In sports: the St. Louis Blues routed the Seattle Kraken, with Dylan Holloway the main star after scoring a hat-trick. In politics: Washington State House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon apologized for appearing at work intoxicated.
St. Louis Blues rout Seattle Kraken after Olympic break
After the break for the Olympic Games, the NHL returned to regular-season play, and the Seattle Kraken’s return proved unsuccessful. The team suffered a second straight loss, this time falling heavily to the St. Louis Blues, 5-1. Dylan Holloway was the game’s protagonist, recording a hat-trick in his first game back from injury.
The game in St. Louis was the Kraken’s second contest since returning from the Olympic break, and it ended in a second consecutive defeat. If the night before the team lost 1-4 in Dallas, the loss to the Blues looked even bleaker. Seattle conceded to Dylan Holloway in the first period — Holloway having just returned from an ankle sprain. Kaapo Kakko managed to tie the score, but in the second period the Blues scored twice in 23 seconds — first Jordan Kyrou, then Holloway again — which effectively decided the outcome. In the third period Peirce Suter increased the lead, and Holloway completed his hat-trick into an empty net. This hat-trick was the Blues’ first of the season and Holloway’s 11th goal of the campaign. According to Seattle Sports, Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 shots, but it wasn’t enough.
For those unfamiliar: a hat-trick in hockey is three goals scored by a single player in one game, a significant individual achievement. An “empty net” refers to when the trailing team pulls its goalie late in the game to add a sixth skater and bolster the attack, risking a goal into an unguarded net — which is what happened to the Kraken. Veteran Blues defenseman Cam Fowler also featured in the game; it was his 1,100th NHL game, putting him among the ten active defensemen in the league to reach that milestone.
The key insight from this game was Holloway’s brilliant return: he didn’t just come back from injury but immediately became the primary architect of his team’s victory, contributing four points (three goals and one assist). His activity tore apart the Kraken’s defensive structure. For Seattle, the main problem appears to be inconsistency after the break — two losses in a row with a combined goal differential of 2-9 point to serious gaps in both offense and defense. A telling stat: two Blues goals in 23 seconds in the second period broke the visitors’ resistance. In the near term, the Kraken will need to correct mistakes in a home game against Vancouver on Saturday, while the Blues will also play at home against New Jersey. Separately, the Kraken announced the signing of two-year contracts with forwards Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton, possibly an attempt to bolster the roster for the remainder of the season after a poor start to the second half.
State House Majority Leader admits to being intoxicated at work
A scandal erupted in Washington state politics involving one of the state’s leading Democrats. Joe Fitzgibbon, the influential House majority leader, admitted to being intoxicated at the workplace during an important committee hearing. The incident, made public via a video recording, undermines trust in elected officials and calls into question professional standards within the legislature.
In a statement released by the House Democrats’ office, Fitzgibbon issued a profound apology, acknowledging the seriousness of his misconduct. He said: “I deeply regret and apologize for having consumed alcohol before the conclusion of the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, and the result was obvious. This was a serious mistake for many reasons. Being intoxicated in that situation harmed my work and my colleagues.” The lawmaker called the experience a painful and shameful lesson and promised it would not happen again. The video of the hearing, which showed signs of his impaired state, was released by TVW and quickly spread across media, including West Seattle Blog.
Joe Fitzgibbon is an experienced politician: he has represented the 34th Legislative District (West Seattle) in the House for 15 years and has served as majority leader for the past three years. His political standing is underscored by recent election results: in 2024 he was re-elected with 84% of the vote, defeating Republican Joli Lansdown. Despite this incident, Fitzgibbon has already filed to run in this year’s election, making the situation particularly delicate amid the campaign.
Leadership of the Democratic caucus reacted quickly. House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D–Tacoma) also issued a statement emphasizing expectations of professionalism in the workplace. She noted that while Fitzgibbon did not meet that standard, he admitted his behavior was unacceptable and apologized. “People in Washington expect and deserve their legislators to be fully focused and thinking clearly while doing the work on their behalf,” Jinkins said. “House Democratic leadership supports Fitzgibbon as he takes the necessary steps to ensure his wellbeing.” This wording essentially expresses cautious support for a colleague, shifting focus to the need for personal remediation rather than immediate political or disciplinary action.
The incident raises important questions about accountability and workplace culture in legislative bodies. Consuming alcohol before or during official hearings, especially in a key committee like the Appropriations Committee, which oversees state finances, calls into question the quality of decisions being made and respect for voters. Although Fitzgibbon issued a public apology, the real consequences for his career and reputation remain to be seen. In politics, where trust is a key asset, such admissions can have long-term effects on support from colleagues and constituents. For now, the Democratic caucus has taken a stance that combines condemnation of the act with support for the lawmaker’s personal efforts, suggesting a desire to contain the scandal without dramatic personnel moves. However, public reaction and further media coverage are likely to pressure all parties to provide clearer assurances that this will not happen again.
State representative apologizes for attending committee meeting after drinking
An incident in Washington state politics has sparked discussion about norms of behavior and the responsibility of elected officials. Representative Joe Fitzgibbon of the 34th District found himself at the center of attention after admitting he drank before a budget committee meeting.
Democrat Joe Fitzgibbon, who represents a district that includes West Seattle, White Center and parts of Beacon Hill, publicly apologized for his actions. In a statement to FOX 13 Seattle he called it “a serious mistake for many reasons.” Fitzgibbon emphasized that working in a state that could be perceived as impaired harms not only his own work but also that of his colleagues. “This was a painful and humiliating lesson I will not forget, and I will not put myself or others in that situation again. I apologize once more,” he said. The incident occurred during a House Appropriations Committee meeting where the state operating budget was being discussed. During his remarks, as seen in the transcript, the representative made speech hesitations that may have drawn initial attention. He spoke about the importance of a budget that remembers people who often lack a voice in the political process. It remains unclear whether the incident will result in disciplinary action against Fitzgibbon, especially with only two weeks left in the 60-day legislative session. In political practice, such situations can be treated as violations of ethical norms, and any sanctions would be decided according to the internal rules of the legislature. Fox 13 Seattle reports that this case raises questions about professional discipline and personal accountability for politicians whose work directly affects constituents’ lives. While the representative’s apology appears sincere, it is unlikely to fully dispel concerns about the acceptability of such behavior during weighty legislative duties.
