Local news coverage for Spokane and the Inland Northwest

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Fewer lanes mean more safety, officials say

March 1, 2015 on Page A1 Jim Hanley, co-owner of The Tin Roof, admits he was skeptical about the idea of reducing East Sprague Avenue in front of his business from four lanes to two with … 4
Sex abuse suspect with Spokane ties arrested in Brazil

March 1, 2015 on Page A1 RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazilian authorities said Saturday they arrested a self-professed minister with ties to Spokane who is accused of molesting two girls in a “Maidens Group” at his … 1
Notice of power shutoffs no longer a job for utility staff in Idaho

March 1, 2015 on Page B1 Idaho residents who are about to get their power shut off for delinquent payments no longer have to be notified by a utility employee knocking on their door. The state’s … 2
Doug Clark: Crooner rocks the house at 101st birthday party

March 1, 2015 on Page B1 It’s Friday morning at Coeur d’Alene’s McGrane Center and show time for a remarkable woman named Betty Hollingsworth. Small and thin, snow-white hair arranged into tight pin curls, Hollingsworth rises … 1
Spokane school rescheduling options proposed

March 1, 2015 on Page B1 Spokane Public Schools officials now know how school schedules will need to change to accommodate adding 30 minutes to the school day for elementary students. There are two options under …
That’s NEWS to you

March 1, 2015 on Page B1 If you followed the news last week, you could be a winner in our weekly quiz. Warm up with the newspaper version, and then go to www.spokesman.com/newsquiz, where top entries …
Jim Kershner’s this day in history

March 1, 2015 on Page B1 From our archives, 100 years ago The drama critic of The Spokesman-Review was not pleased, not pleased at all, by “The House of Bondage,” presented by the Baker Players at …
Proposal to boost Idaho teacher pay revealed to lawmakers

March 1, 2015 on Page B2 BOISE – One of the Idaho Legislature’s most anticipated proposals to boost teacher pay has been revealed just a little more than a week before lawmakers begin setting the state’s … 1
Spin Control: Excuses for not voting run the gamut

March 1, 2015 on Page B2 If you didn’t vote in last fall’s election – and let’s face it, most people didn’t – why not? And what would the state have to do to make you … 2
Tribes discuss legal marijuana

March 1, 2015 on Page B2 TULALIP, Wash. – The Justice Department’s announcement in December that it would allow the nation’s Indian tribes to legalize and regulate marijuana on their reservations brought notes of caution – … 1
Bill would raise cost of public electronic records

March 1, 2015 on Page B2 OLYMPIA – The cost could go up for public records requesters seeking electronic documents. Under the Public Records Act, government agencies can collect a small fee for releasing paper copies …
Review: Comedy classic ‘Nunsense’ gets fresh twist with male cast

March 1, 2015 on Page B3 “Nunsense,” the perennial crowd-pleaser that’s kept Spokane Civic Theatre audiences in stitches over the past two decades, is back, this time in a production featuring five male actors as the …
That’s News to you answers

March 1, 2015 on Page B3 Here are the answers to this week’s quiz: 1. C. “Birdman” was awarded best picture at the Oscars. “Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” also won best director for …
Winds fan 150-acre fire in southwest Spokane County

March 1, 2015 on Page B3 The fire season jumped out of the starting gate early Saturday afternoon with a 150-acre wildland fire near Downs Lake in the far southwestern corner of Spokane County. Gusty winds …
Flu taking bigger toll this season

March 1, 2015 on Page B3 Flu deaths and hospitalizations in Spokane County so far this season are about twice as high as last year. Since October, there have been 15 deaths attributed to the flu …
In brief: Prosecutor confirms error in news release on officer-involved shooting

March 1, 2015 on Page B3 The sequence of events contained in a Friday news release regarding an officer-involved shooting contained incorrect information, Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell confirmed Saturday. Spokane County sent the release to … 2
Walla Walla cycle safety group plots road ahead

March 1, 2015 on Page B8 With more people riding bicycles, following solid safety practices and rules of the road are important. The Washington state Department of Transportation notes the following on its website:
Huckleberries: In battle of wits, Barbieri fell on his own sword

March 1, 2015 on Page B9 Last week wasn’t an easy one for uberconservative Idaho Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens. He made headlines from the Northwest to the New York Times for a question he asked …
House budget panel approves changing law to allow medical school

March 1, 2015 on Page B9 OLYMPIA – The prospects for a new medical school operated by Washington State University took a step forward late Friday evening as a key committee approved a bill to make …
Photo: Gone fishin’

March 1, 2015 on Page B9 A man and his dog: Mike Denney rows his boat while Remy keeps a lookout as they fish in Kitsap Lake, west of Bremerton, on Tuesday 1
Oregon considers banning most vaccine exemptions

March 1, 2015 on Page B9 SALEM – Jennifer Margulis has her kids vaccinated and she gets shots herself. But she doesn’t like the idea of government telling parents they must get their children immunized. That’s …
Seattle high school refuses Common Core tests

March 1, 2015 on Page B9 SEATTLE – The leadership team at Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School has decided not to give its juniors the new high school tests tied to the Common Core standards. That …
Moscow mobile home park owner, residents settle over water issue

March 1, 2015 on Page B9 MOSCOW, Idaho – The owner of Syringa Mobile Home Park has been ordered to keep the park open for at least the next year and must pay residents up to …
Marine mammals are threat to Chinook salmon on lower Columbia River

March 1, 2015 on Page B12 LEWISTON – An aerial survey of marine mammals in the lower Columbia River found spring Chinook salmon will have to make it past more than 6,000 hungry harbor seals, 1,500 … 1
Early year medical expenses can bring financial headaches

March 1, 2015 on Page E1 The clock on insurance deductibles reset on Jan. 1, and that means big medical bills are in store for some. Patients may be required to pay thousands of dollars before …
Members first: STCU leader puts service on a pedestal

March 1, 2015 on Page E1 STCU’s humble start was the stuff of Norman Rockwell paintings. During the Great Depression, Ernie McElvain and other Lewis and Clark High School teachers pooled their resources and launched Spokane …
BBB Tip of the Week

March 1, 2015 on Page E2 Anthem Health Insurance has announced that a recent data breach included 8.8 million to 18.8 million people from non-Anthem health insurance plans. The included plans are in the BlueCard network, …
Coca-Cola’s reach may help your portfolio

March 1, 2015 on Page E2 The world’s largest beverage company, Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), has averaged gains of nearly 15 percent annually over the past 30 years. Its growth has slowed in recent years, but don’t …
Restaurant menus come with a side of psychology

March 1, 2015 on Page E2 You may think you’re immune to transparent sales pitches like “Do you want fries with that?” But the tactics restaurants use to nudge you into spending a little extra may …
‘Shark Tank’ participants find success after rejecting offers

March 1, 2015 on Page E6 With the cameras rolling, Daniel and Stephanie Rensing accepted an offer from a “Shark Tank” investor. But after they had time to think about it, they changed their minds. Annual …