Four people, all international students at North Seattle College out for a day of sightseeing and orientation, died when the tour bus they were riding collided with a Ride the Ducks tour vehicle on the Aurora Bridge.
More than 40 others on both vehicles were injured.
The driver of the bus said it appeared the Ride the Ducks driver lost control of the vehicle just before veering into the bus.
The National Transportation Safety Board is heading the investigation of the cause.
China places big jet order
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During an appearance in Everett with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg announced orders and commitments from China for 300 jets.
The fine print, of sorts, came later when it was learned that Boeing signed deals to put a 737 jet-completion and delivery center in China and to move more parts work there.
That work is done now in Renton and at Boeing Field. The Machinists union protested outside the company’s plants.
Speaker Boehner quitting
Rep. John Boehner told colleagues he will step down as House speaker and resign his Ohio congressional seat on Oct. 30.
Boehner has served as speaker since the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives following the 2010 midterm elections, but has been under unrelenting pressure from the more conservative wing of the party.
He was first elected to his Ohio House seat in 1990.
Hundreds of pilgrims die
Waves of Muslim pilgrims collided at an intersection near a holy site in Saudi Arabia, resulting in more than 700 trampling deaths in the worst disaster at the hajj in a quarter-century. It is not clear what prompted it.
“People were climbing over one another just to breathe,” said Abdullah Lotfy of Egypt. “It was like a wave. You go forward and suddenly you go back.”
Suspensions suspended
The Seattle School Board unanimously declared a moratorium on out-of-school suspensions for elementary students who commit certain nonviolent offenses.
Skewed suspension rates have echoed gaps in academic performance between blacks and other student groups.
“This is a step forward for all of us,” board member Betty Patu said. “These are our kids, and we need to do whatever we can to make sure they stay in school.”
Dry, warm winter ahead?
One of the strongest “El Niño” climate conditions on record points toward a relatively warm, dry fall and winter in the Puget Sound area, and could worsen drought conditions across Washington, officials say.
Reservoirs, aquifers and snowpack have been at historically low levels. Some farmers have been unable to get the water they needed, and others have had to do with less.
Walker leaves GOP race
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, once considered a strong candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, dropped out of the race. His campaign faltered partly because of his tepid debate performances.
Icon Yogi Berra, 90, dies
New York Yankees great Yogi Berra died at the age of 90.
In addition to setting the standard for catchers and being a shrewd investor, Berra gave us some of the most memorable adages in modern times, such as:
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it” and “It ain’t over till it’s over.”