Stories for January 7, 2009

• Spokane Public Schools canceled for Thursday

  In News, City Monday, no school. Tuesday, school. Wednesday, no school. Thursday? No school again, for students in Spokane Public Schools. 1

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  Prosecutors seeking 75 years for Lytle

    In City There’s a nearly 50-year difference in the sentencing recommendations for Jonathan Lytle, the father convicted last November of homicide by abuse in the torture death of his daughter, 4-year old …

• Teck Cominco makes layoffs permanent at zinc operation

  In City Canadian mining company Teck Cominco has filed paperwork with Washington state that makes official the permanent layoff of 165 workers at its Pend Oreille zinc mining and milling operations near …

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  House burns a second time

  In City A South Spokane County house fire burned for the second time in a week Wednesday.

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  Refuge-seeking wild elk killed when barn collapses

  In Region Schools were closed on Tuesday for fears of roofs collapsing, but a herd of elk in Pend Oreille County didn’t get the message. About 20 wild elk were in and …

• Rain and snow melt a concern

    In City, Idaho An ice jam was backing up the Palouse River in Colfax this afternoon, and debris was flooding across roadways in the Palouse region as a strong January thaw brought an …

• CdA Police seek public’s help

  In Idaho Coeur d’Alene Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying two burglary suspects for taking several items from Parkside Condominiums, 601 E. Front Ave.

• Police detective suspended for 17 months reinstated

  In City A Spokane police detective suspended without pay for 17 months during a domestic violence investigation and trial has been reinstated after an internal affairs investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence …

• Court: Forest Service can sell Twisp property

  In Region YAKIMA, Wash. — A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Forest Service can sell a former ranger station in Twisp, denying a request by the Confederated Tribes of the …

• Man pulls unresponsive driver from burning car

  In City It looked liked just another car stuck in the snow. Summoned from his basement bedroom by his mother, Joshua Myers looked out the living room window and saw a van …

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  Western Washington under weather too

  In City, Region SEATTLE — Rain and high winds lashed Washington state Wednesday, causing widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures from rapid snowmelt. At least three people were rescued by boat.

• Highway 95 crash kills Liberty Lake man

  In City A Liberty Lake man died in a car crash on U.S Highway 95 south of Coeur d’Alene Tuesday.

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  Blanchette: Zags’ meltdown came at inopportune time here

  In Sports on Page C1 The mercury didn’t drop this fast the week before Christmas. The snow – all 80 inches of it – hasn’t fallen with such force.

• Bulldogs skid into rematch with Vols

  In Sports on Page C1 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – This isn’t the opponent or the venue where college basketball teams go to end losing streaks. The Gonzaga Bulldogs, saddled with a three-game losing streak, tonight will …

• Stacheckis offer new line of Bold Eats frozen dinners

  In Food on Page D1 When the doors of Angus Meats and Delicatessen first opened in 1972, George Stachecki told the Spokane Chronicle that his new business would “do just about anything to satisfy a …

• Rain could make snow heavier than buildings required to bear

  In City on Page A1 It’s a question facing homeowners: Is it time to shovel the roof? For Spokane Mayor Mary Verner, the answer became clear when water found its way into her home.

• Flood warning extends through Friday

  In City on Page A1 Precipitation, melting snow and heavy traffic created a commuter’s nightmare Tuesday as the Inland Northwest began to emerge from its blizzard of holiday storms.

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  E-waste finds a home

  In Business on Page A1 Thousands of pounds of old computers, TV sets and monitors have begun their final journey, landing in the warehouses of Spokane-area recyclers who are part of Washington’s groundbreaking electronic waste … 1

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  Egypt, France propose truce

  In Nation/World on Page A1 GAZA CITY, Gaza – France and Egypt announced an initiative to stop the fighting in Gaza late Tuesday, hours after Israeli mortar shells exploded near a U.N. school sheltering hundreds …

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  Stooges guitar player Asheton dies

  In Nation/World on Page A2 Ron Asheton, whose scorching and energetic guitar work behind singer Iggy Pop in the Michigan punk band The Stooges established a new model of raw emotion for a succeeding generation …

• Running late, boy, 6, takes family car to school

  In Nation/World on Page A2 WASHINGTON – The word “miracle” can be overused. But when a 6-year-old boy drives a Ford Taurus for more than 10 miles, weaving in and out of oncoming traffic, slams …

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  Obama rips Bush over federal deficit

  In Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama Tuesday ripped outgoing President George W. Bush for “irresponsibly” doubling the federal debt, then warned that he could preside over trillion-dollar-a-year deficits for “years to …

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  New Congress swears in members

  In Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – The 111th Congress began Tuesday with debates over how to ease the nation’s worsening recession and to fight a pair of wars overseas, adding a sense of gravity …

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  Gupta tabbed for surgeon general

  In Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – America’s most famous television surgeon, Sanjay Gupta, is poised to take his black bag and microphone to the White House as President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for U.S. surgeon …

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  Jeb Bush won’t run for Senate in 2010

  In Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and brother of President George W. Bush, has decided not to run for the U.S. Senate, ending weeks of speculation that he …

• Schwarzenegger vetoes deficit plan

  In Nation/World on Page A4 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed an $18 billion deficit-cutting package Tuesday that legislative Democrats characterized as the only “game in town.” The Legislature has had three special sessions since the November …

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  Brain ‘pacemaker’ may help Parkinson’s patients

  In Nation/World on Page A4 CHICAGO – Parkinson’s sufferers who had electrodes implanted in their brains improved substantially more than those who took only medicine, according to the biggest test yet of deep brain stimulation. …

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  Oil freefall could mean trouble for Chavez

  In Nation/World on Page A4 CARACAS, Venezuela – High oil prices allowed Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to spend freely to spread his socialist gospel and challenge the U.S. role as the dominant player in Latin …

• New federal security rules irk business

  In Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security will collect millions of new electronic records about private planes, imported cargo, foreign visitors and federal contractors as part of an array of …

• In briefs: Two train accidents occur within hour

  In City on Page A5 Trains hit vehicles on the west and east sides of Spokane County within 30 minutes of each other Tuesday. The first incident, at Trent Avenue and Idaho Road near the …

• Otter can’t reject pay raise

  In Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – Gov. Butch Otter’s decision to turn down a scheduled 3 percent pay raise this year has run into an unexpected roadblock: An Idaho attorney general’s opinion that concludes …

• Gregoire pays visit to 81st Brigade in Iraq

  In City on Page A5 Gov. Chris Gregoire fulfilled a promise this week that she made last summer to departing Washington National Guard troops: that she’d visit them in Iraq. And after spending part of …

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  Schools battle loads of snow

    In City on Page A5 Uncleared sidewalks were the biggest problem for schools that opened Tuesday in Spokane. And roofs were the issue for some that didn’t. Many districts canceled classes Tuesday – extending winter … 1

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  Governor pays visit to 81st Brigade in Iraq

  In City on Page A5 Gov. Chris Gregoire fulfilled a promise this week that she made last summer to departing Washington National Guard troops: that she’d visit them in Iraq. And after spending part of …

• Accuracy watch

  In City on Page A5 For 01-07-2009

• Residents, pets safe after fire

  In City on Page A6 Firefighters rescued a dog and two cats from a fire at 5720 N. G St. in Spokane on Tuesday morning. The three people in the home were able to escape, …

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  Brad Little named lieutenant governor

  In Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Brad Little, a rancher and state senator from Emmett, Idaho, was chosen by Gov. Butch Otter on Tuesday to be Idaho’s new lieutenant governor, as former Lt. Gov. …

• Washington Records

  In City on Page A6 Spokane County Marriage licenses

• Idaho Records

  In City on Page A6 For 01-07-2009

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  Man who killed wife eligible for parole in one year

  In City on Page A7 Years of domestic violence ended in a fit of rage at a rural home near Rathdrum last year when a man strangled his wife to death, then turned a gun …

• Court reverses ruling on planning area

  In City on Page A7 The Washington Court of Appeals on Tuesday reversed an earlier decision in a legal fight between the city of Spokane and Spokane County over whether state law requires the two …

• Two schools evacuated briefly over false alarms

  In City on Page A7 Two Spokane elementary schools were evacuated briefly Tuesday after false alarms. At 7:20 a.m., fire crews responded to Stevens Elementary, 1717 E. Sinto Ave., after a report of a gas-like …

• Trusses collapse at construction site

  In City on Page A7 Three people escaped with minor injuries when roof trusses they were setting up for a partially constructed community center at a Spokane Valley mobile home park collapsed Tuesday. The men …

• Minnick supports Simpson wilderness bill

  In City on Page A7 BOISE – U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson has tried for eight years to get his House counterpart from Idaho to support his bill to create three new wilderness areas in central …

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  A December to remember

  In City on Page A9 It was one for the record books. December was the snowiest month in the Inland Northwest since record- keeping began in 1881. Some of the startling statistics: 61.5 inches of …

• Timeline of December 2008 snow

  In City on Page A10 Wednesday, Dec. 17: The snow begins to fall lightly in the morning and in earnest by late afternoon. Commuters get stuck on streets leading to the South Hill. Police eventually …

• Current battle can be traced to 1967 war

  In Nation/World on Page A13 After days of bombing and bloodshed, the violence between Israel and Hamas seems no closer to resolution. Here are answers to some of the key questions associated with the crisis. …

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  Low gas prices won’t survive, analysts warn

  In Business on Page A14 HOUSTON – All that money you’re saving these days at the gas pump? You might want to put it in the bank. The same cheap oil that’s providing relief to …

• Alcoa plans 13,500 layoffs

  In Business on Page A14 Alcoa Inc., the world’s third-largest aluminum maker, said Tuesday it will cut 13,500 jobs, or 13 percent of its work force, and slash spending and output to cope with the …

• Wednesday focus: The workplace

  In Business on Page A14 No question about it. Change is the word for 2009. Much of the shape that change takes is out of your individual control.

• IRS may show some leniency

  In Business on Page A14 WASHINGTON – As the nation sinks deeper into recession, the IRS is offering to waive late penalties, negotiate new payment plans and postpone asset seizures for delinquent taxpayers who are …

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  Nurse shortage changes hiring game

  In Business on Page A14 MILWAUKEE — Please, please accept a high-paying job with us. In fact, just swing by for an interview and we’ll give you a chance to win cash and prizes. Sounds …

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  Ruined executives may be choosing death

  In Nation/World on Page A16 BERLIN – His spirit broken by financial fears, German billionaire Adolf Merckle took his own life this week – becoming the latest high-profile casualty of a global economic crisis that …

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  Some supplies cut amid gas fight

  In Nation/World on Page A16 MOSCOW – Russia’s natural gas monopoly dramatically cut flows to Europe through Ukraine on Tuesday, sharpening fears of winter fuel shortages. Despite warnings from the European Union, a pricing dispute …

• Our View: Eyman’s newest proposal is wrong for Washington

  In Opinion on Page A17 Out with the old Tim Eyman idea, in with the new. Yes, it’s that time of year when the professional initiative peddler hatches his latest product. In Washington state, you … 2

• Smart Bombs: Minimum rage

  In Opinion on Page A17 The annual bump in the minimum wage for Washington state is accompanied by the usual complaints. “The economy can’t handle it. People will lose their jobs. Now is not the …

• Leonard Pitts Jr.: Social sensitivity still lacking

  In Opinion on Page A17 Clint Eastwood has had it up to here with sensitivity. “A lot of people are bored of all the political correctness,” he recently told the New York Times. “… The …

• Fast Break

  In Sports on Page C1 For 01-07-2009

• Lobos, Hartill make excellent match

  In Sports on Page C1 New Mexico has proven to be everything Angela Hartill wanted when the Riverside graduate decided to continue her basketball career in Albuquerque. “It’s a great program, awesome support, a good …

• Chiefs players return

  In Sports on Page C1 A handful of Spokane Chiefs will arrive in Spokane later this week after representing their countries at the World Junior Championships. Goalie Dustin Tokarski added another monumental championship to his …

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  Gonzaga Prep pulls away

  In Sports on Page C1 Trailing 5-0 early during its game with North Central, unbeaten Gonzaga Prep ultimately had too much depth, which, matched with a non-stop defensive work ethic, produced a 65-35 Greater Spokane …

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  Teixeira becomes latest rich New York Yankee

  In Sports on Page C2 Mark Teixeira sat down with his wife on Dec. 12 to have dinner, his regular Friday “date night” with Leigh at the Vaquero Club in Westlake, Texas. “I’d been asking …

• Tulsa routs Ball St.

  In Sports on Page C2 MOBILE, Ala. – Tulsa raced through the rain to a convincing GMAC Bowl win. Tarrion Adams rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the 45-13 victory over No. 23 …

• Today’s Best

  In Sports on Page C2 Michael Washington Tallied game-high 22 points with nine rebounds and two blocked shots to lead Arkansas men to 67-61 win over seventh-ranked Texas.

• In brief: Pullman overcomes slow start

  In Sports on Page C3 Pullman used A.J. Therrien’s 19-point, 13-rebound double-double to overcome a dreadful opening quarter Tuesday night and went on to hand visiting Medical Lake a 40-27 setback in the Great Northern …

• In brief: Columbia sends Cusick to first loss

  In Sports on Page C3 Mackenzie Parrow scored eight of her team-high 12 points in the third quarter Tuesday as Columbia (Hunters) came from behind to edge visiting Cusick 40-37 in a battle of Panorama …

• Today’s menu

  In Sports on Page C4 For 01-07-2009

• On the Air

  In Sports on Page C4 For 01-07-2009

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  Healthy eating for 2009 starts now

  In Food on Page D1 Resolutions that involve better eating could start right here. These recipes fall within our nutritional guidelines as healthful, and they all taste great.

• Quillisascut puts ‘local’ on the menu

  In Food on Page D1 The Quillisascut Farm School of the Domestic Arts and Lovitt Restaurant will serve five courses of local, seasonal food at a dinner Jan. 25. The chefs and farmers are collaborating …

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  Laura Bush ready to tell at least some

  In Features on Page D2 First lady Laura Bush, among the most reserved and enigmatic public figures of recent times, will, at last, tell her story. Bush has agreed to write a memoir with one …

• Horoscope

  In Features on Page D2 For 01-07-2009

• Keen friend reads between the lines

  In Features on Page D2 Dear Carolyn: I have a friend who I worry is drifting toward an affair. She’s very flirty with a co-worker and talks about him in a crush-y way, while she …

• Culinary calendar

  In Food on Page D3 Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant - Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:15-5:45 p.m. and Fridays, 12:30-2:30 p.m. with takeout from 1-3 p.m. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1620 N. Monroe St. (509) …

• Tricks help you make thick soups minus the fat

  In Food on Page D3 Thinking about how to fill up while on a diet? Think about soup. Soup as a main course is an excellent way to feel satisfied by eating low-calorie vegetables and …

• Close, Hurt team up for more ‘Damages’

  In Features on Page D4 “Damages” may be responsible for more cases of whiplash than a demolition derby. It’s been more than 14 months since the last jaw-dropping episode of the FX series, but diehard …

• Pizza Hut Tuscani Pastas receive ‘good’ rating

  In Food on Page D5 Sorry, Pizza Hut. No one on The Spokesman-Review’s volunteer food panel was fooled by the Tuscani Pastas. No one asked whether they were from a high-end Italian restaurant. No one …

• 1,000 days and waiting

  In Letters Yesterday Sen. Harry Reid made a statement of how he and the Senate were going to take care of the matters at hand and get the country back on the …

• Positively negative, but honest

  In Letters To evoke duality to the maximum: Levi Hanson (“Mailbag full of hostility,” Jan. 4) is positively correct; negatively wrong, or positively incorrect; negatively right. 1

• Blame misses the point

  In Letters I share the pain and outrage that Jeanie Smith referred to in her letter to the editor (“Take a lesson from nature,” Jan. 2) in regards to the loss of …