Tacoma

Now a harbinger of the South Sound's holiday season, the tradition of transforming from "Self Storage" to "Elf Storage" began one fateful day in 2007.

The Tacoma City Council voted last week to curtail cold-weather and school-year evictions established in the Landlord Fairness Code for certain low-income housing providers.

Nonprofit and private landlords claim eviction bans allow tenants to stop paying rent for long stretches. The Tacoma City Council is considering rolling back renter protections.

The Tacoma City Council is considering amending a law to make it easier for affordable housing providers to evict problem tenants.

The South Sound public health agency is expected to lay off 22 employees. A department spokesperson said this was due to expected federal and state funding cuts.

The Tacoma Housing Authority and other housing providers say the safeguards have resulted in tenants refusing to pay rent and, in some cases, property damage.

Voters will decide next week who they want to see step up as mayor to help make important decisions such as hiring a new city manager and police chief.

The Tacoma City Council has expanded the city's camping ban, adding more areas where homeless encampments are prohibited. The proposal passed by a 5-4 vote.

The Tacoma City Council has changed an ordinance to prohibit public camping in most neighborhoods.

Tacoma District 1 Councilmember John Hines and former Councilmember Anders Ibsen are running to help lead Tacoma. The next mayor will take part in important decisions, such as choosing the new city manager.