Local news for Spokane and the Inland Northwest

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Lost pet, owners reunited

February 4, 2012 on Page A1 Nathan Lawrence spent six anguishing days searching for his dog after it escaped from his wrecked SUV during a snowstorm last month. Atticus, a 60-pound male catahoula, bolted from his …
Council to tackle firefighter contract

February 4, 2012 on Page A1 Spokane city leaders are readying for a showdown with the Spokane Firefighters Union over a three-year contract negotiated between the firefighters and former Mayor Mary Verner in the final days … 1
Nonini solo cigarette smoker in Statehouse

February 4, 2012 on Page A5 BOISE – Standing outside the Capitol on a brisk January afternoon, Rep. Bob Nonini cups his hand deftly to shelter a cigarette – not from the wind, but from a …
A turn-of-the-century approach to the war on drugs

February 4, 2012 on Page A5 Dr. Michael Reznicek has one thing in common with your stoner friend – or self – from college. But just one: He wants to legalize drugs.
Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

February 4, 2012 on Page A5 From our archives, 100 years ago D.L. Huntington, the president of Washington Water Power, returned from an inspection trip to Long Lake on the Spokane River and reported that work …
In brief: Developer wants to clear up warrant

February 4, 2012 on Page A5 Harry Green, the developer of a multiuse project along the Spokane River in Post Falls, is calling a recent warrant for his arrest a misunderstanding he hopes to clear up …
Friends in need: Mission helps unemployed reacquire interview skills – and jobs

February 4, 2012 on Page A5 Marty Hall believes in second chances. Hall said he worked in the hospitality business for 25 years before he suffered verbal abuse and developed a drinking problem. He lost two …
Idaho records

February 4, 2012 on Page A6 For 02-04-2012
Prison plans on ice instead

February 4, 2012 on Page A6 HELENA – The Montana Department of Corrections on Friday pulled back its request for bids to build a new 120-bed medium security prison – just a week after originally saying …
In brief: Sewage spill put at 50,000 gallons

February 4, 2012 on Page A6 The city of Post Falls reported a sewage leak Friday that spilled about 50,000 gallons. The spill occurred about 3 p.m. and leaked the sewage into the former trailer park …
Washington records

February 4, 2012 on Page A6 Spokane County Marriage licenses
Franklin County official arrested

February 4, 2012 on Page A6 A Franklin County public works manager is under investigation for using a fake company to embezzle possibly $1 million. Some money may have been used to support an alleged cocaine …
Photo: Harmony man

February 4, 2012 on Page A6 Tuned in: John Moir, president and tonal director of Balcom and Vaughan Pipe Organs Inc., of Everett, talks Wednesday about tuning the 548 pipes of the 1929 Kimball Pipe Organ …
Woman wins jail birth case

February 4, 2012 on Page A6 SEATTLE – A woman has won $975,000 in a federal jury trial, 14 years after giving birth in a jail cell in Washington state. A jury agreed Friday on nine …
Dispute ties up key education bills

February 4, 2012 on Page A6 OLYMPIA – Two bills to reshape Washington’s education system stalled in committee Friday, missing a key deadline amid a dispute among Democratic lawmakers. Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, said education committee …
New atheist coalition plans Darwin events

February 4, 2012 on Page A7 PULLMAN – A new coalition of atheists, free thinkers and humanists has formed in the Palouse region of Washington and Idaho, and its first major event is a celebration of …
Paul Graves: Planting seeds of love part of the peace journey

February 4, 2012 on Page A7 (This is the second in a series of letters to Paul Graves’ grandchildren about St. Francis’ Prayer of Peace.) Dear Katie, Claire and Andy,
Charges dropped in Afghan probe

February 4, 2012 on Page A10 JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – The Army on Friday dropped all charges against the fifth soldier it had accused of murdering Afghan civilians for sport during a 2010 deployment. Spc. …
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