In brief: Tractor overturns, killing Rosalia man

A 73-year-old Rosalia man was killed Thursday evening when a tractor he was riding along a creek overturned, pinning him underneath it, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office reports.

Robert J. Clausen died at the scene of the accident, which was reported to the sheriff at 9:40 p.m.

Deputies said that Clausen was spraying weeds on property located near Waterman Road and Pandora Road when the tractor overturned.

The tractor apparently slid off the edge of an embankment and into the creek, where it pinned him, Sgt. Rick McNannay said in a media release. An investigation is continuing, he said.

Mike Prager

It’s ‘zero tolerance’ for impaired drivers

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies have been asked to contact at least three motorists per hour this weekend as part of additional impaired driving patrols.

The emphasis is part of a Hoopfest patrol effort that began Friday and includes aircraft.

A Washington State Patrol Cessna plane will be above the city to catch impaired reckless drivers.

When the plane isn’t up, the sheriff’s helicopter will be.

The Sheriff’s Office also has scheduled extra patrols for impaired boaters.

Deputies have been asked “to make at least three motorist contacts per hour and to have a zero tolerance for impaired drivers,” according to a news release.

The marine unit will have two teams out on county waterways today and Sunday.

Hoopfest, the largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament in the world, begins today.

Meghann M. Cuniff

State workers fight impending furloughs

OLYMPIA – A state employees union is suing to block furloughs that begin next month.

The Washington Federation of State Employees filed the lawsuit Friday in Thurston County Superior Court. The motion asks for a temporary injunction of the furloughs scheduled to begin July 12.

Under a new law, some state employees will take 10 unpaid days off work over the next year. Agencies had the option of coming up with their own plans to save the same amount of money. More than 20 state agencies chose to impose the full 10 furlough days, the union says.

Only 25 percent to 30 percent of state employees are affected by furloughs, after accounting for a long list of exemptions.

Associated Press