Seattle News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

At Alaska Airlines Network Operations Center, a dedicated team manages holiday travel chaos, monitoring real-time flight, crew, and weather data. Despite challenges like IT outages and safety reviews, they prioritize safety and efficiency, making critical decisions that impact thousands of passengers daily. Their guest protect strategy minimizes disruptions by prioritizing routes with recovery options.

A King County judge sentenced Andrew Ralph Baim to nearly twenty-five years in prison for the murder of Nick Valison, a Ravensdale father killed while stopping illegal dumping. The judge emphasized the escalation from property crime to murder due to selfish decisions. Baim, convicted of second-degree murder, arson, and stolen vehicle possession, was found guilty in September. Valisons family and friends delivered emotional statements, remembering him as a devoted husband, son, brother, and father.

In Pacific, Washington, crews are racing against time to reinforce flood barriers after a section failed, causing neighborhood flooding. The barriers failure was due to prolonged water pressure, not fast-moving waters. Crews are now adding new walls and creating a new outlet to prevent future failures. Evacuation orders remain in place as officials work to complete new containment walls by the upcoming weekend.

Bobs Burgers and Brew in Sumas, Washington, faces a massive rebuilding effort after a recent flood, marking the fifth major flood in thirty years. Owner Tobyn Cochrane, who only took over two years ago, is determined to reopen the bar area and offer to-go food orders, despite extensive damage and uncertain financial impact. The community rallies around the restaurant, with an online fundraiser and volunteers helping in the recovery process.

King Countys Solid Waste Division offers free flood debris disposal from January 1st to 11th at Bow Lake, Shoreline, and Enumclaw Recycling and Transfer Stations. This self-haul service is for residents affected by recent floods, with specific weekend hours and no fees. Regular fees apply during weekdays at all facilities.

Severe winds sweep across Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas, causing power outages and wildfires. Xcel Energy warns of extended restoration times due to safety inspections. Residents urged to exercise caution and delay non-essential travel.

Crystal Mountain Ski Resort in Washington opens for the winter season this Saturday, offering limited access with the Mount Rainier Gondola, Chinook Express, and Discovery lifts running. The resort is urging caution due to early season conditions, as forecasters predict continued snowfall throughout the weekend. Many resorts across the state are eagerly awaiting a full season ahead.

Governor Bob Ferguson of Washington State unveils a $244 million housing plan, focusing on repairing affordable homes and flood-damaged properties. He signs an executive order to form a task force for a potential new state Department of Housing. The plan includes $225 million for the Housing Trust Fund, aiming to build or preserve over 4,000 affordable units. Ferguson also collaborates with Senator Emily Alvarado on legislation to allow residential development in commercially zoned areas.

TikTok secures major investment deal, ensuring U.S. operations and data security. Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX form a consortium to own half of the new TikTok U.S. joint venture, with a majority-American board. U.S. user data will be stored locally and algorithm retrained to prevent manipulation.