In brief: McMorris Rodgers pregnant again
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is pregnant with her third child.
McMorris Rodgers, a member of the House leadership, and her husband, Brian Rodgers, announced the news on Friday.
McMorris Rodgers, 44, who represents Eastern Washington, is the first woman to give birth twice while a member of Congress. Her third child is due in December.
McMorris Rodgers says she plans to run for re-election next year and remain the GOP conference chair. Her other children are 6-year-old Cole and 2-year-old Grace.
Motion would block Starbuck profiting
The prosecutor in the Clay Starbuck case filed motions this week to ensure any money made from the case goes into a state victims fund, as mandated by state law.
Starbuck was convicted in June of killing his ex-wife, Chanin Starbuck, in 2011. Starbuck continues to maintain his innocence and has appealed.
Since he was convicted of aggravated first-degree murder, Superior Court Judge Greg Sypolt’s only option is to sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Deputy Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Steinmetz filed a motion this week to ensure any money made from a book on the case goes to victims, which is mandated by state law. He noted in court records that Starbuck was heard in recorded phone calls talking to his sister about a possible book that the sister could publish in her name.
Defense attorney Derek Reid said he doesn’t understand why the motion was needed, because any profits gained by Starbuck would already be funneled to the victims fund.
Rights center leader praises brothers
Two brothers who were sentenced to community service for a 2009 hate crime logged 307 hours at the Human Rights Education Institute as a result, and the director there says he believes the experience helped change the brothers’ attitudes.
Frank Tankovich and William Tankovich, as part of their community service, built and installed custom double doors and display cases in the main gallery and hung artwork throughout the center, saving it an estimated $25,000.
“They did nothing but good things here,” said Thomas Carter, the institute’s executive director. “They gave back. They felt good about it.”
Frank Tankovich’s hate-crime conviction for harassing a man of Puerto Rican descent in 2009 was upheld by the Idaho Court of Appeals on Thursday.
Rifle used as crutch killed girl, man says
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – An Oregon man told police he was using his assault rifle as a crutch to help him get up from a couch at a friend’s apartment when it fired a burst through the ceiling and killed a young girl upstairs.
A police affidavit said Jon Andrew Meyer Jr. told investigators the gun went off accidentally June 27, the Grants Pass Daily Courier reported.
Meyer is being held on $250,000 bail on charges of manslaughter, assault and unlawful possession of a machine gun.
Authorities say he was responsible for the reckless burst of rifle fire that killed 5-year-old Alysa Bobbitt and wounded Karen Hancock.
UW doctor’s advice costs $15 million
SEATTLE – A judge has awarded $15 million to the family of an 8-year-old girl who was left with permanent brain damage after taking a nasal decongestant recommended by a University of Washington doctor at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
The family of MacKenzie Briant sued the university and hospital in 2011 in King County Superior Court, alleging negligence.
KIRO reported MacKenzie had undergone a heart transplant as an infant. When she had a stuffy nose four years ago, she was given a dose of Afrin at the direction of a cardiologist. It caused cardiac arrest, depriving her brain of oxygen.
Another doctor had said MacKenzie should not be given Afrin because it could cause heart problems.