Spokane, WA News
News Stories for Spokane, WA
- 23 February 2012
Drunken cop back on job after hiring genius lawyer - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
A mediated settlement would reward drunken driver Brad Thoma with nearly 300 grand in back pay and lawyer fees, plus put the fired Spokane police sergeant back on the job at the reduced rank of detective. Well, thank God.
- 23 February 2012
Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
From our archives, 75 years ago One immensely popular Depression-era public works project in Spokane did not involve shovels or saws.
- 23 February 2012
Idaho records - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
For 02-23-2012
- 23 February 2012
Fired officer’s settlement unleashes outcry, review - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
A controversial plan to rehire an alcoholic police officer fired after an off-duty drunken driving crash, and to give him back pay, has officials scrambling to explain the decision and dampen public backlash. Mayor David Condon said Wednesday the proposed settlement with former Spokane police Sgt. Brad Thoma sends the wrong message, but Condon added he nevertheless supports the settlement because it avoids the risk of losing a costly lawsuit. Meanwhile, Sharon Ortiz, state Human Rights Commission director, said she isn’t ready to give the settlement her stamp of approval, despite her agency playing a role in crafting the settlement.
- 23 February 2012
Idaho senator resigns under cloud - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
BOISE – Faced with sexual harassment allegations, Republican Sen. John McGee was given two choices: Quit or go before a state Senate ethics panel. The 39-year-old, four-term lawmaker opted to ...
- 23 February 2012
New Bing owner promises to keep theater operating - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
With his purchase of the Bing Crosby Theater in downtown Spokane, businessman Jerry Dicker has solidified his standing as one of the city’s leading historic preservationists. On Wednesday, Dicker met with supporters of the Bing and said he will “do what needs to be done … to keep the building going.”
- 23 February 2012
Students promote good cheer - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
With so much riding on tonight’s basketball game, Bulldog fans might be expected to raise a few derisive howls against conference rival Brigham Young University, but a Gonzaga University business class has taken upon itself the task of toning down remarks targeting Mormons. “We’re known for cheering against other teams, but we don’t need to bring it to a level that involves discrimination,” said Jordyn Pillatzke, a student in GU’s Hate Studies in Business class. “Making fun of the Mormons and their values – it’s something that doesn’t need to take place on the basketball court.”
- 23 February 2012
In brief: Bill would lift limits on charter schools - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
BOISE – Idaho would lift all caps on creation of new charter schools in the state under legislation pushed by Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, that cleared a House committee Wednesday. The House Education Committee voted 12-5 in favor of HB 481, which would eliminate both the six-per-year limit on creation of new charter schools statewide and the limit of one a year per school district. The Idaho School Boards Association, Idaho Association of School Administrators and Idaho Education Association all testified against the bill, saying it would hurt school districts’ funding at a time when they’re already hurting. Charter school backers and the state Department of Education supported it, saying the current cap is keeping Idaho from winning federal and private foundation grants for charter schools.
- 23 February 2012
Photo: Iron efficiency - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
High school work: Ironworkers Travis Hauck, left, and Jim Brown position metal decking onto the roof of the new administration building at Ferris High School on Wednesday in Spokane. The first phase of the $97.7 million project also includes a science wing, kitchen commons and general classrooms and is scheduled for completion in August 2013. The entire project is aiming for a June 2014 completion.
- 23 February 2012
Photo: Fallen needles - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
Windswept region: Scott Bowman takes a photo of Matt and Trisha Kinder’s tree-damaged house Wednesday at 433 W. 21st Ave. High winds snapped the large ponderosa pine off about 12 feet above the ground, and it hit Bowman’s roof as well as the Kinders’. The windstorm also caused widespread power outages throughout the region.
- 23 February 2012
Washington records - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
Spokane County Marriage licenses
- 23 February 2012
Required dispensing takes hit - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
TACOMA – Washington state cannot force pharmacies to sell Plan B or other emergency contraceptives, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, saying the state’s true goal was to suppress religious objections ...
- 23 February 2012
Teenager dies after inhaling helium at party - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
EAGLE POINT, Ore. – Last weekend, 14-year-old Ashley Long told her parents she was going to a slumber party. But instead of spending the night watching videos and eating popcorn ...
- 23 February 2012
Earlier primaries may steer Romney - Thu, 23 Feb 2012 PST
OLYMPIA – In this year’s volatile Republican presidential campaign, Mitt Romney’s success in the March 3 Washington caucuses may depend on how well he does in the two contests earlier in the week, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the chairwoman of his state campaign, said Wednesday. “It’s up and down,” McMorris Rodgers said in an interview with reporters. “Some of it depends on how things turn out in Michigan and Arizona.”
- 23 February 2012
Mayor defends Thoma settlement - Wed, 22 Feb 2012 PST
Mayor David Condon today defended the City of Spokane’s decision to rehire an alcoholic police sergeant fired after an off-duty drunken driving crash.
- 22 February 2012
Judge says Wash. can’t make pharmacies sell Plan B - Wed, 22 Feb 2012 PST
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state cannot force pharmacies to sell Plan B or other emergency contraceptives, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, saying the state’s true goal was to suppress religious objections by druggists — not to promote timely access to the medicines for people who need them. U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton heard closing arguments earlier this month in a lawsuit that claimed state rules violate the constitutional rights of pharmacists by requiring them to dispense such medicine. The state requires pharmacies to dispense any medication for which there is a community need and to stock a representative assortment of drugs needed by their patients.
- 22 February 2012
Geiger escapee caught - Wed, 22 Feb 2012 PST
Spokane police have caught a man who escaped Feb. 11 from Geiger Corrections Center. Police say uniformed and plain clothes officers arrested Nathan Calvert Tuesday night.
- 22 February 2012
High court sides with power company over Montana dams - Wed, 22 Feb 2012 PST
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has sided with a power company in a dispute with Montana over who owns the riverbeds beneath 10 dams sitting on three Montana rivers.
- 22 February 2012
Flooding W. Washington rivers cresting - Wed, 22 Feb 2012 PST
SEATTLE — Three to 7 inches of rain in the Cascades and melting snow overflowed some Western Washington rivers, but the National Weather Service says they’ll be cresting today and returning to their banks.
- 22 February 2012
Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history - Wed, 22 Feb 2012 PST
From our archives, 100 years ago The wedding night didn’t exactly go as planned for a young Colville couple. They were settling into their room at the Lee Hotel in Colville when “an irate mob” of Italians, led by the bride’s mother, stormed the hotel and demanded entrance to the room.
