Local news coverage for Spokane and the Inland Northwest

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Judge authorizes $221,574 payment to Gerlach attorneys, witnesses

July 22, 2014 on Page A1 Taxpayers will have to dole out more than $220,000 to defense attorneys and expert witnesses who helped Gail Gerlach beat a manslaughter charge in an April trial. A jury acquitted …
Forecast brings firefighters hope

July 22, 2014 on Page A1 Cooler weather and calmed winds aided firefighters attempting to corral the largest wildfire in Washington state history. With more than 240,000 acres of the scenic Methow Valley area blackened and …
Downtown plaza’s fountain torn down

July 22, 2014 on Page A1 As Randy Keller loaded pieces of the Parkade Plaza Fountain into the back of his company truck, he reminisced about the days when the fountain was a downtown Spokane attraction. …
Twelve candidates vie for 4th Congressional District seat

July 22, 2014 on Page A1 An open seat in Central Washington’s 4th Congressional District is rare, happening only three times in 56 years. But the number of would-be successors to Republican Rep. Doc Hastings this …
Spokane phasing in 225 more parking meters

July 22, 2014 on Page A5 The city of Spokane is installing more parking meters along the edges of downtown, forcing drivers to pay up or face a fine. Streets near hospitals and clinics, Lewis and … 2
Doug Clark: Conserve our tax dollars, not our trees

July 22, 2014 on Page A5 I got a case of government heartburn when the Spokane City Council voted 6-0 Monday night to start buying only recycled paper. Especially since doing so will cost nearly six … 2
Houseboat owner fined in dust-up with rangers

July 22, 2014 on Page A5 A Kettle Falls houseboat owner will pay a $100 fine for excessive noise as part of a deal to avoid another federal trial in a case where a National Park … 1
In brief: Coeur d’Alene Casino drops Ted Nugent show over complaints of racism

July 22, 2014 on Page A5 The Coeur d’Alene Casino dumped rock musician Ted Nugent from its summer schedule Monday, saying his “racist attitudes and views” have no place there. “We know what it’s like to … 1
Photo: Spokane pitches in to help wildfire victims

July 22, 2014 on Page A5 Steady stream of donations: Dustin Reischman, of the American Red Cross, sorts through donated clothing, bedding and nonperishable food items at the KHQ television studio courtyard on Monday. A continuous …
Jim Kershner’s this day in history

July 22, 2014 on Page A5 From our archives, 100 years ago A coroner’s jury ruled that Robert Miller, the young “Negro chauffeur” found dead in his room above a garage, did not die of a …
In brief: Jury rejects sexual harassment claims from Whitman County assessor’s office worker

July 22, 2014 on Page A6 A federal jury rejected claims by an employee of the Whitman County assessor’s office that she’d been subjected to a “sexually hostile” work environment due to the alleged actions of …
Judge encourages attorneys to explore a settlement in PCBs lawsuit

July 22, 2014 on Page A6 SEATTLE – A federal judge should order state and federal agencies to set strict limits for the amount of a cancer-causing chemical that can go into the Spokane River because …
Washington records

July 22, 2014 on Page A6 Spokane County Marriage licenses
Washington’s appeal over No Child Left Behind waiver denied

July 21, 2014 SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state has lost its latest bid for flexibility under the federal No Child Left Behind law, state officials said Monday. U.S. Department of Education officials have … 15
Houseboat owner fined in Park Service shooting incident

July 21, 2014 The houseboat owner facing charges of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer agreed to a deal Monday that will keep him out of jail and order a $100 fine for … 37
Firefighters trying to contain Carlton Complex fire

July 21, 2014 Many of the more than 1,600 firefighters battling the massive Carlton Complex wildfire that has scorched more than 300 square miles of the scenic Methow Valley will focus their efforts … 2
Jury rejects harassment claims against Whitman assessor

July 21, 2014 A federal jury on Friday threw out claims of sexual harassment against longtime Whitman County Assessor Joe Reynolds. 2
Fire near Fishtrap Lake no longer threat to homes

July 21, 2014 on Page A1 A fast-moving wildfire burning across rangeland southwest of Cheney grew to about 13,000 acres Sunday but no longer was threatening homes. About 280 firefighters were working the Watermelon Hill fire … 4
Valley Harley dealership hosting rally

July 21, 2014 on Page A1 Big hogs are converging in Spokane Valley later this week. Lone Wolf Harley-Davidson is hosting the first Pacific Northwest HOG Rally at the dealership’s 11-acre property at 19011 E. Cataldo … 1
Carlton Complex fire’s shift signals relief in Washington’s Methow Valley

July 21, 2014 on Page A1 BREWSTER, Wash. – The devastating wildfire that has displaced hundreds of people and burned about 150 homes in north-central Washington slowly moved away from populated areas Sunday, allowing for a … 3
Then and Now: D. Holzman & Co. building

July 21, 2014 on Page A5 Pioneer businessman David Holzman was already 40 years old when he moved to Spokane from the Black Hills in 1884. Holzman had been a clothier in South Dakota, but in … 6
The Rock Doc: Coffee might help prevent eye diseases

July 21, 2014 on Page A5 My day starts with coffee. I’m too cheap to buy it by the cup from baristas, so I just brew my own Folgers by the pot. I have a cup … 1
How to help fire victims

July 21, 2014 on Page A6 KHQ plans to help victims of the wildfires in north-central Washington by accepting financial donations as well as nonperishable food and gently used clothing all day today. KHQ will staff …
Decision looms on Air Force training area

July 21, 2014 on Page A6 BILLINGS – Air Force officials are expected to decide as soon as next month whether to go forward with an expansion of a bomber training area over the Northern Plains …
In brief: Arrest made after two bodies found

July 21, 2014 on Page A6 SEATTLE – Seattle police said they’ve arrested a man after two bodies were discovered Saturday near the Duwamish River. Police said the bodies of a man and woman had similar … 1
Relief effort begins in charred Methow Valley

July 20, 2014 The devastating wildfire that has displaced hundreds of people and burned 150 to 200 homes in north-central Washington slowly moved away from populated areas today, allowing for a massive relief …
Fire near Cheney grows to 13,000 acres

July 20, 2014 A fast-moving wildfire burning across rangeland southwest of Cheney grew to about 13,000 acres Sunday but no longer was threatening homes.
Helpful weather coming to Washington wildfires

July 20, 2014 Cooler temperatures and lighter winds are forecast to descend on a wildfire-stricken Washington state, helping firefighters battle flames that have been growing unfettered for a week and have covered hundreds …
Fishtrap fire spreads into Spokane County

July 20, 2014 on Page A8 A large fire near Fishtrap Lake in Lincoln County rapidly spread east into Spokane County on Saturday. Fire engines responded from Lincoln, Spokane and Whitman counties. 20
Winds test fire crews

July 20, 2014 on Page A1 BREWSTER, Washington – The blistering, wind-whipped wildfires in north-central Washington raged out of control for a fifth consecutive day, blackening at least 215,000 acres in the Methow Valley and racing … 5