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Trump’s return to office has seen sweeping changes to immigration enforcement
That is reshaping how enforcement will look for the rest of Trump’s tenure, from the number of immigrants detained to how few are winning asylum cases.Here’s a look at how his administration has performed when it comes to six key immigration indicators.Declining border arrestsWhile Joe Biden was president, Republicans constantly pointed to the flow of migrants seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border as a crisis that they blamed on the Democrat.The number of people arrested trying to
Downtown Seattle apartment complex fetches $295M, the second-largest apartment sale of 2025 Q4 in the nation
for the fourth quarter of 2025 occurred in Seattle.When the 654-unit Via6 apartment complex, located at 2121 Sixth Avenue, sold for $295 million in December, only the sale of the Ascent in San Jose was larger during that time period, according to The Puget Sound Business Journal. With that pricetag, the sale averaged out to approximately $451,000 per unit.The sale of the Ascent building in San Jose equated to roughly $496,000 per unit.In addition to being the second-highest apartment sale in the
Citing AP investigation, new bill seeks to prohibit DHS from using full-body restraints
Government purchasing records show the two Trump administrations have been responsible for about 91% of that spending.Charles Hammond, the company’s CEO, said in a statement that the WRAP was designed to provide a “safer, more humane, pain-free alternative to other restraint methods.”“Eliminating The WRAP from these situations would not lead to safer outcomes; it would force the return to alternative restraints and tactics proven to cause pain, injury and even fatalities,” Hammond said.The compa
Supreme Court rules against private prison firm facing forced-work suit from immigration detainees
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled against a private prison company facing a lawsuit alleging immigration detainees were forced to work and paid only $1 a day in Colorado.The unanimous ruling is a procedural defeat for the GEO Group, but it’s not a final decision. The company is fighting a lawsuit from 2014 alleging detainees in Aurora had to perform unpaid janitorial work and other jobs for little pay to supplement meager meals.GEO defended its practices and argued tha
Amazon has shed more than 1 million square feet of office space in Seattle since 2020
Amazon is scaling down its Seattle footprint after announcing it will not renew its lease for office space in the city’s Denny Triangle area.By May, the tech giant will vacate the 251,000-square-foot building on Terry Avenue. According to The Puget Sound Business Journal, Amazon has shed nearly 595,000 square feet of office space within Seattle since 2024.The exodus of Amazon office space is even more drastic when examining the last five years. Since 2020, according to The Puget Sound Busi
Appeals court overturns finding that BNSF Railway contributed to 2 asbestos deaths in a Montana town
The jury did not find that BNSF acted intentionally or with indifference, so no punitive damages were awarded.The vermiculite mined in Libby has high concentrations of naturally occurring asbestos. It was used in insulation and for other commercial purposes in homes and businesses across the nation.After being extracted from a mountaintop outside town, the material was loaded onto rail cars that sometimes spilled the contents in the Libby rail yard. Residents have described piles of vermiculite
Harger: Trump calls Democrats ‘crazy’ in 2026 State of the Union address, missing a chance to unite the country
<p>In his 1988 State of the Union address, Ronald Reagan stood in the House chamber and said this: “In the spirit of Jefferson, let us affirm that in this chamber tonight there are no Republicans, no Democrats, just Americans. Yes, we will have our differences, but let us always remember what unites us far outweighs whatever divides us.”</p><p>Last night, in that same chamber, President Trump said this: “These people are crazy. I’m telling you, they’re crazy. Democrats are destroying our country, but we stopped it just in the nick of time.”</p><p>Same room. Thirty-eight years apart. That’s where we are.</p><div class="related alignright"><div class="col_label"><h2>RELATED STORIES</h2></div><ul><li><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/crime-blotter/loren-culps-back-suspect-out/4208053"><img decoding="async" width="719" height="404" src="https://mynorthwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Loren-Culp-420x236.jpg" class="sub_art" alt="Loren Culp's back was broken during an arson arrest last week. The suspect is already out of jail." loading="lazy"></a><div class="sub_story"><h3><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/crime-blotter/loren-culps-back-suspect-out/4208053">Loren Culp's back was broken during an arson arrest last week. The suspect is already out of jail.</a></h3></div></li><li><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/kiro-opinion/millionaire-tax-income-vote/4207836"><img decoding="async" width="719" height="404" src="https://mynorthwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-2026-02-24T055439.576-420x236.jpg" class="sub_art" alt="Harger: They call it a 'millionaire tax.' It's income tax. And they won't let you vote on it." loading="lazy"></a><div class="sub_story"><h3><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/kiro-opinion/millionaire-tax-income-vote/4207836">Harger: They call it a 'millionaire tax.' It's income tax. And they won't let you vote on it.</a></h3></div></li><li><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/mynorthwest-politics/recall-petition-auburn/4207501"><img decoding="async" width="719" height="404" src="https://mynorthwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-2026-02-23T124147.908-420x236.jpg" class="sub_art" alt="Recall petition filed against Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus over sex offender letter, ethics concerns" loading="lazy"></a><div class="sub_story"><h3><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/mynorthwest-politics/recall-petition-auburn/4207501">Recall petition filed against Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus over sex offender letter, ethics concerns</a></h3></div></li></ul></div><h2><strong>A trap, not a moment</strong></h2><p>President Trump had one of the largest audiences of his presidency Tuesday night. Millions of Americans were watching at home. A moment that, at least traditionally, belongs to all of us.</p><p>He used it to call Democrats crazy.</p><p>That’s not a characterization. That’s a quote. He set up a standing ovation trap, asking everyone who agreed with him to rise, then turned to the Democrats still seated and told them twice they should be ashamed of themselves. He accused them of cheating in elections. Not as a policy disagreement. As a character indictment.</p><p>I’ve spent a lot of time lately being critical of the Democrats who run Washington state’s government in Olympia. That’s what watchdogs do. Power deserves scrutiny regardless of which party is holding it. Republicans control the federal government right now, so I need to be just as clear-eyed about what I saw last night.</p><h3><strong>What the State of the Union used to mean</strong></h3><p>I remember watching Reagan deliver that 1988 address. I remember Bill Clinton standing up there a few years later, trying to find common ground with a Republican Congress that wanted him gone. Whatever you thought of those men, they understood that the State of the Union was a moment to reach for something bigger than their base. To speak not just to the people who voted for you, but to all of us.</p><p>Last night was not that.</p><h3><strong>The fear I carry around</strong></h3><p>Right now, we’re at relative peace. Fractured and angry and exhausted, but at peace. We have the luxury of writing off half the country as crazy or corrupt or beyond saving.</p><p>But it won’t always be this way. Something always happens.</p><p>September 11th happened. If you’re over 30, you remember where you were. So do I. And for one brief, painful, clarifying moment, none of that noise mattered. We were just Americans. Nobody asked who you voted for before holding the door, giving blood, or calling to check on a stranger.</p><p>I don’t know if we could do that today. That’s a fear I carry around. Because the next crisis is coming. And if we’ve spent years convincing ourselves that the other side isn’t just wrong but evil, isn’t just different but dangerous, I don’t know what we do when we actually need each other.</p><p>And we will need each other.</p><h3><strong>A moment that didn’t happen</strong></h3><p>A president standing in that chamber last night had one of the largest audiences he will ever have. A chance to speak not just to his supporters but to all of us. A chance to start pushing us back toward each other. Just enough. Just a reminder that we’re still one country.</p><p>He didn’t take it.</p><p>Instead, think about what we heard from that same room, from that same office, not so long ago. Reagan, closing out his address, talking about this country the way you’d talk about something sacred: “Another generation of Americans has protected and passed on lovingly this place called America, this shining city on a hill, this government of, by, and for the people.”</p><p>That America is still here. It’s still worth protecting. It’s still worth passing on.</p><p><i>Charlie Harger is the host of </i><a id="menurkpt" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://mynorthwest.com/category/seattles-morning-news/" href="https://mynorthwest.com/category/seattles-morning-news/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link “Seattle’s Morning News”"><i>“Seattle’s Morning News”</i></a> <i>on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories and commentaries </i><a id="menurkpv" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://mynorthwest.com/author/charger/" href="https://mynorthwest.com/author/charger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link here"><i>here</i></a><i>. Follow Charlie </i><a id="menurkq1" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://x.com/kirocharlie" href="https://x.com/kirocharlie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link on X"><i>on X</i></a><i> and email him </i><a id="menurkq3" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="mailto:[email protected]" href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link here"><i>here</i></a><i>. </i></p><p><a class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/https://twitter.com/kirocharlie" data-show-count="false" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow @https://twitter.com/kirocharlie</a><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
Bill Gates apologizes to foundation staff over Jeffrey Epstein ties, admits to affairs
Over the next three years, Gates continued to meet with Epstein, despite French Gates expressing concerns.French Gates filed for divorce in 2021 after 27 years of marriage.“Knowing what I know now makes it, you know, a hundred times worse in terms of not only his crimes in the past, but now it’s clear there was ongoing bad behavior,” Gates said during his apology. “To give [French Gates] credit, she was always kind of skeptical about the Epstein thing.“I did have affairs,
The Latest: Iran pushes back against Trump ahead of Geneva talks
President Donald Trump’s pressure tactics ahead of critical talks in Geneva over Tehran’s nuclear program, alternating between calling his remarks “big lies” to saying negotiations may yield an agreement through “honorable diplomacy.”The remarks by two Iranian officials ahead of Thursday’s talks come as America has assembled its biggest deployment of aircraft and warships to the Middle East in decades, part of Trump’s efforts to get a deal while Iran struggles at home with growing dissent follow
Small, approachable actions are the key to a nonprofit push for greater civic engagement among Gen Z
NEW YORK (AP) — A well-connected, privately-funded initiative sees small, low-barrier acts of community outreach as the key to fostering civic engagement among young people.The nonprofit C&S — previously known as the Institute for Citizens & Scholars — is inviting schools, employers and other partners to encourage young people to lead activities such as calling elected representatives, volunteering locally or hosting public conversations with neighbors of differing backgrounds. The goal,
Residents want local governments to end contracts that let ICE train on their gun ranges
Residents are demanding that the city stop allowing ICE agents to train at the local police department range, reflecting growing discontent across the country with the administration’s immigration actions.“We don’t want ICE anywhere near Escondido or fraternizing with the police,” said Richard Garner, 71, while rallying against the deal outside the city’s police station.A majority of Americans in recent polls have said Trump has “gone too far” in sending federal immigration agents into Ame
Trump uses longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that US is ‘winning so much’
Referencing prescription drug prices, Trump said, “So in my first year of the second term — should be my third term — but strange things happen,” prompting at least one chant in the chamber of “Four more years!”The president also put forward a new plan to give a modest boost to help some Americans save for retirement if they do not have a retirement account through their workplace in which their employer matches contributions to the fund.Starting next year, he said, his administration would let
Rubio flies into the Caribbean for talks with leaders unsettled by Trump policies
dominance in the Western Hemisphere.Trump said his administration is “restoring American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere, acting to secure our national interests and defend our country from violence, drugs, terrorism and foreign interference.”CARICOM leaders have complained about administration measures that include demands for nations to accept third-country deportees from the U.S., reject Cuban medical missions and chill relations with China.Godwin Friday, newly elected prime
US childhood literacy rates are lagging. Pediatricians could be part of the solution
For some young children in Columbus, Ohio, reading assessments don’t start in the kindergarten classroom — they happen first in the doctor’s office.With concerns rising about lagging childhood literacy rates across the country, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has begun screening children’s literacy skills starting at age 3 during pediatrician visits. The idea is to catch reading struggles early on and guide parents on how to help their kids. “They are all doing developmental screenings, they’re a
Casen Taggart Home Run vs. Seattle | Washington Baseball
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Trump honors National Guard members shot in Washington
<p><block></p><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who survived a gunshot wound to the head while patrolling with the National Guard in Washington last year, was presented the Purple Heart medal during Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. </p><p>Trump honored Wolfe and his colleague, U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom during his speech, before pausing so Gen. James Seward, head of the West Virginia National Guard, could pin the medal on Wolfe’s civilian suit.</p><p>“With God’s help, Andrew has battled back from the edge of death—and we’re talking about the edge—on his way to a miraculous recovery,” Trump said. </p><p>“Nice to see you,” he added, looking up at Wolfe in the gallery. </p><p>Trump recalled his mother’s determination that he would recover, even as others doubted it would be possible to survive his severe injuries. She buried her head in her son’s chest as the president spoke. </p><p>Wolfe and Beckstrom, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were shot in an ambush on Nov. 26 while deployed to Washington as part of Trump’s executive order to battle what he said was rampant crime. Beckstrom died on Thanksgiving Day. </p><p>Trump also spoke directly to Beckstrom’s parents in the gallery. </p><p>“Your daughter was a true American patriot and she will be greatly missed,” Trump told Evalea and Gary Beckstrom. </p><p>The tributes prompted several minutes of bipartisan applause.</p><p>Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was wounded in the attack, has been charged in connection with the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody. Authorities say he drove across the country from his home in Washington state to execute the attack.</p><p>Lakanwal, 29, entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, officials said. The Biden administration program evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal from the country.</p><p>Trump, who halted asylum decisions in response to the shooting, said during his speech that the gunman “shouldn’t have been in our country.” </p><p></block></p>
Curley: A New Hampshire town tried libertarianism. Then came the consensual cannibalism.
And if we can get like 2,000 people, little town of 1,000, if we can get enough people here, we can take control of the local government, and then we can cut taxes and reduce a whole bunch of stuff.”So they did, they’re able to get about 300 people who came. They then got a chance to serve on the city council there in the little town, and they cut taxes.First thing they did was they cut about 30% of the little town’s taxes, which also included police. And then they decided they
Asian stocks gain after optimism about AI sends Wall Street higher
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose in Wednesday morning trading, with Japan’s benchmark hitting a record high, as investors were cheered by an overnight Wall Street rally that seemed to reflect optimism about the artificial-intelligence boom. Japan’s benchmark surged 1.3% to 58,081.62. That came despite China’s move the previous day to restrict exports to 40 Japanese companies and organizations it says are contributing to Japan’s “remilitarization.” The reaction was varied w
Trial begins for group accused of antifa links in shooting at Texas immigration detention center
FBI Director Kash Patel has said the charges in Texas are the first time a material support to terrorism charge has targeted people he said were antifa members.James Luster, the attorney for defendant Autumn Hill, said Hill has a deep conviction for people she feels are marginalized, including immigrants. Luster said that after watching fireworks being shot into the sky, Hill left before the police arrived. “It was never supposed to come to this,” Luster said.Several people have already pleaded
Legal advocates seek to halt CBP policy pressuring unaccompanied children to self-deport
Customs and Border Protection agents from urging immigrant children entering the country without their parents to voluntarily deport themselves under a federal policy introduced last year.Border agents who arrest unaccompanied immigrant children who enter the country illegally are required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to send them to a federal shelter under a different agency, the Office of Refugee Resettlement. At the shelters, children have access to attorn