Emma Epperly

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News >  Crime/Public Safety

Friends, ex-girlfriend testify that Aguirre admitted to knowing Ruby Doss

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 7, 2023

In 2015, Pasco Police Captain Brian Vaught lent his truck to his buddy, Richard Aguirre, a fellow police officer.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

A taste of how to solve a cold case: Detective testifies in Aguirre trial

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 6, 2023

Recently retired Sergeant Kip Hollenbeck testified at length Wednesday about the evidence that led him to Richard Aguirre, now accused of killing Ruby Doss in 1986.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Medical Examiner: Cold case evidence shows Ruby Doss was strangled and had multiple brain injuries

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 5, 2023

Ruby Doss died from being strangled and hit on the head multiple times in January of 1986 , Spokane County’s medical examiner testified Tuesday.

News >  Local Government

Local delegation reacts to historic expulsion of Rep. George Santos from Congress

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 1, 2023

In a bipartisan vote on Friday, the House of Representatives expelled Rep. George Santos, a New York Republican whose alleged lies and ethics violations made him the first lawmaker kicked out of the House without being convicted of a crime or accused of treason.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Idaho Judicial Council reprimands Kootenai County magistrate judge for changing clothes without securing room

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 1, 2023

The Idaho Judicial Council publicly reprimanded Kootenai County Magistrate Judge Clark A. Peterson on Thursday for failing to secure his judicial chambers when changing clothes.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Officers, forensic employee testify about investigation, shoeprints in second day of Aguirre trial

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 30, 2023

Shoeprints left near where Ruby Doss’ body was found strangled in January of 1986 were the focus of testimony Friday in the bench trial of Richard Aguirre.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Ruby Doss’ daughter testifies in first day of bench trial following opening statements

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 30, 2023

Four women filed into a Spokane County Courtroom Wednesday – heads bowed, coats draped over their arms – and settled into a bench behind the man accused of killing their mother 37 years ago.

News >  Local Government

Women of the Year: Rising to the occasion, Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper leads wildfire recovery efforts

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 29, 2023

Terri Cooper has been working toward something her entire life, but until recently she just wasn’t sure what that might be.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Ruby Doss killing: Judge to hear DNA evidence in cold case bench trial starting Wednesday

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 27, 2023

The judge presiding over the retrial of a 1986 cold case killing will allow DNA evidence and did not close the door to the defense’s contention of another suspect.

News >  Features

Women of the Year: Pingala Dhital helps refugees like her find belonging in Spokane – ‘It takes a whole community’

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 29, 2023

After 18 years as a refugee, Pingala Dhital and her family became the first Bhutanese refugees to arrive in the United States in 2008.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man shot by Spokane Valley Deputy remains in serious condition a week later

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 21, 2023

The 30-year-old man shot by a Spokane Valley Sheriff Deputy last week remained hospitalized in serious condition Tuesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane woman pleads guilty to stealing more than $715,000 from Spokane Dermatology Clinic

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 21, 2023

A 26-year-old woman pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to stealing more than $715,000 from Spokane Dermatology Clinic, where she was an accountant.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Retrial in 1986 cold case killing set to begin after Thanksgiving, defendant waives jury

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 20, 2023

A former Pasco police officer accused in the 1986 strangulation of a Spokane woman who worked as a prostitute will be re-tried after Thanksgiving, but this time without a jury.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Judge in Kohberger case outlaws cameras in the courtroom; proceedings will be livestreamed

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 20, 2023

The judge presiding over the case of the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students last year will not allow cameras in the courtroom, instead opting for a livestream of future proceedings, he announced Monday.

News >  Spokane

‘It was just raining fire’: The day the Gray fire changed a town forever

Sun., Nov. 19, 2023

Five years ago, a prophetic email landed in Cody Rohrbach’s inbox.

News >  Spokane

‘Here for the long haul’: How the Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group formed to help residents after the Gray, Oregon Road fires

Sun., Nov. 19, 2023

Everyone knows governments move slowly.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man at center of Spokane police PACT team controversy sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for unrelated drug charge

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 15, 2023

A 36-year-old Spokane man, who had drug charges against him dropped in 2021 over false statements by Spokane police officers, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Wednesday in a separate drug case.

News >  Local Government

Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl resigns, plans to leave post at end of year

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 16, 2023

Spokane police Chief Craig Meidl will resign from his position at the end of the year, he announced in a Wednesday news release.

A&E >  Northwest Passages

After huge success with ‘Maid’ Stephanie Land dives deeper into the systemic issues impacting those in poverty in ‘Class’

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 29, 2023

Those left hungry for more of Stephanie Land’s story following her 2019 memoir “Maid” are in luck.

News >  Spokane

‘There had to be justice somehow’: Survivors of J Bar D Boys Ranch abuse reflect after massive state settlement

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 10, 2023

As a 12-year-old, the only safe space in John Seckar’s life was the library.

News >  Sci/Tech

New app, communications officials work to streamline emergency alerts after Gray, Oregon Road fires

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 28, 2023

Thousands of phones across Spokane County buzzed on Friday, Aug. 18.

News >  K-12 education

‘It means everything’: Holocaust survivor Carla Olman Peperzak celebrates 100th birthday at middle school named in her honor

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 7, 2023

Cupcake in hand, 12-year-old Sawyer Coombs scurried to the edge of the lunchroom to catch the first glimpse of his middle school’s special guest on Tuesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

4-year-old killed in dog attack identified

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 6, 2023

The 4-year-old who died after being attacked by his family’s dog on Halloween has been identified as Colton Kline.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Washington State agrees to nearly $17 million settlement with a dozen former J Bar D Boys Ranch residents

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 1, 2023

Washington State agreed to pay $16.95 million total to a dozen former residents of the J Bar D Boys Ranch, who were sexually and physically abused while at the ranch after being placed there by the state.

News >  K-12 education

Delayed by global pandemic, war, Ukrainian students visit Spokane as part of long-awaited U.S. exchange

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 31, 2023

About four years ago, Oleh Bodnar was encouraged to apply for the Future Leaders Exchange Program by his English tutor.