Andy Nystrom, Mercer Island Reporter Journalist Profile

Articles

Defendants’ omnibus hearings continued to June 12

2 days ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

Philip Brewer and Christina Hardy, the defendants who pleaded not guilty in the homicide of Mercer Island resident Curtis Engeland in March of 2024, had their omnibus pre-trial hearings continued from April 10 to June 12.
Mercer Island City Council honors Jacobson at meeting

6 days ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

It was an emotional April 15 meeting for the Mercer Island City Council. During the group’s first regular meeting since the passing of councilmember Daniel “Jake” Jacobson, the city memorialized his seat with a bouquet of flowers placed on the council’s desk in Jacobson’s usual spot.
MI eighth-grader shines in New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest

1 week ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

A young Mercer Island writer’s tiny memoir has garnered massive success. Paloma “Lola” Melian Lafinur finds it surreal that her 100-word meaningful story — “Mi Nombre” — has reached so many people after it received acclaim in a national contest.
MI teams up with Swoop and Riot Games to launch electric shuttle program

1 week ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

Let the electric shuttle buses roll on Mercer Island. As the city of Mercer Island continuously searches for new and innovative solutions around sustainability, it linked up with southern California’s Swoop all-in-one transportation solutions and the Island’s biggest employer Riot Games to launch the month-long pilot program on April 1.
MIHS boys lacrosse team netting heaps of wins

1 week ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

Mercer Island High School’s boys lacrosse team is shredding its way through the competition this season with a 10-0 local record and No. 1 state ranking at press time. The Islanders — who are ranked 17th on the west coast — recently notched victories over powerhouses Lakeridge High School from Oregon and Nanaimo from British Columbia. Currently, the locals are visiting Maine to compete against some stellar New England squads.
MIPD diver removes driver from Lake Washington

1 week ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

A Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) diver removed a 52-year-old male from a vehicle that was sinking into Lake Washington near the Island boat ramp on the morning of April 15. The Mercer Island resident’s condition was unknown at press time and MIPD has contacted his family, according to a press release.
MI protesters voice concerns about federal government

1 week ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

Gene Robertson has never been an activist before, but the longtime Mercer Island resident feels this is a crucial time to take her concerns about the United States government to a street corner in her town. Joined by her husband, John Rieke, they’ve led the charge by gathering a group of citizens to engage in peaceful protests against what she calls the illegal dismantling of the government at the hands of President Donald Trump and billionaire businessman Elon Musk.
MI fourth-grader receives Seattle Children’s Hospital Community Day Hope award

1 week ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

Emerson Vivion pops up from the family couch, grins and cruises over to the kitchen table where his lunch plate of strawberries, homemade banana bread and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich awaits. The 10-year-old Northwood Elementary School fourth-grader eases into his chair, takes some bites of the meal and intently listens as his mother, Erin, describes her son’s journey over the past two years.
Roodman enjoying golf one shot at a time

2 weeks ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

Mercer Island High School (MIHS) senior golfer Estella Roodman helped lead her squad to a fourth-place tie at the 3A state tournament last spring, and now she has a hand in the team’s sterling 6-1 league start. In her third year on varsity, Roodman said she’s benefited from the support of last year’s senior captains Lucia Morelli and Nina Baston.
MIHS students present sexual assault awareness assembly

2 weeks ago | mi-reporter.com | Andy Nystrom

Mercer Island High School (MIHS) juniors Maya Talby and Anusha Zaveri presented a sexual assault awareness assembly to the senior class on March 19 to educate and empower their peers about the important topic. In collaboration with representatives from the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) and sexual assault survivor Tami Brooks — who spoke at the event — the organizers brought their message to about 400 seniors in the school’s performing arts center.