In brief: No decision after budget meeting
OLYMPIA – A special session of the Legislature remains possible, but not certain, after legislative leaders and Gov. Chris Gregoire met for nearly two hours Wednesday to discuss a massive hole in what’s left of the fiscal year budget.
While legislative leaders described the meeting as “productive,” there was no consensus on what they would cut or if a December special session with outgoing members would be worthwhile when the regular session with newly elected members starts Jan. 10.
Gregoire and Republican leaders are proposing eliminating the state’s Disability Lifeline program and the Basic Health Program, but Democrats aren’t ready to sign onto those cuts yet.
Another meeting is scheduled for today, with more likely to follow on Friday and Saturday.
Operation sends cookies to troops
Fairchild Air Force Base is holding its third annual Operation: Cookie Drop through Friday.
Volunteers on the base will collect and deliver cookies to airmen who live in the dormitories at Fairchild, many of whom are away from home for the first time, according to an Air Force news release. Base officials will also send cookies to deployed Fairchild airmen at the Manas Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan.
Those who wish to donate a dozen cookies can bring them in a disposable container to the Global Credit Union, 1520 W. Third Ave. in downtown Spokane, today and Friday.
Humane Society receives donation
A longtime volunteer and animal lover donated $250,000 of her estate to the Spokane Humane Society when she died.
Barb Bethards, 58, died July 21. For many years, she was the lead volunteer for the Humane Society’s annual Parade of Paws fundraiser.
In a news release, the Humane Society said Bethards’ gift will help thousands of animals.
“She always looked happiest when she spoke of her own furry faced kids, Eddie and Seska,” said Dave Richardson, executive director of the Spokane Humane Society. “She formed an incredible bond with her four legged friends, and we bonded to her.”
Man attacks clerk with bear spray
A man entered a Spokane convenience store and sprayed a clerk in the face with a chemical agent just before 3 a.m. Sunday, according to the Spokane Police Department.
The clerk told police one man walked in the Zip Trip at 1523 W. 10th Ave. and asked for cigarettes, according to a SPD news release. The clerk was helping him when a second man entered the store with his face covered, approached the clerk and sprayed him with the chemical agent, which police identified as “counterassault bear spray.” Both men then left the store, and the victim was able to get medical assistance.
Police are still looking for the men. The first is described as 5-foot-6, with a medium build, brown hair, and a mustache and beard. The second man was about 5-foot-10.
Police ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 or (509) 327-5111. To view of a video of the assault, visit spokesman.com/ blogs/sirens.