The news story of the week in Tacoma has without question been the apparent police report cover up regarding the timeliness of the amber alert issued after Zina Linnik's disappearance (and subsequent murder). In case you're completely out of the loop, evidence shows Sergeant Mark Fulghum of the Tacoma Police Department - the only person allowed to issue Amber Alerts at the time of Linnik's disappearance - apparently went back to sleep after receiving the initial call to issue the alert, resulting in a six-hour delay before an Amber Alert was placed. Fulghum has allegedly said in deposition he took an Advil PM that night.   The News Tribune has covered this story from many angles and released a pointed editorial on the matter here. Tacoma leaders, meanwhile, have mostly insisted the community should move on and that the Tacoma Police Department should not be reprimanded for their sloth-like implementation of the Amber Alert. On Friday it was reported Tacoma police chief Don Ramsdell has been reprimanded for failing to tell City Manager Eric Anderson that Fulghum was on call and being paid at the time of the botched Amber Alert, with a letter from Anderson having been placed in Ramsdell's file. 

In positive news, Pierce County reports having saved more than $565,000 in 2010 by reducing its use of energy, water, fuel and office supplies. Last week the Pierce County Office of Sustainability released its first annual Sustainability Report, showing the county made substantial progress during the first of a five-year effort to reach goals set by its Sustainability Plan.

State Senator Debbie Regala has announced she won't be running for re-election, meaning the good people of the 27^th Legislative District (much of Tacoma, the City of Ruston and part of Fife) will be electing her replacement in 2012. Regala has held the seat for 17 years and has been widely popular amongst her constituency. Any guesses as to who will run to replace her?

Last Thursday the Tacoma Arts Commission hosted a kick-off event at the studio of Jeremy Gregory and Chris Sharp in honor of the new installments of Spaceworks Tacoma artscapes, residencies and creative enterprises. A guide to Spaceworks' new line (which I think is fantastic) can found at spaceworkstacoma.wordpress.com. The program recently announced that it is already accepting applications for the summer series.

On a personal note, I pulled out my bike for my first ride of 2011 last Saturday and realized I don't have a helmet. This is relevant because I was pleased to find that the third annual Tacoma Bike Swap is Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Puget Sound Memorial Fieldhouse. Vendors will be selling bikes and bike parts for all types of riding and age groups. They are ensured to sell at least one helmet.   

In statewide news the biggest "bummer" of the week was Governor Gregoire's announcement that she will not be signing the medical marijuana bill to license dispensaries in Washington. Her announcement was largely in response to a letter she received from Federal attorneys reminding her that the possession of marijuana still violates federal laws and implying state employees potentially distributing marijuana could be prosecuted.

Almost, guys. Almost.