Chelsea Bannach

Since a ban on cheap fortified beers and wines took effect last year in downtown Spokane, incidents related to public intoxication in the area have dropped. The state Liquor Control Board agreed last April to the city’s request to establish a mandatory alcohol impact area downtown, preventing liquor licensees from selling 32 low-cost, high-octane beers and wines in single cans and six-packs for off-premise consumption in an effort to combat chronic public intoxication.

Sheriff’s detectives Friday night arrested two more suspects in connection with the homicide of a Cheney man, who was found shot to death in the trunk of a burning car Wednesday. Breeanna C. Sims was arrested by detectives after they followed her to the scene of the crime at Forker and Bigelow Gulch roads. She was apparently looking for evidence related to the killing of 22-year-old Nicholas James Thoreson, of Cheney, according to sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Along with a ballot, residents of the Orchard Prairie School District may have found a bright yellow flier in their mailboxes recently urging them to vote “no” on an upcoming school levy. The fliers were sent out by Citizens for Responsible Taxation, an anti-tax group made up of John Beal, Marilyn Montgomery and former Alton’s Tires owner Duane Alton.

If a federal government shutdown takes effect Saturday, many local agencies could be affected, especially if the shutdown becomes protracted. In response to federal budget uncertainties, the Idaho Army and Air National Guard has postponed training set to take place this weekend until next weekend, Maj. Gen. Gary Sayler said in a news release. The rescheduling will affect more than 3,000 guardsmen.

The sons of slain pastor Wayne Scott Creach have taken their quest for justice to the state Legislature. Alan and Ernie Creach, and the Freedom Restoration Project, a gun rights activist group, submitted two bills last week they hope will curb unjustified police shootings and the illegal use of unmarked vehicles, in response to the Aug. 25 shooting death of 74-year-old Creach in Spokane Valley.

For an hour Saturday, millions of people and thousands of businesses around the world shut off their lights in recognition of Earth Hour. Landmarks around the world went dark for the hour: the Space Needle, Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, Empire State Building and more. The lights at one Spokane landmark, the Riverfront Park Pavilion, were shut off for the hour, which began at 8:30 p.m.

Spring is here. So are spring showers. The season will start partly sunny and mostly dry today.

Two Spokane Valley police officers were injured and two patrol cars were damaged in a high-speed pursuit early Saturday. Officers Jeffrey Rogers and Jason Karnitz tried to stop a Honda Prelude about 2:30 a.m., but the driver, Jason Edward Cooper, 25, took off at high speeds and ran several stop signs and red lights, said department spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Although a diverse crowd attended Spokane’s 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, everyone there was Irish in spirit. Hundreds of people marched in and watched the annual parade. Proceeds from the parade, organized by Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, are donated to local charities.

Several North Idaho school districts asked voters Tuesday to approve levies to soften the blow of state budget cuts and expired federal funding. Levies in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lake Pend Oreille school districts were all passing in preliminary ballot counts Tuesday evening, a promising sign for districts facing devastating budget cuts. Only voters in Boundary County were voting down a levy request.

Several north Idaho school districts asked voters today to approve levies to soften the blow of state budget cuts and expired federal funding.

A Spokane man was on life support at a local hospital Saturday night after being shot in the head early in the morning. Police arrested Robert D. Startin, 27, and booked him into Spokane County Jail for first-degree assault.

A person suspected of numerous vehicle prowls in rural Stevens County was in serious condition in a Spokane hospital Saturday after being shot by a Stevens County sheriff’s deputy. Events that led to the shooting were unclear Saturday evening. The incident began about 1:18 a.m. when the Sheriff’s Office received numerous reports of vehicle prowling in the area, according to police. A firearm was stolen from one of the vehicles. Police said deputies contacted the suspect on the 4300 block of East Deer Lake Road about 3 a.m. and shots were fired.

A Spokane man is on life support at a Spokane hospital after being shot in the head early Saturday morning.

A person suspected of numerous vehicle prowls in rural Stevens County is in serious condition in a Spokane hospital after being shot by a Stevens County Sherriff’s Deputy early this morning.

A teenage bicyclist was trapped under a car about 8 p.m. today after he was struck while crossing the road.