Steve Hunter

Emma Fitzpatrick

Artists get public acclaim at Kent Student Art Walk

The creativity of nearly 445 children from 25 Kent School District schools is on display through March 18, as part of the 17th annual Kent Student Art Walk at the Centennial Center Gallery and 25 downtown businesses.

Emma Fitzpatrick
William L. Phillip Jr.

Oregon man could be extradited soon on Frankel murder charge

King County prosecutors expect the Oregon man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a Kent city employee could be extradited to Washington within the next week.

William L. Phillip Jr.
Seattle rapper E-Dawg headlines a hip-hop show March 12 at Poppa's Pub in Kent.

Hip-hop comes to Kent with E-Dawg show

E-Dawg has lined up numerous rappers for his singles-release party in Kent at 9 p.m. March 12 at Poppa's Pub, 510 Washington Ave. N. The performers include Money B, formerly of the band Digital Underground, Ras Kass, West Coast Stone, Maharaji and others. Disc jockeys Nasty Ness, B-Mello and Roc Phella will host the show.

Seattle rapper E-Dawg headlines a hip-hop show March 12 at Poppa's Pub in Kent.
Stefano Langone

Kent’s Stefano Langone competes Wednesday night in top 13 on ‘American Idol’

Kent's Stefano Langone will sing a rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Lately" when he performs among the final 13 contestants Wednesday night on "American Idol."

Stefano Langone
Stefano Langone

Kent’s Stefano Langone makes top 13 on ‘American Idol’

Kent's Stefano Langone is in the final 13 of "American Idol."

Stefano Langone
Jim Brownlow

Kent City Council approves transportation impact fee changes

Kent business leaders came away pleased Tuesday with changes the Kent City Council unanimously adopted to its transportation-impact fees - especially a controversial part of the previous ordinance that would have automatically bumped the fees up every year for the next six years. As a result of the change, Council members now will evaluate whether to increase those fees each year, as opposed to the previous automatic increase.

Jim Brownlow
Jeff Jarrett

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling hits Kent Friday

Jeff Jarrett promises "off the chart" matches and "fan friendly" interaction when the superstars of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling roll into Kent Friday night.

Jeff Jarrett
Stefano Langone

Kent’s Stefano Langone to perform Tuesday night on ‘American Idol’ among top 12 men

Kent's Stefano Langone will appear Tuesday night on "American Idol" as one of the top 12 male contestants. Viewers will determine which men move on. Viewers will be able to vote by phone, text or online through Facebook.

Stefano Langone

Ex-Kent jail guard charged with stealing cash from inmates

King County prosecutors charged a city of Kent corrections officer Tuesday with nine counts of third-degree theft for allegedly stealing money from property boxes used for storing cash and personal belongings of inmates.

Traffic lines up along Willis Street near the Union Pacific tracks. The Kent City Council is expected to consider changes to its Transportation Impact Fee at its 7 p.m. March 1 meeting at City Hall.

Tonight: Kent City Council to consider changes to Transportation Impact Fees

The Kent City Council is expected to vote on several changes to its new Transportation Impact Fee ordinance at its 7 p.m. regular meeting March 1 at City Hall.

Traffic lines up along Willis Street near the Union Pacific tracks. The Kent City Council is expected to consider changes to its Transportation Impact Fee at its 7 p.m. March 1 meeting at City Hall.
Stefano Langone

Kent’s Stefano Langone makes the top 24 on ‘American Idol’

Stefano Langone has cracked the top 24 of 'American Idol.' At tonight's nail-biter 'Idol' episode, judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler sat Langone down and after a some discussion pregnant with anxiety, they gave hin the news: He's in.

Stefano Langone

Kent streets could be a bit icy Thursday night, Friday

Kent city street crews will de-ice and sand streets as needed Thursday night and Friday morning as freezing temperatures are expected to turn any moisture on roads to ice.

Record-setting low temperatures expected in Kent

The snow showers appear to be over in Kent but record-setting low temperatures are expected for Thursday night and Friday.

Kent city budget takes $1.2 million hit as phone taxes drop

The Kent City Council last week approved a $1 million cut to the city’s 2011 general fund budget, and another $288,000 reduction in the city’s street and youth-fund budgets this year because of an unexpected major drop in revenue from the city’s 6 percent telephone-utility tax. “This is one more hit,” Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke said in a phone interview Tuesday. “We can’t seem to get a break. It took us all by surprise.” Cooke hopes the city gets a break from any Green River flooding the rest of this winter. That’s because the city plans to use its $1 million flood-emergency fund set aside in this year’s budget,to plug the hole in the general fund left by the drop in telephone-utility tax revenue. “Hopefully, we are still in a position where we do not need to use the flood money,” Cooke said, of events in the months ahead.

The first-degree murder trial of Randall Edward Connor is scheduled to start Feb. 23 in Seattle. Connor

Murder trial scheduled to start for man accused of Kent woman’s death in 2007

Jury selection is expected to start Wednesday at King County Superior Court in Seattle for the man charged with stabbing to death a Kent woman in 2007. King County prosecutors charged Randall Edward Connor, 31, with first-degree murder for killing Merianne Lorentson, 24, in her East Hill apartment.

The first-degree murder trial of Randall Edward Connor is scheduled to start Feb. 23 in Seattle. Connor
Kent Predators quarterback Charles McCullum prepares at a recent practice at Wilson Playfields for the Indoor Football League opener Feb. 25 at the ShoWare Center.

Kent Predators quarterback aims for higher-level league after second Indoor Football League season

Kent Predators quarterback Charles McCullum shares a hotel room with another player and gets one meal per day as an Indoor Football League player. The team covers the cost of the hotel and meal for McCullum and about 16 other out-of-state players on the 30-member squad. The rest of the players are from the Puget Sound area and most have full-time jobs. Players are paid $225 per game for their only football income.

Kent Predators quarterback Charles McCullum prepares at a recent practice at Wilson Playfields for the Indoor Football League opener Feb. 25 at the ShoWare Center.

Ex-wife of Kent man sentenced to 26 years for child rape and posting incident on Internet

A 32-year-old Burien woman was sentenced Friday to a minimum of 26 years in prison for first-degree rape of a child, first-degree child molestation, sexual exploitation of a minor and dealing in child pornography in connection with the rape of a 4-year-old girl as well as sending videos of the abuse to a pedophile in California. Hollie Beston received the same sentence that her ex-husband Brian K. Beston, 36, of Kent, received in June on the same charges in connection with the girl.

Thrilliant from left

Kent punk/rock band making its mark; Thrilliant features 3 teens, 12-year-old

Kent guitarist Ryan Johnson and Federal Way drummer Dennon Cowen just kind of blankly looked at each other the first time they met for a jam session. Their fathers, Robert Johnson and Doug Cowen, are Boeing co-workers and suggested last summer that their musical sons meet. "They didn't say a word," Doug Cowen recalled. Now, about eight months later, the pair, along with vocalist Jeremy Cooper and bass player Derek Karn, are part of Thrilliant, a Kent band that plays a mix of punk, rock and metal.

Thrilliant from left

Oregon man continues to fight extradition on Frankel murder charge

The Oregon man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a Kent city employee remains in a Portland jail nearly 10 weeks after his arrest. William L. Phillip Jr., 30, continues to fight his extradition to Washington to face the murder charge for the May 21 stabbing death of Seth Frankel.

Kent City Councilman Dennis Higgins stands on his head to help promote the ShoWare Center's Marquee Tickets Contest.

Kent’s ShoWare Center to offer free tickets for best marquee photo

Find a friend to take your photo in front of the ShoWare Center marquee in Kent if you would like to win a pair of tickets to one event each month for a year at the arena.

Kent City Councilman Dennis Higgins stands on his head to help promote the ShoWare Center's Marquee Tickets Contest.