Bothell/Kenmore Reporter

There will be daytime lane closures on State Route 18 near Maple Valley this weekend. The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close the left lane of eastbound SR-18 from State Route 169 to Issaquah-Hobart Southeast, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. On Aug.

Local leaders are now concerned about a lack of community input. Jupiter Power, the company behind the proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) near Snoqualmie Ridge, has announced it will now seek state approval instead of county. Previously, Jupiter has been pursuing permitting through King County’s Department of Local Services Permitting Division, as the proposed project site resides in unincorporated King County.

The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) has made seven community-driven recommendations to the King County Sheriff’s Office in a report on responding to increased federal immigration enforcement within the county. “The recommendations aim to strengthen the Sheriff’s Office’s current policy to be more responsive to community needs, expand community education and outreach, and promote understanding by clarifying the existing policy language,” according to an Aug. 20 OELO media release.

In partnership with Renton Regional Community Foundation (RRCF) and other local organizations, a new county initiative will help support immigrant and refugee communities throughout King County. The South King County Immigrant and Refugee Futures Fund (SIRFF) is a new initiative from King County to support immigrant and refugee communities that have been affected by federal immigration enforcement activities in South King County.

The city of Renton has temporarily banned data centers from the city, Monday night. At the Aug. 17 Renton City Council meeting, the council unanimously approved a moratorium on the filing, acceptance, processing, and approval of applications and permits for the siting establishment or expansion of large data centers within the city for up to one year.

Editor’s note: The following is a press release from the National Park Service. A project is being proposed to open the suspension bridge to Mount Rainier National Park’s Grove of the Patriarchs. The park, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration’s Western Federal Lands Highway Division, is inviting the public to learn about plans to replace the historic suspension bridge and restore trail access to the ancient old-growth forest loop.

In one of the most dramatic endings to a Longacres Mile race, 32-1 underdog Adios Jojo was named the winner after the heavy favorite Touchy was disqualified, putting the 91st running of the Longacres Mile Sunday, Aug. 6 as one of the most exciting races in recent Emerald Downs history. Trained by Auburn’s Howard Gibson, Adios Jojo ran an excellent race and could have won it outright.

The city of Renton is waiting to take further action on Flock cameras and the contract with Flock until after a public presentation on the technology. At the Aug. 10 meeting, the Renton City Council voted against not renewing a contract with Flock for automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras in the city, and narrowly voted against turning the cameras back on. Councilmember Kim-Khánh Văn made the motion to direct the city administration to not renew the Flock contract.

The fire burning inside Mount Rainier is appearing to remain stable, with only small growth and favorable conditions further limiting its spread. Named the Grand Park 2 Fire located three miles forth of the Sunrise Visitor Center in the northern area of the park, was reported Aug. 7. Size estimates have been spotty. An Aug. 12 update put it at 225 acres, but today’s update put it at 167 acres.

A new analysis from the state Department of Revenue shows Washington’s high-earner income tax will be paid by thousands of additional households and produce hundreds of millions of dollars more than previously assumed — if voters don’t ditch it this fall. These larger figures will be in front of voters as they decide whether to repeal the tax in the Nov. 3 election. If voters uphold the tax, it could mean lawmakers need to make fewer cuts to balance the next two-year budget. When Gov.