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Christian Sayre sits in the courtroom before the start of jury selection for his trial at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Jury selection begins in trial of Everett bar owner

This is the first of four trials Christian Sayre is set to face in Snohomish County on sex crimes allegations.

Christian Sayre sits in the courtroom before the start of jury selection for his trial at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
People cheer as ribbon is cut and confetti flys during the Lynnwood 1 Line extension opening celebrations on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Today feels like Christmas’: Lynnwood light rail is here at last

Fifteen years after voters put the wheels in motion, Link stations opened in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline on Friday.

People cheer as ribbon is cut and confetti flys during the Lynnwood 1 Line extension opening celebrations on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Addison Tubbs, 17, washes her cow Skor during load-in before the start of the Evergreen State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Evergreen State Fair ready to shine in Monroe

Organizers have loaded the venue with two weeks of entertainment and a massive agricultural showcase.

Addison Tubbs, 17, washes her cow Skor during load-in before the start of the Evergreen State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Attendees gather to meet a horse at the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire in Snohomish, Washington on Sunday, July 28, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Huzzah! The Renaissance Faire returns to Monroe

With expanded accessibility, the state’s midsummer faire is back for another enchanting summer of medieval fun and community.

Attendees gather to meet a horse at the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire in Snohomish, Washington on Sunday, July 28, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Targets and an assortment of trash and debris are mounded into a backstop at an unofficial shooting range along Green Mountain Road on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, near Granite Falls, Washington. Shell casings and trash are scattered along the road as well as throughout the clearcut area. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘It’s like the wild west’ on popular road for shooting near Granite Falls

Officials are pleading with recreational shooters to play by the rules, as Green Mountain Road has become a dangerous trash dump.

Targets and an assortment of trash and debris are mounded into a backstop at an unofficial shooting range along Green Mountain Road on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, near Granite Falls, Washington. Shell casings and trash are scattered along the road as well as throughout the clearcut area. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A dog sticks their head out the window as a part of a Wandering Rover Field Trip at the Everett Animal Shelter in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Doggy dates: Wandering Rover at Everett shelter gives dogs a day out

The program offers people the opportunity to try a dog before they adopt or to simply get their Fido fix.

A dog sticks their head out the window as a part of a Wandering Rover Field Trip at the Everett Animal Shelter in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Performers joust during the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire at Sky Meadows Park in Snohomish, Washington, on Sunday, Aug. 06, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Royalty and revelry: The spirit of the Renaissance comes to Monroe

The annual Renaissance fair will open its doors every weekend from July 20 to Aug. 18

Performers joust during the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire at Sky Meadows Park in Snohomish, Washington, on Sunday, Aug. 06, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Marysville School District office on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

State: Marysville school plan ‘does not comply,’ must be fixed by Wednesday

In a letter, the state superintendent’s office outlined concerns with the work the district has done so far — and warned of more oversight.

The Marysville School District office on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Components of downtown Marysville’s new stormwater treatment facility can be seen from the walkway on Thursday, July 11, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. While much of the treatment and filtering happens out of sight, visitors of the area will see troughs, left, spilling water out onto the surrounding landscape, which soaks up the filtered water before it makes its way into a nearby lagoon. Overflow grates, right, help alleviate flooding during heavy rains. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

At new Marysville water treatment facility, plants filter out pollutants

City officials expect the $14 million project to clean 110 million gallons of water every year, reducing harm to wildlife.

Components of downtown Marysville’s new stormwater treatment facility can be seen from the walkway on Thursday, July 11, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. While much of the treatment and filtering happens out of sight, visitors of the area will see troughs, left, spilling water out onto the surrounding landscape, which soaks up the filtered water before it makes its way into a nearby lagoon. Overflow grates, right, help alleviate flooding during heavy rains. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Hiba Aarbi, left and Emily Chu (Kate Erickson / The Herald)

The Teen Beat: A new column by teens, for teens (and adults)

Meet Emily and Hiba, two teen journalists tackling misinformation and exploring youth-driven news in Snohomish County.

Hiba Aarbi, left and Emily Chu (Kate Erickson / The Herald)
Pixar's "Inside Out 2" follows Riley and her emotions, including Anxiety (right), into high school. (Disney)

The Teen Beat: In “Inside Out 2,” Anxiety is not the villain

Pixar’s latest film shows how anxiety can drive or demolish teens, says a teen who’s grown up with the film.

Pixar's "Inside Out 2" follows Riley and her emotions, including Anxiety (right), into high school. (Disney)
Homeowner Ryan Anderson sits on the bunk beds in the ferry quarters at Ferry Cove, the latest feature in the 5-bedroom waterfront vacation rental in Clinton. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

This Whidbey rental is like walking onto a state ferry

This 5-bedroom beachfront Airbnb has rooms patterned after “The Parent Trap,” “The African Queen” and the ferry Tokitae.

Homeowner Ryan Anderson sits on the bunk beds in the ferry quarters at Ferry Cove, the latest feature in the 5-bedroom waterfront vacation rental in Clinton. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Members of the crowd wave flags during Everett’s Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Nice weather draws huge crowds for Everett’s Fourth of July parade

Thousands flocked to downtown Everett, lining up along Colby for the growing parade with 100 entrants.

Members of the crowd wave flags during Everett’s Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Rob Plotnikoff takes a measurement as a part of the county's State of Our Waters survey at Tambark Creek in Bothell, Washington on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Snohomish County stream team bushwhacks a path to healthier waterways

This summer, the crew of three will survey 40 sites for the State of Our Waters program. It’s science in locals’ backyards.

Rob Plotnikoff takes a measurement as a part of the county's State of Our Waters survey at Tambark Creek in Bothell, Washington on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Two new figures have appeared alongside the figure known as the Lake Stevens Bigfoot-Moss Man-Sasquatch along the Stevens Creek stream on Lundeen Parkway on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Secrets of Bigfoot breeding in woods of Lake Stevens revealed

The two new hulky moss figures are the handiwork of an artist named Steve, creator of the original.

Two new figures have appeared alongside the figure known as the Lake Stevens Bigfoot-Moss Man-Sasquatch along the Stevens Creek stream on Lundeen Parkway on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Andrea Brown, left, and Janice Podsada surrounded by America Online CDs. (Photo illustration by Kate Erickson & Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Herald reporters take third place in national journalism contest

Andrea Brown and Janice Podsada were honored for a zany story they cowrote, about AOL email addresses.

Andrea Brown, left, and Janice Podsada surrounded by America Online CDs. (Photo illustration by Kate Erickson & Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The access loop trail on the Old Sauk Trail on Monday, May 27, 2024 in Darrington, Washington. (Ta'Leah Van Sistine / The Herald)

10 accessible trails to explore this summer in Snohomish County

For people with disabilities, tree roots and other obstacles can curb access to the outdoors. But some trails are wheelchair-friendly.

The access loop trail on the Old Sauk Trail on Monday, May 27, 2024 in Darrington, Washington. (Ta'Leah Van Sistine / The Herald)
People walk along Olympic Avenue past Lifeway Cafe and Olympic Theater that currently hosts Lifeway Church on Friday, July 7, 2023 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Arlington churches waged covert ‘battle’ against Pride event, records show

Sermons, emails and interviews reveal how an LGBTQ+ nonprofit became the target of a covert campaign by local evangelical leaders.

People walk along Olympic Avenue past Lifeway Cafe and Olympic Theater that currently hosts Lifeway Church on Friday, July 7, 2023 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett Herald staff gather and talk in the newsroom after layoff announcements on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘This breaks my heart’: Roughly half of Everett Herald news staff laid off

A dozen journalists learned their jobs were eliminated Wednesday, in a move new owners Carpenter Media Group said was meant to ensure long-term success of the newspaper.

Everett Herald staff gather and talk in the newsroom after layoff announcements on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Woodside Elementary Principal Betty Cobbs on Monday, June 17, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett’s first Black principal retires after 51 years

In her office, Betty Cobbs kept a black-and-white photo of herself at age 5: “I am right there, with dreams of becoming an educator.”

Woodside Elementary Principal Betty Cobbs on Monday, June 17, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)