KIRO Newsradio Headlines: Coast Guard suspends search for missing Whidbey Island crash victims

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for nine missing individuals after a plane crashed into Mutiny Bay west of Whidbey Island on Sunday afternoon, the agency announced on Twitter.

Emergency crews recovered one body from the crash site Sunday, but despite searching upwards of 1,000 square nautical miles through Monday morning, were unable to locate the nine other missing persons.

A spokesperson for the Coast Guard told KIRO Newsradio that the plane crashed beyond a shelf, leaving the wreckage potentially hundreds of feet below the water’s surface.

‘Will to live’ is key, Coast Guard says of ongoing Whidbey Island plane crash search and rescue

Washington schools brace for potential series of teacher strikes

There are several potential teacher strikes around the state — one that has gone on for several days.

Kent teachers have been on strike for more than a week.

Seattle teachers are currently voting on whether or not to authorize a strike — which would happen if a compromise is not reached by Wednesday.

Port Angeles teachers must reach an agreement with the district by Monday night, or they will strike.

Eatonville and Ridgefield have taken strike votes; Ridgefield is back in school but the teachers could still choose to strike. Ellensburg is also potentially on the verge of a strike vote.

Larry Delaney, president of the Washington Education Association — the statewide teachers’ union — says this is a few years’ worth of issues coming to a head, after the last two years were dominated by figuring out teaching during COVID instead of these other bargaining issues.

All of the strikes have certain themes in common — such as wanting smaller class sizes, more mental health counselors for students, so counselors don’t have such big caseloads.

Delaney says the teachers don’t need perfect solutions, but they just want to see the districts try. For example, in this economy, there may not be mental health counselors out there to be hired, but if the school districts at least make an effort to hire more, that will mean a lot. It is all about a show of respect from districts.

Federal Way police shoot armed man dead at transit center

A fatal shooting involving Federal Way police shut down the transit center early this morning. Now an investigation is underway.

KIRO 7 reports — around 11 p-m Sunday night — officers responded to a disturbance at the transit center– where a man was allegedly refusing to get off a bus and tried to start it up.

According to police — the man then charged at officers with a knife– and they shot him. He died at the scene.

Federal Way police told KIRO 7 that no officers were injured.

The Valley Independent Investigation Team will investigate the shooting, with Kent Police leading the case.

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