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How a company’s push to expand psychiatric care brought peril

Marjorie Erickson holds a photograph of her mother, Rosemary Torgesen, in Shoreline. “She was a strong, strong woman.” (Erika Schultz / The Seattle Times) — Marjorie Erickson holds a photograph of her mother, Rosemary Torgesen. (Erika Schultz / The Seattle Times)

Public Crisis, Private Toll | A Seattle Times investigation: After years of Washington state’s chronic shortage in mental-health care, a quiet transformation is underway: the expansion of private psychiatric hospitals. No operator has pushed to expand more aggressively than US HealthVest, a for-profit firm, but at what cost to patients?

Top Stories

The woman behind the apparent break in the Thomas Wales case: Personal tragedy, a troubled past — and now an indictment
Only one Washington governor has served three consecutive terms. Jay Inslee wants his own threepeat.
Seattle school district, teachers union reach deal on new contract draft
Sophomore quarterback Jake Haener leaves UW Huskies one week before season opener
Ex-Rep. Joe Walsh making longshot GOP challenge to Trump Updated 9:20 am
Meet the neglected 43-year-old, Seattle-based stepchild of the U.S. military industrial complex VIEW
Washington’s state and national parks are free today. Here are some favorites to check out. Updated 9:12 am
Seahawks roster projection: Rise of C.J. Prosise makes the guessing that much harder | Analysis

Seattle, Wa. March 29, 2011
William Kaphaem, who goes by Three Stars, is a homeless former Seattle busker who has been living in his 14 foot row boat under the 520 bridge in the arboretum for nearly a year. He has a dog, Lulu, who lives with him. He lives on a monthly Social Security disability check and by pan-handling when he has to, though he doesn’t like to. He fishes and traps crawdads during the season and spends much of his time observing wildlife.

Local News

The solitary life and death of a homeless man and his dog near the 520 bridge

William Kaphaem, also known as Three Stars, lived in a 14-foot aluminum rowboat moored along Seattle's Arboretum Waterfront Trail. That's where he died, but it was eight months before his body was found. Updated 9:14 am

Seattle Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise (22) celebrates his touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo) CACC106 CACC106

Analysis | Bob Condotta

Impressions from the Seahawks’ preseason win against the Los Angeles Chargers

C.J. Prosise showed why the Seahawks kept him around, and Geno Smith showed why he's still the favorite to win the backup quarterback job as the offense came alive in a preseason win over the Chargers.

Don't Miss

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez reacts after the final out of the top of the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) WATW115 WATW115

Larry Stone

There aren’t many ‘Felix Days’ left in Seattle. Soak it in and savor the final days of The King.

Need a caption: Water plants corkscrew their way to the surface of Lake Washington in the shallow waters near shore. From Robin Layton’s book, The Lake, which will be released Sept. 13, 2019. Available at: thelakerobinlayton.com

Pacific NW Magazine

In ‘the lake,’ Seattle photographer Robin Layton chronicles life on, in and around Lake Washington VIEW

Jaimee Marsh (accent on first e)-activist, educator, scholar; associate director of the Q Center at the University of Washington- is photographed at Madison Park Beach. “I don’t want anybody to feel like they have to leave part of themselves behind to be in the space and be present and be fully feeling as though they belong,” says Marsh. 210969

Life

‘Why does freedom have to come with layers?’ Black, queer residents speak out about identity in Seattle WATCH

Editorial

Thank you, Gov. Inslee, but it’s time to let others govern

Local News

Sam Sayers, 28, of Seattle, missing since Wednesday after going on a solo hike at Vesper Peak in the North Cascades.

A year after officials called off search for Seattle woman missing on hike, her mother is still looking

Featured Columnist

‘It’s going to be a long four years’: Our state’s pecking-order politics needs a shake-up

Project Homeless

It’s hard to get drug treatment while homeless. King County wants to change that.

‘Vehicle ranching’ in Seattle: Inside the underground market of renting RVs to homeless people

Washington jails see hope in medication to treat opioid addiction behind bars

In increasingly expensive South King County, cities band together for affordable housing

Seattle considers bill to protect abused renters from paying for property damage

Business & Tech

Melissa Tatro, 52, feeds her three pigs at her small 2 1/2-acre farm in Kent in 2016. (Lindsey Wasson / The Seattle Times)

Lessons from five years of Money Makeover stories

Featured Columnist

Reshaping corporations to look beyond shareholders’ profits will take hard work

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Explore

(Getty Images)

Workplace

The real reason you should stop eating lunch at your desk

Produced by Advertising Publications

Outdoors Season

Cute to ferocious: The coolest animals you might spot on local hikes VIEW

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Good Deals

Big Nordstrom, REI sales; Zoo Doo lottery and more deals

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Energy efficiency

5 eco-friendly ways to lower your utility bills

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Celebrity Homes

Joe Montana’s 500-acre ranch relists for $20 million less

Produced by Advertising Publications

Nation & World

Caitlan Coleman, pictured with her daughters Joy and Ma’idah, at their home last spring. MUST CREDIT: Photo for The Washington Post by Mary F. Calvert 10.0.111723383

American woman who gave birth as a Taliban hostage slowly reclaims life

Local Politics

Gov. Jay Inslee (WA-D), center, speaks at a Title X press conference shortly after announcing he will run for a third term as governor, having dropped his presidential bid, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Seattle. At left is Dow Constantine, and at right, is Bob Ferguson, two thought to be interested in running for governor. 211263

Republicans petition Inslee to reimburse state for his security detail used during presidential bid

Extended Coverage

SEAHAWKS FILE —

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson warms up before the Seattle Seahawks take on the Los Angeles Chargers at CenturyLink Field in Seattle Sunday November 4, 2018. 208372 208372

Seahawks

Full coverage of the Seattle Seahawks »

Special Report

Not Invisible: Confronting a crisis of violence against Native women

Special Report

For asylum-seekers, dreams of a new life in the U.S. stall in Tijuana

Just over seven weeks after it rolled out of the paint hangar, Boeing’s first 737 MAX “the Spirit of Renton” lifts off the runway and flew for the first time Friday, from Renton Municipal Airport at 9:48 a.m. January 29th, 2016.

Boeing & Aerospace

Complete coverage of Boeing’s 737 MAX »

Food & Drink

Taps at the Guardhouse will be open at noon Saturday and Sunday during the festival, serving up pub grub, beer, and cocktails. Photo by Jen Lee Light Photography/Courtesy of Fort Worden

Going to THING festival this weekend? Here’s your guide to the tastiest eats in Port Townsend VIEW

Pacific NW Magazine

Need a caption: Water plants corkscrew their way to the surface of Lake Washington in the shallow waters near shore. From Robin Layton’s book, The Lake, which will be released Sept. 13, 2019. Available at: thelakerobinlayton.com

In ‘the lake,’ Seattle photographer Robin Layton chronicles life on, in and around Lake Washington

Editorials & Opinion

Sen. Warren, make free press a priority | Editorial

Featured Columnist

Leonard Pitts Jr.

Caged children and everyday evil

Horsey Cartoon

A dignified exit for Inslee and a win for the planet

Sports

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez reacts after the final out of the top of the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) WATW115 WATW115

There aren’t many ‘Felix Days’ left in Seattle. Soak it in and savor the final days of The King. | Larry Stone

Featured Columnist

Seahawks roster projection: Rise of C.J. Prosise makes the guessing that much harder

Arts & Life

Everything you need to know about the hottest tickets in town: Seattle events for September 2019

Photography

And they’re off, out of the blocks in the Masters Track & Field men’s 65-69 year old 100 meter dash at West Seattle Stadium.

REF to more photos online

2019 USATF Northwest Region & Pacific NW Assoc. Masters Track & Field Championships

Saturday August 10, 2019

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Photography

‘You go, Grandpa!’ Masters track meets feature competition and camaraderie VIEW

Lakelle Bridges, 14, and the ensemble of praise dancers participate in a final dress rehearsal of the Teen Summer Musical’s latest performance, “Uncle Willy’s Chocolate Factory” at Benaroya Hall in Downtown Seattle Thursday August 22, 2019. The show opens Thursday evening and runs through Sunday afternoon, August 25th. Tickets are available at https://www.seattlesymphony.org/concerttickets/calendar/2018-2019/benaroyahall/uncle-willys-chocolate-factory 211264

Arts

Seattle teen arts program puts ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ in the Central District VIEW

Elise Landles CQ, left, and Shay Simone CQ dance during a tech rehearsal for the upcoming “Queens” burlesque show at the Northwest Film Forum Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. Shay Simone CQ and Annya Pin CQ-founders Simone Pin Productions CQ, a women of color production company- are curating multiple shows throughout 2019 for Northwest Film Forum’s first burlesque residency program. “This dance and performing arts residency is a really exciting evolution in the multidisciplinary programming we host in our space,” says Rana San CQ, artistic director of Northwest Film Forum. “I’ve been enthralled by Simone Pin’s work ever since I first saw them performÉ When I met Shay and Annya, it was immediately evident that they embodied the spirit of the residency I had conceptualized. Their work celebrates diversity, body positivity, community and instills a sense of self-love that can only be experienced in person.” Pin says the performance showcases as a mixture of dance, burlesque and singing. “‘Queens’ is based on the battles experienced by women of color and it is a chess-inspired piece,” says Pin. “It’s the narratives of the games and strategies we have to play to survive.” “Queens” will run August 22-24, 2019 at the Northwest Film Forum. For more information about this and coming shows, visit: https://nwfilmforum.org/events/queens-encore/ and https://www.simonepinofficial.com. LO 211223

Theater

‘Queens’ depicts battles, tactics of survival

John Murphy, front, with On Sight Access, reaches for one of 16 acrylic pieces to be installed on the 46 by 60-foot mural in the new Burke Museum. The panel is by
RYAN! Feddersen (CQ first name all caps with !) of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Okanogan / Arrow Lakes). It has 294 vinyl pieces applied to it in a cascade of symbolic figures transforming into one another representing connections between nature, culture and our experience as a society. The mural is titled “Synecdoche.” In the background working is Billy Silva. The new Burke opens to the public in mid-October.

Ref to more photos online

LO Burke Museum

Tuesday August 13, 2019

Workers (mainly) with On Site Access install a 3-story-high mural in the new Burke Museum, set to open in October.

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Local News

New Burke Museum will have a striking and symbolic work of art VIEW