Shawn Vestal

Shawn Vestal writes a news column three times a week.

Contact Shawn

Email: shawnv@spokesman.com
Phone: 509-459-5431
Fax: 509-459-5482

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Follow @vestal13

Recent stories by Shawn

Fossil sheds new light on species

December 11, 2006 in City on Page A1 Judd Case had spent a lot of time in the Antarctic, and seen a lot of fossils. There were the hadrosaur bones he found in 1998. And the head and …
Scientists have high hopes for tower

December 9, 2006 in City on Page B1 In the mountains about 20 miles east of Santa, Idaho, a tall tower is taking some very quick, very careful measurements. Every tenth of a second for about year, the …
Students to offer plans for Riverpoint growth

November 29, 2006 in City on Page B3 The idea of developing a university district surrounding the Riverpoint campus has drawn a lot of discussion, planning and support in recent years. Now some college students are trying to …
Big freeze to test region’s plumbing

November 28, 2006 in City on Page A1 The region’s first blast of subzero weather is expected to hit tonight, and Ron Gaunt knows what that means. By Wednesday morning, some pipes will be frozen. Gaunt, a technical …
Peak conditions greet skiers

November 25, 2006 in City on Page B1 After an “epic powder day” kicked off the region’s ski season Friday, skiers and snowboarders are looking forward to even more snow over the weekend. Heavy snows left 10 to …
Crucifix stolen from Spokane church

November 21, 2006 in City on Page B3 It wasn’t the first time Don Weber had dealt with theft at St. Aloysius Church. Toilet paper. Light bulbs. Even purses.
Schools pledge tuition assistance

November 18, 2006 in City on Page B1 In recent weeks, the biggest universities in Washington announced they’ll start covering all tuition and fees for low-income students. It became a bit of a marketing battle, between Washington State …
WSU fence drives controversy

November 16, 2006 in City on Page B1 A dispute at a recent College Republicans demonstration at Washington State University – which included a professor cursing at students – is becoming the latest cause for activists who argue …
UI gets $2 million deal to research biodiesel crops

November 9, 2006 in City on Page B2 The University of Idaho signed a deal with an international company Wednesday that will provide the school $2 million over five years to research crops for biodiesel. Under the agreement, …
Will young elect to vote?

November 7, 2006 in City on Page A1 Andrew Condon is sitting this one out. The 21-year-old Eastern Washington University student says he feels remote from the issues and candidates, and so “this year, I’m going to actively …
UI grad leading Alaska governor race

November 4, 2006 in Idaho on Page A1 If Sandpoint native Sarah Heath Palin becomes Alaska’s next governor, she’ll have earned several distinctions. She’d be the first woman to serve in that office. And she would have gotten …
New voting machines a hit

November 1, 2006 in City on Page A1 For years, Jan Richards has needed help to vote. A 51-year-old Spokane woman who has multiple sclerosis, Richards has typically had her husband or poll workers help her read and …
In this case, a picture’s worth 12.8 billion years

October 23, 2006 in City on Page A1 PULLMAN – The tiny, pixilated red smudges on John Blakeslee’s computer screen may not look like much. But they’re the clearest pictures yet of the early universe, almost 13 billion …
Old-school

October 22, 2006 in Idaho on Page A1 MOSCOW – The newest college on the Palouse is trying to return to some old ideas. Students at New Saint Andrews College learn ancient languages and read heavily from the …
Low-fat ice cream can taste whey better

October 17, 2006 in City on Page B1 PULLMAN – Researchers are asking a lot of questions at Washington State University. Does environmental pollution cause disease for generations? What do the earliest galaxies in the universe look like?
Former U.S. senators talk modern military at UI

October 13, 2006 in Idaho on Page B3 MOSCOW, Idaho – The war on terrorism can’t be won using traditional military operations, two former senators agreed Thursday. That was just one subject on which Gary Hart, a Colorado …
Spokane author named a finalist in national awards

October 12, 2006 in City on Page B2 Spokane author Jess Walter was named a finalist Wednesday for the National Book Award for his new novel, “The Zero,” putting him in the running for one of the country’s …
GU wins battle, but war overshadows competition

October 8, 2006 in City on Page B1 J.D. Potter, covered head to toe in camouflage, sprinted to a sandbag barrier and dived to the ground. After a couple of seconds, he stood and hurled a grenade into …
Sister City founder Ed Tsutakawa dies

October 8, 2006 in City on Page B1 Ed Tsutakawa, a tireless advocate of international understanding who built a cultural bridge between the city he loved in Eastern Washington and the city he loved in Japan, died Friday …
Tuition plan a class act

October 7, 2006 in City on Page A1 The number of people enrolling in Washington’s booming prepaid tuition plan keeps rising – new accounts are up 12 percent so far this year, and it’s the nation’s fastest-growing plan. …