I just got back from a quick jaunt down to South Tacoma to see what’s up with clean-up following this morning’s single-pickup crash.

Tacoma police still have 74th closed west of South Tacoma Way. It looked to me like utility crews were in the process of lifting a new power pole into place to replace the one damaged in the wreck.

Still no ETA on when 74th will be re-opened. If you go home that way, you may want to plan an alternate route.

The Pierce County trial has begun for a man suspected of terrorizing women in two counties in 2005.

Anthony Casper Dias (seen here during a 2005 court appearance) is charged with more than a dozen crimes in Pierce County, including rape, kidnapping and robbery. He’s pleaded not guilty.

He faces more than a dozen more felony charges in King County once his trial here is finished.

Investigators believe Dias broke into several homes in Pierce and King counties, where he cut phone lines, tied people up and repeatedly raped women while

Read more »

Attorneys have finished selecting a jury in the first-degree murder trial of Daniel Ralph Maples.

Deputy prosecutors and Maples’ attorneys are scheduled to deliver opening statements Tuesday in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Thomas P. Larkin.

The trial is expected to last more than a month.

Maples is charged with killing 27-year-old Christine Blais in October 1988. Blais and Maples worked together at a Tideflats manufacturing plant.

Though arrested early in the investigation, Maples was released and not charged until 2005 when prosecutors said they found new evidence in the case.

The Washington Department of Transportation issued this alert:

I-84, one of the primary east-west routes through northern Oregon, is closed near the Umatilla Indian Reservation due to blowing and drifting snow. This cannot be used as an alternate route for the Snoqualmie Pass closure at this time.

It is unknown when the highway will reopen.

Here’s the latest from the AP:

By JOHN K. WILEY
Associated Press Writer
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — High avalanche danger kept the state’s main east-west highway closed across the Cascade Range on Thursday even as windblown snow closed more roads and schools in Eastern Washington.
Washington State University in Pullman joined a long list of colleges, universities and school districts in Eastern Washington that suspended operations and canceled classes because of treacherous driving conditions.
Crews blasted and cleared snow at Snoqualmie Pass, but there was no estimate yet when Interstate 90 would reopen.
Washington Department of Transportation spokesman Travis Phelps said another foot of snow fell overnight and the temperature Thursday morning had warmed to 31 degrees, creating "ripe conditions" for avalanches.
The freeway was closed through the pass 50 miles east of Seattle on Wednesday afternoon after a slide partially covered two cars. No one was injured. The interstate had only been open for about five hours after being closed Tuesday morning between North Bend and Cle Elum, backing up hundreds of trucks.

Read more »

These come from Rick Snyder, who works in the area.

Rick sent along this as well:

A little more info about the crash.



One of Car Pros Kia’s employee’s put out a fire and pulled both occupants out of the vehicle.



It appears they were not wearing seat belts, the windshield is pushed out indcating they hit it.

Here’s a link to our full story on the wreck.

Kent Police are asking for the public’s help finding Lisa Michele Fisher, 40 (seen here).

Fisher was last seen Jan. 22 when she left home with her daughter’s car, Kent Police said in a press release.

Her black 1994 Honda Civic was found abandoned the next day on Highway 2 near Skykomish, apparently having run out of gas. Inside the car were Fisher’s purse, wallet, ID, two cell phones and jacket. Her daughter reported her missing on Jan. 24.

Police said Fisher has a history of mental health issues

Read more »

A blogger with the Wall Street Journal finds that a question open to more debate than generally thought.