In brief: Canadian pilot in Spokane plane crash dies

Michael Clements, the Canadian pilot of a single-engine plane that crashed Sunday east of downtown Spokane, has died.

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center confirmed Clements’ death Tuesday. He had been in critical condition since the crash.

Clements, of Stony Plain, Alberta, was flying a single-engine Piper Malibu that had just taken off from Felts Field when it crashed north of East Sprague Avenue at Erie Street, near the Hamilton Street bridge over the Spokane River.

The plane lost power a short time after it took off and hit the top of a BNSF railroad viaduct.

Rachel Alexander

Senate panel OKs bill for medical school

OLYMPIA – With warnings to the state’s two largest universities to work out their disputes, Senate budget writers on Tuesday unanimously approved a change in the law that would give Washington State University permission to start a medical school in Spokane.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee dropped an amendment to have the Legislature step in if WSU and the University of Washington don’t resolve conflicts over money and buildings the state has provided for UW’s medical program in Spokane. WSU was a partner in that program until last year.

Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, said she supports another medical school and agreed “grudgingly” to withdraw the amendment. But she admonished university officials.

“You don’t want us to work it out,” she said.

Jim Camden

BB gun may have shot window of school bus

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department is investigating if a BB gun shot out the window of a school bus.

The Coeur d’Alene School District bus was in the area of 11th Street and Garden Avenue shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday when a window near the middle of the bus was broken. None of the 18 high school students or two middle school students was injured, police said in a news release.

The students were taken to Lakes Magnet Middle School and loaded on a different bus.

It appears that a BB or pellet may have broken the window, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call (208) 769-2320.

Nina Culver