Well, T-G-I-F from us in the KUOW Newsroom.

I'm Paige Browning. This is Seattle now.

Here are today's top stories. It's Friday, April 19th.

Chaos erupted at the Washington State Republican Convention in Spokane today.

Delegates have gathered there to endorse candidates in key races, and right off the bat, officials stunned the crowd by announcing they would disqualify former Richland School Board member Semmy Bird for an endorsement in the governor's race.

The candidate committee determined that Semibird was not forthcoming in the vetting.

Bird had failed to disclose financial crimes from 30 years ago, but he's popular with the Republicans

gathered at the convention. In a raucous floor

vote, they overturned the decision. Then, GOP frontrunner, Dave Reichert announced he's withdrawing

his name from endorsement consideration. Reichert says the party is in disarray. State GOP chair,

Jim Walsh, disagrees with Reichert's frustration. I wouldn't call it disarray. State GOP chair Jim Walsh disagrees with Rikert's frustration.

I wouldn't call it disarray. I mean, this is a live convention. A lot of interesting

things are happening. The party is expected to issue its endorsement for governor later this

weekend. Jury selection is scheduled to start Monday in the trial of Auburn Police Officer

Jeffrey Nelson.

He was the first officer charged with murder in Washington after voters approved a new legal

standard for police misconduct. Amy Radle has this story. In August of 2020, the King County

prosecutor charged Nelson with second-degree murder and first-degree assault for killing 26-year-old Jesse Surrey.

Nelson tackled and ultimately shot Surrey while trying to arrest him for disorderly conduct.

Surrey's former foster mother, Elaine Simon, says it's been a long wait to get to this trial date.

Not only does the Surrey family need resolution, but so does Officer Nelson.

Four years are a long time for everybody.

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