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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Late paperwork negates aid cut

SEATTLE – The state Department of Social and Health Services is sending supplemental cash to 34,000 recipients of a disability program after a filing error, officials said late Tuesday.

In a letter sent to state leaders and legislators, the department said it failed to file the paperwork to make a budget cut permanent, and under law it now has to revert to amounts paid before Olympia slashed the program’s cash.

The department said it postponed filing the paperwork to make the cuts permanent because of potential additional reductions from Olympia.

The extra payments ranging from $27 to $69 will be sent to the 34,000 recipients of the Disability Lifeline program to cover a portion of July and all of August and September.

Idaho kayaker drowns in river

KALISPELL, Mont. – Authorities say a 51-year-old Idaho woman drowned in the North Fork Flathead River in northwestern Montana after her inflatable kayak became tangled in tree roots.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry says the woman and her husband were in a two-seated kayak about two miles south of Polebridge when the accident happened at about 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The woman and her 59-year-old husband were wearing life preservers, and the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell reported the husband freed himself and flagged down help at a nearby road.

The victim’s name and hometown are being withheld until relatives can be notified.

Governor brokers teacher strike deal

OLYMPIA – Negotiators have reached a deal to end a teachers strike that forced the cancellation of more than a week of school in Tacoma.

Both sides said in a news conference late Wednesday night that they’re pleased with the agreement. Teachers will have an opportunity to vote on the deal today in hopes of restarting classes Friday.

The deal comes after more than seven hours of talks at the office of Gov. Chris Gregoire. She has no direct control over Washington schools but stepped in to use her influence as a mediator.

Negotiators declined to discuss the details of the agreement.