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Sheriff's Office personnel are investigating the death of a male located in a vehicle along I-5 near the Toledo area on Wednesday evening. On February 6, 2019 at approximately 5:16 p.m., deputies and troopers were dispatched to a report from Washington State Department of Transportation employees discovering a vehicle near milepost 60 southbound on I-5. The vehicle was on the shoulder and the sole occupant appeared to have trauma to his head. Deputies were able to gain entry to the secured vehicle and determine the male was deceased.

The cause and manner of death, as well as identification of the decedent, are still under investigation. At this time the Sheriff's Office is not seeking any other involved individuals.

On Wednesday, February 6, over 200 people attended the Winlock Miller Elementary second Reading Night. Reading Night is funded by Title 1 and LAP which are federal and state government funded supplemental service programs designed to help students grow in academics.

Meg Matheson, the Title 1 Lap Coordinator at Winlock Miller Elementary, clarified the purpose of the evening by stating "tonight's literacy activities are meant to help engage families in the practice of reading and writing and to help parents understand the need for helping kids learn at home."

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson sent out an open letter to all law enforcement who are refusing to enforce Initiative 1639 urging them to follow the law and do their lawful duties. In previous weeks and months the number of law enforcement agencies refusing to enforce the bill has increased with over a dozen counties now opposing the law.

Most officials who are refusing to enforce the law cite that it interferes with the state and federal constitutions of which they have an oath to uphold. A number of firearm stores are also refusing to follow the law until the legality of the law is sorted out in court. Regardless, Ferguson and Washington State Governor Jay Inslee are pushing for the law to be enforced in its entirety and are threatening to take action if it is not.

The IRS began accepting early tax returns at the beginning of January and began processing claims around January 28. Early filers hoping for a quick return are being told to be prepared for a surprise because returns are slow going. The problem lies in part to the new Republican Tax Bill and the lengthy government shutdown, which occurred at the beginning of the year. The IRS is openly admitting they're behind and are working hard to get caught up. A number of other issues have arisen this year and filers aren't very happy.

The shutdown

The 2019 government shutdown became the longest shutdown is U.S. history lasting 35 days. The partial shutdown affected just about every government agency including the IRS. During the shutdown around 70,000 IRS workers were furloughed while some continued to work without pay to perform essential functions. Some tax officials chose to work through the shutdown while others were ordered to return to work, without pay, to get claims processed before a deal to open the government was made.