In brief: Spokane pharmacy robbery spree has police’s attention

A string of robberies at area pharmacies has Spokane police redoubling efforts to thwart thefts of narcotic painkillers.

Five dispensaries inside city limits and one in Spokane County have been hit since Jan. 1. Thieves escaped with undisclosed amounts of prescription medication. Spokane police Capt. Brad Arleth said it’s too early to tell if the uptick in drug theft is a result of an interruption in the supply of other drugs.

Investigators think at least two, and possibly three, of the robberies were committed by the same woman.

Front Avenue reopens fully

Front Avenue has reopened along McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene, ending a partial street closure for the city’s $20 million makeover of Front and the park beside Tubbs Hills.

Front is open to traffic between Second and Seventh streets and has new diagonal parking spots. Parking between Fifth and Sixth streets remains closed until the sidewalk is poured on the north side in early February.

The new McEuen parking structure also is partially open, and a stairwell from Front down to the subgrade parking is expected to open soon.

Officials anticipate the new park will open by Memorial Day weekend in late May.

CdA schools host bullying talk

The Coeur d’Alene School District will host a “Stand Up, Speak Up” anti-bullying community discussion Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Woodland Middle School, 2101 W. St. Michelle Drive.

Parents, district officials and community members have been meeting regularly to take the school district’s anti-bullying efforts into the community. This week’s meeting is a continuation of the discussion to develop steps to strengthen community connections and create tools to share anti-bullying messages.