Jim Camden

Top Air Force officials used "unlawful command influence" to force the court-martial of a former Fairchild official after last June's B-52 crash, military defense attorneys contend. They want the charges against Col. William Pellerin dropped.

Phil Slocum of Coeur d'Alene helped liberate the Dachau death camp. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Community observes Holocaust. Soloist Barbara Baumgarten sings "Under Your Starry Heaven" during an observance of the Holocaust at Temple Beth Shalom on Sunday. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

1. Merwick 2. Malosh 3. Lehman 4. Medley

The Air Force is giving portions of a secret report to the attorneys for the former Fairchild officer facing court-martial over the crash of the base's last B-52. Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall said Tuesday attorneys for Col. William Pellerin should receive parts of the confidential Safety Board Report of the June 24 crash that killed the four-man crew last year.

Congress is tackling America's problems by cutting the federal government and strengthening families, U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt said Tuesday night. Along the way, it may trade the current income tax system for a flat rate tax, the freshman Republican told a crowd of about 275 people at North Central High during his first town hall meeting in Spokane.

McCarthy discusses Vietnam. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

Marilyn Quayle speaks to Gonzaga students Wednesday night. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

If women want a full share of political power, they must do one thing, the leader of a women's political organization said. Run. "You cannot get to 50 percent of the government if you are just 14 percent of the candidates," Harriet Woods, president of the National Women's Political Caucus said Tuesday in Spokane.

The U.S. secretary of the interior should decide how - or even whether - to save endangered plants and animals from extinction, U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton said Tuesday. The Republican senator said his upcoming rewrite of the Endangered Species Act would clarify the politics of handling questions such as how to save the northern spotted owl and the Snake River salmon.

Helen Chenoweth had her doubts when she signed the "Contract With America" during last fall's campaign, the Idaho Republican representative admitted Thursday. She believed proposals such as term limits, a balanced budget amendment and welfare reform were worthwhile and would be passed if Republicans controlled the House. But promising to vote on everything in the first 100 days?

Mike Wilhelm, of the city Water Department, uses an aquaphone to search for the break in the 6-inch water main that ruptured at Wellesley and Post on Wednesday. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Washington state's only commercial nuclear plant may have violated safety rules, a federal agency said Monday. Inspectors for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said they found four possible violations this year at a reactor operated by the Washington Public Power Supply System on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The possible violations revolve around the emergency ventilation system at WPPSS No. 2 control room, which is supposed to make sure that plant operators have a safe area during an emergency.

Parts of a secret report on the crash of Fairchild's last B-52 must be released before the trial of a former commander can begin, a military judge ruled Friday. Col. James Van Orsdol said he expected a decision from Air Force officials by April 18 on releasing some 50 pages from the report.

Congress may be headed for a fight over money for a wheat research center at Washington State University. The Senate wants to keep $426,000 for the center in an upcoming spending bill, Sens. Slade Gorton and Patty Murray said Thursday.

A military judge wants parts of a secret investigation into last June's fatal B-52 crash given to attorneys defending the officer held responsible for the accident. The decision on whether to release the information from a confidential report will be made by Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall. If Widnall refuses, the court-martial of Col. William Pellerin on charges of dereliction of duty could be dropped, an Air Force spokesman said.

People calling for cuts in federal spending may want to take this pop quiz. Do federal taxpayers spend more in Washington state on nuclear contractors or widows and orphans? More on military equipment or food stamps?

Spokane business and government leaders aren't relaxing even though Fairchild was among bases rated highest by Air Force evaluators. Leaders of a special "Keep Fairchild Flying" task force said Tuesday some old or incorrect information still could cause the West Plains base to be considered for closure.

The court-martial of a high-ranking Air Force officer is being delayed indefinitely because defense attorneys want to read a secret report on the fatal crash of Fairchild's last B-52. Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall has "asserted secretarial privilege and declined to release the safety report," a spokesman for the 12th Air Force said Thursday.

Spokane residents will get a chance to choose a presidential candidate three times before the 1996 general election. That's a record for a community that in the past assiduously avoided early involvement in the presidential process.

Presidential candidates are expected to visit Spokane in October to take part in a nationally televised debate on environmental issues. The debate, scheduled for Oct. 22 in the Ag Trade Center, is part of City Vote, a national straw poll that will be the first ballot-box test for White House "wannabes." Candidates' names will appear on Nov. 7 municipal ballots in participating cities.

Congress lost its best chance yet to get the discipline it needs to stem the flow of red ink, Idaho Sen. Larry Craig said shortly after the Balanced Budget Amendment went down to a narrow defeat.S "Last November's election was a loud cry from the American people about the arrogance of power. By one vote this time, that power hung on," said Republican Craig, a longtime supporter of the amendment.

Washington state and Idaho would come out winners in the Pentagon's plans to move its troops around and close some bases. Montana would be a loser. No bases in Washington or Idaho will close if a special commission agrees with the Defense Department's plans to shrink and realign its facilities around the nation.

Spokane business and political leaders were pleased Monday with early reports of military bases the Pentagon wants to close. Fairchild Air Force Base isn't on a preliminary list of targeted bases published over the weekend by the New York Times.