Emma Epperly

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News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘Our court system needs you’: Judges, attorneys encourage middle schoolers of color to consider the profession

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 26, 2024

Dozens of middle schoolers filed into the Spokane County Courthouse Friday morning with blank looks on their faces, unsure what to expect from the slate of Supreme Court Justices, judges and attorneys scheduled to speak to them.

News >  Washington

Whistleblower: Department of Energy contractor fraudulently billed millions for fire protection at Hanford

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 25, 2024

A company contracted to provide fire protection at the Hanford Nuclear Site submitted millions of dollars in fraudulent and inflated invoices to the federal government since 2021, according to a False Claims Act complaint filed Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

News >  WA Government

Wildfire recovery leaders express frustration to officials at roundtable

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 24, 2024

It has been one roadblock after another for residents of Medical Lake and Elk in the first five months of recovery from the Gray and Oregon Road fires, Dick Ziehnert told Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers and other officials during a roundtable Wednesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

New charges against the woman accused of killing her 8-year-old daughter include homicide by abuse, assault

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 24, 2024

Prosecutors brought new charges earlier this month against the 34-year-old woman accused of abusing her daughter for more than a year, leading to her death in 2022.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Prosecutor: Officer justified in shooting at man near Sacred Heart in May

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 19, 2024

A Spokane Police Officer was justified in shooting at a felon who brandished a firearm at witnesses and the police officer in May, Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell ruled Friday.

News >  Spokane

Student awarded first Ivan Bush Community Service Award for more than 400 hours of volunteering at MLK Center

Tue., Jan. 16, 2024

From the moment he arrived in Spokane, Ivan Bush “poured his heart and soul into this community,” Freda Gandy said to a rapt audience Monday morning.

News >  Spokane

‘You can kill the dreamer, but you cannot kill the dream’: Spokane community comes together to honor MLK and his legacy

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 15, 2024

Last week, the Spokane NAACP got “a very alarming email,” chapter president Lisa Gardner told a crowded ballroom at the Spokane Convention Center on Monday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane County Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren will not be renominated to federal bench

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 9, 2024

A Spokane County judge's troubled nomination to a federal judgeship in 2022 by President Joe Biden will not be renewed.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Longtime federal prosecutor retires after more than 20 years: ‘His dedication to justice is unparalleled’

Wed., Jan. 3, 2024

Longtime federal prosecutor Russell Smoot, who handled many large drug cases and helped lead the office, retired Friday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

A bittersweet goodbye: Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl reflects on his time leading department

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 29, 2023

The six weeks since Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl announced his resignation have been bittersweet.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Ruby Doss’s daughters reflect after decades of waiting for answers in their mother’s murder in Spokane

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 27, 2023

For 37 years the end of Ruby Doss’ story has been in limbo.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane judge finds former Pasco officer guilty of 1986 cold case murder of Ruby Doss

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 26, 2023

Ruby Doss, 27, was found beaten and strangled in East Central Spokane in 1986. The judge determined he was guilty after an earlier trial ended without a verdict because the jury could not reach a decision.

Rebuilding what was lost: Gray fire first-responders reflect during holiday season

Mon., Dec. 25, 2023

The Gray fire destroyed 240 homes and burned thousands of acres in the Medical Lake area on Aug. 18. Hundreds of first responders rushed to the area to evacuate residents and fight the blaze.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Post Falls man sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison for fentanyl death

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 22, 2023

A 33-year-old Post Falls man was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl that killed a man.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Dean Chuang appointed as 13th Spokane County Superior Court Judge

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 21, 2023

Dean Tze-Ming Chuang will be the next Spokane County Superior Court judge, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Attorneys make closing arguments in 1986 cold case murder trial, verdict expected after Christmas

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 19, 2023

On Jan. 30, 1986, Ruby Doss got ready for a night out on East Sprague.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

DNA expert testifies at length about DNA in Aguirre case; defense expert set to respond Tuesday

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 18, 2023

A DNA expert for prosecutors testified Monday that a small amount of DNA likely from Ruby Doss was detected on the condom found near her body mixed with DNA from Richard Aguirre, the man accused of killing her.

News >  Local business

Historic Flight Foundation planes to be sold as latest legal challenge fails

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 18, 2023

A Spokane judge ruled that more vintage airplanes belonging to the Historic Flight Foundation will likely have to be sold to satisfy business debts incurred by a related company in North Dakota.

News >  Idaho

Kootenai County prosecutor says judge is biased after misconduct investigation

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 15, 2023

Kootenai County’s prosecutor is attempting to have Magistrate Judge Clark Peterson removed from all cases involving his office after filing a sexual harassment complaint against the judge, according to court documents.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Defense expert: Aguirre’s feet larger than shoeprints found at scene of Ruby Doss’ death in 1986

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 14, 2023

A defense expert testified Thursday that Richard Aguirre’s feet are four sizes larger than shoeprints found at the scene of Ruby Doss’ death in 1986.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man charged with executing family of four in Kellogg agrees to plead guilty to reduced charges

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 14, 2023

The man accused of the execution-style killing of a family of four in Kellogg plans to plead guilty to lesser charges next week, according to an agreement filed in court records.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Defense calls retired officers to testify about alternative suspect in Aguirre trial

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 13, 2023

On January 30, 1986, Officers Tom Sahlberg and his partner, Brad Nave, were working a normal shift when they got called out to a killing near Playfair Race Course.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Forensic scientist testifies about evidence contamination at state lab in 1986, says knowledge of DNA has since changed practices

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 12, 2023

A former Washington State Patrol Crime Lab employee’s DNA was found on Ruby Doss’ shirt and jacket after he examined the items without gloves, a forensic scientist testified Tuesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane apartment management company accused of fraudulently obtaining thousands in rent relief

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 11, 2023

A Spokane property management company operating apartments owned by a rapist while he’s in prison is accused of fraudulently obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 pandemic rental assistance, according to a complaint announced Monday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Scientists testify about DNA in third week of Aguirre trial

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 11, 2023

Scientists from a private laboratory who pioneered forensic DNA testing testified Monday about how and why a condom collected as evidence in 1986 near the body of strangulation victim Ruby Doss was discarded three years later after DNA had been extracted.