New York city was expecting a huge blast of snow. That snow never did arise. Instead of the storm took a right turn and headed straight for Massachusetts and New England burying parts of Massachusetts in over 3 feet of snow. I was watching Internet NYC live web cameras last night and saw people walking in the middle of the street. The schools are closed and some airlines delayed. But for the most part things should be back to normal in a couple of days. Not true for Massachusetts.

Bob Shannon photo

Detectives seek public’s help in locating suspect in human trafficking

-Two subjects already in custody, accomplice being sought-

(Pierce County) – Detectives from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force (MECTF) are seeking the public’s assistance in finding a man wanted for human trafficking.

An arrest warrant has been issued for 18-year old Mikael Z. Williams, who detectives believe assisted his older brother and another man in trafficking underage girls for sex. The three operated primarily in Pierce, King, Thurston, and Snohomish counties.

The investigation began after a mother seeking the whereabouts of her runaway 15 year-old daughter located an ad on Backpage.com advertising her daughter for sex.  The mother in turn contacted law enforcement.

The investigation revealed that Curtis Escalonte, 23, and Michael Williams, 22, were engaged in trafficking underage girls for commercial sex using Tacoma area hotel rooms and advertised the girls on Backpage.com throughout early December. Both are in the Pierce County Jail charged with numerous sex-related offenses with bail set at $2 million.

The wanted man, Mikael Z. Williams, is the younger brother of Michael Williams.

Detectives learned that Mikael Williams was aware of the sex trafficking, including renting some of the hotel rooms used, and expected to be paid for his part in the “business”. The warrant for Mikael Williams’ arrest alleges the felony of Promoting Commercial Sex Abuse of a Minor.

Rick Price

A 32-foot gray whale that turned up dead under the Washington state ferry terminal in downtown Seattle died earlier this week because it was struck by the propeller of a large vessel. A necropsy completed Saturday found large, deep gashes on the whale's right side and back, indicating the cause of death.
Biologists estimated the time of death as no earlier than Monday and likely on Tuesday. They said the animal likely died quickly. It was found late Wednesday.

Flu is  continuing to hit hard in the Spokane area. Well over 200 people are in the hospital and 11 people have died, four for in the last week. This strain of flu is especially hard on those over 60, especially those over 80 years old. Most of these people have underlying conditions. According to health department officialsthis flu season is stronger than last year.precautions are urged and it is never too late to get a vaccination. 

Warmer, drier climate altering forests throughout California

Date:
January 21, 2015
Source:
University of California - Berkeley
Summary:
Thanks to historical data, botanists have been able to compare California tree survey data from the 1920s and '30s with forest service data today. They find a decline in large trees and an increase in the density of small trees in forests throughout the state. The large tree decline seems to be caused by water stress, while the denser forests are probably related to fire suppression.