Steilacoom, WA Local News and More

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 · 8h

Tacoma News Tribune

Tacoma doughnut shop known for decadent fried treats will close after 14 years

Legendary Doughnuts will close its Tacoma store Nov. 15, ending a 14-year run on Sixth Avenue, the owners announced on social media over the weekend. In Nov. 7 Facebook and Instagram posts, Shannon and Ken Patten said the last few years “have been quite a struggle for us at this location,” pointing to pandemic-related challenges, a general economic downturn and customers having to “choose between treats and necessities for them and their families.” They also said they recently received notice of “a substantial rent increase close to $2,000 a month and continued price increases,” which contributed to their decision. “It is with great disappointment that we have to announce the closing of our Legendary Doughnuts Tacoma location,” the post read. They thanked their customers, especially regulars who returned week after week, and their employees. “We were able to build and foster business relationships throughout the community and would like to think we did our small part at being good neighbors.” In an email Monday afternoon, Shannon Patten confirmed that the property owner had informed them last month of a rent increase of approximately $1,800. They had been on a month-to-month lease since November 2025, she said, and they “did not

MyNorthwest.com

‘We’re getting worse results than ever’: McKenna backs Ferguson’s criticism of Reykdal as WA school districts prepare to sue

Three major Washington school districts are preparing to sue the state over education funding, prompting former Attorney General Rob McKenna to ask why increased spending hasn’t resolved either district budget problems or concerns about student performance. Speaking with host Charlie Harger on “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio, McKenna...

Washington · 4h

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 · 1d

Yahoo!

From the archives: Photos reveal the destruction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed on Nov. 7, 1940, just four months after its grand opening in July. The incident remains described as "the most dramatic failure in bridge engineering history," said the Washington State Archives. They say during the violent collapse, the main suspension cables were tossed 100 feet...

everafterinthewoods.com

partner publisher · 169.5K followers

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...

Tacoma, WA · 1d

KIRO 7 Seattle

SR 167 Expressway to start tolling in December

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) makes it official — the State Route 167 Expressway in Fife will start asking for toll payments on Dec. 14 at 5 a.m.

Fife, WA · 14h

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 · 14h

fox13seattle.com

20-year-old sentenced to 19 years in prison for killing man at Auburn, WA gas station

On Friday, a judge sentenced a 20-year-old who shot and killed a man at a gas station in Federal Way to serve about 19 years in prison. FOX 13 Seattle reporter Shirah Matsuzawa has the latest.

Auburn, WA · 2d

Tacoma News Tribune

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Man's death at major Puyallup rail crossing prompts calls for safety upgrades

Members of the public are urging safety improvements at a Puyallup railway crossing where a wheelchair user was hit and killed by a freight train last month, complaints submitted to state regulators show. The complaints, full copies of which The News Tribune received in response to a public records request, came after 59-year-old Richard Geiger was struck and killed by a BNSF Railway train while trying to cross the tracks at Meridian Avenue in his electric wheelchair on Oct. 21. The News Tribune first reported on the complaints on Oct. 23, but had to submit the public records request for additional information. Regulators also received complaints about the roadway surface in 2012 and 2016, but the railroad corrected the issues identified in those complaints before Geiger’s death, according to regulators. In the days immediately after Geiger was killed, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) received seven complaints about the crossing, all of which encouraged some form of safety upgrade. “This death was completely preventable,” wrote Megan Sawyer in an Oct. 22 submission, calling Geiger a “very loved member of our community.” “If this issue is not resolved more lives will be lost,” Sawyer added. “Prevent this from happening to

Puyallup, WA · 14h

KIRO 7 Seattle

Rollover truck crash blocks four lanes of southbound I-5 in DuPont

A rollover truck crash blocked four lanes of southbound Interstate 5 in DuPont Tuesday morning.

Dupont, WA · 1d

MyNorthwest.com

3 WA school districts prepare to sue state over funding

Three Washington school districts are preparing to sue the state over education funding. According to The Washington State Standard, Lake Washington, Tacoma, and Yakima say local levies are covering expenses the state should pay. Lake Washington and Tacoma school boards authorized preparations for a lawsuit on Oct. 22. Yakima followed...

gigharbornow.org

Two lanes of eastbound Narrows Bridge to close overnight Friday

It’s the eastbound Tacoma Narrows Bridge’s turn to close a couple lanes. Washington State Department of Transportation will close the right two lanes of the newer bridge from 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, until 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. The toll booth plaza and the ramps from 24th and 36th streets to eastbound Highway 16 also will close.

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The Mary Sue

Tacoma shop owner watches a Dodge pickup allegedly smash through his doors at 5 am. Then he realizes their goal: ‘They came in looking for Pokémon’

A Tacoma, Washington, trading card game (TCG) shop decided to hire security guards for a night shift position after Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering (MTG) cards were stolen by thieves, according to Dexerto. The theft happened on November 2, shortly after 5 a.m., according to the Tacoma Police Department. The thieves allegedly used a black […]

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KIRO 7 Seattle

$1,000 reward offered for information leading to arrest in Tacoma double homicide

Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of suspects in a double homicide.

bellevuereporter.com

Multiple agencies help put out rural structure fire

With the help of several different agencies, Mountain View Fire and Rescue were able to respond to a structure fire over the weekend. On Nov. 7 at 9:40 a.m., at the 32000 block of 188th Avenue SE in Auburn, close to Morton Lake and Black Diamond, first responders were able to stop the fire, which was unoccupied. Puget Sound Fire, Valley Regional Fire Authority, King County Medic One and a King County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigator provided “mutual aid assistance” to Mountain View Fire and Rescue, where no injuries were reported.

Auburn, WA · 1d

auburn-reporter.com

2026 High School District Volleyball tournament preview

High school volleyball district tournaments are set to begin and here are the local matchups between teams before the state tournament. 3A West Central District games are at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma with games in the main and auxiliary gyms. The 4A tournament is going between the old and new Bethel High School in Graham.

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Nisqually Valley News

Yelm man injured after speeding, crashing into tree

A Yelm man crashed his car into a tree while speeding on state Route 510 in Thurston County on Sunday.  Andrew Juarez, 34,  was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital for

Yelm, WA · 2d

auburn-reporter.com