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Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Christmas Muggings, Shootings, and Robberies

Afternoon Fuzz   December 27, 2011 at 11:06 am Jonah Spangenthal-Lee

Today in Fuzz: South Seattle muggers arrested, man shot in Pioneer Square, and Lake City armed robberies.

1) Seattle police have arrested two men in connection with a string of street robberies in South Seattle, PubliCola has learned.

Officers arrested the men—one an adult, one a teenager—on Christmas Eve in connection with a robbery 54th Ave. S. and S. Roxbury St. The two men are suspected in of taking iPods, backpacks, purses, and cellphones in a number of south end muggings, according to police.

South Seattle residents have been up in arms over what they say has been an increase in robberies, which culminated in the beating and death of South Seattle hairdresser Danny Vega, who was mugged near Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. and S. Othello St. last month.

Police haven’t said whether the two men arrested Christmas Eve are suspects in the Vega case.

2) A man was shot outside a Pioneer Square club this weekend after he got into a fight with his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, according to police.

The man ran into the couple and got into an argument with them around 2:00 am Saturday near 2nd Ave. and Yesler Way, where the woman’s current boyfriend pulled out a gun, and shot the other man in the foot.

The guman fled before officers arrived.

3) Police have arrested a man who may be responsible for robbing three Lake City businesses at gunpoint in the last few days.

The first robbery took place on December 24, when a man robbed a Starbucks on 143rd and Lake City Way at gunpoint and fled on a motorcycle.

Monday morning, another armed man wearing a motorcycle helmet used a rock to shatter the front door of the Jack in the Box on 130th and Lake City Way just before 5 am. The man then climbed through the door, pulled a gun on staff, and robbed the business.

Then, on Monday evening, another masked man robbed a Radio Shack at NE 127th and Lake City Way.

Later that night, officers arrested a man on a Department of Corrections warrant near Bitter Lake, and are now investigating whether he may be responsible for the Lake City robberies.