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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: $140,000 raised for March of Dimes

The Signature Chefs Auction on Saturday raised $140,000 to support the Spokane chapter of the March of Dimes.

The auction included many of the region’s top chefs, along with wineries and breweries, businesses and volunteers.

The March of Dimes funds research into premature births, a serious infant health problem affecting half a million babies each year. Some of the money raised also is used to support families and develop strategies for preventing such premature births.

Motorcyclist dies from crash injuries

A 79-year-old motorcycle rider from Nampa, Idaho, has died from injuries sustained in a Sept. 11 crash into a guardrail along SR20 about 13 miles east of Colville.

The Washington State Patrol announced Monday that Leon A. Graviet died. Crash investigators reported that he failed to make a curve and struck the guardrail.

Another motorcycle rider following Graviet had to swerve to miss, and slid to a stop.

Police investigate shooting in Valley

Deputies were searching for a Spokane Valley shooting suspect Monday night after a man went to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. The injury is not life-threatening.

Officers detained at least nine people for questioning. Conflicting accounts left investigators trying to piece together what happened and who pulled the trigger, sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Craig Chamberlin said.

The shooting happened at or near the 300 block of North Herald Road in Spokane Valley.

Chamberlin said investigators believe the shooter is male and used a pistol. There were no further details to release Monday night, he said.

New rules provide ride-shares a chance

A dozen pink-shirted attendees showed up Monday night at Spokane City Hall to show support for new rules passed by the City Council allowing ride-share companies using smartphone apps to arrange transactions with passengers, such as Lyft and Uber, to operate in town.

The rules were passed in conjunction with relaxed rules for taxicab companies, which had argued the new ride-share companies weren’t regulated and cut into their business.

The new rules will be in effect for nine months, after which the council will revisit the rules.

Hanford, state reach nuclear waste deal

RICHLAND – A deal has been reached between officials for the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the state of Washington to remove nuclear waste from a leaking tank.

The deal was announced Monday between the Office of River Protection, Washington River Protection Solutions and state regulators.

Under the agreement, pumping of a double-walled tank known as AY-102 will begin no later than March 4, 2016.

Washington River Protection Solutions said it continues to monitor AY-102 and has found no evidence of waste leaking into the environment.

Hanford officials and the state have been in settlement talks since July.

The Energy Department discovered in 2012 that radioactive waste was leaking from the interior shell into the space between the shells. The waste is left from the past production of plutonium for nuclear weapons.

Boeing plans to move 2,000 jobs

OKLAHOMA CITY – Boeing plans to move most of its defense- and support-related services from Washington state to cities that include Oklahoma City and St. Louis.

Boeing said Monday the moves are part of efforts to improve the competitiveness of the Boeing Defense, Space & Security unit.

The company said about 900 jobs could move to Oklahoma City and up to 500 to St. Louis in about three years. About 2,000 employees could be affected by the move that also includes jobs being sent to Jacksonville, Florida, and Patuxent River, Maryland.

Programs being relocated include the Airborne Warning and Control Systems, Airborne Early Warning & Control and the F-22 Raptor.

Boeing said it also will remain in the Puget Sound region because of production of the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and KC-46A tanker.

SBA approves help for wildfire victims

OLYMPIA – Businesses and residents in several counties in Central Washington affected by summer wildfires may be eligible for disaster loans under a new disaster declaration.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday that the Small Business Administration approved the request he made last week.

The declaration clears the way for low-interest loans for qualified businesses and residents of Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Lincoln, Skagit and Whatcom counties. More than 300 homes were destroyed. Inslee said he reached out to SBA after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied for a second time Washington’s request for aid to individuals affected by the fires. FEMA earlier did approve Inslee’s request for public assistance that will help county and tribal governments pay for repair of damaged infrastructure.

Task force proposes new taxes for parks

OLYMPIA – A task force appointed by the governor recommends bringing back two unpopular taxes to help fund Washington state parks and the outdoor recreation industry.

The report from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation recommends a sales tax on bottled water and an excise tax on motor homes and travel trailers.

They could collect $100 million in the next two-year budget, the Daily Herald in Everett reported Monday.

Gov. Jay Inslee did not endorse the taxes in a statement last week, but they could become part of his budget proposal in December.

The Legislature approved a tax on bottled water in 2010 only to see it repealed the same year by voters. The state ended an excise tax on motor homes and travel trailers after voters passed an initiative in 2000.

In addition to the taxes, the task force also proposes creating a position in the Department of Commerce to focus on the needs of the outdoor recreation industry. And a coordinating council should be set up to improve access to local, state and federal lands. The task force concluded that people using parks and public lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife are required to cover too much of the cost. The current Discover Pass is unpopular and a barrier to some people, the task force said.