KIRO Newsradio Headlines: Sound Transit losing close to $100 million to fare-dodgers

Sound Transit is losing close to $100 million a year on passengers who aren’t paying fares.

After two years of forgoing enforcement, the agency plans to deploy “fare ambassadors” to do spot checks.

The agency says employees — in blue and yellow uniforms — will check to see if light-rail riders have tickets or ORCA cards.

Sound Transit stopped enforcing fares in 2020 because of concerns about COVID and that Black and homeless riders were being unfairly targeted.

Kirby 2nd Mariner to win Rookie of the Month this season

Another Seattle Mariner earns Rookie of the Month honors.

George Kirby went 4-0 in his five starts in August.

The 24-year-old righty finished the month with 34 strikeouts in fewer than 30 innings pitched.

He also set a Major League record when he threw 24 consecutive strikes to start a game.

Kirby is the second Mariners to win rookie of the month, joining Julio Rodriguez, who’s done it twice.

Meta accused of violating state finance laws

A King County judge rules Facebook’s parent company has been violating state campaign finance law for years.

The judge ruled that Meta does not make full information about political ads easily and quickly available to the public. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson claimed Meta has committed hundreds of violations over the past four years — each subjected to as much as a $30,000 fine.

Those fines will be determined later, unless Meta successfully appeals.

No comment yet from the company.

Eatonville facing teacher strike

Eatonville’s teachers have voted to strike.

Pay and class size are primary sources of disagreement, according to an online petition started by the state teachers’ union.

The teachers say they will not show up for school Wednesday, unless a new contract deal is on paper.

Eatonville School administrators have not commented publicly at this point.

Delay to Mukilteo parking

Mukilteo’s parking crunch continues. The old ferry holding lot was supposed to open with 99 public parking spaces today.

The city permit is delayed and it could be up to four months before the lot is open.

The Port of Everett has taken over the space as part of a redevelopment effort.

Until a plan is worked out, it will serve as a parking lot, that will include some 72-hour spaces for people taking ferry trips.

Murray v. Smiley debate finally scheduled

U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s campaign has just confirmed to KIRO Newsradio that the Democrat incumbent will debate Republican opponent Tiffany Smiley this fall.

Smiley confirmed she would appear a few weeks ago. Murray would not, telling us only she would make an announcement soon.

Her campaign has not said exactly which debates she committed to.

Smiley’s office said one is at Washington State University on Oct. 7. The other is at Seattle University on Oct. 25.

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