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Seattle mayor proposes sending some misdemeanor offenders to Des Moines jail

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Seattle mayor proposes sending some misdemeanor offenders to Des Moines jail


Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has proposed a plan to send some misdemeanor offenders in Seattle to South Correctional Entity (SCORE) in Des Moines.

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According to a press release from the Mayor’s office, this pilot program would use 20 beds at SCORE which would cost between $1.5 to $3 million per year, allowing the City of Seattle to “more consistently book individuals who have engaged in misdemeanor criminal offenses”

Though SCORE would temporarily hold misdemeanor offenders for 24–48 hours under this Interlocal Agreement, groups like SEIU 925 are concerned about how people would get to SCORE and what happens to them at the facility.

“Our biggest fear is that our attorneys will not be able to access our clients and our clients will not be able to appear appropriately in court to have their cases adjudicated,” said Molly Gilbert, Chapter President of the union representing King County Public Defenders under SEIU 925.

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When King County had a deal with SCORE, Gilbert says SCORE turned away social workers, attorneys trying to visit defendants and defense experts who tried to conduct evaluations.

“We had internet issues and then getting clients to court was a constant problem as well.” said Gilbert. “We had problems with in-person visits and remote visits, and we never found a solution before the county canceled its contract.”

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Gilbert says concerns were raised over deaths that happened while King County used SCORE.

“There had been deaths that had not been reported to the county during the county’s contract with SCORE,” said Gilbert. “Additionally, it didn’t appear that SCORE was following the DOH and RCWs on how to report these unexpected fatalities, there were no reports submitted to the state and there were no public announcements of those deaths as well.”

Gilbert doesn’t believe Mayor Harrell’s agreement would work for Seattle Municipal Court, citing concerns with transportation and for clients held at SCORE that would potentially be released outside the facility.

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“In the Seattle Municipal Court system, many of the people being arrested are homeless, so we are removing them entirely from the city where they live and removing them from a lot of the support services that they access,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert believes Seattle Municipal Court judges need to speak up about whether courtrooms can operate with people being sent to SCORE and that more analysis needs to be done on what happens after people are booked into SCORE.

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According to Mayor Harrell’s office:

“The City will continuously assess the effectiveness of this program and reserves the right to terminate this program if it does not meet the needs and expectations of the City. SCORE jail beds used this year would be paid for with underspend from the King County jail contract and in 2025 would be paid for as part of the City’s general fund.”

For now, Mayor Harrell’s office says his legislation will be sent to City Council for approval, but it won’t go into effect until operational issues are addressed, and the City officially notifies SCORE.

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Seattle officials probe food safety violations at Indian restaurant after illness outbreak

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Seattle officials probe food safety violations at Indian restaurant after illness outbreak


An outbreak of gastrointestinal illness linked to Thanksgiving meals from Kanishka Cuisine of India in Seattle has affected 35 people, prompting a public health investigation.

The illnesses, which began between Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, 2025, are associated with the restaurant’s “Fusion Thanksgiving Feast,” prepared for customer pickup or delivery. Although no specific food or drink has been identified as the cause, the symptoms align with those caused by bacterial toxins, which can develop when food is improperly stored at room temperature.

SEE ALSO | Multiple unpermitted Seattle food vendors shut down over health violations

Public Health officials have conducted interviews with 16 affected people to gather information on their symptoms and food consumption. Symptoms reported include diarrhea, stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, and body aches. Fortunately, no hospitalizations or deaths have been reported, and no restaurant workers have shown signs of illness.

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During a Dec. 2 inspection, several food safety violations were identified at Kanishka Cuisine of India, including inadequate equipment and space for safely preparing the large volume of food required for the feast, improper cooling methods, and failure to maintain safe food temperatures.

Despite educational efforts and a follow-up visit on Dec. 4, the restaurant continued to exhibit unsafe food handling practices, leading to its temporary closure. The establishment is now discarding unsafe food and retraining staff on proper food safety protocols.

Laboratory tests on four people affected by the outbreak returned negative for common gastrointestinal pathogens such as norovirus, Salmonella, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. However, these tests do not detect bacteria that produce toxins, such as Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens, which are known to cause rapid-onset foodborne illness.

Public Health advises the public to report any suspected foodborne illnesses and to file complaints about food safety violations.

For those who may have consumed food from Kanishka Cuisine of India and are experiencing symptoms, contact Public Health at 206-296-4774 or toll-free at 1-800-325-6165, ext. 6-4774, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: On 34th Avenue, with 34th Street spirit

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: On 34th Avenue, with 34th Street spirit


Tonight’s Christmas lights spotlight: Eric‘s display at 5629 34th Avenue SW, which has become a tradition … evoking Christmas spirit a la “Miracle on 34th Street” even though here in West Seattle the numbered streets are Avenue. He also added the greeting to the image he’s sharing this year. Thanks to everyone who’s sending photos and/or tips – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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NFL pundit declares Seattle Seahawks are ‘legitimate’ Super Bowl threat

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NFL pundit declares Seattle Seahawks are ‘legitimate’ Super Bowl threat


With one game to go in Week 14, Bleacher Report’s NFL analysts of Brent Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Kris Knox and Moe Moton did their usual due diligence when it came to winners, losers, and takeaways from the league’s most recent action.

On Sunday afternoon, the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons were tied at 6-6 at intermission. Mike Macdonald’s team outscored their hosts, 31-3, in the second half on the way to a resounding 37-9 win. It was a third straight win for the ‘Hawks since that 21-19 loss to the Rams in Week 11 at SoFi Stadium.

The B/R team’s takeaway from the 28-point win is that it’s time to talk about Macdonald’s club as a “legitimate Super Bowl threat.”

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Dec 7, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) tackles Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

“Despite having an excellent season, the Seattle Seahawks haven’t had a ton of run as a top contender to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. After dismantling the Falcons in Atlanta, Seattle should. There wasn’t anything the Seahawks didn’t do well Sunday against the Falcons. Sam Darnold was again effective and efficient throwing the ball. The team didn’t post gaudy numbers running the ball, but it was solid on a per-carry basis. The defense forced multiple second-half turnovers and held Falcons running back Bijan Robinson in check.”

Seattle limited Robinson, who lost a fumble, to 94 total yards from scrimmage. They did not give up a touchdown and allowed only 274 total yards. The Falcons were 1-of-13 on third-down conversions. They seem to be playing their best football of the season and have an opportunity to win their first division title since 2020.

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“With a home date with the Los Angeles Rams and a trip to San Francisco still on the schedule, the Seahawks have a real chance to claim first place in the NFC West—and the No. 1 seed in the NFC is still very much in play.”

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