In brief: Moscow shooting survivor improving

MOSCOW – The lone person to survive a series of shootings Saturday in Moscow continues to improve at a Spokane hospital.

Michael M.M. Chin, 39, of Seattle, was at the office of Northwestern Mutual when John Lee allegedly entered and shot businessman David M. Trail and Chin. Trail, who worked for Northwestern Mutual for 50 years, was Lee’s landlord. Authorities say Lee has no link to Chin except that he was meeting with Trail.

Chin, who suffered gunshot wounds to his left arm and left leg, was taken to a hospital in Spokane for treatment. Moscow police Chief David Duke said Wednesday that Chin remained in serious condition, but is improving.

Lee also is accused of killing his adoptive mother, Terri L. Grzebielski, at her home, and Belinda G. Niebuhr, the manager of the Moscow Arby’s, at the restaurant.

Separate private memorials for Trail, Grzebielski and Niebuhr are planned for Saturday in Moscow.

Lewiston Tribune

Federal grant enables fire coverage expansion

The city of Spokane announced Thursday that a $2 million federal grant will expand fire coverage to the southwest part of town and add more Alternative Response Units to respond to nonlife-threatening calls.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant will cover the cost of hiring and training 12 new firefighters, which will staff the expanded coverage and units.

In the past year, nonemergency medical calls have increased faster than medical calls, though they still only account for less than half of all emergency calls. By increasing its use of the alternative units, the department reserves larger trucks for serious incidents.

By expanding coverage to southwest Spokane, the department said it will cut response times by half to that part of town.

Nicholas Deshais

Otter to have surgery on left hip this time

BOISE – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter will have surgery next week, a hip-resurfacing procedure on his left hip that’s similar to a fairly extensive procedure he had on his right hip in 2008. “So I will be out of the office for a period of time,” he said Thursday.

Otter is scheduled to be off Monday to prepare for the surgery, which will take place on Tuesday. That day, Lt. Gov. Brad Little will be acting governor, which occurs when the governor is either out of state or incapacitated. Otter will resume his duties Wednesday, according to his office, but will work from home through his recovery period of two to three weeks, as he did in 2008.

Betsy Z. Russell