Stories for May 2, 2008

• 

  A day of law and protest

  In City on Page A1 Enrique Cardiel Ledesma of Guanajuato, Mexico, was first in line for a certificate declaring him a U.S. citizen in a downtown Spokane ceremony Thursday. Ledesma, 42, entered the United States …

• Fed cracks down on credit card industry

  In Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve and two other banking regulators today will unveil one of the most aggressive efforts to crack down on the credit card industry in decades, prohibiting …

• Bush’s reading plan is no help, study finds

  In Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – From the beginning, President Bush’s Reading First program has had problems – charges of conflicts of interest, bruising budget fights. Now perhaps the worst of all: The Education …

• Web site rankles city waste officials

  In City on Page A1 A cleverly designed Web site critical of how Spokane manages regional trash disposal has put city officials on the defensive. The site, operated by self-styled civic watchdogs, has used government …

• EPA plans tougher airborne lead limit

  In Nation/World on Page A2 Building on one of its all-time biggest success stories, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it planned to adopt a more stringent health standard for airborne lead to protect …

• Lottery numbers

  In City on Page A2 Thursday’s Washington Daily Game: 2-1-6 Thursday’s Washington Keno: 3-9-10- 12-14-18-24-29-32-34-41-43-44-53- 54-56-59-66-70-79

• CDC warns of potential measles outbreak in U.S.

  In Nation/World on Page A2 CHICAGO – Federal health officials warned Thursday that the U.S. could be on the verge of a major outbreak of measles, a viral disease that had been declared wiped out …

• 

  Tornado-flattened town rising ‘stronger, greener’

  In Nation/World on Page A3 GREENSBURG, Kan. – A year after it was practically wiped off the map by a tornado, Greensburg is rising again – and going green, too, with solar panels, wind turbines, …

• Congress passes bill covering genetic tests

  In Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – Congress sent President Bush a bill Thursday forbidding employers and insurance companies from using genetic tests showing people are at risk of developing cancer, heart disease or other …

• 

  ‘D.C. Madam’ dead of apparent suicide

  In Nation/World on Page A3 TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. – Deborah Jeane Palfrey, facing a likely prison term of four to six years for running a Washington area call-girl ring, apparently hanged herself Thursday in a …

• 

  FTC announces plans to probe oil market

  In Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – The Federal Trade Commission will announce today its plan for investigating and regulating possible market manipulation by oil companies, traders and others, a Democratic senator said Thursday. Under …

• Nation in brief: Clinton delegate moves to Obama

  In Nation/World on Page A4 Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign suffered an embarrassing defection Thursday when former Democratic National Committee Chairman Joe Andrew switched support to Sen. Barack Obama, warning other party leaders that the negative …

• 

  Suicide bombers kill dozens in wedding party

  In Nation/World on Page A4 BAGHDAD – Two suicide bombers attacked a wedding caravan Thursday as it drove through a crowded market district past bystanders cheering the bride and groom, killing at least 35 people …

• Farm bill negotiators near record-spending agreement

  In Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – Lawmakers late Thursday came close to wrapping up a farm bill that offers record spending for fruits and vegetables while falling short of some demands for crop subsidy …

• Journalist freed from Guantanamo after 6 years

  In Nation/World on Page A5 KHARTOUM, Sudan – An Al-Jazeera cameraman was released from U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay and returned home to Sudan early today after six years of imprisonment that drew worldwide protests. …

• 

  U.S. kills Somali Islamist leader

  In Nation/World on Page A5 MOGADISHU, Somalia – A leading militant accused of having ties with al-Qaida was killed early Thursday in a U.S. military airstrike on a small central town, potentially slowing an Islamist …

• 

  Home Depot closing 15 stores

  In Business on Page A10 ATLANTA – It’s been 4 1/2 years since former Home Depot Chief Executive Bob Nardelli’s bold prediction that the home improvement retailer could sustain “unlimited growth” without significantly affecting sales …

• Business in brief: Rise in spending is misleading

  In Business on Page A10 Don’t be fooled by a larger-than-expected increase in consumer spending. People aren’t buying more – they’re just paying more for their purchases, raising doubts about whether the 130 million stimulus …

• Parking garage considered for Davenport District

  In Business on Page A10 A 250-stall downtown parking garage under consideration by Spokane Partners LLC could help alleviate parking headaches for theater and restaurant patrons in the Davenport District. The company, which owns much …

• Business leaders tell of D.C. trip

  In Business on Page A10 With Congress unlikely to pass any appropriations bills until a change of presidents, a delegation of Eastern Washington and North Idaho business leaders who visited Washington, D.C., last week was …

• 

  Agency declares salmon disaster

  In Business on Page A10 Federal authorities declared the West Coast ocean salmon fishery a failure Thursday, opening the way for Congress to appropriate economic disaster assistance for coastal communities in California, Oregon and Washington. …

• 30-year mortgage rates up

  In Business on Page A11 WASHINGTON – Rates on 30-year mortgages remained above 6 percent, edging up to the highest level in seven weeks and reflecting continued financial market concerns about inflation. Mortgage giant Freddie …

• 

  SUV sales plummet for GM, Ford in April

  In Business on Page A11 DETROIT – General Motors and Ford saw double-digit U.S. sales declines but Toyota’s sales edged up 3 percent in April as high gas prices accelerated consumers’ rush away from trucks …

• Dow ends above 13,000 as dollar jumps

  In Business on Page A11 NEW YORK – Wall Street shot higher Thursday as investors, while anticipating another dismal jobs report today, viewed the rising dollar and falling oil prices as promising signs for the …

• Exxon’s profit rises 17 percent

  In Business on Page A11 Exxon Mobil Corp., the world’s largest publicly traded oil company, said Thursday that record crude prices helped its first-quarter profit climb 17 percent to $10.9 billion – the second-biggest U.S. …

• Accuracy watch

  In City on Page B1 For 05-02-2008

• 

  Courthouse remodel will evoke history

  In City on Page B1 As he climbed the steep stairs inside the tower of Spokane’s imposing French Renaissance Revival-style county courthouse Thursday, Ron Oscarson said he feels like he’s been in a game of …

• Stalking by proxy is still stalking

  In City on Page B1 OLYMPIA – It’s stalking even if your friends do it. That was the upshot of a ruling Thursday by the state’s highest court, which upheld the conviction of a Ferry …

• In brief: Chism explores legal action

  In City on Page B1 The Spokane firefighter exonerated Tuesday of child pornography charges cautioned against a “rush to judgment” at a news conference Thursday, as his attorney said the firefighter is considering legal action …

• High court rules convict was wrongly committed

  In City on Page B1 OLYMPIA – In a ruling that could affect other sex-offender cases, a sharply divided Washington Supreme Court on Thursday said a Vancouver man was wrongly committed as a sexually violent …

• In brief: County gets mixed scores on pollution

  In City on Page B2 Spokane County received an A for low levels of smog-forming ozone in a report issued by the American Lung Association. But the area fared worse for particulate pollution, earning a …

• Contaminated sand headed for Idaho dump

  In Idaho on Page B3 BOISE, Idaho – Nearly 80 rail cars loaded with contaminated sand from Kuwait are headed toward a dump in Idaho. American Ecology Corp. is shipping about 6,700 tons of sand …

• 

  Port workers stay off job for May Day protests

  In City on Page B3 LOS ANGELES – West Coast cargo traffic came to a halt Thursday as port workers ditched the day shift, saying they wanted to commemorate May Day and call on the …

• Judge hears school funding suit

  In Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – Idaho’s highest court can’t declare the state’s school funding system unconstitutional and then let it continue that way, the attorney for a group of school districts told a …

• City in full bloom for run Sunday

  In City on Page B3 The 32nd annual Lilac Bloomsday Run is Sunday, and many Bloomies will arrive in Spokane today. You’ll notice bigger crowds in shops and restaurants, particularly those serving the pasta dishes …

• ‘High School Musical’ is shallow but plenty sparkly

  In City on Page B3 I’d like to be able to say that the only people enjoying “High School Musical” were blond, 8-year-old girls wearing pink rhinestoned shirts. But the truth is, there were grown …

• Holiday from reason

  In Opinion on Page B4 It’s too bad we can’t slap a heavy tax on pandering. That way politicians could make up for lost revenue under their vote-buying schemes. Gas tax holiday, anyone?

• Village let these children down

  In Opinion on Page B4 Hillary Clinton has been much mocked over the years for arguing that it takes a village to raise a child. On the other hand, she was right, at least some …

• STA lacks accountability

  In Opinion on Page B4 It is critically important that Spokane voters see through the expensive public relations campaign by the Spokane Transit Authority and vote against the transit sales tax extension this May 20. …

• Obama offers change for worse

  In Opinion on Page B4 Many years ago, a great hitter named Paul Waner was nearing the end of his long career. He entered a ballgame with 2,999 hits – one hit away from the …

• Guest opinion: Existing revenues should cover upgrades

  In Opinion on Page B5 Before you vote on a fourth criminal justice/public safety sales tax increase, there are three facts you need to know: You are currently paying a sales tax increase for the …

• Washington Records

  In City on Page B6 Spokane County Marriage licenses

• Idaho Records

  In City on Page B6 For 05-02-2008

• 

  Hall admits Mayes

  In Sports on Page C1 PULLMAN – It was quite the dream: a young man from a small Canadian farming town playing football at Washington State, then running his way into the National Football League. …

• Fast Break

  In Sports on Page C1 For 05-02-2008

• 

  ‘Canes blow into town

  In Sports on Page C1 If someone would have told Lethbridge coach Michael Dyck last August when training camps around the Western Hockey League opened up that his Hurricanes would be taking on the Spokane …

• GU recruit jumps through hoops into football

  In Sports on Page C1 Brock Osweiler has changed his mind and his sport of choice. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound product of Flathead High in Kalispell, Mont., who committed to Gonzaga’s basketball program nearly two years …

• Ferris wins first title since 1991

  In Sports on Page C1 Second is OK as long as it means being No. 1. At least that’s the way Jeannie Nelson looks at it.

• John Blanchette: It’s Speltz’s time along with Chiefs

  In Sports on Page C1 In addition to the on-ice thrills manufactured by the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League playoffs, they’ve also managed to displace their owner in time. Bobby Brett was puzzled …

• 

  Extra-inning letdown

  In Sports on Page C1 CLEVELAND – Asdrubal Cabrera got the pitch he wanted and gave the Cleveland Indians a win they nearly threw away. Cabrera broke a 0-for-14 slump with a two-out, bases-loaded single …

• On the Air

  In Sports on Page C2 For 05-02-2008

• CC Spokane’s Gregg will play for Whitworth

  In Sports on Page C2 Bo Gregg headlined a list of six men’s basketball players coming to Whitworth for the 2008-2009 season. Gregg, a 6-foot-5 forward and 2006 graduate of Lewiston High School, was the …

• In brief: Toms collects eight birdies for 1-shot lead

  In Sports on Page C2 David Toms made eight birdies, including a near ace, for a 5-under-par 67 to take a one-shot lead over Phil Mickelson and Jason Bohn Thursday after the first round of …

• 

  Pistons oust 76ers

  In Sports on Page C2 PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia 76ers got the Detroit Pistons’ attention. Then they got steamrolled. The Pistons powered into the second round of the playoffs by crushing Philadelphia 100-77 on Thursday …

• Red Wings finish off Avalanche

  In Sports on Page C2 Johan Franzen outscored the Colorado Avalanche by himself. Franzen’s second hat trick in three games fueled the Detroit Red Wings’ 8-2 rout Thursday night that completed a sweep of the …

• Thursday’s results

  In Sports on Page C3 Cubs 4, Brewers 3: At Chicago, Ryan Braun hit a two-run double off Kerry Wood during Milwaukee’s three-run ninth inning and the Brewers rallied to beat the Cubs. Wood blew …

• By the numbers

  In Sports on Page C3 18 Losses in the month of April for the Texas Rangers, a team record.

• 

  Buzzie Bavasi dies at 93

  In Sports on Page C3 Buzzie Bavasi, who built Dodgers teams that won four World Series titles in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, died Thursday at his home in La Jolla, outside San Diego. He was …

• Chiefs take Holmberg

  In Sports on Page C5 The Spokane Chiefs selected 12 players in 11 rounds of the 2008 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft on Thursday, including Sherwood Park, Alberta, native Mitch Holmberg, a right-winger, in the …

• Drivers make difference in ICAR

  In Sports on Page C5 For casual race fans, the Inland Empire-based ICAR Late Model Series may appear to be a close cousin to the Inland Northwest Super Stocks that took to Stateline Speedway’s quarter-mile …

• Hunting+Fishing

  In Sports on Page C5 Trout and kokanee Cooler weather has put Washington’s lowland lakes about two weeks behind. This should ensure good fishing well into the summer. The top lakes in eastern Washington’s opening …

• Prep roundup

  In Sports on Page C5 University clinches GSL baseball championship A victory by the University Titans and a loss by Mead clinched the Greater Spokane League title for U-Hi on Thursday. Michael Olson scored Danny …

• More scoreboard

  In Sports on Page C6 ECM Prague Open WTA Tour

• Today’s menu

  In Sports on Page C6 For 05-02-2008

• Recreation calendar

  In Sports on Page C7 For 05-02-2008

• Vikings girls dash to title

  In Sports on Page C7 It’s been 17 years since a Coeur d’Alene High girls track team won a regional championship. Judging by the Vikings’ showing in the Inland Empire League championship meet Thursday, the …

• The Slice: On the road, it’s often ‘us’ vs. ‘them’

  In Features on Page D1 I’m still accepting readers’ assessments of how motorists and bicycle riders get along in Spokane. So far, responses have come from widely varied perspectives.

• Horoscope

  In Features on Page D2 For 05-02-2008

• 

  People: Wa-wa under the bridge?

  In Features on Page D2 After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as “exciting” and “brilliant.” On “The Oprah Winfrey …

• Carolyn Hax: Brother’s wife may be abusive

  In Features on Page D2 Dear Carolyn: Brother has been married for 15 years. Two kids. Sister-in-law has all control – brother’s and kids’ schedules, (over)spending, etc. Her often-heinous attitude has all members of her …

• 

  Give Bloomsday shirt a useful purpose

  In Features on Page D3 Some people do it for the health benefits. Some like the camaraderie of participating in a major community event. But a lot of us — c’mon, admit it — run …

• 

  Planning, timing hold keys to warm-season crops

  In Features on Page D3 Warm-season vegetable crops should be planted after all danger of frost is past, which usually is in mid-May. At the rate we’re going this year, it could very well be …

• Dopey toy makes owner look pretty smart

  In Features on Page D3 Dear Collector: Can you tell me anything about this Dopey wind-up toy? It belonged to my mother and would only come out at Christmas. A 1938 Louis Marx & Co. …

• Coat old ceramic tile with new life

  In Features on Page D4 Dear Tim: Can you instruct me how to paint ceramic tile? Money is very tight now, and painting my ceramic tile is the only thing I can afford. Can you …

• Calendar

  In Features on Page D4 For 05-02-2008

• 

  Home repairs require 10 simple skills

  In Features on Page D5 Here are 10 skills every homeowner should master. You don’t need to run out and learn them all immediately, of course. But you’ll appreciate them – and save yourself lots …

• ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ entertaining

  In Features on Page D6 Tonight’s must-see “Gulliver’s Travels” (1996), 7-11 p.m., Ion (formerly Pax).

• Daytime Emmy Awards announces nominations

  In Features on Page D6 “The View,” “Rachael Ray” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” are among the nominees for this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards. They will compete for best talk show, while the new category …

• MADD wants adults-only rating for ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ game

  In Features on Page D7 Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants a stricter rating on “Grand Theft Auto IV.” The organization is calling on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, the independent organization that assigns video-game ratings, …

• Miss Manners: Don’t shorten names without permission

  In Features on Page D7 Dear Miss Manners: I have a habit of shortening peoples names down when I meet them. If I meet an Anthony, it’s not long before I call them Tony. Christian …

• 

  Networks bring it during May sweeps

  In Features on Page D7 You know it must be May sweeps in TV-ville when a silly game show is commandeered by menacing stormtroopers and a bunch of curvaceous models dressed in gold Princess Leia …