🌱 How Tacoma’s new Friendship City in India could shape local opportunities

Morning Tacoma! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Tacoma’s new Friendship City in India could shape local opportunities
• How far should Tacoma go with AI cameras on garbage trucks?
• How bad is the RV park flooding just outside Tacoma?

Also on today's calendar: A Gospel Christmas Extravaganza and 8 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Tacoma? Post it to Tacoma photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Becoming windier with rain, with a high of 58 and low of 41 degrees.
• Wednesday: Windy with showers around, temps: high: 49, low: 41.
• Thursday: Rain becoming steadier; windy, with a high of 52 and low of 39 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Tacoma City Council Designates Kochi, India, as New Friendship City (southsoundmag.com) — Tacoma City Council has officially named Kochi, India, a Friendship City, opening the door to future Sister City status and deeper cultural, educational, and economic exchanges. Local leaders say the partnership will link Tacoma’s port, climate resilience work, and schools with counterparts in Kochi, while reinforcing the city’s commitment to being welcoming and globally connected.
   

2. Dallas to install AI cameras on garbage trucks to fight illegal dumping (statescoop.com) — Tacoma’s Solid Waste Management Division is already using AI cameras on garbage trucks to cut recycling contamination and catch items tossed in the wrong bins, a model now echoed by Dallas. While Dallas officials tout cleaner streets, civil liberties groups warn that AI-equipped trash trucks can become rolling surveillance tools, raising privacy questions Tacoma residents may want to watch closely.
   

3. 'Muddy mess': Pierce County, WA RV park residents continue flood clean-up (fox13seattle.com) — Tacoma-area residents should know that severe flooding at the Dan and Bill RV park near Puyallup has damaged or destroyed dozens of trailers, displacing more than 100 low-income residents just east of the city. With more rain on the way, officials including Gov. Bob Ferguson and Rep. Kim Schrier are assessing damage and preparing for potential additional flooding and rescues in Pierce County.
   

4. Gambler turns $2 bet into ‘massive' jackpot near Tacoma. ‘The excitement is real' (theolympian.com) — A gambler at Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Auburn, about 20 minutes from Tacoma, turned a $2 spin into a $61,112 jackpot on a Monkey in the Bank slot machine. Casino officials say big wins have been coming frequently, highlighting a nearby entertainment option many Tacoma residents already visit for gaming and nightlife.
   

5. Western Washington lottery tickets split Hit 5 jackpot. Here's how much they won (thenewstribune.com) — Tacoma-area lottery fans might be interested to know two Hit 5 tickets sold in Kirkland and Port Townsend hit Saturday’s $115,000 jackpot, with each winner getting $57,500. The story notes both cities are an easy drive from Tacoma and explains how Hit 5 works, including the winning numbers, odds, and when the next drawing happens.
   

📸 Around Tacoma

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Tacoma

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Wednesday December 17

• Snap Circuits in the Wonder Lab
  Tacoma Public Library- Main Branch , 1102 Tacoma Avenue South , Tacoma
  1:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Social Work Support with Samie
  Tacoma Public Library- Main Branch , 1102 Tacoma Avenue South , Tacoma
  10:00 am
• Baby Storytime
  Tacoma Public Library- Main Branch , 1102 Tacoma Avenue South , Tacoma
  10:30 am
• Appy Hour at Main
  Tacoma Public Library- Main Branch , 1102 Tacoma Avenue South , Tacoma
  1:00 pm
• Up and Atom: Pom Pom Palooza
  Tacoma Public Library- Main Branch , 1102 Tacoma Avenue South , Tacoma
  4:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Drop-in Tech Help at Main
  Tacoma Public Library- Main Branch , 1102 Tacoma Avenue South , Tacoma
  10:00 am
• Wonder Lab Exploration: Building
  Tacoma Public Library- Main Branch , 1102 Tacoma Avenue South , Tacoma
  11:30 am
• Family Storytime
  Tacoma Public Library- Main Branch , 1102 Tacoma Avenue South , Tacoma
  2:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• A Gospel Christmas Extravaganza
  Pacific Christian Center , 3211 112th St E , Tacoma
  6:30 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve Service
  Pacific Christian Center , 3211 112th St E , Tacoma
  9:00 am
• Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service
  Unity of South Sound , 710 S Anderson St , Tacoma
  7:00 pm

📣 Tacoma Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Mottet Book Sale!
  Mottet Branch Library , 3523 East G Street , Tacoma
  12:00 pm
• Housing Justice Project
  Moore Branch Library , 215 South 56th Street , Tacoma
  1:00 pm
• Santa Photos at Sunrise Village
  Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce , 10507 156th Street East , Puyallup
  3:00 pm
• Legal Help Pop-Up - Fife Library
  Fife Pierce County Library , 6622 20th St E , Fife
  3:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Tacoma PatchAM possible:

• Unity of South Sound — (253) 301-0385
  Unity - A Positive Inclusive Spirituality Community!
• Unity of South Sound — (253) 301-0385
  Unity - An Inclusive Welcoming Spiritual Community

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Let's post something positive and good that happened.
  I'll start: the waters are receding and people are getting help. (Nextdoor Yakima/Pacific)
• I’m curious what birds have you been seeing around our neighborhood lately?
  If you’ve spotted any interesting colorful or everyday birds I’d love to hear about them Feel free to comment with the type of bird if you know it… (Nextdoor Stewart Heights Coalition)

• The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Material Handler (2nd Shift) in Tacoma. Apply here.
• Washington Staffing posted a job opening for Life Enrichment Assistant in Tacoma. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Tacoma here.

Ok Tacoma! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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