Firefighter claim seeks $20 million from state

Lawyers for Spokane firefighter Lt. Todd Chism and his family filed a $20 million claim against the Washington State Patrol on Tuesday.

The State Patrol arrested Chism in January and accused him of possessing child pornography; he was cleared of the charges four months later.

The claim asks for at least $12 million for Chism; at least $6 million for his wife, Nicole; and at least $1 million for each of his two children.

The claim says that the WSP violated the family’s Fourth Amendment right against unlawful search and seizure and that Chism’s arrest and incarceration were illegal and harmful.

The WSP has 60 days to reply before Chism’s attorney, Robert Dunn, can file a lawsuit, according to state law.

Jody Lawrence-Turner

Police arrest 10 in prostitution sting

A prostitution sting nabbed about 10 people on prostitution- and drug-related charges Tuesday, according to Spokane police.

Eight officers spent about five hours Tuesday afternoon posing as prostitutes and johns in the area of East Sprague Avenue and Myrtle Street, and First Avenue and Cowley Street in east central Spokane. The sting was in response to complaints from businesses about prostitution, according to police.

Meghann M. Cuniff

sandpoint

Company picked to build byway

Parsons Corp., an international engineering and construction firm based in Pasadena, Calif., has been chosen for a $98 million contract to build the 2.1-mile Sand Creek Byway in Sandpoint.

Work was cleared on the long-awaited but controversial project when the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last summer ruled against the North Idaho Community Action Network, which sued in 2005 to stop the project.

The contract includes construction of two interchanges, three bridges, 17 mechanically stabilized earth walls, a pedestrian walkway and bike path adjacent to Burlingon Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. tracks.

Parsons officials said construction should be completed by the summer of 2012. The byway will provide a straight thoroughfare for U.S. Highway 95, the main north-south route in Idaho. The current route on downtown Sandpoint streets is viewed by some as an impediment, particularly for truckers negotiating its right-angle turns.

Mike Prager

Coeur d’alene

Building being installed in City Park

Downtown Coeur d’Alene drivers should expect traffic revisions today while the new 40,000-pound public safety building is maneuvered into place in City Park.

The Independence Point parking lot will be closed at 4:30 a.m. and remain closed until crews finish installing the building, which was manufactured off site.

Also, Sherman Avenue between First Street and the Four Corners area will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to about 11:30 a.m.

City road crews are asking onlookers and pedestrians to stay out of the way while the building is moved.

Pia Hallenberg Christensen