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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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In brief: Animal cruelty ban clears Idaho House

BOISE – The Idaho House voted 64-4 Wednesday in favor of legislation to end the state’s distinction as one of just three states with no felony animal cruelty penalties, though three North Idaho lawmakers opposed the bill.

HB 650, sponsored by Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, would ban cockfighting, define animal torture and make a third offense of torturing a “companion animal” like a pet dog or cat a felony.

Reps. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, Phil Hart, R-Athol, and Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, joined Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, in opposing the bill, which now moves to the Senate.

A second animal cruelty bill making a third offense of cruelty to any animal a felony also won approval from a House committee on Wednesday.

That measure, SB 1303, earlier passed the Senate with just one “no” vote, from Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth.

Betsy Z. Russell

Panel to seek input on police chief qualities

Anyone with opinions on the qualities they would like to see in the new Spokane police chief is invited to attend a committee meeting today.

Spokane’s Police Advisory Committee will hear comments today at its meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St.

The Spokane Police Department and the Office of Neighborhood Services hopes to provide a second public comment opportunity in April.

People can also email comments to the city of Spokane at policechiefsearch@ spokanecity.org.

The city plans to advertise for the police chief position again by the end of this month.

Applications were collected between November and mid-February, but Mayor David Condon said Wednesday that he would like “a larger and more diverse pool” from which to select.

Condon encouraged citizens to express their views.

“Restoring public confidence in the Spokane Police Department is my highest priority, and I want to ensure that citizens have an opportunity to tell us what they think is important as we continue with the hiring process,” Condon said in a prepared statement.

Meghann M. Cuniff