Local news coverage for Spokane and the Inland Northwest

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Costumed burglar takes cash from the Coeur d’Alene Resort

July 11, 2014 Police say a man wearing a costume took money from the Coeur d’Alene Resort’s cash room between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. Monday morning. 7
Lake Spokane campground closed during wildfire

July 11, 2014 State officials have closed Spokane Lake Campground, its day-use area and boat launch to the public while a nearby wildfire blazes in Stevens County. 2
Suspects arrested in alleged overnight pizza shop robbery

July 11, 2014 Two men were arrested on suspicions they held up a north Spokane pizza restaurant at gunpoint, then ran, Thursday night, according to a news release. 1
Employment restored for Spokane pot buyer

July 11, 2014 LaborReady, a temp agency that employs Spokane’s first purchaser of legal recreational marijuana, said Friday confusion about Mike Boyer’s assignment status led to a request for a drug test. He’s … 58
Hillyard house fire displaces 4 Thursday afternoon

July 11, 2014 Two adults and two children were displaced by a fire in the 2300 block of East Bruce Avenue on Thursday afternoon, the Spokane Fire Department said.
Spokane teen drowns in Kootenai County

July 11, 2014 A 17-year-old from Spokane drowned while swimming in the Spokane River near Post Falls late Thursday, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.
Lake Spokane fire 30 percent contained, firefighters say

July 11, 2014 Three hundred firefighters from various agencies are working to contain a fire that broke out earlier this week near Ford, Washington, and Long Lake Dam. 5
Sexually transmitted disease cases skyrocketing in Spokane, North Idaho

July 11, 2014 on Page A1 Sexually transmitted diseases continue to spread across Spokane and North Idaho at dangerous levels despite warnings of rampant growth. Spokane health officials announced Thursday gonorrhea is in outbreak status after … 20
Bonneville Dam sockeye salmon run notches record

July 11, 2014 on Page A1 The growing abundance of sockeye salmon on the Columbia River reached a new milestone this week with passage of another record run at Bonneville Dam. It is the third record-breaking … 2
Lake Spokane wildfire now tops 900 acres

July 11, 2014 on Page A1 A hundred firefighters from around the state drew a literal line in the sand Thursday in southern Stevens County in what appeared to be a successful ploy to contain the …
Spokane to give parking scofflaws the boot

July 11, 2014 on Page A5 The dreaded parking boot is back. Spokane city officials brought out the boot Thursday to show what’s waiting for parking ticket scofflaws when they get caught parking downtown again. 51
Shawn Vestal: Spokane VA hospital director owes us answers

July 11, 2014 on Page A5 Why does the Spokane VA hospital have one of the longest waiting lists in the nation? Why does it have one of the country’s longest-of-the-longest waiting lists – new patients … 54
McEuen Park in Coeur d’Alene celebrates $20 million redesign

July 11, 2014 on Page A5 You may not be able to entirely flee the heat, but you can have a little fun with it by heading to a park, playground, splash pad, lakefront or woodsy … 4
Jim Kershner’s this day in history

July 11, 2014 on Page A5 From our archives, 100 years ago Mrs. M.S. Lamereaux, of Chicago, addressed a group of local Sunday school teachers and identified the biggest problem facing women in 1914: anything modern.
In Brief: Coeur d’Alene narrows search for new police chief to two candidates

July 11, 2014 on Page A6 Coeur d’Alene has narrowed its search for a new police chief to two candidates: Gary Jensen, chief of police in Logan, Utah, and Lee White, assistant police chief in Mesa, …
Man pleads guilty in methamphetamine trafficking case

July 11, 2014 on Page A6 A reputed drug trafficker linked to a major Eastern Washington methamphetamine ring pleaded guilty to federal charges on Thursday. Rafael Villa-Rico could face up to life in prison when sentenced … 1
Photo: Having a ball

July 11, 2014 on Page A6 Police league returns: Seventh- and eighth-grade participants in the the Spokane Police Activities League test their skills with a dribbling drill during the first gathering Thursday at Liberty Park in …
Mill Canyon fire burns 18,000 acres near Entiat, Wash.

July 11, 2014 on Page A6 YAKIMA – One Central Washington wildfire has burned across 28 square miles in just two days, while another has broken out in hot, tinder-dry conditions. The Mills Canyon fire near …
Washington records

July 11, 2014 on Page A7 Spokane County Marriage licenses
Idaho records

July 11, 2014 on Page A7 For 07-11-2014
In brief: WSP finishes probe of police shooting

July 11, 2014 on Page A7 The Washington State Patrol announced late Thursday that the investigation into the officer-involved shooting death of Stephen C. Corkery was complete and has been turned over to the Spokane County …
13-year-olds arrested for joy ride

July 10, 2014 Two 13-year-old boys were arrested Tuesday after they reportedly stole a car from Spalding Auto Parts and took it for a joy ride, according to a Spokane Valley Police Department … 23
Children hid in crawl space during burglary

July 10, 2014 A 13-year-old girl and her 9-year-old sister home alone reportedly hid in a basement crawl space while two men broke into their home in the 200 block of East Elcliff … 1
Woman shot by police in Sandpoint identified

July 10, 2014 The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office has identified the woman shot by police outside the Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint on Tuesday as former Priest River resident Jeanetta Marie (Maddox) Riley, … 11
New Grand Hotel Spokane will carry Marriott branding

July 10, 2014 More than nine months after starting construction, Spokane hotelier Walt Worthy now has a formal name for his new convention center hotel. 31
Man cutting fire wood electrocuted in Pend Oreille County

July 10, 2014 A man was electrocuted while cutting fire wood on a power line easement off Calispel Trail Loop Road in Pend Orielle County just before noon Wednesday. 1
Federal money pledged toward Lake Spokane firefighting costs

July 10, 2014 Federal authorities will help bankroll the cost of fighting the Lake Spokane wildfire that’s already charred hundreds of acres across Stevens County. 4
Spokane’s first legal pot buyer says he lost his job over purchase

July 10, 2014 on Page A1 The first person to buy recreational pot legally in Spokane says the fame has cost him his job. Mike Boyer, whose enthusiastic purchase Tuesday was broadcast by TV stations and … 100
Deaconess Hospital shooter got gun back from police

July 10, 2014 on Page A1 The man who killed his wife and then himself at Deaconess Hospital on Tuesday had been evaluated by law enforcement as a potential suicide risk less than 24 hours earlier. … 234
Inslee proposes strict standards for cleaning up waterways

July 10, 2014 on Page A1 OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposed new standards for cleaning up Washington’s waterways immediately drew criticism from some business and labor groups that they will be too expensive and from … 11