& QueenAnne Magnolia ne& Magnolia news & news
ne
Magnolia news
Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
JANUARY 15, 2025
VOL. 106, NO. 3
& QueenAnne&Magnolia news
Seattle native named YoungArts ‘Winner with Distinction’
QueenAnne
Magnolia news
Staff Report
Eighteen-year-old Seattle native, Wyatt Silva, has been named a 2025 YoungArts “Winner with Distinction” in the discipline of voice: singer/songwriter. “Winner with Distinction” is the highest honor awarded by the national foundation. Silva was also an award winner in an additional category of voice: popular. Silva has been recognized for the caliber of his artistic achievement among some of the most accomplished young visual, literary, and performing artists from throughout the country. YoungArts award winners are selected through a highly competitive application, which is reviewed by panels of esteemed artists in a rigorous adjudication process. All YoungArts award winners have demonstrated exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry, and commitment to developing their craft. This year, close to 800 winners were selected from nearly 11,000 applications across 10 artistic disciplines; of the winners, 169 received “with distinction.” All YoungArts winners receive a monetary award of $250. As a winner with distinction, Silva will participate in the
ARTS, 4
COURTESY NATE WATTERS
Eighteen-year-old Seattle native, Wyatt Silva, has been named a 2025 YoungArts “Winner with Distinction” in the discipline of voice: singer/ songwriter.
Seattle police report a net gain of one officer in 2024, breaking four-year streak
New Seattle police chief set to assume office in late January or early February
By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
The Seattle Police Department had a net gain of one officer in 2024, breaking a four-year streak of a net loss of officers. City leaders have identified the need to boost staffing within the Seattle Police Department after a mass exodus of officers leaving the force since 2020. The staffing levels reached the department’s lowest levels in some 30 years in March of last year. According to the latest statistics, SPD hired 84 entry-level and lateral officers, as 83 separated. The city had 933 deployable officers as of Aug. 31, 2024, which is 20 more than the 913 in 2023. From 2020 through 2023, the
ADOBE STOCK
department suffered from separations outnumbering hires. The worst year was in 2020 when there was a net loss of 135 officers. This was the same year, in which the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest occurred. The protest strained
relations between residents and SPD. Last year SPD received over 4,300 officer applications, the most since 2013 and more than double the
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SEATTLE, WA PERMIT 1271
STREAK, 4
Shon Barnes was announced on Dec. 20 as the next chief of the Seattle Police Department, but he won't assume his new job right away. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office told The Center Square that Barnes is expected to start sometime in late January to early February. The delay is due in part to the recent mass shooting in Madison, Wis, where Barnes was the city’s police chief. On Dec. 16, a shooting that led to three deaths – including the juvenile shooter, who was a student – occurred at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis. Barnes was announced as the next Seattle police chief later that week. Seattle has lacked a
permanent police chief since May, when former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz resigned from his position amid lawsuits. Diaz was then fired by Harrell last month following an investigation into Diaz’s actions while head of the department. Interim Chief Sue Rahr has served in the role since Diaz's departure. She will continue to advise and support the department during the transition to Barnes becoming chief. Barnes has served as the chief of police for Madison since 2021. Harrell’s office previously described Barnes as a nationally recognized leader in reducing crime, improving communitypolice relations, and driving a culture change within the department.
CHIEF, 4