Good afternoon from the KUOW Newsroom. This is Seattle Now. I'm Patricia Murphy. Here in today's top stories. It's Wednesday, July 10th.

It's been nearly two years since Kroger and Albertsons announced plans to merge. We've learned that 124 stores in Washington are in play.

17 stores in Seattle, including the QFC in Wallingford,

and both QFC stores on Capitol Hill will be sold.

And there's more.

KOWOW's Ruby DeLuna explains.

The list includes six distribution centers.

One of those centers is in Auburn, Washington.

Kroger and Albertson say the list will better position the incoming owner, CNS, wholesale,

to successfully operate and grow the brands while bolstering their position as the merger faces legal challenges.

That was KUIW's Ruby Deluna.

In January, the Washington Attorney General's office sued in King County Court to block the merger and the Federal Trade Commission filed a separate lawsuit.

Kroger and Albertson say the merger will lead to lower grocery prices.

The state told counties last week its main juvenile facilities are full with no room for more

young people.

Counties are being told to hold them locally.

And Dornfeld reports, that's resulted in confusion and conflict.

In King County Superior Court, presiding judge K2 Shah says by law, juvenile criminal sentences are administered by the State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, not by counties.

Once we sentence someone, it is DCYF's responsibility to find a place for that youth that meets the statutory goals, which is accountability, rehabilitation,

rehabilitation, and intervention. Now, how do you see why does that? Is their choice, but they are

responsible for that?

The state says its only secure juvenile facility, Greenhill School, is over ideal capacity by 60% with 240 young people.

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