Local News

EVERETT (AP) — Snow geese have begun arriving in Western Washington for their winter stay.

The Daily Herald reports birds have been landing this week in fields near Stanwood.

The state Fish and Wildlife Department says about 80,000 snow geese winter in Western Washington each year, most in the Skagit Valley.

Birdwatchers can see them at the Fir Island Farm Reserve Unit of the Skagit Wildlife area.

Weather: Forget the rain this morning. It’s supposed to clear up later today and we’re in for a warm, sunny weekend. Yes! Saturday and Sunday will see temps in the 60s, which we haven’t seen since, say, last weekend. Enjoy.The National Weather Service forecast.

Traffic: The map and cams.

$25,000 in the death of … a cat: A man has been told he must pay his ex-wife $25,000 in the death of her feline, according to a story in The Olympian.  The ex-husband, who reportedly kicked the cat two years ago, pleaded guilty to second-degree animal cruelty and was given a suspended sentence and $1,000 fine. The ex-wife was awarded $15,000 in damages and $10,000 for emotional suffering.

Body found: Remember we said the other day that a rafter was missing on the Chehalis River in Lewis County. Well, a body has been found in the water, says KOMO TV.

Teens in standoffs: We’ve had two teens in standoffs with police this week. A 14-year-old who threatened his mother with a knife in Belltown in Seattle Tuesday  and a 16-year-old kid being sought in connection with a shooting, in Kent yesterday.

Close to 70 varieties can be seen during the tulip festival near Mount Vernon in Skagit Valley. Fields are nearing their peak and should be in bloom through the first week of May. (Photo by Alan Berner / The Seattle Times) (Click on the photo for more pix of the bloom.)

Orcas and tulips: We have a story about Orcas today and photos of the Skagit tulips in bloom. And as one editor points out this morning, “How’s that for a sense of place?” The place being our beautiful Northwest.

Most-read stories this morning on seattletimes.com: