KOMO News

The latest breaking news, traffic, and weather from Seattle and Western Washington

News

Local & Regional United Airlines restarting 787 Dreamliner flights
By JOSHUA FREED, AP Airlines Writer Published: May 20, 2013 at 6:36 AM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 9:17 AM PDT
The planes are returning after being grounded for four months by the federal government because of smoldering batteries on 787s owned by other airlines. The incidents included an emergency landing of one plane, and a fire on another.
Technology A year after IPO, Facebook aims to be ad colossus
By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer Published: May 20, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 9:10 AM PDT
It was supposed to be our IPO, the people's public offering. And then it flopped. Facebook's stock finished its first day of trading just 23 cents higher than its $38 IPO price. It hasn't been that high since.
More News

Entertainment

More Entertainment

Offbeat

Offbeat 48-hour ride breaks Ferris wheel world record 48-hour ride breaks Ferris wheel world record
By Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 7:43 AM PDT
A manager of Chicago's Navy Pier rode the tourist spot's Ferris wheel for more than two days, bringing the world record for the longest ride to the birthplace of the amusement park favorite.
More Offbeat

Your Photos

More YouNews Share your photos

KOMO 4 TV

Watch ABC shows online

Local & Regional

More Local & Regional

Around the World

National & World GOP ponders how to capitalize on Obama's woes
By CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 7:22 AM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 9:49 AM PDT
The scandals dogging President Barack Obama are a political gift to Republicans, who could use some good luck after recent election losses. It's not clear, however, how Republicans can best capitalize on Democrats' woes, legislatively or politically.
National & World Measles surges in UK years after vaccine scare
By MARIA CHENG AP Medical Writer Published: May 20, 2013 at 7:25 AM PDT
More than a decade ago, British parents refused to give measles shots to at least a million children because of a vaccine scare that raised the specter of autism. Now, health officials are scrambling to catch up and stop a growing epidemic of the contagious disease.
More Around the World

Sports

Sports (New) Castroneves, Franchitti chase 4th Indy 500 win
By RACHEL COHEN, AP Sports Writer Published: May 20, 2013 at 10:21 AM PDT
It's been 22 years since the last driver won his fourth Indy 500 title. Now Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti are trying to join the exclusive club at Sunday's race.
Sports Russian oligarchs footing most of Sochi Olympics bill
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 7:14 AM PDT
The mountains of Sochi are now home to Potanin's slope, Gazprom's gondola lift and Sberbank's ski jump. The nicknames used by locals and an army of construction workers leave no doubt about who is paying for the 2014 Winter Games: Russia's business powerhouses.
Sports Belmont Stakes: Oxbow vs. Orb in the cards
By RICHARD ROSENBLATT AP Sports Writer Published: May 19, 2013 at 7:50 PM PDT
After Oxbow upset Kentucky Derby winner Orb in Saturday's Preakness to extend racing's Triple Crown drought to 36 years, the next best alternative for the Belmont Stakes is a rematch.
More Sports

Top Video

Home Chemistry experiment goes wrong (New) Chemistry experiment goes wrong
Published: May 20, 2013 at 12:17 PM PDT
Students at Glasgow High School in Kentucky did a fire demonstration in chemistry class. But neither the students nor the teacher seem to notice the sprinkler head directly above the flame.
More Top Video

Your Life, Your Style

Health What do we eat? New food map will tell us What do we eat? New food map will tell us
By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 8:42 AM PDT
Until now, the only way to find out what people in the United States eat and how many calories they consume has been government data, which can lag behind the rapidly expanding and changing food marketplace. Researchers are trying to change that.
Health FDA has safety concerns on Merck insomnia drug FDA has safety concerns on Merck insomnia drug
By Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 8:37 AM PDT
Federal health regulators say an experimental insomnia drug from Merck can help patients fall asleep, but it also carries worrisome side effects, including daytime drowsiness and suicidal thinking.

Extras

Weather Northern Lights peek out in Eastern Washington Northern Lights peek out in Eastern Washington (Photo Gallery)
By Published: May 18, 2013 at 9:57 AM PDT Last Updated: May 19, 2013 at 12:55 AM PDT
As we mentioned in the blog Thursday, there's a particularly active sunspot on the sun right now.

It had, as its opening salvo while starting to face the Earth, unleashed a moderately strong solar flare that reached us late Friday, triggering a display of the Northern Lights that reached as far south as Colorado.
Weather Northern Lights to be visible around the Pacific Northwest soon? Northern Lights to be visible around the Pacific Northwest soon?
By Published: May 16, 2013 at 11:33 AM PDT Last Updated: May 16, 2013 at 1:58 PM PDT
The sun has been getting quite active lately, with one sun spot in particular giving off several explosive flares this week, and it could eventually bring some brilliant displays of the Northern Lights to the Pacific Northwest.

Since Monday, Sunspot AR1748 has already given off four "X-class" solar flares -- X being the most powerful class of flares that have potential to disrupt radio and satellite signals. In fact, that flare has given off more X-class flares than every other sunspot of the past year combined, according to spaceweather.com.

Up to this point, the spot has been on a part of the sun not directly facing Earth, so the flares have been directed away from our planet and not really giving us much of an effect.

Entertainment

More Entertainment

Technology

Technology Expectations high for unveiling of next Xbox on Tuesday
By DERRIK J. LANG,AP Entertainment Writer Published: May 19, 2013 at 11:57 AM PDT Last Updated: May 19, 2013 at 12:54 PM PDT
Microsoft will likely take aim at Sony during Tuesday's next-generation Xbox unveiling at its headquarters in Redmond. Eight years have passed since Microsoft unveiled the last one, Xbox 360.
Technology 4 Lulzsec hackers jailed for cyberattacks
By SYLVIA HUI Associated Press Published: May 17, 2013 at 8:20 AM PDT
Four young computer hackers who masterminded cyberattacks on targets from the CIA to Sony Pictures and Rupert Murdoch's News International were sentenced to up to 32 months in prison on Thursday.
Technology 'Sonic the Hedgehog' games coming to Nintendo
By DERRIK J. LANG AP Entertainment Writer Published: May 17, 2013 at 8:19 AM PDT
Sega says it will exclusively release the next three games starring the popular blue critter on Nintendo platforms. The first title will be called "Sonic Lost World" and is set for release on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS later this year.
More Technology

Business

Business Earnings preview: PC slump hangs over HP's 2nd quarter
By Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 8:28 AM PDT
Hewlett-Packard's latest quarterly results will show how badly the deteriorating personal computer market damaged the company while CEO Meg Whitman tries to expand into more profitable areas of technology.
Business Ryanair keeps growing, reports record profits
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 8:19 AM PDT
Ryanair reported record profits Monday as Europe's largest budget airline relentlessly expanded its route network across the continent and into North Africa.
More Business

Offbeat

Offbeat Milwaukee backs off bra ban for historic bar
By CARRIE ANTLFINGER Associated Press Published: May 17, 2013 at 6:47 PM PDT
A historic Milwaukee bowling alley and bar almost went without the appropriate support after a city inspector decided dozens of bras hanging from its ceiling were a fire hazard.
Offbeat Texas senior, 18, bags 800-pound record alligator
By Associated Press Published: May 16, 2013 at 11:47 AM PDT
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials say 18-year-old Braxton Bielski bagged the record gator last week at Choke Canyon State Park, about 90 miles south of San Antonio.
More Offbeat