Light rail’s Tacoma future and the fate of the Armory among TNT’s top stories

From transit timelines to a nonprofit’s lifeline, here’s a snapshot of the stories shaping Tacoma on Thursday. The roundup covers light-rail funding, an arts organization’s reprieve, a daily protester on I-5 and a packed summer entertainment lineup.

Here are key takeaways:

• Tacoma Dome Link Extension, estimated at $5 billion to $6 billion, will stay on track for completion in 2035 under Sound Transit’s proposal to close a $34 billion funding gap, but the T Line’s expansion to Tacoma Community College will be delayed two years to 2043, with the board expected to vote on the funding plan May 28.

• Tacoma Arts Live filed for voluntary receivership in March after announcing closure in January due to more than $3 million in debt, and receiver Shelly Crocker is exploring options to keep The Armory operating as an event venue with tiered pricing while continuing education programs and popular events.

• Longtime Tacoma resident Shaun Anderson, 41, has stood on an I-5 overpass near the Tacoma Dome nearly every day since February waving an upside-down American flag, using the historical distress signal to protest what he calls tyranny and fascism and saying the daily ritual has become therapeutic.

• A wave of big-name comedians and musicians is hitting Tacoma this spring and summer, including David Sedaris, Tim Meadows, Pete Davidson, Marc Maron, Jeff Dunham, Kool & the Gang, Enhypen and Bleachers, with ticket prices ranging from $30 to $100 depending on the performer and venue.

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.