Seattle Times Morning Brief

MORNING BRIEF Thursday, January 3, 2019

Site of triple slaying was a ‘crash pad’ and trouble spot, police say Authorities had been called out to the rural property near Port Angeles dozens of times, but those calls were nothing like what happened during the last week. They're trying to piece together how 57-year-old Darrell Iverson, his son Jordan, 27, and Jordan’s girlfriend, Tiffany May, 26, ended up dead. The Iversons' bodies were found in the yard, where car parts and pallets are piled beneath tarps, and May's body was found in a shed. Whoever shot them has had nearly a week's start on investigators. (Photo:  Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times) NEED TO KNOW Drivers will see a prequel to the Seattle Squeeze this weekend, when three lanes of Interstate 5 and two viaduct ramps shut down. The closure comes a week before the three-week blockage of Highway 99. Here's some help planning ahead for the state's longest freeway shutdown ever. Two of the last 74 southern resident orcas will probably be dead by summer, the lead demographer of the orca population says. The killer whales known as J17 and K25 are suffering from a lack of food, and although several pregnancies were documented among orcas in September, there has been no sign of any babies. You can read more in our series, "Hostile Waters: Orcas in Peril," and get text-message updates about local orcas. "How many more times can we say no?” Democrats take control of the U.S. House today as the new Congress convenes amid a standoff over President Donald Trump's border wall. More: This Congress brims with female trailblazers.  Nancy Pelosi is poised to become House speaker, but there could be some fireworks around that (here's what to watch).  Fact checkers were quite busy after Trump discussed the wall.   And the shutdown? Trump and congressional leaders hit a wall yesterday, so they'll try again tomorrow.  A NASA spacecraft is sending back the first peeks of the most distant celestial object ever explored. It looks like a reddish snowman. And China today became the first nation to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon, sending out a  cool image of a spot shrouded in mystery.   This new year, make it your resolution to support local journalism. The Seattle Times covers the issues that matter to your community, like home prices, restaurant openings and the upcoming viaduct closure. Starting at just $1 for four weeks, you can help support the reporters who bring you the news every day. SUBSCRIBE TODAY THROWBACK THURSDAY You’re getting a rare glimpse of the Seattle neighborhood that was a mix of Chinatown and Skid Road, before it all went up in flames. There are so many stories here, from saloons and a leaning boardinghouse to the expulsion of Chinese residents. Can you guess when this photo was taken? Check your answer and see the site’s dramatic transformation. (Photo courtesy of Seattle Public Library) WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A murder suspect may be hiding on the Eastside, officials say. They're hunting for a gunman who's accused of killing a man during a White Center-area home invasion while the victim's girlfriend hid in a closet, “whispering, crying and begging for help from the 911 dispatcher.” Beachgoers in Everett found what appears to be a human foot inside a boot on New Year's Day. This is far from the first time a lone foot has washed ashore in the Pacific Northwest, and after the phenomenon initially sparked fears of a serial killer, officials arrived at an explanation that has to do with shoe fashion. Seahawks phenom Michael Dickson’s success is rooted in his deepest disappointment: going undrafted in the Australian Football League. The punter's story is a tale of serendipity and a brave leap into the unknown. 20 best bites of 2018: Between noodles, fritters, dumplings, soups and heaping towers of shellfish, it was a year of great eating in and around Seattle. Providence Cicero shares her favorite dishes. If you're hungry, check out these 10 essential Seattle restaurants,  and Seattle and Bellevue's best new eateries. “Voting is a duty as a citizen,” says Tuyet Nguyen, 63. But there are many barriers that keep Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants from casting ballots, and Nguyen is out to knock down the hurdles through her volunteer work with Asian Counseling and Referral Service. It benefits from The Seattle Times Fund For The Needy; here's how to help. Provided by Okanogan County Tourism Council Soak in a hot tub under the stars, track moose and bobcats, or spot a long-eared owl. Washington’s premier “dark skies” destination wows in wintertime, even – perhaps especially – on the shortest days of the year. WORTH A READ The Nordstrom community is remembering co-President Blake Nordstrom, who died yesterday at age 58 of lymphoma. Those who knew him are sharing stories of a humble leader who treated employees like family. One of the world’s top-earning comedians is coming to Seattle. Sebastian Maniscalco “was a shy kid …I always despised the class clown” before ending up on stages everywhere. Don't miss his riff about Whole Foods. Finally, some salve for the Mariners' dark days. Seattle is getting another blast of pitching talent from Japan after Yusei Kikuchi, 27, signed a four-year contract. Mystery swirls around him — but that’s only fitting, because these risk-taking Mariners are a team Nancy Drew would love, columnist Larry Stone writes. The Huskies could lose up to 10 regular starters from the Pac-12's top defense, including Taylor Rapp, who says he'll skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. The good news: The Huskies have recruited well. Correction: We wrote yesterday about Washington state's takeover of school employee health-care plans. The change happens in January 2020, not this month. Produced by Advertising Publications Are heated bathroom floors worth the hype? Radiant, or underfloor, heating has great allure during the chilly winter months. How affordable – and energy-efficient – is it? A master builder offers expert advice and a ballpark price range. EDITORIAL/OPINION Incoming U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney set a promising tone with his powerful op-ed criticizing President Trump, writes The Seattle Times editorial board.  TODAY'S WEATHER Wear the rain boots. High 52. Low 46. Sunrise 7:57. Sunset 4:30. TODAY IN HISTORY Bellevue Community College opens in 1966 with about 450 students and 40 faculty, with classes held in portable buildings at Newport High School. Welding is a popular vocational course and qualifies students for jobs in Seattle's shipyards. In 2009, the name changes to Bellevue College, and today the college is the third-largest institution of higher learning in Washington, enrolling 32,000 students.