KIRO Newsradio Headlines: Coffee shop faces racist threats, Granite Falls man charged with hate crime

New community transit in Lynwood

A new way to get around is coming to the Alderwood Mall area in Lynnwood this fall.

The Everett Herald reports a new transit system is set to launch this fall from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Community Transit will have five vehicles and users will be able to call or use an app to get picked up and dropped off within the service area for $2.50.

That’s the same fare as the buses. Riders can use their ORCA pass.

If successful, Arlington, Darrington, and Lake Stevens would be the next places for the micro-transit service.

Coffee shop faces more racist threats

A coffee shop once targeted by arson is now receiving threatening, racist phone calls.

Black Coffee Northwest in Shoreline told KIRO7 TV this has been happening for three weeks, according to Erwin Weary, the CEO and co-owner of the café.

Back in 2020, someone also targeted his business with Molotov cocktails in an attempt to burn it down.

He said, despite all this, their loyal customers help keep them open.

Members of organized retail theft crime ring appear in court

Four suspects charged in connection with an organized theft ring in Bellevue appeared in court today.

King County Prosecutors charged Billy Chambers, Memory Yearby, Earnetra Turner, and Trey Kendall with retail theft and trafficking stolen property.

The group allegedly stole over $100,000 in items from Gucci and Louis Vuitton stores.

Granite Falls Man charged with hate crime

A 24-year-old man is suspected of beating a black teen during a racist assault at a Granite Falls skate park.

According to the Everett Herald, the incident happened July 14.

Snohomish County Prosecutors alleged the man yelled racist slurs and punched the 15-year-old after the boy said “yo mama” to him.

Court documents say the suspect grabbed a woman by the throat who tried to pull the suspect off the teen.

Police arrested the Granite Falls man and charged him with a hate crime.

Skagit County Dump closes unexpectedly for third time this year

It was hoped it could be reopened Monday, but it is now unknown when Skagit County’s Mount Vernon Recycling and Transfer Station will reopen to self-haulers.

This is the third unplanned closure this year.

A piece of equipment has broken down, adding to the railroad staffing shortage, making it hard to haul trash away.

That same problem shuttered Snohomish County’s Everett transfer station last May.

Saturday, a fire at Snohomish County’s Southwest Transfer Station caused it to close for the day.