Pierce County questions answered: Recent stories from readers

Many of our stories start with questions from readers. This list of recent stories based on reader questions includes a look at whether someone was covering up unmarked graves in a Pierce County cemetery. The News Tribune also chased recent tips about a military plane over the Key Peninsula and an ongoing library catalog outage. You can submit story ideas and questions for reporters by emailing newstips@thenewstribune.com.

Waughop Lake, on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Lakewood, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 1: ARE CITY EFFORTS TO TREAT TOXIC ALGAE AT THIS PIERCE COUNTY LAKE WORKING? WHAT WE KNOW

For decades agricultural waste and manure was dumped into this lake, which has caused issues for the city today. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Tombstones are visible in Potter’s Field Cemetery, where more than 1,600 people were buried, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 2: TACOMA CEMETERY HOLDS MORE THAN 1,600 PEOPLE. ARE THEIR GRAVES BEING COVERED UP?

Many of their names have been lost to history. | Published April 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The first C-17 lands on the newly resurfaced runway at McChord Field on Monday. By Sara Hoerichs

NO. 3: SEE MILITARY PLANE OVER KEY PENINSULA ON SUNDAY NIGHT? HERE’S WHAT IT WAS

The U.S. Air Force said a C-17 was returning from an overseas mission. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julia Park

The Melody Apartments has been the source of many issues since a structural fire in 2020 and it’s remaining tenats continue to face issues, on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Lakewood, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 4: PIERCE COUNTY APARTMENTS WERE UNSAFE FOR YEARS. WHY DID PEOPLE STILL LIVE THERE?

After a fire in 2020, property owners made repairs without obtaining the necessary permits, city says. | Published April 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

NO. 5: TACOMA MAYOR ACCEPTED PAID TRIP TO ISRAEL FROM ADVOCACY GROUP AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE

Victoria Woodards, who has said she supports a ceasefire in Gaza, joined a delegation of U.S. mayors in Israel for seven days last week. | Published March 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Evan Aeschlimann stands in the alley behind his home,him and his wife were informed it’s part of a proposed Local Improvement District that would require them having to pay more than $16K for a project to pave it, on Monday, March 31, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 6: YEARS AGO, TACOMA NEIGHBORS WANTED ALLEY FIXED. PLAN’S RETURN CAUSED AN UPROAR

“If it can be six years later that this is coming up, can it be 20 years later?” one neighbor told The News Tribune. | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shea Johnson

Chantell Harmon Reed has been tapped as the new director of public health for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

NO. 7: HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR UNDER FIRE FOR ALLEGED TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Tacoma-Pierce County public health director has been in her role for about a year. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The new, interim Lakewood Public Library is finally set to open soon, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Lakewood, Wash. By Brian Hayes

NO. 8: PIERCE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM CATALOG HAS BEEN DOWN A WEEK. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

The Tacoma News Tribune received multiple tips from readers wondering what is going on. | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

Aspire 11, located at 1011 S. 11th St. in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, broke ground in 2022, and construction was wrapping up in Spring 2025. The corner building that includes Manifesto Coffee, Goodfellas Barbers and 1022 South J remained standing, but the sidewalk on J Street was incomplete on April 8, 2025. By Kristine Sherred

NO. 9: HILLTOP COCKTAIL LOUNGE, AMID NEIGHBORHOOD CONSTRUCTION, CLOSES AFTER A YEAR

The bar’s new owners faced an uphill challenge taking over a well-known haunt, but some have wondered if construction was a factor in its demise. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

Chef Gerold Castro has opened Lechon Loco at 3511 McKinley Ave. in Tacoma with an all-day menu of Filipino breakfast plus lunch and dinner. It joins his Auburn restaurant, West Hill Deli. By Kristine Sherred

NO. 10: FILIPINO RESTAURANT OPENS WITH UBE FRENCH TOAST, ADOBO FRIED RICE, MORE

The owner of a Filipino-American diner in Auburn brings years of cooking experience to Tacoma. | Published April 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kristine Sherred

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.