Northwest

New Whatcom Humane Society shelter opens

BELLINGHAM — The Whatcom Humane Society is opening a new $2.6 million shelter to provide more room and services for animals.

Gray whale seen in Puget Sound

PURDY — A gray whale has been spotted in Burley Lagoon in the south Puget Sound.

Energy Secretary visits Hanford site

RICHLAND — Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz says he intends to have a new plan by the end of the summer for resolving technical problems with a waste treatment plant under construction at the nation's most contaminated nuclear site.

Diverted United 787 passengers on way to Tokyo

SEATTLE — Passengers from a United Airlines Denver-to-Tokyo flight that diverted to Seattle on Tuesday when the Boeing 787 had an oil filter issue are on their way again.

Oregon woman charged in Mich. with killing mom

PORT HURON, Mich. — An Oregon woman accused of dumping the body of her 89-year-old mother behind a Michigan thrift store has been charged with murder.

State investigating Portland cemetery management

PORTLAND — The Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board is investigating cemeteries managed by the Metro Portland regional government.

Washington parents' ruse snares man, 30, wooing daughter, 15

Man faces charges of child rape, attempted kidnapping

SPOKANE — A father who discovered his 15-year-old daughter was being wooed on Facebook by a man twice her age took matters into his own hands.

Thieves take 5 tons of watermelon from Oregon stores

OREGON CITY, Ore. — Police and Clackamas County sheriff's detectives say two men stole 17 pallets of watermelon — about 5 tons — from grocery stores in Beaverton and Tigard.

Traffic moving as temporary Skagit River bridge opens

Section of structure on Interstate 5 collapsed May 23

MOUNT VERNON — Cars and trucks are rolling again across the Interstate 5 Skagit River bridge, restoring the traffic flow on the main route between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Repairs to I-84 ramp to I-5 begin tonight after earlier crash

PORTLAND — Oregon officials say they’ll restripe a Portland freeway interchange where a big rig plunged about 50 feet into a parking lot Wednesday, seriously injuring the driver.

Study: Coal exports a gain for whole state

OLYMPIA — Building new coal terminals near Bellingham and Longview will have major economic benefits for the entire state, a new study conducted for the Washington Farm Bureau suggests.

Part of congressional delegation asks feds to respect Wash. law on pot

Letter to Justice Department signed by 7 Democrats

OLYMPIA -- Seven members of Washington's 12-member congressional delegation have asked the U.S. government to respect the state's marijuana legalization effort and provide guidance about the industry's fate.

787 heading to Tokyo diverted

United flight lands at Sea-Tac due to alert for oil filter

SEATTLE — An indication of an oil filter problem prompted the crew of a Boeing 787 flying from Denver to Tokyo to divert to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, a United Airlines spokeswoman said.