Former mayor dies, mother sentenced in fentanyl case among TNT's top stories

Pierce County news this week spans local government, courts, development and food safety. From the death of a former Tacoma mayor to a 120-unit apartment complex breaking ground near Gig Harbor, here’s a look at the top stories.

Here are key takeaways:

• Former Tacoma Mayor Mike Crowley, who served in 2001 and championed downtown revitalization including the Museum of Glass and Foss Waterway redevelopment, died Monday, July 13, from heart failure at age 80. Crowley drew national coverage on CNN and NPR for backing a controversial measure to ban hot tubs during a Tacoma energy crisis - a vote his council colleagues said reflected his humor and refusal to back down, according to former council member Kevin Phelps.
• Karlee Annmarie Eley, 27, of Bonney Lake was sentenced Monday to 19 months after pleading guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the fentanyl death of her 15-month-old son, Weston Tucker. Judge Joseph Evans issued a sentence below the standard 21-27 month range, finding that Eley recklessly disregarded her son’s risk of death by leaving him with his father despite knowing of extensive drug use in the home, as detailed in her guilty-plea statement.
• The Rush Companies has broken ground on Timberwalk Apartments, a 120-unit, 102,750-square-foot complex on 5.85 acres near Canterwood Boulevard and Baker Way Northwest just outside Gig Harbor, announced in a June 29 Facebook post. A dispute between developer CW Baker Way LLC and Pierce County over environmental mitigation conditions remains unresolved, with the hearing examiner granting multiple extensions to finalize a settlement agreement.
• La Plancha Mexicana food truck in Gig Harbor received 90 red points during a July 15 inspection for violations, including no certified food protection manager, improper hot and cold holding temperatures and raw meats stored over ready-to-eat foods, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reported. Establishments receiving 35 or more red points must be reinspected, and Wayne’s Inn in Puyallup was temporarily closed over a cooler issue before reopening the next day.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by senior editor Adam Lynn. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.