Snohomish County has launched a text-to-911 service, joining Kitsap County in offering the service. SNOCOM, which handles communications for Snohomish County, will accept text messages meant for situations when a phone call will not work. The system is aimed at helping people in dangerous situations like a domestic violence call, home invasion or kidnapping where a call cannot be made.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: king5

A 79-year-old man was killed when his house burned in a fire that investigators say started by a neighbor's trash burn. A man and woman were burning trash and other items in a backyard concrete pit behind their home near Olympia Tuesday night when the fire got out of hand and spread to a nearby bush, according to Thurston County Sheriff's officials.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO NEWS

A Yakima Fire Department lieutenant has been formally charged with having sex with a 17-year-old student he was teaching at a local school. Joseph Chinco, 51, was charged Tuesday with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and witness tampering, for trying to get her to withdraw her accusation, said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steve Jackson.
- PUB DATE: 7/7/2015 6:36:06 PM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

PHOTOS/VIDEO: The side of a building on Louisville's historic Whiskey Row collapsed after a large blaze erupted there Monday afternoon. Three buildings were damaged in the fire — 111, 113 and 115 West Main Street — all part of a project to redevelop the historic buildings into new lofts, retail and restaurant space called 111 Whiskey Row.
- PUB DATE: 7/7/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WHAS-TV ABC 11 Louisville