In brief: Man faces charge of attempted murder
A 24-year-old arrested this week in a shooting at Mission Park now faces a first-degree attempted murder charge in addition to an assault charge, officials said.
Aleksander V. Pavlik, 24, made his first appearance in court Thursday.
A Spokane police officer was driving past Mission Park shortly after 1 a.m. Monday when he witnessed the shooting. The victim, who has not been identified, suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso, police said.
Pavlik was arrested at the scene. The victim remained hospitalized Thursday, but his injuries were non-life threatening, officials said.
Jody Lawrence-Turner
Student-run Vox wins local, national awards
The Vox, a student-produced newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review, has received national and local honors.
The teen newspaper was awarded second place nationally among other publications in the same circulation size as its host paper; and honorable mention as a newspaper in its first year of publication, according to the Newspaper Association of America.
“They beat out teen sections that are professionally produced by newspaper staffers,” said Erin Daniels, Vox’s adviser. “Unlike most youth publications, our teens do the writing, photos, editing, design and layout. And they decide the content.
“I’m really proud of them,” Daniels said. “They did a good job.”
In a competition among area high schools hosted by Eastern Washington University last week, The Vox swept the newswriting category, took the top two spots in sports and features writing; and took second and third places for opinion writing.
From staff reports
Fire sprinkler damages building
A commercial building in downtown Spokane suffered water damage after a fire sprinkler was activated about 5:20 p.m. Thursday.
The Spokane Fire Department didn’t find a fire, and officials don’t know what caused Spokane Exercise Equipment’s sprinkler to go off. Twenty-seven firefighters spent two hours at the three-story building at 530 W. Main Ave.
Though firefighters smelled smoke in the building, they determined the sprinkler didn’t discharge because of heat.
Firefighters removed water and soaked merchandise from the building, according to the Fire Department.
No one was injured.
The department described the damage as “moderate.”
Meghann Cuniff
Pullman
New WSU provost comes from Kentucky
University of Kentucky Dean Steven L. Hoch has been selected as the new provost and executive vice president at Washington State University.
WSU officials announced Thursday that Hoch, dean of the UK College of Arts and Sciences, was chosen from among four finalists who visited the Pullman campus this month.
Hoch succeeds Robert Bates, who will step down after six years as provost July 1. Hoch’s official starting date will be Aug. 1.
Associated Press