Stories by Emma Epperly for the Spokesman-Review

News > Crime/Public Safety

Amber Alert issued for 3-year-old Wapato girl

Tue., June 2, 2020

An Amber Alert was issued Monday evening for a 3-year-old Wapato girl who police believe is with her father, who is reportedly suicidal. Melody Lopez was last seen wearing a white-and-red-striped shirt and gray leggings. She is Hispanic, with black hair and brown eyes. According to the Amber Alert, she is 2-feet, 11-inches tall and weighs 40 pounds.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Weekend wildfires burn at Hanford site

UPDATED: Mon., June 1, 2020

Lightning storms during last weekend sparked several wildfires on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation including one that spread across 9,000 acres.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane sheriff, police chief blame Sunday’s violence on outside agitators

UPDATED: Tue., June 2, 2020

Law enforcement officials and leaders of Spokane’s Black community blamed Sunday night’s rioting, looting and property damage on outside agitators who “hijacked” what had been a day of mostly peaceful protests. But the scope of the involvement of organizers outside Spokane remains difficult to quantify, and police on Monday downplayed the presence of far-right agitators and militia members who roamed the downtown core with rifles and body armor.

News > Spokane

Citizens head downtown to clean up after protest escalates

UPDATED: Mon., June 1, 2020

Businesses and city crews worked Monday to clean up broken glass and graffiti in downtown Spokane after peaceful protests against police brutality turned violent.

News > Spokane

Thousands march in Spokane on Sunday to protest George Floyd’s death, police brutality

UPDATED: Sun., May 31, 2020

Protests have broken out across the country following George Floyd’s death on Monday in Minneapolis. In Spokane, thousands of people marched from Riverfront Park across the Monroe Street Bridge to the Spokane County Courthouse, where they confronted law enforcement.

News > Spokane

Enterprising Spirit: Spokane thrift store provides opportunities for vets during ‘World War C’

UPDATED: Mon., June 1, 2020

Editor’s note: Our series Enterprising Spirit documents how businesses and workers are managing the economy’s slow return to life after its sudden shutdown in March – and adapting to new challenges ahead. Before Veterans Thrift opened on Tuesday morning, a pile of donations was already forming outside the store.

News > Idaho

Coeur d’Alene Fourth of July fireworks canceled, parade modified

UPDATED: Thu., May 28, 2020

The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce canceled its annual Fourth of July fireworks show Thursday but plans to hold a parade within public health guidelines.

News > Crime/Public Safety

East Central traffic stop lead to 2 narcotics arrests

UPDATED: Wed., May 27, 2020

When neighborhood resource officers conducted a traffic stop early Wednesday morning, Spokane police say they found the driver had a suspended license and his passenger, a felon, in possession of a fire arm and illegal substances.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane County jury trials postponed again until after July 6

UPDATED: Thu., May 28, 2020

All civil and criminal jury trials in Spokane County have been postponed until after July 6.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Two separate drive-by shootings Tuesday night in Spokane leave one injured

UPDATED: Wed., May 27, 2020

Two drive-by shootings late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning appear to be unconnected, according to the Spokane Police Department. A drive-by shooting was reported just before 11 p.m. at Third Avenue and Cedar Street. A patrol officer arrived on scene within a minute of the call, but the suspect vehicle was gone.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Man killed in 3-vehcile crash north of Bigelow Gulch Road identified

UPDATED: Wed., May 27, 2020

The man who died in a May 11 head-on crash on Argonne Road has been identified as 44-year-old Kevin Witcher.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Drive-by shooting sends person to hospital in Moses Lake

UPDATED: Wed., May 27, 2020

A drive-by shooting in Moses Lake Tuesday night left the victim in grave condition, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Citizen description helps police arrest suspected car thief

Tue., May 26, 2020

Spokane police arrested two people on outstanding warrants and suspicion of vehicle theft early Friday morning, after giving up a dangerous pursuit in downtown Spokane and receiving a report of the pair running from an unoccupied car.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Riders injured in Fourth of July Pass motorcycle crash doing well

Tue., May 26, 2020

Two of the four people injured in a motorcycle crash on Interstate 90 east of Coeur d’Alene late Monday morning have been released from the hospital. The other two riders are in stable condition.

News > Crime/Public Safety

COVID-19-positive pasta worker arrested on 2 DUIs in 1 week, leading 6 police officers and 1 inmate to quarantine

UPDATED: Tue., May 26, 2020

Six Spokane police officers are in coronavirus quarantine after twice arresting an infected man last week suspected of driving under the influence.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane Valley deputy hits motorcyclist with suspected meth while pursuing another fleeing vehicle

UPDATED: Tue., May 26, 2020

A police chase early Tuesday morning resulted in a crash that sent one person to a hospital.

News > Spokane

Enterprising Spirit: A simple decision to boost business may have saved Millwood Brewing Co.

Tue., May 26, 2020

As Millwood Brewing reopens its seating area, it’s also expanding its offerings.

News > Spokane

Enterprising Spirit: Paint-and-sip studio owner has kept customers creating despite shutdown

Fri., May 22, 2020

When Jackie Casey went to her first paint and sip class at a Pinot’s Palette in Arizona, she was less than excited. In fact, she was preemptively embarrassed about her art skills. But after a glass of wine and a few hours, Casey was proud of her painting.

News > Spokane

Wednesday’s rain set record in Spokane, but no flooding observed

UPDATED: Thu., May 21, 2020

Rainfall on Wednesday broke records more than a century old in Spokane, Lewiston and Pullman.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Man allegedly high on meth arrested after standoff at South Hill home

UPDATED: Thu., May 21, 2020

After threatening a family member with a knife, a 34-year-old man naked and allegedly high on methamphetamine kept police in a standoff at a home near Manito Park.

News > Spokane

Enterprising Spirit: Clay studio owner fires up community even while struggling to keep business alive

UPDATED: Wed., May 20, 2020

When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened a place that has been a haven for creativity and community for decades, Linnell Hinchey had to adapt to keep the Clay Connection going.

News > Spokane

Scores of graduates line up in cars for free doughnuts at Krispy Kreme in Spokane Valley

UPDATED: Tue., May 19, 2020

Dozens of cars backed up on Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley on Tuesday afternoon to get a “graduate dozen” from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Amtrak train strikes car in Spokane; no injuries reported

UPDATED: Tue., May 19, 2020

An unoccupied car was hit by an Amtrak train in southwest Spokane early Tuesday morning.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane County Jail protects against COVID-19

UPDATED: Tue., May 19, 2020

Trying to keep coronavirus out of the Spokane County Jail and Geiger Corrections Center has been a big job for Sgt. Justin White.

News > Spokane

Women Helping Women luncheon moves online to continue fundraising

Tue., May 19, 2020

With the COVID-19 pandemic prohibiting gatherings but increasing the need for services non-profits provide, the Women Helping Women Fund and the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery decided not to cancel their fundraisers but instead move them online. Amy Vega, from Vanessa Behan, and Heather Hamlin, executive director at WHWF, discussed their fundraising goals and online event plans at The Spokesman Review’s Northwest Passages book club Monday.

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