Region in brief: Temporary president takes helm at Gonzaga

Thayne McCulloh took over as interim president at Gonzaga University on Wednesday, as the Rev. Robert Spitzer’s 11-year presidency ended.

McCulloh, 44, served most recently as academic vice president at GU, and he’s held a variety of academic and administrative positions at the university since 1993. He is the second non-Jesuit president in the school’s history, and was named to the position after a search for a Jesuit replacement for Spitzer came up empty earlier this year.

GU spokesman Dale Goodwin said the board of trustees will likely resume the search for a Jesuit president in the next year.

Shawn Vestal

HIV-assault suspect undergoes evaluations

A man accused of having sex with two men without telling them he has the virus that causes AIDS is considering pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.

A delay has been granted in Zuriel E. Roush’s case as he undergoes mental evaluations.

Roush, 22, appeared before Spokane County Superior Court Judge Ellen Kalama Clark on Wednesday on a second charge of first-degree assault, which came after family members of an ex-boyfriend recognized Roush from news reports of his arrest in May.

“It appears that as a result of mental disease or defect (Roush) is incapable of aiding counsel in his own defense or understanding the proceedings against him,” public defender Anna Nordtvedt said in court paperwork.

Roush remains in Spokane County Jail on $150,000 bail.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Revenue-limiting I-1033 will appear on ballot

Initiative 1033 will be on the November ballot, the Secretary of State’s office said Wednesday.

Supporters turned in far more signatures than required, and a random sample of petitions generated an “unusually low” rejection rate of about 12 percent, the state elections office said.

If approved by voters, the initiative would limit the growth in state, county and city government revenues, such as their general fund, based on a formula that’s adjusted for inflation and population change, unless voters approve a higher increase. The initiative was drafted by anti-tax activist Tim Eyman.

Jim Camden