In brief: Man stabbed in chest recovering at hospital

One Spokane man is in the hospital and police arrested another after an altercation at Pacific Avenue and Division Street after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Spokane police Sgt. Kevin King said the injured man sustained chest stab wounds police believed were not life threatening. He was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for treatment.

After officers arrived, officers pursued the stabbing suspect on foot. The suspect hid outside of his girlfriend’s apartment building, the Kensington Court Apartments, 156 South Pine St., but a police dog located him, police said.

Officers found the knife used in the stabbing and are still investigating the cause of the conflict, King said.

Asia Hege

Teacher on leave over alleged hip-hop handout

A Shadle Park High School teacher has been placed on leave for allegedly handing out the lyrics to a hip-hop song that criticizes the education system on the first day of school.

Spokane school spokeswoman Terren Roloff said Wednesday the district was investigating the allegation. She said it was too early to say if the teacher will be punished.

Roloff did not have details about the song by the Blue Scholars, but the Seattle duo said the song was called “Commencement Day.”

Associated Press

Rare glimpse of falls expected at dam

While the annual fall drawdown of Lake Coeur d’Alene started this week, a rare Pend Oreille River drawdown set to begin tonight at Boundary Dam will expose Metaline Falls for the first time in 27 years.

Dam maintenance requires the unusually deep drawdown, which is expected to be at its lowest – elevation 1,950 feet – for a few hours on Saturday morning, said Lonnie Johnson, dam supervisor for Seattle City Light.

Pool levels will be brought up and then fluctuate to as low as 1,970 feet for several days, he said, noting that the schedule hinges on how smoothly the work proceeds.

Normal full pool is 1,990 feet.

Photos of the drawdown and a rare look at the falls that detoured legendary fur trader David Thompson are scheduled to be posted online this weekend at spokesman.com.

At Lake Coeur d’Alene, Avista officials say they plan to gradually lower the water level about a foot below full pool by the end of September, plus an additional 1.5 feet per month until reaching the winter level.

Recorded lake level updates for Coeur d’Alene and Spokane lakes are available in Idaho at (208) 769-1357; in Washington call (509) 495-8043.

Rich Landers