Local news for Spokane and the Inland Northwest

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Sunny weekend in the offing

February 3, 2012 It should be a sunny and not-terribly-cold weekend in the Inland Northwest, with the National Weather Service forecasting temperatures of 35 on Saturday and 41 on Sunday.
Komen drops plan to cut Planned Parenthood grants

February 3, 2012 After three days of controversy, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity says it is reversing its decision to cut breast-screening grants to Planned Parenthood. 63
Condon to keep salary at $100K for 2012

February 3, 2012 on Page A1 Spokane Mayor David Condon will hold his salary at $100,000 this year as promised, despite the recent controversy over his predecessor’s pay. But he said he will review his options … 59
Barr files paperwork to go Green to the top

February 3, 2012 on Page A4 Roseanne Barr is running for the Green Party’s presidential nomination – and she says it’s no joke. The actress-comedian said in a statement Thursday that she’s a longtime supporter of … 1
Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

February 3, 2012 on Page A5 From our archives, 100 years ago One of the “most exciting scenes ever witnessed in the Baptist Church” at Nelson, B.C., took place in a Bible class.
Phony, vile accusations hurt real women in need

February 3, 2012 on Page A5 For Planned Parenthood, the silver lining may wind up overshadowing the clouds. But that doesn’t mean those clouds aren’t ugly. The news broke this week that Susan G. Komen for … 7
GPS harnessed for emergencies

February 3, 2012 on Page A5 Mike Shannon of the Spokane County 911 emergency system was working on a north Spokane street on Thursday, collecting geo-positioning data for the homes there. His work is part of … 3
In brief: Mobile home fire kills woman; four escape

February 3, 2012 on Page A5 A woman died early Thursday after ashes dumped in an outdoor trash can likely sparked a fire in her Mead mobile home. Two other adults and two children escaped the …
GOP proposes ‘Education First’

February 3, 2012 on Page A5 OLYMPIA – House Republicans, who say they are fed up with the slow pace of the budgeting process in a session in which that was supposed to be the main …
Residents weigh in on criteria for next schools chief

February 3, 2012 on Page A6 Only 24 Spokane residents attended two community forums to express their opinion about the desired qualities of the next Spokane Public Schools superintendent. Nevertheless, the two recruiters hired by the … 2
In brief: Benewah County mum on inmate’s escape try

February 3, 2012 on Page A6 Idaho state officials learned of an attempted Wednesday escape at the Benewah County Jail when officials at another jail called to say the inmate had been transferred there, and they …
Detective’s patrol car struck on freeway

February 3, 2012 on Page A6 A Spokane police major crimes detective was injured in a freeway crash Thursday when a suspected drunken driver struck his patrol car. Mark Burbridge was driving west in the right … 1
Family’s disappearance puzzles searchers

February 3, 2012 on Page A6 Searchers were mystified Thursday that four days of searching has failed to turn up three family members and their dog who disappeared after a day of picking mushrooms in the …
In brief: Resident follows suspect, phones tip to sheriff’s sergeant

February 3, 2012 on Page A7 A north Spokane County man followed a burglary suspect as he sped away from his home Thursday afternoon, leading to a chase with a sheriff’s sergeant that ended with the …
Idaho records

February 3, 2012 on Page A8 For 02-03-2012
Feds fully fund forest projects

February 3, 2012 on Page A8 The Obama administration announced Thursday that $40 million is going to new forest restoration projects intended to boost timber production and create jobs while making forests healthier and less vulnerable … 1
Washington records

February 3, 2012 on Page A9 Spokane County Marriage licenses
Records restrictions plan advances

February 3, 2012 on Page A9 OLYMPIA – Washington lawmakers are advancing a plan that could limit how governments respond to requests for public documents. A Senate panel voted 4-2 on Thursday to approve the measure. … 4
Air stagnation advisory posted in parts of region

February 2, 2012 An air stagnation advisory was posted today for a wide area of Washington east of the Cascades, but the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas are not included in the advisory. 1
Happy ending for dog missing after murder-suicide

February 2, 2012 WASHOUGAL, Wash. - His hind legs trembled uncontrollably, and everyone who saw him agreed he desperately needed a bath to wash the grime off his black and white coat. Yet … 5
Spokane police detective injured in I-90 crash

February 2, 2012 A Spokane police major crimes detective was injured in a freeway crash today when a suspected drunken driver struck his patrol car. 7
One dead in Mead mobile home fire

February 2, 2012 One woman died in a mobile home fire early this morning in Mead.
Federal Defenders office gets new director

February 2, 2012 on Page A1 Andrea K. George has just begun as the new executive director of the team of attorneys representing indigent crime suspects in Spokane and North Idaho. But the Wisconsin native is … 1
Occupancy standards tightened for housing aid

February 2, 2012 on Page A1 Changes to the Spokane Housing Authority’s housing voucher program could make for some tight living arrangements. Because of budget cuts, the agency is implementing new occupancy standards and will pay … 1
Senate approves same-sex marriage

February 2, 2012 on Page A1 OLYMPIA – With votes to spare, the state Senate passed a bill to allow same-sex couples to marry in Washington, sending it to the House of Representatives, where it also … 70
Accuracy watch

February 2, 2012 on Page A2 For 02-02-2012
Doug Clark: Taking the high road would create a nice buzz

February 2, 2012 on Page A5 This Year of the Dragon is starting out on a real high. Monday night, for example, our new so-called “conservative” Spokane City Council agreed unanimously that medical marijuana should be … 3
In brief: Multiple counts sought in prostitute’s death

February 2, 2012 on Page A5 Spokane police are recommending murder, rape, robbery and kidnapping charges be filed against a sex offender suspected of killing a Spokane woman who was working as a prostitute last August. … 3
Jim Kershner’s This day in history

February 2, 2012 on Page A5 From our archives, 75 years ago The proverbial groundhog had little chance of burrowing through the snow in 1937. The town of Latah in southeastern Spokane County was particularly hard …
Thompson kudos cited in court

February 2, 2012 on Page A5 A Spokane police officer who says he feared for his life after being threatened by a felon was asked in court Wednesday about supportive comments he posted on a Facebook … 123