Allison Needles
KIRO 7
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Past articles by Allison:
One of Tacoma’s largest homeless encampments set for removal after multiple fires, city says
Notices were posted Friday with clean-up beginning Feb. 4. → Read More
Tacoma school levies: Here’s what they would pay for and what it could cost you
Technology is a normal part of student learning in Jennifer Fagan’s classroom at DeLong Elementary in Tacoma, where she teaches a split class of fourth and fifth graders. That’s why she’s hoping voters pass two replacement levies in the Feb. 8 election. → Read More
$500K litter, graffiti clean-up effort starts Monday in these Tacoma business districts
TACOMA, Wash. — More than a dozen areas across Tacoma will get a facelift over the next few months as part of a new project launched by the city. → Read More
4.3-mile trail is ‘transformational’ for Tacoma’s Eastside — and it’s finally complete
As far back as 20 years, it’s been the dream of Tacomans to have access to a pedestrian and bicycle trail through the Eastside. → Read More
Mortgage assistance up to $6K for homeowners impacted by pandemic opens in Tacoma
Eligible homeowners in Tacoma impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can now receive help from the city on their mortgage payments. → Read More
Hundreds to take to Tacoma streets on Saturday for city-wide clean up. You’re invited
It’s no secret that “Tacoma is littered,” said Liz Whitefield. Whitefield, a 14-year resident of Tacoma and co-chair of Tacoma’s West End Neighborhood Council, said she’s never seen the amount of litter in the city this bad. → Read More
Will paying homeless people to spruce up Tacoma help them and city? Program begins soon
TACOMA, Wash. — Standing in Alling Park in Tacoma on Thursday, Parker Wilson said passersby wouldn’t know he was homeless. “For this program I think people see us, and (we) look, like actual workers,” the 29-year-old told The News Tribune in between pouring mulch around the trees in the park. Parker is part of a two-year program with nonprofit Valeo Vocation called Transitional Employment… → Read More
Tacoma approves new sales tax for affordable housing. Here’s when it will start
People in Tacoma will start paying more in sales tax. → Read More
Tacoma Water unfairly picks white management applicants over Black ones, complaint says
A complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that alleges a Tacoma Public Utilities employee was discriminated against when applying for a management position at Tacoma Water has spurred an investigation. → Read More
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is opening a free preschool for low-income families in Tacoma
A tuition-free Bezos Academy preschool will open in Tacoma this fall, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced Friday on social media. The preschool will serve roughly 80 students across four classrooms. The classrooms will be located in the primary school building on the McCarver Elementary campus. “I’m a big believer in a Montessori-style education, and it’s what inspires our curriculum at Bezos… → Read More
Tacoma kids are headed back to school. Is the district prepared to keep them COVID free?
TACOMA, Wash. — Sitting at a desk in a classroom at Mary Lyon Elementary on Tuesday, fourth grader Tristan Hopkins said he prefers to learn at school rather than at home. “I hate this coronavirus, and I just want to be in normal school,” he said. Hopkins is one of about 20 students currently attending school in-person at Mary Lyon Elementary in Tacoma. Tacoma Public Schools has been operating… → Read More
Guaranteed cash payments to become a reality for some Tacoma residents facing poverty
TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma residents facing poverty soon will benefit from cash payments through a guaranteed income pilot program. Mayor Victoria Woodards announced Tuesday that Tacoma is one of more than 25 cities across the country to benefit from a $15 million donation made by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI). Woodards is a founding member of the group. Tacoma’s… → Read More
30K Pierce County voters have returned ballots three days after receiving them
Pierce County residents are voting early. As of Monday, the Pierce County Auditor’s Office has counted 37,306 ballots already turned in. Of those, 32,196 ballots have been returned since they were mailed on Friday. The remaining 5,110 ballots were already in house, mainly from military voters who received ballots 45 days in advance. There are 585,000 registered voters in Pierce County. The… → Read More
What should Tacoma’s new police chief prioritize? Share your opinions in this city survey
TACOMA, Wash. — The city of Tacoma is searching for a new police chief, and it wants input from the public. A new survey launched Thursday asks Tacoma residents what issues they think the new chief should prioritize, such as crime or community engagement. Current Tacoma Police Chief Don Ramsdell announced his retirement in July. He’ll stay on the job until January 2021. The city will continue… → Read More
Survey shows Tacomans support cuts to police budget. City councilmembers aren’t convinced
Some Tacomans support cutting police funding to put towards other areas, like housing and social services, according to initial results from budget surveys sent out by the City of Tacoma in June. → Read More
Ability to get meals, services to quarantined school kids at risk, WA superintendents say
School district superintendents across Washington are voicing concerns over a state law that might prohibit them from collecting transportation funding to pay for bus drivers to deliver meals and instructional materials to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 40 superintendents from King and Pierce counties representing more than 430,000 students sent a letter to state legislators… → Read More
Private schools alter plans as Pierce County health department requires remote learning
Some private Pierce County schools planning to return to school for in-person learning this fall are reversing course after a letter from the health department this week required both public and private schools to return this September with distance learning. → Read More
Couple traveling the country has truck stolen from REI parking lot in Tacoma
A couple who took to the road to travel the country is looking for their truck after it was stolen in Tacoma on Saturday. The truck, a dark red 1999 Ford F250 Superduty, was stolen from the parking lot of REI at 3825 S. Steele St. about 3 p.m. Saturday. It remained missing Monday afternoon, Tacoma police said. The license plate is Nevada 920-F83. People are asked to call 911 if they see the… → Read More
Tacoma schools roll out options for fall. None includes full-time, in-person instruction
Tacoma Public Schools has revealed its latest and most specific options to date for returning to school in the fall. → Read More
Robberies, assaults of Stadium High students near Wright Park prompt safety precautions
TACOMA, Wash. — An armed robbery and attempted robbery near Tacoma’s Wright Park in the Stadium District have prompted increased safety precautions. School officials encourage students to walk to and from school in groups and be aware of their surroundings. The school also has increased awareness patrols in the area. “We have become aware that our students have been victims of four separate… → Read More