Group rallies against abortion
On the eve of a U.S. Supreme Court announcement, a group of anti-abortion activists gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Spokane on Monday to pray and read Scriptures.
About 60 demonstrators, their mouths covered by red tape to signify the “silence of the unborn,” lined up outside the federal building, which was closed for Presidents Day. It was their hope that the Supreme Court justices would announce today that they have agreed to hear McCorvey v. Hill, Norma McCorvey’s attempt to overturn the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
McCorvey, whose identity was protected as Jane Roe in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, has since changed sides and is requesting that the case be heard again in light of what she believes is evidence that the procedure is damaging to women’s health.
Monday’s demonstration was part of a nationwide movement coordinated by the anti-abortion group Bound 4 Life, said Justin Sabestinas of the Victory Faith Fellowship in Spokane. He said the demonstrators, representing several local churches, plan to return to the courthouse for an hour each day for 21 days. The federal courthouse, he said, was merely symbolic.
“We are not appealing to man. We’re appealing to God to bring a culture of life back to the nation,” Sabestinas said. “We are not here in a spirit of hate. We’re here in a spirit of love.”
Suspect in shooting returned to Spokane
A man who was wanted in connection with a New Year’s Eve shooting has been brought to Spokane from Southern California to face charges.
Deric Burton, 17, was arrested last week for conspiracy to commit murder, Spokane police spokesman Dick Cottam wrote in a statement. Police say Burton was among the young people involved in a gang confrontation at Spokane’s Crazy 8s bar when Calvin Banks, 24, was shot and killed.
Demetrius Route, 18, is facing second-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting Banks. In addition to Burton and Banks, five others have been arrested and face charges.
A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of an eighth suspect, 21-year-old Marcus Jacquette.
$500 reward offered for red shoe’s owner
Secret witness is offering $500 for information that leads to the owner of a shoe that Spokane police detectives found at the scene of a shooting early Sunday.
Detectives believe one of the male shooters left the shoe, which was found on the second-floor landing outside the apartment, 6901 N. Wiscomb, where one man was wounded by a shotgun blast.
The shoe is well-worn, red suede with a composition sole, size 10. It is for the left foot.
Anyone who can identify the shoe’s owner is asked to call Secret Witness at 327-5111. A caller does not have to give his or her name to collect the reward.
Police said there was a blonde woman, a man and a third shooter, whose face was partially hidden by a jacket, outside the apartment when the shots were fired.
Search suspended for missing canoeists
Kapowsin, Wash. Authorities on Monday suspended a search for two men who disappeared after going out on Lake Kapowsin in a canoe.
The two men had been reported missing by family members on Saturday night when they failed to return home. Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer identified the men as Kenneth J. Brisby, 25, of South Hill, and Thomas Johnson, 26, of Graham.
Pierce, Thurston and King counties sent teams to search the lake about 20 miles southeast of Tacoma. They found an overturned canoe, a cooler and a life preserver, Pierce County sheriff’s spokeswoman Cynthia Fajardo said Sunday.
Rollover crash of semi slows I-90 traffic
Traffic on Interstate 90 was squeezed down to one lane in each direction Monday night due to an accident involving a semitruck. No one was injured, the Idaho State Police reported.
Police said the accident happened around 10 p.m. in the eastbound lane at Fourth of July Pass. A truck rolled, spilling lumber on both sides of the road, the ISP reported.