Pierce County Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Electron Hydro dam could face largest fine for environmental crime in Washington history

By Lauren Gallup March 7, 2023

Artificial turf found in the Puyallup River on Nov. 11, 2020, after the materials flowed into the river from a construction project on the Electron Hydro dam in the summer of 2020. Photo courtesy of the Puyallup Tribe.

Electron Hydro dam and its chief operating officer could have to pay the largest fine and restitution for an environmental crime in Washington state history. COO Thom Fischer and the company, pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor permit violation for allowing the toxic contaminants crumb rubber and artificial turf to flow into the Puyallup River during a construction Read More

New commercial airport site search in WA would get do-over under bill moving through legislature

By Northwest News Network March 3, 2023

Lawmakers behind a new bill to do-over Washington's search for a new commercial airport site say it fixes "mistakes" made with the initial process

A bill that would effectively do-over Washington's search for a new commercial airport has passed a key committee vote in Olympia. Continue Reading New commercial airport site search in WA would get do-over under Read More

Process to tackle Washington’s future aviation needs faces skepticism from inside and out

By Lauren Gallup February 2, 2023

Lawmakers are considering restarting the process to find a location to build a new airport after months of community backlash to current recommendations. One member of the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission, which was formed in 2019 to address aviation capacity shortages, agrees more review is needed. Bryce Yadon represents Futurewise, an environmental land use Read More

Not in my backyard: Process to choose new airport location might get a restart

By Lauren Gallup January 27, 2023

A crowd gathered on the north steps of the Capitol building on Wednesday, January 25, to protest three proposed greenfield sites for a new airport in Pierce or Thurston County. Photo by Lauren Gallup.

The battle against a new two-runway airport in Pierce or Thurston county ramped up on Wednesday, when a hundred or so rallied on the north steps of the Capitol Building in Olympia. Lawmakers were there to listen, and express their own objection to the proposed sites, or at least a need to restart the process for choosing a site for a new airfield. Behind closed doors, Read More

Two Puyallup men charged in connection with Christmas Day substation attacks

By Lauren Gallup January 4, 2023

Electrical substation image courtesy of the Pierce County sheriff department's blotter.

Two men appeared in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Tuesday on charges relating to attacks on four Piece County electric substations. Matthew Greenwood and Jeremy Crahan were arrested over the weekend and have both been charged with conspiracy to damage energy facilities. That charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Read More

New airport proposal for Pierce and Thurston counties met with opposition

By Lauren Gallup November 1, 2022

The Nisqually River between its headwaters on Mount Rainier and Puget Sound. CREDIT: WA STATE PARKS

Southeast of the Puget Sound, in rural Pierce and Thurston counties, there’s lots of open land. It’s the home of the Nisqually River Watershed and some of the last remaining prairie ecosystems in the state. The Nisqually Indian Tribe manages 90 miles of land, from Mount Rainier to the mouth of the Nisqually River — a fraction of the homelands of the tribe, said Willy Read More

University President, Community & Developer Reach Tentative Agreement Over Historic Building

By Lauren Gallup August 4, 2022

The Parkland School building, owned by Pacific Lutheran University, that community members are trying to save from demolition. Photo from June 21 presentation by the Pierce County Landmarks & Historic Preservation Commission.

After months of pushback from Parkland community members over the sale of the historic Parkland School building, the stakeholders have reached a decision to please all. In a letter to two Pierce County council members, Pacific Lutheran University President Alan Belton outlined the tentative agreement. Read More

Historic Preservation Commission Recommends Preserving Parkland School, University Weighs Options

By Lauren Gallup July 3, 2022

Pacific Lutheran University is planning to sell the old Parkland School building in Pierce County, but residents want to save the building for a community center. Continue Reading Historic Preservation Commission Read More

May 5 “Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women And People Awareness Day” In Pierce County

By Lauren Gallup May 4, 2022

A participant in the Greater Than Fear Rally & March in Rochester Minnesota. The red handprint is a symbol for missing and murdered Indigenous women and people.

Tacoma has some of the highest cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People nationwide. Pierce County council members voted to establish an awareness day of this issue. Continue Reading May 5 “Missing And Read More

Pierce County Seeks To Create Cultural Hubs To Improve Coordinated Entry System

By Lauren Gallup March 31, 2022

Pierce County is seeking to improve their coordinated entry system for housing assistance. One method they’re trying is through funding for so-called cultural hubs. Continue Reading Pierce County Seeks To Create Cultural Hubs Read More

Pilot Program Looks At Equity In Helping The Homeless

By Lauren Gallup March 24, 2022

A HUD pilot program looks at ways of improving aid to help for homelessness in minority communities Listen NWPB’s Lauren Gallup looks at a pilot program aimed at better helping… Continue Reading Pilot Program Looks At Equity In Helping The Read More

Omicron Variant Detected In Three Cases In Washington State

By Kate Walters December 5, 2021

The omicron variant has been found in Washington state. State health officials announced Saturday that three cases of the new coronavirus variant have been found: one each in King, Pierce… Continue Reading Omicron Variant Detected In Three Read More

Black Newspaper Carrier Confronted By Off-Duty Pierce County Sheriff Files $5M Tort Claim

By NPR News June 17, 2021

A Black newspaper carrier confronted by Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer has filed a legal claim seeking at least $5 million in damages. Continue Reading Black Newspaper Carrier Confronted By Off-Duty Pierce County Read More

Whitman, Pierce, Cowlitz Counties Moved Back To Phase 2 In Washington’s COVID Reopening Plan

By Scott Leadingham April 12, 2021

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee toured a mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the Spokane Arena on April 4, 2021, the same day he announced changes to the evaluation metric for how the state may move counties back in reopening phases. Spokane is a county on the bubble of possibly moving back. Courtesy of the Governor's Office via Twitter

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday that Whitman, Pierce and Cowlitz counties would be affected. It comes after Inslee changed the criteria last Friday, saying counties had to fail two key metrics in order to revert backward. Read More

Governor ‘Convinced’ Manuel Ellis Death Case In Tacoma Must Be Handled Outside Pierce County

By NWPB News June 11, 2020

Manuel Ellis died after being arrested by Tacoma Police in March 2020. He death was later ruled a homicide. Courtesy of Tacoma Action Collection

Manuel Ellis' death was ruled a homicide by the Pierce County medical examiner. It was caused by a lack of oxygen due to physical restraint. Records reviewed by KNKX Public Radio show Ellis said he couldn’t breathe within two minutes of making contact with officers. Read More

Fallen Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Memorialized In Tacoma Procession

By Will James January 17, 2018

Law enforcement officers from across the state and as far as Canada are remembering a fallen Pierce County sheriff’s deputy. They gathered at Pacific Lutheran University to honor Daniel McCartney. He was shot and killed last week while chasing two burglary suspects near Frederickson. Read More

Pierce County Deputy Killed Near Tacoma In Confrontation With Burglary Suspects

By Lisa Brooks January 8, 2018

Law enforcement escort body of Pierce County Sheriffs Deputy Daniel McCarney, killed in service

A burglary investigation that began Sunday night south of Tacoma in Frederickson ended with the death of Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel McCartney of Yelm, Wash. Continue Reading Pierce County Deputy Killed Near Tacoma In Read More