News For Reasonable People

A tragic case out of King County, Washington: 17-year-old Miguel Rivera-Dominguez has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the murder of 21-year-old Marcel Da’jon Wagner, who was fatally shot while sleeping on a Metro bus in White Center.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has asked the community to step up and support the city’s new homeless shelters. In a citywide email, he urged residents to donate money, goods, and time—emphasizing the urgent need for supplies and volunteers.

Chevron’s Americas Products President Andy Walz isn’t satisfied with California’s latest climate policy direction. In a recent Politico feature, Walz warned that refinery closures, tighter regulations, and policy uncertainty could push gas prices higher and discourage future investment in the state’s energy sector.

California’s housing crisis may be about to get worse. A coalition of over 100 social justice, housing, and business leaders is warning that a new Vehicle-Miles-Traveled (VMT) housing tax could add up to $324,000 to the cost of every new home or apartment — and raise monthly rents by as much as $1,350.

Seattle has filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Glock, accusing the gunmaker of enabling the use of illegal “Glock switches”—tiny devices that convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons. City Attorney Ann Davison claims Glock has known for decades that its handguns can be easily modified and failed to redesign them, fueling rising gun violence. The lawsuit also targets three lo...

San Francisco’s busiest Muni line — the 14/14R Mission — has earned an unfortunate nickname: the city’s most “pooped-on” bus. With nearly a quarter of all feces-related complaints coming from this single route, riders say they’re dealing with filthy conditions on a regular basis. Now, with the SFMTA facing a $322 million budget deficit and forced to cut cleaning services, the problem may soon get...

Portland city councilors are under fire for flying to Vienna, Austria, to “study” social housing — with taxpayers footing the bill. About 20 people, including three councilors, chiefs of staff, and housing bureau staff, are making the trip. Supporters say Vienna is the global “gold standard” for social housing and that seeing it in person will help Portland craft long-term solutions for affordable...

A volunteer dive team, Chaos Divers, uncovered nearly 100 submerged vehicles in the Chicago River system while searching for clues in a 1970 cold case involving Edward and Stephania Andrews. Using sonar scans between Diversey Parkway and Cicero Avenue, the divers located piles of vehicles — some stacked 12–19 cars deep — along the North Branch and Sanitary & Ship Canal.

Seattle Parks and Recreation has fenced off Lake City Mini Park, Seven Hills Park, and Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park for 60 days, citing “negative park activity” linked to crime, drug use, and homeless encampments. City officials say the closures will allow time to plan amenity upgrades—including new lighting, fences, and landscaping—to ensure parks remain safe and welcoming. But many residents are fru...

The Mexican men’s national soccer team was the victim of a burglary in downtown Oakland over Labor Day weekend. Thieves broke into a team truck and stole training equipment — including a cleat steamer worth $2,500 — just days before Mexico’s friendly match against Japan at the Oakland Coliseum.

Seattle has landed near the top of U.S. crime rankings, with total crime rates more than 170% above the national average and property crime ranked 3rd highest among major cities. But there’s more to the story.

One of downtown Los Angeles’ most iconic towers, One California Plaza, has officially gone into receivership after defaulting on a $300 million debt. Once valued at nearly $459 million, the 42-story Bunker Hill skyscraper is now appraised at just $121 million—a staggering 74% drop.

In Westchester, Los Angeles, a business has installed a speaker system called the Blue Chirper that plays loud insect noises—like crickets and cicadas—to deter homeless encampments. Local tenants say the sounds often exceed 90 decibels, disturbing nearby businesses and residents. Unhoused people in RVs report sleep disruption and stress, while business owners argue it’s a legal way to protect thei...

A shocking stabbing outside Portland’s Central Library has reignited concerns about public safety downtown. Just weeks after a fatal shooting near the same location, community leaders are demanding stronger security measures and questioning police response times.

In Portland’s Pearl District, ORO Apartments owner Paul Rudinsky staged a dramatic protest outside City Hall by pitching a tent just steps from the doors. He was protesting the city’s plan to open a low-barrier overnight shelter next to his building — sparking concerns about safety, loitering, and tenant loss. Rudinsky was arrested for second-degree trespassing after refusing to remove his tent. T...

President Trump has vowed to "solve Chicago’s crime problem fast" by sending in the National Guard after a violent Labor Day weekend. But Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are refusing to cooperate, calling the move unconstitutional and politically motivated. Thousands of protesters flooded downtown Chicago, warning federal intervention could escalate tensio...

Spokane is at the center of a heated debate over homelessness and the future of the Housing First model. Advocates point to strong results—stable housing, better health outcomes, and reduced emergency costs—while critics argue for shifting toward treatment-first policies in line with new federal directives.

A deadly crash on the Florida Turnpike has sparked national outrage after investigators revealed that the semi-truck driver, Harjinder Singh, was given a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Washington state despite not being legally eligible. Singh, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, later obtained another CDL in California.''

Washington State Ferries’ newly converted MV Wenatchee, the first hybrid-electric ferry in the fleet, has been pulled from service only weeks after its much-anticipated return.

A Seattle hotel is suing the City of Seattle and King County after claiming its property was left contaminated with fentanyl and methamphetamine following use as a low-barrier homeless shelter.

Nordstrom is shutting down key locations in St. Louis (Missouri) and Santa Monica (California) in August 2025, impacting hundreds of employees. CEO Erik Nordstrom also raised concerns about the company’s Portland, Oregon stores, citing theft and operational challenges.

Meals on Wheels People (MOWP) has closed its longtime downtown Portland Elm Court site after years of escalating safety concerns—including threats, drug activity, and fires—paired with major funding cuts following the loss of federal pandemic relief. Another site in Hillsboro has also been shuttered due to low usage.

Chicago is facing a serious business decline. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, the city had just 44,840 active business licenses in 2024 — its lowest in a decade and down 17% from 2015. The famous Magnificent Mile has been hit especially hard, losing over 50% of its businesses in the past 10 years. Meanwhile, some neighborhoods like New City have seen growth, but overall, the city conti...

An Ontario man is facing aggravated assault charges after allegedly stabbing a home intruder during a break-in in Lindsay, Ontario. His lawyer says he was acting within his rights to defend himself and his home, but police argue that self-defence has legal limits.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has threatened to send federal law enforcement — and potentially the National Guard — into Washington state and Seattle if leaders don’t comply with federal immigration demands. Governor Bob Ferguson and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell are firing back, vowing to defend the state’s sanctuary policies in court. But could the federal government legally deploy the Guard? Wh...