SEATTLE – The Woodland Park Zoo says an anonymous donor gave it $6 million – the largest gift in the Seattle zoo’s 107-year history.
The zoo plans to use the money to build a new west entry and a new exhibit for Humboldt penguins.
The new exhibit will be home to at least 10 breeding pairs of the endangered penguins. It will include a beach and rocky tide pool. Visitors will be able to see the penguins swim underwater.
Brochures advise on handling panhandlers
The Downtown Seattle Association says it plans to start handing out pamphlets next month urging people not to give money to panhandlers.
The pamphlet suggests giving money to organizations that help the homeless and offers advice on how to refuse a panhandler by politely saying “no” or “sorry.” It advises calling 911 if panhandlers become aggressive.
The pamphlets will be distributed in downtown hotels and office buildings. A spokeswoman for the association, Anita Woo, says downtown Seattle panhandlers have been getting more aggressive.
Wenatchee: Trooper at fault in collision
The State Patrol says a trooper was at fault for a collision at a U.S. 2 intersection in Wenatchee and will be disciplined.
State Patrol spokesman Rich Magnussen says Trooper Brian C. Moore, 29, failed to yield to another car Friday because his view was blocked. He suffered minor injuries in the crash that also sent the driver and two teenage passengers in the other car to Central Washington Hospital for treatment.
Spokane: Lottery winners get $1.2 million
Washington’s newest millionaires live in Spokane.
Nat and Brandee Louik held the winning Washington State Lotto ticket for Saturday’s drawing and picked up a check, after taxes were deducted, for $1.2 million Tuesday.
The couple plan to set up college funds for their children.
Nat Louik is a general contractor. He bought the ticket on Dec. 20 at a Zip Trip store on U.S. 2 north of Spokane.
Brandee Louik was the first to realize the ticket was a winner on Christmas Eve, which was also her birthday.
Tacoma: More sewage spills in to marina
For the second time this month, a power outage has resulted in a sewage spill into the Day Island marina lagoon and four nearby homes, city officials said.
Electricity to about 13,000 homes and businesses was cut for about an hour and a half around midday Saturday because of a fire on a utility pole, and the power disruption caused a shutdown of the Grandview sewage pumping station in University Place, city spokesman Rob McNair-Huff said.
Cause of the fire was under investigation and the amount of sewage that spilled was not determined, McNair-Huff said.
The Grandview pump station also quit functioning for more than 12 hours because of power outages caused by the windstorm Dec. 14-15, McNair-Huff said. City crews were dispatched to help clean up the mess and provide claim forms for property owners to seek compensation.
Okanagon: Six arrested after raid on cockfight
Six people have been arrested and 25 roosters seized in a raid on a cockfight, Okanogan County sheriff’s deputies said.
About 50 people fled from deputies who encountered the illegal cockfight on the north side of the Columbia River near Bridgeport while responding to a call Saturday afternoon, dispatch Sgt. Kimberly Scott said.
Scott said six were caught and arrested for investigation of animal fighting, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Oregon: Man arrested on allegations of arson
A 32-year-old Portland, Ore., man was arrested by police on Christmas Day after he allegedly went to a former woman friend’s home, struck her and set her house on fire.
James C. Spinks was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree arson, residential burglary, felony harassment, fourth-degree assault and interfering with a victim’s report.
Spinks was held without bail on Monday. Police did not give the woman’s name.
Brother accidentally kills 12-year-old sister
A 12-year-old Hermiston girl was killed, apparently by her 10-year-old brother handling a shotgun, authorities said.
“Preliminarily, we’re calling it an accidental shooting,” said Undersheriff Terry Rowan of Umatilla County.
Rowan said the girl, Lacey Ostrom, was shot Sunday afternoon. She died shortly before midnight at Oregon Health &Science University trauma center in Portland, said spokeswoman Kathleen McFall.
“Somehow this gun was brought out. The 10-year-old boy was holding it, and somehow it went off,” Rowan said.
He said the father, Michael, was in the mobile home at the time. The name of the boy has not been made public, he said.
From news service reports
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