Stories for May 8, 2005

• 

  War still in progress muted joy of V-E Day

  In City on Page A1 The headlines on May 8, 1945, were as big and bold as the “Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor” headlines three and a half years earlier. Yet these headlines were infinitely happier. …

• Sex abusers often target most vulnerable, experts say

  In City on Page A1 The two grown men with felony convictions who have accused Jim West of sexually abusing them as children can easily be dismissed as unreliable. “Flat lies” was Mayor West’s response …

• Rodgers: West used city office

  In City on Page A1 Spokane Mayor Jim West confided to a city councilwoman Thursday that he masturbated in his City Hall office during an online chat on a gay Web site. “He wanted to …

• School reduces phone suspension

  In Nation/World on Page A2 Columbus, Ga. Following hundreds of angry phone calls and e-mails, school officials in this Army base city have reduced a suspension imposed on a student who wouldn’t give up his …

• 

  Abbas calls for peace meeting

  In Nation/World on Page A3 RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that another meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is needed to push the peace process forward. Abbas and Sharon …

• Much-needed emergency medical supplies arrive in Najaf

  In Nation/World on Page A3 NAJAF, Iraq – Sheep scampered off the runway and nomads emerged from their tents to watch the first plane in 15 years touch down Saturday on a desert landing strip …

• Two Afghans killed, five injured in cafe blast in upscale community

  In Nation/World on Page A3 KABUL, Afghanistan – An explosion rocked an Internet cafe in the Afghan capital Saturday, killing two Afghans, police said. Officials were investigating whether the blast was caused by a suicide …

• 

  ”Car bomb sandwich” kills dozens in Baghdad

  In Nation/World on Page A3 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Two car bombs targeted a contractors’ convoy in central Baghdad on Saturday just as a mini-bus carried away schoolchildren, killing 27 Iraqis and two Americans, the U.S. …

• More U.N. workers accused of sex abuse

  In Nation/World on Page A4 UNITED NATIONS – Sex abuse allegations against U.N. peacekeepers and other staff more than doubled last year, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report released Thursday, calling the increase …

• Reports of sex assault in military up last year

  In Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – Military criminal investigators received 1,700 reports of sexual assault in 2004 involving at least one member of the military, the Pentagon said Friday. This includes cases in which …

• In passing

  In Nation/World on Page A7 Evelyn Roberts, 88, wife of evangelist Tulsa, Okla. Evelyn Roberts, wife of evangelist Oral Roberts, died Wednesday in a California hospital after suffering a head injury during a fall. She …

• Jack Nichols Jr., pioneer of gay activism, dies

  In Nation/World on Page A7 Jack Nichols Jr., a writer and editor and one of the first gay activists to take to the streets in Washington, Philadelphia and New York, died May 2 of leukemia …

• Among young generation, history fading fast

  In City on Page A8 World War II lessons come from history books. And educational assemblies. That much, teenagers and young adults can tell you. They also know that people made sacrifices 60 years ago.

• China to commemorate WWII anniversary

  In Nation/World on Page A9 BEIJING – China announced plans Saturday for events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, but there was no word on whether Japanese officials were …

• 

  Bush says U.S. partly to blame for Soviet oppression

  In Nation/World on Page A9 RIGA, Latvia – President Bush on Saturday called Soviet oppression in Europe “one of the greatest wrongs of history” and accepted some American blame for it. Speaking to a Latvian …

• Rumsfeld: Base closures to be smaller

  In Nation/World on Page A10 WASHINGTON – The Pentagon now foresees a much smaller round of base closings and consolidations, saying it has only half as much surplus space as previously estimated, according to Defense …

• 

  Woman pleads guilty to faking husband”s death

  In Nation/World on Page A10 GEORGETOWN, Texas – Molly Daniels spent weeks surfing the Internet, gathering information for a bizarre and grisly plot of deception. She learned how to burn a human body beyond recognition. …

• 

  Community mourns ”Precious Doe” at service

  In Nation/World on Page A10 KANSAS CITY, Mo. – About 300 mourners gathered Saturday for a memorial service to remember the little girl once known only as “Precious Doe.” The child remained unidentified for four …

• Sub crew didn’t view charts that showed mountain

  In Nation/World on Page A10 HONOLULU – The crew of an attack submarine that struck an undersea mountain in the Pacific Ocean earlier this year did not adequately review navigation charts that warned of an …

• California tackles prep steroid use

  In Nation/World on Page A11 Irvine, Calif. California high school sports officials have approved three new regulations aimed at curbing steroid use among teen athletes, making it the first state in the nation to take …

• Doctors accused of providing Viagra to crime family

  In Nation/World on Page A11 NEW YORK – Three physicians are accused of supplying Viagra and other prescription drugs so frequently to members of the Gambino crime family that one doctor joked he was part …

• Speed record attempt fails

  In Nation/World on Page A12 SALT LAKE CITY – A British team trying to set a speed record for an electric car gave up Saturday because the mustard-yellow, torpedo-shaped vehicle wouldn’t start for a third …

• American parents still like Jacob and Emily

  In Nation/World on Page A12 WASHINGTON – The biblical name Jacob, the most popular choice for baby boys for the sixth straight year, also tops the first official ranking of names given to twins. Parents …

• 

  Explosions kill 11 in Myanmar

  In Nation/World on Page A13 YANGON, Myanmar – Three explosions rocked Myanmar’s capital on Saturday, killing 11 people and wounding 162 others in the latest bombings blamed on ethnic rebels in the military-ruled country. The …

• Australian airplane crash kills 15 people

  In Nation/World on Page A13 CANBERRA, Australia – An airplane carrying 15 people slammed into a hillside in remote northeastern Australia on Saturday, killing everyone on board, authorities said. A recovery operation was under way …

• 

  Council members react to allegations

  In City on Page A14 Spokane City Council members Saturday said Mayor Jim West’s future should be left for him to decide. “Whatever he feels like he should do, we feel should be based on …

• West”s mayoral rival considered story

  In City on Page A14 The Local Planet, an alternative newspaper that ceased publication last year, considered pursuing a story about Jim West’s personal life in 2003. The weekly had heard rumors about West’s private …

• Spokane looks like loser after allegations

  In City on Page B1 Poor Spokane. Here we finally elect a mayor who starts getting the streets fixed and will be seen eating lunch with me. Then – wham! – we catch him wooing …

• Light rail could pump up area

  In City on Page B1 A light-rail line between downtown Spokane and Liberty Lake could bring more than 16,000 jobs and increase nearby property values by $780 million over the next 20 years, according to …

• Potential big employers catch breaks in Idaho

  In Idaho on Page B1 BOISE – After decades of trying to keep the state’s tax system simple and stable, Idaho leapt into the world of business tax incentives this year, passing five major pieces …

• 

  Funding request targets schools

  In Idaho on Page B1 Students in Pam Kiefer’s advanced math class don’t slouch or try to look invisible when she scans the room for a student to call on. There’s no grumbling or groaning …

• 

  Rockin” moms making time for joyful music

  In City on Page B1 Except for the leopard print fetish and the fact they’re in a rock band, these women are perhaps no different from most moms. Collectively, each week, they clean 12 toilets …

• 

  Kids take control of streets for a day

  In City on Page B1 A cavalcade of kids strutted their stuff Saturday as thousands of people lined the sidewalks of downtown Spokane for the 54th annual Junior Lilac Parade. Even bad weather couldn’t rain …

• 

  Rising to the challenge

  In City on Page B1 Racers gasped for breath as they approached the finish line Saturday splattered with mud and dotted with sweat beads at the region’s first outdoor adventure race. A 10-foot up-and-down climb …

• Major tax breaks

  In Idaho on Page B2 Here are the major tax breaks for business the Idaho Legislature enacted this year:

• Wenatchee keeps revote trial arm’s length from Sound

  In City on Page B2 Reading the stories about hearings for the gubernatorial revote trial has prompted some readers to wonder about one of the more basic aspects of this legal battle – not the …

• Government Almanac

  In City on Page B2 Spokane City Council 3:30 p.m. Monday, Council Chambers, City Hall, review of May 16 agenda and approval of routine items.

• 

  Robbers use gun to threaten North Side couple at home

  In City on Page B3 A North Side couple were robbed in their home late Saturday afternoon by four people armed with a gun, Spokane Police said. The group knocked on the door of the …

• Group blasts Leavenworth for denying flagpole

  LEAVENWORTH, Wash. – A constitutional rights group has accused the city of being arbitrary and “non-American” for preventing it from erecting an 80-foot-high flagpole at the east entrance to the …

• Suit filed over death of inmate

  In Idaho on Page B3 RIGBY, Idaho – An eastern Idaho woman has filed a $1 million claim against Jefferson County, saying jail officials caused her husband’s death by withholding medical treatment. Roger Hunter, 49, …

• Spring Columbia salmon numbers show improvement

  In Idaho on Page B5 BOISE – Fish counters at Bonneville Dam have posted the highest numbers of the season for spring chinook salmon, with 6,065 swimming through the first Columbia River fish ladders they …

• 

  Officials see dearth of fire managers

  In Region on Page B5 BILLINGS – Wally Bennett remembers how it once was – going for eight, maybe 10 days on a fire assignment, then coming home with the battle won and much of …

• Lewis and Clark exhibit has treasures

  In Idaho on Page B7 BOISE – A guard hovers over four plant sprigs whenever they aren’t in their storage place at the Idaho State Historical Museum. Their storage place is a vault.

• Backhoe operator makes a mammoth discovery

  In Region on Page B7 ELLENSBURG – Fossil remains of a mammoth have been found near Yakima – unearthed by a backhoe operator building a private road – and scientists are hoping the find will …

• ”New urbanism” projects put city on road to hip

  In Opinion on Page B8 It was once said that when you landed at the Spokane airport, you had to set your watch back 30 years. Conventional wisdom held that fashions would arrive in Spokane …

• Soldiers’ children should be citizens

  In Opinion on Page B8 They are in their 30s and 40s now. “They’re no longer cute, big-eyed little kids,” one former resettlement worker says. “Nobody cares about them now. I hate to say it, …

• Senate can avoid ”nuclear option”

  In Opinion on Page B8 WASHINGTON – The Senate returns to work this week facing a calamity that is not yet an inevitability. The partisan dispute over the confirmation of several of President Bush’s judicial …

• 

  Eagles zip through final spring practice

  In Sports on Page C1 As befitting a team that tied for the Big Sky Conference title and fell one play short of advancing to the final four of the I-AA playoffs, the Eastern Washington …

• Spurs defense could cause fits for Sonics

  In Sports on Page C1 SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs took down one of the NBA’s top offenses when they eliminated Denver in the first round of the playoffs. Their reward is a …

• Today’s menu

  In Sports on Page C2 For 05-08-2005

• On the air

  In Sports on Page C2 For 05-08-2005

• Series looks at parent-coach relationships

  In Sports on Page C2 On today’s front page of this sports section we begin a week-long series entitled “When Parents Cry Foul.” We decided to pursue this project because of the recent rise in …

• Briefly

  In Sports on Page C2 Sweden finally beat Canada at the world hockey championships, but the gold medal wasn’t at stake this time. Defenseman Kenny Jonsson scored the winning goal with 6:13 left in the …

• 

  Locally

  In Sports on Page C2 Cougars’ Derting on Lott watch list Washington State University football linebacker Will Derting has been named to the preseason watch list for the Lott Trophy for the second consecutive year.

• 

  Garcia’s late surge gives him 6-shot lead

  In Sports on Page C3 Tied for the lead and facing a 20-minute wait on the eighth tee, Sergio Garcia was resting in the grass when he caught a frog. Someone told him to eat …

• Alonso in good shape to grab 4th straight F1 win

  In Sports on Page C3 Fernando Alonso practiced little for Saturday’s qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain. But the Spaniard apparently didn’t need much preparation. Hoping to win his fourth straight …

• 

  Biffle pulls out unlikely win

  In Sports on Page C3 DARLINGTON, S.C. – Greg Biffle’s chances of winning a race he dominated appeared gone after his Roush Racing team made some late-race changes. But a timely spin by Mark Martin …

• 

  A welcome home

  In Sports on Page C4 It is so difficult to imagine now, because Seattle SuperSonics guard Antonio Daniels is so clean cut and buttoned down. But when Daniels was playing for the San Antonio Spurs …

• 

  Mavericks throttle Rockets

  In Sports on Page C4 DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks were merely looking for a good game on both ends of the court. What they got was the most lopsided Game 7 victory in NBA …

• 

  Indiana finishes off Celts

  In Sports on Page C4 BOSTON – The Indiana Pacers stamped their signature on the deciding game of their series with the Celtics, slowing the pace, keeping Reggie Miller’s career alive and ending Boston’s season …

• Pressure from parents has been escalating

  In Sports on Page C7 Increased pressure by sports parents is driving young and experienced coaches alike out of the profession. “A lot of good coaches of all ages say, ‘It’s not worth it to …

• Saturday’s games

  In Sports on Page C8 American League Twins 8, Devil Rays 1: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Lew Ford’s two-run double capped a four-run fifth, Justin Morneau hit a three-run homer and Minnesota beat Tampa Bay.

• Wilson”s knee injury hurts every M”s player

  In Sports on Page C8 Now I’m worried about the Mariners. The Mariners officially have a challenge on their hands, and I don’t mean the anemic offense.

• NYDN: Baseball looks at Bonds

  In Sports on Page C8 around the horn Major League Baseball is looking into Barry Bonds’ relationships and activities, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

• N.L. standings

  In Sports on Page C8 National League All Times PDT

• A.L. standings

  In Sports on Page C8 American League All Times PDT

• Otto, Napolsky take singles championships

  In Sports on Page C9 New champions were crowned all around at the 60th Inland Empire Tennis Tournament on Saturday. Lewis and Clark’s Elise Otto won the girls singles title with a 6-4, 6-2 upset …

• Toreros roar back to tie crucial series with Gonzaga

  In Sports on Page C9 The University of San Diego broke out the bats in the last three innings and narrowed Gonzaga’s West Coast Conference division lead with a 6-2 baseball victory Saturday at Avista …

• Central Valley boys prevail at Strandberg; Freeman’s Hatch scores 30 points

  In Sports on Page C9 The Central Valley boys track team cruised through the Strandberg Invitational on Saturday at CV. The Bears scored 98.83 points, followed by Walla Walla with 77, and Eastmont and Freeman …

• Noble dials top 800 number

  In Sports on Page C9 KIRKLAND, Wash. – A few weeks ago in Pasco, after effortlessly dusting the competition in the 400-meter sprint, Rogers standout Becca Noble admitted she had “fire in her feet” for …

• 

  NO HEADLINE

  In Sports on Page C10 Baseball PCL

• 

  Zito’s five fizzle out

  In Sports on Page C11 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The jockeys on trainer Nick Zito’s five horses in the Kentucky Derby went in with high hopes Saturday, but none finished better than seventh. Bellamy Road, the …

• 

  Giacomo hits No. 1 on charts

  In Sports on Page C11 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Mike Smith and trainer John Shirreffs kept saying that Giacomo was a good horse. No one would listen. Turns out the colt with the musical connection …

• 

  Corrales rallies past Castillo

  In Sports on Page C12 LAS VEGAS – Diego Corrales was in terrible trouble Saturday night. His left eye was closed and a left hook from Jose Luis Castillo had just put him on the …

• It’s an opener of successful firsts for Shadow in 2-0 victory

  In Sports on Page C12 It was a good first game for the Spokane Shadow. In the first match of the new season, the Shadow handed Premier Development League rival Yakima a 2-0 soccer loss …

• 

  Pride of the Palouse

  In Business on Page D1 PULLMAN — Ed Schweitzer casts a large shadow across the Palouse. The company he runs, Pullman-based Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, is easily the largest company in Eastern Washington outside Spokane County. …

• Bully bosses nothing new to U.S. workers

  In Business on Page D1 Allegations that John Bolton verbally abused his State Department underlings have bogged down his nomination as ambassador to the United Nations. But they would sound like just another day on …

• Spokane’s pitches in D.C. are paying off

  In Business on Page D1 Spokane officials have believed for months Fairchild Air Force Base will not be among the military installations the Pentagon will recommend be closed in an effort to cut costs. This …

• Week in Review

  In Business on Page D1 John Morrison, the executive director of Spokane International Airport for the past dozen years, said he will step down from the job at the end of 2005. Airport board members …

• 

  Economist delves into the unusual

  In Business on Page D1 CHICAGO — Steve Levitt’s world is economics, but he has no patience for inflation charts or stock market tables. He’d much prefer to plunge into a scholarly study of …

• Week Ahead

  In Business on Page D2 MONDAY Reverse Job Fair – Spokane Public Schools and Goodwill Industries present this lunch-hour networking event for students who wish to display their interests and job qualifications to potential employers …

• It’s time to consolidate your student loans

  In Business on Page D3 All good things come to an end, and that might be true in July when historically low interest rates on student loans are readjusted. If current trends continue, the new …

• Medical costs prove a burden even for some with insurance

  In Business on Page D3 Think your health insurance has you covered? Think again. Even insured workers can find themselves on the hook for thousands of dollars, often at a time when illness has decreased …

• Understand variable annuities first

  In Business on Page D3 Though annuities are technically insurance products, they’re often promoted as investments — as retirement savings vehicles with returns that “vary” according to how you invest the assets. Don’t invest in …

• Mom’s big day

  In Features on Page F1 Rather than face 600 wedding guests and 14 bridesmaids just over a week ago, a Georgia bride-to-be hopped a bus to Albuquerque. But to hear local moms talk, it’s a …

• Mother’s ideal day would start with a toe-tickle

  In Features on Page F1 Once, twice, thrice upon a Mother’s Day, there was a mom who thought: “If this day were truly mine, it wouldn’t be about roses and breakfast in bed. It wouldn’t …

• 

  All in all, there’s really nothing old hat about Newhart

  In Features on Page F2 Audiences would be happy if Bob Newhart performed nothing but his classic comedy routines. But Newhart would choke on a steady diet of nostalgia. At 75, he still sees fresh …

• Horoscope

  In Features on Page F2 For 05-08-2005

• Be honest about how you see her

  In Features on Page F2 Dear Carolyn: So I have this mysterious thing for blondes – I don’t get it myself. My current girlfriend is not a blonde. Is there any way to ask if …

• 

  Elvis sightings this week on CBS

  In Features on Page F3 In the new CBS miniseries “Elvis,” Jonathan Rhys Meyers does for Elvis Presley what Jamie Foxx did for Ray Charles in “Ray” – he becomes him. Rhys Meyers, best known …

• 

  Building it Forward

  In Features on Page F3 KANSAS CITY, Mo. – “Move … that … bus! Move … that … bus!” The chanting starts, and the tension mounts. Fans are lined up for blocks. Leaning on metal …

• 

  Not so simple life: The Paris interview

  In Features on Page F3 For someone with a wilder-than-wild party girl history and a faker-than-fake reality TV show, Paris Hilton is surprisingly real. In person, what you see – glammed up, glammed down; hair …

• Music charts

  In Features on Page F4 Top Singles 1. “Hollaback Girl” Gwen Stefani

• Industry hoping upcoming album releases will help boost numbers

  In Features on Page F4 With album sales limping, wheezing and generally bleak, the music industry is counting on Limp Bizkit, Weezer and Memphis Bleek to help remedy a retail health crisis. None is expected …

• 

  Conceptualizing

  In Features on Page F4 Here’s an image hard to get out of your head: wiry singer-songwriter Aimee Mann, chronicler of the emotionally fragile, whaling the tar out of somebody in a boxing ring. You’re …

• Former divas experiencing slumps in careers

  In Features on Page F4 How soon they forget. Just three years ago, Ashanti and Tweet were the new female faces of R&B, offering a light-voiced alternative to the heavy shriekers of soul like Mariah, …

• Nine Inch Nails rachets up noise in ”With Teeth”

  In Features on Page F4 Nine Inch Nails “With Teeth” (Interscope) •••

• Literary events

  In Features on Page F5 Among the literary events in the region over the following week: “ Joei Carlton Hossack will sign her book “Free Spirit: Born to Wander” today from 1 to 8 p.m. …

• ‘Eldest’ - ‘Eragon’ sequel - due in stores on Aug. 23

  In Features on Page F5 When the wait for the sixth Harry Potter book ends on July 16, it’ll be six more weeks until the next big splash in children’s publishing. “Eldest” – Christopher Paolini’s …

• Author shares ironies, oddities of history in ”Assassination”

  In Features on Page F5 Sarah Vowell would not seem to be the ideal travel companion. She gets seasick easily. She can’t read maps. And when faced with the choice of snorkeling in the Dry …

• Many may be able to relate to ”Sober Song”

  In Features on Page F5 Rhyme has a way of lightening the spirit of a poem, and in this instance, the plural – “spirits” – is the appropriate word choice. Lots of readers can relate …

• Best-selling books

  In Features on Page F5 Fiction 1. “True Believer”

• Artists opening studios for public tours

  In Features on Page F6 North Country Artist Trails, a program of the Colville Arts Foundation, invites the public to tour artists’ studios, gardens and galleries throughout Northeastern Washington beginning Memorial Day weekend and throughout …

• Fans creating episodes of ”Star Trek” on Web

  In Features on Page F6 The final episodes of “Star Trek: Enterprise” may be airing Friday on UPN, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the trek is over. On two Web sites – www.newvoyages.com and homepage.mac.com/starshipexeter …

• Preservation group cleaning up gardens at Corbin Center

  In Features on Page F7 The Spokane Preservation Advocates will host its monthly clean-up project in the Turner-Moore Gardens at the Corbin Art Center. Saturday’s project from 9 a.m. to noon will carry out plant …

• Study finds moms feeling a little undervalued

  In Features on Page F7 Mothers across the country like being mothers, but they also tend to feel underappreciated and less valued by society, according to a new study. The research conducted in January and …

• Radio

  In Features on Page F8 AM stations KQNT 590 – News talk. Morning News with Dean and Angela, 5-9 a.m.; Rush Limbaugh, 9 a.m.-noon; Dr. Laura Schlessinger, noon to 3 p.m.; Glenn Beck, 3 p.m. …

• Prosthetic cat paw may help people move forward

  In Features on Page F8 The smallest kitten born two years ago to a feral mother beside the back steps of a Glendon, N.C., home came into this world with two good front legs and …

• Idaho calendar

  In Features on Page F9 For 05-08-2005

• Engagements

  In Features on Page F9 Fritz-Sato Melissa Sato and Kyle Fritz, both of Spokane, plan to marry Satuarday in Spokane.

• Reunions

  In Features on Page F9 New listings Assumption Parish School Classes 1963-1995 – Saturday, 4:30-8:30 p.m. in the gym at Assumption School, 3618 W Indian Trail Road. Call 328-1115.

• Spokane calendar

  In Features on Page F9 For 05-08-2005

• 

  Gobblers

  In Outdoors on Page H1 Following yet another mild winter, the number of turkeys in the Inland Northwest has probably never been higher. And with the 2005 spring turkey season more than half over, this …

• 

  First climb keeps you tied in knots

  In Outdoors on Page H1 Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles about a 30-year-old woman’s ascent into the world of mountain climbing through the annual Mountain School conducted by the …

• 

  Paddle season gears up

  In Outdoors on Page H2 Paddle sports are gaining muscle in the Inland Northwest. Numerous schools, clinics, tours and events sponsored by clubs, businesses and recreation departments are already on the spring and summer schedule. …

• Field Reports

  In Outdoors on Page H2 BIRDWATCHING Kettle songbird festival

• Anglers earn cash for their catch

  In Outdoors on Page H2 Once again, it’s time to fish for fame, and especially for fortune. The 2005 Pikeminnow Reward Season opened Monday on the Columbia River from John Day Dam to the mouth …

• Singles should see Sorrento

  In Travel on Page H3 This will not work for everyone: I met my husband at the gym. He waited about six months for just the right moment, then sauntered over to deliver the worst …

• Thompson Falls set to bloom

  In Travel on Page H3 ‘Bought some land nearby,” said an older man with a black dog on the end of a leash. We met him and his dog outside a motel in western Montana. …

• Consider sailing small ship to Alaska

  In Travel on Page H4 You don’t need to stick to big ships for an Alaskan cruise. Small ships, from sailboats that carry a dozen people to a 235-passenger sternwheeler, also sail north. And while …

• Sailings on popular route fill up quickly

  In Travel on Page H4 If you’re thinking about taking a cruise this summer from Seattle to Alaska, start shopping around now. “You used to be able to get the best rate by booking at …

• Know your limits

  In Travel on Page H5 Tom and Jean Craft received quite a shocker last summer when they checked in at Rome’s Da Vinci airport for a post-cruise flight to Paris: a $332 charge for excess …

• Celebrate Vegas’ 100th birthday

  In Travel on Page H6 You’d hardly know it to look at the place, but Las Vegas claims to be 100 years old this year. So why not plan a little vacation trip to help …

• 

  Challenge your fears

  In Travel on Page H6 UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – Have you ever watched the reality show “Fear Factor” and said to yourself: “I wonder if I could do that?” Well, come this summer, the Universal …

• Sale fares to Asia, South Pacific available

  In Travel on Page H6 Sale fares and special offers to Asia and the South Pacific are available for spring and summer travel. When considering Pacific flights, travelers should check prices from Los Angeles or …

• Whitman belongs at State B

  In Sports I unfortunately read an article in The Spokesman-Review this past weekend that basically stated the State B basketball tournament in Spokane is no longer going to include certain B schools …

• S-R sports staff

  In Sports Sports editor: Joe Palmquist

• Letters policy

  In Sports We welcome letters of up to 300 words on all sports and outdoors topics. All letters are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one letter a month. Please include …

• Bigger type would be helpful

  In Sports The Spokesman-Review has a fine sports page, but I do find one thing that can make it better. The box scores and the stats page are almost impossible to read …