In brief: Dr. Ben Carson to speak on Sept. 26
Dr. Ben Carson, whose name has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2016, will speak in Spokane on Sept. 26.
The retired neurosurgeon and author will be the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for Life Services, a nonprofit that offers pregnancy and maternity services for women as an alternative to abortion.
Carson grew up poor but attended Yale and became a renowned doctor at Johns Hopkins. He shot to prominence in conservative politics when he gave a speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast.
Tickets to the fundraiser in Spokane cost $50 to $100 and are available through www.ticketswest.com or www.lifeservices.org.
Auto licensing owners win settlement
Owners of a former auto licensing subagency in Spokane said in a written statement earlier this month that they did nothing wrong even though the county auditor closed the agency in 2012 over alleged problems with license transactions.
Alvin and Michelle Paulsen sued Spokane County in federal court and won a $375,000 settlement that was approved by county commissioners last month. Their lawsuit included allegations that they were defamed.
“The evidence developed in the litigation process demonstrated that Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen were in complete compliance with the terms and conditions of their auto licensing subagency contract with Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton,” the statement from the Paulsens’ attorney said.
Court documents show that the Paulsens’ contract was revoked after a Spokane automobile dealer reported that dealer’s brother had used the Paulsen agency to obtain licenses without the legal right to do so and that the Paulsens were alerted by the dealer to the problem.
A criminal investigation into the allegations was undertaken and did not result in charges.
Judge tosses suit over fish consumption
SEATTLE – A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit related to how much fish people eat in Washington – and thus, how much toxic pollution they consume.
Conservation and commercial fishing groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last fall, saying the agency has for too long let state officials underestimate fish consumption, resulting in weak anti-pollution standards.
The groups, including Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, wanted to force the EPA to intervene and possibly revise the state’s “fish-consumption rate.” They said the agency’s own letters to state officials found that Washington’s rate was inadequate, and that should have triggered action by the EPA.
In a ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said the letters did not amount to a legal determination that Washington’s rate was inadequate, and thus he could not force the EPA to intervene.
Washington’s estimate is that average fish consumption amounts to just 8 ounces – roughly one fillet – per person, per month. The state Ecology Department has worked for years on updating the estimate and is expected to announce a draft of a new rule by the end of this month.