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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Poll: Voters favor viaduct over tunnel

The Spokesman-Review

Most Seattle voters think the aging Alaskan Way Viaduct should be replaced with a new elevated highway, not the more expensive tunnel option backed by the mayor and City Council, according to a new Seattle Times poll.

The poll, conducted by Elway Research, found that 51 percent of voters want a new viaduct, while 25 percent favor a tunnel. About one-quarter of respondents were either undecided or said they want the viaduct torn down and traffic routed onto surface streets.

The Times commissioned the poll after Mayor Greg Nickels and the City Council decided last month not to ask voters what they want done with the viaduct, damaged in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

The poll of 400 randomly selected registered Seattle voters was conducted Thursday and Friday. The cost of the viaduct is now pegged at $2.8 billion. A tunnel would cost an estimated $4.6 billion.

– Associated Press

La Center, Wash.

Man electrocuted at power station

A man was electrocuted while trying to break into a Clark Public Utilities power station, apparently to steal copper wiring, officials said.

A passer-by reported seeing smoke from the station last week. A State Patrol trooper and the witness found the man on fire, lying in a fenced-off area, Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Tim Bieber said.

Firefighters had to wait about 45 minutes for utility crews to shut off power at the station before they could put out the fire with water.

– Associated Press

Seattle

Man cleared of sex charges

King County prosecutors have dropped two felony sex charges against Robert Powell, admitting they locked up the wrong man four months ago.

When an 11-year-old girl, who said a man tried to lure her into his Dodge van, picked Powell out of a lineup he was arrested, his apartment searched, his car impounded and he spent a night in jail.

After the charges against Powell were dropped last week, authorities filed charges against a Bellevue man instead.

Powell has threatened to sue the county.

– Associated Press

Monroe, Wash.

Deer hunter, 19, dies of gunshot

A 19-year-old man was fatally shot while hunting deer near Monroe, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s office said.

The man was shot Saturday by another hunter. Friends performed CPR at the scene, but the man died, officials said.

The sheriff’s office said the shooting appeared to be an accident.

The victim’s identity has not been released.

– Associated Press