Stories by Emma Epperly for the Spokesman-Review

News > Crime/Public Safety

Former Spokesman-Review editor Steve Smith accused of paying girls to provide him sexually explicit videos

UPDATED: Fri., July 21, 2023

Former Spokesman-Review Editor Steve Smith had a “very large amount” of images depicting child sexual abuse in his possession and was downloading more when investigators searched his home Thursday afternoon, according to court documents filed Friday.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Fighting for her reputation: Legal battle with TikTok psychic continues for UI professor

UPDATED: Fri., July 21, 2023

One morning, in the throes of grieving the tragic and brutal slayings of four students at the University of Idaho where she teaches, Rebecca Scofield awoke to find that a psychic on TikTok had accused her of orchestrating the killings.

News > Pacific NW

‘Hate wants hate back’: White supremacists target Pride events across the Northwest as organizers push back with love

UPDATED: Tue., July 18, 2023

Pride in Perry, the block party in Spokane's most prominent "gayborhood," was a stop on a new white supremacist network's tour of hate this summer that's targeting small pride events across the Northwest.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane Police conclude multi-year project to test sexual assault kit backlog

UPDATED: Thu., July 13, 2023

Spokane Police have nearly cleared their backlog of untested sexual assault kits, as grant funding concluded last month.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Counselor’s license suspended after accusations of sexual misconduct at embattled Daybreak Youth Services

UPDATED: Wed., July 12, 2023

A counselor at Daybreak Youth Services, the now-closed youth mental health treatment facility in Spokane, had her license suspended Tuesday after allegations of sexual misconduct at the facility dating back to 2021.

News > Washington

Boots Bakery reopens in Saranac Commons with new menu items and old favorites

UPDATED: Wed., July 12, 2023

Boots Bakery and Lounge re-opened Monday in the Saranac Commons with old favorites and new treats.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Idaho State Police investigating toddler’s death in hot car at Rathdrum home

UPDATED: Tue., July 11, 2023

Idaho State Police are investigating the death of a toddler inside a hot car at a Rathdrum home Sunday evening.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Man suspected of stabbing 2 homeless people in Spokane arrested in California

UPDATED: Fri., July 7, 2023

Charles Nutter was arrested on June 29 in Fort Bragg, California, on suspicion of two counts of first-degree assault, according to a Spokane Police news release.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane man sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for robbery spree in April

UPDATED: Fri., July 7, 2023

Tysen R. Foster pleaded guilty to seven counts of robbery, four counts of second-degree assault and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm on Friday.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane Judge John Cooney appointed to state court of appeals

Sun., July 2, 2023

An experienced Spokane County Superior Court judge soon will have a new assignment.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Jury finds Airway Heights Corrections Center had hostile work environment in sexual harassment case, DOC must pay $175k

UPDATED: Thu., June 29, 2023

A jury found there was a hostile work environment when a training supervisor allegedly sexually harassed a former corrections officer at Airway Heights Corrections Center in 2019.

News > Higher education

Whitworth University adds sexual orientation to list of protected classes after year of campus protests

UPDATED: Thu., June 29, 2023

Whitworth University added sexual orientation to its list of protected classes Wednesday following more than a year of discussion and protests.

News > Military

Second Fairchild airman accused in plot to steal ammunition from base sentenced to probation

UPDATED: Wed., June 28, 2023

Shawn Robson, a noncommissioned officer in charge of the base's Combat Arms Training Management section, was sentenced to 18 months of probation. He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen ammunition in March.

News > Crime/Public Safety

‘On the border of terrorism’: Spokane Valley church’s Pride display vandalized with diesel

UPDATED: Mon., June 26, 2023

Preparing for her Sunday morning message didn’t go as planned this week for the Rev. Gen Heywood, who arrived at Veradale United Church of Christ to a strong odor of diesel fuel and the absence of the colorful pride flags that had graced the church’s entryway hours before.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Prosecutors will seek death penalty against Bryan Kohberger

UPDATED: Mon., June 26, 2023

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students last fall.

News > Crime/Public Safety

‘Sweet and kindhearted’: Friends remember Kellogg family killed in weekend shooting

UPDATED: Tue., June 20, 2023

KELLOGG – Dozens of flowers, balloons, photos and signs began piling up Tuesday in front of the duplex where a family of four was shot and killed Sunday after an altercation with their neighbor.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Neighbor faces four murder charges in execution-style killing of Kellogg family

UPDATED: Tue., June 20, 2023

WALLACE - A 31-year-old man faces four counts of first-degree murder for the execution-style slaying of a Kellogg family with whom he shared a duplex.

News > Crime/Public Safety

‘Shocking and sad’: Four found dead in Kellogg home, 31-year-old neighbor arrested

UPDATED: Mon., June 19, 2023

Police arrested a 31-year-old man after four people were found shot to death in a Kellogg home Sunday evening, according to Idaho State Police.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Kootenai County judge, who faced fantasy game controversy and judicial council sanction, placed on leave

UPDATED: Fri., June 16, 2023

A magistrate judge in North Idaho has been on leave since mid-May related to “personnel issues.”

News > Crime/Public Safety

Daybreak Youth Services fined for operating without license, ordered to close as legal battle continues

UPDATED: Thu., June 15, 2023

A judge found Daybreak Youth Services in contempt Thursday and fined the nonprofit at least $10,000 after they flouted a court order by continuing to operate without a license.

News > Education

Whitworth students hand president pride flags at graduation as controversy over LGBTQ+ hiring policy continues

UPDATED: Wed., June 14, 2023

Pops of color frequently disrupted the steady stream of capped and gowned students who received their diplomas at Whitworth University last month as dozens of students handed University President Scott McQuilkin pride flags.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Medical examiner’s office investigated 49% more deaths in 2022 as overdoses continued to rise

UPDATED: Wed., June 14, 2023

The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s office investigated 49% more deaths from 2019 to 2022, many caused by overdoses, accidents and heart disease, according to the office’s 2022 annual report.