In Seattle, people are debating whether to draft a running back, a court has found the killer of a pregnant woman not guilty by reason of insanity, and a vandal destroyed glass sculptures worth $240,000.
Should the Seattle Seahawks use a first-round pick on a running back?
With the NFL Draft approaching, the Seattle Seahawks face a weighty question at the running back position. The depth chart is unclear: Kenneth Walker III departed for the Kansas City Chiefs, Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL and could miss a significant portion of the season, and other candidates for increased snaps — George Holani, Kenny McIntosh and recently signed free agent Emmanuel Wilson — have yet to prove themselves at the professional level. That raises the question of whether the team should spend its 32nd overall pick to reinforce that spot.
Mike Salk tried to answer that question on Seattle Sports. He admitted the dilemma troubles him. On one hand, the need for a player who can deliver “home runs” (long, productive carries) after Walker’s departure is obvious. Salk notes that although it’s technically a first-round pick, it’s effectively closer to a second-rounder — both because of its slot (32nd) and the general view that this year’s draft is weak. So taking a running back here would feel more like a second-round choice in a typical year. Salk concluded he wouldn’t be opposed to such a move — but only if it’s “the one” player capable of changing the game with speed and explosiveness.
Team leadership, however, may think differently. General manager John Schneider, speaking on another Seattle Sports show, indicated he does not view running back as a position worthy of high investment. He reminded listeners that “you can find guys at that position,” citing Ryan Grant, whom the Green Bay Packers acquired via trade in 2007 and who then had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Schneider emphasized that with proper offensive-line play, the need for a single star running back diminishes.
Interestingly, under former head coach Pete Carroll — who had the final say in personnel — the Seahawks used high picks on running backs several times: Rashaad Penny in the first round and Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet and Christine Michael in the second. Now, after Carroll’s departure, Schneider holds more authority and his philosophy may differ. Salk expressed doubt that the team will take a running back in the first round. He believes Schneider trusts in finding talent through other means, while acknowledging the roster hole at the position is significant and that the team critically needs a fast player who is a constant threat to opposing defenses.
The key insight, then, is the tension between the team’s clear need for an explosive runner and the general manager’s philosophy of undervaluing running backs in modern football. The decision the Seahawks make with the 32nd pick will be an early signal of the club’s priorities in the post-Pete Carroll era. Whether it’s a bold bet on a talent or a more conservative pick to shore up other areas will become clear with time — but one thing is evident: the success of the pick will depend heavily on whether the team improves offensive-line play, which Schneider sees as the foundation for an effective running game.
Seattle man found not guilty by reason of insanity in killing of pregnant woman
A verdict in a Seattle courtroom has raised difficult questions again about responsibility and mental health in the legal system. A man accused of killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child in what investigators described as a random attack has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. The case, detailed by MyNorthwest.com, tragically linked the lives of strangers and left families shattered, raising complex legal and ethical issues.
Cordell Gausey, accused of the June 2023 shooting in the Belltown area, will not go to prison. Instead, he is to be committed to a psychiatric hospital — potentially Western State — possibly for the rest of his life. The court found that at the time of the crime — the cold-blooded shooting of a car near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Lenora — Gausey was insane. That conclusion followed a rare consensus: experts hired by both the defense and the prosecution independently reached the same conclusion about his mental state at that critical moment. As Gabrielle Charlton, head of the Insanity and Forensic Psychiatry Unit in the King County Prosecutor’s Office, explained in a statement, the case was not about his competency to stand trial (which had previously been raised and restored). The issue was strictly his mental state at the time of the offense.
The victims were Aina Kwon, an entrepreneur seven months pregnant, and her husband, Sun Kwon. Aina and her unborn child died; Sun was shot in the arm but survived. As part of the insanity adjudication process, Gausey was required to admit that he committed the act, which underscores the horror of the event while acknowledging his inability to bear criminal responsibility. “These cases are tragic in every way,” Charlton said. “They obviously involve a horrific incident and a person suffering from a serious mental illness.”
An important aspect of the ruling is that Gausey will not be transferred to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). That means any future decisions about possible release will remain under the jurisdiction of the King County court system, and the prosecutor’s office will have the right to oppose release. Thus, although he formally avoided a prison term, his freedom will in practice be restricted inside a specialized facility for an indefinite period, potentially for life. The case painfully illustrates how justice attempts to balance protecting the public, compassion for victims and their families, and recognition of the medical realities of severe mental illness that can entirely deprive a person of the capacity to understand their actions. The outcome leaves a bitter aftertaste: two lives have been lost forever, while the person found responsible will not be convicted in the traditional sense, raising difficult questions about guilt, punishment and public safety.
Vandal destroyed Dale Chihuly glass sculptures worth $240,000 in Seattle
A shocking incident rocked the art world in Seattle: a vandal gained access to a Dale Chihuly exhibition and destroyed fragile glass works valued at a quarter of a million dollars. The event caused significant material loss and raised concerns about security at public art spaces. Details, including the suspect’s arrest and the institution’s response, are reported by Artnet News.
The chaos unfolded at the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit at Seattle Center late Monday night, when a man later identified as 40-year-old Alexander Taylor Weiss broke onto the grounds and began destroying Chihuly’s famous botanical-inspired glass sculptures. According to police, the total value of the destroyed works was $240,000 — 12 separate pieces, each estimated at $20,000. To appreciate the scale: Dale Chihuly is a living legend in the world of art glass, known worldwide for his large, colorful, organic installations. His works are not mere objects but the product of painstaking teamwork using complex glass-blowing and shaping techniques. The destruction of such pieces represents an irreplaceable loss of unique creative expression.
The incident played out dramatically. A security guard patrolling the exhibit discovered the vandal smashing illuminated sculptures. When the guard tried to apprehend him, the suspect threw shards of glass at the guard and even attempted to strike him, forcing the security officer to retreat and call police. Arriving officers met resistance: the suspect, they said, “became combative and refused to comply” with commands. He was eventually taken into custody. King County authorities charged Weiss with felony first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and first-degree malicious mischief. A judge set bail at $100,000, and as of the latest reports the suspect remains in custody, having not posted bail. He is also barred from coming near the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit.
A spokesperson for the exhibit told the press that, fortunately, no one was seriously injured and the suspect was arrested. The institution, which has showcased Chihuly’s work at the Space Needle complex since 2012, responded quickly. The damaged pieces were removed the next day. While the exact titles of the destroyed sculptures have not been released, the spokesperson said the team plans to replace them. It remains unclear whether replacements will be exact replicas or entirely new works produced by the artist’s studio. The incident highlights the vulnerability of public art installations — especially fragile glass — to acts of senseless aggression. It also demonstrates the swift response of law enforcement and museum staff in a crisis. The exhibit has reportedly resumed normal operations, but the sting of this barbaric act will linger for caretakers and visitors who value the delicate beauty of the works.
