Stories for December 15, 2008

• Argument over parenting skills leads to stabbing

  In News An argument over parenting skills led to the stabbing of two people early Sunday, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.

• Winter storm watch for Wednesday

  In City A wind chill advisory that was in effect for most of Eastern Washington and North Idaho this morning was dropped this afternoon, but a winter storm watch was issued for …

• Review: Simplified ‘Sweeney Todd’ packs power

  In Features The actors all play their own instruments in the national tour of this acclaimed 2005 Broadway and London production of “Sweeney Todd” – yet that turns out to be the …

• Obama announces energy, environment team

  In Nation/World WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama has named an environment team that signals his determination to tackle global warming quickly and develop alternative forms of energy.

• Last week of autumn looks a lot like winter

  In City on Page A6 The last official week of autumn will be much like the dead of winter, with arctic cold and snow in the forecast through Sunday. A wind chill advisory in effect …

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  Keeping their heads up

  In City on Page A1 PULLMAN – It was cloudy when Washington State University held its May commencement ceremony – the showers on the Palouse matching the chill in the national economy. That was nothing …

• From teens to retirees, volunteers fill need

  In City on Page A1 Randy and Sally Olson are among the Christmas Bureau volunteers who donate money as well as time. In the Olsons’ case, though, time will equal money for the Christmas Fund, …

• WSU grad’s proposal lets Cougars go their own way

  In City on Page A1 A 2001 graduate of Washington State University said he thinks Highway 26 from Colfax to Vantage would be a great place for Cougars to get their kicks. Tyler Morgan proposes …

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  Christmas Bureau Snapshots: Maria and Alex Paz

  In City on Page A1 Editor’s note: Christmas Bureau recipients come for food vouchers, toys and candy. Reporter Rebecca Nappi is collecting some of their stories.

• Report shows racial gap in colon cancer death rates

  In City on Page A2 ATLANTA – The racial gap in colon cancer death rates is widening, a new report says, and experts partly blame blacks’ lower screening rates and poor access to quality care. …

• Mumbai attackers tech savvy

  In City on Page A3 MUMBAI, India – When the attackers arrived on the shores of Mumbai last month, they had studied satellite images of the city, were carrying handheld GPS sets and were communicating …

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  Bush visits Iraq, Afghanistan

  In City on Page A3 KABUL, Afghanistan – On a whirlwind trip shrouded in secrecy and marred by dissent, President George W. Bush on Sunday hailed progress in the wars that define his presidency and …

• British leader promises help to Pakistan

  In City on Page A3 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised Sunday to provide Pakistan with more information about Pakistani links to the Mumbai attacks late last month, saying that Britain would …

• Thai opposition leader elected prime minister

  In City on Page A3 BANGKOK, Thailand – Parliament chose opposition party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as Thailand’s prime minister today following months of political chaos, as supporters of the former government tried to blockade lawmakers …

• Storm closes Midwest roads

  In City on Page A4 BISMARCK, N.D. – Blizzard conditions made travel hazardous Sunday across the northern Plains as officials closed major highways and urged people to stay home. The National Weather Service estimated as …

• Fed ready to slash key rate

  In City on Page A4 WASHINGTON – With the country spiraling deeper into recession, the Federal Reserve is ready to slash its key interest rate – perhaps to an all-time low – in hopes of …

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  Northeast struggles with cold

  In City on Page A4 JAFFREY, N.H. – Joined by people seeking shelter from the bitter cold, parishioners at the Jaffrey Bible Church on Sunday thanked God for a warm place to sleep and for …

• Schuller’s son leaves Crystal Cathderal

  In City on Page A4 GARDEN GROVE, Calif. – The Rev. Robert A. Schuller has resigned as senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, shortly after his father yanked him from the church’s long-running television program, …

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  Illinois lawmakers focus on ousting governor

  In City on Page A4 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Officially, Illinois lawmakers will gather soon to consider a special election to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate – but it was already clear Sunday that …

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  Holiday travel costs deserve second look

  In City on Page A6 A few short months ago, the idea of traveling home for the holidays was a daunting proposition. Gas hovered above four bucks a gallon. Airfares steadily climbed, and airlines added …

• Freezer hunt takes food for thought

  In City on Page A6 Sometimes you’ve got to spend to save. At least that may be true if you’re buying meats or other perishable items in bulk at warehouse stores or on sale. Where …

• Crash injures five, closes highway

  In City on Page A8 A three-car collision Sunday on Highway 26 east of Dusty, Wash., sent five people to the hospital – including a 3-year-old girl – and closed the highway for several hours. …

• Cold snap expected to linger

  In City on Page A8 Frigid temperatures that are expected to last through the week prompted Spokane and Coeur d’Alene shelters to open emergency warming centers for a second night on Sunday. The combination of …

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  Wolf kills at all-time high in ’08

  In City on Page A8 BILLINGS – Record numbers of endangered gray wolves were shot this year by government wildlife agents and ranchers in the Northern Rockies, as the predator’s attacks on livestock met with …

• Police arrest suspect in fatal Oregon bank bombing

  In City on Page A8 PORTLAND – Authorities announced an arrest late Sunday in the Oregon bank bombing that killed two officers and critically injured the Woodburn police chief. They declined to release the suspect’s …

• Council to discuss YMCA purchase today

  In City on Page A8 The public will get a chance today to speak on a proposal to buy the downtown YMCA and turn the land into natural space. Spokane County commissioners are considering a …

• In their words

  In Opinion on Page A9 “If we don’t do this, we will be known as the party of Herbert Hoover forever.” – Vice President Dick Cheney, who tried to get Senate Republicans to support an …

• Outside views: Absolute corruption

  In Opinion on Page A9 Washington Post, Dec. 12: The conduct of which Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been accused is malodorous. A jury will ultimately decide whether he is guilty of trying to sell …

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  Skimpier stockings

  In Features on Page B1 For years, Roshelle Doty heaped video games, clothes, electronics, dolls and toys upon her children at Christmas. But like so many other parents navigating the rough economy, Doty recently sat …

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  ‘Experiences as opposed to gifts’

  In Features on Page B1 In the weeks before Christmas, members of the Janzen family of Spokane gather together to light candles on their Advent wreath. For a few short minutes as they watch the …

• Ask your boss for fair raise

  In Features on Page B2 Dear Annie: I have been the bookkeeper for a small company for six months. The previous bookkeeper was embezzling money, and I now have to deal with a lot of …

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  Keanu makes a believable alien

  In Features on Page B2 You need someone to play Klaatu, the visiting alien in the remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Where do you turn? Director Scott Derrickson turned to Keanu Reeves. …

• Things to do for families, kids

  In Features on Page B3 Dance Camp - Hosted by the Northeast Youth Center. For children age 7-12. Learn the latest hip-hop moves and participate in a dance performance at the end of camp. Today …

• Spending time with father important to adolescent girls

  In Features on Page B3 Dear Mr. Dad: One of my 11-year-old daughter’s friends spends a lot of time at our house. She often wants to tag along on activities when I’d prefer to spend …

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  Hanukkah gifts with theme can be enjoyed together

  In Features on Page B3 Socks. Board games. Underwear. Movie tickets. Musical toothbrushes? They’re probably not the big presents most kids say they want for Hanukkah. But with eight nights to celebrate, parents, especially these …

• Cast added on Showtime’s ‘Steve’

  In Features on Page B4 Showtime is staffing up its Matthew Perry pilot. Kiele Sanchez, Martha Plimpton, Eddie Shin, Nate Torrence and Dreama Walker have joined the cable network’s dark comedy pilot “The End of …

• Fun fills empty nest, study finds

  In Features on Page B5 Don’t send the kids away just yet, but new research shows that an empty nest can help mom and dad’s marriage. It’s not that spending more time together makes the …

• Experts say bullying should be taken seriously

  In Features on Page B5 Behavior that was once dismissed as “kids being kids” is now recognized as bullying. And as mounting research shows the negative effects on both the bully and the victim, mental-health …

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  Zags sag in clutch

  In Sports on Page C1 PHOENIX – The Gonzaga Bulldogs had won with big first halves, won with big second halves, won on the road, won after spending most of a big lead and won …

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  Sorenstam says goodbye at Dubai

  In Sports on Page C1 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – It ended with a birdie, a standing ovation and a seventh-place finish for Annika Sorenstam, leaving the Hall of Fame golfer with no regrets after …

• Fast Break

  In Sports on Page C1 For 12-15-2008

• GU women clamp down on Vikings

  In Sports on Page C1 There were two points of emphasis for the Gonzaga women’s basketball team heading into its Sunday afternoon game against Portland State at McCarthey Athletic Center. By the end there was …

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  Seahawks snap losing streak

  In Sports on Page C1 ST. LOUIS — At halftime of Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams, mild-mannered Seattle Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace was so livid that he undressed his teammates with words. A …

• Today’s Best

  In Sports on Page C2 Andre Johnson Wide receiver gained a career-high 207 yards with a TD to lead Houston over Tennessee in the NFL.

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  Vonn regains World Cup lead with slalom result

  In Sports on Page C2 Lindsey Vonn moved back to the top of the World Cup standings in La Molina, Spain, on Sunday with a slalom performance that showed she has the all-around talent to …

• Without Brockman, Huskies edge Portland State

  In Sports on Page C3 SEATTLE — What mattered most to the Washington Huskies was not how well they would start without leading scorer Jon Brockman against Portland State, but how well they would finish …

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  Alma mater full of pride

  In Sports on Page C3 OKLAHOMA CITY – Sam Bradford’s high school coach stared at the TV, chewing his nails and waiting for the announcement. When he and about a dozen others heard the name …

• Cook’s 3 lifts WSU

  In Sports on Page C3 MOSCOW, Idaho – Washington State freshman April Cook connected on only one field goal Sunday against Idaho, but it was the biggest field goal of her career, leading the Cougars …

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  Steelers take title

  In Sports on Page C4 BALTIMORE – The Pittsburgh Steelers are AFC North champions, and earning the crown at the expense of the Baltimore Ravens added an extra measure of joy to the accomplishment. Santonio …

• Falcons edge Bucs in OT

  In Sports on Page C4 Michael Turner ran for 152 yards, John Abraham had three sacks and Jason Elam kicked a 34-yard field goal in overtime to give the Falcons a crucial 13-10 win over …

• ‘Vacation’ comes at bad time

  In Sports on Page C4 HOUSTON – Never mind that they’ve already clinched the AFC South and a first-round playoff bye, the Tennessee Titans are miffed about their 13-12 loss to the Houston Texans on …

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  Win cures Cowboys

  In Sports on Page C5 IRVING, Texas – After all he and the Dallas Cowboys went through the last week, Tony Romo was one clutch play from the ultimate peacemaker: a victory. And, for that …

• Braves lose in overtime

  In Sports on Page C6 Miles Houston scored with 37 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Nelson Leafs a 7-6 win over the Spokane Braves on Sunday at Eagles Ice-A-Rena. Chase Wharton, Jacob Walsh …

• Today’s menu

  In Sports on Page C6 For 12-15-2008

• On the Air

  In Sports on Page C6 For 12-15-2008