Local news coverage for Spokane and the Inland Northwest

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Four arrested in Lower South Hill homicide

Jan. 29, 2015 Spokane police arrested four men Wednesday night in connection with the Jan. 25 homicide of Damien Stewart. 11
Photo: Wanna bet?

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A1 How long will it take Idina Menzel to sing the National Anthem? Over/under: 2 minutes, 1 second.
Spokane Deputy Brian Hirzel fired for misusing patrol car

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A1 A Spokane County sheriff’s deputy cleared of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a Spokane Valley pastor in 2010 has been fired for improperly using county-owned vehicles. Brian Hirzel, of … 77
Eastern’s star quarterback offered scholarship to attend Oregon

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A1 He’s still only 6 feet tall, but Vernon Adams’ stature is growing by the minute. Ignored in his youth by the bigger football schools, Eastern Washington’s record-setting quarterback is being … 2
Coeur d’Alene bus service is part of STA tax request

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A1 An express bus service from Spokane Valley to Coeur d’Alene is among the improvements to service Spokane Transit Authority officials are considering if voters approve a tax increase this spring. … 10
Super Bowl’s game of odds, and gambling’s human price

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A1 At a Super Bowl party near you, most fans will think nothing of pulling out a dollar bill, writing their name on a numbered grid and hoping for the best. … 10
Doug Clark: Franklin Elementary needs bond and levy for old-school reasons

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A5 On a totally selfish note, there’s a lot more at stake in the upcoming vote about schools than just giving my beloved alma mater, Franklin Elementary, the makeover it so … 24
Struggling Silver Valley reignites its fighting spirit

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A5 WALLACE – When a straight-talking, 41-year-old ex-pro boxer named Rick Welliver stood in front of a panel of Wallace decision-makers last year and said his dream was to revive the … 13
Apple trade with China may double earnings to $100M

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A5 A deal with China earlier this week opens the entirety of Washington’s signature cash crop to 1.4 billion customers. Industry experts say the blockbuster deal expanding apple trade could double … 3
In brief: Comcast official apologizes for rude name change

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A5 A Comcast official apologized Wednesday after a service representative apparently changed the name of a customer in Spokane to “Asshole” on her printed bill. The matter was first reported by … 36
Jim Kershner’s This Day in History

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A5 From our archives, 100 years ago The Washington state Senate and House both passed a resolution calling for a investigation into “grave allegations of irregularities” in the construction of two …
Washington legislators struggle with ‘boarding’ mentally ill when space is already slim

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A6 OLYMPIA – As they try to address multiple court orders on Washington’s mental health system, legislators struggle with a conundrum: How can the state care for more people with mental … 4
New bill suggest splitting Washington in half

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A6 OLYMPIA – Eastern and Western Washington are so different they should be two separate states, says a new bill that would set up a way to split them apart. If … 18
In brief: Man found dead in apartment suffered damage to neck, face

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A6 The man found dead Sunday in his East Central Spokane apartment from an apparent homicide has been identified as 33-year-old Damien L. Stewart by the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office. …
Washington records

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A7 Spokane County Marriage licenses
Potlatch Corp.

Jan. 29, 2015 on Page A8 For 01-29-2015
Spokane County Deputy Brian Hirzel fired

Jan. 28, 2015 A Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy cleared of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a Spokane Valley pastor in 2010 has been fired for improperly using county-owned vehicles. 189
Stronger housing market boosts Potlatch earnings

Jan. 28, 2015 Potlatch Corp.’s income grew by 27 percent last year and the Spokane-based company is expecting another strong year in 2015, based on continuing recovery in the U.S. housing market, officials …
Lower South Hill homicide victim identified

Jan. 28, 2015 The Spokane County medical examiner Wednesday identified the man killed in his home Sunday as Damien L. Stewart, 33. 35
Delta extends Alaska-Seattle service

Jan. 28, 2015 JUNEAU, Alaska — Delta Air Lines will extend year-round service from both Juneau and Fairbanks to Seattle. 9
Jan Quintrall resigns from city of Spokane

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A1 Jan Quintrall, the embattled head of Spokane’s Business and Developer Services division, announced her resignation from the city Tuesday, saying she had “broken the public’s trust, and I can’t repair … 129
Liberty Lake ends yearlong moratorium on pot, as tight zoning is placed on city

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A1 The Liberty Lake City Council, which passed a law last year ticketing minors who appear to be high in public, voted unanimously Tuesday to end a yearlong moratorium on recreational … 12
Above-normal temperatures are likely through Feb. 8

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A1 A series of storms packing mild, moist air from the subtropical waters of the Pacific has left the Northwest with a leaner-than-normal snowpack. Lower elevations are seeing day after day … 7
Shawn Vestal: Lawmakers’ fear, as seen in salamander saga, has real effects

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A5 It’s all well and good for those of us here on earth to make fun of Idaho’s lawmakers for their rejection of an eighth-grader’s request to declare the Idaho giant … 9
UW to legislators: WSU can have med school – without $5.9M set aside for UW

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A5 OLYMPIA – If Washington State University wants to start its own medical school, it should do so without using $5.9 million set aside to expand University of Washington’s Spokane medical …
Group targets Central Valley school bond, levy

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A5 Bright yellow fliers encouraging a “no” vote on Central Valley School District’s bond and levy are arriving in mailboxes this week. Bold, black lettering states that the district wants voters … 110
Spokane County will be part of UW autism intervention project

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A5 Diagnosing autism in children early is critical to how their lives unfold, yet it rarely happens. Most children are 4 years old before the neurological disorder is identified, according to … 9
Jim Kershner’s this day in history

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A5 From our archives, 100 years ago The Washington state Senate was considering a startling proposal: to create the new state of Lincoln, encompassing all of Eastern Washington east of the …
Washington adopts Spokane River water flow rules

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A6 The state of Washington has adopted rules governing how much water must flow in the Spokane River. The levels, announced Tuesday, disappointed rafters and environmental groups, who had pushed for … 3
In brief: Washington pot shops told military customers aren’t allowed

Jan. 28, 2015 on Page A6 OLYMPIA – Dozens of recreational marijuana businesses in Washington have been sent letters from the military saying the shops are off-limits to all members of the armed forces, an official … 18