Foss stabbing update, school reductions, restaurant scores among top stories

From a dramatic bail reduction in the Foss High School stabbing case to deep budget cuts at Franklin Pierce schools, several major stories made headlines in Pierce County on Tuesday. Here’s a quick rundown of what local news consumers should know.

• A Pierce County judge slashed bail from $750,000 to $250 for the 16-year-old charged in the April stabbing at Foss High School after defense attorney James Curtis presented evidence the teen was the target of a planned group assault by four students. Waleed Emad Essakhi has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree assault stemming from a dispute over a vape battery.
• The Franklin Pierce School District board voted April 14 to cut 44 certified positions, 3.5 district administrators and three assistant principals to save $8.5 million in the 2026-2027 school year. A state audit found Franklin Pierce spent $142.9 million against $140.8 million in revenue in 2024-2025, with the district’s general fund balance dropping more than 69% over the course of 2025 amid declining enrollment and an $8 million special education funding gap.
• Tacoma is in the midst of a film renaissance, with the City Council unanimously approving $10,000 for a task force led by The Grand Cinema to streamline film permit processes and attract more productions. Kwabi Amoah-Forson is developing what could be the first sitcom written, filmed, produced and cast entirely in Tacoma..
• Yummi Teriyaki & Pho in Gig Harbor racked up 70 red points during a June 5 inspection for improper hot holding temperatures and unapproved menu items, including mango sticky rice and Panang curry added without health department approval. Establishments that receive 35 or more red points must be re-inspected by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and 11 Pierce County spots — including Takara Teriyaki, Hackers Bar and Grill, Popeyes and a Chipotle in Lakewood — hit that threshold the week of June 1.

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.