communicating to another person. Michael Courtney’s father walked upstairs to ask him who he was talking to. The defendant’s mother later reported that she heard her husband ask, “Who are you talking to?” and “Are you pointing a gun at me?” just before hearing the fatal gunshot. Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the home in the 400 block of 142nd Street Court South shortly after 8 p.m. Michael Courtney did

Tacoma Daily Index

City of Gig Harbor-SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE 1570

On November 9, 2026, the City Council of the City of Gig Harbor passed Ordinance 1570, which is summarized by its title as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GIG HARBOR, WASHINGTON: AMENDING GIG HARBOR MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 11.04.020 RELATING TO DOCKS AND PIERS AND ADDING SECTION 11.04.060 RELATING TO THE COMMERCIAL FISHING HOMEPORT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The full text of this ordinance will be mailed upon request, or you can access the full version at www.gigharborwa.gov. IDX1038979.

Gig Harbor, WA · 20h

Tacoma News Tribune

New roundabout opens in Pierce Co. ‘Major construction' finishes soon on another

Transportation crews are closing the loop on two new roundabouts in Pierce County. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced Monday that it has finished building a roundabout in Spanaway and is nearing the end of construction on another near McKenna. The Spanaway roundabout , located on state Route 507 at 208th Street South, has been under construction since May. Department spokesperson Adrienne Hatmaker told The News Tribune in an email that crews removed the temporary traffic lights from the work zone and reopened the closed portion of the road on Sept. 24, but intermittent flagging continued through Oct. 28 as crews finished permanent striping, landscaping, and prep for permanent light pole installation. “If the weather cooperates next week, the contractor plans to finish some minor construction activities at the SR 507 roundabout,” Hatmaker said. Travelers may see a “few more days” of daytime flagging from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m, she added. Near McKenna, crews are wrapping up construction on the other roundabout at the SR 702 and Harts Lake Road intersection, which began in June, WSDOT said. The department said it expects “major construction” on SR 702 to finish this month, depending on the weather. The locations

Pierce County, WA · 2d

hoodline.com

Kspek Plans Nov. 28 Studio Opening in Downtown Gig Harbor

Kathleen van der Spek plans to open Kspek on Nov. 28 in Gig Harbor's downtown business district. It will be her first brick-and-mortar shop, The News Tribune reports, for a beachy, vintage line of sweatshirts, jackets and bags made from vintage beach towels. Gig Harbor Now describes Kspek as her new retail and design studio, puts the opening on Small Business Saturday, and says the Sunset Chaser sweatshirt has sold more than 3,000 at $165.

Gig Harbor, WA · 1d

MyNorthwest.com

Former inmate who says transgender cellmate assaulted her wins federal case against WA prisons, attorney says

A former inmate said she was sexually assaulted by her cellmate at the women’s prison in Gig Harbor. She has now won her federal civil rights case against the state, according to her attorney. Mozzy Clark said the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) put her in a cell with...

Gig Harbor, WA · 2d

Tacoma News Tribune

Over 130 dogs sent to Tacoma-Humane Society in November. Shelter asks for help

The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is asking the public for help after receiving too many dogs. In a Nov. 11 Facebook post , the organization said it has received 130 dogs since Nov. 1 — 30 more than in mid-October. “This rise in dog intake is pushing us beyond our capacity. As one dog is adopted or reunited with their family, more than one dog is waiting to take their place,” the post said. “We need the support of our community to help us ensure there is space for the pets that desperately need our care.” Adoption fees for dogs who are at least 1 year old will be waived from Nov. 12 to Nov. 13, the post said. Residents can help the shelter by: Adopting. Interested dog owners can visit the Humane Society’s website or visit at 2608 Center St. from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except Mondays. If an owner has committed to a dog that is waiting to be spayed or neutered, they can foster the dog until their surgery. Fostering. Someone who can’t adopt but can provide a temporary home for a dog can help save space, the post said. The

Tacoma, WA · 12h

Tacoma News Tribune

New Pierce County boutique with a beachy, vintage style opens soon

The Big Dark may be upon us, but it’s summer somewhere. At Kspek , Gig Harbor’s newest boutique in the downtown business district with a target opening date of Nov. 28, bold patterns, sun-faded fabrics and the slightly fuzzy, cottony texture of beach towels feature brightly in sweatshirts, jackets and bags. Led by Kathleen Vanderspek, a fashion designer who formerly worked for brands like Tommy Bahama and Buki , a Seattle-based brand specializing in travel luxury wear, the new studio at 7706 Pioneer Way will be Vanderspek’s first brick-and-mortar shop. She previously sold her products online and via Harbornest , another downtown boutique that will continue carrying her products. “I love the nostalgia of a vintage beach towel, and that’s really what drew me to working with them,” said Vanderspek in an interview Tuesday, adding that she grew up on Lake Michigan and spent a lot of time at the pool and going to the beach, taking her beach towel everywhere. Most of the towels she upcycles into sweatshirts and bags are from the ‘80s and ‘90s, she said, which she’s found to hold up over time and that feature playful geometric patterns, fun colors and landscape designs. After leaving

Gig Harbor, WA · 1d

Tacoma News Tribune

Popular downtown Tacoma eatery to offer $5 margs, nachos to celebrate 20 years

This year marks two decades of The Matador in downtown Tacoma, and the restaurant is offering a few deals to celebrate. The restaurant and bar, with locations throughout Western Washington, Oregon, Idaho and South Carolina, offers an extensive tequila selection and a variety of Mexican fare. The twice-daily happy hour, from 4 to 6 p.m. and then 10 p.m. to close, is already a good deal, with soup, salad, quesadillas and street tacos available for just $6 or $7. Though on Nov. 17, when the restaurant will celebrate its 20th birthday, all happy hour menu items drop down to $5. Plus, house margaritas will go for the same price all day on Nov. 17, not just during happy hour. The happy hour menu includes the restaurant’s Grande Nachos, a heaping plate of chips covered in cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole and cilantro-lime sour cream. Tacos come with fillings like baja fish, steak, shrimp, carnitas and chorizo. You’ll also find crispy brussels sprouts, bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeños, habanero shrimp, chicken tortilla soup and caramel apple churros on the happy hour menu. The restaurant is also using its 20th anniversary celebration to highlight new improvements, like an

Tacoma, WA · 1d

whatnow.com

Beloved Sixth Avenue Doughnut Shop Is Closing This November

A vibrant, family-friendly pastry shop and bakery, Tacoma’s Legendary Doughnuts store is closing. After 14 years of service, the doughnut shop will shut down this weekend. The bakery team cited continued economic challenges and rising rent as the main reasons for the closure. Legendary Doughnuts’ Tacoma Outlet to Close...

KOMO News

Lakewood police seek suspect in random shooting that killed 23-year-old

LAKEWOOD, Wash. — Lakewood police are looking for a suspect who fired randomly into a crowd early Friday morning, killing a young man in the parking lot of a strip mall off South Tacoma Way. Police say the victim was not the intended target, and it doesn’t appear he...

Lakewood, WA · 1d

Yahoo!

Tacoma woman accused of using counterfeit $100 bills arrested in Sequim

Clallam County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a 28-year-old Tacoma woman for allegedly using counterfeit $100 bills to pay for goods in Sequim and Port Angeles. According to law enforcement, the woman used the bills at Big 5 Sporting Goods and the Olympic Game Farm, a roadside zoo. Deputies were first...

hoodline.com

Tacoma Man Sues Over 1990s Abuse at Jessie Dyslin Boys Ranch, Says State Knew

A man who spent part of his teenage years at Jessie Dyslin Boys Ranch in Tacoma says two male guards repeatedly forced him to engage in sex and otherwise neglected him during the 1990s. Thirty years later, he has filed a lawsuit in Pierce County Superior Court alleging the state knew about misconduct at the facility and let it continue operating anyway.

Tacoma News Tribune

When will Western Washington see its first frost this fall? What forecasters say

It’s getting colder in Washington state. As temperatures drop, you could start seeing small ice crystals forming on leaves, grass and roads. When can Western Washington residents expect to see frost covering the ground this fall? How long will frosty temperatures last, and how can you protect your plants and plumbing from the chill? Here’s what the experts say: When will we see the first frost in Washington state? When you can expect to see frost in 2026 depends on where you live in Washington state , according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac . The almanac looked at likely dates for the first and last frosts of the season , based on its long-range weather forecasts as well as historical frost averages. In much of Western Washington, frost timing should be “close to the historical average ,” the almanac said, while the last spring frost is expected roughly a week or two later than usual in Central and Eastern Washington. Even “modest” shifts in frost timing can “make a meaningful difference when you’re deciding when to sow early crops, set out seedlings or keep frost protection handy,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac said. The almanac predicted Bellingham would see its first

Washington · 1d

kentreporter.com

Kent Police Blotter: 79 tires worth $41K stolen from Les Schwab

A sampling of Kent Police incidents Oct. 23 to Nov. 5:. • Flock camera alert: Officers responded to a Flock camera alert. Air support (drone) monitored the suspect vehicle while officers coordinated a stop. The suspect was safely taken into custody, and officers recovered a firearm during the arrest. Oct....

Kent, WA · 1d

Tacoma News Tribune

Lanes closures snarl traffic on southbound I-5 in Tacoma

Update: Traffic has been cleared, WSDOT posted at 1:41 p.m. Original post: Traffic is backed up on southbound Interstate 5 in Tacoma because of police activity. The Washington State Department of Transportation first posted about the delays on X at 1:06 p.m., saying the two right lanes at milepost 131, near South 38th Street, were blocked. At 1:11 p.m., they sent an update, saying three right lanes are blocked. The News Tribune has reached out to the Tacoma Police Department and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office to learn more. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

everafterinthewoods.com

Dinner Comes Out Of A Century-Old Firehouse Kitchen At This Washington Restaurant

The fire engines are long gone, but the original brick walls from 1907 are still standing around your burger. Firefighter gear from the old days stays on display, so dinner comes with a side of history. I like how this Washington spot never tried to erase its past. Instead, it...

MyNorthwest.com

‘No excuse for what happened’: Ursula condemns failure to protect WA inmate from assault after $150K verdict

A federal jury in Tacoma awarded former inmate Mozzy Clark $150,000 after she sued over allegations that staff failed to protect her from a cellmate at Washington’s women’s prison in Gig Harbor. The jury found corrections officer Gregory Brooks liable but ruled in favor of the other officer named at trial.

Tacoma, WA · 15h

tacomaweekly.com

South Sound Teams Advance in State Football Playoffs

South Sound high school football teams took the field Saturday as Washington's state playoffs opened with the round of 32. Several area teams advanced with victories, while others won close games to keep their seasons going. Mount Tahoma and Lakes picked up playoff wins, while Puyallup, Sumner, Graham-Kapowsin, Federal Way,...

Tacoma, WA · 1d

auburn-reporter.com

Two men to be arraigned for $5.6 million in theft from four retailers

One Texan and one Californian will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Nov. 13 for allegedly leading a sophisticated multi-million-dollar fraud scheme involving the theft and reselling of products from four online retailers. Court documents state that the defendants attempted to steal more than $9.7 million worth...

Seattle, WA · 8h

Tacoma News Tribune