In brief: Repository filters river floodwater

A toxic waste repository at East Mission Flats near Cataldo, Idaho, worked as designed during spring floods, state officials said.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality tested water at the site during May flooding, when the Coeur d’Alene River spilled over its banks. River water entering the repository had total lead levels of up to 20 parts per billion, said Andy Mork, DEQ’s program manager. When the flood receded, the water leaving the site had nondetectable total lead levels, he said.

The repository accepts metals-laced dirt from mine cleanup in Idaho’s Silver Valley. Mork said the repository was designed to flood. River water passes through culverts under Interstate 90 to reach the repository. As the water slows down, contaminated sediment drops out of the water, he said.

More graduates going to college

More Spokane Public Schools graduates are going on to college, data show.

The number of Spokane Public Schools students going to either a two-year or four-year college in the year after graduating has increased by about 12 percent since 2004, according to a Spokane Public Schools news release.

The most recent data, for the class of 2009, shows 64.2 percent of students attended college right after graduation. Throughout the state of Washington, less than 60 percent of the class of 2009 went directly to college, the news release said.

Spokane Public Schools obtained the data from The BERC Group’s College Tracking Data Services. The BERC Group is an independent firm that uses data from the nonprofit National Student Clearing House.

Sponsors halt chicken initiative

OLYMPIA – Sponsors of an initiative to require larger cages and other changes for hens on egg-laying farms said they will not turn in signatures today.

Washingtonians for Humane Farms, the proposal’s sponsors, said they are suspending their campaign for Initiative 1130 because of progress on federal legislation that will set nationwide standards for the farms. The group said it had more than 355,000 signatures, but “in light of a promising new agreement reached between animal welfare groups and the United Egg Producers” they will instead support the national standard.

This afternoon is the deadline for submitting signatures for initiatives.

Gunman robs Subway store

A South Hill sandwich shop was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night.

A man walked into Subway, 3014 E. 29th Ave., at 8:40 p.m. and demanded money from the store clerk, police said Thursday. He displayed what appeared to be a handgun and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. The robber is described as a white man in his 20s with a long-sleeve gray shirt, white shorts and white shoes.

Detectives ask anyone with additional information to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.