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Cougar attacks five mountain bikers on a trail in Washington state

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Cougar attacks five mountain bikers on a trail in Washington state


A group of five cyclists were riding on a trail in Fall City, Wash., when they were attacked by at least one cougar this past weekend.

The incident occurred on Saturday around 12:30 P.M., according to the King County Sheriff’s Office, in a wilderness area along Tokul Creek approximately five miles north of the city of Snoqualmie.

A 60-year-old female was hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries, but is in stable condition, according to a statement from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

“We are thankful that the victim is stable after the incident this weekend,” said Lieutenant Erik Olson. “The people on scene took immediate action to render aid, and one of our officers was able to arrive within minutes to continue medical aid and coordinate transport. We may have had a very different outcome without their heroic efforts.”

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Officers euthanized and removed one young male 75-pound cougar on arrival, but eyewitnesses indicate there may have been a second cougar as well at the scene, said the statement. Officials were unable to find a second cougar that eye-witnesses said they saw on the scene.

Such attacks rarely end up fatal. In Washington state, there have only been two fatal cougar attacks and approximately 20 other recorded encounters that resulted in human injury in the last 100 years, according to the WDFW.

Cougars, a protected species and the largest members of the cat family in Washington, are “solitary and secretive animals rarely seen in the wild,” reads a description of the mountain lion on the WDFW website. But sightings of them are on the rise in northeast Washington, according to a 2021 report by Northwest Public Broadcasting.

There are an estimated 3,600 cougars in Washington state as of 2022, says the WDFW.

If you do encounter a cougar in the wild, “you definitely want to show the animal that you are not prey. They are used to their prey running away,” said bear and cougar specialist Richard A. Beausoleil in a 2018 interview with WBUR. “And so the very first thing is to stop, stand tall, make some noise, throw something at the animal if you can, but do not run.”

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If a cougar does attack, the WDFW suggests fighting back, as the cougar will flee if a person is aggressive enough.

“Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back using anything within reach, including sticks, rocks, shovels, backpacks, and clothing — even bare hands,” reads their website.

Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.



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Washington Spirit Recalls Forward Emma Gaines-Ramos From Loan

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Washington Spirit Recalls Forward Emma Gaines-Ramos From Loan


Gaines-Ramos returns to DC after half season with Tampa Bay Sun FC 

Washington, D.C. (01/21/2026) – The Washington Spirit has recalled forward Emma Gaines-Ramos from her loan with Tampa Bay Sun FC of the Gainbridge Super League, the club announced today. Gaines-Ramos will join the Spirit for preseason training this month.

“We look forward to having Emma back in training with us,” said General Manager Nathan Minion. “She has really benefited from her time in Tampa and we expect her to continue her development with us.”

Gaines-Ramos tallied over 300 minutes for Tampa Bay through the first half of the side’s 2025-26 season, providing one assist in the process. Gaines-Ramos signed with Washington in January 2025 after an impressive collegiate career at San Diego State. 

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The Spirit will look to build on the side’s second consecutive NWSL Championship appearance in 2026. The team will kick off the regular season at home on Friday, March 13 when it hosts Portland Thorns FC in a rematch of last season’s thrilling home semifinal. Information on 2026 season ticket memberships is available HERE. 

 

About The Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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U.S. Marshals arrest fugitive found hiding under child’s bed in Washington state

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U.S. Marshals arrest fugitive found hiding under child’s bed in Washington state


The U.S. Marshals Service on Friday arrested a fugitive who authorities found hiding under a child’s bed in Spokane, Washington, according to a news release from the federal law enforcement agency.

Keantray Davon Bryant-Muellner had been wanted on an outstanding warrant for violating the terms of his graduated re-entry probation sentence. Bryant-Muellner’s probation stemmed from a 2024 arrest on charges including first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and fourth-degree assault.

U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force members surrounded a residence associated with Bryant-Muellner around 5:30 p.m. Friday, the agency said. The law enforcement officers announced themselves and then removed a glass sliding door.

“Two uninvolved adults immediately excited the residence,” the Marshals Service said.

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Bryant-Muellner was eventually found “attempting to conceal himself while hiding under a child’s bed inside the residence,” the Marshals Service said. “He was instructed to exit and peacefully surrendered to law enforcement without incident.”

Washington State Department of Corrections specialists carried out a search of the property after Bryant-Muellner’s arrest and found a handgun and high-capacity magazines.

The “arrest reflects the strength of our partnerships and the teamwork among local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies, said Craig Thayer, the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington.

“With gun violence continuing to plague Spokane, every violent offender arrested and every firearm taken off the street makes our communities safer,” Thayer added.

The arrest was conducted by members of the United States Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, in tandem with the FBI, the Spokane Police Department and the Washington State Department of Corrections.

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The Next Sphere Is Coming To Washington D.C.

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The Next Sphere Is Coming To Washington D.C.


America is going to get a second Sphere, and it’s coming to the Washington D.C. metro area.

Sphere Entertainment, the company behind the Las Vegas landmark, says that it has inked a deal with the state of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Peterson Companies to develop and build a second Sphere venue at National Harbor, a major tourism destination in the area.

Notably, Sphere says the plan is to create what it is calling its first “smaller-scale” design, with plans for a 6,000 seat venue, compared to the 18,600 seats at the Las Vegas Sphere. The project will be financed with public and private funding, including approximately $200 million in state, local, and private incentives.

While it will be smaller than the original Sphere in Las Vegas, the company says it will still have the distinct “Exosphere” that defines the exterior of the original, while the interior theater will have what it says will be “the world’s highest-resolution LED screen.”

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A rendering released by the company showed the Sphere close to the Potomac near the existing MGM Grand.

“Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities,” said James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment. “Sphere is a new experiential medium. With a commitment to bringing innovative opportunities to residents and visitors, Governor Moore, County Executive Braveboy, the State of Maryland, and Prince George’s County recognize the potential for a Sphere at National Harbor to elevate and advance immersive experiences across the area.”

“Maryland has a long history of providing world-class entertainment and we could not be more excited to work with Sphere Entertainment to bring this cutting-edge project to life,” added Governor Wes Moore. “This will be one of the largest economic development projects in Prince George’s County history – proving once again our state is the best place in the country to bring dreams to life. We’re excited for what this means for our people, and how it will showcase the best of what Maryland has to offer to everyone who visits.”

Sphere has become a major tourist attraction in Las Vegas, a city with no shortage of them. While the venue is best known for its concerts and residencies, it also has daily programming, most notably a remastered version of The Wizard of Oz, and the original documentary film Postcard From Earth. It’s safe to assume that the Maryland Sphere will follow the same strategy, albeit on a slightly smaller scale.

National Harbor is home to The Capital Wheel, a giant ferris wheel with views of D.C., as well as an MGM Grand casino and other tourist attractions.

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The National Harbor Sphere is the third planned version of the venue, after the Las Vegas original and another under construction in Abu Dhabi.



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