Matt Markovich
KOMO News
Seattle, WA, United States
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Past articles by Matt:
Passenger ship's arrival in Seattle marks return of cruise industry rocked by COVID
The arrival early Tuesday of Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas marked a milestone in the city’s shortened cruise season becoming the first of eight ships that will operate out of Seattle. Each vessel is slated to make 10 round trips to Alaska this summer, representing a return of the cruise industry to Western Washington after the onset of the COVID pandemic last year brought an immediate… → Read More
King County courthouse staff quitting, blame safety issues at homeless camp
SEATTLE - Staff at the King County Courthouse are putting the blame on what’s been described as a “steady flow of crime and intimidation” on a homeless camp that has taken over City Hall Park next to the courthouse. They say park dwellers have become more combative and aggressive since the city has allowed the camp to flourish over the last year. → Read More
After another night of protests and vandalism, Capitol Hill businesses seek relief
Residents and businesses in Seattle’s Capitol Hill on Tuesday expressed frustration and exasperation following another night of protests on Monday that resulted in the arrest of four people and a trail of destruction. Police said two people were arrested for property damage and two others accused of obstructing a police officer. The identities of the suspects were not immediately released. → Read More
Is justice blind? Local courts moving away from fine, fees and bail
On any given day, you can find Denny Behrend at a public computer just inside the entrance to King County Jail, going through the court’s daily calendar looking for potential clients for bail. “This guy is being held currently on an assault investigation," Behrend said while staring at a screen. "He’s on a floor where its general population with people who are not mentally ill. "He takes notes… → Read More
Arrival of US presidential election has also brought plans to quell possible civic unrest
In the wake of a handful of run-ins over the weekend involving supporters of President Donald Trump, the city of Seattle and several counties in Washington state have developed plans to respond to any violence or chaos that erupts if or when a winner in the race is announced. Seattle 'preparing for a range of scenarios' Officials with the city said they have put plans in place in case any… → Read More
Seattle City Council debates how to defund police department
SEATTLE - The Seattle City Council on Wednesday dug deeper into potential ways to defund the Seattle Police Department during a budget committee meeting, setting the stage for a possible conflict with Mayor Jenny Durkan and police Chief Carmen Best. → Read More
Community group calls for city to defund Seattle Police Department in phases
An influential community group on Tuesday called on Seattle City Council members to consider implementing a phased approach to defunding the city's police department that would extend through the rest of the year. Decriminalize Seattle held an online session with its members and the public and outlined the proposal. → Read More
Seattle City Council unclear what a defunded police department would look like
There are more questions than answers when it comes to what a defunded Seattle Police Department would look like. Seattle City Council Member Teresa Mosqueda announced Monday she will use her privilege" as Budget Committee Chairperson to launch an 'inquest' into the expenditures of SPD. "I am committed to defunding the police and using most of that money, ideally 50 percent, to invest back into… → Read More
Washington's largest casino re-opens Tuesday with new social distancing rules
“Eight more dollars," said Marsha Holin. Holin was on a roll. “There’s another $5," Holin said. "On my first spin I won $100. " She was one of the first to hit the slots Tuesday at the Muckleshoot Casino’s reopening. Twelve of the state’s 29 tribal casinos are now open, each following their own set of rules, but adhering to state public health guidelines. “The kids are home so its nice to have a… → Read More
Do lawsuits challenging Gov. Inslee's stay-home order have legal merit?
Critics of Gov. Jay Inslee claim he has overstepped the authority of his office during the COVID-19 pandemic, claims that are the basis of three separate lawsuits that are challenging the governor's stay-home order. → Read More
Seattle's 'Amazon Tax' proposal on hold amid COVID-19 crisis
A controversial payroll tax proposal on large corporations in Seattle whose supporters say would be used to fund affordable housing in the city has been put on hold as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Seattle City Council PresidentLorena Gonzales has temporarily halted the plan as a result of emergency declarations issued by Gov. Jay Inslee to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, which… → Read More
Spate of violence at Seattle homeless encampment stirs concern
Some residents and businesses surrounding two growing homeless street camps in Seattle say the city needs to take action even though current policy has put a pause on camp removals because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The camps involved are located in front of the Union Gospel Mission in Pioneer Square in an area known as the 2nd Avenue Extension and a two-block long line of tents on South Dearborn… → Read More
Hepatitis A cases increasing dramatically in King County this year
The people out in the homeless camps vaccinating for Hepatitis A & B believe there is a connection to the dramatic increase in infection rates in King County and the response to the COVID-19 crisis. “The disparities that existed before COVID are only exacerbated by it. " said Michael Ninburg, Executive Director of the Hepatitis Education Project. According to Seattle/King County Public Health,… → Read More
What's next for troubled West Seattle Bridge?
A decision on whether to repair the West Seattle Bridge may not happen until spring 2021 and after attempts to prevent the bridge from cracking further are completed. During a briefing Monday for Seattle City Council members, Department of Transportation Director Sam Zimbabwe laid out a timeline for any possible repairs. He said that work to stabilize and shore up the bridge needs to be… → Read More
Test to detect COVID-19 antibodies ready for public use, UW researchers say
For those who were sick recently but weren't sure if they had the coronavirus, a new test is coming that will answer the question and it could be available as early as next week. . → Read More
West Seattle Bridge could be closed through end of 2021
The West Seattle Bridge is slated to remain closed for the rest of 2020 and could be off limits to traffic through all of 2021 as well, city officials said Wednesday. The announcement was made by the city's Department of Transportation on Wednesday during a briefing just prior to Mayor Jenny Durkan announcing the closure. → Read More
Number of COVID-19 cases in Seattle hospitals flat, city leaders told
SEATTLE - Hospitals around Washington state are reporting a flattening in the number of COVID-19 patients being treated at their facilities. The data was released during a presentation Monday by the Northwest Healthcare Response Network and the Chief Medical Officer at the UW Medicine to members of the Seattle City Council. → Read More
Monroe inmates ask state Supreme Court to order immediate COVID-19 testing
Lawyers representing inmates at the Monroe Correctional Complex on Thursday filed an emergency motion that asks the Washington Supreme Court to intervene and take emergency action to have all inmates tested for COVID-19 and to appoint a "special master" who can investigate what the state's Department of Corrections is doing to protect prisoners. → Read More
West Seattle bridge closure: What happened, when and why
When Seattle’s Roadway and Bridge Inspector Matt Donahue went inside the center archway of the West Seattle Bridge on the morning of March 23, what he saw shocked him enough that he made a call that will change commuters' lives for months. “In the structural bridge world, angular cracks that are diagonal are called shear cracks”, he told the Seattle City Council on Monday. “That type of… → Read More
New pictures reveal cracking cement forcing closure of West Seattle Bridge
New pictures from inside the West Seattle Bridge show the rapid expansion of cracking cement that forced the Monday’s immediate closure of one of the most important roadways in Seattle. But commuters appear to be ignoring the restrictions placed on what would have been the main alternative to the high rise bridge. The cracks in the 36-year-old bridge first appeared during a routine inspection in… → Read More