Local briefly: Masked man suspected of eight robberies

BOTHELL — Police said they are looking for a masked robber who has hit eight businesses in Snohomish and King counties since Nov. 4.

The bandit, who has robbed Subway stores, gas stations and cigarette shops, carries a black, semi-automatic handgun and has jumped over counters to confront clerks, King County sheriff’s Sgt. John Urquhart said.

Deputies believe that he’s responsible for three hold-ups on the Bothell-Everett Highway on Nov. 4, 9 and 11. He’s also believed to be responsible for hold-ups in Kirkland, Redmond and other parts of King County, Urquhart said.

Clerks have provided various descriptions of the man who has worn a mask each time, Urquhart said. Some descriptions say the man is black, others say he’s white. All the clerks who were robbed believe the man is in his late teens or early 20s.

He is believed to be about 6 feet tall with broad shoulders. He always wears a hooded sweatshirt and carries a backpack for the money he steals, Urquhart said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 or 911.

Monroe: Federal bill has funds for U.S. 2

The new 2008 federal transportation bill has nearly $5 million in it for several Snohomish County projects, including safety improvements on U.S. 2.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill Wednesday, but President Bush has threatened to veto it, officials said. The Senate has not voted on the bill, but Senate transportation leaders have signed off on the measure.

The House bill fell just shy of enough votes to override a presidential veto, said Amanda Mahnke, spokeswoman for Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash.

Efforts to make U.S. 2 safer would get $650,000 to help pay for safety improvement identified in a safety plan for the highway.

Since 1999, 45 people have died in crashes and accidents on the highway between Snohomish and Stevens Pass, according to the state Department of Transportation. Of those fatalities, 15 occurred in crossover crashes.

The state just finished a $1.3 million safety study for U.S. 2, which identifies 56 projects to improve the dangerous, congested highway. The study estimates that overall improvements on U.S. 2 would cost more than $1 billion.

In other funding pledges in the legislation:

The Everett Senior Activity Center looks to get $600,000 for an elevator that would make the facility more accessible to more seniors.

A proposal to build a bypass truck route around Granite Falls would get $1.05 million. The bypass will keep gravel trucks out of downtown.

The new ferry terminal proposed in Mukilteo would get $1 million.

Lynnwood: Man hurt in collision with bus

A man was injured Wed­nesday morning after his car collided with the Community Transit bus on Highway 99.

The man reportedly was making a left turn across the highway at 184th Street SW and was struck by the bus, Lynnwood Fire Department spokeswoman Marybeth O’Leary said.

The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. His condition was not available. One person on the bus was treated by emergency crews.

Lynnwood police are investigating the accident.