In brief: Highway 2 opens at Stevens Pass

STEVENS PASS, Wash. – State transportation officials who feared U.S. Highway 2 would remain closed between Leavenworth and Stevens Pass announced the passage had reopened late Tuesday.

The 35-mile stretch of highway was closed when trees crashed down on two cars and killed two people on Saturday.

At 3:15 p.m. on Christmas Day, state transportation officials announced the highway was reopened to traffic.

Officials identify body found Dec. 15

PONDERAY, Idaho – Authorities say they now know the identity of a man found dead in North Idaho earlier this month.

The Ponderay Police Department identified the man as 22-year-old Brendan Earl Carpenter. Investigators used dental records to identify the body, found in a wooded area in the small town on Dec. 15.

Carpenter was reported missing to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office in June.

An autopsy report is still pending and a cause of death has not yet been determined.

Police are asking anyone with information about the case to cooperate with investigators.