Local News

Your guide to the latest news from around the Northwest

National Weather Service / Forecast

Don’t say we didn’t warn you: Rain continues to fall just about everywhere. And forever, it seems. The Weather Service has issued a special statement, and here it is: As much as 2.5 inches of could fall in the lowlands (that means us down here, from Everett south) and more in the mountains. Along with all the wetness, it will be windy throughout the week, and snow is forecast near the passes. Got that?

Getting into the University of Washington: The head of admissions at the UW says too many students in our state are “self-selecting themselves” (our quotes) out of applying to the university. How many times have you heard this: “I’m not even applying to the UW. It’s just too hard to get in.” OK, 60 percent of in-state students who do apply are accepted, but that means nearly half of them aren’t. And that doesn’t count, of course, all those who say, “Why even try.” Do you think it’s difficult to get into the UW? Vote in our poll.

Gas prices down: They dropped 6 cents in a week, says the AAA. Average price for a gallon in our state: $3.52. Price in particular markets: Bellingham $3.57, Bremerton $3.45, Seattle-Bellevue-Everett $3.54, Tacoma $3.42, Olympia $3.44, Vancouver $3.48, Yakima $3.55, Tri-Cities $3.65, and Spokane $3.59.

Some police and fire news:

— An Everett man shot at a burglar in his garage. Bullet missed the intruder and hit a neighbor’s van. Oops. Cops with dogs couldn’t find the burglar.

– A 91-year-old woman died in a house fire in Spokane Friday night. Neighbors tried to rescue her, even used a garden hose to beat down the fire, but the flames were too much. Her son broke down a door to try to reach his mother, but was driven back by the smoke.

Sounders FC’s Zach Scott, foreground, heads the ball past L.A. goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the second half to cut the aggregate goal lead to one. (Photo by John Lok / The Seattle Times)

The Sounders gave it their all, beating the L.A. Galaxy 2-1 at home yesterday but with L.A. up 4-2 on aggregate, the Galaxy moves on to the MLS Finals. (You already know some of us like soccer better than others … so we’re just sayin’ it was good to see that 44,575 folks turned out for the match.)

Stories trending this morning on seattlbetimes.com:

1. Let the bowl speculation begin for the Huskies
2. Ryan under pressure to work with Dems, avoid ‘fiscal cliff‘
3. Wet, blustery storms headed for Western Washington
4. Hospital cuts add to oversupply of health-care workers
5. Cedar Grove, Marysville locked in battle over smell