Teen pleas insanity in Kitsap County robbery-killing

A Kitsap County teenager charged with stabbing a neighbor to death has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The Kitsap Sun reports 18-year-old Daniel J. Mustard entered the plea Friday in the Kitsap County Superior Court. Mustard had previously pleaded not guilty to aggravated first-degree murder in the stabbing of his 87-year-old neighbor, Ruby Andrews, during a robbery at her Manchester home in April 2009. In the court filing, Mustard says he believes he was legally insane at the time of the killing. He says that he's competent to stand trial, but claims to suffer from several disorders -- including psychosis and bipolar disorder. He faces a mandatory life prison term without parole if convicted.

90-year-old Vancouver woman flees home before fire

A 90-year-old Vancouver woman safely escaped before a blaze damaged her home Sunday morning. The Columbian reports the woman was lighting a fire in her fireplace when sparks ignited a cardboard box nearby. The fire spread and the woman called 911 and neighbors. Vancouver firefighter Chris Moen says the woman was able to exit the house. The fire took 15 minutes to control, but Moen says the house was a total loss.

Republican state senator enters US Senate race

A Republican state senator says he will enter the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray. The Columbian reports Vancouver Republican state Sen. Don Benton announced his candidacy at a Clark County Republican party dinner Saturday. Benton joins six other Republican candidates vying to challenge Murray. The GOP primary will be held in August. Benton is serving his fourth term as the state senator from the 17th district, which includes Vancouver. In 1998, Benton unsuccessfully ran against Democratic Rep. Brian Baird for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Murray is serving her third term as a U.S. senator.

Man critical injured after Seattle robbery attempt

A man has been shot and left with life-threatening injuries by an armored car driver after an attempted robbery went awry outside a McDonald's restaurant in Seattle Sunday morning. The Seattle Times reports the shooting happened outside a McDonald's restaurant in south Seattle around 10:20 a.m. Witnesses say a heavyset man approached a Garda armored car driver as the driver approached his vehicle. Then, shots rang out and the man fell to the ground. Seattle police spokeswoman Renee Witt says the man was shot three times and found him on the ground wounded. A Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman says the man is listed in critical condition.

Washington immigrants learn how to become citizens

Nearly 70 immigrants attended a clinic aimed at showing them how to become naturalized citizens, part of efforts by Washington State and an immigrant advocacy group to encourage legal permanent residents to become U.S. citizens. But the Skagit Valley Herald reports the program -- called the New Americans Program -- is in jeopardy of losing its funding, as lawmakers face a revenue shortfall. The state Legislature may eliminate the more than $500,000 per two-year budget that the program receives. OneAmerica spokesman Charlie McAteer says participants of the program tell his group that it's harder to become a citizen during a recession. It costs $675 to file the federal paperwork to apply for citizenship, and McAteer says it can cost up to $10,000 to hire an attorney.

Police seek suspects in fatal stabbing

Pasco police are searching for two cousins suspected of being involved in a night club confrontation that left a man dead. Authorities say 28-year-old Adan Virgen and 20-year-old Concepcion Virgen fled in a white 1996 Dodge Stratus. Police Capt. Jim Raymond says the cousins confronted a 41-year-old bouncer at El Patron in an alley near the night club around 2 a.m. Sunday. An argument ensued and the night club employee was stabbed multiple times. The victim's name has not been released, but police say he lived in Kennewick.

Associated Press News Briefs for 2/8/10

One person was killed and another wounded in a drive-by shooting in Tacoma. Police say a white van pulled alongside a small red car about 10 last night at an intersection and shots were fired into the car. They killed the driver and wounded a passenger. Police say there was no confrontation or apparent motive for the shooting. The van sped away.

A burglary suspect who was shot and killed by a Pierce County sheriff's deputy at Lake Tapps has been identified as a 23-year-old Renton man, Ion Ungureanu. Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says he was driving a car that tried to run down the deputy. A passenger in the car was wounded. A third man involved in the Saturday night burglary fled on foot.

Police say the man wounded by two Suquamish tribal officers has nine felony convictions for drug, burglary and violent offense. Police had responded to a report of a disturbance Saturday night when they say the suspect drove at them. Chief Mike Lasnier says the car struck one officer and ran over another officer's foot. Both fired. They were treated at a hospital for their injuries.

A man shot three times by an armored car guard in Seattle was critically wounded. The suspect reportedly knocked down the guard yesterday in the parking lot of a south Seattle McDonald's restaurant and tried to grab a money bag. KCPQ reports the guard did not let go and fired in self defense.

The biggest jumbojet Boeing has ever made is scheduled to lift off this morning on its first test flight at Paine Field at Everett. The 747-8 is 18 feet longer than current jumbo jets - 250 feet. This will be a cargo freighter, although Boeing also plans a passenger version of the plane that could carry 467 people. The 747-8 has new wings, engines and technology to make it more fuel-efficient.

Ballots have to be postmarked by tomorrow for school elections in Washington. A total of 165 school districts are asking voters to approve more than $4.6 billion in property taxes for maintenance and operation levies. And 32 districts have capital project levies worth $835 million. Also, four districts with $2.9 million with school bus levies, and 11 districts with $859 million with bond issues.

Four riding horses were shot in a pasture in Yakima County. The sheriff's office says one was found dead yesterday; one was not expected to survive and two are likely to recover. Deputies are asking the public for any information that could help them catch the shooter.

The Lynnwood City Council will consider ordinances tonight to tidy up neighborhoods. The Daily Herald of Everett reports the ordinances would regulate how tall grass could grow on lawns, whether semi-trucks can park on neighborhood streets, and if mother-in-law apartments can be built separate from homes.

The man stabbed to death outside a Pasco nightclub was a bouncer. Police say the 41-year-old victim, Forilan Godinez, of Kennewick was attacked early yesterday in an alley after he left the club, the El Patron. A witness told police he had argued earlier with one of the suspects. Police are looking for two men who drove off. They are believed to be cousins, 28-year-old Adan Virgen and 20-year-old Concepcion Virgen.