The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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State money for skating championship nixed

Japan's Cathy Reed and Chris Reed perform during ice dancing free dance at the World Team Trophy of Figure Skating in Tokyo, Friday, April 17, 2009. (Koji Sasahara / Associated Press)
Associated Press
Japan's Cathy Reed and Chris Reed perform during ice dancing free dance at the World Team Trophy of Figure Skating in Tokyo, Friday, April 17, 2009. (Koji Sasahara / Associated Press)
A $600,000 appropriation to help stage the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane next year was killed by the state Legislature, but the event will go on as planned. Promoters had been counting on the state money to help stage the event, which serves as the U.S. trials for the Vancouver Olympics. Promoter Barb Beddor of Spokane said nearly 100,000 tickets have already been sold, and the lack of help from the state won’t make a major difference. Promoters promised to pay US Figure Skating $1.2 million to bring the event to Spokane for the second time. Local governments and groups put up half that amount, and were counting on the state for the other half. The Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau is working to make up the difference.