Tacoma

In Pierce County, an organized body of labor unions is trying to tackle the problem of childcare for working families.The Pierce County Labor Community Services Agency purchased an old elementary school in Tacoma in late September. The nonprofit plans to renovate the building to house child care for around 175 kids.

Pearl Youth Residence, one of four Children’s Long-term Inpatient Program sites in Washington, is scheduled to close at the end of November. The Tacoma facility provided inpatient psychiatric care for youth.

On Saturday, underneath a painted banner strung across the porch of Hillcrest Apartments in Tacoma, tenants announced the formation of the Wright Park Tenant Union.

The Pierce Transit Board voted Monday to send a measure to the November ballot that would increase the amount people pay in sales tax for transit funding.

Driving the streets of South Tacoma, there’s a sleek, black electric Ford Lightning F-150 truck pulling a trailer. The trailer is carrying a 500-gallon water tank on a mission to water some of Tacoma’s newest trees.

Journalists at McClatchy-owned papers in Washington and Idaho are calling for higher wages.

Parks Tacoma is facing roughly $9 million in budget cuts. The district is anticipating layoffs and cuts to services and programs.

Down between the train tracks along Ruston Way and the shoreline of Commencement Bay in Tacoma stand small, cedar-clad boxes. These tiny dwellings, hoisted about 16 feet above the ground, aren’t suitable for humans. These are new nesting boxes for birds, specifically purple martins.

A minor has been charged with four counts of assault in the first degree with a deadly weapon enhancement following a stabbing at Foss High School in Tacoma on Thursday afternoon.

Tacoma is seeking to improve connections across the city with repairs to sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and other improvements to arterials.