In brief: Coeur d’Alene Tribe donates $1.36 million

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has given $1.36 million to 47 schools and nonprofit groups for new technology and textbooks, student scholarships and music, art, science, reading and vocational classes.

Using casino revenues, the tribe donates annually to educational causes in the Inland Northwest. It has given more than $20 million since 1994.

“This year we saw a great demand for basic education needs – so many teachers and schools were looking for funds to buy books and classroom supplies they haven’t been able to buy because of budget cuts,” Tribal Chairman Chief Allan said in a news release.

Spokane-area recipients of the tribe’s grants this year include the American Cancer Society, Gonzaga University, Freeman School District, St. Patrick Catholic School, Tekoa School District, The Fig Tree and the American Indian Community Center.

Attacker convicted after victim’s death

NEWPORT, Ore. – The family of a woman who died before she could testify against the man accused of binding her with electrical tape and sodomizing her says they found justice with the man’s conviction.

Thomas Acosta was convicted of sodomy, second-degree sexual abuse and two counts of fourth-degree assault on Friday, according to the Oregonian.

His accuser, April Loper, told police Acosta knocked her unconscious, bound her and raped her repeatedly in December 2011. Loper also told her family that Acosta had threatened to kill her if she talked about the assault.

But Loper and her father died in a car crash in October. Her statements to police were ruled inadmissible as hearsay.

Seattle extradites ’96 murder suspect

SEATTLE – A 59-year-old man charged with the killing of a Kirkland, Wash., woman in 1996 has been extradited from Montana and booked into the King County Jail.

The Seattle Times reported that Clifford E. Reed was arrested in December at his home in Victor, Mont., and charged with second-degree murder for the slaying of Sandi Johnson, who disappeared in April 1996. Her skeletal remains were found in 2004 near Highway 410 in Pierce County.

Reed is being held in the King County Jail in lieu of $5 million bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

Authorities say Reed and Johnson worked together at a car dealership.

Up to 100 rounds fired during standoff

KALISPELL, Mont. – Police in northwestern Montana said a man fired 80 to 100 rounds from his home in Somers on Saturday with a variety of weapons before an armored vehicle took officers close enough to fire tear gas into the house and end the standoff.

The Daily Inter Lake reported that 41-year-old Christopher Cassidy was being held in the Flathead County Jail on suspicion of felony criminal endangerment.

Police said Cassidy could face additional charges because the house contained a marijuana grow operation, and police seized 86 plants.

Police say Cassidy fired rifles and handguns during the five-hour standoff, police said.