Emma Epperly

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News >  Local Government

Angry raccoons ahead? Hacked Northwest Spokane road sign confuses and amuses

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 28, 2024

Northwest Spokane residents can breathe easily. A warning flashed to drivers Wednesday that angry raccoons had invaded the area near Audubon Park was only a mischievous prank.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Former Spokane financial adviser sentenced to 5 years probation, restitution for fraud

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 23, 2024

As the airplane landed in Hawaii, Carolyn Bohnoff looked up and there was her nemesis.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘It’s going to be a long process’: Local leaders caution that federal fire aid will take time to arrive

Thu., Feb. 22, 2024

When Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper heard that Spokane County would receive federal aid to help recover from this summer’s wildfires, relief washed over her.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane Police find probable cause to charge deputy for violent arrest that left man with 8 broken ribs

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 22, 2024

Spokane Police investigators found probable cause to charge a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputy with assault for a violent arrest this summer, the department announced Wednesday.

News >  Spokane

Biden signs disaster declaration six months after Spokane wildfires

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 20, 2024

President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration Monday, six months after the Gray and Oregon Road wildfires devastated parts of Spokane County. The move unlocks a slew of federal aid.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Failing our troubled teens: As Washington’s shortage of inpatient drug beds persists, one family sues the facility they hoped would help their daughter

Sun., Feb. 18, 2024

Jamie Million spent years trying to get help for her daughter.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for enticing minor in Alaska

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 16, 2024

A 41-year-old Spokane man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for sexually enticing and exploiting a 12-year-old girl in Alaska.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Freeman man missing from boat on Lake Roosevelt found dead a week after disappearance

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 16, 2024

The body of a 51-year-old Freeman man who had been missing for a week from the Lake Roosevelt area was found Friday, according to the National Parks Service.

News >  Washington

‘Welcome to the newest town in the state of Washington’: Malden gets new post office, town hall, fire building after devastating wildfires

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 15, 2024

In 2020, the towns of Malden and Pine City were devastated by a wildfire.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for dealing large amounts of meth, possessing guns

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 13, 2024

A 33-year-old man, who was convicted by a jury late last year of dealing a large amount of methamphetamine , was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

More people were shot by Spokane law enforcement in two weeks than in the entirety of 2023

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 13, 2024

Two more police shootings Monday added to a wave of violence across Spokane County.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

The bureaucracy of burning: Washington DNR hopes state money will come in to fund more prescribed burns

Tue., Feb. 13, 2024

Managing a fire is both a science and an art.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man federally indicted for allegedly pointing laser at Spokane County Sheriff’s Office helicopter

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 12, 2024

A 42-year-old man was federally indicted after the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said he pointed a laser at their helicopter.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Cause of Oregon Road fire undetermined, DNR says

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 9, 2024

The Department of Natural Resources was unable to determine a definitive cause of the Oregon Road fire after a lengthy investigation.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘It still stings’: Man who discovered the Gray fire reflects on fighting the blaze and its subsequent destruction

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 7, 2024

David Yuhas loaded his sons into his car, met up with a friend and headed out on Aug. 18 to the Jensen Memorial Youth Ranch for some fun.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Sparks from Inland Power light caused Gray fire, DNR investigation finds

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 6, 2024

The Gray fire that devastated Medical Lake in August was caused by sparks from an Inland Power and Light security light mounted to a pole, a Department of Natural Resources investigation found.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane man accused of beating, killing girlfriend’s toddler before fleeing to Las Vegas

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 6, 2024

A Spokane man is accused of beating and killing a 3-year-old last week and fleeing to Las Vegas where he was arrested, according to court documents.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Policing is the family business for interim Spokane chief Justin Lundgren

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 6, 2024

Justin Lundgren’s first memories of the Spokane Police Department are from home.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane City Council votes to approve $135,000 settlement with couple hit by patrol car in 2020

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 5, 2024

A couple hit by a Spokane police officer going twice the speed limit in his patrol car will get a $135,000 settlement, after the City Council unanimously voted to approve the settlement Monday night.

News >  Spokane

Underwear, hygiene products biggest need in annual Mardi-Bras fundraiser for women in poverty

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 2, 2024

Helping women in need in Spokane this spring is simple with a handful of locations to drop off hygiene products for the annual Mardi Bras fundraiser.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man who pointed gun at Spokane Police Officer sentenced to nearly 6 years in federal prison

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 31, 2024

The man who pointed a gun at a Spokane police officer last year was sentenced Wednesday to nearly six years in federal prison.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘Bigger impact on the community’: Dean Chuang fills newly created 13th judgeship in Spokane County

Wed., Jan. 31, 2024

Dean Chuang had long thought about applying to be a judge.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane doctor to pay nearly 100K for alleged participation in medical equipment kick-back scheme

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 29, 2024

A Spokane doctor ordered knee braces for a woman without a knee and other medical equipment for a patient who had died earlier that week as part of a kick-back scheme, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Multicare accused of fraudulent billing, unnecessary surgeries by former Deaconess neurosurgeon

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 29, 2024

A former neurosurgeon at the center of the largest health care fraud settlement in Eastern Washington is now involved in a new complaint against MultiCare Health System filed last week.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Supply chain issues leave local law enforcement agencies in dire need of new vehicles

Sat., Jan. 27, 2024

It’s unlikely Spokane County law enforcement officers will get a whiff of that new car smell this year.