BREMERTON — A Navy destroyer that had been mothballed at Bremerton for six years has been towed away.

The USS David R. Ray will be used for target practice and sunk next week near Hawaii in the Rim of the Pacific war exercise. The exercise will involve ships, submarines and aircraft from 10 nations.

The 31-year-old USS Ray had been based at Naval Station Everett before it was decommissioned in 2002.

Bellevue: Utility target of Island County plan

Some residents in Jefferson, Island and Skagit counties are talking about forming local utility districts to take over parts of the territory served by Puget Sound Energy.

In Jefferson County the proposal may be on the November ballot. An Island County campaign is collecting signatures. And a Skagit County water utility is studying whether to add electricity to its service.

Bellevue-based Puget Sound Energy says the local districts would be more costly to operate than the advocates say.

PSE has 17,400 customers in Jefferson County, 57,500 in Skagit County and 34,400 in Island County.

Olympia: Thousands to lose Medicaid coverage

More than 3,000 people will likely lose Medicaid medical coverage next week in Washington because they can’t prove they are U.S. citizens.

Washington will start complying Tuesday with 2-year-old federal rules that require proof of citizenship for Medicaid recipients.

About 325,000 people in the state are on Medicaid. The state has been providing benefits to 16,300 people who have yet to show proof of citizenship. The state Health and Recovery Services Administration says many are waiting for paperwork and computer file upgrades.

Washington Medicaid program leader Doug Porter said about 3,100 likely never will get proof of citizenship.

Tacoma: Five Makah whalers to be sentenced

Five Makah Indian whalers who killed a gray whale without a permit will be sentenced Monday in federal court in Tacoma.

Federal prosecutors are recommending sentences of two years probation and 100 hours of community service for three men who pleaded guilty: Frankie Gonzales, Theron Parker and William Secor.

Prosecutors are recommending 60-day jail sentences for two men, described as the leaders, who were convicted: Wayne Johnson and Andy Noel. All are from Neah Bay.

The men were arrested by the Coast Guard Sept. 8 after they harpooned and shot a whale that died and sank.

The Makah have a treaty right to hunt gray whales as the tribe did in 1999. But courts have said the Makah need a federal permit, which the tribe is still seeking.

Seattle: Reports show more gang violence

A report for the city of Seattle says gang violence has increased in the past two or three years.

The report prepared for the city’s Human Services Department says more gang-prevention programs are needed.

The report will be discussed Tuesday at a meeting of the Public Safety Committee.

Union picks Dorn for schools superintendent

The Washington Education Association has endorsed Randy Dorn for superintendent of public instruction.

The announcement Friday came about a month after their first candidate — Richard Semler — dropped out of the race because of his wife’s health problems.

Semler also endorsed Dorn at a campaign event in Pasco on Friday.

Dorn is also endorsed by the Public School Employees of Washington, a union that represents most of nonteachers at the state’s public schools. He is that union’s executive director as well as a former legislator, teacher and principal.

Tri-Cities: Sacagawea statue is unveiled

A life-size bronze statue of Indian guide Sacagawea now greets visitors to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Overlook in Richland.

The statue was created by Tri-City artist Tom McClelland and sponsored by the Rotary Club in partnership with the city of Richland. The project cost about $70,000.

Associated Press